Saturday, January 18, 2025

Tag: Mission

COMELEC Prepares for 2025 Elections, Issues Voter Guidelines

Posted on by cmn

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)

Sgt. Pairat sa 8IB napili nga best NCO sa ‘Tribute to Soldiers’ awards sa The Manila Times

Posted on by Melchor Madera

Si Sergeant Jerwen Pairat, ang napili nga Best Non-Commissioned Officer for Community Service ubos sa Civil Service Category sa ‘Tribute to Soldiers’ Awards sa The Manila Times

Ang awarding ceremony gipahigayon sa Manila Hotel sa Metro Manila niadtong Agosto Lunes, sumala sa kasayoran sa militar.

Si Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. uban ni Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., ang nitunol sa award ngadto kay Sgt. Pairat.

Si Pairat isa ka Squad Leader sa Mobile Community Support Sustainment Team (MCSST) ubos sa Bravo Company sa eight Infantry Battalion, fourth Infantry Division nga nakabase sa Impasug-ong, Bukidnon.

Ang MCSST ubos ni Sgt. Si Pairat gipakatap sa hilit nga mga dapit sa Bukidnon aron padayon nga magmonitor ug magpalig-on sa mga programa sa gobyerno, busa, mapadayon ang kalinaw ug kalamboan, ilabina sa mga huyang nga komunidad.

Pinaagi niini nga mga paningkamot, ang iyang team nakahimo sa pagpadali sa pagsurender sa pipila ka mga CPP NPA Terrorists (CNTs) sa ilang lugar, nga miresulta sa pagkunhod sa gidaghanon sa mga miyembro sa CTG ug sa ilang firepower.

Ang bag-o nilang nahimo mao ang pagsurender sa mga CNT ubos sa Squad 3 sa Headquarters Force Neo sa North Central Mindanao Regional Committee. (melbmadera)

Hedcor turns over ₱5.1M royalty shares to Bukidnon IP communities

Posted on by cmn

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon (December 29, 2024) — Hedcor, the renewable energy asset manager of AboitizPower, has turned over ₱5,140,167.01 in royalty shares to Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities in Bukidnon for 2022-2023. These funds directly benefit the host communities of Hedcor’s Manolo Fortich 1 and 2 hydroelectric power plants, advancing inclusive growth and sustainable development

Five Indigenous Peoples (IP) organizations received their royalties, signifying progress for their communities. The Santiago Tribal Community (SANTRICO), Inc. and Impakibel, Apo Man Asilan Tribal Association were each awarded ₱1,401,529.47. Meanwhile, the Lumikapaw Ka Guihean Tribal Council of Elders and Guilang-Guilang Apo Datu Nanikunan Association, Inc. each received ₱935,578.60. The Buklod Kayantang Tribal Association, Inc. was granted ₱465,950.87. These funds embody a commitment to empowering and uplifting Indigenous communities, going beyond mere financial support.
The funds will be used for initiatives identified by the IP communities themselves, including livelihood assistance, skills training to strengthen economic resilience, scholarships for Indigenous youth, and elder care programs.
The projects will also help empower women entrepreneurs, preserve traditional practices, and advance environmental efforts such as reforestation.
Bae Priscilla Cariaga, President of Buklod Kayantang Tribal Association, Inc., expressed gratitude for the turnover.
“Ang pagtinabangay uban sa Hedcor nagpalambo sa among komunidad. Ang mga pondo makatabang sa pagpreserba sa among kultura, pagtubag sa mga kinahanglanon, ug paghimo og mga oportunidad para sa umaabot nga henerasyon,” she said.
(Working together with Hedcor has developed our community. The funds help preserve our culture, address our needs, and create opportunities for future generations.)
Implemented closely with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Region 10, the program ensures that projects align with cultural preservation and ancestral domain protection.
“Through joint efforts, we achieve meaningful progress for Indigenous Peoples, safeguarding their heritage while promoting development,” said lawyer Dexter B. Precioso, NCIP regional legal officer.
Hedcor Vice President for Corporate Services Noreen Vicencio said the giving out of royalty shares underscores Hedcor’s zeal to collaborate with IP organizations to enhance community well-being.
“This turnover is more than just meeting our obligations—it reflects our commitment to a meaningful partnership. We are honored to support the IP organizations’ efforts to advance livelihood, education, and cultural heritage.
By working side by side, we help ensure a lasting, positive impact that strengthens their communities and enriches their future,” Vicencio said.
She reiterated that by returning these royalty shares to the communities, Hedcor continues to advance renewable energy while strengthening communities, protecting cultural identities, and fostering long-term growth and opportunity. (Hedcor-AboitizPower/PIA-10/Bukidnon)

NCIP, LGU Manolo Fortich ink MOA on P226.9M FMR in Kalugmanan

Posted on by cmn

The drafting and signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the concreting of the farm-to-market road in Sitio Balakbakan, Barangay Kalugmanan, took place on August 19, 2024, at the Barangay Kalugmanan covered court

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Local Government Unit of Manolo Fortich signed the agreement.

The project involves concreting a 7.8-kilometer Farm-to-Market Road (FRM) under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), with a budget of 226,992,990 million pesos from the Department of Agriculture.

The road concreting will begin at Sitio Balakbakan and continue to Kalugmanan proper.

This project aims to assist farmers in Barangay Kalugmanan by facilitating the easier transportation of their farm produce to the Municipal Public Market in Barangay Tankulan.

Municipal Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño was present during the MOA drafting and signing. He expressed his enthusiasm for infrastructure programs, particularly road projects.

“Matod pa, himoon nato ni nga dako nga kalipay nga ang atong karsada gikan didto sa Café by the Ridge, musangko dinhi sa atong tulay, pasubida paingon sa ila ni Mr. Perrine, ug gani naa pay sobra nga budget, I think nga e-semento pa paingon diri. Nindot na kaayo mga programa nato mga roads section sa atong lungsod sa Manolo Fortich. Including ang atong Sankanan road, ang atong gi-plano nasad ang Lindaban paingon sa Dahilayan atong sementohon, so nangita tag budget para ana,” Mayor Quiño stated.

Farmer Sirapin Buyoc, 67 years old, from Zone 2, Kalugmanan, expressed his gratitude for the road project, which has made transporting their agricultural products easier.

“Ang ako lang, nga makadugang benepisyo niining muabot ang dalan nga kami di nami maglisod sa among mga produkto, sama sa mga mais, cassava, mga utanon, daghan mi mga utanon diha sa Ilaya. So sayon ra gyud kaayo ang pag-deliver sa produkto paingon sa atong market ug sa Cagayan,” said Buyoc.

Also in attendance were Municipal Administrator Engr. Joie Caesar M. Gaid, Sangguniang Bayan Member IPMR Coun. Alex Payangga, NCIP Regional Legal Officer Atty. Dexter Precioso, the Barangay Council of Kalugmanan, and Indigenous Peoples (IP) community members, including the Higaonon, Talaandig, and Bukidnon tribes.

Heads of offices and representatives from focal departments of the Local Government of Manolo Fortich, such as the Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Engineering Office, Municipal Assessor’s Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, and Municipal Planning and Development Office, also attended the MOA signing. (PR)

Malaybalay buys P11.96M new garbage trucks

Posted on by Heber Quinco

The City Government of Malaybalay recently conducted a turnover and blessing ceremony for four brand-new garbage compactors purchased to enhance the city’s waste collection and management capabilities

The event took place on Monday, August 19, 2024, at the New City Hall Grounds in front of the Commission on Audit Office.

Key city officials, including members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) led by its head, Ms. Jessie G. Suson, and Mayor Jay Warren R. Pabillaran, attended the ceremony.

The four garbage trucks, valued at a total of Php 11.96 million, were acquired as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to improve waste management services.

“These trucks will play a crucial role in ensuring more efficient and timely garbage collection,” Mayor Pabillaran stated during the event.

He emphasized the importance of responsible waste management, saying, “Kauban sa paglambo nato ang basura, busa responsibilidad nato kini (with progress comes waste, so it’s our responsibility to manage it).”

He also reminded the operators of the new vehicles to maintain them well, as they are vital to keeping the city clean.

Ms. Jessie Suson, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, expressed her gratitude during the turnover ceremony.

She assured the public that the CENRO would remain fully committed to fulfilling its responsibilities in maintaining a clean and healthy environment for the people of Malaybalay.

The acquisition and blessing of these new garbage trucks underscore the city’s dedication to strengthening its waste management infrastructure and its broader commitment to environmental stewardship, ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable Malaybalay City for all. (City ENRO-NADA)

5 NorMin, Lanao Sur execs among ‘top performers’ in 2022

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Five public officials in the Northern Mindanao region and Lanao del Sur province were named among the “Top Performers” in local governance during the second half of 2022 after the national and local elections.

A statement from the data analytics firm RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD) on Jan. 15, said they are Misamis Occidental 2nd District Rep. Sancho Fernando Oaminal, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Ziaur-Rahman Alonto-Adiong, Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental Mayor Henry Oaminal Jr., Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia and Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal Sr.

Rep. Oaminal placed fifth among top performers in the House of Representatives with a 90 percent rating, while Adiong placed 10th with a 78 percent rating.

“Para na sa inyoha, mga pinalangga namong Misamisnons! Padayon ang atong pagpaningkamot para sa #AsensoOzamiz (This is for you, our beloved Misamisnons! We continue to strive hard for the #AsensoOzamiz development agenda),” he said in his Facebook post, reacting to the results.

Oaminal Jr. placed in the 9th spot for top-performing city mayors with 80 percent, and both Unabia and Oaminal Sr. placed sixth in the governor’s category with an 85 percent rating.

Dr. Paul Martinez, the focal person of RPMD, said these public officials who excelled in “constituent service” and service to the nation should be congratulated for their exceptional performance.

The independent and non-commissioned “Boses ng Bayan” national performance evaluation survey for the year 2022 was done from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, 2022.

Among the 65.75 million registered voters between 18 and 70, a total of 10,000 respondents were selected. The sample employed a plus-or-minus 1 percent margin of error and a degree of confidence of 95 percent.

Martinez said respondents were chosen randomly, and the number of respondents was distributed proportionally based on the number of registered voters in each area. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

Free Medical-Dental-Surgical mission held in Malaybalay

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY (Feb. 3) – The joint free Medical-Dental-Surgical Mission was held in Malaybalay City on Feb. 3 to 7.

Hansel Echavez, supervising administrative officer of the Public Affairs, Information, and Assistance (PAIA) Division of the Governor’s Office said that it is a joint undertaking of the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA), the UP-Manila Ugnayan ng Pahintungod and the Provincial Government of Bukidnon.

The medical and dental procedures were held at Kaamulan Folk Arts Theater in Malaybalay City from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm while the major surgical operations were held at Bukidnon Provincial Medical Center (BPMC) in Brgy. Casisang.

On Feb. 3, Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. together with Atty. Jay S. Albarece, provincial administrator and Dr. Sulpicio Henry M. Legaspi Jr., chief of hospital personally turn over the Symbolic Key to the volunteer doctors namely; Dr. Glenn Batilller, Dr. Susan Conception-Echiverri from the state of Illinois USA and Dr. Anita Jongco from the state of New York, USA.

The activity includes Gynecological, Ophthalmological, Pediatric, Restorative or Reconstructive, Dental, Orthopedics, and free medical consultation for the elderly and children, including skin disorders and Stroke.

On Feb. 3, 2020, patients from the towns of Baungon, Talakag, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Libona, and Sumilao were accommodated.

The next day, patients from the second legislative district covering the municipalities of Impasug-ong, Cabanglasan, San Fernando, Lantapan, and Malaybalay City were accommodated.

On Feb. 5, patients who are residents from the 3rd legislative district compromising the towns of Maramag, Don Carlos, Dangcagan, Kibawe, Kadingilan, Damulog, Quezon, and Kitaotao were given attention.

And on Feb. 6, 2020, the accommodated patients were from the City of Valencia, Pangantucan, and Kalilangan – all from the 4th legislative district. (Mel B. Madera)