Thursday, December 05, 2024

Tag: NorMin

NorMin logs 8.4% inflation in Jan., ranks 9th in PH

Posted on by cmn

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Northern Mindanao’s inflation rate rose to 8.4% last month, placing the region in the ninth spot nationwide, the regional office of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Feb. 17, 2023

During a media forum here, PSA 10 (Northern Mindanao) Officer-in-Charge Janith Aves said January’s inflation was higher than December 2022’s 7.8 percent and January 2022’s 4.5 percent with food and non-alcoholic beverages mainly accounting for the increase.

“The rise of onion prices was recorded in this period (January 2023) and is one of the major contributors (to the inflation), which was part of the vegetables, tubers, plantains group,” she said.

Under the food and non-alcoholic commodity group, the region’s inflation rate jumped to 12.1 percent, from 7.8 percent in December 2022 and 4.5 percent in January 2022.

Aves said in the region, the provinces of Camiguin and Misamis Oriental registered the highest inflation rate per province with 8.9 percent.

“Camiguin may be the highest for January but it experienced a decrease from its 9.5 percent inflation in December 2022,” she said. Camiguin’s inflation rate in January 2022, however, was 5.3 percent, according to PSA-10 data.

This city has the lowest inflation rate with 8 percent, compared to 8.2 percent in December 2022 and 4.2 percent in January 2022.

Among the 13 main commodity groups where PSA is getting the overall inflation, the financial services sector had zero percent inflation in the region for both January 2023 and December 2022.

Compared to January 2022, the financial services were the highest among the commodity groups with a 45.2 percent inflation rate. (Nef Luczon/PNA)

DOST boosts local food processor’s production

Posted on by cmn

MANOLO FORTICH, Bukidnon – Nestled in Upper Calanawan, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, a thriving food processing facility is providing local farmers with a stable source of income

V&C Agrifarm is considered a business pioneer in the food processing industry with innovative solutions that cater to bulk supplies of processed products through a “B2B” or business-to-business approach.

V&C Agrifarm supplies a pickled mix of ground vegetables and spices soaked in a vinegar-salt solution to NutriAsia Inc. (NAI).

V&C Agrifarm’s innovations earned them the Husay Award: Innovation Trailblazer from Nutri-Asia Inc. in 2022 as they continued to provide a positive impact for the Philippines’ leading producer and distributor of sauces and condiments in the Philippines, NutriAsia Inc. (NAI).

This gave its owners, Virgil, and Cleofe Abejuela, more energy. They are both retired chemical engineers who started the business in 2018 after seeing a rise in demand for pickled products on the market and wanting to supply more of them.

Recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho A. Mabborang visited the facility as the agency provided equipment and technical consulting services to V&C Agrifarm.

Through the DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), the agency provided the processors with automatic vegetable washers, dryers, and grinders for bell pepper, garlic, chili, and onion.

V&C no longer has to wash and dry tons of bell peppers by hand because they have machines that do it for them. This makes them more efficient and productive.

Cleofe Abejuela, co-owner of V&C Agrifarm, said, “The washer and the dryer, the equipment, it really helped us from “mano-mano” (manual washing) to semi-mechanized process. We were given FDA [LTO] last year.”

The processors were given technical advice on food safety, which helped the company get a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) License to Operate (LTO).

The processors were also given technical advice on standardizing pickled vegetables by applying food safety standards from the time they got the raw materials to the time they delivered them.

“There is a collaboration between us, DOST, and USTP. USTP provides training for our staff on food safety. I had the chance to join the forum of SETUP; there were already plenty of beneficiaries; we had a meeting in Malaybalay; I was one of the speakers; it was a common sentiment among those who availed [the program] that it changes your outlook towards the government,” said Virgil Abejuela, co-owner of V&C Agrifarm.

One of the flagship programs of the DOST, the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program, or SETUP, is a nationwide strategy that encourages and assists micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in adopting the utilization of technological innovations.

This is meant to improve operational efficiency, increase productivity, and make businesses more competitive, with a big focus on finding solutions based on local conditions and production problems.

DOST Undersecretary Mabborang said, “DOST is cross-cutting, multi-dimensional, sometimes in agriculture, sometimes in engineering, sometimes we are into the laboratories, as long as there is an area that has science and technology.”

Mabborang also encourages other government agencies to also help MSMEs achieve business growth and success, saying, “Para makatulong din sila, ayaw naman namin na kami lang ang bida (so that they may also help, as we also don’t want all the credit).”

Now with automation, V&C Agrifarm’s production increased from the usual monthly average of 381 bags to 826 bags, which means an average increase of 445 (20 kg per bag) bags monthly or 117%.

MSME owners may inquire about and avail themselves of SETUP from a regional DOST office near them. In northern Mindanao, one may call 0917 857 9117 or visit the DOST-10 website at https://region10.dost.gov.ph/. (SAYU | PIA-10)

2 wanted men nakorner

Posted on by Diego M. Hidalgo

Duha ka wanted nga lalaki ang nasikop sa hiniusang pwersa sa kapolisan sa managlahing lugar ug higayon

Base sa report nga nahipos sa Bukidnon Police Provincial Office (PPO), ang duha giila nga si Jeffrey Hamoner y Labadan alyas “Jojo” ug Rudy Arobe Saballa alyas “Egor”.

Si Hamoner, 28, ulitawo, mag-uuma, isa ka CTG member, ug residente sa P-5, Migcuya, Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

Siya nasikop kaniadtong Peb. 8, 2023 sa 72nd Infantry Battalion (IB), Philippine Army (PA), P-7, Poblacion, Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

Gisikop siya pinasubay sa warrant of arrest sa kasong multiple frustrated murder nga nakadukit sa kaso criminal numero 28850-16 pinetsahan Hulyo 20, 2017.

Sa laing bahin, si Saballa, 53, minyo, former CTG member, giila usab nga top 10 most wanted person sa Bukidnon, ug residente sa Brgy. Malamba, Marilog District, Davao City.

Siya nasikop kaniadtong Peb. 11, 2023 sa P-2A, Malagos, Baguio District, Davao City.

Gisikop siya pinasubay sa warrant of arrest sa duha ka ihap sa kasong frustrated murder nga nakadukit sa kaso criminal numero 34597-19 ug 34598-19 pinetsahan Hunyo 15, 2020.

Si Hamoner anaa ubos sa kustodiya sa 72nd IB, PA samtang si Saballa gidala sa 1003rd Brigade, 10th Infantry Division (ID), Philippine Army alang sa hustong disposasyon. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

Local health systems maturity level orientation and road map sa Bukidnon, gipahigayon

Posted on by Omar Rashid Z. Abdullah

Nipahigayon ang mga personahe sa Department of Health Northern Mindanao inubanan sa DOH Bukidnon ang 3-day orientation on Road Map to Universal Health Care (UHC) Integration alang sa probinsya sa Bukidnon, kaniadtong Pebrero 8-10, sa Loiza’s Pavillion, Casisang, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon

Nahitabo sulod sa orientation ang session sa tanang Development Management Officers (DMOs) diin gihisgutan ang UHC og ang strategic planning on the characteristics sa Local Health Systems Maturity Level.

Gisundan dayon sa pagpasabot sa UHC LHS ML characteristics ngadto sa mga membro sa UHC Bukidnon Technical Working Goup sa Kagamhanang Probinsyal sa Bukidnon.

Gihisgutang usab ang mahimong sunod nga mga lakang nga pagahimoun aron matuman og makab-ot ang kina tibuk-ang tinguha niini nga masiguro ang patas nga pag-access sa de-kalidad og barato nga health care og proteksyon batok sa risgong pinansyal sa tanang katawhan sa Bukidnon.

Ang UHC nagpasabot sa himsog nga pagkinabuhi, nangunang pag-atiman sa matag pamilya, og matag-an ang galastohon sa panglawas. (Omar Rashid Z. Abdullah)

MinDA, UN office partner for Mindanao dev’t

Posted on by cmn

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)

The first round of barangay veterinary services through the Malaybalay City Veterinary Office conducted

Posted on by cmn

On February 7, 2023, the City Government of Malaybalay, through the City Veterinary Office, started the first round of barangay veterinary services in the identified sites of Barangay San Jose, Malaybalay City

Two teams composed of veterinarians and 11 trained personnel were deployed to serve 96 clients with 155 animals in total, which included 45 cattle, 17 carabaos, 4 goats, 35 horses, 1 pig, and 51 dogs.

The animals were gathered and given free services in eight identified sites: Purok 3 (Sto. Nio), Purok 2 (Acacia), Purok 5 (Near San Jose Furniture Shops), Purok 6 (near rubber plants), Panamucan (Purok 13, 14), and Mabuhay (Purok 10 and Purok 12).

Activities conducted are deworming and vitamin supplementation, pregnancy diagnosis in cattle and carabao, issuance of a Certificate of Ownership of Large Animals, rabies vaccination in dogs (3 months old and above), RSBSA registration, issuance of PCIC insurances for animals, and consultation and treatment. (PR)

DA-PRDP 10 conducts appraisal of subproject proposals in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project 10 (DA-PRDP 10) together with the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) and the Mindanao Project Support Office (PSO Mindanao) conducted an appraisal of subproject (SP) proposals for the province of Bukidnon on February 7-9, 2023

DA-10 OIC-Regional Executive Director and Regional PCO-10 Project Director Carlene C. Collado stressed that the activity is vital to enhance the local government units (LGUs) proposals.

Further, it ensures the completeness of the documents and readiness of the proponent for the Regional Project Advisory Board’s (RPAB) review and approval.

The team evaluated proposals for the completeness, consistency, and correctness of the documents. Additionally, site validations were conducted to determine the feasibility and viability of a project in an area.

The AA Abattoir and 2 Farm-to-Market Roads were subject to validation in the towns of Don Carlos and Lantapan, Bukidnon, respectively.

Specifically, it includes the Construction of a Double “A” Slaughterhouse with Cold Storage in Don Carlos; 6.516-kilometers (km) Concreting of FMR with Drainage at Balila Proper to Sitio Gahub to Purok 5 Kaatuan; and the 9.46-km Concreting of FMR w/ Drainage at Sitio Cacawon, Kulasihan to Purok 2 Kangay, Capitan Juan to Purok 4 to Purok 5 Katiguman to Purok 6 Pinamanguhan, Capitan Road with Drainage at Balila Proper to Sitio Gahub to Purok 5 Kaatuan of Lantapan.

Heading the activity was RPCO-10 IBUILD Component Head, Engr. Deliza T. Camaro and representatives from the region’s IBUILD, SES, and GGU.

Joining the RPCO team was NPCO’s Rural Infrastructure Engineer (RIE) Legario B. David and Economist Harry C. Omaña; PSO Mindanao’s Planning Officer Shiela May Ibasco, Economist Imma Requilme, and RIE Danessa N. Llagas. (PR)

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

Posted on by cmn

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)

DILG chief vows to probe drug trades in jails

Posted on by cmn

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)

 

Authorities investigating deaths of warty pigs in Bukidnon protected area

Posted on by cmn

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)