Is the Joint FACT-FINDING COMMITTEES against Illegal Logging and Illegal Mining Operations Kicking and Alive?

President BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By JONG CADION  

PAGADIAN CITY (June 30, 2013) – Nine months ago, the three Executive Departments of Justice, Interior and Local Government and of the Environment and Natural Resources have jointly created Fact-Finding Committees to handle cases related to Illegal Logging and Illegal Mining activities.

Bishop Antonio Ablon

Many environmental sectors were happy on the immediate action done by the concerned officials following the directive of P-NOY efforts to combat and eradicate such illegal operations.

Recently, these environmentalists are wondering whether the created Joint Fact-Finding Committees are working or not.

“I did not heard of any Joint Fact-Finding Committees result done by them, correct me if I am wrong,” Advocate for Peace (Adpeace) convenor Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Philippine Independent Church said.

  

The creation was published in the website of the DOJ dated November 10, 2013.

(To read please click the link URL below: http://www.doj.gov.ph/news.html?title=DOJ,%20DILG%20and%20DENR%20create%20JOINT%20FACT-FINDING%20COMMITTEES%20TO%20ERADICATE%20ILLEGAL%20LOGGING%20AND%20ILLEGAL%20MINING%20OPERATIONS&newsid=137#sthash.yVwRXHV2.dpuf )

More than 6,000 sign petition against Tampakan mining

Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo, D.D.

Please click below to link the online petition:

change.org/tampakan.

COTABATO CITY (30 July 2013) - A few weeks ago, Bishop Broderick Pabillo decided to initiate an online petition on Change.org to persuade President Noynoy Aquino to cancel the permits given to Sagittarius Mining Inc. (SMI) for the mining project in Tampakan, South Cotabato. Netizens did not fail him as his petition breached the 6,000-signatures mark today.

“We are elated. This proves that a great portion of the online community understands the dangers of mining especially the one in Tampakan. Malacañang should stop the Tampakan mining project or at least, answer our arguments against it,” Bp. Pabillo, who is the Auxiliary Bishop of Manila said.

Pabillo explained that the Social Action Center (SAC) of Marbel through the help of the Dioceses of Kidapawan, Marbel and Digos have already gathered 170,000 signatures from the areas surrounding the site. He furthered, “As you can see, the project is very unpopular in its very vicinity. The Change.org petition is an inclusive attempt to broaden the opposition against SMI and compliment the efforts of our local allies.”

LET'S JUST WAIT FOR LANUZA'S RELEASE-VP BINAY URGES NGOs

Vice President Jejomar Binay

MANILA (OVP MEDIA) - Vice President Jejomar C. Binay has urged non-government organizations to stop giving unofficial deadlines on the date of Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) Rodelio "Dondon" Lanuza's release.

"Alam mo iyan ang nagiging problema. Naglalagay sila ng deadline. Paano ka magdedeadline hindi mo naman hawak iyon. Tapos nagagalit sila," Binay said in an interview at the Coconut Palace Tuesday.

According to the Vice President, these pronouncements are causing Lanuza's family unnecesary stress. He added that such pronouncements also unduly raise the public's expectations and give the impression that government is not acting on Lanuza's immediate release.

He added that the delays were uncontrollable on the part of the Philippine government.

LGU-Isabela City, DOLE ask barangays to uphold Kasambahay Law

By Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, July 26 (PIA) – Two separate forums on Kasambahay Law were held recently in the city to raise public consciousness on Republic Act 10361 that institutes policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers.

Ramon Nuñal, City Administrator said during the forum that this advocacy initiated by DOLE is an attempt to educate the public through the help of the stakeholders and the barangay officials, most importantly, whose role is crucial to the success of implementing the law.

Engr. Wesley D. Tan, officer-in-charge of DOLE Isabela City Field

Office said that R.A. 10361 is the fulfillment of the Philippine’s

commitment and obligation to afford greater protection to domestic

household service worker (Kasambahay) and the Philipines ratified

ILO convention 189 known as Decent Work for Domestic Workers in

2012. (Rene V. Carbayas, PIA9-ZBST)

“I know we will not be 100% successful in our advocacy, especially among employers. Many of whom will circumvent the law and many will still refuse to obey the law. Therefore it is a challenge for us. The law identified the role of the barangay leaders to come up with a data base,” he said.

Enrico C. Flores, SSS Basilan branch head revealed that as of July 5 only 8 employers and 9 kasambahays have voluntarily registered at the SSS in the city.

Recognizing the limited manpower of the local labor department, Nuñal said that the data gathered from the barangays will greatly help monitor and enforce the law and that the data will be very useful for the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG and PhiHealth.

Cyrus P. Tingcang of DOLE region IX said that the law protects both the employer and employee as each is now bound with a contract where the obligation of each is stipulated.

Tingcang stressed that barangays must establish a Kasambahay desk where the registry of household workers in the barangay is set-up. This will also fastrack rescue of distressed workers in their midst.

32nd IB undergo “Pagsasanay Alfa” at Kuta Sang-an

Lt Col Johnson Jemar D Aseron, Commanding Officer of 32IB and

his troops and staffs stand before the Commander of 1ID during

the opening ceremony of 32IB retraining conducted at Hqs 1ID,

Kuta Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on

July 26, 2013. (Photo provided by DPAO)

By JONG CADION

KUTA SANG-AN, ZAMBOSUR – The 1^st Infantry Division (1ID) formally opened last Saturday July 27, 2013 the two (2) month reorganizational training of 32^nd Infantry Battalion following a short opening ceremony at the Headquarters 1ID in Kuta Cesar Sang-an, Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday July 26, 2013 at around 4:00 in the afternoon.

“The retraining of 32^nd IB is part of the Implementation Plan ‘Pagsasanay Alfa’ of the Philippine Army and will run up to September 27, 2013. The training aims to develop the combat fighting skills and knowledge of the soldiers,” Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training Lt Col Alex R Rillera said.

“We will also refurbish their mobility equipment and at the same time strengthen their operational readiness towards excellent mission accomplishment,” Lt Col Rillera disclosed.

BGen Felicito Virgilio M Trinidad Jr, Acting Commander of 1^st

Infantry Division speaks before the Officers and personnel of

32IB during the opening ceremony of 32IB retraining conducted

at Hqs 1ID, Kuta Cesar Sang-an, Pulacan, Labangan, Zamboanga

del Sur on July 26, 2013. (Photo provided by DPAO)

Meanwhile, the Acting Commander of 1^st Infantry Division BGen Felicito Virgilio M Trinidad Jr. welcomed and commended the accomplishments of 32IB in its long years of deployment. “Our core competencies, as soldiers, are fighting wars and battles, because that is what we are trained for. And we need to hone that competency so that we are always on the upper hand to protect our people and defend the integrity and sovereignty of our country against threats.” Acting Division Commander explained.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

ARMY RECRUITMENT OFFICE FOR MINDANAO 
(AROM) WILL ADMINISTER PRE-WRITTEN 
EXAMINATION

Be informed that the Office of the Army Recruitment Office for Mindanao (AROM), Army Personnel Management Center (APMC), Philippine Army will administer the Pre-Written Examination for Officer Candidate Course (OCC) and Officer Preparatory Course (OPC) on July 31, 2013 at Pagadian Capitol College, Pagadian City.

Subsequently, COL CLAUDIO L YUCOT INF (GSC) PA, Commanding Office, Army Personnel Management Center (APMC), Philippine Army and likewise Chairman of Philippine Army Officer Selection Board (PAOSB) together with six (6) APMC personnel will conduct interview to officer candidates on August 01-02, 2013 at Hqs 9^th Regional Community Defense Group, Philippine Army, Kuta Dao, Pagadian City.

In view of the above, all qualified and potential applicants are encouraged to join the Philippine Army. 

Following are the qualifications:  

QUALIFICATIONS FOR ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL APPLYING FOR OCC & OPC:

Officer Candidate Course (OCC)

a.    Must have completed at least one (1) term in military service;

b.    Not more than 29 years old before/on the start of the training

c.    Baccalaureate degree holder

d.   Single or unmarried

e.    5 feet in height

f.     Physically and mentally

g.   Filipino

Officer Preparatory Course (OPC)

a.    At least one (1) term in the service

b.    21-31 years old

c.    Must be a graduate of POTC with a reserve rank of 2LT

d.   Baccalaureate degree holder

e.    Single or unmarried

f.     Must have completed at least one (1) term in military service

g.   5 feet in height

h.   Physically and mentally fit

i.     Filipino

                                     

          QUALIFICATIONS FOR CIVILIAN APPLYING FOR OCC & OPC:

Officer Candidate Course

a.   21 – 24 years old

b.   Graduate of any 4 –year college course

c.   Single

d.   Minimum height is 5 feet

e.   Filipino

f.    Physically and mentally fit

Officer Preparatory Course

a.    21-31 years old

b.    MS43 graduate  (Advance ROTC grad)

c.    Graduate of any 4-year college course

d.   Single

e.    Filipino

f.     Minimum height is 5 feet

g.   Physically and mentally fit

REQUIREMENTS FOR TAKING THE PHILIPPINE ARMY APTITUDE TEST BATTERY (PAATB)  (Original Documents)

a.    NSO Birth Certificate

b.    Transcript of Records and Diploma

c.    Valid ID

d.   One (1) 2x2 Picture

Point of Contact: Cpl Michael H Asistin (Inf) PA (0917-716-5230).

Kapistahan in Dapitan City celebrates “KINABAYO FESTIVAL”

Thousands of Catholic devotees, local and foreign tourists 

troops to the city plaza in front of the St. James Church for 

the ritual of their Saint Patron. These annual activities

became the tourist attraction & destination.

(Photo by Jong Cadion)

Please click below to link related article: 
Jet Nicole Inding Crowned for Miss Dapitan 2013  
Tonight is the Search and Coronation for Miss Dapitan City 
Kinabayo Festival in Dapitan City will be simple but meaningful for this year 2013


By JONG CADION

DAPITAN CITY – Today July 25 the Shrine City of Dapitan is celebrating the “Kinabayo Festivity of City Patron Saint James. A series of Holy Mass from 4:00am until 10:00am was conducted at St. James Church headed by Mass Presider Most Rev. Msgr. Gonzalo “Jun” Villamil, VF.

This week long events was started last July 24 with the series of activities and today’s final event will be the culmination with the Drum and bugle corps competition at the city plaza after lunch.

Drum and Bugle competition at the city plaza (Photo by Jong Cadion)

KINABAYO Festival is celebrated every 3rd week of July in the Shrine City of Dapitan. Kinabayo is an exotic and colorful pageant re-enacting the Spanish Moorish wars, particularly the Battle of Covadonga. In that battle the Spanish forces under General Pelagio took their last stand against the Saracens. They were able to reverse the tide of the war with the miraculous apparition of Saint James, the Apostle. The addition of local color and innovations has made this annual festivity which is popular attraction to visitors of Dapitan City.

Live replica of Saint James perform by the Dakak Horse

Back Riders during the culmination of the Kinabayo

Festival at the City Plaza (Photo by Jong Cadion)  

Live replica of Saint James perform by the Dakak Horse

Back Riders during the culmination of the Kinabayo

Festival at the City Plaza (Photo by Jong Cadion)  

Yesterday morning after the Holy Mass thousands of Catholic devotees, local and foreign tourists troops to the city plaza in front of St. James Church for the ritual of their Saint Patron until noon. These annual cultural and religious activities had become the tourist attraction and destination.

JET NICOLE

Last July 23, one of the highlights of the Kinabayo Festivity is the beauty search. It was already passed 12:00 midnight but the people who witnessed the event was still jam-pack until the Coronation Night ended. Some were on the city plaza together with their families and friends standing by waiting for the results of the search.

There were eleven candidates vying for the title. Candidate # 5 Jet Nicole C. Inding representing the City Mayor’s Office was crowned Miss Dapitan 2013 conducted at the Multi-purpose Cultural and Sports Center while candidate # 11 Mary Grace A. Mueco representing Sardane Construction was crowned 1^st Runner-Up as Miss Dapitan Tourism 2013 and Candidate #3 Marie Antonette A Barrera representing Liga ng Mga Barangay was crowned 2^nd Runner-Up as Miss Dapitan Heritage 2013.

Dapitan City Mayor Rosalina G. Jalosjos together with Vice Ruben E. Cad and Dakad General Manager Ms. Rossini J. Montecalvo crowned the Miss Dapitan 2013 Jet Necole Inding who also gathered Special Award as Miss Congeniality and three Corporate Awards from Virginia Foods Inc., Comm. Rural Bank of Dapitan City Inc., and Dapitan City Cable Television.

Kinabayo 2013 Beauties with Adam & Eve (Photo by Jong Cadion)

Members of Drum and Bugle Corps (Photo by Jong Cadion)

Members of Drum and Bugle Corps (Photo by Jong Cadion)

Dapitan City Plaza (Photo by Jong Cadion)

Please click below to link related article: 
Jet Nicole Inding Crowned for Miss Dapitan 2013  
Tonight is the Search and Coronation for Miss Dapitan City 
Kinabayo Festival in Dapitan City will be simple but meaningful for this year 2013