'Manna from heaven' delights 2,000 tricycle drivers/operators   

Palace Distances itself from Bolante

DA on Nationwide Promotion on Organic Farming  

Spain grants support fund for Philippine Farmers

No info on reported cut of MCC assistance to RP, says Golez

Basilan Priest Survives an ambush; 4 CAFGUs wounded    

Lanao Sur Governor wants results on Minoza abduction

 Lanao Norte IDPs moving out; its back home 

Lanao Norte remains stable and under control – AFP

Series of halal advocacy activities up in Zamboanga

'Manna from heaven' delights 2,000 tricycle drivers/operators   

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo made good today her promise to make life less burdensome to thousands of tricycle drivers with a basketful of multi-economic assistance amounting to at least P10 million.

Included in the pre-Christmas holidays package that  the 2,000 members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) received from the President are: P1-million rice subsidy, reduction of emission testing fee to P40, energy discount card, P2-million scholarship grants and health care insurance.

During the program proper of the tricycle operators and driver’s general assembly held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the President, assisted by Philhealth president Dr. Rey B. Aquino, awarded a symbolic Philippine Health Insurance check worth P1 million to TODA coalition officers led by Romy Calabag.

Some 1,000 tricycle operators/drivers and their respective family members stand to benefit from the PhilHealth cards.

Assisted by TESDA director general Augusto Syjuco, the President also awarded Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship vouchers worth P2 million to TODA officers led by Ariel Raquel.

President Arroyo tasked Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to coordinate with other government agencies on how to avail of scholarship grants or loans for the education of the TODA members’ children.

She also ordered the DOE to coordinate with the proper agencies to avail of drug-testing fee discounts.

She witnessed the turnover of “Pepeng Pasada” discount cards by Pilipinas Shell Corporation president Ed Chua to TODA officers.

Palace distances itself from Bolante   

“Walang pakialam ang gobyerno sa kaniya ngayon. He is a private citizen.”

Thus Malacanang distanced itself today from former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn ‘JocJoc’ Bolante who is reportedly set to return to the Philippines from the United States.

“He (Bolante) is not an official at all of the government. Kaya kung anuman ang mangyari sa kaniya (So no matter what happens to him), he takes care of himself,” said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza in a radio interview this morning.

The Press Secretary added, “Kung may mga kaso siya, harapin niya (If he has any case/s), he should face them. Kung may mga atraso siya sa batas, pananagutan niya.”

Asked if the government intends to help Bolante as a former agriculture undersecretary, Dureza reiterated, thus: “He is a private citizen. He can take care of himself. And he should take care of himself.”

“We have no take on him as a person dahil private citizen na siya. So we cannot say we welcome him or we don’t want him here,” the Press Secretary added, pointing out that Bolante’s next move all depends on the former aggie official:

“Depende sa kaniya kung ano ang gawin niya sa buhay niya, at kung ano ang gagawin niya to defend himself kung mayroon siyang mga pananagutan dito o haharapin dito sa Pilipinas.” 

DA on nationwide promotion of organic farming 

TAGBILARAN CITY (PNA) -- In line with this year's celebration of World Food Day, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched a nationwide promotion of organic farming as a way to improve agricultural productivity and ensure food sufficiency.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap kicked off the World Food Day celebration by introducing to farmers in Lila, Bohol the benefits of organic farming not only to increase farm productivity but also improve soil fertility by using less fertilizer that rubs off soil nutrients.

In terms of rice production, Bohol Province contributes 60 percent share in Region 7, with an area of 46,109 hectares for rice out of 63,919 hectares for the entire region this wet season.

Yap, in an interview, said he chose to launch organic farming in Lila, Bohol, who is experiencing low production rate due to poor farming method and efficient irrigation system.

He explained that organic farming is the use of balanced fertilization method -- organic and inorganic fertilizer -- that increases productivity and improves soil nutrients by less usage of harmful chemicals.

Yap said organic farming is incorporated in the FIELDS program, which is the centerpiece program of the Arroyo administration to guarantee food security over the medium term amid the incessant threats to global farm productivity by climate change.

Spain grants support fund for Philippine farmers      

In connection with the World Food Day celebration, the Philippines through the DA Secretary and Kazuyuki Tsurumi, the country representative of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) for the US$ 471,000 support fund from the Spanish Government to assist flood-affected farming communities in Eastern Samar and Leyte provinces.

Yap said the project, which will run from October 2008 to September 2009, will provide farmers in the affected areas agricultural inputs such as rice and corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, and fruit trees seedlings; fertilizers, poultry and livestock, fish fingerlings, among others.

The project would also give trainings to farmers and women groups to improve their technical knowledge and skills on sustainable crop, animal and aquaculture production including processing; and enhance their capabilities to adopt to other livelihood activities and other coping strategies in times of natural calamities.

This year’s World Food Day will have for its theme ""World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Food Security.""To be able to meet these challenges, Yap said, ""we must feed the people now.""

This can be done through improved farm production, irrigation system and infrastructure; lower cost of farm inputs; loan assistance to farmers and fisherfolk; and availability of technical assistance and new farming technologies. All these components are in the FIELDS program of the government. (PNA)

No info on reported cut of MCC assistance to RP, says Golez  

Malacanang said today it has no information that the Philippines will not be getting fresh funding this year from the US Millennium Challenge Corp. (MCC) as reported by the Philippine Star on Sunday (Oct. 19).

Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez said that the Washington-based Center for Global Development (CDG) has just undertaken an independent analysis and prediction on which countries are likely to be selected by the MCC board in Dec. 2009.

“The MCC has not yet released any finding or statement regarding the Philippine status on the MCC,” Golez said.

He pointed out that MCC chief executive officer (CEO) John Danilovich said last March that the Philippines had demonstrated its “commitment to tackling difficult challenges and improving the lives of our people, giving the compact status and making us eligible for funding.”

Usually, CDG bases its predictions on particular surveys, “unlike the solid and objective indicators that MCC has,” he added.

“Our government has poured in the highest amount of money to programs against corruption and this has been the reason for the unprecedented increase in the prosecution and conviction rates of our courts,” Golez said.

In July 2006, the Philippines received a $21-million grant from the MCC for the government’s anti-corruption campaign.

Basilan Priest Survives an ambush;

4 CAFGUs wounded    

Isabela, Basilan - Four persons were wounded and two others survived with minor scratches in ambush Saturday  (Oct 18) afternoon in barangay Upper Cabengbeng, Sumisip – south of the island province of Basilan.

Col. Rustico Guerrero, Commanding Officer of the 1st Marine Brigade, said that 4 CAFGU members were wounded in the ambush, while injured with some abrasions were Rev. Fr. Filimon “Mon” Libot and a certain PFC Nicolas.

On board a civilian vehicle, Fr. Mon was on his way to Tumahubong, some 92 kilometers away from the capital town of Isabela City, via the Isabela-Maluso-Sumisip circumferential road.

Some 7 km before reaching Tumahubong proper, they were fired upon by a band of about 4 armed men. The priest’s security escorts from the Philippine Marines and CAFGU returned fire. The responding Marines with CAFGUs in a nearby detachment  prompted the ambushers to withdraw.

Fr. Mon boarded another vehicle and proceeded to Tumahubong. A helicopter, requested by Col. Guerrero minutes after the incident, airlifted the wounded CAFGU to Zamboanga City for medical treatment.

Col. Guerrero added that government troops from the MBLT-10 were sent to track down the armed band, whose identities and motive are still under investigation.

Other sources theorized that the ambush is relative to the on-going conflict of various factions in the Tumahubong Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Cooperative (TARBIDC), an Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) of more than a thousand hectares, under the Department of Agrarian Reform.

With some P50 M loan for the modernization of the rubber production of the cooperative, some factions claim mismanagement of the cooperative. Production loses were also reported due to illegal and over-tapping of rubber trees by some unscrupulous groups.

A few months back, there were some unresolved killings reported in the area; and sometime in August, the administration building of TARBIDC was eaten up by fire in the middle of the nigh.

Unconfirmed reports said that TARBIDC has already been placed under a Crisis  Management Committee to address the problem of the cooperative.

Last week, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad celebrated Sunday mass in the priest less parish of Tumahubong. This weekend, it was Fr. Mon’s turn.

A native of Bohol and  a religious of the Claretian Missionary Fathers, Fr. Mon is currently the Director of Claret College of Isabela in the provincial capital town of Basilan.

In his Sunday television “Healing Mass” in Manila, Fr. Mario Sobrejuanite, offered a short prayer for Fr. Mon Libot and the 2 NGO kidnapped victims in Basilan. The Catholic Church observed “Mission Sunday” that day. (DM/PIA-BASULTA)

Lanao Sur Governor wants results

on Miñoza abduction

Iligan City – Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr. has called on the Crisis Management Committee  to exhaust all means get back safely kidnapped victim, Hipolito Miñoza from his unknown abductors.

Miñoza, Budget Officer of the Mindanao State University (MSU), Marawi City, was traveling home to his residence in Iligan City last Thursday (Oct 16) with his wife Yolanda, when the abduction took place in Saguiran town. His wife was not taken.

Former Saguiran Mayor Bobby Macabago told the Governor that his wife, Mayor Rasmia Macabago, has directed the local enforcement units to conduct round-the-clock monitoring in their town’s vicinity.

“We should have apprehended the alleged kidnappers and rescued the victim, if indeed, they are still in our area of jurisdiction,” Macabago said.

Meanwhile, even as the police and military are still to identify and locate the victim and his abductors, Gov. Adiong opined that the abduction could not possibly be done by the lawless MILF group under Cmdr. Bravo.

“I don’t think Bravo and his men will resort to this kind of another criminal act considering that they are frequently on the run to elude arrests”, the Governor said. (RTD/PIA-Marawi)

Lanao Norte IDPs moving out, it’s back home

Iligan City - Sixty three (63) families who are staying in the evacuation center of the Madrasah in CEANURI Subdivision are scheduled to go back to their respective homes in Barangay Paiton, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte (LDN) to live a normal life again by October 21, 2008.

In today’s press briefing at the Information Command Center (ICC), Philippine Information Agency, Capt. Jul Acmad Muhalli, Civil Military Operations (CMO) Officer of the 5IB PA, said they will provide transportation and security escort services to these internally displaced persons who left their homes because of the atrocities committed by the lawless MILF groups last August 18 in Kauswagan.

“We have already coordinated with the local government of Kauswagan and the Municipal Social Welfare Officer for the IDP’s to vacate the Madrasah EC and informed the barangay officials of Paiton that they are going back to their village,” Muhalli said.

Most of the IDPs want to return home because of their crops are ready for harvest, and they sought our advice if it would be safe for them to do so, the CMO Officer said.

Muhali said the AFP is having a pro-active defense to communities under their area of responsibility and that there are enough troops to provide security to the affected villages. (LVG/PIA )

Lanao del Norte remains stable and under control -- AFP

Iligan City – The situation in Lanao del Norte is stable and very much under control even in anticipation of some movements in the ground due to the junking of the MOA-AD by the Supreme Court last week.

Capt. Ralph Dela Cruz, OIC, OG7, First Infantry Tabak Division (IID), Philippine Army, made the statement in today’s media briefing at the Information Command Center (ICC), Philippine Information Agency, this city.

Dela Cruz added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is very much capable in controlling and stabilizing the security situation in the province.

“We are hoping that this situation will continue and our main concern right now is to regain the trust and confidence of the public so that the peace and order situation will be back to normal,” said Dela Cruz.

He also said that the development projects and other programs of the government will push through, as initiated by all local government units  and non-governmental organizations within the province before the armed- conflict that happened last August 18.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division (403rd Bde), PA continues to have interfaith dialogues with the communities in coordination with the LGU’s so as to brief them of the real situation in the province and what the AFP is doing for their safety and that peace will prosper, thus said Dela Cruz.

He added that the conflict has gone too far yet he appealed to the people to open their minds and hearts that combat operations is not the answer to all these problems. (OSM- Radyo ng Bayan)

Series of halal advocacy activities up in Zamboanga 

As part of its advocacy campaign for Muslim consumers following the holy month of Ramadhan in September, the Department of Trade and Industry will be conducting a series of halal advocacy activities in Zamboanga City from October 20 to 23, 2008.

Dr. Sitti Amina M. Jain, Assistant Regional Director of DTI-9 and designated DTI National Coordinator on Halal said that these activities are part of the greater objective of institutionalizing halal as a way of life among Muslim consumers in the Philippines.

The recent promulgation of the  Philippine National Standards on Halal Food, she said was one big step towards that direction as it helps ensure the strict observance of halal guidelines starting from the production phase to the processing, packaging and even in the handling/transporting of finished food products. In this way, halal is even more stringent than ISO, she added.

Dr. Jain disclosed that the newly created National Halal Accreditation Board of the Philippines (NHABPhil) will hold its first organizational development workshop in Zamboanga City on October 21-23, 2008 at the Lantaka Hotel By the Sea. Ulamas representing the various regions of the country who were elected as officers and members of NHABPhil will be the main participants of the workshop. 

Prior to the NHABPhil workshop, the DTI will also spearhead the conduct of the Halal Advocacy Seminar at the same venue in October 20,. The general membership meeting and induction of officers of the Western Mindanao Halal Consumers Association (WMHCA) will be among the highlights of the said advocacy seminar.

Further, on October 21, another big event – the Halal Consumers Advocacy Forum, will be held at the Summit Center of the Universidad de Zamboanga. The Summit Center was chosen as the venue because of the big number of expected participants to the event.

Speakers to the said forums are known Islamic luminaries of the Philippines such as  Aleem Walid Abubakar, Chairman of the National Halal Accreditation Board who will talk on the topic “Signficance of Halal to Muslim Consumers”; Mr. Jamil Hamza T. Olermo, Founder of the Mindanao Halal Resource Center who will discuss “Halal Products, Ingredients and Derivatives; and DOST-9’s Engr. Mahmud L. Kingking, elected President of the WMHCA who will speak on “The Science of Halal”.

An open forum will follow after the lectures to give the audience an opportunity to ask questions and to be further clarified on the topics discussed.