Friday, February 07, 2025

Centenarian sa Valencia nakadawat og cash gifts

Isa ka centenarian nga si Apolinaria “Poling” Gapusan Caluya nga taga Barangay Sinabuagan sa Valencia City, Bukidnon, ang nakadawat sa iyang cash gifts

Personal nga gibisita si Lola Poling sa mga personahe sa Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) ug Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Sumala sa kasayoran sa city government sa Valencia, niadtong Enero 23, 2025, ilang gihatag ang mga benepisyo kang Lola Poling sa iyang pagkab-ot isip centenarian.

Nakadawat si Lola Poling og Php50,000.00 subay sa programa sa City Government of Valencia. Samtang nadawat usab niya ang P100,000.00 gikan sa DSWD subay sa Republic Act 10868 o Centenarians Act of 2016.

Nagpaabot usab og suporta ug maayong panghinaot kang Lola “Poling” si CSWD Officer Yvonne Sapanta, assistant city administrator Rembert Bautista, Kimberly Belacion sa National Commission of Senior Citizens Region 10, ug OSCA head Luz Flor Murillo. (melbmadera)Personal nga gibisita si Lola Poling sa mga personahe sa Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) ug Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Sumala sa kasayoran sa city government sa Valencia, niadtong Enero 23, 2025, ilang gihatag ang mga benepisyo kang Lola Poling sa iyang pagkab-ot isip centenarian.

Nakadawat si Lola Poling og Php50,000.00 subay sa programa sa City Government of Valencia. Samtang nadawat usab niya ang P100,000.00 gikan sa DSWD subay sa Republic Act 10868 o Centenarians Act of 2016.

Nagpaabot usab og suporta ug maayong panghinaot kang Lola “Poling” si CSWD Officer Yvonne Sapanta, assistant city administrator Rembert Bautista, Kimberly Belacion sa National Commission of Senior Citizens Region 10, ug OSCA head Luz Flor Murillo. (melbmadera)

Agri-10 4k Program nagbubo sa mga interbensyon sa agri sa IP org

Ang Department of Agriculture (DA-10), pinaagi sa programa sa Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kabayang Katutubo (4K), nihatag og duolan nga Php318,000 nga kantidad alang sa agricultural interventions sa Panasalan Dagumnaan Talaandig Tribe Association (PADATTA)

Sumala sa kasayoran sa DA-10, ang programa nagsuporta sa paghatag gahum sa mga komunidad sa mga lumad sa Northern Mindanao.

Niadtong Enero 24, 2025, sa Sitio Kawilihan, Dagumbaan, Maramag, Bukidnon, ang departamento, nga gipangulohan ni Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan pinaagi ni April Grace M. Racines, program focal person, sa kooperasyon sa Municipal Agriculture Office sa Maramag, nihatag sa unom ka carabao nga nibalor og Php300,000 ug nagkalain-laing mga binhi sa utanon nga nagkantidad og Php17,995.00 ngadto sa PADATTA, nga girepresentahan sa iyang presidente nga si Bae Vilma Morena.

Sa ilawom sa Production and Livelihood nga bahin sa Programa, ang mga probisyon sa agrikultura, nga kaniadto gikuha gikan sa research complex sa DA-10, nagtinguha sa pagpauswag sa produktibidad ug kita sa mga mag-uuma nga IP pinaagi sa pagpalambo sa mga sustainable nga negosyo sa agrikultura, pinaagi sa lig-on nga pakig-uban sa mga miyembro sa asosasyon alang sa pag-uswag sa agrikultura.

Ang maong turnover nagtimaan usab sa laing alon sa tabang sa PADATTA. Sama sa nahinumduman, niadtong Nobyembre, ang pipila ka mga napiling miyembro sa asosasyon nakasalmot sa isa ka pagbansay sa produksyon sa mais ug postharvest nga teknolohiya, nga gihimo sa Malaybalay City. (melbmadera)

Coffee stakeholders scale up NorMin’s coffee roadmap, to brand Bukidnon as Arabica capital

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10), led by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, recently convened coffee stakeholders for a public-private consultation to consolidate plans, programs, and funding for scaling up Northern Mindanao’s coffee roadmap

The consultation was attended by representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry – Region 10 (DTI-10), local government units (LGUs), farmers’ cooperatives, agribusiness enterprises, and DA Undersecretary for the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP), Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero.

DA-10’s RED Pacamalan emphasized the need for a unified direction among stakeholders to drive the development of the region’s coffee industry.

A resolution to adopt the Bukidnon Coffee Roadmap for 2025, aiming to establish the province as the Arabica capital of the country, is poised for approval, as disclosed by Kimberly A. Bacasma, senior trade-industry development specialist at DTI-10.

She also identified challenges in coffee cultivation, such as outdated methods, fragmented growers, limited marketing avenues, and insufficient financial resources for expansion as focus areas for roadmap development.

Undersecretary Natividad-Caballero recommended consolidating existing interventions at the farmer, firm, and industry levels to ensure effective operationalization.

Furthermore, the undersecretary advocated for the strategic utilization and maximization of the Competitiveness Enhancement Measures Fund (CEMF) to attract public investments.

The CEMF can fund coffee-related projects up to PhP50 million, subject to the proponents’ eligibility, with a 20% counterpart required from qualified proponents. These grants can support initiatives in production, postharvest handling, processing, marketing, infrastructure development, and the acquisition of equipment and facilities.

For its part, RED Pacamalan vowed that DA-10’s drone team would undertake drone mapping to identify coffee farming areas, determine coffee varieties, and profile the farmers operating in those areas.

“Through this digitization, we can establish baseline data to consolidate coffee farmers, which will serve as a foundation for the region’s coffee industry development over the next 2 to 3 years,” he said.

After the consultation, the executive director advocated for provincial-level dialogue to explore specific action plans, align initiatives, and identify essential government infrastructure investments for the undertaking.

Key partners and stakeholders, including Nestlé Philippines’ Coffee+Project, Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA) Ancestral Domain Investment Plans, and DTI-10’s Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (RAPID Growth) Project, shared their initiatives aligned with the Northern Mindanao Coffee Roadmap.

Also present during the consultation were DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga, HVCDP Director Joseph C. Manicad, national and regional DA personnel, and representatives from Bayanihan Millenium Multipurpose Cooperative, Kauyagan Savers Multipurpose Cooperative, Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative, MM Cares, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Harbest Agribusiness Corp., and the local government units of Misamis Oriental, Iligan City, and Bukidnon. (BJCE)

Agri-10 eyes strengthened beef cattle marketing innovations among NorMin industry stakeholders

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon — As demand for beef cattle production and marketing grows, the Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10), led by Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Y. Pacamalan, hosted a beef cattle marketing innovations seminar and workshop on January 24 to foster networking and collaboration among stakeholders

Following a memorandum from the DA Office of the Assistant Secretary highlighting the need for innovative marketing strategies and technological advancements to support the beef cattle industry, DA-10 aims to equip producers with modern marketing tools to enhance product visibility and consumer engagement.


In his message, DA Assistant Secretary for Ruminant Livestock Benjamin C. Albarece, DVM, emphasized the market’s importance as a foundation for improving livelihoods in the livestock industry.


“We are here today to address marketing challenges and explore collaboration to create effective plans that will serve as a foundation for our guidelines and policies. It is essential to hear from farmers at the grassroots level about how we can assist them,” he stated.
Guest speakers Raymund Mirabueno and Allan Noel S. Bernales

highlighted the importance of social media platforms in marketing and discussed marketable cattle breeds in the region, such as the Brahman-based bloodline.


The seminar-workshop provided a venue to navigate challenges such as changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and increased global competition, emphasizing social media’s role in the long-term success of the beef cattle industry.


Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) Market Specialist I Mariflor A. Balabat outlined key market destinations for large animals in Mindanao between September and November 2024, including Agusan del Sur with 426 heads, Davao del Sur with 195 heads, and Davao del Norte with 112 heads.


Livestock focal person Jamaica L. Docdoc presented the livestock growth rate by production volume, noting that Northern Mindanao was the top cattle-producing region in the second quarter of 2024, generating 10,635.8 metric tons, which contributed 17.4 percent to the national total.
The consolidated data from the seminar will be submitted to the DA Office of the Assistant Secretary to serve as a reference for a multi-year plan and future guidelines and policies to support the livestock industry.


The event was attended by representatives from the DA Office of the Assistant Secretary, the National Livestock Program Directorate, the Provincial Veterinary Office of Bukidnon, the Local Government of Manolo Fortich, large ruminant commercial raisers, and beneficiaries of the Artificial Insemination Program. (MAC)

AMIA-10 village makabenepisyo sa combine harvester

Tumong sa pagpausbaw sa lokal nga produksiyon, ang Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) nag-turn over sa usa ka combine harvester ngadto sa Bliss Lingion Multipurpose Cooperative (BLMPC)

Sumala sa kasayoran, ang makinarya nagkantidad og Php 2.2 milyones.


Ang seremonya natigayon niadtong Enero 13, 2025 sa Municipal Grounds sa Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Ang agri-intervention gipundohan ubos sa Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) nga programa niini.


Kini nagtumong sa pagsuporta sa mga mag-uuma sa pagsagop sa modernong mga ekipo ug teknolohiya aron mapalambo ang mga hagit sa pagbag-o sa klima.


Sa seremonya sa pagtugyan, si BLMPC chair Dante M. Dosayco nakadawat sa certificate of turnover gikan ni AMIA-10 Project Leader Joel J. Gabo sa presensya sa mga opisyales sa munisipyo nga gipangunahan ni Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño.


Gipaambit ni Dosayco nga ang inisyatiba makapakunhod sa ilang panahon sa pag-ani samtang nagdugang usab sa ilang kita.


Gipaniguro usab sa coop chair nga ilang ma-maximize ang nasangpit nga makinarya dili lang alang sa kaayohan sa mga miyembro niini kondili ipaambit usab sa ilang lokalidad.


Ang Bliss Lingion MPC adunay kinatibuk-ang luna nga 210 ka ektarya uban sa mga mag-uuma niini nga nananom og mais ug kamoteng kahoy ug posibleng pagpalapad sa serbisyo ngadto sa mga dili miyembro. (melbmadera)

COMELEC Prepares for 2025 Elections, Issues Voter Guidelines

MISAMIS ORIENTAL – The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that the number of registered voters in Northern Mindanao has surpassed 3 million, covering the provinces of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin. Misamis Oriental leads with over 1 million voters

Atty. Carlito Ravelo, Misamis Oriental’s Provincial Election Supervisor, highlighted that Region 10 ranks among the Philippines’ vote-rich regions, with a total of 3,190,362 voters across five provinces.


“Region 10 ranks among the vote-rich regions of the Philippines, with 3,190,362 voters spanning five provinces,” Ravelo said.


Ravelo also provided a breakdown of voter distribution across two congressional districts in Misamis Oriental:
District 1 (Balingasag to Magsaysay, including Gingoog City) has 302,235 registered voters and 429 clustered precincts.
District 2 (Lugait to Jasaan, including El Salvador City) has 393,285 voters.


In Cagayan de Oro, the 1st District (24 barangays) has 212,016 registered voters and 233 clustered precincts, while the 2nd District (56 barangays) accounts for 204,885 voters and 249 precincts. Combined, Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro have 1,112,421 voters and 1,452 clustered precincts.


Election Schedules and Processes


As the 2025 elections approach, COMELEC emphasized the importance of key dates and processes:
• The national campaign period begins on February 11, 2025, and ends on May 10, 2025.
• The local campaign period starts on March 25, 2025, and ends on May 10, 2025.


Election Day, May 12, 2025, will see voting from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Special voting hours for persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and pregnant women will be from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with priority polling places operating from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM.


Special arrangements will be made for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), with special electoral boards ensuring that PDL voters can cast their ballots from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.


Voters will elect 12 senators, one party-list representative, one congressional representative per district, a provincial governor, a vice governor, provincial board members, mayors, vice mayors, and municipal councilors. Misamis Oriental voters will elect five board members for each district, while Cagayan de Oro voters will select eight city councilors per district.


Ensuring Transparent and Secure Voting


COMELEC assured the public of the security of the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) used in the May 2025 elections. These machines are equipped with rechargeable batteries to prevent interruptions, and backup machines are on standby, along with technical personnel for repairs.


To prevent transmission issues, COMELEC will utilize satellite technology, including Starlink, to ensure 100% nationwide transmission from ACMs. The transparency of the process will be further supported by parallel counting conducted by accredited organizations and political parties, ensuring credible results.


Election results will be transmitted to the City/Municipality Board of Canvassers, Central Server, Accredited Citizens’ Arms 1 and 2, Dominant Majority, Dominant Minority, and Media Server.


Voters are reminded to check the list of registered voters posted outside their precincts to confirm their sequence and number. After identity verification and ensuring their finger is not marked with indelible ink, voters will follow the procedure to cast their ballots and feed them into the ACM.


Voters are advised to shade the circles fully on their ballots for accurate counting. Ballots contain security features, so it is prohibited to mark them in any way that may cause rejection. Voting receipts will be issued and must be deposited in designated compartments at the precinct.


COMELEC reiterated its commitment to upholding electoral integrity and maintaining public trust and encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote and actively participate in the upcoming elections. (Jan Albert K. Araña/PIA-10)

Northern Mindanao Inflation Drops to 2.6% in December 2024

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 reported that the headline inflation rate in Northern Mindanao for December 2024 was 2.6 percent, down from 4.8 percent in December 2023 and 2.7 percent in November 2024

PSA-10 Regional Director Janith Aves attributed the slowdown mainly to lower inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages, which dropped to 1.8 percent in December from 2.9 percent in November.

Key food categories, including cereals, meat, and dairy, showed slower price increases in December. Cereal inflation fell from 6.0 percent in November to 2.2 percent, while meat inflation dropped from 2.1 percent to 1.3 percent.

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco also contributed to the decline, with inflation dropping to 7.7 percent in December from 8.2 percent in November. Meanwhile, cigarettes and spirits experienced slower price increases.

Health-related services also recorded a minor inflation reduction, from 5.7 percent in November to 5.6 percent in December, due to slower price hikes in inpatient services, medicines, and diagnostic products.

“The key contributors to the overall inflation in Health were inpatient curative and rehabilitative services, with an inflation rate of 12.5 percent in December 2024, slower than the 12.9 percent in November 2024. Medicines, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical preparations recorded an inflation rate of 3.2 percent, a decrease from 3.3 percent in November 2024. Medical diagnostic products had an inflation rate of 5.3 percent in December 2024, compared to 6.1 percent in the previous month,” Aves explained.

The Department of Health (DOH)-10 noted possible reasons for the rising costs of medicines, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical preparations.

Jovita Sarip, Statistician II of DOH-10, pointed out that transport costs for medicines and vaccines are potential factors. She mentioned that maintaining the cold chain, essential for preserving vaccine efficacy, likely contributes to higher costs. (Apipa P. Bagumbaran/PIA-10)

36 Ex-NPA Rebels Surrender in Bukidnon

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — Thirty-six former New People’s Army (NPA) leaders and combatants recently surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 403rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. They were presented to the Bukidnon provincial government on January 10 at Camp Osito Bahian, Malaybalay City

The surrenderees turned over 55 high-powered firearms, including an M-60 machine gun, and pledged allegiance to the government.


Brigadier General Michele Anayron Jr., commander of the 403rd Brigade, expressed gratitude to the former rebels, calling their surrender a significant step towards peace and stability in Northern Mindanao.

“Akong pagpasalamat sa atong mga sundalo, pulis, local government units, civil society organizations, ug concerned citizens for participating in the ELCAC campaign. Kini nga kampanya involves municipal, provincial, and line agencies. Naa sila gatabang sa ato pinaagi sa paghatag sa support services sama sa livelihood assistance, skills training, ug uban pa, aron masulbad ang insurgency problem sa nasud labi na dinhi sa atong probinsya sa Bukidnon,” he said.


(I thanked the military, police, local government units, civil society organizations, and concerned citizens. They help provide support services, such as livelihood assistance and skills training, to address the insurgency problem in the country, especially here in Bukidnon.)


He urged remaining insurgents to surrender and embrace peace.


Arnel Arcaya, alias Sky, a former NPA leader, shared his difficult experiences within the rebel group and thanked the government for supporting his reintegration into society.


In a press conference, Arcaya expressed his desire to leave his past behind and start anew, inspired by the government’s reintegration efforts.


The military credited Cong. Jonathan Keith T. Flores of the 2nd Congressional District for facilitating the surrender of former NPA leaders, highlighting the success of the whole-of-nation approach.


Cong. Flores emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in defeating insurgency and thanked the surrendered NPA members for rejoining society.


“The presence of government agencies in the mountains, delivering essential services to marginalized communities, has encouraged many to return to peaceful lives,” he said. (Bernadith G. Epan/PIA 10-Bukidnon)

DOH implements ‘Purok Kalusugan,’ opens BUCAS centers in Normin

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (January 8, 2025) — ‘Purok Kalusugan’ and ‘Bagong (New) Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services’ (BUCAS) centers are two programs implemented by the Department of Health Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) under the Universal Health Care Act (UHC) that bring health services closer to the people, especially the farthest and smallest communities

In a press conference organized by the DOH-CHDNM, Dr. Steffi Grace H. Enon, DOH-CHDNM chief of the local health support division, shared that ‘Purok Kalusugan’ is aligned with the UHC. “Gikan sa iyang ngalan nga Purok Kalusugan, atong gusto nga ang mga serbisyo nga pangkalusugan o panglawas dal-on nato sa level sa purok,” she said.


(From its name, Purok Kalusugan, we want all services related to health and nutrition to be brought to the level of a zone.)


The UHC Act has many goals, said Enon, but its main goal is that “We want all Filipinos to experience health services that are accessible, affordable, close to them, of quality, and safe.”


The Purok Kalusugan program includes all eight priority health outcomes of DOH, which will be implemented at the “purok,” or zone level.


The eight priority health outcomes include vaccination, nutrition, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), maternal health, tuberculosis and HIV, road safety, non-communicable diseases (specifically high blood pressure and diabetes), and cancer.


These eight priority outcomes are called high burdens because many people are affected by them. The Department of Health is focusing on these eight. “If we can improve them, we can say that our community will be healthy,” Enon said.


Opening of BUCAS centers in Northern Mindanao


The Department of Health has launched a new initiative, the Bagong (New) Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) facility, under the management of DOH hospitals.


Dr. Raymond G. Dela Cruz, the chief of the regulations, licensing, and enforcement division at DOH-CHDNM, stated that this facility will address the issue of congestion in the region’s government hospitals.


“Kasagara niini ang problema, dugay sila maatiman tungod sa kadaghan, limitado ang lugar sa hospital aron maka-accommodate kanila, so ang initiative sa Department of Health mao nga i-forward position kining serbisyo sa atong mga komunidad nga ang mga hospital mu-perform og mga minor surgeries ug mga konsultasyon nga nagkinahanglan og espesyalista. Ang mga ancillary services, mga specialized laboratory exam, ug x-rays idala sa BUCAS centers,” Dela Cruz said.


(This is usually the problem; it takes a long time to attend to them because of the large number, and the hospital space is limited to accommodate them. So, the initiative of the Department of Health is to forward-position these services in our communities so that hospitals perform minor surgeries and consultations requiring specialists. Ancillary services, specialized laboratory exams, and x-rays will be brought to BUCAS centers.)


Currently, there are four operational BUCAS centers in Northern Mindanao. The North Eastern Misamis General Hospital, located in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, is one of the DOH hospitals; another in Misamis Occidental is located in Plaridel, managed by Mayor Hilarion A. Ramiro Sr. Medical Center (MHARS-MC), a tertiary government hospital in Ozamiz City. The next is in Mambajao, Camiguin, managed by Camiguin General Hospital; however, the purpose is to transfer this center to Sagay, Camiguin.


The idea of BUCAS, according to Dela Cruz, is to place it far from hospitals so that those who need services will go to the centers closer to their communities instead of the hospitals.


While DOH hospitals manage this initiative, local government units have generously volunteered to contribute significantly towards the construction of the centers.


Currently, there are four local governments in the pipeline that have volunteered to provide lots; one of them is Magsaysay in Misamis Oriental, Bacolod in Lanao del Norte, the Malaybalay local government unit in Bukidnon, and Balo-i in Lanao del Norte. (Jasper Marie O. Rucat/PIA-10)

Malaybalay buys P13.69-M five brand-new garbage compactors

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of Malaybalay marked a significant milestone with the receipt of five brand-new garbage compactors

The five units, costing a total of Php 13,690,000.00, demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the city’s waste management infrastructure.
According to a press statement, the turnover ceremony for the five new garbage compactors was held in front of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs on December 27, 2024.
The ceremony was attended by Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran, city officials, department heads, and employees of the City Government of Malaybalay.
During the ceremony, Mayor Pabillaran officially handed over the compactors to Ms. Jessie G. Suson, the City Environment and Natural Resources Officer.
The new garbage compactors are expected to significantly enhance the city’s waste management capabilities.
Before acquiring these new compactors, the City ENRO operated with four units.
“These new units will greatly improve the city’s waste management and collection capabilities, making waste disposal more efficient and effective. This is crucial for the health and well-being of all residents.”
The delivery of the garbage compactors is part of a larger initiative that includes the purchase of new government vehicles for the fiscal year 2024.
This initiative also underscores Malaybalay’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable urban development.
Investing in modern waste management equipment not only enhances operational efficiency but also promotes an eco-friendly and sustainable city. (melbmadera)