Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Category: News

Bivalent vaccines launched in Normin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–To further boost the protection of healthcare workers and senior citizens in Northern Mindanao, the Department of Health Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) officially launched the COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccination drive for Northern Mindanao, June 29

The bivalent vaccine, produced by Pfizer Pharmaceutical, contains the original strain of COVID-19 with an added strain of the omicron component BA.4-5 for better prevention of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant of SARS-COV-2.

“As a matter of principle, since there is a limitation on supply, we prioritize the health workers (A1) and senior citizens (A2). We have an initial allocation of about 16,440 doses for Northern Mindanao for its initial

implementation,” DOH-10 Regional Director Jose R. Llacuna, Jr. said.

With the arrival of the vaccines, two launch sites were established by the health department to officially kick off the bivalent vaccination implementation, namely, the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) and Sitio Macanhan, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City.

Despite the limited number of vaccines, Llacuna has assured the healthcare workers in NMMC that additional supplies are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and that bivalent immunization will commence in the different areas of the region.

“We will wait for about four to six months after the second [booster] dose before those will qualify for the bivalent dose,” Llacuna added.

Meanwhile, with the launch of bivalent vaccination in Cagayan de Oro City, the city government has fully supported the program. Hundreds of senior citizens have lined up for the third booster dose at the vaccination site.

As the campaign for the third booster dose commences, both DOH-10 and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro City urge all senior citizens to avail themselves of the program to protect them against COVID-19 further. (JAKA/PIA-10)

2 NPA members die in clash with army troops in Surigao del Sur and Bukidnon

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MANILA, Philippines — Two alleged members of the communist New People’s Army were killed in separate encounters in Surigao del Sur and Bukidnon over the weekend, the Philippine Army said on Monday

On Saturday, July 8, elements of the 36th Infantry Battalion of the 901st Infantry Brigade clashed with eight

suspected NPA members in Sitio Libas, Barangay Sibahay in Lanuza town, Surigao del Sur.

This led to the death of a suspected rebel identified as Risam Gonzales Gam, also known as Kim or Miguel. Troops also captured one M653 Assault Rifle at the encounter site.

On Friday, July 7, the 43rd Division Reconnaissance Company of the 403rd Infantry Brigade also figured in two separate encounters with elements of suspected communist rebels in Barangay Bontongon, Impasugong town in Bukidnon province.

The firefights, which lasted for about 30 minutes each, resulted in the death of an unidentified male communist and the capture of one M4A1 5.56mm carbine rifle and one M14 7.62mm rifle. (Inquirer.net)

Rebels in Bukidnon surrender

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CAMP ALAGAR, Cagayan de Oro City: Forty-three members of the outlawed New People’s Army (NPA) yielded to Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in a Saturday acceptance ceremony

During the ceremony, Acorda led the oath of loyalty of the surrendered communist rebels, who vowed to support the government’s efforts to end the insurgency in Northern Mindanao.

The PNP chief commended the surrenderers for their courage in denouncing the communist propaganda that ruined the lives of innocent people in a war of deception and notoriety.

“I am confident that your decision to return to mainstream society will encourage others in the hills to come down and lay down their arms for us to attain lasting peace, development, and progress in our communities,” Acorda said.

The 43 surrenderers, all under the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) based in Bukidnon, also led law enforcers in recovering a cache of 15 high-powered firearms buried in Talakag, Bukidnon. (The Manila Times)

3 Bukidnon people’s organizations receive P750,000 livelihood aid

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THREE people’s organizations (POs) in Malitbog town, Bukidnon, have received P750,000 worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Northern Mindanao

The recipient organizations, who received P250,000 worth of livelihood kits on July 3, 2023, were San Migara Tingag United Women’s Association (SMITUWA), Sitio Logdeck Higaonon Farmers Association (SILOHFA), and

Sitio Victory Higaonon Farmers Association (SVHFA).

The livelihood kits, provided through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), are for their consumer store, rice trading business, and agrivet and farm supply store, respectively.

According to the 16th Infantry Battalion, these POs were formerly organized sectors of the Communist-NPA Terrorists (CNT) in isolated communities.

Mario Senagonia, president of the SVHFA, expressed his gratitude to DOLE-Northern Mindanao, the 16IB, and the local government unit of Malitbog, who collaborated with DOLE to grant and facilitate their livelihood project.

Senagonia added that the kits will create more jobs and provide sustainable income to the members of their organization.

Earlier this year, DOLE-Northern Mindanao handed over P360,000 worth of livelihood kits to former rebels and another P375,000 worth of livelihood kits to the parents of child laborers. (Sunstar)

Ex-Bukidnon solon, cohort face 70 years in jail for PDAF scam

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A former congressman from Bukidnon and a private individual face up to 70 years in prison for misuse of the politician’s pork barrel in 2007 and 2008

The Sandiganbayan affirmed the conviction of former Bukidnon Rep. Candido P. Pancrudo Jr. and private individual Johanne Edward Labay for the misuse of Pancrudo’s P36.9 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In a resolution issued on July 10, 2023, the anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Pancrudo on April 28 and Labay on April 29.

Both asked the anti-graft court to reverse its April 14, 2023 decision that found them guilty of eight counts of graft, four counts of malversation of public funds, and four counts of malversation through falsification of public documents.

Pancrudo and Labay were meted out imprisonment ranging from six to 10 years for each graft count, banned perpetually from holding public office, and ordered to pay P36.9 million as civil liability.

For the four counts of malversation of public funds, they were sentenced to a total prison term of 48 to 70 years with a fine of P32.8 million each.

In the malversation of public funds through falsifying public documents, jail terms ranging from six to 13 years for each count and a fine of P4.1 million each were imposed by the anti-graft court.

Pancrudo and Labay, in their motions for reconsideration, said that the prosecution failed to prove their guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

But the Sandiganbayan said it found no valid reason to reconsider or modify its decision, saying, “The arguments raised by the accused have already been considered and passed upon by the court when it rendered the decision mentioned above.”

The criminal cases against Pancrudo and Labay arose from releasing the former’s PDAF to the non-government organization (NGO) FarmerBusiness Development Corporation (FDC) to implement livelihood projects in Pancrudo’s district.

However, the prosecutors said there were several anomalies, such as the failure to conduct public bidding and that FDC needed to be an accredited foundation and had no legal authority to implement the livelihood projects.

Second Division Chairperson Oscar C. Herrera Jr. wrote the eight-page resolution. Associate Justices Arthur O. Malabaguio, Rafael R. Lagos, and Lorifel L. Pahimna concurred, while Associate Justice Michael Frederick L.

Musngi dissented. (Manila Standard)

Construction begins on trading post in Malaybalay City

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The construction of a trading post in Purok 2, Barangay 9, Malaybalay City, has commenced, marking a significant milestone for the city’s economic development. With an allocated budget of Php 5 million, the project aims to enhance the local trading system and promote inclusive food supply chains

The trading post, which is being implemented and funded under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Enhanced Kadiwa Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program, will serve as a central hub for farmers, vendors, and consumers to engage in trade.

SOV Builders and Construction Supply Corporation, the contractor responsible for the project, has been awarded a contract amounting to Php 3,937,554.24. The project is expected to be completed within the stipulated timeframe of 135 calendar days.

The Notice to Proceed was issued on June 23, 2023, giving the contractor the green light to initiate construction activities. The trading post is expected to be fully operational by November 4, 2023.

The trading post will facilitate transactions between farmers and buyers and promote direct consumer engagement. This will give consumers access to fresh, locally sourced produce while supporting the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in the city.

The construction of the trading post aligns with the government’s commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and inclusive economic development. Through the Enhanced Kadiwa Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program, the DA, in coordination with partner agencies, aims to empower farmers, improve food security, and enhance market

access for agricultural products. (LGU Malaybalay)

9 Northern Mindanao cops axed

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MANILA, Philippines — Nine policemen were relieved from their posts in connection with the death of their colleague whose body was found floating in a river in Wao, Lanao del Sur

The policemen, who are with the Regional Mobile Force Battalion’s 1004th Maneuver Company, were disarmed and placed under restrictive custody, Northern Mindanao police spokesperson Maj. Joann Navarro said in a phone interview.

Navarro said one of the policemen is a lieutenant, while the rest are non-commissioned officers. They were said to be the last people seen with Cpl. Jeffrey Dabuco on the day he disappeared.

Initial investigation showed Dabuco attended a party at a patrol base in Barangay Pamotolon in Kalilangan on June 23 at around 1:30 a.m.

Navarro said probers have information on the possible reasons behind Dabuco’s death but did not give details. (Philstar.net)

MSU-IIT student wins Brightest Buwis Master reg’l tilt

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–A student from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology emerged as the regional champion of the search for the Philippines’ Brightest Buwis Masters (PBBM) of 2023

Al Rajhie Papandayan, a second-year BS Accountancy student, aced 12 other college students in the final round of the tax quiz competition.

As the regional champion, Papandayan will advance to the national level on July 28 at the BIR national office in Quezon City. Here, the grand champion, first runner-up, and second runner-up will each receive plaques of recognition and cash prizes. Their respective schools will also receive an award to celebrate their success.

The search for tax quiz champs nationwide is part of the tax awareness campaign of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which aims to enhance the knowledge of the youth sector, who are future taxpayers, on the country’s tax laws and regulations and other tax matters.

In Northern Mindanao, the regional search was spearheaded by BIR Revenue Region (RR)-16 with the support of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

It was held at the BIR-RR16 office on July 3, with 49 participating college students who were put to the test through tax-related quizzes specifically focused on income, value-added, and percentage taxes, as well as the taxpayers’ registration requirements.

Of the 49, the top 12 were selected to partake in the final face-off. It had three rounds (easy, average, and difficult), each with ten questions.

Papandayan was declared the champion, with Cristine Jane Oppus as the first runner-up and Joan Marinay as the second runner-up. Both runners-up are from Central Mindanao University (CMU).

Aside from MSU-IIT and CMU, other participating schools were Bukidnon State University, Cagayan de Oro College-PHINMA, Capitol University, Christ the King College, La Salle University Ozamiz, Liceo de Cagayan, and Lourdes College. (APB/PIA-10)

Northern Mindanao struggles to offset tax share cuts in post-pandemic recovery

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CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – The COVID-19 pandemic global health emergency may have ended, but its impact is far from over in Northern Mindanao, where local governments are now scrambling to look for more revenue sources to offset double-digit reductions in their tax shares from the national government

ocal governments in the region are receiving 15% less this year compared to the amount of National Tax Allotment (NTA) released to them by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in 2022.

Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal disclosed the reduced NTA in his second state-of-the-province address at the Seafront Arena in Oroquieta City on Saturday, July 1.

Oaminal’s announcement was based on Local Budget Memorandum No. 87, which the DBM released on June 9, indicating that the NTA for Misamis Occidental this year is about P1.552 billion.

This figure is 14.8% or roughly P271 million lower than the P1.823 billion which the province received in tranches in 2022.

Oaminal blamed the NTA reduction on the COVID-19 pandemic, which crippled economic activities throughout the country and affected government revenues starting in March 2020.

The DBM computed this year’s NTA based on tax collections three years ago.

“As we all know, most local government units, with the exception of highly urbanized cities like Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro, are NTA-dependent,” said the governor, urging all those present to “make our tourism vibrant for us to generate more revenues.”

This year’s reduced tax share is even more apparent in Cagayan de Oro City, with its share reduced by over P404 million from 2022’s P2.759 billion.

Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy, backed by an ordinance, granted tax relief to delinquent real property and business taxpayers and offered incentives for early and advanced payments of tax obligations. Cagayan de Oro’s 2023 annual budget is over P7.5 billion.

So far, the City Treasurer’s Office has collected P576 million in tax delinquencies and advanced tax payments, aiming to generate about P5.41 billion from local revenues on top of its NTA.

Northern Mindanao’s NTA this year, as indicated in DBM Local Budget Memorandum No. 87, is P36.111 billion, which is 14.6% lower than 2022’s P42.307 billion or a difference of P6.2 billion.

Reductions in NTAs have also started to affect the provincial governments of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Oriental, as well as their cities, municipalities, and barangays.

Under Section 284 of the Local Government Code of 1991, local governments are entitled to a 40% share in the national internal revenue taxes based on the collection of the third fiscal year preceding the current fiscal year.

When the law was implemented, all local governments started receiving Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA) – now called NTA – from the DBM.

In its April 10, 2019 resolution in the case of “Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas et al. vs. Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., et al.” (Mandanas-Garcia case), the Supreme Court en banc declared the phrase “internal revenue” unconstitutional.

The SC also ordered the secretaries of finance and budget and management, the commissioners of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs, and the National Treasurer to include all collections of national taxes in the computation of the base for the just share of the local governments.

Starting in 2022, the phrase “National Tax Allotment” was used instead of “Internal Revenue Allotment” as a result of the ruling.

Based on certifications from collecting agencies, the DBM calculates and allocates the share of local governments using the formula under Section 285 of the Local Government Code.

The DBM then issues a local budget memorandum no later than June 15 of the current fiscal year to inform the local governments of their respective NTA shares. These NTA shares serve as the basis for the preparation of local government annual budgets. (Rappler.com)

Flood-stricken Bukidnon folk to receive P11-M gov’t aid — Romualdez

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MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has assured flood-hit residents of Bukidnon that a P11 million assistance package from the government is on the way

Romualdez, in a statement on Thursday, said that he and his wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, have mustered P11 million — P10 million from the payouts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, and P500,000 each for cash assistance and relief goods.

The cash assistance and relief aid came from Romualdez’s personal relief funds. He also said that the distribution of the aid was done with the help of Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores.

“We are united with the province of Bukidnon during this time of need. With the steady resolve of Congressman Jonathan and Congresswoman Yedda, hope that the flood victims would be able to get back on their feet sooner than later,” the House Speaker said.

According to the latest figures, 6,810 families were displaced by the flooding that started last June 21. These were broken down into the following:

482 families in Highway Cabangahan; 941 in Aglayan; 265 in San Jose; 401 in Bangcud; 636 in Sinanglanan; 462 in Violeta; 537 in Sto. Niño; 1,386 in Managok; 821 in Simaya; and 879 in San Martin.

The Speaker’s office said the P10 million AICS program would be distributed starting next week.

Flores meanwhile thanked the Romualdez couple and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre for their assistance.

“I would like to commend the Speaker, Congresswoman Yedda, and Congressman Jude Acidre for their assistance,” Flores said.

Flores also said that he intends to utilize the P500,000 cash assistance from the Speaker to buy goods for a community pantry — similar to what Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo did to the funds from Romualdez, given for the welfare of Albay residents who evacuated due to the Mayon Volcano’s activity. (Inquirer.net)