Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Tag: TRA

Centenarian sa Valencia nakadawat og cash gifts

Posted on by Melchor Madera

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)

Interfaith prayer rally alang sa Demokrasya ug Kontra Korapsyon gipahigayon

Posted on by Melchor Madera

Kaniadtong hapon sa Enero 26, 2025, gipahigayon ang province-wide Interfaith Prayer Rally nga gi-organisar sa Barug Maisug Bukidnon – Kontra Korapsyon, Duterte for Democracy (BMBKKDD)

Ang kalihokan nagsugod sa usa ka motorcade gikan sa PCC Covered Court ngadto sa Maramag Integrated Bus Terminal, diin ang mga partisipante naghiusa sa usa ka kusganong pagpahayag batok sa korapsyon.

Ang mga lider sa Iglesia ni Cristo, Roman Catholic Church, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Islam, Fundamental Baptist Church, ug United Pentecostal Church nanguna sa pag-ampo alang sa hustisya ug kalinaw.

Si Romy P. Tiongco, kanhi Parish Priest ug kanhi Mayor sa Damulog, ang nagpasundayag sa highlight sa kalihokan, nga nagpaila kang kanhi Executive Secretary Atty. Vic Rodriguez isip dinapit nga mamumulong.

Ang Bukidnon IP artist nga si Datu Waway Saway naghatag sa iyang pasundayag.

Ang kalihokan natigayon sa paningkamot ni Gordon Torres, nga organizer sa BMBKKDD.

Si Mr. Herman Santillan mipadayag sa mga hagit sa mga mag-uuma, si Vee Olivarez nagdala og paglaom alang sa kabatan-onan, si Dr. Fe A. Torres nag-awhag alang sa empowerment sa kababayen-an, ug si Atty. Ruby Melecio Villejo nagpasiugda sa papel sa legal nga komunidad.

Si Atty. Arbie S. Llesis, kasamtangang Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) sa provincial Sanggunian, naghatag og garbo ug determinasyon alang sa mga Lumad, samtang si Alpio G. Dacut Jr. mipadayag sa tingog sa akademya uban ang tawag sa kaalam ug kalambuan.

Ang adlaw nagtapos uban ang usa ka pinasahi nga panumpa sa pagpakigbisog batok sa korapsyon ug pagpanalipod sa demokrasya, nga nagbilin og dili malimtan nga marka sa kasingkasing sa mga nanambong. (melbmadera)

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

Posted on by cmn

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

Posted on by cmn

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)

87 NPA Rebels Surrender in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

SAN FERNANDO, Bukidnon (January 27, 2025) — Eighty-seven members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the Philippine Army’s 89th Infantry Battalion (89IB) in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, on Friday

Lt. Col. Antonio Bulao, commander of the 89IB, introduced the former rebels and presented 17 firearms they surrendered during a ceremony in Barangay Nacabuklad, San Fernando. The group includes 54 regular NPA members, 29 Militiang Bayan members, and four mass supporters from the NPA’s Sub-Regional Committee 2 of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (SRC 2, NCMRC).

Each of the 87 former rebels received ₱10,000 as immediate cash assistance, along with individual identification cards.

Datu Jimboy Mandagit, also known as Waway and a former high-ranking NPA member, encouraged his former comrades to surrender and take advantage of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) and amnesty offerings.

“I extend my gratitude to the Army for providing a wonderful opportunity for those of us who were victims of a false communist doctrine and became insurgents,” Mandagit stated in the local vernacular. “I urge the rest of our comrades to surrender because the government is always ready to help us,” he added.

The ceremony was witnessed by Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, MGen. Allan Hambala, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, BGen. Marion Angcao, commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade, Municipal Mayor Rogelio Yeke, and other local officials.

In his message, Hambala assured the returning rebels of government support to help them start new lives. Yeke also promised to deliver projects aimed at improving farm-to-market roads and education for families in remote villages.

Flores expressed his gratitude and support for the former rebels’ return to the fold of the law. (The Manila Times)

Northern Mindanao Inflation Drops to 2.6% in December 2024

Posted on by cmn

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)

Agri-10 4K Boosts Production, Livestock Support for IPs

Posted on by cmn

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — The Department of Agriculture – Northern Mindanao (DA-10) is enhancing its support for indigenous peoples (IPs) in Bukidnon province through various agricultural programs and services

On January 9, under its Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran para sa Kababayang Katutubo (4K) program, the agency turned over PhP480,000 worth of carabaos to IP groups in Impasugong town.

The beneficiaries include the Ananaso Pigbuligaan Farmers’ Association (APFA) of Sitio Ananaso, Brgy. Dumalaguing, and the Kapunongan sa mga Mag-uuma sa Ulayanon (KAMAU) of Sitio Ulayanon, Brgy. Kalabugao.

Each group received six carabaos (five female, one male), which the IP farmer-beneficiaries withdrew from DA-10’s Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex. (pr)

DOH-CHDNM to Introduce Shorter TB Treatment Regimen

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (January 10, 2025) – The Department of Health-Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) is set to reduce tuberculosis (TB) treatment duration from the traditional six months to four months.

DOH-CHDNM will launch a capacity-building program for health workers in 2025, focusing on a shorter TB regimen for patients aged three months to 16 years.

During a press conference on Universal Health Care Day, Dr. Wellaflor Kindom-Brito, head of the infectious diseases cluster at DOH-CHDNM, announced the implementation of a six-month short regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Brito added that oral tuberculosis treatment will be the only option. “We expect that with advancements in medication, patient adherence to treatment will improve, reducing instances of patients stopping or failing to follow up on treatment,” she said.

DOH data indicate that tuberculosis deaths in Region 10 reached 285 in 2020, 250 in 2021, 295 in 2022, and 390 in 2023. In the third quarter of 2024 alone, there were 375 TB deaths in the region.

Brito noted that the rising TB mortality rate is partly due to increasing TB cases. Poor health-seeking behavior also contributes to the higher mortality rate, as patients often seek medical help too late when their condition has worsened. Additionally, poor adherence to medication exacerbates the issue.

“Some patients experience adverse reactions to the medication, leading them to stop treatment altogether, while others move residences, interrupting their treatment,” Brito explained. She emphasized that TB treatment, unlike typical antibiotic regimens, lasts from six months to two years.

Brito expressed optimism that the new treatment changes would enhance TB patients’ adherence to medication. (Jasper Marie O. Rucat/PIA-10)

Drug suspek nakigpinusilay sa kapolisan sa Maramag

Posted on by Diego M. Hidalgo

Nakigpinusilay ang usa ka drug suspect sa kapolisan atol sa buy-bust operation nga nahitabo sa Purok 4B, Sitio San Carlos, Brgy. Kuya, Maramag, Bukidnon, hapon sa Enero 7, 2025

Sumala sa report sa kapolisan, atol sa operasyon, ang lalaking suspek nga giila nga 40-anyos, minyo, mag-uuma ug residente sa Purok 4B, Sitio San Carlos, Kuya, Maramag, Bukidnon nakabantay nga nakig-atubang siya sa usa ka pulis, hinungdan nga nibunot siya sa iyang mubo nga armas ug nipusil sa pulis. Kini nagresulta sa pag-bawos sa back-up arresting officer, nga nipusil balik ngadto sa suspek. Maayo nalang kay wa maunsa ang suspek ug ang poseur buyer.


Ang suspek mitahan sa iyang kaugalingon ug nasikop usab ang iyang kauban nga 37-anyos nga babaye, minyo, walay trabaho, ug residente sa Purok 4B, Sitio San Carlos, Kuya.


Nikabat sa Php 88,400.00 ang balor sa nasakmit nga gidudahang shabu gikan sa mga suspek.


Nasakmit sab gikan sa lalaking suspek ang usa ka kalibre .45 Colt pistol nga adunay magazine assembly nga kargado sa tulo ka bala ug laing isa pa ka magazine sa maong armas.


Ang mga dinakpan nga suspek, uban sa mga nasakmit ug nakumpiskang ebidensiya ug mga narekober nga fired cartridges, gidala sa Maramag MPS alang sa dokumentasyon ug saktong disposisyon.


Samtang ang mga ebidensiya sa droga ug mga armas nga nakumpiska itugyan ngadto sa Provincial Forensic Unit alang sa eksaminasyon.


Kasong kalapasan sa RA 9165 ug RA 10591 ang giandam alang sa inquest proceedings sa mga suspek.
Ang hiniusang puwersa sa kapolisan, gilangkoban sa mga yunit gikan sa Maramag Municipal Police Station ug Bukidnon 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company. (Diego M. Hidalgo)

36 Ex-NPA Rebels Surrender in Bukidnon

Posted on by cmn

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)

DAR-10 distributes over 320,000 hectares to ARBs, showcases agrarian reform milestones

Posted on by cmn

MISAMIS ORIENTAL (December 29, 2024) – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) 10 highlighted significant accomplishments in its key programs, reaffirming its commitment to improving the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs)

In Kapihan sa PIA, DAR-10 Regional Director Zoraida Macadindang underscored the positive impact of their programs and projects on agrarian reform beneficiaries.
“Dako na kaayo ang among nahimo for this year 2024, nadugangan ang among accomplishments in terms of cumulative and na-implement na namo ug nakapanghatag nami sa certificate of condonation with release of real estate mortgage, naka-produce ug thousands of e-titles pinaagi sa SPLIT project, ug daghan ta napanghatag nga CLOAs,” Macadindang said.
(This year, 2024, we achieved significant milestones, including distributing certificates of condonation with real estate mortgage releases, producing thousands of e-titles through the SPLIT project, and issuing numerous CLOAs.)
As of November 2024, Macadindang reported a 97.28 percent completion of the Land Tenure Improvement Program (LTIP), distributing 320,993 hectares to 187,723 ARBs. The region also achieved 136,105 hectares in leasehold agreements, benefiting 51,300 leaseholders.
Under Republic Act No. 11953, the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, 6,538 Certificates of Condonation with Mortgage Releases were issued to ARBs, covering 8,219 hectares, mostly in Bukidnon. Additionally, the agency distributed 2,441 e-titles, converting 364 collective CLOAs into individual titles for 1,984 beneficiaries across 2,816 hectares.
Under the Agrarian Justice Delivery Program, DAR-10 has resolved 1,823 judicial cases, 28,074 quasi-judicial cases, and 54,567 Agrarian Law Implementation (ALI) cases, ensuring secure, sustainable land ownership for ARBs while effectively resolving disputes.
Macadindang attributed the region’s positive results to the efficiency of their skilled adjudicators.
She emphasized that they maintained a zero-case backlog, earning a Hall of Fame award from the DAR Central Office.
“We are closely monitored for case aging to ensure timely resolution. Cases are resolved promptly upon meeting all requirements,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Development Sustainability Program (ARBDSP) supports 504 active Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) across 176 agrarian reform communities (ARCs), benefiting a total of 239,446 ARBs.
To empower ARBs further, 26 ongoing agrarian reform projects worth P376 million are being implemented. Six more projects, valued at P150.5 million, are set to begin, while 440 proposed projects totaling P27.6 billion await approval. The total investment in these projects exceeds P28.15 billion, with Bukidnon receiving the largest share.
These achievements demonstrate DAR’s commitment to advancing its programs, providing ARBs in Northern Mindanao with improved economic opportunities and quality of life. DAR encourages those interested in its programs to visit their local offices across the region. (Jan Albert K. Araña/PIA-10)