Saturday, March 08, 2025

Tag: Local Government Units

SP approves the formulation, preparation and implementation of Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP)

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The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved Resolution No. 2023-0297 – A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the City Government of Malaybalay (CGM) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regarding the joint formulation, preparation, and implementation of the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP)

On March 7, 2023, Hon. City Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod requesting a resolution authorizing him to enter into and sign the said Memorandum of Agreement.

Under Executive Order No. 192 (1987), the DENR is the primary government agency responsible for the sustainable development and management of the country’s environment and natural resources.

Pursuant to the national policies, the Local Government Units (LGUs) are mandated to share with the national government the responsibility for maintaining the ecological balance with their territorial jurisdictions.

This MOA shall serve as a vital system paramount to a collective, objective, and appropriate delivery of technical assistance and support services to the beneficiaries of LGU-Malaybalay to improve the governance of natural resources in forest and forestlands within their jurisdiction.

Both parties agreed to the terms and conditions stated in the said MOA.

After thorough deliberation during the 36th regular session on March 28, 2023, Hon. Alan Ryann O. Legaspi recommended and duly seconded to pass a resolution authorizing Hon. City Mayor to enter into and sign the said Memorandum of Agreement.

Through this, the city government ensures the effective use of our natural resources, especially in the forest and forestlands. (PR)

Malaybalay holds City’s first business forum

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The City Government of Malaybalay, in celebration of the 25th Charter Day, spearheaded the First Business Forum with the theme “Grow with Us, Invest in Malaybalay,” on March 31, 2023, at the Peoples Hall, this city

The said activity aimed to foster engagement, collaborations, and direct relationships with businesses, entrepreneurs, and local investors across the region.

City Mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran joined the forum along with City Vice Mayor Estelito Marabe, City Councilors, department heads, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Trade and Industries (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Board of Investments (BOI), and the Malaybalay City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI).

In his welcoming remarks, Hon. Cromwell Kiril D. Dinlayan emphasized we must work together to grow the economy and reduce poverty, adding, “I urge everyone (in the government) to take this opportunity to consolidate and reinforce your commitment towards a brighter future for Malaybalay.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Pabillaran, in his message, stressed, “The aim of the City Government is that integrity will be intact. Mao nana ang atong standard, kay kung walay integrity ang gobyerno, kinsa man ang magsalig sa gobyerno?”

He added, “If gusto ta mulambo ang Malaybalay, tarongon nato ang pagdala gikan sa gobyerno, and that is important in order for our city to prosper.”

Also, Vice Mayor Marabe reiterated the importance of unity. “As business people, we should unite; we should strengthen our group. If you look at Malaybalay, we are the center of government as the capital city of Bukidnon. We are the center of education. We are the center of religious activities. We were the center of tourism before, and we would like to get that again.”

“If things do not come our way, we will look for things to come our way. If there are no opportunities coming our way. We create opportunities,” he added.

Mr. Christian D. Cambaya, DCIP-IASU Head, was the keynote speaker for the event. He gave insights on the immense opportunities for local economic development (LED) and how to address the challenges that are unique to the local context, which is also the advantage of local government units focusing on the approach concerning LED programs and strategies in the city.

During the session, plenary speakers, namely: Ms. Lourdes Ellen Kionisala, BOI Chief Investment Specialist, discussed labor incentives law; Mr. Romeo R. Lapeciros, Jr., LEDIP Officer on Malaybalay City local investment and incentives code; Ms. Ritchie L. Guno, DOST Provincial Director on innovation support to entrepreneurs; and DTI Provincial Director, Ms. Famelah Raquel D. Villanueva, on DTI current programs.

The first-ever Malaybalay City Business Forum organized by the City Government marks the beginning of a new era in promoting business development and opportunities propelled to reaching new heights of innovation and sustainability in the city and the region as well. (PR)

DSWD prepositions food packs in N. Mindanao with El Niño threat

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Northern Mindanao Region (DSWD-10) prepositioned Friday 34,518 family food packs (FFPs) amounting to PHP23.4 million amid the looming drought-induced El Niño season

In a statement last March 24, the DSWD-10 said the FFPs delivered to local government units (LGUs) in the region as reserved supply in case calamities will occur.

The agency said the FFPs form part of the disaster management protocols for LGUs to provide augmentation to communities and families in need.

The FFPs also serve as an addition to the 400 metric tons or 10,000 bags of milled rice donated by the South Korean government earlier this week.

The donated rice from Korea will be distributed to DSWD offices in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao, and Northern Mindanao.

In Northern Mindanao, DSWD-10 Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Marco M. Bautista said the rice supply will be dispensed to the severely affected families by the shear line flooding last year.

“These are not only food donations but donations for life – as they will serve sustenance for families of the victims. Rest assured that this will be given and distributed to the affected families,” he said.

DSWD-10 will distribute the donated rice to 68 of the 112 affected families in Northern Mindanao whose homes were destroyed by the calamity. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

PRO-10 notes drop in VAW cases in NorMin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Police Regional Office in Northern Mindanao (PRO)-10 noted a drop in violence against women (VAW) incidents in the region in 2022

PRO-10 spokesperson Police Major Joann Navarro shared this during the “Kababaihan Para sa Kalambuan” talk show spearheaded by the Department of Tourism-10. She said the number of VAW cases in the region dropped from 1,633 in 2021 to 1,548 cases in
2022.
Navarro attributed the decrease to the efforts of not just the PRO-10 but also the different agencies of the government, local government units, and non-government organizations with programs on VAW prevention. The PRO-10 spokesperson further cited the impact of public cooperation in reporting VAW incidents to the Women and Child Protection Desks (WCPDs) of PRO-10 to the decrease in VAW cases.
On their part, Navarro said they have implemented proactive measures to end VAW such as conducting an information drive on Republic Act 9262 at the community level, including Puroks, Sitios, and schools.
Police officers manning the WCPDs are also capacitated in handling VAW cases. (APB/PIA-10)

PLGU Bukidnon, LGU Tubod to avail subprojects under PRDP scale-up

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MALAYBALAY CITY – Another batch of interested LGUs from Bukidnon expressed interest in availing the PRDP Scale-up subprojects during the orientation on the updated guidelines conducted by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Project Coordination Office 10 (DA-RPCO 10) on March 1, 2023

Participating LGUs include the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Bukidnon including the Municipal Local Government Units (MLGUs) of Baungon, Cabanglasan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Impasug-ong, Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Kibawe, Kitaotao, Lantapan, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Pangantucan, Quezon, San Fernando, Sumilao, Talakag, and the City Local Government Unit (CLGUs) of Malaybalay and Valencia.

MLGU Tubod of Lanao del Norte also joined the activity.

On behalf of Bukidnon Governor, Rogelio Neil P. Roque, PLGU Bukidnon PPMIU Head, Jezrel Mangubat expressed his appreciation to the Department of Agriculture – 10 (DA-10) for responding to their call for a PRDP orientation.

“We are grateful that PRDP has responded to our request. I hope that all of us can comply We can all agree that availing the project can really alleviate the lives of our farmers,” Mangubat said.

DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director and DA-PRDP 10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado encouraged the interested proponents that the region is open to accepting project proposals.

He also guaranteed that the RPCO is ready to assist them in the preparation.

Project proposals can be subject to the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) review once the LGU can comply with the documentary requirements.

The PRDP Scale-up aims to introduce an integrated framework in order to address the gaps in the value chains focusing on improving the efficiency of the food supply chain. (PR)

IPLAN holds workshop on PCIP updating in Bukidnon

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MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In order to identify the prioritization of interventions of commodities in Bukidnon, the IPLAN component together with the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Bukidnon conducts a workshop on the updating of the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) on March 2, 2023

The interventions are based on the identified gaps, constraints, and challenges of each commodity with value chain analysis from the municipalities while considering climate risks and mitigation measures.

Commodities to be updated are abaca, banana (cardava and lakatan), cacao, cassava, coffee, dairy cattle, oil palm, organic rice, rubber, and swine carcass.

Further, coming in is the coconut that will sum up the 12 commodities for the province.

The updated Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) was presented to the Provincial Development Council (PDC) last March 7, 2023.

Moreover, DA 10 OIC-Regional Executive Director and RPCO-10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado calls for the LGUs to fast-track the PCIP enhancement.

“In order to be included in the prioritization run, the updating of your PCIP is vital. This is one of the requirements for the approval of your project proposals,” said Director Collado.

The workshop is participated by the Municipal Agriculturists (MA) and Municipal Planning & Development Coordinators (MPDC) from Baungon, Cabanglasan, Damulog, Dangcagan, Don Carlos, Impasug-ong, Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Kibawe, Kitaotao, Lantapan, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Pangantucan, Quezon, San Fernando, Sumilao, Talakag, and the City Local Government Units (CLGUs) of Malaybalay and Valencia. (DA RFO-10)

DA-SAAD debuts phase 2 in NorMin

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – After getting the go signal in 2022, the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) officially commenced its phase 2 implementation in Northern Mindanao this year through DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado

In a planning workshop with SAAD Phase 2-implementing local government units (LGUs) on February 10 in Cagayan de Oro City, SAAD Northern Mindanao Regional Program Management Support Office (SAAD NorMin RPMSO) outlined Social Preparation activities to be conducted as preliminary steps for the implementation of community-based agri-enterprise projects in priority localities in the region.

SAAD is a special program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) designed to curb poverty in economically depressed areas in the country by providing agri-livelihood projects to marginal farmers.

For phase 2, SAAD will be implemented for a six-year period from 2023 to 2028 in 26 municipalities belonging to the 5th and 6th class, having the highest poverty incidence in four provinces of the region.

Specifically, the municipalities of Sagay, Catarman, Mahinog, and Guinsiliban in Camiguin; Libertad, Gitagum, Sugbongcogon, Balingoan, Lagonglong, Kinoguitan, and Binuangan in Misamis Oriental; Don Victoriano Chiongbian, Baliangao, Panaon, Sapang Dalaga, Sinacaban and Concepcion in Misamis Occidental; Tangcal, Sapad, Salvador, Tagoloan, Magsaysay, Matungao, Pantar, Poona Piagapo and Linamon in Lanao del Norte.

Late in 2022, the SAAD NorMin profiled 1 Farmers’ Cooperative, Association (FCA) in the said municipalities, to ascertain the farmer-members’ eligibility as SAAD recipients.

According to Lana May S. Racines, SAAD NorMin focal person, the program is set to conduct Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) in the first quarter of 2023 to determine the suitability of the proposed agri-enterprise to the FCAs’ locality, the capacity of the FCAs and its members to man the SAAD project, as well as market feasibility of the proposed enterprise.

Under the SAAD guidelines, eligible FCAs may propose agri-enterprise projects focused on rice, corn, livestock, or high-value crop production.

SAAD will grant production-to-marketing assistance to the FCAs. Qualified FCA and their proposed enterprise will be officially endorsed by the Local Chief Executive to SAAD NorMin signifying the DA-LGU partnership in SAAD implementation.

In his message, DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, challenged the LGUs to implement the SAAD Program with a strong intent to develop the local agriculture sector.

He also called on the LGUs to look after the previously granted SAAD and DA projects for the benefit of the farmers. (DA RFO-10)

Teenage pregnancy declines in PH, Normin tops in cases

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Teenage pregnancy cases in the country had gone down from 8.6 percent in 2017 to 5.4 percent in 2022, yet despite the decrease in cases, Northern Mindanao records the highest percentage of adolescents who have been pregnant at 10.9 percent

“Forty-four per 1,000 female adolescents aged 15–19 have given birth in 2020, which means approximately 30 adolescents give birth in the region daily,” Commission on Population (POPCOM)-10 Assistant Regional Director Richmond Charles Gajudo said.

According to data from 2020, the three provinces with the highest rates of teen pregnancy are Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City. Each of these three provinces is responsible for 43% of all births to teenagers. The youngest age at which a teen was known to be pregnant was 11 years old in Cagayan de Oro City. In Valencia City, the young mother was 12 years old.

Being pregnant at such a young age is bad for young people, both in terms of their health and their finances. It was also said that having a child at such a young age is bad for a teenager’s health because their bodies aren’t ready to carry a child and can sometimes lead to the death of newborns and infants.

Since the childbearing years of a female are between the ages of 15 and 49, there is a tendency to have repeat pregnancies, which may lead to having more children and the possibility of having multiple partners, which is a health risk.

According to the commission, based on studies involving the very young adolescence of 10–14 years old, female teens who get pregnant have older male partners. Due to this, Republic Acts 11596 and 11648 were created to protect the said age group from child marriage and increase the age of sexual consent from 12 to 16 years old.

With the number of teenage pregnancies going up, POPCOM-10 and the local government units (LGUs) have stepped up their efforts to stop them. The commission helps the LGUs plan and get ready for programs that will be used, like setting up a teen center to deal with the problems mentioned above.

“We have a new program being implemented for teen moms and their children called a “social program for adolescent moms and their children.” It is like 4Ps, where they will receive a monthly stipend to support them finish their studies and livelihood programs for them to be able to support the needs of their child,” says POPCOM-10 Technical Section Head Jeremias Cabasan.

POPCOM urges everyone to work together to better address the teenage pregnancy case in the region. Teenage pregnancies are caused by many things, including the teens themselves, their families, the community, and even how policies are put into place. This means that the solution can’t just be found in POPCOM, the Department of Health, or the Department of Education. Instead, there needs to be a collaboration between different agencies and sectors. (JAKA/PIA-10)

N. Mindanao DRRMC OKs P3.3-B rehab plan for calamity-hit LGUs

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CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Government agencies comprising the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in Northern Mindanao (RDRRMC-10) on Thursday approved the PHP3.3-billion Regional Rehabilitation Plan (RRP) in support of its local government units (LGUs) affected by flooding and landslide in December last year

In an interview, RDRRMC-10 chair Antonio Sugarol said the passage of the budget was part of the mandate of President Ferdinand R. Marcos to identify the priority projects that every LGU need.

“This will be forwarded to the NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council), so they can review with the proceedings and particulars as to projects that will be appropriated,” Sugarol, also the concurrent Office of the Civil Defense–10 directors, said.

The December 2022 shear line weather disturbance mostly affected LGUs in the Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental provinces.

The amount of the fund was introduced to the RDRRMC-10 in its special meeting on a post-disaster needs assessment by Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño, director of the National Economic Development Authority-10.

The total fund amount will cover infrastructure and social services-related programs and projects, including agriculture development.

For 2023, about PHP900 million will be initially rolled out to benefit the affected LGUs, while PHP1.3 billion will be sued by 2024.

The rest of the funding will be utilized from 2025 onwards.

“Since the LGUs were given devolved function (from the national government), they can shoulder 74 programs and projects (for the RRP),” Cariño said. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

MinDA, UN office partner for Mindanao dev’t

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DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) signed a partnership Wednesday to provide various developments in the island region

MinDA Secretary Maria Belen Acosta and Oscar Marenco, the UNOPS country manager, agreed to cooperate on technical assistance in infrastructure master planning and project priority identification, as well as consideration of possible mechanisms for the development of infrastructure projects.

Likewise, both parties also agreed to provide technical assistance and advisory services for infrastructure projects and to support project implementation through project management, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation.

“We share the vision of MinDA that there will only be sustainable development in Mindanao if there’s peace and stability. The vision that MinDA has is the vision that UNOPs and the UN system would like really to support,” Marenco said in a press briefing.

One of the major plans for the partnership, he said, is the setup of a project preparation facility (PPF), a rolling fund for local government units (LGUs), state universities and colleges, and other Mindanao partners.

“What we are creating is a financial vehicle; we are investing PPF to the Philippines level. The pledges of support in terms of finances are coming next starting with small financing to several partners,” Marenco said, adding that there is no exact amount determined yet for its allocation.

Following the signing, the UNOPs and MinDA team will formulate the guidelines for availing the facility seen to take place by next year.

Marenco said they are targeting two areas for the initiative – the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and other areas in Mindanao.

“We have a situation in BARMM that is very specific. Sixty-five percent of the whole support of the UN system is focused on BARMM but this is a transitional stage, and they need additional support not only from the national level but development partners as well,” he said.

For MinDA’s part, Acosta said they will look into the needs of the LGUs in terms of the project and match it to the provider.

“That is the task of MinDA to harmonize, integrate, and that no one is left behind. With the partnership with UNOPS, it will become more efficient since MinDA, as a government agency has limitations,” she said. (Che Palicte/PNA)