Panganiban nag Oath taking sa bayan ng Pola, Oriental Mindoro

Ni: Thess Q. Angeles

Pola – Isang makasaysayan seremoniya na isinagawa sa bayan ng Pola sa Parokya Ni San Juan Bautista, Pola, Silangang Mindoro nito lamang ika 30 ng Hunyo, dahil dito dinaos ang panunumpa ni Mayor Leandro P. Panganiban Jr. para sa ikalawa nitong termino bilang alkalde ng naturang bayan.

Hindi mahulugang karayom ang mga dumalo sa espesyal na okasyon ito. Dahil tagumpay ito  hindi lamang para sa mga kaanak at kaibigan ni Panganiban kundi sa buong  mamamayanan ng Pola.

Nanumpa din dito ang mga na halal at mga bagong halal na mga konsehales ng bayan ng Pola, naroroon din ang outgoing Vice Mayor na si Raul A. Pagcaliwagan upang magbigay ng kanyang pasasalamat sa taumbayan,  bago nito lisanin ang puwesto niya bilang ikalawang punong ama ng nasabing lugar.

Umikot ang talumpati ni Pagcaliwagan sa tatlong bahagi, ito ay ang pag-bati, pag-papasalamat at pag-habilin. Ayon dito, bagamat siya ay hindi pinalad noong nakaraang eleksyon, ang kanya, aniyang tahanan ay mananatiling bukas para sa lahat ng mga nangangailangan nang kanyang tulong, lalo’t higit sa mga taumbayan ng Pola.

Buong paghanga naman ang ibinigay ng taumbayan kay Panganiban sa bawat katagang binibitawan nito sa kanyang talumpati. Binaybay ang mga bagay na dapat at hindi dapat mayroon sa ilalim ng kanyang administrasyon, isang na dito ang istilo ng sapawan ng mga namiminuno sa bawat departamento nang munisipyo, maging sa mga konsehales at  iwasan ang mga usaping hindi makakatulong sa pag-unlad ng bayan. 

Anito, kung mayroon man hindi pagkakaunawaan ang bawat isa ay pag usapan agad upang hindi na ito humaba pa.

Sinabi din ng alkalde na “walang sino man po ang may-ari ng munisipyo, lahat po tayo ay may karapatan dito dahil sa atin pong lahat ito", diin pa ni Panganiban.

Panoorin po natin ang kabuoan ng talumpati ni Mayor Leandro P. Panganiban Jr. sa You Tube at http://youtu.be/Zj67Chrdt-c

Kapitan kapitan ikaw ba’y may paki alam?

Nakakagulat na isipin ang ilan mga barangay kapitan ay hindi talaga ginagampanan ang kanilang mga tungkulin bilang ama ng barangay. Kung ano ba talaga ang kanilang mga obligasyon sa kanilang pinamumunuan lugar.

Hindi lamang iisa o iilan ang mayroon ganitong estilo sa kanilang pinaglilingkurang pamayanan. Nakakalungkot man isip ngunit may ganitong pangyayari dito sa Lungsod ng Calapan.

Isang eksenang hindi mo kayang tapatan, hindi gagalaw dahil takot mawalan ng ilan taong boboto sa kanya sa susunod na halalan. Kahit na alam niya na ito ay taong hindi gagawa ng mabuting kapakinabangan sa loob ng kanyang pamayanan.

Kaanak, kaibigan, kumpare, kumare at kapamilya ay hindi dapat pagtakpan ang kanilang mga ginagawang anomalya lalo’t higit ang mga illegal na sistema. Base sa akin pagkakaalam mayroon duties and obligations ang mga ito sa kanyang nasasakupan.

A punong barangay is responsible for implementing all ordinances, resolutions and laws in the barangay. They are in charge of governance, financial stability, development provisioning, leading the barangay legislation or workforce and ensuring peace and order within the community.

 A barangay captain also acts as liaison between his community's people and higher government officials such as city or municipality mayors and province governors. They control all meetings and assemblies with the barangay officials, help with the mayor's government obligations and facilitate all basic services in accordance with the law.

 Barangay captains have the power to appoint and remove barangay officials. They organize community programs, facilitate fund-raising activities and promote the welfare of their community. They make sure that everyone is orchestrated towards the improvement and the betterment of the barangay, their properties, cleanliness and orderliness.

 Ensuring peace and order within the community! Ito ay maliwanag na resposibilidad ng isang brangay kapitan sa mapanatili ang kaayusan sa kanyang kumunidad. Hindi kunsintihin ang mga illegal at kaguluhan sa kanyang lugar.

Alam ba ito ng mga na halalal na mga kapitan o basta na lamang nailuklok ng walang sapat na kaalaman. Ayon pa din sa aking pang unawa ang isang tumatakbong kapitan ay dapat mayroon mga qualifications na tugma sa hinihingi ng law of the Philippines.

Candidates for punong barangay must be eighteen years of age, bona fide citizens of the Philippines and have at least six months' residency in the concerned barangay prior to the election. They must also be literate, have no criminal records, be mentally fit and knowledgeable of the Philippine law. All individuals who have been declared insane or have been sentenced for corruption, rebellion or have received any sanction of more than eighteen months will be automatically disqualified.

Ngunit, bakit mayroon kapitan dito sa Calapan City na pinagtatakpan ang mga illegal na ginagawan ng kanyang mga kabarangay. Saan ka naman nakakita na kahit alam na niya na mayroon nagtutulak o nagtitinda na ipinagbabawal na gamot (shabu) sa kanilang lugar ay hindi pa din niya ito sinasawata.

Ang paliwanag umano ng kapitan ay “pinagsabihan ko na naman yan na tigilan na ang pagtutulak, dahil hindi tama; pag naman nakikita nila ako nagtatago sila” Nakakatuwa naman po ito kapitan!!!!! Hahaha…. Ako’y hanga talaga sa inyo… Saan ka naman nakakita na nagtitinda ng droga sa harapan mo? Para ka naman bago ng bago sa luma? Napaka uncalled for ng rason mo? Tapos ang sabi pa daw umano ng kapitan na nabawasan ako ng mga botante! Kaibigan ko pa naman ang mga magulang noon na huli ng PDEA”. So, klaro sa amin lahat na kaya pala hindi mo ito ginagawan ng aksyon dahil mawawalan ka ng botante at dahil sa kaibigan mo ang mga magulang nito.

Dito, maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na kaya pala ganito ang nangyayari ay dahil sa hangarin pangpolitika lamang na kahit mapinsala ang mga buhay at kalusugan ng iba pang tao sa inyong kumunidad ay ayos lang. Ganyan pala ang panuntunan ng kapitan na walang paki alam at pansarili lamang ang kanilang pinahahalagahan.

Sana bago ka tumakbo ulit sa susunod na halalan alamin mo muna mabuti sa iyong sarili kung dapat ka pa bang manungkulan? Aba makonsensya ka naman!!!! Tinamaan ka ng kulog puro ka palubog sa mga taong nagdudurog… Tsk,tsk,tsk malamang hindi lamang yan ang anumalyang iyong kinukupkop at pinatutulog. Hoy!!! Kupitan este kapitan maawa ka naman sa ibang mga tao na iyong pinababayaan. Huwag ka naman ganyan, kung wala kang pangil sa iyong nasasakupan aba mag resign ka na lang o huwag ka nang tumakbo sa susunod na halalan.

Mayroon din bang mga ganitong kapitan sa inyong lugar, kakawa kayo kung ganoon man. Matuto tayong mamili ng mga tao na ating pagkakatiwalaan upang maging ama ng ating barangay.

Kapitan huwag ako, basag din pala ang pula mo..

MIMAROPA’S TARGET – LISTED DRUG PERSONALITY ARRESTED

Items  / articles confiscated / seized and which were
properly marked

Calapan City - A target – listed drug personality was arrested by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency PDEA RO IV – B during a buy bust operation at Barangay Sto. Niño, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on June 27, 2013; around 4:30 in the afternoon.

     PDEA IV – B Regional Director, Bryan B. Babang identified the arrested suspect as Dantley Soriano Ramos @ Spike / Kulas, 32 years old, single and a resident of Barangay Sto. Niño, City of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

     

     Operatives of PDEA RO IV – B arrested Ramos after selling one (1) heat – sealed transparent plastic sachet containing white crystalline substance believed to be Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or Shabu to a PDEA agent who posed as buyer. When frisked by arresting officers, another three (3) sachets of shabu were seized from Ramos.

           

     The suspect is presently held at the PDEA RO IV – B Detention Facility. He will be charged for violation of Sections 5 ( Sale of Dangerous Drugs ) and Section 11 ( Possession of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

 PDEA Press Release c/o Thess Q. Angeles

Oriental Mindoro' s Provincial Agricultural Office, Tabinay, Puerto Galera

Photos by: Jerry Alcayde

 Lynne Alcanices, fishery officer of Oriental Mindoro’s Provincial Agricultural Office (extreme right) presents the highlights of the coastal management and conservation program in Puerto Galera and in other parts of the province to Gov. Alfonso Umali (third from right) and Binoit Girourd, second secretary of the Canadian Embassy (second from right)and barangay officials of Dulangan and Tabinay.

MANGYAN WEAVERS. Experienced Mangyan weavers show their wares of a handicraft project supported by the Canada Fund.

PINTADOS OF UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Capitol Press Corps and MPPCI Director

Kirot sa pusong katutubo

“Un ang malaking pagkakamali nila ung tinanggal ang sandugo. Hind man lang sila nagsangguni o nagsabi saming mga katutubo na  dapat sana isangguni muna samen.” Ito ang itinex sa pitak na ito ilang lider Tadyawan. Pintadong hinanakit ang grupo sapag lahong terminong “sandugo o sanduguan”na sila mismo ang humaplos nito sa kasaysayan ng Mindoro.

Walang makapag sabi ni isa mang Mindoro historian kung saan dinukal angPandanggitab. Ni sa lugawan ay hindi kilala, palengke o barbershop. Matagal ko rin sinaliksik at ikumpara kung alin ang dapat tatak ng Mindoro. Kulang na lang naisangguni ko sa isang espiritista ang mala-pantasy ang tunggalian ng sandugo at pandanggitab.

Sa aklat ni Teodoro A. Agoncillo na Kasaysayan ng Bayang Pilipino 1^st-4^th edition na hagip niya ang papel ng sandugo sa kasaysayan ng Mindoro. (page 41) The inter-baranganic relations consisted on carrying on commerce between barangay and in agreements concerning friendship and alliance. A treaty of friendship and alliance was concluded by means of the blood compact or Sanduguan in which the contracting parties drew blood from their arms and mixed the blood thus drown with wine in a cup. The contracting parties then drank from the same cup, thereby making them “Blood-brothers.

Ito dapat ang preserbadong kultura na hindi na kailangan ang mga preservatives sapagkat nasa dugo at isipan natin ang makasaysayang pangyayari. Kung sa Bohol ay nagsanduguan sina Miguel Lopez de Legaspi at mga ninuno nang dumaong sila doon, sila’y mananakop. Ang Tsinong dumaong sa Mindoro ay may dalang komersiyo. Nakipagkalakalan. The said events were the teachers of our nation.

Sabi ng ilang manunulat, the festival is the meeting of indigenous people divided geographically but united by heritage and cultivates the rich indigenous culture that has been preserved. Sinasariwa o naglalarawan ng katutubong pamumuhay o mga halaw na aral sa buhay.

Sanduguan ang tawag noon. Ito na ngayon ang “Memorandum of Agreement” na computerized para mas malinaw- sapagitan ng dalawang partido na minsa’y notaryado pa o subscribed para maging legal. Tipong obligation and contract (oblicon sa Law course).

Hindi pa natututunan ng mga ninuno ang sistemang ng pagsulat, sa pamamagitan nga lamang ng bukang bibig o pagbigkas nito, nalilipat-lipat kadalasa’y pagsasaawit, pagsasakwento o pagsasadula. Bawat lalawiga’y may sariling identidad bilang pagkakakilanlan. Sa Mindoro ay sandugo ang kinikilala.

Kilala ang Gresya, kahit gumuho noon ang kanilang sibilisasyon na pinag-aaralan hanggang ngayon sa kolehiyo. Si Homer na nagtiyagang sumulat ng walang kamatay ang epikonaIliad. Ang India sa kanilang Mahabharata at Ramayana. Beowulf naman kay Shakespeare ng Inglateria.

Hanggang ngayon, pinag-aaralan ng mga estudyante ang katanyagan ng Sandugo sapagkat taglay nito ang lantay na diwang Mindoreno at walang-hanggan. Hindi dapat mangyari na ang manunulat ng kulturang Mindoro ay maging ganap na malayo at tuluyang mapalayo. Love-hate ang nararamdaman ngayon ng mga katutubo o may puot na pagmamahal.

Matagal ko nga lamang ganitong kwento, humanap lamang akong katibayan kung naka sulat nga ito sakasaysayan na kung sakali’t ako’y dikdikin sa pitak na ito’y may ebidensiya akong itatapal. Sabi nga “be sure you know all the facts, so that your evidence is not merely circumstantial.”Pandanggitab?

Come on! Repleka ng mga mangingisda natin at ang lawanng gaserang asawang babae papuntang aplaya. Nasaan ang sustansiya nito sa kulturang Mindoreno? None sequester.

Traveling merchant ang tawag sa mga tsinong dumaong sa Mindoro. Chinese were called “Sangley or Xiang +Ley na may dalang kalakal na beads, silk, textiles and porcelain wares. Sa “The Philippines aunique nation ni Sonia M. Zaide page 160-  the first recorded contact between Chinese and Spaniards was on May 8, 1570 off the coast of Mindoro;

On that day, the Spanish expedition led by Marshal Martin De Goiti, happened to stop in Mindoro on its way to Maynilad. At that time two Chinese trading junks were at anchor off Mindoro. Those approaching Spanish vessels were going to attract them, registered by firing rockets and culverins. A sea fight ensued, in which Goiti captured both Chinese junks.Upon finding out that the Chinese were peaceful traders, not hostile enemies, Goiti set them free and returned their cargoes of trade goods.

Sa aklat ni F. Landa Jocano - The Filipino Prehistory page 149….in central Philippines, Mindoro figured predominantly in the trade traffic of the early days. Aling pag-ibig pa ang hihigit kaya, kundi pag-ibig sa tinubuang lupa

Ang sandugu(an) ay bahagi pala (talaga) ng kasaysayan at panitikan (oral) at nakasulat (written). Hanggang ngayon, bukambibig ng mga katutubo kapag tatapat sa bahay-bahay “sandugo bilina kayo ng dapo.”Maaaring sa kanila galing ang kutang-kutang na uri ng panitikang naka sulat: “Kung di kita kamta’t, kamtan kang iba, magbibigti ako ng tali sa  paa.”Wala akong narinig mula sa kanila na nagwiwikang “pandanggitab bili na kayo ng bila-o.”

Ang festival na dapat isa sa dula sa isang lalawigan ay nakabase sa history (nakaraang pangyayari naka limita’y base sa relihiyon) na naka sulat hindi ngayong gumagawa pa lamang ngkasaysayan. Mismong ang ating kasandugong Occidental Mindoro ay Sandugo festival pa rin mula noon hanggang ngayon. Ang mga pulitiko doo’y nagpapatayan pero hindi nila pinatay ni ginalawang kinagisnang cultural heritage-Sandugo festival.

Pero ako’y taka, pagkamulat na nang aking mata, sanduguan festival na. Naging MAHALTA at ng ako’y nalingat lang ng konte, aba’y lintog yan, Pandanggitab na. Kumukutitap tuloy sa aking isipan na marami pang festival(s) ang parating depende sa mga bagong lider pulitikal at dadalhin ko kayo sa isang konklusiyon - our cultural heritage? Slave of an uncertain future.

Pagsang – ayon lang bang iilang Sangguniang Panlalawigan, sapat na para baguhin ang pamanang kultura base lang sa isang resolution – merely a declaration of a sentiment or opinion of a law-making body on a specific matter? Bakit hindi ang sentimiento ng katutubo ang inuna bago pagtibayin ang walang kasiguruhang pandanggitab ni walang kalatuylatoy na konsepto. Pati mga nasa Educational Institution, ang tanggapan ng NCIP ng lalawigan dapat kinulsulta. Marami tayong kinunsulta sa kanila lahat ayaw ng pandanggitab.

May kirot sila sa puso, ang mga katutubong mangyan na hindi sila sinangguni dahil alam nilang unti-unting pinapatay ang kulturang matagal nilang inalagaan. Tayo pa palang taga patag na inaasahan nilang magtataguyod nito ay suspek sa dahan-dahang pagpatay ng Sanduguan festival. Baka isipin nila na tayo’y nahihiya lamang para sila palayasin sa Mindoro? Hindi naman siguro mga kapatid!

Ang alam ko, dalawa ang kamay ng katutubo: isang bukas ang palad sa pakikipagkapatiran  at isang naka kuyom para sa mapagsamantala. Ang tanong, ni isa bang Bokal ay walang kumontra ni ipinagtanggol man lamang ang Sandugo? Kung wala, sinong magtatanggol sa inyo ngayong 2013 national election?Kuyom na palad ang aabutin nyo mula sa kanila.

Ito pa ang sabi ng ating mga kaibigang katutubo, “Iyan ns pleasure ng nkpwesto. Kung my puso cl pr s mangyan, itoy pha2lghan at pra2ngalan” (sent: 5-Den-2012 16:18:20). Himutok ng isang lider Tadyawan. Saan tayo lulugar, to live under the adopted resolution that will neglect and disregard the basic root of our culture, or to live under the preserved integrity adopted by majority of ruling Mindoreno?

Should I say, I beg you think of the tears that will flow down their checks, of the bitterness in their heart and of the degradation to which they will be subjected when they are exposed to so much intrigue of politics. (Excuse me folks).

ANG SANDUGUAN FESTIVAL, BACKGROUNDER

Sa bagong henerasyon, ang Oriental Mindoro had once an annual festival coinciding with the province’s founding anniversary called the Sanduguan Festival. It is an enactment of the barter trade the Mindoro natives had with the Chinese traders. It is a celebration of the Chinese and the Mindoreños industry and hard work and both their abilities to build and create fellowship and brotherhood. The Sanduguan festival came to an end when the late Governor Marasigan adopted other festival instead.

It could have been the festival of all festivals simply because of the active and committed participation of practically all municipalities during its last performance and the considerable mileage it received from the local and national tri-media.

ANG SANDUGO FESTIVAL, SUGGESTION

The outbound Chinese tourism has improved immensely since 2009. With its massive population and rising incomes, over a 100 million Chinese tourist are expected to be traveling annually. More importantly, these Chinese tourists are willing to spend billions of dollars. Thus, if we want abig chunk of their number to visitus, we ought to create a viable, feasible opportunity and chance. The essence of the Sandugu(an) Festival must again be revive or any festival comparable and akin with its objectives. The legendary Sandugo festival- is a better suggestion my dearest fellas.

VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION

Filipino-Chinese relation recently (up to now) had improved a little for the past months on the issue on Panatag Shoal but this bilateral relation needs more vigor and excitement. The Sandugo Festival will definitely give rise to stronger bond and remarkably stimulation diplomatic rapport.

Moreover, it is but fitting and appropriating to cite the great multiplier effect of tourism. We need more job opportunities locally and more touristsmean more tourism revenues. Though latelythere is an increase in visitor arrival (visitor arrivals for the first quarter of 2012 reached more than 1.1 Million, DOT). A million tourists are so remote and far-off as compared to the 100 millions of Chinese willing to travel elsewhere.

PROPOSED SANDUGO HIGHLIGHTS (Focal activities):

Re-enactment of barter trade (Chinese and Mangyans)

Parade of Oriental Mindoro Festival Floats and portrayal of Chinese Festival (Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Lantern Festival or Pandanggitab festival ect.).

Street dancing with the Chinese Dragon Dancers/ katutubong mangyan dance

A month - long Trade Fair and Technology Transfer, a trade show exhibiting Chinese and Mindoro products and how they are made up and produced.

Sports Festival

Culinary Fair, a show of Filipino and Chinese fine food and a competition of finest Chinese and Filipino Chefs

Fireworks Challenge

Municipals/Cities Partnership Program

Ang lahat ng ito’y suggestions lang mula sa nag-aalab na damdamin, bago pa tuluyang sumapit ang hamog sa turismong lalawigan.(Part one)

Partido Sandugo sa Roxas at Bulalacao

Ni Ruel Basco Mazon

Capitol Press Corps at MPPCI Director

PINAMALAYAN, Oriental Mindoro – Pormal nananumpa ang apat napanalo ng kandidato mula sa Partido Sandugo, provincial political partysa Oriental Mindoro sa headquarters nito sa bayan ng Pinamalayan noong Hunyo 14 kay Pinamalayan Municipal Trial Court Presiding Judge Rosalie A. Lui.

Sina JuanitoBacay Jr. at Ramil Dimapilis sa bayan ng Roxas bilang Sangguniang Bayan (SB)members doon, ganun din sina Dennes Faner at Dexter Gonzales naman ang nanalo sa bayan ng Bulalacao.

Sabayan ng Roxas, 22 ang kandidato ang naglaban mula sa iba’tibang pang-nasyunal na partido pulitikal. May 8 kandidatoang Liberal Party;7 independiente at 7 taga-Sandugo. Sa Bulalacao ay may 19 nakandidato, 9 mula sa LP;7 ang independiente; isa sa UNA at dalawa (2) sa Sandugo.

May dalawang bokalang Sandugo nauupo sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan bilang kinatawan ng segunda distrito. Ito ay sina Manny Andaya at Mae Arlene Talens.

Ayon sa grupong Sandugo, by principle, stands by the precept that development in Mindoro is in the hands of the people of Mindoro. A Mindoreño, with deep commitment towards the organization, the island of Mindoro and its people, its principles and objectives; where one does what one can do on his own.”

Higit sa lahat, faith in God, that human beings were created and vested by him with freedom and dignity.

186 college students in Oriental Mindoro

are now scholars of ex-ATO chief Al Cusi

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

CALAPAN CITY – A total of 184 students enrolled in different colleges and educational institutions in Oriental Mindoro are now the recipients of scholarship and educational assistance of a private foundation headed by former Air Transportation Office (ATO) chief Alfonso Cusi.

In fact over the weekend, the said college students got their respective certificate of scholarship from Dennis Reyes, Cusi representative and chairman of Gawin ang Tama Movement Foundation, Inc. (GTMFI), as the latter underscored the foundation’s resolve to help or support not only talented but poor and deserving students in the province of Oriental Mindoro.

The college scholars came from this city and from different municipalities of the province and most of them are said to receive on July different cash or checks corresponding to whole payment of their school tuition fees.

According to Reyes, the said scholarship and educational assistance are part of GTMFI and Give More Action for Charity (GMAC) welfare and outreach program initiated by Cusi “to give back to the people of Mindoro part of what he received in the years of working as a successful businessman.”

Cusi, both founder of GTMFI and GMAC, is a native of Roxas, Oriental Mindoro and a successful private businessman and government official who figured prominently during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

From his simple outreach undertaking to help those people in Mindoro who were victims of typhoons and calamities in 2010, Cusi was enticed by Sandugo, a local political party, to go on a scholarship program to help the needy young Mindoreños.

Ruel Mason, GTMFI and GMAC project officer, stated they have now a total of 184 scholars, 62 of them are from the first district of Oriental Mindoro, covering Calapan City and the towns of Puerto Galera, Baco, San Teodoro, Naujan, Victoria, Socorro and Pola, while 84 are from the second district towns of Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, and Bulalacao.

Mrs. Belen Montemayor, GTMFI scholarship coordinator, explained that from last year’s only 39 student-beneficiaries who are mostly from the second district, the number of their scholars ballooned to 184 as Cusi decided to expand to the whole province the said program.  Each scholar will either received P5000 as educational assistance or full payment of tuition fee for the each semester.

During the awarding, GTMFI and GMAC officials, led by GMAC president and chairman Manny T. Mas and trustee Fr. Cris Raymundo; and parents of student-beneficiaries witnessed the awarding of scholarship certificates as proof of the said groups’ commitment of support to young Mindoreños.

P148M plans to spend by a mining firm for coal exploration in Oriental Mindoro

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

CALAPAN CITY – At least P148 million is being planned to spend by coal miner Semirara Mining Corp. for their exploration activities in Oriental Mindoro, after the company was awarded a coal operating contract under the fourth Philippine Energy Contracting Round (PECR 4) by the Department of Energy.

In the recent company disclosure, Semirara Mining stated it has received from the DOE a copy of one of its new coal operating contracts dated April 29, “covering two parcels of coal-bearing land” with an aggregate area of 7,000 hectares, located in the municipality of Bulalacao in Oriental Mindoro.

“The company has committed to spend not less than P148,170,900 for its work programs for the first two years in the conduct of geological investigation, geodetic survey, and sub-surface exploration for the coal contract area,” Semirara said in its disclosure.

The company further explained that the contract involves a two-year exploration phase starting from the effective date of contracts or from its signing and execution, noting that exploration period may be extended for another two years.

Semirara Mining explained that if coal reserves in commercial quantity exist, the company will be given up to 10 years of development and production phase, which also includes the period covered by the exploration phase.  This phase can be extended for another 10 years.

The energy department had offered 38 coal operating contracts under PECR 4.  Last February, the department named firms that bagged 11 coal operating contracts under that contracting round.

Semirara won the auction for area 9 in Occidental Mindoro and area 25B in Sarangani province.

It was also learned that besides Semirara Mining, the other company that bagged coal contract in MIMAROPA areas is South Davao Development Corporation for area 8 in Occidental Mindoro.

Semirara was incorporated in 1980 to explore, develop, and mine coal resources in Semirara Island in Caluya, Antique.  The company, through SEM-Calaca Power Corp., also owns and operates a 600-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Calaca, Batangas.

The company reported that it saw its net income decline by 41.62% to P1.01 billion in the first quarter from P1.73 billion in the same period last year.  Revenues fell 11.16% to P5.68 billion from P6.36 billion, while cost of sales rose by 2.53% to P4.05 billion from P3.95 billion.

195 workers in Or. Mindoro receive their ‘back wages’

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

CALAPAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment here has announced that some 195 workers in Oriental Mindoro have received their back wages as of this time based on voluntary visits conducted by DOLE in the whole province and the implementation of its Labor Standards Enforcement Program (LSEP).

 According to DOLE-Region 4B (MIMAROPA) Director Ma. Zenaida Eusebia A. Angara-Campita, the implementation of LSEP in the first five months of 2013, which was conducted by DOLE MIMAROPA Labor Inspectors, it covered some 294 establishments in Oriental Mindoro, particularly in Calapan City and Puerto Galera areas as subjects of their routine inspection.

Said establishments claimed total employment of 3,980 and identified with economic activities such as service entities, including hotels and restaurants (38.4%), security agencies (13.9%), manpower and/or janitorial services (3.7%), construction contractors and/or subcontractors (2.3%) and others including wholesale and/or retail trading (41.7%).

As a result of these DOLE’s visits, 28 establishments or 9.5% of the total inspected were applauded for having no violation on labor standards while 68 or 25.56% of the total establishments found out to have deficiencies on standards on wages, and wage-related benefits were reported to attain voluntary compliance.

Thus, Campita said the voluntary compliances bring benefit to a total of 195 workers through their receipt of back wages in the amount of P361,146.56 or P1,852 for each worker, on average.  She added that aside from the back wages, daily wage rate of these workers were adjusted to prescribed minimum rate according to the latest Wage Order No. RO IV-B-06, which took effect last February 1.

Meanwhile, 19 inspection results were converted into labor case for failure of the employers to effect correction at a given time.  Of these, six were dismissed due to amicable settlement and 13 were served with compliance order by Campita with computation of back wages in the amount of P436,814.11 affecting 31 workers.

At present, there are 179 establishments pending correction at plant level at the care of DOLE Oriental Mindoro Field Office headed by Engr. Juliana Ortega.  Inspections of establishments in other provinces of the region are also being conducted with the same efforts as in Oriental Mindoro.

Controversial Mindoro bridge project nears completion, DPWH reports

Portions of Puerto Galera road need to be concreted

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

CALAPAN CITY – The most controversial bridge project of the Department of Public Works and Highways in Oriental Mindoro, which is being constructed for more than a decade now, is finally nearing completion, according to the latest reports of DPWH first engineering district office here.

Meanwhile, DPWH explained to newsmen that the portions of the national highway in Puerto Galera, which is now the subject of numerous complaints from motorists who frequent the said tourist town of Oriental Mindoro because of its ongoing construction, need to be concreted for its permanency and to cope with the growing bulk of travelers who flock in and out of the said area.

DPWH First District Engineer Efren G. Padilla, in his updated report to Oriental Mindoro Governor Alfonso V. Umali, Jr. and Bishop Warlito Cajandig, of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, stated that finally, the construction of Abaton-Maidlang Bridge in Calapan City will be completed before this year ends based on the commitment given to DPWH by its new project contractor.

The said bridge construction project is, indeed, controversial in Oriental Mindoro so far as the government and the project’s different contractors took more than a decade to form and erect the facility because of different construction flaws, integrity of its base being compromised repeatedly because of natural movements of the earth’s floor, and project’s mismanagement on the part of some contractors.

The project, which will permanently connect the eastern portions of Calapan City and the town of Naujan, started sometime in year 2002 during the term of late Governor Bart L. Marasigan, Sr. and it was passed on to different contractors, the latest of which is J.D. Legaspi Construction who, according to Engr. Padilla, swore that if all the needed state-of-the-art materials coming from Germany and Australia could be delivered on time, the final completion will be on August this year.

According to DPWH Project Engr. Joseph Lofamia, the said 240-lineal meter project is funded jointly by the Philippines and Austrian governments at the total cost of P117,429,665.22 and as of this date, three spans of the bridge are already completed.    

Meanwhile, local DPWH officials, led by Asst. District Engr. Nestor Del Rosario, explained to newsmen in an interview here that based on computerized data collection system and scanning, it was found out that some particular sections of the national highway along Puerto Galera municipality, particularly those who had asphalt covering, are now rated as “bad” meaning, its pavements’ outer laying is already obsolete, impractical to be maintained and should now be improved to cement concretion for permanency.

Thus, the DPWH engineer assigned to the said P54-million project, Engr. Godofredo B. Villalon, appealed to the public, especially motorists who frequent this to Puerto Galera and vice-versa, to be patient for the road construction’s temporary inconvenience as the group of contractors working for it are in a rush to avoid being overtaken by the onset of rainy season.

Villalon and Del Rosario are both optimistic that the project, spanning a net length of 3,380 lineal meters, will be finished also by August of this year.

Malampaya supports coastal barangay school for Brigada Eskwela

by: Jerry Alcayde

 Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) has given its support to Wawa Elementary School in Calapan City in Mindoro Oriental, as the school was chosen to be this year’s recipient of its adopt-a-school project under the National Schools Maintenance Week or Brigada Eskwela program of the Department of Education.

Jolly Ann Belina, head teacher of Wawa Elementary School, was all praises for the assistance extended by Malampaya, as she admitted that prior to Brigada, there were worries about where to get the funds for the annual activity.

The Department of Education implemented the Brigada Eskwela nationwide last May 20-27, and was warmly participated in by education stakeholders who contributed their time, effort and resources in ensuring the readiness of school facilities in June.

Belina expressed thanks to the local parent-teachers association, MFI, the alumni, the city’s parole and probation office, army reservists, and to individual volunteers who participated in the activity.

This year, MFI distributed schoolbags filled with school supplies to the 261 pupils of Wawa Elementary School. Mothers like Sherlyn Abas and Lorena Luarca, whose children attend grade school and kindergarten, said the school items from Malampaya were a big help to them for the opening of classes this year.

MFI Program Manager Teddy Bolivar for his part said “Malampaya has been regularly supporting Brigada undertakings by choosing one school every year as its beneficiary. Wawa is the second school in Calapan City which was chosen after a thorough assessment of its actual condition and needs.”

Last year’s beneficiary was Silonay Elementary School, also in Calapan, which later received an award from DepEd officials for being a well-maintained school.  

The Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power project is one of the largest and most significant industrial endeavors in Philippine history, heralding the birth of the natural gas industry in the country.

A joint undertaking between the Philippine national government and the private sector, the technologically innovative gas project is spearheaded by the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE), and developed and operated by Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) on behalf of joint venture partners Chevron Malampaya LLC and the PNOC Exploration Corporation under Service Contract No. 38 (SC 38).

  

Production of natural gas to fuel three gas-fired power stations with a combined capacity of 2,700 megawatts commenced in October 2001, providing countless benefits to the country, including meeting up to 45% of Luzon’s power generation requirements, reduced oil imports, stable supply of energy and cleaner source of power.

Natural gas is the fuel for sustainable growth and development, helping to meet the world’s future energy needs as the cleanest-burning fossil fuel with a globally abundant and diverse supply.

SPEX and its partners share in the commitment to sustainable social and environmental development in areas where the Malampaya project operates, working with groups and communities in various projects geared towards the betterment of the environment, education, and health.

DSWD list reveals Palawan, Or. Mindoro have most number of poor people in MIMAROPA

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

CALAPAN CITY – Contrary to the common notion that among the provinces in MIMAROPA (Mindoro-Marinduque-Romblon-Palawan) Region, or Region 4B, and also in the whole country that Romblon is the poorest areas, Palawan and Oriental Mindoro registered more poor households than the said small island province.

This was revealed recently by the assessments made by the Department of Social Welfare and Development after the DSWD-MIMAROPA Office released the report from its National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTSPR).

Identifying a total of 242,633 poor households in the said region from the 513,759 total numbers of households assessed, the DSWD field office identified some 95,952 poor households in Palawan as it topped other provinces in Region 4B with the most number of registered poor families.

Oriental Mindoro closely came in second among the five MIMAROPA provinces with 73,878 poor households.  Meanwhile, the NHTSPR found out that there are 37,421 poor households in Occidental Mindoro and 21,230 poor households in Romblon.

Marinduque, another island province in MIMAROPA which are being frequently cited in many surveys in the past as one of the poorest areas in the Philippines, surprisingly has the least number of registered poor households with 14,152 poor families.

Accordingly, the DSWD report disclosed that most of these poor households are found in rural areas with 83.7 % share while 16.3% reside in urban areas.  On the other hand, the total number of poor families (242,633) that were assessed as poor accounted to about 47.1 percent from the total number of those that were evaluated by the said government agency.

And individually, the number of those that are considered poor based on the assessment totaled to 1,364,844 poor persons.

NHTSPR is an information management system that identifies “who and where the poor are” nationwide.  This is conducted thru household assessment using DSWD’s Household Assessment Form (HAF).  The said form contains verifiable variables which help to determine the socio-economic status such as household composition, housing structure, demographic profile, household with PWD members, access to basic necessities, and Indigenous People household. . 

The household assessments that were completed covered five provinces, two cities, 71 municipalities and 1,458 barangays of the whole MIMAROPA Region.

DSWD uses the Proxy Means Testing (PMT), a statistical formula that approximates income to determine the poor using the socio-economic variables.  The estimated household income will be compared to the poverty threshold.  In layman’s term, PMT is a statistical process that determines if the household is poor or not.

Comparatively, as of May 2013, the department is still short from its 167,803 households’ beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) out of the identified number of 242,633 poor families.

DSWD said the above data are now available to other national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and other stakeholders advocating for social protection programs thru a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Data Sharing with the department.

29 new scholars complete Malampaya’s BEST program in Oriental Mindoro

By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY

  

CALAPAN CITY – Some 29 scholars of Malampaya Foundation, Inc.’s “Bridging Employment through Skills Training (BEST)” program have just completed the five-month technical-vocational course at the Keppel Shipyard in Bauan, Batangas, the foundation announced here over the weekend.

Accordingly, the scholars from Mindoro began their training last December 2012.  Prior to the training, the scholars were supervised by the Technical Vocational School of Baco town (BTVS) in Oriental Mindoro as they complied with necessary scholarship requirements.  At the scholars’ graduation rites, BTVS Administrator Cecil Zulueta expressed hope that the new graduates will be gainfully employed as welders just like previous BEST trainees who landed various jobs in Mindoro and Batangas.

Outgoing Baco Mayor Graciano De la Chica, under whose administration the BTVS was built, has acknowledged the support lent by Malampaya to his town, particularly in the area of poverty alleviation.  

MFI Program Manager Teddy Bolivar, for his part, told the graduates, “Don’t forget to look back where you came from by helping your respective families and your town once you start earning as welders.”

MFI shares a memorandum of agreement with BTVS for the latter to provide technical skills in welding to out-of-school youths through the BEST program in the said town.

This year’s graduates are:  Christian M. Aceveda, Bernette E. Adarlo, Normal L. Agena, Ireneo M. Almario, Geraldo D. Aluan, Rhandy A. Amoin, Charlie M. Andal, Bernard Adam C. Andaya, John C. Rex Austria, Rona L. Avelino, Guillermo D. Binay, Michael D. Bugay, Glen Mark N. Cabanillas, Resty D. Casa, Jay-r C. Consulta, Jerry Boy B. Corpin, Ana Marie N. Gabo, Alexander S. Gain, Ericson D. Hernandez, Jeffrey A. Hidalgo, Rhayan O. Manalo, Edmon A. Medina, Lilian E. Pangilinan, Franskie S. Penaflor, Arvee G. Perena, Nhemar M. Romero, Ernane R. Ruireda Jr., Marilyn A. Valencia, Aldrin P. Vinculado.