Poona Piagapo school children benefit from “Kalinga sa Bayan” Program

By Phil Paalan, Publisher-Editor, The Mindanao Gazette

POONA PIAGAPO, Lanao del Norte (December 21, 2014) – A two-day  Kalinga Sa Bayan undertaking was initiated  by the 15^th Infantry “Molave Warrior” Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Division, Philippine Army at Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte  in partnership with Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Lanao Development Team,  Christar of the Philippines, Inc. and the Local Government Unit of Poona Piagapo (LGU-Poona Piagapo), Lanao del Norte,  in cooperation with the  Department of Education (DepEd), and the Philippine Drugs Enforcement Administration (PDEA).

Dubbed as “A Gathering of Heroes”, the 2-day Kalinga Sa Bayan event, held at the Municipal Gymnasium at Barangay Pened, Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte aims to train the school children to become responsive, responsible, useful, and productive citizens to be able to contribute in the development of the communities as change agents, and was participated in by 300 school children from various schools in the 26 barangays of the municipality with ages ranging from 5 years old to 18 years old, both males and females.

The first day (Dec. 20) of the Kalinga Sa Bayan event included activities like orientation and sessions on Gawad Kalinga, Lakas ng Pagbabago and Bayani Challenge including  Kalinga Night. The second day (Dec. 21) included activities like early morning exercises, opening program, empowerment session, puppet show, story-telling, dancing, singing, film showing with morale values and lessons,  drug symposium, testimonials, distribution of certificates and closing program. The school children enjoyed most the servings of ice cream provided by the organizers of the program. The Molave Warrior Band of the 15^th IB provided the musical entertainment.

At left, Lt. Col. Doctolero and Col. Gapay, looking at the youth
crowd participants during workshop. (Photo by Jun Enriquez)

 

Lt Col Leomar Jose M. Doctolero, commanding officer of the 15^th Infantry Battalion welcomed the participants, guests and visitors while Municipal Mayor Farhana R. Palawan  of Poona Piagapo expressed the full support of the LGU-Poona Piagapo in the successful conduct of the “Kalinga Sa Bayan” affair. Department of Education (DepEd) represented by District Supervisor Ammilee A. Sanggacala expressed gratitude to the 15^th IB, of initiating the activity to educate and capacitate the youth for personal development to become good citizen.

Message of support were also given by Col. Gilbert I. Gapay, Commander, 2^nd Mechanized  Infantry  Brigade, Mechanized Infantry Division. Gapay said “Ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa at kinabukasan ng ating bayan. Nararapat lang  na sila ay ating alagaan at itaguyod ang kanilang mga karapatan. Karapatan na magkaroon ng magandang

edukasyon, pagmamahal at pagkalinga, ligtas na kapaligiran, maging masaya at malusog. Sa pagtutulungan ng LGU, Army, Non-government Organizations (NGO), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), mga magulang, mga Guro at cause oriented groups, ating samang-samang tugunan ang mga pangangailangan at karapatan ng mga kabataan para sa isang magandang kinabukasan.”  

In the drugs symposium attended by school children who are 14 years old and above, Rosemarie Bajao of PDEA made a power point presentation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which was signed on June 7, 2002, published on June 19, 2002 and took effect on July 4, 2002, and which provides a more concrete course of action for the national anti-drug campaign and provides for heavier penalties to offenders.  She also stressed the role of PDEA in  enforcing the drugs law, which is to reduce illegal drugs supply as well as reduce illegal drugs demand and embark on a campaign of advocacy and help in the rehabilitation of the illegal drugs users. .

 Bajao said that the illegal drugs market in the country is estimated to be a P4 billion industry.  She added that more than 5,000 drug patients are  in rehabilitation centers and still increasing.  She said that 70% of brutal/heinous crimes are drugs related.  She said to avoid temptations, the children should remember the following: Don’t even think about it; Resist Negative Peer Pressures; Use Healthy Alternatives; God is the answer; and Say No (to illegal drugs). She said that 70% of illegal drug users have no control of themselves; that 45% of the users have been fired from their jobs; and that 50% of the drug dependents ended up in separation with their spouses. She said drug dependents include movie actors, like Christopher de Leon, basketball players, like Jojo Lastimosa and Norman Black,  ordinary office workers, school children, among others.  A film showing on the negative effects of illegal drugs was presented and viewed by the school children.

The testimonials were given by school children Saidomar Mamasao, Sohaira Macapaser, and Hanira Tomanork.  Mamasao  stressed that their dreams are their capital investments in realizing development in the country, while  Macapaser said that the affair is important to the children in checking poverty in the country. On the other hand, Tomanork said that the young children  are the strength of society and are vital component in the development of the country.  The three children expressed their thanks and gratitude to the people and organizations behind the conduct of the affair which is important to the youth as they learned a lot as well as enjoyed every activity of the event.

Military and public officials joined the crowd to establish good 

relations among the youth and children. (Photo by Jun Enriquez)

Certificates of appreciation were distributed to the individuals and organizations who have helped in making the affair a resounding success. ABC President Hadji Abdullah Gomampong Racmat of Poona Piagapo gave the closing remarks. He stressed the importance of the affair for the children and expressed his appreciation to the military, 15^th IB  and the civilians who are responsible for making the “Kalinga Sa Bayan” in Poona Piagapo a reality.

Lt Col Doctolero said  the “Kalinga Sa Bayan” Program helps train the youth to become useful citizens by providing them the opportunities and mobilize them as change agents and  subsequently contribute to the development of their communities and country. He asked the LGUs to support the program for the sake of the children.  He said a similar program had been conducted earlier in Munai, Lanao del Norte.  He said the next Kalinga sa Bayan Program will be held in Tangcal and then Kolambugan, to be followed by Maigo, which are part and parcel of the areas of responsibility (AORs) of the 15^th Infantry Battalion. (Edited by Jun Enriquez)

MOA on Livelihood Support for Typhoon Victims Signed

By Phil Paalan, Publisher-Editor, Mindanao Gazette

December 15, 2014

ILIGAN CITY –  Memorandum of Agreement on livelihood support for Typhoon Sendong affected families in resettled communities entered into by and between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team-Local Government of Iligan (LPRAT-LGU), the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team-Civil Society Organizations (LPRAT-CSOs), the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace, Inc./Accredited Co-Partner (CSO-FP/ACP) and the project beneficiaries had been signed today by the implementing government agencies, partners and the beneficiaries of the livelihood project to improve the living conditions of the victims and live more decent life.

The MOA was signed by the City Government of Iligan represented by City Mayor Celso G. Regencia; the DILG, represented by Provincial Director Emelio T. Rana of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte; the DOLE, represented by Provincial Director Remegio S. Cabanog of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte; the LPRAT-CSOs, represented by Executive Director Regina S. Antiquisa of the Ecosystem Works for Essential Benefits, Inc. (EcoWeb) and co-chairperson of LPRAT, Iligan City; and the CSO-FP/ACP, represented by Managing Director Juanito C. Enriquez, Jr. of CSO-FP and the twenty-two (22) organizations which are beneficiaries of the livelihood support project represented by their respective presidents and managers.

The livelihood support project for Sendong affected families in resettled communities is one of the eight (8) projects funded by the DOLE under the Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) Program.  The eight (8) DOLE BUB-GPBP projects involve a total funding of P7.9 M and a local counterpart fund of P3,385,714.00 or a total funds of P11,285,714.00.

The livelihood support project for the Sendong victims has a funding of P1,750,000.00.  The project will be implemented by the CSO-FP as the accredited Co-Partner of the DOLE to help Sendong victims recover from the tragedy and live normal lives.  The LGU-Iligan, the DILG, the LPRAT-CSOs are committed to support the livelihood support project for Sendong victims for sustainability for at least five (5) years. The livelihood support project for Sendong victims involves five (5) component projects, namely: 1. Organic hog raising (P200,000.00); 2. Organic chicken raising (P200,000.00); 3. Dress making/tailoring (P360,000.00); 4. Food processing (P690,000.00); and 5. Handicraft making (P300,000.00).

The other seven (7) projects funded by  the DOLE funds of P7.9 M include: 1) training and equipment support on fish processing and preservation (P300,000.00); 2) livelihood skills training for women (P200,000.00); 3) livelihood support for informal settlers (P700,000.00); 4) organic cut-flower demonstration farm development and training (P100,000.00); 5) skills training for livelihood and employment opportunity enhancement (P3,690,000.00); 6) livelihood support for displaced workers, underemployed, contract and seasonal workers (P700,000.00); and 7) enhancement of livelihood programs for PWDs (P500,000.00).

The livelihood support project for Sendong victims include: bakery enhancement; banana chips production; pasta/pancit making; bakery operation; organic chicken raising; production of bamboo and stuff toys; bamboo handicraft making; organic hog raising; carenderia operation; among others.

CSOs, LGUs Dept heads and beneficiaries of Sendong affected
families in resettled communities posed after signing the MOA.

It can be recalled that Iligan City has been a recipient of the BUB GPBP with a budget of P50 M and has approved P43 M to be implemented by the different national government agencies, such as the DOLE, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), DILG, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), among others.

The LGU-Iligan has approved the local counterpart on the BUB-GPBP program for 2014 in the amount of P16 M in the 2014 City Development Council (CDC) meeting. The twenty-two (22) beneficiary organizations with at least 621 individual members are spread out in various resettlement communities in Luinab, Upper Tominobo, Mandulog, Buruun, Dalipuga, Sta. Elena, Digkilaan, Del Carmen, and Ubaldo Laya.  The representatives of the 22 organizations, mostly presidents and managers, include Dexinie Apple Maravillas, Mary Grace Papasin, Robelyn Ablong, Anisah Alipo, Conchita Areola, Mary Jane P. Azuelo, Rosalina Monticillo, Teresita Gante, Rebecca Timbal, Saaban Cali, Erlinda Gabriel, Rocma Macarimbor, Rey Lagroma, Carlito B. Salde, Arnel Bacuaja, Letecia L. Pioquinto, Shirley Alimoren, Marissa Kindiman, Rolando Generalao, Fe Solosa, Dulcema Fiel and Mary Jane Genon.

Other ACPs to implement BUB/ GPBP DOLE funded projects are the Rural Bank of Misamis Oriental and Misamis Oriental Electric Service Cooperative (MORESCO 1) . With reports from Jun Enriquez, photo by Mariz Revales, correspondent GMA News on-line.

Brigade Celebrates Anniversary, Opens Doors to Media

                                          RIC CLET, DWIZ Broadcast Correspondent

                                                            December 12, 2014

Iligan City -After a number of years, the 2^nd Mechanized Brigade based in Maria Cristina Iligan City, under a new command has opened its doors to the local media by inviting members of the press to its anniversary program on December 12 and sponsoring a “media night” at its headquarters located just in front of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). 

During the anniversary celebration, Brigade Commander Col Gilbert I Gapay, CAV (GSC) PA highlighted the performance of the army in the current peacebuilding efforts of the national government.  Awards were given to soldiers who made exemplary performance in non-combat work that created social impact in the different communities that they served.  Included in this category is the rescue of kidnapped victims in Lanao that led to the solution of the case.  Innovative and effective social projects introduced by the officers and men of the brigade were given recognition during the celebration.   

                                                     Seated center-left is Col. Gapay, beside him at right is                                                                                                                    Jun Enriquez, newly elected President of Magbalantay

                                                     Defense Press Corps.

To top the occasion, a media-friendly stance was exhibited by the brigade by giving out awards of recognition to most members of the press who first met with the new command earlier during the planning of the events.  An emotive but highly informative speech was given by Deputy Brigade Commander Col Felicisimo C Budiongan, CAV (GSC) PA in his welcome address.  Father Rosito Claro and Imam Aladin Diron provided the interfaith opening prayers.  The mass singing was led by PFC Charlie Aligor.  Among the guests were MNLF Commander  Joseph Sanguila of Kauswagan.  The military likewise gave out awards of recognition to officers of non-government organizations who helped in the peace process in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte.  The NGCP management also received an award from the brigade through Emy Abellanose, Mindanao Vice President .

On December 13 at about, the officers and men of the 2^ndMechanized Infantry Brigade tendered a party or “media night” for all the members of the local press based mostly in Iligan City.  After dinner and drinks that was highlighted by a singing band from nearby Cagayan de Oro City, and election of officers of the “Magbalantay Defense Press Corps” was conducted.  This activity was agreed upon earlier during the initial planning between the army and the media.  Those elected into office were the following:

President  Juanito “Jun” Enriquez of  Real Radio, Vice President for Print Salem Arellano of  Mindanao Scoop, VP for Broadcast Biema Minosa  Radyo ng Bayan; VP for Online Irma Boza,  Iligan Web;  Secretary  Emmie De Los Santos, Brigada news FM;  Assistant Secretary Cris Quinabato , RMN- dxIC; Treasurer Nora Sorino  Bureau chief, Gold Star Daily; Auditor Erlinda Genovia, Gold Star Daily; PIO Gener Cabanday, RMN-dxIC;

                                                                                                                                                                   

Social Managers :  Gene De Guzman, Brigada News FM;  Mariz Revales, GMANews online;  Julia “JanJan” Tesio Pecasales,;  Peace Officers:  Allan Amantiad , Brigada News FM; Tito De Castro, Brigada News FM; Edgar Olivar, Love Radio FM;  

Board of Directors  Pastor Tenorio, Jr , Love Radio;  Pastor Reu Montecillo;  Ted Khan R Juanite, Magazine Mindanaw;  Ric Clet, dwIZ-Manila; Armand Apolinario, Love Radio FM; Bonita Ermac, Gold Star Daily;  Merlyn Manos, GMA;  Mar Sabate, Meus Radio FM; and Eric Tiempo, Brigada News FM.    

Col. Gapay delivered a message before the newly elected 

officers  of the Magbalantay Defense Press Corps.

In his speech, Brigade Commander Gapay emphasized the importance of right communication among the members of the press, and clarified certain issues that were important to the success of the peace process.  He emphasized that contrary to circulating text messages, the peace process between the national government and the MILF will be finalized and pushed through.  

In a telephone,First Tabak Division commander Maj.General Gerardo Barrientos aired his christmas  message and congratulated the officers and members of the Magbalantay Press Corps and hoping to  have a  productive and fruitful partnership between the the 1st division and its area of responsibility (AOR) and members of the press for effectively carry out its duties and responsibility to the community.