12th Siargao National Surfing Cup opens on Friday
By Fryan E. Abkilan
SURIGAO DEL NORTE (16 September) - The much awaited national surfing event in the country will finally kick-off at Cloud 9, Gen. Luna in Siargao Island this province on Friday, September 17, 2010.
Gov. Sol Matugas said that around 86 confirmed local surfing enthusiasts all over the country will compete over the next five days from Sep. 17 to Sep. 21, 2010. The event is part of the month-long festivity in the island dubbed as the 1st Siargao Surfing Festival with its theme: “Kabibo 2010.”
The lady governor said that aside from the formal opening of the local surfing cup, other activities will also commence tomorrow, these include: The 1st Gov. Sol Matugas Open Beach Volleyball Challenge, Agri-Aqua Trade Fair, Best Municipal Booth, Kabibo Hip-hop Dance Competition, Photo-shoot Competition and Nightly Yugyugan Open Party at the town’s boulevard sponsored by San Miguel Beer.
With all these series of activities, Gov. Matugas is hopeful that the local tourism industry cannot only bring prestige but most importantly, create jobs to the locals and hopefully achieve quality life and at the same time help boost the economy of the province.
Gov. Matugas also bared that Ilocos Norte representative, Hon. Imee Marcos and mayor of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Hon. Maja Sales have confirmed there attendance to be the guests of honor in the event.
Reports revealed that 1st Dist. Rep. Francisco Matugas, 2nd Dist. Rep. Guillermo Romarate, Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas, LMP President Sheila Mae Orquina-Cebedo and around 20 mayors of the province are fully supportive of the activity and will also grace the event tomorrow. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Robredo cites anti-jueteng measures
Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said today that his department is implementing a comprehensive three-point agenda to stamp out the illegal numbers game of “jueteng” in the country.
Robredo cited the department’s anti-jueteng strategies as better law enforcement, strengthening of the Small Town Lottery (STL) as alternative to jueteng, and adoption of measures to keep people away from the culture of gambling.
He explained that the first strategy pertains to the intensified police operations against jueteng activities, the arrest of suspected gambling personnel, confiscation of bets and gambling paraphernalia, and filing of appropriate charges in court.
“As early as July, I have directed then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa to conduct a nationwide campaign to stamp out jueteng, as well as validate reports that the operation of STL is being used as front for the illegal numbers game,” Robredo said.
In a memorandum dated July 26, the PNP chief informed the DILG secretary that all PNP units have been directed to intensify the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling particularly jueteng and its derivatives, and to submit a weekly accomplishment report to the office of the chief PNP.
Robredo also said that close collaboration with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had been undertaken last July concerning the need for strengthening the STL project as an alternative approach to jueteng.
“I’ve met several times PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico and submitted to her a number of recommendations to further reinforce the existing policies on the STL project,” he added.
Some of the measures recommended to the PCSO are: STL should be operated following the traditional methodology of jueteng operations; the Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) shall be given a fixed monthly “presumptive gross sales” which shall be included in their respective franchise provisions; amendment of STL franchising scheme with franchise awarded per municipality or city, after consultation with the LGU, the PNP and other local stakeholders.
Other recommendations include, amendment of the STL charity fund percentage sharing scheme; to ensure transparency and fairness, PCSO should conduct all the regular covered by national television; the minimum prize money will be equivalent to the jueteng winnings; and monitoring of the actual STL gross sales.
Robredo emphasized that a more holistic approach involving the active participation of various stakeholders, particularly the local government units and the private sectors including non-government and civic organizations, must be put in place to address the socio-economic aspects of illegal gambling.
To aid in these efforts, the DILG chief, as Chairman of NAPOLCOM, created a Special Project Group last week, composed of officials of the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS). The Special Project Group’s main function is to review and audit the operations of the PNP as safeguard against syndicates and organized crimes, including jueteng. (DILG/PIA-Caraga)
4ID reaches out to children
As Filipinos, we all have dreamt of having a peaceful and progressive nation, a nation that is safe and secure for our future generation to live in - this is our primordial responsibility and accountability to our children.
By Fryan E. Abkilan
SURIGAO DEL NORTE (16 September) - The much awaited national surfing event in the country will finally kick-off at Cloud 9, Gen. Luna in Siargao Island this province on Friday, September 17, 2010.
Gov. Sol Matugas said that around 86 confirmed local surfing enthusiasts all over the country will compete over the next five days from Sep. 17 to Sep. 21, 2010. The event is part of the month-long festivity in the island dubbed as the 1st Siargao Surfing Festival with its theme: “Kabibo 2010.”
The lady governor said that aside from the formal opening of the local surfing cup, other activities will also commence tomorrow, these include: The 1st Gov. Sol Matugas Open Beach Volleyball Challenge, Agri-Aqua Trade Fair, Best Municipal Booth, Kabibo Hip-hop Dance Competition, Photo-shoot Competition and Nightly Yugyugan Open Party at the town’s boulevard sponsored by San Miguel Beer.
With all these series of activities, Gov. Matugas is hopeful that the local tourism industry cannot only bring prestige but most importantly, create jobs to the locals and hopefully achieve quality life and at the same time help boost the economy of the province.
Gov. Matugas also bared that Ilocos Norte representative, Hon. Imee Marcos and mayor of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, Hon. Maja Sales have confirmed there attendance to be the guests of honor in the event.
Reports revealed that 1st Dist. Rep. Francisco Matugas, 2nd Dist. Rep. Guillermo Romarate, Surigao City Mayor Ernesto Matugas, LMP President Sheila Mae Orquina-Cebedo and around 20 mayors of the province are fully supportive of the activity and will also grace the event tomorrow. (PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Robredo cites anti-jueteng measures
Secretary Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government said today that his department is implementing a comprehensive three-point agenda to stamp out the illegal numbers game of “jueteng” in the country.
Robredo cited the department’s anti-jueteng strategies as better law enforcement, strengthening of the Small Town Lottery (STL) as alternative to jueteng, and adoption of measures to keep people away from the culture of gambling.
He explained that the first strategy pertains to the intensified police operations against jueteng activities, the arrest of suspected gambling personnel, confiscation of bets and gambling paraphernalia, and filing of appropriate charges in court.
“As early as July, I have directed then Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa to conduct a nationwide campaign to stamp out jueteng, as well as validate reports that the operation of STL is being used as front for the illegal numbers game,” Robredo said.
In a memorandum dated July 26, the PNP chief informed the DILG secretary that all PNP units have been directed to intensify the campaign against all forms of illegal gambling particularly jueteng and its derivatives, and to submit a weekly accomplishment report to the office of the chief PNP.
Robredo also said that close collaboration with the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office had been undertaken last July concerning the need for strengthening the STL project as an alternative approach to jueteng.
“I’ve met several times PCSO Chairperson Margarita Juico and submitted to her a number of recommendations to further reinforce the existing policies on the STL project,” he added.
Some of the measures recommended to the PCSO are: STL should be operated following the traditional methodology of jueteng operations; the Authorized Agent Corporations (AACs) shall be given a fixed monthly “presumptive gross sales” which shall be included in their respective franchise provisions; amendment of STL franchising scheme with franchise awarded per municipality or city, after consultation with the LGU, the PNP and other local stakeholders.
Other recommendations include, amendment of the STL charity fund percentage sharing scheme; to ensure transparency and fairness, PCSO should conduct all the regular covered by national television; the minimum prize money will be equivalent to the jueteng winnings; and monitoring of the actual STL gross sales.
Robredo emphasized that a more holistic approach involving the active participation of various stakeholders, particularly the local government units and the private sectors including non-government and civic organizations, must be put in place to address the socio-economic aspects of illegal gambling.
To aid in these efforts, the DILG chief, as Chairman of NAPOLCOM, created a Special Project Group last week, composed of officials of the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS). The Special Project Group’s main function is to review and audit the operations of the PNP as safeguard against syndicates and organized crimes, including jueteng. (DILG/PIA-Caraga)
4ID reaches out to children
As Filipinos, we all have dreamt of having a peaceful and progressive nation, a nation that is safe and secure for our future generation to live in - this is our primordial responsibility and accountability to our children.
We all would like to make our country and our world a better place to live in, to ensure a bright and prospective tomorrow for our children, that is why the ARMY, especially the 4th Infantry Diamond Troopers, is taking an active role to achieve this endeavor.Through the supervision and guidance of MAJ GEN VICTOR A FELIX AFP, Commander, 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division, Diamond Troopers are reaching out to the community through the children as a way of showing concern and commitment in ensuring a peaceful and progressive environment that is conducive for the children’s developmental growth as the future of our generation.
As part of this commitment, 4ID will provide utmost support to the “BATANG HIMSOG” Program, an in-School Health and Nutrition Feeding and Livelihood Program, an initiative of Anak Mindanao Partylist (AMIN) in partnership with the Department of Education, Local Government Units and the Katilingbanong Pamahandi sa Mindanaw Foundation Inc. (KMPFI), to help lessen and slowly eradicate malnutrition in the rural barangay schools within Misamis Oriental.
The Batang Himsog Program aims to address the problem of malnutrition by providing daily breakfast to at least 4,000 grade 1 pupils in 85 schools of Gingoog City, Claveria, Magsaysay and MISORET town.
The 4ID is optimistic in this program in that it could help children in the rural areas to receive proper nutrition and education so that they can become healthy and full of promise, ready to take on any challenge and opportunity that they shall meet as they grow up.
Also a part of this commitment to reach out to the children, 4th Infantry Division welcomed pre-school students from the Lifetime Study Center, Cagayan de Oro City during their educational tour inside Camp Evangelista last 14 September 2010.
The children viewed Armor Tanks and 105MM Cannons. They were also met warmly by the Diamond Troopers who interacted and mingled with them.
4ID personnel proved that they are not only the protectors of the land but they are also their partners in community and nation building and that these children and their parents can depend on them in their dream of having a better and brighter atmosphere that is viable for their growth and well-being.
Through these efforts of the Division, the Diamond Troopers are leading the way in showing their concern and commitment to our children in helping promote a better environment and opportunity for them to live peacefully and harmoniously as our future and our hope in the coming generations. (4th CMO Bn, 4ID, PA/PIA-Caraga)
