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US Navy Makes Street Children’s Stay At Lingap Center More Comfortable

SOME 10 STREET CHILDREN in Pagadian City, who are now sheltered and nourished at the Lingap Center in Barangay Dao, this city will have a more comfortable place to stay, as the crew of a U.S naval ship Rentz last Saturday (Aug. 16) repaired their dilapidated bedrooms, provide them with brand new foam mattresses to sleep on as well as nice cabinets to keep their personal belongings.
As early as 8:30 a.m. US Navy Commander Dave Glenister, commanding officer of USS Rentz and his men were already at the Lingap Center equipped with sophisticated carpentry tools, lumber, plywood and paints needed to fix the home for street children.

The repair was done in a day where the USS Rentz crew worked hand in hand with the elements of the 1st Infantry (Tabak) Division, Philippine Army led by Assistant Chief of Staff of the Civil Military Operations Agane Adriatico and the Philippine National Police headed by Provincial Director Ramon Ochotorena.
Philippine Navy Commander Albert Mogol was also there. But prior to the hard work, a short program was held dedicated to the 10 street children in the house and would be beneficiaries out there in the streets. 

City Social Welfare and Development Officer Abdulgani Pagayao, who happens to be the Center Head expressed his gratitude to the US Government for extending some help to the Lingap Center. Likewise City Mayor Sammy Co extended his felicitation to the visiting US navy who helped the city government repair the 20-year old dilapidated home for the less fortunate children. Co was represented by his Security Chief Eddie Arao.

Glenister, in an interview with the local media disclosed that they must do the repair as quick as they can in one day for the next day they will be at Santa Lucia Elementary School for a similar purpose. Part of their itinerary is also to have a fun game with the police and the army at Camp Abelon.

The USS Rentz arrived at the port of Pagadian last August 15 and in the evening, Glenister said that they hosted a social gathering for the military and civilian officials of the city and province. Accordingly, Governor Aurora E. Cerilles had warmly welcomed them to the new Regional Center in Zamboanga Peninsula. Glenister then let his guests tour around the ship. 

The US Navy official admitted they are doing this as a way of saying “thank you” to the Philippines for the long friendship with the United States of America. “It is part of our civil affairs project every time we come for a port visit in any of the areas in the Philippines,” he elaborated.

At the Lingap Center for instance, Glenister describes it as a mission of making the whole place nice to stay for the (street) children.

The 10 street children being housed at Lingap Center ages from 10 to 16 and all are in grade school. Some are orphans of both parents, others come from broken homes and abandoned while two siblings have no one to care for them as their mother is insane, according to Center Incharge Romania Balatucal.

It was learned from Police Community Relations Officer Teresita Paclibar that last July, a US emissary came to coordinate with PD Ochotorena in identifying one orphanage and a school institution as beneficiaries of the Civil Affairs project of the US Navy. Eventually, after an ocular visit to possible beneficiaries, Lingap Center and Santa Lucia Elementary School were chosen.

NDCC Denies Request For Agora Reconstruction Fund

THE NATIONAL Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) did not grant the request of the city government of Pagadian for a P10-million financial assistance to rehabilitate the Agora Complex, which was hit by the April 26 fire.

In an official letter dated August 5, OCD administrator and NDCC executive officer Glenn J. Rabonza said that NDCC is holding back support for the reconstruction of the public market.

Rabonza cited NDCC Memorandum No. 02, which stipulates that aid, repair, rehabilitation or reconstruction of government buildings, public hospitals, public schools, municipal and city halls, capitol buildings and the like damaged by fire shall not be funded by the National Calamity Fund (NCF).

It may be recalled that 2-day after the fire, the Pagadian City Disaster Coordinating Council (PCDCC) passed Resolution No. 2008-01 requesting financial assistance of P10-million from the NDCC for the immediate repair of the burnt Agora in which the damage estimated to P70-million.

However, the PCDCC chaired by Mayor Sammy Co has released an initial amount of P16-million for the Agora, inclusive of financial assistance to affected vendors.

In his program, ‘The Mayor’s Report’, Co urged the affected stallholders, who were given temporary shelter, to be orderly as plans for renovation is going on. Co assured the Pagadianons that reconstruction by phasing will commence this year.

The mayor has also acknowledged the P1-M fund assistance given by 1st District Congressman Victor Yu for the burnt public market. Neil Michael Dablo

 

More Pagadianons Passed Nursing Exam

MS. Claudine Mae Diamante Roullo, 21, daughter of Adalberto M. Roullo and Marlene Diamante-Roullo, both employed at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Pagadian City recently passed the nursing licensure examination given by Professional Regulation Commission last June 1-2, 2008.

Ms. Roullo is a graduate of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) in Zamboanga City where she earned a degree of B.S. in Nursing. She completed her elementary education at the Pagadian City Pilot School and her secondary education at Holy Child Academy, here.

The young nurse is a younger sister of Mr. Joseph Alexis Diamante Roullo, 23, a Marine Deck Officer who also passed the Marine Deck Officers licensure examination last November 10-11, 2007 and is now working at the European Cargo Vessel, a worldwide destination shipping lines.

Ms. Roullo is also the granddaughter of retired school principal Mr. Dioscoro A. Roullo (now deceased) of the San Pedro Elementary School, Pagadian City.

On the other hand, Jerry Philip P. Martin, 21, and Carmel Fe P. Martin, 20, son and daughter, respectively of Engr. Felipe Jerry P. Martin, who is presently working at the National Power Corporation, Power Barge in Mindoro and Carmelita P. Martin, HRD chief of Zamsureco-1, Pagadian City also passed the said examination.

The two new nurses who are both graduates of the Southwestern University in Cebu City where each earned a degree of B.S. in Nursing had completed their elementary and secondary education at the Saint Columban College High School department, Pagadian City.

 

Aurora Has Biggest Number Of Professionals In Zambosur

“EVERY HOUSEHOLD in Aurora has a professional,” claims Aurora town Mayor Enrique J. Cabahug, Jr. in a Breakfast Forum with the members of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines at Hotel Guillermo, Pagadian City last Saturday (July 26).

Aside from being known as cutflower capital in Zamboanga del Sur, Aurora owns the distinction of being No. 1 producer of professionals in the province, many of whom are now working abroad even as many educated Auroranians are occupying key positions in various firms and offices in Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur.

“Our professionals contribute a lot to our economy because while they are working overseas, they send money to their families who build huge and beautiful houses,” Cabahug explained.

The mayor added that those who are not from Aurora wonder what are the sources of income of these people - “ang uban moingon wala ba kaha ni sila namaligya’g shabu”.

Cabahug said that 85% of the settlers in Aurora hail from Cebu where they usually send their children to earn college degrees because in Cebu they have relatives. On the other hand, many professionals from Aurora study in Marawi too (referring to the Mindanao State University) while others in Ozamis and Pagadian colleges.

Cabahug said that Aurora is comparable to Ireland. Kana kunong Ireland pobre kaayo ang pamilya kung walay pari, kini pong Aurora pobre pod kaayo ang pamilya kong walay professional,” the mayor also said.

Cabahug explained that parents and children agree that once the eldest earns a college degree like commerce or education he has to help finance the education of his other siblings.

High end professionals like lawyers and doctors of medicines or whatever, you name it and Aurora has it, Cabahug claims.

 

Teacher’s House Ransacked

MOLAVE, Zambosur - An elementary school teacher Letecia Gamutin Bolando, 45, and a resident of 902 Legarda Street, Purok Pag-asa, Madasigon, Molave, this province reported to the Molave PNP that their house was ransacked by an alleged trisikad driver at around 12:00 noon last July 21, 2008.

Police record shows that while Bolando went home from school she found out that her house was ransacked by an unknown person who carted away her class ring, necklace, BLD pins, DepEd pins, earrings and other personal belongings.

From the police blotter, it appears that Bolando suspects that a certain Elias Marata alias Toto, 30, single, trisikad driver, and a boarder of her mother’s house situated near from her own was the one responsible.

As of press time, Molave chief of police Ranulfo P. Sinajon is still conducting an investigation as to the veracity of said allegation.

 

141 Preggies, 138 Moms Join Zambosur Nutri-Month Affair

AS MANY AS 141 pregnant women; 138 breastfeeding mothers with their babies flocked together at the Provincial Capitol for the 34th Nutrition Month celebration of the provincial government of Zamboanga del Sur last July 15.
Their number exceeded the target of the Provincial Nutrition Committee’s technical working group to gather at least 100 pregnant women and 100 lactating mothers to participate in the “preggy leisure walk and mass breastfeeding activities, in line with this year’s Nutrition Month theme: “Sa Wastong Nutrisyon Ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy Si Baby,” according to the Provincial Nutrition Office.

As programmed, they were the main groups of the community to hear a lecture about the importance of proper nutrition before, during and after pregnancy for a healthy mother and baby given by the Provincial Nutritionist and Dietician Joy Dajao of the Provincial Health Office.
Expectant mothers were told of the recommended diet and how much weight should a pregnant woman gain according to her height after they were weighed and measured. They were given vitamin A and iron and vegetables courtesy of the provincial government through the Provincial Health Office and Provincial Agriculture Office.
Moreover, the Provincial Nutrition Office distributed to them booklets where list of foods for pregnant and nursing mothers is written in vernacular.

Provincial Nutrition Action Officer Estrella Esma said that in order to help achieve the National Millennium Development Goal 5 which is to reduce maternal mortality by three fourths in 2015, the Cerilles administration will continue to give Vitamin-A and iron supplements to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
Thus, it was the main purpose of conducting the Nutri-Walk-for-a-Cause as early as 6:00 in the morning on the same day. Funds raised from the walk will be used to procure the needed food supplements for pregnant and lactating mothers in the province, Esma said. 

However, at press time, Esma disclosed that of 33 contingents, 27 paid their registration fee at P1,000 while others have pledged to give and she noted that some delegations simply participated in the walk.

Cong. Cerilles Denies Rumor Governor Running For City Mayor

PAGADIAN CITY - Rumors circulating around the city that last termer Governor Aurora E. Cerilles is contemplating to run for city mayor of Pagadian City, even if her ally, incumbent Mayor Sammy S. Co can still run for another term have puzzled many, a keen political observer said.

According to reports some of the governor’s political workers have roamed around the 54 barangays in the city to feel the pulse of the voters. A reliable source who asks for anonymity said random surveys asking barangay respondents who would be the best mayoralty bet, if elections were held today have been going on.

But the intriguing issue was clarified recently by Congressman Tony Cerilles just after the oath taking of the NUJP new set of officers at Hotel Alindahaw, this city. Congressman Cerilles said that it is not possible for the governor to run as she is not a registered voter of Pagadian City. He added that his wife who has served the province of Zamboanga del Sur for quite a long time is a registered voter of Dumalinao and if elections were held today she is disqualified.

As the election is getting closer, many political observers are wondering as for what position Governor Auring Cerilles will run since her term is going to end in 2010.

Observers say that the governor has several options to pursue her political carrier as she can run for congress in lieu of her husband since most-likely Congressman Cerilles will either run for the Senate or for the gubernatorial post.

Being a close ally of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a bigger chance awaits the Cerilles couple as either one of them is highly qualified to run for Senator.

 

Zambosur Pursues Hydro Power Generation

ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR is set to generate its own hydro power plant in anticipation of a looming power energy by 2010.
This was gathered over the weekend from Governor Auring E. Cerilles as she presided the 124th regular meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) last June 30 at Liga Convention Center, Pagadian City. “This is a very important project for Zamboanga del Sur to boost power supply in the province that would lessen its dependence on the National Power Corporation in case it experience energy generation crisis,” Cerilles said.
The lady governor cited a forecast made by experts that in the coming years there will be energy crisis in Mindanao. Having a potential hydro power source at a lake Biswangan, Lakewood, this province her administration wants to put up a 5-megawatt hydro power plant to supply energy requirement in the province.


Determined to push through with this project, Gov. Cerilles disclosed to the body that she would seek assistance straight from President Arroyo to fund the conduct of feasibility study (FS) since she and the President only have less than two years before the end of their term of office. “We should be one in this endeavor and we have to act fast and do something about it,” she stressed to the members of the RDC.
Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Affairs Ferdinand Mahusay also suggested that after the FS is done, RDC should endorse it to PGMA for her to certify as priority project for Zamboanga del Sur.


It was gathered that before this energy crisis projection was publicly reported, in July 31 last year, the Provincial Development Council passed Resolution No. 5 series of 2007 requesting then Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla though the RDC to allocate P200-M for the proposed construction of Lakewood mini-hydro power plant.
And the RDC for its part favorably endorsed it to the Department of Energy (DOE) for possible funding even for the conduct of the Feasibility Study. However, DOE’s response was futile for the RDC to refer it back to the proponent - Zamboanga del Sur provincial government. 


On the one hand, Jose Raul A. Saniel, Zamsureco-I general manager and a private sector representative to the RDC for the province vouched his strong support for the proposed project saying that Zamsureco-I is pursuing its own 6-megawatt hydro power plant in Josefina which can generate as much as 18-23 megawatts. 
GM Saniel said that so as not to be totally affected by an energy crisis, Zamboanga del Sur with its potential power source much cultivate and utilize it.
If these two projects are realized, Governor Cerilles said her province would have a hydro power plant in the First District and in the Second District as well. 

Senator Zubiri Fulfilling Commitment To Zambosur

SENATOR Juan Miguel Zubiri for the second time after his election was here to fulfill his commitment to help Pagadian and Zamboanga del Sur not only in legislation but of projects as well.

Apart from gracing the 39th Araw ng Pagadian last Saturday (June 21), Zubiri the second Mindanaoan Senator disclosed to local media that he personally handed over the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) worth P2.5-million to Governor Auring E. Cerilles.

“That was just an initial release of the P10-million I had pledged to Governor Cerilles when I graced the coronation night for the Search for Ms. Zamboanga del Sur last September 2007,” Zubiri said.

Zubiri recalled that the First Couple - Congressman Tony and Gov. Auring Cerilles invited him last year to crown the 2007 Ms. Zambosur which was held at the Amusement and Events Center (AEC), Capitol compound, this city.

During that occasion Governor Cerilles sought assistance from Zubiri to finish the AEC gym and the Senator publicly promised to give P10-million out of his priority development assistance fund (PDAF).

In the 2007 senatorial elections, Zubiri was among the top 5 in Zamboanga del Sur and this inspired him to promise to allot P500-T for each of the 26 municipalities in the province for the construction of school buildings.

Last June 21, during the anniversary program at the City Gym, Zubiri publicly announced a little present for Pagadian - a SARO worth P500-T for an initial funding of Mayor Co’s housing project for the urban poor in Brgy. Santa Lucia.

Although Zubiri did not disclose how much he intends to give to Pagadian however he said the P500-T would not be enough for the housing project which would need millions of pesos. He clarified that he would give what he committed by quarter.

After the program, Zubiri together with Congressman Cerilles joined City Mayor Sammy Co and City Councilors in honoring the past elective and appointive local officials for their invaluable contributions in the development of Pagadian City.

He stayed here overnight and even went to Dimataling together with Congressman Cerilles also to grace its 58th Founding Anniversary in the evening of June 21.

 

1 Killed In V. Sagun Shooting; 1 Hacked In Nearby Town

A SERIES OF BLOODY incidents transpired in the 2nd District of Zamboanga del Sur over the weekend prompting the provincial police office to call on barangay officials to secure their own turf from these cases of violence.

A certain Rico Capa, 36, and a resident of Cogon, Vincenzo Sagun was shot to death by an unidentified person while on his way home.

Provincial police records show that while Rico who came from the barangay proper of Cogon and on his way home together with his brother-in-law he was suddenly shot several times by an unidentified gunman and was hit on the different part of his body. Rico was confirmed dead on the spot by responding policemen from the V. Sagun PNP Station.

The alleged motive of the killing is personal grudge and it is now being investigated by the PNP of V. Sagun.

Relatives of the victim suspected that the gunman is not a stranger in their area but have not divulge the identity for security reasons.

On the other hand, in Barangay San Agustin, Dumalinao, Zamboanga del Sur a certain David Am-is, 24, was brought to the Pagadian City Medical Center after he was hacked by a certain Jerry Casidsid, a resident of said barangay.

According to witnesses, the two were engaged in a heated argument when Jerry hacked David with a sharp bladed bolo.

After the incident, the suspect surrendered to Corporal Carlos Matas, a member of the Philippine Army and Carmelito Cańete, a Bantay Bayan member.

A complaint of Frustrated Homicide was already filed against the suspect.

 

RDC-9