MGB requires DPWH approval

Internationa Underwater
photographers meet
in Sogod Bay
October 1-15, 2014
Media Center, 2nd Flr., Capitol Bldg.
Vol. II, No. 7
FOR QUARRY OPERATORS IN SUBANG DAKU RIVER
MGB requires DPWH approval
Barge with
SAG held
SOGOD, Southern Leyte -- A
sea-going vessel carrying 2,300
cubic meters of soil aggregates,
docked at the shoreline of barangay Concepcion, here was prevented from leaving Friday, October 10, as five of its crew led by
ship captain Emmanuel Mausisa
were apprehended for failure to
show a Governor’s permit.
As this report was written, however, the barge had left, according
to a headline report by Diego Dain
Credo, Capitol Media Liaison Officer,
over DYDM, Monday, October 13.
Charges for violation of Section
103, Philippine Mining Act, Republic Act 7942, for lack of Governor’s
permit to engage in sand and gravel
extraction and disposal from Subangdaku, was readied at the provincial Fiscal’s office, said DYDM Police Beat Reporter Monching Buyser,
who had covered the proceedings.
Lawyers of the respondents had
arrived to handle the case, and they
were expected to post bail bonds to
secure their clients’ release as the
issues in contention undergoes the
legal process of preliminary investigation.
In his radio report, Buyser quoted
the respondents’ attorneys as saying
they were contemplating counteraction especially on serious illegal detention. No details were given.
By Bong Pedalino
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has required quarry operators of sand and gravel in Subangdaku river in Sogod town, this
province “to secure approval of their operations by the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH.)”
“Pending compliance by the quar- eral years now, the issues arising
rying operators concerned with the from the quarrying operations
above requirement, their quarrying in Subang Daku River in Sogod,
operations shall be suspended,” Leo Southern Leyte remain unreL. Jasareno, MGB Director, wrote in solved, with the potential to cause
a memorandum dated October 15, serious problems, especially to the
2014.
environment and on peace and orThe memo was addressed to der,” the memo said.
the Regional Director, MGB OfIt added: “In the meantime, howfice VIII, Manlurip-MacArthur ever, the Mining Industry CoordiPark Road, Candahug, Palo, nating Council has passed ResoluLeyte, a copy of which was ob- tion No. 4 providing, among others,
tained by TSS.
that in the case of river and/or delta
“This office notes that for sev- dredging activities, the DPWH shall
have direct control and supervision.”
TESDA caters
TWSP scholars
By Rebecca Cadavos
The Technical Education and
Skills
Development
Authority
(TESDA)-Southern Leyte awarded
scholarship certificates to 25 beneficiaries for the Training for Work
Scholarship Program (TWSP) in a
a ceremony held at Hinunangan
Skills and Technological Center
(HSTC), Hinunangan, Southern
Leyte, October 1.
TESDA administrative officer
Jocelyn Gidal informed that the
scholars will undergo five months
training in Shielded Metal Arc
Welding at HSTC.
“TESDA will shoulder the training cost amounting to P10,000.00
as well as assessment fee in the
(to page 2)
World-renowned photographers, who
are experts in taking pictures of bustling
marine life underneath the seawaters, are
expected to conduct their master crafts
along the vast expanse of Sogod Bay in
early December this year.
Nedgar Garvez, Provincial Tourism Officer, said in an interview over Action Center Kapihan sa PIA recently that the event
has been scheduled on December 1-5,
wherein at least 100 photographers from
around the world will participate, each
one bringing with them their sophisticated
underwater cameras and other high-end
gadgets.
Dubbed Underwater International Photo Workshop, the upcoming gathering is
largely seen as a major boost to the dive
tourism potentials of the province, and an
opportunity to promote and discover the
rich potential of Sogod Bay to attract more
divers of global caliber, Garvez said.
Sogod Bay has been listed as a top dive
site among divers’ circles, in prime lists,
dive magazines, and more discoveries of
rare sights and pictures await the enthusiasts who are willing to cross long distances and time zones just to experience the
thrilling, wet world several meters below
the sea surface, Garvez also said.
During the recent First Provincial Tourism Summit held last month, Department
of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Karen
Tiopes also mentioned the huge potential
of Sogod Bay dive sites, saying this has
(to page 2)
Vol. II, No.7
DTI calls on consumers to be
environmental concious in buying items
ESTORYAHI!
Willie Justimbaste
By Bong Pedalino
The provincial office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged consumers
to think about the negative impacts the products they bought may bring to the environment, as well as on safety concerns.
Mike Nunez, provincial head of the agen- to the atmosphere leading to global warming
cy, likewise advised customers to be respon- and climate change, so as much as possible
sible even as he encouraged them to exercise look for labels that attest that an item is envitheir rights and privileges.
ronment-friendly, Nunez advised.
October has been observed, among other
Disposal of wrappers or pouches must be duly
mandated observance, as Consumer Con- considered, or keep, recycle those for future use
sciousness Month with the DTI as the lead if ever, in order to reduce garbage wastage.
agency in promoting activities to spread and
Nunez also encouraged people to ask for
promote awareness among the general pub- receipts everytime they make purchases, for
lic as end users of goods and services.
these receipts serve as their proof of purchase
But aside from customers, the national in case they come back to complain of any deobservance also linked with businessmen fect, to return it, or replace it with similar item.
and traders for proper dealings with their
He said his office is ready to assist cusbuyers, Nunez said.
tomers of any valid complaint, and so far the
Some products displayed in stores have concerned grocery or store was willing to acbeen known to contain ozone depleting sub- commodate these issues for the satisfaction of
stances (ODS), or elements that are harmful everyone.
CCA News
Zero basura, waste creativity,
songwriting tilt on
By Rebecca Cadavos
At least seven puroks in Barangay Asuncion, Maasin City will compete on the Inter-Purok Zero
Basura contest and Songwriting competition, activities that are in line with the Climate Change
Advocacy (CCA) campaign in Maasin City.
CCA campaign is a coordinated project of the Songwriting competition will also be based on the
Department of Environment and Natural Resourc- same theme with 30 years old and below as the pares (DENR), the Philippine Information Agency and ticipants, he added.
LGU-Maasin City and LGU - Southern Leyte.
Barangay Asuncion has a total of seven Puroks
At the orientation in Purok Ipil-Ipil on October comprising Sunkist, Talisay, Caimito, Tambis, Sam8, Bong Pedalino of PIA-Maasin presented the bag, Mangga and Ipil-Ipil. It has a total population
criteria for the said competitions. There are four of 4, 861,.
categories of the contest such as the Home-based
The orientation for the Puroks is from October
level, Purok level, Creativity and the Songwriting 1-15, 2014. On October 31, an evaluation team is set
competition that will focus on the Climate Change to choose a winner at the Home-based Level and will
Advocacy campaign dubbed as, “Nagbabago na be the entry for the Inter-Purok, Barangay Level.
ang Panahon, Panahon na para Magbago…..
First, second and third prize winners will be choNagbago na Ako.”
sen from each winner of the seven Puroks, and the
Some of the criteria for the Zero Basura con- awarding ceremony is tentatively set on November
test include segregated wastes at source, properly 29, the report said. Corresponding cash prizes will be
labeled, color-coded receptacles; household rep- allocated for the winners.
resentatives should have five or more occupants
Meanwhile, City General Services Officer II Benand the number of participants during the informa- jase Lumen was also present during the information
tion drive is also considered as among the criteria. drive at Purok Ipil-Ipil and showed his support for the
Even if the training is set anytime this Octo- said project, revealing how important waste segreber, the Creativity contest that is making a product gation is. “We have to start segregating at our own
out of collected recyclables at the Purok will push household by properly segregating wastes from biothrough, Pedalino informed the residents. The degradable and non-biodegradable ones,” he said.
Internationa Underwater... (from page 1)
been one of the priority promotions undertaken by the agency in close cooperation with the provincial local government unit.
Pictures generated from the 5-day workshop will be posted in the internet and in the individual
blogs of the photographers, creating a multiplier publicity effect among their following, and this will
generate more interests for passionate practitioners of the craft to come and visit the place to see
it for themselves, Garvez said.
In a related development, Garvez announced that an airline company, Cebu Pacific, has surveyed the Panan-awan Airport for viability in their commercial operation, and has listed specific
observations as a pre-requisite to put the facility in their air traffic route as soon as possible.
Garvez said most of the comments were doables, like repainting of worn-out paints, and the
provision of standard fire fighting rescue and equipment.
He said he had referred these points to Gov. Roger Mercado, and actions have been undertaken
to address the company’s concerns.
Page 2
SANTILMO SA SUBANGDAKU
Sukad sa atong mahinumdoman,ang Subangdaku sa Sogod way puas nga guipanamastamasan sa
paghakot sa mga baas ug graba. Gikan pa niadtong
mga unang dekada sa nangaging administrasyon,
ang Subangdaku gilawog ngadto sa mga buayang
korporasyon nga kaanib sa mga dagkong pulitiko.
Sila ang mga kanhing mga lideres sa lalawigan ug
lungsod ang mipakuyanap na hinuon sa dugang
daghan pang quarry operators pinaagi sa pagtakoban
nga rechanneling apan way hunong nga extraction
sa sand and gravel. Usa kini ka ehemplo koncreto sa
BANTAY-SALAKAY nga bunga sa naghingapin nga
kahakog ug kalaog sa ganansiya ug gahom.
Lahi na kaajo ang panahon karon tungod sa
grabeng global warming ug climate change. Ang namuno sa probinsiya sahi ug sukwahi na kaniadto kay
karon guihatagan na ug ngipon ang environment
protection, ug rationalization sa paggamit sa atong
natural resources.Way tinguha ang kagamhanang
probinsiyal nga hunongon ang mineral utilization
kundili pagpahigayon sa distribusyon nga makiangayon subay sa guinbut-an sa Local Government
Code ug desisyon sa Korte Suprema. Ang pagkuha
ug permit o approval sa Gobernador ug pagbayad
sa tamang bayranan sibo sa kadaghanon sa guihakot ug guikarga sa sakyanan ug uban pang rekisitos.
Simple ra ang gihangyo ni Gobernador Oging: Get
the required permit,pay the necessary dues to the
LGU’s, help protect the environment and pray for the
early recovery of Subangdaku to make it sustainable
for many not just for a privileged few. Public officials
engaged in this business should be role models of
social justice not exemplars of abuse and exploitation in their own backwards. Besides, this is contrary
to ethical standards of elected or appointed officials.
The rationale of a suspension or moratorium on all extraction operations ordered by MGB or
DPWH should be taken seriously to make the industry more viable and sustainable. Otherwise, excessive and over commercialized extraction and shipment of riverbed aggregates would slowly but surely
kill the goose that lays the golden egg. But, let’s be
sure that implementers are not violators by allowing
clandestine operations by a favored few. We have
already seen how the tentacles of corruption have
reached high places. We may be referring to politicians to fatten their campaign kitties in 2016. Pero
naa may gaba guikan sa mga kalag nga naanod sa
Bulwang river ug mga santilmo nga mokaag unya
ning mga exploiters sa Subangdaku.
TESDA caters... (from page 1)
amount of P500.00,” she told.
She added that the 25 awardees were chosen through the Community Training and Employment Coordinators (CTECs) that is composed of the local Social Welfare Office personnel from the different
municipalities in the province.
“The scholars come from the Pacific towns of St. Bernard, San
Juan, Anahawan, Hinundayan, Hinunangan and Silago,” Gidal disclosed further.
During the awarding program, TESDA OIC-provincial director Rodrigo Lacaba presented the scholarship certificates to the beneficiaries assisted by scholarship focal person Alma Mesa, competency
assistant Silvestre Paedlin Sr. and HSTC Chancellor Wilma Elivera
October 1-15, 2014
Vol. II, No.7
Feature
Trees help dissipate typhoons
By Erna Sy Gorne
No less than the constituents of Southern Leyte observed that several typhoons
which were forecasted to hit
the province dissipated before it approaches the land.
Unknowingly, this was due
to the abundance of trees
planted across the province.
Provincial Environment
and Natural Resources Officer, Dr Eva Abad reported
over Action Center Kapihan
sa PIA recently “ that since
Southern Leyte is now teeming with trees, it creates a
micro climate of coolness in
the province.
Dr. Abad said during
her environment seminar
attended in Legaspi , she
learned that recent studies
showed that since Southern
Leyte is “green”, typhoons
shy away from directly hitting the province.
Being green, that is abundant with trees, the province created a cool atmosphere and typhoons are
not attracted to low temperatured areas. Therefore, shied away from the
province and saved the
lives and properties of the
people in the province, obviously with the experience
of the recent typhoons particularly the super typhoon
Yolanda, she added.
Before super typhoon Yolanda touch based in Leyte province last November 8, 2013,
PAG-ASA forecasted the province of Southern Leyte was under typhoon signal #4, however, Yolanda direction shied
away from the province as
soon as it hit the land mass.
Abad urged during the cable
TV program that people should
continue to plant trees to keep
our province “green.”
She reported that since January 2014, Governor Roger Mercado designated that every 8th day of the month will plant trees
at the roadsides, river sides and beaches under the Provincial
Greening Program. Some 4,000 trees along the roadsides of
Maasin City alone have aready been planted.
So far, massive tree planting were already conducted twice at
Canturing River in Maasin City, Subang Daku River in Sogod and
Pangi River in Libagon, all of Southern Leyte, she added.
Also, thousands of mangrove trees along the coastal barangays in Maasin City, Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Malitbog, Sogod
will be planted within this year, she added.
On top of the tree planting of the Mountain Boys, a group
organized by Governor Mercado, to plant trees everyday,
the local governor have started planting trees three decades
ago.
As a former Representative of the lone district of Southern Leyte, Gov. Roger Mercado passed a log ban law in the
province.
IBP JOURNAL: A page from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
journal that discusses the sand and gravel issue (encircled at left).
October 1-15, 2014
Page 3
Vol. II, No.7
LIMA KA TRIPOLANTE SA BARGE OG DUHA KA KAWANI
SA CRUSHER PLANT NASIKOP
Brgy. Concepcion II, Sogod, So. Leyte - Gumikan sa pagpadayon paghakot
og mga bas og graba gikan sa subang daku nga nahimutang sa lungsod sa Sogod,
ang grupo sa PENRMO nga gipangunahan ni Eñigo "Boy" Malubo, kauban ang
grupo ni Gob. Roger G. Mercado, media ug uban pa, mihimo og pag-inspecksyon
sa crusher plant, sa ikaduha ka higayon, ang naasoy nga dugmokanan og mga
bato, nahimutang sa Brgy. Concepcion Dos. Sa naasoy nga inspeksyon naabotan
sa grupo ang mga heavy equipment ug ang LCT Barge 369 nga napuno na sa mga
"mineralis" graba og bato ug nakatakda na nga ibyahi sa laing dapit. Sa record nga
nahipos pinaagi sa PENRMO ug sa blotter sa pulis, nailhan ang mga suspetsado
nga sila si:
1. Ship Capt. Emmanuel Mausesa, menyo, taga Lapu-lapu City.
2. Engr. Rolly Taglucop, menyo, taga Surigao City
3. Chief Mate Aldren Cañete, menyo taga Alen, Samar
4. Emmylou, Sinagan, nautical intern, dalaga, taga Tagum City, Davao;
5. Hemani Halipa, menyo, taga Panabu City, Davao del Norte.
lain nga nadakpan,
1. Engr. Federico Ozon, Jr., menyo, manager s Prime Rocks Aggravates of si Rodel
Tabacon, olitawo, taga Dagsa, Sogod, So. Leyte.
Ang pito ka suspetsado nga nasikop sa Task Force Subang Daku, g-inquest ni Fiscal Judy Ramos Navarosa. Human makahibalo ang mga abogado sa
mga suspetsado sa kaso nga gipasang-at sa Provincial Government, miapila kini
og Motion to Waive of Detention ug mipyansa ug tag-dose mil ka pesos, para sa
temporaryong kagawasan sa ilang mga kleyenti. Nag-atobang og kaso nga Theft
of Mineral ang pito ka nga tawo.
Nasayran nga ang Administrasyong Mercado, mihimo sa ilang unang
pag-inspeksyon kaniadtong Sept. 24, gipasidan-an ang crew sa LCT 369, nga muhatag sila sa ilang mga legal nga papeles, mahitungod sa ilang kalihukan, apan
wala kini himu-a sa mga natungdan.
Walang personalan, walang pamolitika, trabaho lang. Para sa wastong
pamamaraan upang mabigyan ng tamang rechanelling ang subang dako river, para
sa tamang proteksyon sa mga naninirahan sa gilid ng ilog, pahayag ni Gob. Roger
G. Mercado, sa himpilan sa DYSL Radyo ng Bayan at sa DYDM Maasin City, na
pagmamay-ari ng Diocese of Maasin - Catholic Media Network - CMN.
kapin ug 7,000 ka mga botante ang dili kompleto ang mga biodata, kasagaran nga kulang ang mga ditalye ang pagkatawo niini ug ang uban usab walay
mga thumbmark. Sumala sa libro sa DILG nga gilatid ni former Senator Nene
Pimentel, nga kadtong walay ensakto nga biometro nga mga botante, dili gajud togutan sa pagbotar, kay kini giisip nga "nahasupak sa balaod”. Gibutyag
usab nga sa October 2015 mao ang pag-sogod na sa pag-file niadtong mga
Pilipino nga gusto mokandidato sa eleksyon 2016.
MGA SMUGLER OG GRABA APIL BALAS NASAKPAN,
GIPASAKAAN NA OG MGA KASO
Provincial Capitol, Maasin City - Pormal na nga gipasakaan og nagkalain-laing kaso ang pito ka mga tawo, nga nadakpan sa PENRMO ug sa
grupo ni gobernador Roger G. Mercado nga nanguha og bahandi sa kalikupan aron ibaligya. Moabot og 2,300 ka metro kobeko sa presyo niini sa
pinakabarato nga kantidad nga tag P600 lamang moabot og 1,380,000.00.
Ang naasoy nga "bahandi" gisakay kini sa "barge" nga LCT-369 nga gitimun
ni Ship Capt. Manuel Mausisa og mga kaubanan nga mga crew. Sumala
sa record sa PENRMO ang tag-iya sa maong kargamento wala motug-an
sa ensakto nga gidaghanun, aron paglikay sa tukma nga obligasyon sa ilang balayrunon ngadto sa panudlanan sa goberno lokal. Gumikan niini nga
panghitabo, ang kagamhanan sa Administrasyong Aquino pinaagi sa opisina
ni Direktor Jasareno sa DENR, MGB, nagmando sa mga Quarry operator sa
Subang Daku, Sogod, Southern Leyte, nga undangon na ang ilang pagkuha
og mga "minerales". Asoy usab sa maong kasugo-an nga ang Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) mao na ang may katungod sa pagbantay sa pag-atiman sa Subang Daku.
ABOGADO SA MGA DINAKPAN, WALA MOSUGOT
IPA-MEDICAL ANG IYANG KLEYENTI
Maasin City Police Station - Adunay posibilidad nga ang usa sa mga
abogado nga midepensa sa mga tawo nga nasikop gumikan sa pagpanguha og mga “bas og graba” didto sa Subang Daku, Sogod, Southern Leyte,
nag-atobang og talagsa-ong problema gumikan sa wala niya pagsugot nga
ang mga dinakpan nga suspetsado, nga sila si Ship Capt. Emmanuel Mausesa, 2nd Engr. Rolly Taglucop, Chief mate Aldren Cañete, Emmylou Sinagan og Hernani Halipa. Nasayran nga ang mga suspetsado temporaryo
nga gibutang sa “lock-up jail” sa Maasin City Police Station ubos sa hangyo
sulat ni CIDG SPO1 Charito Sebios, Investigator sa PNCO, SLCIDT. Ubos
sa kalagdaan o kasabutan sa balaod, ang tawo nga mosulod sa unsa man
nga detention cell, himuan kini og eskuhi-medical pinaagi sa lisensyado nga
mananambal, apan sa Police Blotter nga nakuha sa ‘Southern Smile” gikan
sa Maasin City Police nga gilagdaan ni PO1 og Desk Officer Rey B. Pequiro
, si Dr. Feliciano John Matibag, PHO II, mao unta ang muhimo og check-up
sa mga suspetsado niadtong 11 sa Oktobre 2014, apan wala matigayon ang
naasoy nga medical check-up, gumikan kay mga abogado nila, “mi-refused/
waived”, o wala mosugot nga ipamedical silang tanan. Sa balaod nga nakalatid kinahanglan ipamedical gayud ang mga tawo nga ma-detain..
COMELEC NANAWAGAN SA MGA BOTANTE
Probensyal Comelec, Asuncion, Maasin City - Padayon karon nga
nanawagan ngadto sa mg botante ang buhaton sa Comelec ubos sa pagdumala ni City Comelec Officer Herman Gelsano, nga ang mga botante nga
karaan og bag-o, pagpa-update sa ilang mga pangalan sa ilang pinakaduol
nga Comelec office. Tumong og tuyo niini aron makasigurado ang kada
botante nga siya makabotar sa eleksyon 2016. Nasayran niining nagsulat
nga tibuok syudad sa Maasin nga adunay 70 ka barangay nga nahisakop,
Page 4
October 1-15, 2014