Thursday, November 28, 2024

Category: News

Mayor Inocando testifies numerous projects implemented by Zubiri’s

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MARAMAG, Bukidnon (Feb. 26) – The President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) and Cabanglasan Mayor Renante Inocando said he can attest to several projects and programs implemented in Bukidnon under the leadership of the Zubiri family.

Mayor Inocando delivered his message in a press conference held at Valle Escondida Farms, Brgy. San Miguel, Maramag on Feb. 25.

He issued the statement amid accusations that the Zubiri’s did nothing for the development of Bukidnon.

The dissemination of bad information, Inocando said, was done by the alleged political opponents of the Zubiri family though he did not name names.

Mayor Inocando said being LMP President, he has knowledge in the big improvement from the barangays, towns, and cities and in the entire province contributed by Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., third District Rep. Manuel “Manoy” F. Zubiri and even 3rd District former Rep. Jose Mari F. Zubiri III.

He mentioned the completed and on-going multi-million government facilities in the barangays up to the towns and cities.

And he said a living manifestation in this is having Bukidnon in the fifth spot in the list of richest provinces in the country in terms of assets.

Meanwhile, Cong. Manoy said the election period is still several months away. He said for the meantime, his focus is helping the poor by providing rice packs using his personal money.

“I urged my fellow businessmen and rich families to help me provide rice packs and provide a livelihood to our poor constituents who suffered most because of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Let’s be united in helping the needy,” Manoy said.

Aside from providing rice packs to the poor, Manoy also continues distributing sewing machines as a source of livelihood, distribution of solar lights, and other projects in the barangays.

ASF virus can survive in a frozen meat for a longer time – BAI official

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MALAYBALAY CITY (March 1) – The African Swine Fever (ASF) virus can survive in frozen meat for a longer period, an official of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said.

Dr. Scarlet V. Soriano of the Bureau of Animal Industry – Veterinary Quarantine Services Region 10 (BAI VQS R10) said, based on data from the Food and Agriculture European Food Authority, the ASF virus can survive in frozen meat for 1,000 days, chilled meat for 105 days, salted meat for 182 days, smoked and deboned meat- 30 days, dried meat for 300 days, skin/fat (dried) for 300 days, offal’s for 105 days, refrigerated blood for six years, blood stored at 37 ° C for one month and it will only die if the pork is cooked for 30 minutes under 70 degree Celsius heat.

Mr. Hansel T. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of Public Affairs, Information, and Assistance of the governor’s office, shared the information in a press statement on Feb. 26.

“The virus can also survive in pig dung or feces for 80 days, 45 days in urine, and 30 days in a contaminated pen. ASF quickly spreads, and so far, no vaccine or cure has been discovered. Pet pigs can be contagious to other pigs within 24 to 48 hours before symptoms are found, and there is 100 percent pig mortality,” Dr. Soriano said.

Mr. Echavez said in line with this, the Provincial Veterinary Office urged the 464 Barangay Captains of the province to set up their Bantay ASF in the Barangay and strictly enforce the set laws for the purpose that ASF will never enter Bukidnon.

He said Dr. Soriano also urged backyard swine raisers or hog breeders to enforce basic biosecurity protocol on their farm strictly.

“The Bukidnon Provincial Government continues to strictly prohibit processed goods or frozen meats made from pork, such as chorizo, longganisa, ham, and bacon, from entering the province to prevent the ASF virus from infecting,” Mr. Echavez said.

He also said the Provincial Government is preparing for a possible ASF outbreak through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVet) by creating a workshop/action plan to develop joint actions/plans, activities, and procedures in the two cities and 20 towns in Bukidnon.

According to the latest information, the boundary barangays of Macasandig, Mambuaya, San Simon, Baikingon, Agusan, Upper Puerto, Tablon, and Patag in Cagayan de Oro are ASF positive. And more recently, the town of Loreto, Agusan Del Sur, is also positive, which a boundary in Cabanglasan, Bukidnon.

Mr. Echavez said people must be vigilant at all times. In case of getting information on suspected ASF cases, it must be reported immediately to the established hotline numbers of the Provincial Veterinary Office 0917-310-7439 and PGO-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division number 0917-765-9016.

Valencia records 13th COVID-19 related death

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MALAYBALAY CITY (March 03) – Another resident of the city has died due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related complications on March 2.

The fatality is confirmed case no. 548, a 67-year old female, a resident of Purok 6, Brgy. Laligan, with no travel history and experienced shortness of breathing.

She was one of the 22 confirmed cases reported on Feb. 18.

Mr. Sammy Langub, information officer of the city government, on March 3, said the senior citizen died while under medical care at Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC) in Malaybalay City.

He disclosed that the 13th fatality was buried at the New City Public Cemetery in Purok 4, Brgy. Poblacion on March 2, the day she died.

As of March 2, Valencia has recorded total confirmed cases of 589 with 32 active cases due to 11 new cases, 544 total recoveries, and 13 deaths.

Meanwhile, Mr. Langub said Valencia is a pilot in the first inoculation program of the government. He said, most likely, the vaccination for health frontliners in the city will be held next week upon the arrival of the vaccines.

On March 1, the national government has started the first inoculation program in Manila using the Sinovac vaccine donated by China government. The 600,000 doses of the vaccine delivered in the country on Feb. 28.

The national government said the vaccine intended for Mindanao will be delivered in Davao City on March 5 to 6.

Mr. Langub said they are expecting that from Davao City, the vaccines will be transported to Valencia City soon.

DICT installs 99 access points on Free Wi-Fi in Bukidnon

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MALAYBALAY CITY (March 03) – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has mounted 99 access points on Free Wi-Fi in Bukidnon.

Mr. Hansel T. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of Public Affairs, Information, and Assistance of the office of the Governor, said it was installed at the 44 local sites in the province within 19 local government units (LGUs).

He said the virtual launching of Bukidnon Free Wi-Fi sites took place on March 2 through a teleconferencing platform using the Zoom App and was also seen through live streaming on the official Facebook account of DICT in Region 10.

Echavez disclosed that in Bukidnon, the Wi-Fi hotspots of the 19 local government units are in plazas, schools, hospitals, and administration buildings.

He clarified that the said LGUs are the towns of Baungon, Cabanglasan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Kibawe, Kitaotao, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Pangantucan, Quezon, San fernando, Sumilao, Talakag and Malaybalay City.

Echavez added that Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri, Jr. expressed his gratitude to DICT through provincial administrator Atty. Jay S. Albarece.

He said the governor was glad about the 44 public Wi-Fi hotspots but asked the department further to improve the internet speed of the established hotspots, build more sites to expand their coverage, and the majority can avail the Free Wi-Fi for the desired “Internet for All” in the Philippine Digital Strategy.

LANDBANK opens first offsite ATM and CDM Center in Mindanao

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DAMULOG, Bukidnon, Feb. 26 (PIA)— The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) recently launched in Damulog, Bukidnon, its first-ever offsite Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and Cash Deposit Machine (CDM) Center in Mindanao.

LANDBANK Don Carlos Branch Head Grace C. De Leon and Damulog town Mayor Melino L. Buro led the official inaugural ceremony of the said banking facility that will cater to communities in the southern part of Bukidnon and North Cotabato areas, as well as other municipalities under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“This ATM and CDM Center aims to further strengthen LANDBANK’s presence in the unbanked and underserved municipalities by offering access to innovative and convenient banking services,” De Leon said.

She said the ATM and CDM Center was established through the local government unit (LGU) support, which constructed the building that houses the terminals and granted free use of space and utility provision for the next 20 years.

As of 15 February 2021, LANDBANK has a total of 2,316 ATMs and 168 CDMs nationwide.

For more updates, please Follow, Like, and Share the official LANDBANK Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube accounts (@landbankofficial), Twitter (@LBP_Official), and join our Viber community (@LANDBANK), or visit the LANDBANK website www.landbank.com. (LBP/PIA Bukidnon).

Ultramodern sports complex soon to rise in Kibawe

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Ultramodern sports complex soon to rise in Kibawe.

Mayor Reynaldo S. Ang Rabanes, in an interview, said this P32 million project features multiple rubberized racing fields, a central pavilion, and dedicated amenities for both players and spectators, which can be used for several other types of sports events requiring multi-purpose fields.

“Grateful thanks are extended to Rep. Manuel ‘Manoy’ F. Zubiri of Bukidnon 3rd District and DPWH Engineer Liberato Tan Jr. for facilitating the construction of this modern sports complex. The Kibaweños envisioned this to serve as a well-equipped facility for athletic activities to encourage and unleash the youth’s potentials and attract more investors,” the mayor said.

Department of Education (DepEd) Bukidnon 3rd District Supervisor Nilo F. Dumapias, meanwhile, described the sports complex as a tournament-quality sports complex that will host hundreds of top youth and amateur events and will attract not only sports tournaments but also showcase training academies.

Located adjacent to Kibawe Central School, the facility’s construction had kicked off early last month. The groundbreaking ceremony was also graced by Project Engr. Isabelita Balba, Resident Engr. Art Leroi Laure, LGU officials, and Kibawe Central Elementary School faculty (DPWH10/PIA Bukidnon).

SMC to close Monterey piggeries in Bukidnon

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MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb. 04) – San Miguel Corp. (SMC) management has decided to shut down all of its Monterey affiliated piggeries in Bukidnon due to African Swine Fever (ASF) that hits Luzon.

Mr. Hansel D. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of Public Affairs, Information and Assistance (PAIA) Division of the provincial Governor’s Office said, Mr. Christopher Pangga, regional operations Manager of San Miguel Foods, Inc., confirmed the information to members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon at the August body’s regular session held at the SP Session Hall in the city on Feb. 2.

“Pangga disclosed that the last and final breeding period in their affiliated piggeries will be this March 1,” Echavez said.

Echavez said Atty. Nemesio N. Beltran Jr., the second legislative district provincial board member, called the presence of SMC officials, hog raisers, and other government officials to give clarification on the recent condition of the swine industry in the province.

“Mr. Pangga said the closure is the effect of ASF that hits Luzon that also affects their operation in Bukidnon aside from the difficulty they experienced in managing their business due to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic,” the PAIA chief said.

Echavez said Pangga clarified that only their piggery operation is affected while their poultry operations in the province will continue.

He said hog raisers are deeply saddened by the company’s decision, which will greatly affect their investments and employees.

“Mr. Raul Valmores, the provincial head of DOLE-Bukidnon Provincial Field Office, said they are ready to assist the affected employees in the hog raising industry,” Echavez said.

He said Dr. Nancy V. Diez; provincial veterinarian disclosed that Region 10 has a total of 1,059,320 swine comprising 604,132 from backyard farms and 455,188 from commercial farms.

Diez said backyard swine farms in Bukidnon had contributed 212,946 heads in the region, while 397,653 were traded from commercial farms.

Diez cited the figure based on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Survey in 2020 for the total inventory of the Swine Population in the region.

Echavez said if SMC’s plan to stop their piggery operations in Bukidnon will continue, a big impact on pork prices is expected in the province.

In line with this, he said the 13 Provincial Veterinary Sanitation Checkpoints will continue to be closely monitored. That is in accordance with Executive Order No. 35, series of 2020 issued by Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr., dated August 18, 2020, not to include pork, pork as well as pork by-products to avoid the entry of ASF here in Bukidnon.

132 villages in Bukidnon to benefit P115M COVID-19 response projects

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MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb. 08) – A total of 132 barangays from six towns in Bukidnon will benefit a total of P115 million coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response projects this year.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office 10 in its Facebook Post said, the projects are under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-National Community-Driven Development Program (Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP).

Still adopting the Disaster Response Operations Procedure (DROP) to fast-track pandemic response, the World Bank’s funding is intended to implement the Community-Based Response for COVID (CBRC) projects in Bukidnon.

The DSWD regional office 10 said five towns are set to implement CBRC in the first semester this year, such as Dangcagan, Maramag (new Kalahi-CIDSS areas), Damulog, Don Carlos, and Kadingilan.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Kitaotao will follow on the second semester also this year.

This includes the construction or rehabilitation of isolation facilities/health centers, purchase of medical supplies, tools, and equipment, repair of water systems, and economic recovery efforts such as cash for work projects, construction of roads, pre and post-harvest facilities, and others.

DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS uses the Community-Driven Development (CDD) approach in empowering the community to identify and implement projects they needed most, especially during this pandemic.

Social preparation activities are ongoing led by the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO) with its Area Coordinating Teams in place for this year’s program implementation.

Besides CBRC projects, DSWD Kalahi-CIDSS-X is also implementing community-led projects among Indigenous Peoples (IPs) under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) IP-CDD modality.

Moreover, the RPMO sets its eyes on implementing CDD projects for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) Program this year under the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KKB) modality.

DA-10, CMU pushes for higher yield, productivity thru hybrid rice technology

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MARAMAG, BUKIDNON – The Hybridization Program aims to increase farm efficiency to attain rice sufficiency through hybrid rice; the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), together with Central Mindanao University (CMU), led a ceremonial planting for the Hybrid Rice Derby.

Representing DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado, Audy G. Maagad, officer-in-charge, Field Operations Division, highlighted the benefits of using hybrid rice on Feb. 4 in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon.

Maagad shared that hybrid rice is a good option for farmers to increase production, producing as much as 10-12 tons per hectare.

“With hybrid rice and the use of farm mechanization in land preparation, transplanting, and harvesting, the production cost is reduced while the yield increases, thus rice farmers get to earn more,” the DA official added.

CMU provided the 33-hectare farmland for seed companies to plant, where each of them is provided with three hectares to showcase their best varieties, including their respective cultural management practices and other technologies to enhance rice productivity.

This will then be displayed in a technology demonstration, so farmers can determine which variety is best suited for their respective areas.

Meanwhile, CMU President Jesus Antonio G. Derije said their institution welcomes opportunities to achieve rice sufficiency in the country.

“We want to be of help in producing rice to address the shortage and to produce more harvest because rice is a basic commodity that Filipinos need,” Derije said.

He underscored; they are one with the department in achieving the production of quality rice.

Said derby was participated by seed companies, which include Bayer, Dosepco, SL Agritech, Leads Agri, Ramgo, LongPin, Corteva, Syngenta, Bioseed, and Seed works, including DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute.

“With them [seed companies] responding to our call, it shows the strong collaboration of our public-private partnership, especially in this time of the pandemic, where Bayanihan is very much needed,” Maagad said.

Also present in the Rice Derby are DA-10 and CMU officials and staff, representatives from the seed companies, and farmers from the different towns of Bukidnon. # (CSeraspe)

45 FCAs in Bukidnon to get 270 farm machines

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MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb. 10) – The 45 Farmer’s Cooperatives and Association (FCAs) in Bukidnon will be given a total of 270 units of agricultural machineries worth ₱150,190,000.00 from the Department of Agriculture Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (DA-PhilMech).

Mr. Hansel D. Echavez, supervising administrative officer of the Public Affairs, Information, and Assistance (PAIA) Division of the provincial Governor’s Office said, it will be held on Feb. 12 at Kaamulan Open Theater, Kaamulan Park, Malaybalay City.

He said machineries include 38 units of four-wheel tractor, 43 units of hand tractor, 63 units of floating tiller, two units of precision seeder, 23 units of walk-behind transplanter, three units of riding type transplanter, 30 units of rice reaper, 25 units of cobine harvester, 27 units of mechanical thresher, one unit of recirculating dryer and 15 units of mobile rice mill.

“The DA-PhilMech and the Provincial Government of Bukindon will distribute the said agricultural machineries to 45 identified FCA beneficiaries from the towns of Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Impasugong, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Damulog, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Lantapan, Don Carlos, Kitaotao, Maramag, Quezon, Kalilangan, Talakag, Kibawe and the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia,” Echavez said.

He said beneficiary CFAs are reminded to send only two representatives to receive the machineries to maintain and observe the imposed minimum public health protocols against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

He added that the farm machineries’ distribution is in accordance with the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) – Mechanization Program.

The RCEF program, through the Rice Ratification Law, was created by the national government to improve the competitiveness and income of rice farmers amid the liberalization of Philippine rice marketing policy, if it is considered a yield and rice is the country’s food, which is why the government is pushing for it to fully achieve rice security in the Philippines.