19 killed, 11 hurt in NPA attack in Surigao Sur
November 17, 2009Police and military authorities in Caraga region continue manhunt operations against members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) who attacked a logging and mining firm and ambushed responding government troops killing 12 persons.
Caraga police director Chief Supt. Lino Calingasan, confirmed that eight soldiers, one police officer, and three security guards were killed in a recent NPA attack in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur.
Calingasan said the NPA belonged to Front Committee 30 that first attacked the Surigao Development Corporation (Sudecor) located at Kilometer 10, Barangay Pakwan, Lanuza, Surigao del Sur at around 11:00 in the morning last Wednesday, November 11.
Calingasan said 11 other persons were wounded during the attack.
Calingasan said, when the NPA attacked Sudecor, the Army belonging to 58th Infantry Battalion, re-enforced, but on their way to Sudecor, they were hit by a landmine killing eight of them.
A policeman and three security guards were also killed during the engagement.
The military also claimed that seven members of the NPA were also killed during that time.
During the attack at Sudecor, the rebels disarmed the security guards, burned several heavy equipment including a chainsaw.
In an emailed statement, Ka Maria Malaya, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front Northeastern Mindanao area, admitted the attack at Sudecor.
Malaya said the attack was conducted to stop Sudecor from destroying the environment in Caraga region.
Malaya said the NPAs burned four bulldozers, two log yards, one timber jack, one crane, two dumptrucks, one welding machine, and confiscated seven chainsaws.
The NPAs also seized two M14 rifles, five garand rifles, and six carbine rifles. (Dailymirror) (more…)
Magnitude-4.8 quake rocks Mindanao
November 11, 2009Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) head Renato Solidum Jr. said there was no damage expected from the quake.
“The Philippine fault zone moved, and the quake was felt at Intensity III in Butuan City, Surigao City and Dinagat Island,” Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Wednesday’s quake occurred less than five hours after an ash explosion at Mayon Volcano in Bicol, but Solidum said there was no connection between the two incidents.
On the other hand, the United States Geological Service (USGS) said the quake was recorded at 6:27 a.m., with the epicenter traced to 30 km northwest of Butuan.
It said the epicenter was also 70 km south-southwest of Surigao, 105 km northeast of Cagayan de Oro City, or 770 km southeast of Manila. - GMANews.TV
More village drugstores for Caraga
October 27, 2009Due to the rising prices of medicines, the Department of Health (DoH) in the Caraga Region intensifies the campaign on the availability of cheaper medicines by opening up more Botika ng Barangay (BnB) outlets in various villages in the region.
Dr. Leonita P. Gorgolon, DoH Caraga regional director, ordered regional technical staff to assist provincial health offices in identifying areas in the provinces and municipalities for additional BnB outlets.
DoH Caraga aims to establish at least one BnB outlet in two neighboring villages before the end of 2010.
As of this date, DoH Caraga already has 439 BnBs in the region. This includes 68 BnBs in Agusan del Norte, 132 in Agusan del Sur, 128 in Surigao del Norte, 35 in Dinagat and 76 in Surigao del Sur, said region’s health officer Sunshine A. Alipayo.
Some 10 villages in the region received Best BnB Awards during the 1st BNB Convention and Regional Awarding here last week.
The awardees include Barangay San Juan and Bonifacio of Surigao City; Barangay Camagong and Culit of Nasipit, Agusan del Norte; Barangay Doña Telesfora of Tubay, Agusan del Norte; Barangay Sta. Irene and San Jose of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; Barangay Panamaon of Loreto, Dinagat Province; Barangay Tubo-Tubo of Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; and Barangay Oteiza of San Agustin, Surigao del Sur.
The award aims to encourage BnB operators by recognizing and providing incentives to the best performing Botika ng Barangay outlets nationwide. These BnBs were recipient of the P25,000 drug and medicines from the DoH.
The BnB aims to provide safe, effective, available, accessible, affordable and quality medicines to the majority of the people especially the poor.
BnB is a collaboration of the Department of Health (DoH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC). (Manila Bulletin) (more…)
Caraga eyeing P5-billion investments next year
October 20, 2009“This new development will surpass the 2009’s first semester investments of more than P1 billion,” said Region 13 office of he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 13) Director Brielgo O. Pagaran.
Having mapped-out the strategies and identified the areas for interfacing with some of its partners, DTI 13 is hopeful that all mining companies, fisheries and agricultural sector will be fully operational next year and beyond.
It was gathered that there are about 62 mining companies operating in the various provinces of Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Island Province and Surigao City.
Added to the burgeoning economic activities in the region next year is the $1.2 billion Sumitomo Co. and Zamora Group mining investments in Surigao del Norte.
Another factor that would generate more income and employment is the approval of the 300,000-hectares 12 Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles; P100 million fish processing port in Barobo and Lianga; the P100 million investment of Stanfilco/Dole Philippines’ 100-hectare banana plantation in Tago, Surigao del Sur; and the 170,000-hectare agri-tree plantation of Shannalyn/Techlan Co. in Esperanza, Agusan del Sur.
The P200 million hydro power investments in Agusan del Norte with two ready for operation and five are on process of coal power plants in the areas of Bislig City and Hinatuan and Lianga in Surigao del Sur province also added to the unstoppable economic activities in 2010 in Northeastern Mindanao region.
Aside of local and national tax and revenues, at least 5,000 workers also benefited from these big companies now in the position for full takeoff, said Pagaran.
“Investments might double next year,” said Pagaran.
The expansion of palm oil plantation is also seen in Agusan del Sur and Agusan del Norte next year.
He said that all concerned agencies of the government and stakeholders, especially the local government units must work hard to help the region realize its potentials.
The region’s trade and industry chief said the Philippine Mining Act or Republic Act 7942 have added to the continuing mining activities in the region. (Manila Bulletin) (more…)
Lakas defections start in South
October 2, 2009SURIGAO CITY, Philippines - The exodus of administration allies to the opposition camp has begun in a key province in the south.
Surigao Del Norte Governor Robert Ace Barbers, a stalwart of the old Lakas-CMD party, on Tuesday led more than 200 local officials in defecting to the Nacionalista Party, a move cheered by a crowd of 25,000 Surigaonons.
Senator Manuel Villar Jr., NP president, swore in Barbers, his brother Robert Lyndon, a former governor who is seeking the Surigao City mayoral seat in 2010, Mayor Alfonso Casurra and congressional bet Constantino “Banjo” Navarro III as the newest members of the country’s oldest political party.
“I deeply value your support, which comes at a time when strong partners are needed in helping rebuild the lives and restore the hopes of our people lashed by calamities,” said Villar, who was mobbed by the crowd soon after he arrived at the sprawling provincial sports complex at 10 a.m.
Villar worked the crowd after the oath-taking, causing a security nightmare to his security detail as he climbed the grandstand to shake the hands of the adoring crowd.
There was shoving and pushing as people jostled each other to get near Villar, who gamely posed for pictures all throughout his three-and-a-half-hour stay in the city. Surigao del Norte, home to renowned surfing island of Siargao, is a gateway to the Caraga region which has combined votes of over a million.
Ace Barbers told the Inquirer this signaled what he described as an “exodus” of administration allies into NP, which will field Villar as its standard-bearer in the 2010 polls.
“This is the start of the exodus of leaders from Mindanao who believe in the leadership of Manny Villar,” said the governor, who presides over an administration turf with 300,000 voters.
Villar said in an interview later that the defection showed that local officials believed in the vision of the NP.
“They agree that poverty is our biggest problem now in our country, and they believe in my capacity to solve this problem,” said Villar, pointing to an efficient, transparent and accountable government as key to solving the twin evils of poverty and hunger.
Wearing white t-shirts, the Surigaonons turned up in full force for the oath-taking ceremony.
Lyndon Barbers said he was surprised by the crowd turnout, saying local officials merely asked the Surigaonons to wear white—representing “purity” of leadership—if they believed in Villar.
Six mayors, seven vice mayors, provincial and municipal board members and barangay officials, many of whom are members of the local party Abante Surigao, also took their oath of allegiance to the NP in what Villar aides claimed was the biggest mass defection so far to the Villar camp.
Villar was accompanied by NP spokespersons, former Pampanga Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc and lawyer Adel Tamano, a native of Mindanao who is strongly pushing for Mindanao representation in national political scene.
Before the oath-taking, Ace Barbers said he had obtained the permission of former Speaker Jose de Venecia and former President Fidel Ramos who co-founded Lakas-CMD.
De Venecia is himself supportive of Villar’s candidacy.
An official of NP who asked not to be identified by name as he was not authorized to make the announcement, claimed that former Sen. Ralph Recto was just waiting for the right time to join the NP as well.
“Expect more to follow,” said Barbers, who was chair of the influential House committee on accounts when he was still congressman.
Barbers, a member of the now disbanded “Spice Boys” in the House of Representatives, had entertained the idea of running for senator in 2007 following the death of his father, Sen. Robert “Bobby” Barbers, but postponed it amid a widespread clamor from Surigaonons for him to continue serving his provincemates.
Lyndon Barbers said local leaders resented the decision of the new Lakas-Kampi-CMD leadership to strip party stalwarts who lost in the 2007 polls of their positions in the merged party.
“So we did not go along with the merger,” said Lyndon, explaining the impossibility of political mergers at the local level.
“Imagine Mayor Duterte and Speaker Nograles, will they join forces? In Cebu, will the Garcias and Osmeñas unite? I don’t think so…” said the former governor. (Inquirer) (more…)
