House Speaker Alvarez anoints new PDP LABAN members in Mis Occ

By Jun Enriquez

PDP Provincial SEC GEN & Mis Occ Provincial Board Member Dan Navarro (2nd from left) welcomed in PDP shake hands with House Speaker Pataleon Alvarez, National SEC GEN PDP LABAN at airport in Ozamis City 

Ozamiz City - Partido Demokratikong Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP LABAN) held its Mass oath taking ceremony, September 7, 2017 at Our Lady of Triumph School Gym, Ozamiz City. There were at least 1,100 public officials composed of Barangay officials, local and provincial officials joined the PDP LABAN party.

Misamis Occidental is composed of two districts, District 1 and District 2. The District 1 is composed of one City (Oroquieta) and nine municipalities while the District 2 is composed of two cities (Tangub and Ozamiz) and five municipalities. Majority of the Mayors in the 1^st district joined the party. In the second district only one Mayor was absent during the oath taking ceremony.

Provincial Board Member Dan Navarro, Secretary General, PDP LABAN of Misamis Occidental said they invited House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, National Secretary General, PDP LABAN to officiate the mass oath taking ceremony of the new members of the political party. The PDP LABAN in Misamis Occidental is now the new majority party in the province, Navarro said.

Navarro said “you will not become a party member without undergoing the process of recruitment and attend party seminar.” President Duterte showed his party leadership convinced the local officials in Misamis Occidental to join the party. Governor Herminia M. Ramiro of Misamis Occidental was invited but did not shown-up for unknown reason. Ramiro is the party chairman of National Unity Party (NUP) in the province. 

PDP LABAN Mass Oath-taking rites

Misamis Occidental Vice Governor Aurora Virginia M. Almonte attended the oath taking ceremony. 2^nd district Congressman Henry S. Oaminal strongly supports the PDP LABAN in Misamis Occidental as well as 1^st district Congressman George T. Almonte.                                                                                            House speaker Alvarez gave updates of the business in congress to the new members of the party. Alvarez was expected to arrive at 12:00 noon or 1:00 PM but he arrived at 3:00 PM due to other two party membership oath taking ceremonies in other areas and Misamis Occidental was the third activity. The PDP LABAN of Misamis Occidental adopted the PDP kitchenette feeding program, with egg and arrozcaldo. Series of schedules in the province had been conducted

Navarro said Misamis Occidenal is generally peaceful and orderly despite of what happened in Ozamiz City on the killing incident of the late Mayor Parojinog and arrested others due to illegal drug related case. There are drug cleared Barangays in the province of Misamis Occidental declared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The local government of Ozamiz City is trying their best to become drug free City. Anti-drug program is now part of the Seal of Local good governance.

Rescue 911 Operation headquarter in Clarin, Miss Occ.

Navarro said Rescue 911 project focused its services in district 2 of Misamis occidental to monitor and evaluate through the online dispatch operational system and disaster preparedness purposes. The rescue 911 project had no support from the provincial government and not aligned at the Provincial Disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO). However the rescue 911 will cover its services in the entire 2^nd district of the province will include the 1^st district if requested. The rescue 911 headquarters is based in municipal hall of Clarin Misamis Occidental seek support from the local governments in the second district to sustain its operation. Navarro was dubbed “daghang programa apan walay kwarta”

Tokhang Surenderees on SALTU seminar 

Navarro said SALTU program was established and started in 2015 due to limited resources for rehabilitation of the victims of illegal drugs is now a complete success. “Tokhang” surrenderees is the partner of SALTU program. SALTU means "Save the none users and Love The Users" program is awareness raising, planning top down and bottom up, identification of resources, organization and selection, training, etc.. SALTU program became good practice as evaluated by the PDEA.

Navarro said The PDEA reviewed and validated SALTU program. There were 20 out of 29 Barangays declared drug cleared in Clarin municipality. Some local government used the new name of the program, PWUD meaning Person who used drugs. It was observed that there is change of attitude of a person from being irresponsible person turn into a responsible family man or member. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) supported the PWUD program extended financial support for livelihood.

A building was donated amounted to PhP2 Million from the non-government organization (NGO) for the “Tokhang” surenderees rehabilitation and training such as Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training. The family members were also trained as volunteer to monitor their family members who are dependent on drugs or PWUD and report to the Barangay chairman or in SALTU office. As of latest police report Clarin is zero crime incidence and presently, per record there was no drug related killings in Clarin because of the presence of SALTU program.

The Rescue 911 and SALTU are twin programs conceptualized and implemented by Provincial board member Dan Navarro in partnership with the LGUs in the second district of Misamis Occidental. With reports from Mike Navarro; photo courtesy from BM Dan Navarro.