Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Category: News

Mindanao LGUs bring home students after blast; Marawi extends help

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Dec. 4, 2023, 8:49 am) – Some local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao on Sunday extended their support to their residents studying at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur

After the MSU Marawi campus suspended classes following an explosion that killed four and injured 50 people, several students sought assistance for transportation back to their hometowns.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the MSU Emergency Task Force said they were coordinating with police and military authorities, as well as meeting with Marawi CDRMMO and the provincial government, as it emphasized there were no recommendations for campus lockdown and evacuation of students.
“We urge the university constituents to remain calm but cautious. We urge the students to remain in their dormitories, boarding houses, and homes inside the campus until further notice,” the Task Force said.
Iligan City Mayor Frederick Siao ordered the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) to provide vehicles to assist students out of the campus.
“All students can take the ride even non-residents of Iligan,” he said.
The first batch of 60 students arrived in Iligan City past 3 p.m. and were given initial relief by the City Social Welfare and Development.
Siao also issued an executive order setting up checkpoints on key highways in Iligan.
Mayor Rolando Uy of this city, meanwhile, tasked its CDRRMO to dispatch a team to get students bound for the city and nearby towns.
Mayor Lemuel Meyrick Acosta of Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental said there were 42 students expected to be brought home.
Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal Sr. also mobilized transportation to evacuate students with two buses on standby.
The municipalities of Wao, Lanao del Sur, and Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental are also coordinating with students wishing to be brought home.
The province of Zamboanga del Sur responded to a post on social media from a student who was requesting to be transported back home.
In the aftermath of the blast, the campus community and Marawi City residents also provided relief.
Maruhom-Jalaluddin Ronsing, Education Program Specialist at MSU Shariah Center, shared photographs of faculty, staff, and students volunteering to prepare food for those who remained on the campus and inside their dormitories.
Business owners also offered free food to MSU students afraid to come out, while other residents offered their homes as temporary refuge.
Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra said the incident should not be allowed to undermine the good relationship that exists between Muslim and Christian communities in the city.
“Our city has long been a beacon of peaceful coexistence and harmony, and we will not allow such acts of violence to overshadow our collective commitment to peace and unity,” he said.
Gandamra also urged the public to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unverified information about the incident.
He said the public must rely on official reports from the authorities to obtain accurate information.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong said its office would extend medical assistance to the injured victims.
“We will work closely with the PNP (Philippine National Police) and the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to sort this out and arrest the perpetrators behind this barbaric attack,” he said. (Nef Luczon and Leah Agonoy/PNA)

2 outstanding Manolo Fortich coops receive agri support

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MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture has provided agricultural assistance to two outstanding cooperatives in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon

The DA-Northern Mindanao (DA-10) headed by its Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, has granted the two coops more than P4.78 million in agricultural interventions on December 4, 2023.
This comes after the Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers’ Cooperative (MARBFC) and Bliss Lingion Multipurpose Cooperative (BLMC) won the coveted championship in the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), which is run in collaboration with the DA through its national Corn program’s Corn and Cassava Cluster Management Excellence Awards (CCMEA).
These awards acknowledge the commendable efforts of cluster organizations in promoting and developing the corn and cassava industries.
DA-10, led by Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, together with Manolo Fortich mayor Rogelio N. Quiño and Gemma G. Cania, municipal agriculturist, conferred a certificate of award amounting to P4,015,800 to MARBFC for being adjudged as the top corn cluster throughout the country.
The ceremony took place at the town’s gymnasium at the presentation of the town’s three-part food and nutrition-security contests.
Since its foundation over three decades ago, MARBFC has bolstered partnerships with various entities to assure maximum and sustainable production among its farmer members, as well as a guaranteed market for their harvest.
A hauling truck (P3.25-M), 100 bags of hybrid yellow (NK6410BGT) corn seeds (P600K), and 100 bags of complete inorganic fertilizer (P165,800.00) are on the group’s list of agri help.
BLMC, on the other hand, grew from a seven-member group to a 353-member group mostly engaged in cassava farming and inking marketing deals, which helped them earn the top prize for the best cassava cluster across all areas.
BLMC received a certificate of award in the amount of P765,800.00 from DA-10 RTD Madriaga and town officials for different agri inputs, including 100 bags of hybrid yellow (NK6410BGT) corn seeds (P600K) and 100 bags of complete inorganic fertilizer (P165,800.00).
In her message, RTD Madriaga emphasized the need to adopt the DA’s clustering model as a key strategy for modernizing and industrializing Philippine agriculture while improving farmers’ lives.
“Atong gi-aghat atong mga gagmay’ng mag-uuma nga maghugpong sila aron maka-access sila og dinagko nga assistance, diin ang ilang interventions nga ilang ma-avail dili lamang limited to seeds, fertilizers or garden tools, apan malakip na ang hauling truck, farm tractor, combine harvester ug uban pa,” Madriaga said.
With the poured assistance serving as government investments to the winning coops, she reminded the awardees saying “ampingan ninyo ang mga butang [agri interventions] aron molahutay kini ug dugay nga mapuslan sa mga miyembro sa kooperatiba ug aron mahimo kamong modelo sa inyong komunidad ug madasig pa ang ubang grupo sa Munisipyo nga molambo sab.”
Besides the presentation of the CCMEA honorees before their hometown, Mayor Quiño lauded them for bringing glory to the municipality, including those who have responded to the LGU’s-spearheaded contests such as the 1st Communal Garden, 2nd Gulayan sa Paaralan and 3rd Utanan sa Tugkaran contests, participated in by 45 schools and 22 barangays, for embodying the spirit of cooperative that contributes to Manolo Fortich’s quest in achieving food and nutrition security.
The local chief executive also commended their efforts as he recognized their integral role in the municipality’s success, and even urged them to continue supporting the government’s various development plans.
In addition, in mid-November in Quezon City, DA, and ATI formally recognized the champion clusters, with each receiving P2-M for the purchase of various agri inputs to help them expand their farming operations, livelihood, and income.
Other local officials gracing the event include Councilor Raquel Bayacag, committee chair on Agriculture; Councilor Elzevir A. Dagunlay, chairperson on the Committee on Farmers; Fe Q. Sangco, second place in the Search for 2023 NorMin Outstanding Rural Women, also from the said municipality; and Corn program staff from DA-10. (melbmadera)

San Fernando town gets P9.3M for INSPIRE program

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DAR Northern Mindanao Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang announces the condonation of debts and fees for agrarian reform beneficiaries during the CORD launching in Bukidnon. (Photo: JMC/PIA 10/Bukidnon)

San Fernando town gets P9.3M for INSPIRE program

SAN FERNANDO, Bukidnon – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Fernando, Bukidnon will benefit from a Department of Agriculture (DA) livelihood initiative

In a press release, the DA has provided P9.3 million for the town’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program through its Regional Office 10.

On November 28, DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado and San Fernando Mayor Rogelio Yeke led the groundbreaking ceremony for the P5.5 million biosecure swine facility.

Collado stated that the facility is part of the INSPIRE initiative.

Pharmaceuticals and biologics worth P75K were also turned over on the same day.

Similarly, 300 head swine piglets (P2.3-M) and 550 bags of feed (P1.3-M) would be distributed upon the completion of the facility’s construction.

Collado added that the program focuses on increasing the swine and breeder base while also providing livelihood aid to its localities through swine production.

Meanwhile, DA-10 Livestock focal person Jamaica L. Docdoc said that the agri interventions offered will be managed by the LGU in order to help repopulate the province’s swine industry.

DA-10 Bukidnon Provincial Operations Center chief Janet D. Lopez, DVM, staff from the Municipal Agriculture’s Office, and other LGU officials were also present at the event. (melbmadera)

Debt relief for 5,000 farmers in Bukidnon under new agrarian law

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MALAYBALAY CITY (Dec. 01, 2023/PIA) – Over 5,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) will benefit from Republic Act (RA) 11953, known as the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA), following the recent launch of the Condonation Response Desk (CORD) by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Bukidnon

Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang of DAR-Northern Mindanao said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the NAEA into law on July 9 this year, which condones all loans, including interest, penalties, and surcharges incurred by ARBs from land awarded to them.
She said the CORD serves as a command center to expedite the processing of necessary documents for ARBs in the province’s 20 towns and two cities in compliance with the new law.
“The CORD aims to liberate ARBs from debt bondage, giving them leeway to boost productivity. Agrarian reform lawyers will be stationed at the quick response centers to aid in processing the applications of ARBs for debt condonation and amortization under RA 11953, or the NAEA,” Macadindang said.
The law’s benefits for ARBs include exemption from payment of estate tax and mandatory inclusion in the Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture to give them easy access to support services of the Department of Agriculture.
Lawyer Mitchell Talatala, representing Malaybalay City Mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran, said the city government wholeheartedly backs the DAR programs.
“The New Agrarian Emancipation Act has waived debts and fees, including real property tax condonations, for our agrarian reform beneficiaries. It made a significant impact on their lives,” Talatala said.
Meanwhile, DAR-Bukidnon Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Jammal Pangandaman asserted that the new agrarian reform law empowers farmers to affirm and protect their rights.
“Agrarian reform is not just a set of policies. It is a social justice movement. It revolves around empowering farmers, the marginalized, and landless individuals,” he said. (By Bernadith G. Epan edited by RLRB, /PIA-10/Bukidnon)

DOH-10 pushes safe sex vs HIV

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Dec. 2, 2023, 05:02 PM) – The Department of Health-Northern Mindanao (DOH-10) reiterated on World AIDS Day on Friday, December 1, that safe sex practices remain one of the most effective ways to prevent infections from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

DOH-10 Infectious Diseases Cluster Head Dr. Wellaflor Kindom-Brito said that HIV status will remain confidential and the only person who can divulge the information is the individual infected by the virus.
Hence, safe sex practices are vital, she said. “At the end of the day, we are all accountable for our health. So, have yourselves protected,” Brito said in a press conference on Friday.
The Health official said they recorded 436 newly confirmed HIV cases in the region from January to August this year, bringing the cumulative total to 3,095 since it was first detected in Northern Mindanao in 1991.
This city has the highest number of HIV cases, with over 1,000, followed by Bukidnon with more than 500.
Two-hundred fourteen HIV-related deaths were recorded, 30 of which were logged in the first eight months of this year.
Northern Mindanao ranked sixth among regions in the country with the highest number of HIV cases as of May 2023, according to the DOH Epidemiology Bureau HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines.
The National Capital Region was first with 290 cases, followed by Calabarzon (213), Central Luzon (149), Central Visayas (101), Davao Region (98), and Western Visayas (97).
Brito said that Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV can now be obtained at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in this city. This DOH Region 10-run hospital started dispensing PrEP last March.
PrEP, she said, is given to non-HIV-infected individuals but with risky behavior for infection. There is a criteria for a person to be eligible for the prophylaxis, Brito added.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said PrEP “reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99 percent.” It also “reduces the risk of getting HIV from injection drug use by at least 74 percent,” adding that it is less effective when not taken as prescribed.
Despite this, Brito reiterated safe sex practices, as people taking PrEP are not safe from other sexually transmitted infections.
Brito reminded us that once a person is infected with HIV, it will last forever but it can be treated using treatment drugs.
If people living with HIV are religiously taking their medicines, it would come to a point where the viral load would be reduced and become untransmittable. This means that HIV-infected individuals, Brito said, are no longer contagious, but they are still not allowed to donate blood.
“If we know people who are in doubt or afraid because they feel that it’s the end of their lives already, then let’s remind them that our medicines and our treatment for HIV are actually effective,” Brito said.
HIV treatment drugs in the region can be obtained from the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) in this city, Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center in Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center in Malaybalay City, Maramag Rural Health Unit in Bukidnon, and the Adventist Medical Center-Iligan.
The DOH-10 is planning to expand treatment hubs and confirmatory sites in the region and said that there is an additional hub in Valencia City in Bukidnon this year. It also targets treatment hubs in Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, and Talakag town in Bukidnon.
The State Health Department, Brito said, is also ensuring communication between the regional offices to have enough medicines for people living with HIV. (Frank Dick Roste/Manila Bulletin)

Magnitude 7.4 earthquake, aftershocks damage bridges in Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro

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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines (Dec. 5, 2023, 12:48 PM) – Tremors left a bridge in Bukidnon province impassable to vehicles and caused cracks on a bridge sidewalk in Cagayan de Oro in the aftermath of the strong earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks that were felt in Northern Mindanao over the weekend

Aftershocks of varying intensities were felt in Northern Mindanao since the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, with an epicenter off the coast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, struck on Saturday night, December 2.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Northern Mindanao, on Monday, December 4, issued a travel advisory stating that the bridge along the Impasugong-Patulangan Bypass Road in Impasugong town, Bukidnon, has shown “significant instability due to the recent frequent earthquakes and aftershocks.”
More than 900 aftershocks have been recorded after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake as of 3 pm on Sunday, Marcial Labininay, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Northern Mindanao, told the local broadcaster Magnum Radio on Monday.
The DPWH advised motorists to exercise caution for safety reasons by using the main Sayre Highway route when traveling via Bukidnon to other destinations in the central and southern parts of Mindanao.
The bridge in Impasugong is situated 13 kilometers near the Tagoloan River Fault which runs across the eastern portion of Misamis Oriental province and northern parts of Bukidnon.
The fault has been under hazard monitoring by the Northern Mindanao field office of the Phivolcs. It is less than 20 kilometers from Cagayan de Oro.
In Cagayan de Oro, a road maintenance team from the DPWH’s 2nd District Engineering Office had to apply cement epoxy to a two-meter crack and isolated cracks on the sidewalk of the Justiniano R. Borja Bridge.
The bridge, located in downtown Cagayan de Oro, connects Barangay 7 at Burgos Street to Barangay Carmen’s Vamenta Boulevard across the Cagayan River.
The DPWH in Cagayan de Oro attributed the cracks on the JR Borja Bridge sidewalk to the December 2 earthquake in Surigao del Sur and subsequent aftershocks that registered at least Intensity III on Phivolcs’ earthquake intensity meter mounted at the City Hall building.
Opened to the public in 2015, the JR Borja Bridge, however, remains passable to all types of vehicles despite the “minor cracks,” the advisory said.
No damage has been observed so far by the road maintenance team on five other bridges in the city.
Meanwhile, classes were ordered suspended in elementary and secondary schools in Cagayan de Oro City for two days to allow a public safety team to assess buildings on campuses in the aftermath of the earthquake and aftershocks that were felt in the region since Saturday night.
Uy issued Executive Order No. 401-2023 to call off the classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 5 and 6, to give way for the conduct of a rapid post-earthquake damage assessment on all school buildings.
Before that, he signed Executive Order No. 400-2023, creating the Cagayan de Oro Earthquake Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis Team, with him as chairman and the city’s disaster risk reduction and management officer as co-chairperson.
The team includes the heads of the Cagayan de Oro city government’s engineering, building, and legal offices as well as that of the offices of the city fire marshal and the city schools division superintendent. – (Uriel Quilingking/Rappler.com)

NorMin public warns of ‘bumblefoot’ contamination in poultry products

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (November 22, 2023, 8:09 pm) – The National Meat Inspection Service Regional Technical Operation Center in Northern Mindanao region (NMIS RTOC-10) has warned the public against buying poultry meat products infected with bumblefoot disease.
In a statement on Wednesday, the NMIS RTOC-10 said meat inspectors seized at least 459 kilograms of chicken infected with bumblefoot and were disposed of properly

NMIS has advised the public not to patronize chicken feet with bumblefoot to avoid any health issues.

Bumblefoot, or ulcerative pododermatitis, is a common bacterial infection and inflammatory reaction that occurs on the feet of chickens and other birds. Rodents and rabbits can also get infected with the illness.

In time with the holiday season, the agency also told the public to always ensure the meat they purchased is safe.

Dr. Neonette Agreda, NMIS RTOC-10n chief, said consumers need to look for meat inspection certificates (MICs) for fresh meat or the certificate of meat inspection (COMI) for imported meat.

“MICs and COMIs are ways to assume that the meat you purchased was well inspected and passed for human consumption,” she said.

Agreda called on the public to be vigilant against food safety handling issues because contamination may occur during transportation, display, storage, and food preparation. Contamination of meat can also cause foodborne illnesses, such as diarrhea, dehydration, and even death, she added. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

DA-10 pushes for reliable, responsive Bantay Presyo Monitoring System in NorMin

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MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — To improve its price monitoring in the region, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) held its year-end assessment for data contributors to the Bantay Presyo Monitoring System (BPMS) on November 16 in this city led by Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado

The assessment, spearheaded by the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, served as a venue for data contributors from Region 10 to report on their provinces, price data submissions and share best practices for increased responsiveness to concerns resolution and
improved data collection and reporting.

Jenny D. Alcobilla, section chief of Agribusiness and Industry Support Services (AISS), stressed in her message that the knowledge and information exchanged during the event will lead BPMS
administrators to ensure a more reliable and responsive implementation of the program in Northern Mindanao.

In response to the issues and concerns reported by data contributors concerning 11 public markets in the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental, the AMAD-AISS provided recommendations and suggestions to effectively address the same.

Moreover, three top-performing data contributors of the BPMS were also recognized, such as from the local government units of Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental, San Fernando in Bukidnon, and Gingoog City, in Misamis Oriental.

The event was supported by the Provincial Operations Center – Bukidnon represented by Engr. Arlene Almo, and AMAD staff. (GDA)

Valencia City receives award for pop, dev’t program

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In a ceremony held at Chali Beach Resort in Cagayan de Oro City on November 16, 2023, the City of Valencia was honored with the 2023 Regional Kaunlarang Pantao Award for their exceptional efforts in advancing the Philippine Population and Development Program (PPDP)

The award, formerly known as the Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award, is a recognition program organized by the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) to acknowledge the significant contributions of partners in achieving the goals and objectives of the PPDP.

Valencia City, known for its commitment to improving the lives of its residents, secured First Place in the City Level category.

The city was presented with a plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P40,000 in recognition of their outstanding achievements.

Furthermore, the Population and Development Division of the City Social Welfare and Development Office was also acknowledged for its efforts in implementing a functional Information and Service Delivery Network for the Adolescent Health and Development Program.

Population Program Officer III, Ms. Ruby A. Revilla, and Social Welfare Assistant, Ms. Hanilyn M. Canato, were individually recognized and awarded plaques for their dedication and commitment to the implementation of the PPDP and Adolescent Health Program in Valencia City.

This remarkable achievement serves as a testament to the unwavering support of the City Government, led by City Mayor Azucena P. Huervas, in empowering the Filipino people, particularly the Valencianos. (PR)

DA-PRDP, World Bank, EU visit IREAP enterprise in Damulog for 16th ISM

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DAMULOG, Bukidnon – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project, together with the World Bank (WB) and the European Union (EU) visited the Crumb Rubber Processing and Marketing Enterprise subproject of the Migcawayan Tribal Agricultural
Cooperative (MTAC) on November 16, 2023, as part of the 16th Implementation Support Mission (ISM)

Bukidnon Governor Rogelio Neil Roque welcomed the WB and the EU team to the province of Bukidnon and thanked them for their assistance to MTAC and the province.

Mio Takada, WB Task Team Leader to PRDP said that the main objective of the mission is to hear from the proponent group on their preparation for the implementation of the given subproject, which includes addressing their apprehensions and constraints and providing direction to the group.

Further, the apprehensive about constraints that they are facing so they can address and provide direction for them.

Meanwhile, Mojca Krisper-Figueroa, EU Programme Manager, is glad that the EU was able to join the ISM for the first time and visit the subproject site.

“It’s great that the existing facilities are running, and there is enhanced workforce labor and enhanced price increase in the production, which is actually good. We are happy to be here, learn from you and exchange ideas with you, and of course, if there is something that we can do for
the cooperative, we are happy to assist,” Figueroa added.

DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations and DA-PRDP Deputy Project Director (DPD) Carlota S. Madriaga affirmed the department’s commitment after noticing the perseverance, dedication, and drive of MTAC towards the success of the subproject.

Funded under DA-PRDP’s second additional financing (AF2) and European Union Co-Financing Grant, the medium enterprise proposed by MTAC has a subproject cost of Php 80,971,551.00 and will benefit greatly from the cooperative members, including a huge number of women, indigenous people, and rubber farmers in the barangay and nearby areas as it provides livelihood for them once the operation starts.

Gracing the activity are the WB team composed of Ning Bondoc, Shubham Singh, Mario Orilla, Cora Dankers, Tomas Sta. Maria, Gomer Tumbali, and Maya Villaluz, with representatives from the PRDP National Project Coordinating Office.

Also present in the activity are the Project Support Office Mindanao team led by DPD Noel Provido, the LGU of Damulog headed by Mayor Melino Buro, the Regional Project Coordinating Office 10 team, Migcawayan barangay officials, and MTAC members. (pr)