Cebu City barangay site of farm business school launching

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) launched a Farm Business School (FBS) that will benefit 35 farmers who are members of the Morales Ouano Cosido Miradel Velasquez Farmers Association (MOCOMVEFA) in Brgy. Guba, Cebu City.

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed on September 21, 2018 for a partnership undertaking with DAR, Brgy. Guba, Cebu City, and MOCOMVEFA which is a DAR-assisted Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization.
 

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed on September 21, 2018 for a partnership undertaking with DAR, Brgy. Guba, Cebu City, and MOCOMVEFA which is a DAR-assisted Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization. (DAR photo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Antonio A. del Socorro, who spoke at the MOA signing, said that the 35 participants will join the FBS with 25 sessions through the learning-by doing approach.

The FBS would help farmers respond to the market challenges and for future income generating farm activities.

FBS primarily aims to transform the participants from mere farmers to farmer-entrepreneurs.

DAR Cebu Provincial FBS project point person, Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer (MARPO) Cristina L. Bumatay, will assist the participants from training up to implementation, together with other facilitators Asnawi B. Domado and Suzella S. Talle of Provincial Program Beneficiaries Development Division of DAR Cebu.

MOCOMVEFA Chairman Roel Suquib thanked DAR for this project and assured 100 percent commitment to finish the sessions.

“We are grateful that DAR considered us and surely this will help us increase our crop production and manage our farm produce,” he added.

Guba Barangay Captain Orland Herrera welcomed the project and thanked DAR for bringing the program to their barangay.

He also expressed the barangay council’s support for its successful implementation.

Barangay Guba Councilors and MARPO Liza A. Toroy were also present during the MOA signing.

On Sept. 28, MARPO Bumatay also conducted the first session with the FBS farmers and was impressed to see the interest of the farmers to learn the FBS fundamentals.

DAR 7 Regional Director Luis B. Bueno, Jr. underscored that the successful implementation of FBS would be a big help in improving the farmers' livelihood.

He said that the knowledge and techniques the farmers will gain from the training will improve their farm productivity. (Jan Karla Madrio/PIA7)

Source of news: Philippine Information Agency.  Photo credits: Department of Agrarian Reform.

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Narco-barangay execs eyed in intensified drug campaign

The government’s fight against the illegal drug menace in the country has intensified as it vowed to weed out undesirable barangay officials involved in the illegal drugs trade.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño warned that administrative charges would be filed against barangay executives who fail to create or make their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) fully operational until October 30.

In targeting the barangay officials, Diño said the familiarity of barangay chairmen and kagawads  with the residents in their turfs would easily make it easier for law enforcement agencies to identify illegal drug personalities.

He said the “DILG can’t wait forever’’ for barangay officials to comply with President Duterte’s lawful order against illegal drugs.

Diño also vowed to crack the whip on corrupt or negligent DILG regional officials saying they have “a lot of explaining to do’’ over the barangays’ failure to make their BADACs fully functional.

“I will only sue them. Secretary [Eduardo] Año had earlier ordered them to monitor all barangays and conduct an inventory. Up to now, no report has reached my office,” Diño said.

He stressed barangay executives must lead the fight against illegal drugs and ensure that measures are being undertaken to implement the anti-illegal drugs campaign and programs.
 
“There should be a Badac desk in every barangay. There is no forever,” he added, referring to the reports to be submitted by the DILG regional offices and all barangays nationwide.

Clinging on the hope for the disqualification of drug personalities from running in next year’s midterm elections, the DILG said it will submit a copy of the list to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

DILG spokeman, Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, said the department is set to provide the Comelec with a copy of the narco-list after the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) on October 17.

Although narco-politicians cannot be disqualified unless convicted with finality, Malaya said it will be up for the Comelec to make the next move.

Despite the growing objections from numerous legal luminaries, the DILG has insisted on its preference to have narco-politicians stricken off from the list of qualified political aspirants.

Aware of its legal impediments, Malaya said the DILG wants the electorate informed of the list of narco-politicians especially those with pending cases.

“Now if they are to be disqualified or not, that’s no longer the call of the department. It’s now the call of the Commission on Elections. We will reassess what we need to do. Perhaps, we may release the list to the public just like what we did during the last barangay elections,” he added.

The DILG found an ally in the person of newly-designated Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo.

Admitting that there is a slim chance that narco-politicians would be disqualified, Panelo said that the DILG still has the responsibility to divulge in public their findings regarding political wannabes dealing in illegal drug transactions.

“In the same way, when the President released a list of those names, he was implementing the duty imposed on him in the Constitution that people have the right to information. And since the President has all the resources in the world to have access to information, he felt that it was his duty to let the people know,” he added.

However, Panelo maintained that there are legal recourse for local officials wrongly accused of being involved in the drug trade.

“What I’m saying is we are governed by laws regardless of who is involved, we have to bow to the majesty of the law,” Panelo said.

Earlier, DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo Año reported that since 2016, 300 local officials now facing administrative cases might be suspended and dismissed.

He added that 93 local officials are included in the narco-list, while 250 others have pending cases which are now being investigated by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Source of news: Manila Bulletin.  Photo credit: Martin Diño/Facebook page.

Misamis Occidental barangay bags P50,000 Lupon development grant

Barangay Tipolo of the Municipality of Plaridel, Misamis Occidental received Php50,000 development grant after it has been evaluated on the 2018 Lupong Tagapamayapa Incentives and Awards (LTIA) and has qualified as the 

Regional Champion for first to third class municipalities category.

The Lupong Tagapamayapa of Barangay Tipolo plans to utilize the development grant to procure equipment to support effective and efficient administration of barangay justice system.

Particularly, they will procure a laptop for proper and systematic records management of cases, digital camera for documentation purposes and LCD projector for meeting and reporting purposes.

Punong Barangay Lucita P. Aviles personally claimed the check which was handed over to her by Provincial Director Pablio L. Benitez, Jr., at Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Misamis Occidental Provincial Office.  

Aviles was very thankful to the DILG stressing that the development grant is of big help to the Lupong Tagapamayapa and assured that they will continue to effectively implement barangay justice system.
 
The Lupong Tagapamayapa of Tipolo, Plaridel is set to attend the 2018 LTIA National Awarding on October 12, 2018 at Metro Manila. 

Source of news:  Philippine Information Agency. Photo credit: DILG Region 10




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DTI-Zamobanga City holds Barangay Negosyo Summit

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya called on barangay leaders to look at entrepreneurship with a developmental mindset to help their constituents in the long term.

Maglaya made the call to the barangay officials, who attended the Zamboanga Peninsula Barangay Negosyo Summit held in this city last Monday.

Barangay Negosyo Summit was the first in the country and was conceptualized and initiated by DTI 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).

Maglaya said the summit aims to invite all barangay chairpersons in the region, together with at least one micro and small entrepreneur in their area.

“Entrepreneurship can bring revenue to their barangay. They should look at this as a help to their constituents and the barangay as a whole. The jobs it will create and capacitating their constituents," Maglaya said.
 
"Imagine our barangay officials who will not be pestered late at night by their constituents asking for emergency financial assistance because they already have money. They are now capable.”

Maglaya said barangay officials should treat the initiative as a great opportunity to empower their constituents, and in creating economic activity in the barangays with DTI as partner.

“What we want is for our officials to look for those who are interested in entrepreneurship and who need our help. They know better the people in their area. We, on the other hand, will come and talk to them and help them with their needs,” she said.

Maglaya added that capacitating the public to engage in business is essential amid surging prices of commodities.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar of Zamboanga City pledged her support to DTI and the Department of Labor and Employment in their endeavors for the people of this city and Zamboanga Peninsula.

The Zamboanga Peninsula Barangay Negosyo Summit was attended by more than 1,500 barangay officials and micro, small and medium entrepreneurs all over the region. (Teofilo Garcia Jr.)

Source of news: Philippine News Agency. Photo credit: DTI Region 9. (From Left: DTI Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona, DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Cuison-Maglaya, DTI-9 Director Sitti Amina Jain and Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce President Pedro Rufo Soliven (left to right) answer question in a press conference during the Zamboanga Peninsula Barangay Negosyo Summit in Zamboanga City.)

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Isabela barangay site of new hydropower project

A renewable energy company launched its project to build a 19.7-megawatt run-of-river hydropower system by signing a memorandum of agreement with the local governments of Isabela Province and Echague town on Wednesday.

The planned hydropower system will be put up in San Miguel village in Echague town along the Ilaguen River.

Rio Norte Hydro Corporation (RNHC) officers led by Executive Vice President Manolo Candelaria, Echague Mayor Francis Faustino Dy, Isabela Governor Faustino Dy III, and San Miguel Barangay Captain Efren Santiago signed the memorandum for the project.

“This hydro project is a welcome development in our municipality as it is expected to bring down the cost of electricity for my constituents as well as generate a host of beneficial programs,” Dy said.

Clarence Jandoc, RNHC Vice-President for Legal and Government Affairs, said the run-of-river power generation is considered one of the most environment-friendly energy methods available as it harnesses the natural flow of water to generate electricity.

“The project produces nearly no greenhouse emissions,” Jandoc added.

The project is expected to supply 85 million kilowatts of energy per year to the cities of Cauayan and Santiago including the municipalities of Alicia, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Cordon, Echague, Jones, Luna, Ramon, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Guillermo, San Isidro, and San Mateo.

Jandoc said the project does not end with the development and construction of the hydropower project. To help the community, RNHC is also undertaking the development of an eco-tourism road and several community programs in the area, he added.

“We will upgrade the existing provincial road into an ‘all-weather road’ that will extend into a municipal road going toward the majestic Ilaguen River,” he said.

Jandoc pledged to launch various social development programs in Echague to bring about sustainable livelihood and educational opportunities.

Residents of Barangay San Miguel, the community which will host hydropower system, lauded the benefits they will gain.
“On behalf of the community, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Rio Norte for this additional support,” San Miguel Barangay Captain Efren Santiago said.

“The road project will help improve our access to basic services like healthcare, market, and schools. Once it is complete, we will be able to transport our products to the marketplace faster,” he added.

“We are also looking forward to more livelihood and employment opportunities for the barangays. It’s wonderful that Rio Norte is now our neighbor,” he said.
Jandoc said he project is in keeping with the company's commitment to inclusive growth.

“Empowering communities is the key to creating a healthy environment and an inclusive society.” he said.

“We are thankful for the welcome and steadfast support from the municipality and the province. We hope that our hydropower project will serve as a catalyst for economic development in Echague and will contribute to the entire province’s sustained growth. Wherever we go, we make sure to deliver this same commitment to help the community,” he added. (Villamor Visaya Jr.) 

Source of news: Philippine News Agency. Photo credit, sky view of Echague, Isabela: YouTube.

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Drug-clear certification on Barangay Ayala Alabang suspended

The status of the posh Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa as a drug-cleared barangay is under review following the recent raid of a house in Ayala Alabang Village that resulted in the confiscation of P7.2 million worth of high-grade marijuana.

On Sept. 7, Barangay Ayala Alabang, which includes the exclusive Ayala Alabang Village, was declared as a drug-cleared barangay after undergoing thorough assessments for months.


The certification was signed by officials of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region, Muntinlupa City government and the Philippine National Police-Muntinlupa.


But in less than a month, the PDEA Central Luzon conducted an operation on Sept. 30 on a house on Agoncillo Street in Ayala Alabang Village and found six kilos of kush or high-grade marijuana. Arrested were live-in partners Joshua 

Ramon Jimenez and Sarah Margarita Dominguez.
According to PDEA-NCR regional director Joel Plaza, Barangay Ayala Alabang’s drug-cleared status is under review but it will retain its drug-cleared status for the time being despite the raid.


Dangerous Drugs Board’s Regulation No. 3 issued in 2017 governing barangay drug-clearing program states that “in the event that there are new reports of any illegal drug activities, the status of the concerned cleared barangay shall not be automatically reverted to drug-affected barangay.”


Under the regulation, the barangay is given 30 days to take appropriate action and “failure of the BADAC (Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council) to address the same shall be ground to declare the concerned barangay as ‘drug-affected’ and shall be subjected to barangay drug-clearing operations.’ 
Failure to comply can also be grounds for the filing of administrative and criminal cases against officials.
The raid is another blow to the efforts of Barangay Ayala Alabang to clear its image.


Barangay Ayala Alabang chairman Ruben Baes told the Manila Bulletin during the awarding of the drug-cleared certification last month that the image of the barangay suffered when shabu laboratories were found by authorities in 2012 and 2016 inside the village.


“All of these are negative to us but again we worked it out with PDEA and DAPCO [Muntinlupa Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Office]. We told them we cannot forever be perceived like criminals. At a certain point in time, you have to clear us,” he said.


Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA) president Amador Bacani earlier said that after the raids in the past years, they became stricter in enforcing the single-family residential use rule in the village and the association no longer allows dwellings to be used as staff houses. (Jonathan Hicap)

Source of news and PDEA photo: Manila Bulletin.

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All Laoag City barangays get own generator set each

Christmas will come early for residents of 80 villages in this city.

City Administrator John Michael Fariñas said Thursday the city government is set to distribute in the next few weeks at least 80 units of portable generator sets to each barangay here.

Fariñas said he found a way to make generator sets available in every village.

“During and even after the rage of Typhoon Ompong, I have had messages and calls, left and right, from our kapitans (village chairmen), Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen, and even kabarangayans from all over the city, requesting if the generator sets of the city government could be used to charge their cellphones, portable electric fans, and even battery packs, among others,” he said.

On Wednesday, boxes of generator sets arrived in his office, purchased through donations from his friends and law school classmates, Fariñas said.

He added that the amount used in buying the generator sets were all from private individuals and not a single centavo came from government coffers.

“I have never been shy in asking for help, if need be, especially when I know that it will do good to my fellow Laoageños,” said the city official, who led the distribution of relief goods to "Ompong" victims in Barangay Caaoacan. (Leilanie Adriano)

Source of news: Philippine News Agency. Photo credit: John Michael Fariñas

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