PIA Dispatch - Tuesday, January 27, 2009

PGMA irrigation project brightens future farmers in 5 Agusan del Sur barangays

A better life for residents of five farming barangays in Veruela, Agusan del Sur is now within reach with the completion of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo irrigation project in the area.
“Ito na ang hinahangad ng mga magsasaka dito. Sa Barangay Sinubong, Veruela, Agusan del Sur. Ito na ang mag-aangat sa aming kabuhayan. (This is what the farmers here have been hoping for. This project will surely improve our lives).”

Thus said Serafin Cortez, one of the farmer-beneficiaries of the President’s P386,887,139.64 Baobo National Irrigation Project in this third class municipality in southern Agusan del Sur.

“We see better days, better lives, increased production, improved income for some 984 farming households in five barangays of Veruela who are the direct beneficiaries of the irrigation project of the President,” Cortez said in Filipino.

The five barangays are Sinubong, Sampaguita, La Fortuna, Magsaysay and Poblacion.

He added that about 100 households in the upstream, considered “non-beneficiaries” of the irrigation project, will also benefit from the completion of the project by the end of May this year.

Cortez said the farmers in the five barangays have only one “decent” harvest every year---during the rainy season, when water is abundant. But, during the dry season, they are not assured of a “good yield. “

Farmers here produce some 80 cavans of palay per hectare during the wet season and only half of that during the dry season.

Cortez, the president of the SINSALAMAPO Council of Irrigators Association here, said if the farmers want a better yield during the dry season, they have to rent a water pump, an added farm cost for them.

When completed, the Asian Development Bank-funded Baobo National Irrigation Project will irrigate some 1,600 hectares.

On Feb. 15, the project, which is now 87 percent to 90 percent finished, will be partly operational and is expected to initially irrigate some 600 hectares.

Along with the irrigation project is an 11-kilometer farm-to-market road that is now passable and used by the farmers to transport their produce.

“Mas madali, mabilis at mas mura na ngayon ang pagtransport ng palay namin (It is now faster, easier and much cheaper to transport our produce with the availability of the service road),” Reynaldo Maido, another farmer-beneficiary of the project, said.

Maido said they used to transport their palay harvest using carabaos and pay P1 for every kilo they load. Now, with the road, bringing their harvest to buyers is easier at lesser cost.

“Malaki ang pakinabang namin kaya nagpapasalamat kami sa Pangulong Gloria Arroyo sa proyektong ito (We are benefitting from the President’s project and we are very thankful to her), Cortez and Maido said.

They said they are looking forward to having at least two croppings, and will aim for a third cropping, when the irrigation project is fully operational.

“Gaganda na buhay namin. Magkakaroon na kami ng pera para sa pag-aaral ng mga anak namin. (Life will be better for us. We look forward to having money to spend for the education of our children,” Cortez and Maido said.

Indeed, the President’s irrigation project here holds the most promise of transforming the lives of the farmers here as it will allow farmers to have a better harvest and income during the dry season.

The project stands to reduce the incidence of rural poverty, specifically in the five beneficiary-barangays, enhance food security at both household and community level.

The irrigation project has somehow enabled Cortez and Maido, and the rest of the farmers here, who barely eked out a living, to aim higher with the completion of the irrigation system here.

“Maligayang-maligaya kami at sa Miyerkules ay bibisitahin kami ng Pangulo. Siya and kauna-unahang lider ng bansa na papasyal sa aming abang lugar. (We are indeed very happy and excited for the President’s visit here on Wednesday, She will be the first President to come to our humble place,” the two farmers said.

The President is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow morning to inspect the damaged portions of the irrigation project that included a portion of the road component and part of the left main canal and right main canal.

Estimated damage cost is P11 million.

Heavy rains last Jan. 16 that resulted to the destruction of some 351 hectares of ricelands here, damaged portions of the irrigation project.

Moreover, the irrigation project will increase the municipality of Veruela ‘s rice production, which ranked third last year in the province total rice produce, at 7,687 MT, after Prosperidad with 37,687 MT and Bayugan with 8,000 MT.


PGMA to attend Davos summit, seek more job opportunties for Filipinos

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave this weekend for Switzerland on a three-pronged mission: to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the Swiss city of Davos-Klosters, look for more job opportunities in Europe and the Middle East for Filipino workers, and invite foreign business groups to invest in the Philippines.

This year’s Davos-Klosters forum, set for Jan. 28-Feb. 1, has aroused unusual interest as countries await expectantly how the world leaders plan to stem the worst hemorrhage of the global economy since the Great Depression.

After the WEF meeting, President Arroyo will cross over from Davos to neighboring Milan at the northernmost tip of Italy for a two-day visit (Feb. 1-2).

On her way back to the Philippines, the President will visit Bahrain where she is expected to hold meetings on Feb. 3-4 with Bahrain’s government and business leaders to discuss more job opportunities for Filipinos and investment possibilities in the Philippines.

The WEF said that its meeting this year “promises to be one of the most important events in the Forum’s history.”

“The significance of the Meeting is such that more than 40 heads of state and government have already confirmed their participation in Davos-Klosters where they will join business leaders as well as NGOs, Trade Unions and experts from a wide range of fields. The Meeting will be focused on managing the current crisis and shaping the entire post-crisis agenda, from economic reform to climate change,” the WEF said.

It added that during the five-day annual meeting, over 2,500 participants from 96 countries will gather in Davos, around 56 percent of them business leaders drawn principally from WEF members – “the 1,000 foremost companies from around the world and across economic sectors.”

“More than 1,400 chief executives and chairpersons from the world’s leading companies are participating this year, the highest attendance ever since the World Economic Forum was founded in 1971,” noted the WEF.

The other participants in this year’s forum include 250 public figures, 41 of them heads of state or government, 60 ministers, 30 heads or senior officials of international organizations and 10 ambassadors.

This year’s meeting of the WEF was “organized under the theme ‘Shaping the Post-Crisis World’ with the objective to catalyse a holistic and systematic approach to improve the state of the world in a manner that integrates all stakeholders of global society,” according to the WEF website.

The 2009 theme of shaping the post-crisis world will be explored by the WEF through “programmatic tracks,” namely:

• Promoting Stability in the Financial System and Reviving Global Economic Growth;
• Ensuring Effective Global, Regional and National Governance for the Long Term;
• Addressing the Challenges of Sustainability and Development;
• Shaping the Values and Leadership Principles for a Post-Crisis World;
• Catalysing the Next Wave of Growth through Innovation, Science and Technology; &
• Understanding the Implications on Industry Business Models.

The WEF meeting will be held with the financial meltdown as its backdrop, and the organizers realize that “the international landscape will be radically altered as a result of the present global economic crisis.”

“Countries, communities and companies are being forced to review their assumptions about the future and to rethink their strategies in light of the global transformation taking place. An early conclusion is that complexity and interdependency are not only characteristics of globalization but are also at the root of a systemic crisis,” WEF said.

“Therefore, future solutions will need to be developed in a holistic and interdisciplinary way to ensure that the concerns of all stakeholders are addressed and a broad-based backlash is avoided...” it added.

The Forum noted a “unique opportunity at the beginning of 2009 for leaders from industry, government and civil society to shape this transformation at an early stage for the benefit of all stakeholders…

“Improving the state of the world requires all stakeholders to collaborate in a proactive, integrated and systematic manner to address global challenges. For this purpose, and for nearly four decades, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting has provided an unrivalled platform for leaders from all walks of life to shape the global agenda and to catalyze solutions at the start of each year,” WEF said.


Palace to come up with details of economic stimulus package

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today that Malacanang will come up with the details of the P330-billion economic stimulus package being crafted to soften the impact of the global economic crisis on the country, especially the poorest of the poor.

He gave no details of the economic stimulus, but said that the package topped the agenda of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s weekly meeting with the Cabinet this morning.

In a press conference held in Malacañang this afternoon, Dureza said the President and her economic managers discussed the important steps needed to put together the economic pump-priming strategy.

He said the rough outlines of the package have already been announced, and the Cabinet and the administration’s economic managers are now “working on the details” of the plan.

Also discussed was the matter of how to pool together sources for the fund, he added.

Dureza pointed out that the possibility of private sector participation in the economic stimulus package was also taken up and that the economic managers were would come up with ideas on “how to get the private sector to respond positively to putting money into that particular fund.”

“So it’s more of finding a way of how a particular fund like that can be put together and then utilized,” Dureza said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced last Jan. 20 the allocation of P330 billion for the economic stimulus package to blunt the impact of the global economic meltdown on the poor and out-of-school youth (OSY).

Aside from providing assistance to the marginalized sector of society, the package is also expected to create three million jobs this year on top of the regular job-generation programs of various government agencies.


PGMA distributes land titles covering 1,300 hectares to 697 Subanen tribesmen

CONCEPCION, Misamis Occidental – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will distribute on Wednesday here certificates of land ownership (CLOAs) covering some 1,300 hectares to 697 members of the Subanen tribe as part of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The government’s land distribution program carries with it a provision for the construction of farm-to-market roads and other support services to improve the economic condition of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

After launching the construction of a seven-kilometer farm-to-market road Wednesday afternoon here, the President will distribute 192 CLOAs covering almost 1,300 hectares to 697 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Concepcion. Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer (MARO) Abelardo Maghanoy said all of the land reform beneficiaries in Concepcion belong to the Subanen tribe.

So far, the DAR provincial office reported that CLOAs have already been distributed to some 14,000 ARBs in 41 agrarian reform communities in the 14 towns of Misamis Occidental including the three component cities of Oroquieta, Ozamis and Tangub.

Agrarian reform officer Cesario Egos said that complementing the CLOA distribution are programs in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) such as goat and swine dispersal, demonstration farms and technology training in integrated pest management (IPM).
Based on their CARP scope validation, Egos said they have identified 14,000 hectares still available for land distribution.

The President has let the joint resolution passed by Congress last December to lapse into law to give the legislative body six more months, or until June 30 this year, to craft a final CARP extension law to include a consensus among farmers’ groups and other stakeholders and allocate enough fund for the implemetation of a meaningful agrarian reform program.

The President has said government has exceeded the target of distributing 200,000 hectares of land every year and directed the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to identify the number of IPs not yet given land titles for their ancestral domain.

Of the total of 9.1 million hectares targeted for distribution under CARP, more than 7.1 million hectares have already been distributed.

The government’s land distribution program needs to be extended for at least another five years to give DAR enough time for the acquisition and distribution of the remaining 1.8 million hectares under the program.


Sultan of Brunei makes state visit to RP Thursday

Malacañang is in the thick of preparations for the state visit of “one of the Philippines “strongest allies” in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Brunei Darussalam, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said today.

Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan of Brunei is scheduled to arrive on Thursday (Jan. 29) for a two-day state visit aimed at bolstering economic and trade relations between the two countries.

According to Dureza, several activities have been lined up for His Highness’ visit which include a state dinner in Malacañang and bilateral talks between the two leaders.

“She will take up very important and vital matters with one of our strongest allies in the ASEAN – Brunei Darussalam,” Dureza said.

“Sigurado kasama (sa bilateral talks) ang employment, peace talks, BIMP-EAGA (Brunie Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area), connectivity between Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines, specifically Mindanao, and there’ll be talk about economic cooperation,” he added.

“Ang dami kasing pending na ASEAN concerns and the visit here of the Sultan is a very important and significant event,” Dureza said.

Brunei, a major oil producer and the fourth biggest liquefied natural gas supplier in the world, and the Philippines share historical and cultural history antedating the establishment of formal diplomatic relations 24 years ago.


Government-church aid program for poor debuts in Koronadal City tomorrow

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – The government-church pro-poor program makes its debut here when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo visits this city tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 28)

The President is arriving here to deliver, together with the diocese of Marbel, basic social services to the doorsteps of poor residents of this city.

Immediately after her consultations with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here, the President will proceed to the gymnasium of St. Anthony Parish Church of the Christ the King Cathedral.

She will also supervise the ongoing medical and dental mission organized by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

The mission expects to extend medical and dental services to about 1,000 parishioners.

The President is also scheduled to lead the feeding of program for 100 malnourished elementary pupils, aged 7-11, and the distribution of food packs to 1,000 indigent residents here.

She will also award 125 scholarship certificates to residents of the Diocese of Marbel.

The scholarship certificates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) is aimed to develop skills and competencies of unemployed and underemployed individuals through training programs for pre-employment, skills upgrading and productivity enhancement.

The beneficiaries of the scholarship program will be identified by St. Anthony parish priest, Fr. Bonifacio Ampoyas.

On hand to assist the President are Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Fr. Ampoyas, South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes, South Cotabato 2nd District Rep. Arthur Pingoy Jr., and Koronadal City Mayor Fernando Miguel.


PGMA to groundbreak farm-to-market road in remote Concepcion town in MisOcc tomorrow

Concepcion, Misamis Occidental (27 January 2009) – President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to visit the remote town of Concepcion in Misamis Occidental January 28 to lead the groundbreaking of the Poblacion-Marigubaan farm-to-market road in Poblacion village.

The President is expected to be welcomed by Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos, 1st District Congresswoman Marina Clarete and Concepcion town Mayor Benjamin Pilota along with some local chief executives and heads of government agencies.

Mayor Pilota said the whole town looks forward to the President’s arrival.

“We are indeed very happy that President Arroyo is coming to see us tomorrow and lead the groundbreaking of a farm-to-market road, which our people has badly needed for a long time now,” he said.

The Mayor revealed that since Concepcion became a town in 1956, no Senator or Vice President has ever visited the place.

“It will be the first time in our history that the highest executive of the land has come to us,” he added.

Mayor Pilota said he knows President Arroyo is a very hardworking President who has been to every nook of the country.

“Her visit to our town would only translate to the success in the government’s efforts in bringing peace and development to this Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) area which was once a New People’s Army (NPA) hotbed,” Pilota, a retired Army Colonel, said.

For his part, Rolando Luna, Principal of the only High School in Concepcion, said the President’s visit and the road groundbreaking is a very welcome move.

He said the road project will give accessibility to the people in the far-flung areas and also cut short travel time to and from the town proper where they avail of government services.

“As of now, people need to walk at least five hours to reach the Municipal Hall from Sapang Dalaga, the adjacent town, which is the only exit route from Concepcion,” he added.

“Only two passenger jeepneys are plying the area, every Friday and Saturday. If they miss that, they will be forced to take a “habal-habal” (motorcycle for hire) that charges as much as 100 pesos one-way per person,” Luna said.

Magdalina Lorejo, Rural Health Midwife of Concepcion since 1990, also said that the road project will also play a huge role in the delivery of health services in the area.

“We are very thankful to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for giving us the farm-to-market road, she said, adding that the project is not only beneficial to farmers, but also to the residents in general.

Lorejo disclosed that being a sixth class town, Concepcion had been without a Doctor either from the government or private sector.

“There are some medical cases which the Municipal Health Center cannot handle, which have to be transferred to other bigger health centers in the health zones of the province like the Calamba District Hospital.

Examples of these referral cases, she added, are severe dehydration, severe pneumonia, placenta retention, hemorrhage, primeriza or first-child deliveries and other cases that need professional help.

“It will now be easy for us at the Municipal Health Office to bring our patients to the coastal areas where they can be assured of treatment, Lorejo said. (Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob / PIA-10)


Nordic Ministers Visit Cyclone-Affected Communities in Myanmar

Yangon, 23 January 2008 - A Nordic delegation hosted by the Tripartite Core Group (TCG) has for the past two days been visiting cyclone-affected communities in Myanmar . The delegation comprised Mr Erik Solheim, Minister of the Environment and International Development of Norway, Ms Ulla Toernaes, Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark, their respective Ambassadors to Myanmar , Mrs Merete Fjeld Brattested and H.E. Mr Michael Sternberg, and colleagues. They were accompanied by TCG Chairman U Kyaw Thu, Special Representative of ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Anish Roy, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Bishow Parajuli and senior members of the TCG.

During the two-day visit, the delegation met the cyclone-affected people in Bogale, Labutta, Mawlamyinegyun and Kungyangon Townships . They visited project sites that are run by non-governmental organisations and programmes which are assisted by the UN, ASEAN and the Government, such as health clinics, shelter projects and education activities. The delegation also met the Danish and Norwegian non-governmental organisations operating in the Ayeyawaddy Delta as well as UN agencies and the international donor community based in Yangon .

Commenting on the work of TCG, Danish Minister Ulla Toernaes, said; "It was impressive to see the progress that has been achieved so far. A lot remains to be done and it is important to now look beyond the emergency phase. I would like to commend the TCG-mechanism on the work they have carried out to coordinate and facilitate the effort. Without the TCG we would never have received similar results. It is essential that the TCG continues its important work".

Her Norwegian colleague, Minister Erik Solheim, said; “The humanitarian relief and early recovery efforts after cyclone Nargis have been more successful than expected. Many schools and homes have been rebuilt, but still there are areas with great need for support. What is important now is the continued and increased access for humanitarian workers”.

The Nordic countries have provided substantial support to the affected population of the worst natural disaster in the history of Myanmar . Currently, 64% of the UN funding requirement of USD 477 million has been met. Denmark ’s contributions and pledges stands at USD 11.4 million, while Norway has contributed USD 7.7 million to the Revised Appeal, according to the OCHA Financial Tracking System.

“A review conducted recently has shown that while relief efforts have reached all the affected communities, there is still much that needs to be done in terms of building back the livelihoods of the people. As such, international assistance is required to provide continued support to the cyclone affected people. The visit of the Nordic Ministers is an indication of this continued support,” said Dr Anish Roy Special Representative of ASEAN Secretary General. .

“Eight months into the humanitarian response, the immediate humanitarian needs are increasingly met and early recovery is underway. Continued support is needed to achieve sustainable recovery for all 2.4 million affected people,” said UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Bishow Parajuli , adding that international donations are rucial for the success of the three-year Post-Nargis recovery plan that will be launched next month.


DepEd appeals to kidnappers to release teachers

(Zamboanga City) - The Department of Education appeals to the kidnappers of three public school teachers for their safe release.

"Our teachers come from poor families and wish nothing more than support their parents, brothers, and sisters," said DepEd Zamboanga City Division Superintendent Dolores Alcantara, in a press release.

"These teachers give their time to nurture the children of Zamboanga City to be better citizens and contribute to the economic growth of Mindanao. The parents cannot raise the amount demanded and the government follows a no ransom policy. We pray that the teachers be released."

Secretary Jesli Lapus earlier instructed Undersecretary for Regional Operations Ramon Bacani and local DepEd to coordinate with the local government and law enforcement. He also tasked them to assist the families of the victims.

"We are deeply concerned with the safety of our teachers," expressed Lapus. "They preferred to be teachers here than abroad. Why do they have to go through this ordeal? In taking them, the children under their care are deprived of the education they so rightfully deserve."

According to a local paper, ten public school teachers and several civilians were held-up Friday morning by four unidentified fully armed men on board a motorized pump boat at the high seas between Barangay Landan Gua and Pangapuyan Island in Zamboanga City.

The abductors were said to have forcibly taken 3 of the people on board another vessel and after which sped to the direction of Basilan Island, witnesses said. Taken were Quizon G. Freires, single, 28; Jannette C. Delos Reyes, single, 29; and Raphael L. Mayonado, single, 24.
In a separate news report, Basilan Vice Governor Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul was quoted as confirming that the three abducted teachers in Zamboanga were taken by their captors to Basilan Province, “somewhere in Mohammad Ajul town.” (DepEd/ PIA-BASULTA)