Friday, November 22, 2024

Category: News

NTC-10 accelerates SIM reg with free Wi-Fi caravan in NorMin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO — To avoid the mandated deactivation of unregistered SIM cards of citizens from remote areas of the Philippines, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has organized a caravan to accelerate the SIM registration scale in Northern Mindanao

The NTC has teamed up with SMART Telecom to offer free Wi-Fi at the caravan. This is to help people in the area who can’t register their SIM cards because they don’t have access to the internet.

The caravan will make its way through 40 priority areas identified by the NTC for SIM registration. Four out of these 40 areas have just recently been covered; the schedule of the succeeding areas is yet to be announced.

Aside from the caravan, SMART Telecom also helps people register their SIM cards in their Cagayan de Oro stores.

“Tanan nato SMART stores dinhi maka-assist sa atong mga kauban. Kung wala mo’y smartphone, sa mga booth nato, naa ta’y gamiton nga cellphone para sa photo pero dili na namo ma-keep sa among phone because the whole process is done dadto sa website so dili siya ma-save sa phone; just an assurance for data privacy,” Said Judee Chaves, Mindanao relations head of Smart Communications, Inc. during the Talakayan sa PIA at SM Downtown CDO, February 7.

(All our SMART stores here [Cagayan de Oro] can assist our registrants. We have cellphones at our booths if you don’t have a smartphone; however, because the entire process is done on the website, your photo [and other data] will not be saved in the phone; this is just a privacy assurance)

At the same event, Vixter Abaday, telecom engineer of NTC, clarified that the purpose of the caravan is to help those in far-flung areas, especially those who struggle with internet access, register their SIMs with the assistance of the NTC and SMART Telecom.

“Kung kita nga naa ta’y access sa internet, there’s no need na nga muadto [sa caravan]. Kung naa ta’y Wi-Fi or naa tay data, pwede ra ta makarehistro. Kaning [caravan] sa mga remote areas, that is supposedly intended para sa mga subscribers nga wala’y access sa internet—galisod og access sa internet. Mao man ang katuyuan kay unsaon ug parehistro kung wala sila’y access sa internet?” said Abaday.

(If we have access to the internet, there’s no need to go to the caravan. If we have Wi-Fi or mobile data, we can already register. This caravan in remote areas is ostensibly intended for subscribers who do not have or are having difficulty gaining access to the internet. This is the point, because how can people register if they don’t have access to the internet?)

They both further confirmed that the SIM registration assistance is open to all Telecom subscribers. (TAAG/PIA-10)

Army scores vs. NPA in Bukidnon after community dialogue

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Army’s 88th Infantry Battalion (88IB) scored anew against the communist rebels in Bukidnon province several days after government troops reached out to communities for dialogues

In a statement on Tuesday, Col. Christian James Vingno, the 88IB commander, said ground troops encountered remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) led by a certain Bernon Sinunta of Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Peddler in a firefight earlier this month.

The Feb. 5 encounter in Barangay Nakabuklad, San Fernando town in Bukidnon led to the discovery of the NPA’s hideout and the seizure of various war materiel.

Seized from the area were two cartridge links of 5.56mm ammunition; two rolls of electrical wires for improvised explosive devices; rice; personal belongings; and other NPA documents.

Three days before the encounter, Vingno said the 88IB conducted a “peace dialogue” with the residents to encourage them to continue their support for the peace and development program of the government and not to allow the NPA to infiltrate their peaceful community.

“I am again calling the attention of the remaining members of NPA operating in our area of operation to come down and avail the program of the government. Start a new life and leave peacefully with your family,” he said.

The 88IB, a unit of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, credited its successful operations against the NPA to the civilians’ cooperation. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

DILG chief vows to probe drug trades in jails

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will launch a deeper probe into the illegal drug trade in jail facilities after receiving information about similar incidents in Northern Mindanao

In a media conference here Monday, DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. vowed that through the agency’s “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA), incidents of illegal drugs proliferating in jail facilities will end.

“Let us see how to go about it; in the meantime, part of our program is to intensify drug testing (even for government personnel),” Abalos said.

Abalos was joined by officials of the Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 10 in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental province, to lead local activities related to the DILG’s anti-drug campaign.

Abalos said the DILG also considers the mandatory use of surveillance cameras in “sensitive areas” to ensure no persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are being taken out to trade illegal drugs.

“We will look into the reports of cellphones (being used to communicate outside the jail),” he added.

Between 2019 and 2022, the Misamis Oriental provincial jail based in this city reported incidents involving PDLs caught engaging in illegal drugs with the help of outsiders.

Misamis Oriental Governor Pedro Unabia said he supports the DILG’s anti-drug programs.

During Monday’s event with Abalos, PRO-10 also raised awareness of the revitalized “Kasimbayanan” program, which stands for “Kapulisan, Simbahan, at Pamayanan,” that sought the police force’s partnership with religious organizations and the public against illegal drugs. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

 

PRPD capacitates LGUs on the citizens’ monitoring team for Bukidnon sub-projects

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VALENCIA CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10), together with the Project Support Office Mindanao (PSO Mindanao) conducts the Citizens Monitoring Team (CMT) training for the local government units (LGUs) in Bukidnon with ongoing PRDP subprojects (SPs) on January 31 to February 3, 2023, in this city

Joseph Rico, PSO Mindanao monitoring and evaluation unit head said that the training aims to enable the involved LGUs, including the citizens and beneficiaries of different SPs to learn the process and mechanisms of monitoring them.

Rico stressed that the CMT training will ensure proper subproject implementation in accordance with the policies and guidelines set by the World Bank.

Meanwhile, DA-Regional Project Coordination Office 10 headed by OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado encouraged the attendees to exercise their roles as watchdogs of SPs.

“Being the co-owner of SPs, it is your responsibility to monitor the construction which should be aligned to the World Bank policies and guidelines and ensure its quality, durability, and sustainability.”

The participants are expected to be equipped with skills in monitoring the phases of SPs and to recommend corrective actions, should there be any.

Present are representatives from the LGUs of Manolo Fortich, Lantapan, and Valencia City, Bukidnon. (DA RFO-10)

DOLE Bukidnon, PESO Malaybalay conducts Livelihood Orientation, Profiling

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The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bukidnon conducted the Livelihood and Child Labor Prevention & Elimination Program Orientation and Profiling on January 24, 2023, at People’s Hall, New City Hall, Casisang, Malaybalay City

The participants are forty (40) Parents of Child Laborers beneficiaries. Individual cases of the beneficiaries have been assessed purposely to identify the needs of children and their families. Also present are the three (3) potential association beneficiaries for Livelihood Program.

DOLE Provincial Director Raul L. Valmores graced the event and even shared a success story of one of their previous livelihood beneficiary. (PR)

Agri dept 10 links Bukidnon onion farmer to Cebu market

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – To meet the market’s increasing demand for red onions, the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) under the helm of OIC–Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado administered the market linkage and sale of ‘Red Pinoy’ onions to SariSuki Cebu on January 27, 2023

With help from DA’s recently turned over delivery truck to the local government of Sumilao, Bukidnon dubbed as the ‘Kadiwa on Wheels’, Joseph G. Aguilar, an onion farmer from barangay Kisolon, was able to transport 1 ton of his produce overall costing to P200K (at P200 per kilo) to the CdeO City port, which was later on shipped to Cebu.

On such initiative, RED Collado said that the agency through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) vigorously pursues the facilitation of linkages of farmers and fisherfolk enterprises (FFEs) and other agri-based MSMEs with consumer markets and institutional buyers.

Through DA’s Kadiwa displays, individuals, especially those farmers’ cooperatives, and associations (FCAs) may sell their harvest at competitive prices with an assured link to a market; thereby, ensuring the quality and freshness of their agricultural produce.

The said shipment was also assisted by the DA-Bureau of Plant Industry-Plant Quarantine Service Cagayan de Oro through its OIC-Manager, Arnold S. Dela Cruz.

Ahead of Aguilar’s Cebu market, he has also sold 1,488 kilos of red onions amounting to P431,781 to Gaisano Mall Malaybalay City on January 20. (MPMTablon/DA-10)

P5.5-M ‘drone-assisted’ reforestation set in Bukidnon

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A PHP5.5 million reforestation project to be carried out by drones is set to be implemented in the Mount Kalatungan ranges in Pangantucan, Bukidnon province this year

Ritchie Guno, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provincial director for Bukidnon, said the collaboration between the local government of Pangantucan and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) involves the use of specialized drones to reforest targeted areas.

“The reforestation project will cover four hectares of Mt. Kalatungan ranges (out of the 21,000 hectares). DOST allocated PHP1.2 million, but the counterpart of the LGU is PHP3.3 million, and PAMB worth PHP1.1 million,” Guno said in an interview last February 01, 2023.

The project will be carried out by the forestry firm Galansiyang, which was one of the DOST-incubated startup firms whose founders were students of Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology.

Guno said Galansiyang already had clients in other Mindanao regions, yielding an average of 80 to 90 percent success rate in reforesting land areas with the use of drones.

In drone-assisted planting, seeds are processed to become “seed balls,” to be loaded in the drone container and dispersed in the target area.

The Pangantucan project aims to train 370 participants in seed ball production — coating the seeds with soil and organic manure and has a target of 12,000 seed balls for reforestation.

Guno said the seed ball will be prepared by the community consisting of students from Bukidnon Community College, PAMB staff, and Indigenous People (IP).

Among the seeds that will be dispersed are balansihan, talingtingan, bagalug and ulayan, which are all endemic tree species referred to and approved by the PAMB.

“The seeds were based on the recommendation from CMU (Central Mindanao University) which have ample data on Mt. Kalatungan’s endemic plants,” Guno said.

Seeds will be bought from the IP communities in the area that regularly conducts seed collection straight from the source in the mountain.

Mt. Kalatungan is the Philippines’ fifth-tallest peak and home to at least 129 animal species and 342 plant species. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

NTC leads SIM reg in remote Bukidnon villages

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PANGANTUCAN, Bukidnon — Over 300 villagers, mainly from the town’s outlying areas, registered their SIM cards, on January 25, in Pangantucan, Bukidnon, as the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)-10, in partnership with Globe, Smart, and DITO telcos, launched the Facilitated Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration

This is part of the government’s nationwide SIM registration campaign, which aims to serve people living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Mayor Miguel A. Silva Jr. of Pangantucan town said SIM registration would solve the town’s problem of anonymous death threats.

“Extortion is one of the problems here in town. The blackmailer’s ploy is to demand a certain amount. If you don’t give them [extortionists] the required sum, you will receive a death threat from an unknown texter or caller,” the mayor said.

Engr. Joel Siladan, NTC-10’s Enforcement and Operations Division chief, explained that all used SIMs must be registered before the deadline to avoid SIM deactivation.

“All SIMs must be registered for continuous use because all unregistered SIMs will be electronically deactivated after the deadline, which is April 26,” Siladan said.

Atty. Joanne Marie Pacuribot of NTC-10 also emphasized that there is no penalty for unregistered SIM cards, but these will be automatically deactivated by the telecommunications companies (telcos).

Annabella Talaugon, one of those who completed the SIM card registration process, thanked the NTC for the opportunity.

“Salamat NTC sa gihatud nga serbisyo aron marehistro ang akong SIM card. Kadaghan na man gud ko nag-try sa online pero di gyud ko makasulod kay hinay kaayo ang signal didto sa among barangay. (Thank you, NTC, for allowing me to register my SIM card. I tried going online several times but was unable to connect because the signal in our barangay is extremely slow),” Talaugon said. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

Authorities investigating deaths of warty pigs in Bukidnon protected area

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MALAYBALAY CITY — At least nine warty pigs (Sus philippensis) died from still unknown causes within the Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park last year, the chief of the Protected Area Management Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Bukidnon said on January 31, 2023

The warty pigs, which are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, were found dead in three areas—Barangay Kaatuan in Lantapan town, Barangay San Vicente in Baungon town, and Barangay Mapayag in Malaybalay City—according to Protected Area Superintendent Merlita L. Tabamo.

Five of them were found dead in Kaatuan, three in September and two in November 2022. Two each were found dead in San Vicente and Mapayag, Tabamo said.

She noted that all of the nine animals showed no wounds and other indications that they were physically harmed.

Tabamo said her office had reported the incidents to the eight local government units around Mt. Kitanglad Range and Gov. Rogelio Neil Roque.

She also instructed the Kitanglad Guard Volunteers to be on alert for similar incidents during their monthly patrols.

The official added that personnel from the Provincial Veterinary Office have offered to help identify the cause of the deaths of the warty pigs. Aside from examining the carcasses of the pigs, they will also conduct tests on live ones.

Tabamo cited that based on their monitoring the warty pig population in Mt. Kitanglad Range increased in 2020 and 2021 but showed a decline in 2022.

She said if the deaths continued, it could affect the local population of the warty pigs, which play an important role in conservation by dispersing the seeds of some plant species.

She said they could not say for now that the warty pigs were infected with the African Swine Fever or another kind of virus.

Bukidnon was not included as a hotspot of the ASF after the disease infected several hogs in parts of Mindanao starting in 2019.

But as a safety measure, DENR-Bukidnon has issued an order banning the entry of swine, pork, and pork products into the park effective Feb. 1.

Tabamo said the Kitanglad Guard Volunteers will enforce the order on all visitors entering the park. (H. Marcos C. Mordeno/MindaNews)

ACE launches search for outstanding law enforcers

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) – The Alliance of Certified Enforcers (ACE), a local non-government organization, formally launches its search for CY 2023 Outstanding Law Enforcers in Mindanao, on January 18

ACE wants to honor the good work and accomplishments of law enforcement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when they had to deal with a lot of problems.

“In these challenging times, we really need to recognize the exemplary performance and achievement of our law enforcers, not only in Mindanao but the entire country as well,” says Erwin Culanag, ACE’s founding chairperson.

With the launch of the said search, various law enforcement and national government agencies, such as the Philippine National Police-10, 4th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-10, Department of the Interior and Local Government-10, Philippine Information Agency-10, and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro, expressed their appreciation and support to ACE for taking the initiative to reward the hard work and dedication that men and women in uniform had given for the country.

Being its pioneering project, ACE hopes the event will become a catalyst for further inspiring and boosting the morale of all law enforcers. The awarding ceremony will commence on February 18 during the 4th Mindanao Governance and Leadership Excellence Awards. (JAKA/PIA-10/Misamis Oriental)