Ex-chamber of commerce prexy in Butuan backs
mining law
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- A former president
of the Butuan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (BCCIFI) said
the implementation of Executive Order (EO) 79, otherwise known as the Mining
Law of the Philippines has acted on issues and concerns confronting the mining
industry of the country.
Speaking before the local tri-media here during
the recent press conference as a prelude to the city’s hosting of the 21st
Mindanao Business Conference on August 2-4, Alfredo Baluyut, BCCIFI past
president said leaders in Mindanao also welcomed the creation of this law as it
helped the mining industry to be implemented in a proper way, with
consideration on environmental protection.
He added that through this law, responsible
mining will be pushed through, “as EO 79 is institutionalizing and implementing
reforms in the country’s mining sector by providing policies and guidelines to
ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of
mineral resources.”
Because of this development, Baluyut said, legal
large- and small-scale miners will be reminded not only of their gains but as
well as to protect the environment. “Protecting the environment means saving
the lives of the people,” Baluyut added.
“Although there is no law which can be
considered perfect, but somehow, the mining law addresses concerns of the
people, especially the youths who are considered the future of the country, as
well as the next generations to come,” he said.
The mining law pointed out that as recommended
by the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and Economic Development
Cabinet Clusters in a Joint Resolution dated 16 March 2012, a six-point agenda
was adopted, which sets the direction and lays the foundation for the
implementation of Responsible Mining Policies, foremost among which is to
improve environmental mining standards and increase revenues to promote
sustainable economic development and social growth, both at the national and
local levels.
The Mining Act that was signed by President
Benigno S. Aquino III on July 6, prohibits applications for mineral contracts,
concessions, and agreements in the protected areas categorized and established
under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).
Application is not also allowed in prime
agricultural lands, in addition to lands covered by RA No. 6657 or the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, as amended, including plantations
and areas devoted to valuable crops and strategic agriculture and fisheries
development zones and fish refuge and sanctuaries declared as such by the
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Further, it is prohibited in tourism development
areas, as identified in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) and other
critical areas, island ecosystems, and impact areas of mining as determined by
current and existing mapping technologies, that the DENR may hereafter identify
pursuant to existing laws, rules, and regulations, such as, but not limited to,
the NIPAS Act.
However, mining contracts, agreements, and
concessions approved before the effectivity of this order shall continue to be
valid, binding and enforceable so long as they strictly comply with existing
laws, rules and regulations and the terms and conditions of the grant thereof.
For this purpose, review and monitoring of such compliance shall be undertaken
periodically. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
10th National Vegetable Congress opens in Butuan
City
By Maria Luisa Dianah Z. Generalao
BUTUAN CITY, July 30 (PIA) -- The 10th National
Vegetable Congress has opened at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center here
with the theme “Strengthen and Sustain Safe and Quality Vegetable Production
for Market Competitiveness Amidst Climate Change.”
Guest of honor and keynote speaker was
Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, who approved majority of
the resolutions presented including the enhanced access of farmers and fisher
folks to credit, the conduct of trainers’ training, and the financial support
of not less than P500,000 to the annual vegetable congress.
Butuan city Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr
disclosed the plan to put up a 500-hectare organic farming village in Barangay
Salvacion, and shared his vision of making Butuan as the "Green and
Organic Capital in Mindanao."
More than 500 participants from all over the
country gathered in Butuan City for the three-day congress, which was organized
by the Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board and the Caraga High
Value Cluster, Inc. in coordination with DA-Caraga, headed by regional
technical director Edna M. Mabeza.
Earlier that day, Alcala and National Irrigation
Administration's Antonio S. Nangel inaugurated the Tagulahi Communal Irrigation
System (Supplementary Dam 2) in Barangay Taguibo. It was followed by the Agri-Pinoy
stakeholders’ forum with local farmers and fisherfolk. (NCLM/CMO-PIO/PIA-Caraga)
DILG chief shows commitment to end “Child Labor”
in Agusan del Norte
By Florian Faith Jr. P. Bayawa
BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, July 30 (PIA) --
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-13) Director Lilibeth A.
Famacion has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to signify her firm
commitment in putting an end to child labor activities, particularly in the
province of Agusan del Norte in convergence with other regional line agencies
(RLAs) in Caraga Region.
The MOA signing is an offshoot of the reported
incident of child laborers in Brgy. Bagang, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte labeled
as “Batang Kalabaw” characterized by a child or children who pulls or drags cut
logs to a designated place where it is hauled or loaded to a truck.
The cut logs are dragged or pulled by strapping
the end of a rope around the body of the child with the other end of the rope
strapped around the log, a worse form of child labor.
Ten identified “Batang Kalabaws” in Brgy. Bagan
received educational supplies on July 24 at Brgy. Baleguian, Jabonga, Agusan
del Norte.
Famacion said that the prevalence of illegal
logging in the region, notably in the province of Agusan del Norte where the
hasty source of money is the hauling of illegal logs in the area contributes to
the occurrence of pervasive child labor.
“Many children as young as seven years old
regardless of gender were victims of this cruel activity and this will
exacerbate the incidence of illiteracy, malnutrition and exploitation among
children,” Famacion said.
“If these children are working and are not given
proper education, they will grow-up to be delinquents and contribute to
societal decay,” she added.
“Thus, there must be a convergence of
initiatives to put a stop to child-labor activities in this region. As part of
DILG’s commitment of promoting good governance in local government units
(LGUs), the department will focus its support through the formulation of
ordinances against child labor in the barangay and the creation and
strengthening of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)
with the primary aim to eliminate child laborers in the barangay as provided in
the MOA,” Famacion said.
DOLE Undersecretary Lourdes M. Transmonte,
Congresswoman Angelica Amante-Matba, International Labor Organization Director
Lawrence Jeff Johnson, and Bureau of Workers in Special Concerns Undersecretary
Chita de Guzman Celendro attended the MOA signing.
The parties to the MOA were the RLAs headed by
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),
Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of
Education (DepEd), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) represented by their Regional
Directors; the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Jabonga represented by Mayor
Glicerio M. Monton; the Provincial LGU of Agusan del Norte represented by
Governor Erlpe John M. Amante; the People’s Management Association of the
Philippines (PMAP); and the Caraga Family Welfare Council Inc. (CFWCI) of
Caraga represented by Tranquilino O. Cordova.
Meanwhile, the parents of the “batang kalabaw”
signed a written agreement, translated into their own dialect, manifesting
their commitment to send their children to school and to never again allow
their children to engage in hazardous child labor. They received five carabaos
from DOLE and another three carabaos from Congresswoman Angelica Amante-Matba
on July 24.
Another set of carabaos is set to be released on
August, five from Governor Erlpe John M. Amante and two from Congresswoman
Angelica Amante-Matba.
The People Management Association of the
Philippines (PMAP) and Caraga Family Welfare Council, Inc. (CFWCI) each
released P5,000 to the children as educational assistance. (NCLM/DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: MalacaΓ±ang mihatag og hugot nga
suporta ngadto sa mga Filipino athletes nga mokompetensya sa 2012 Summer
Olympics didto sa London
By Fryan E. Abkilan
SURIGAO CITY, Hulyo 30 (PIA) -- Mipadayag sa
hugot nga suporta ang MalacaΓ±ang ngadto sa mga Filipinong atleta nga
mokompetensya sa nagkadaiyang mga paugnat sa kusog sa 2012 Summer Olympics
didto sa London.
Sa interbyu sa DzRB Radyo ng Bayan niadtong
Sabado, gipadayag ni Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte ang suporta
sa administrasyong Aquino ngadto sa onse ka mga Filipino athletes nga
makigkompetensya sa nuwebe ka mga nagkalain-laing mga dula didto sa 2012 London
Olympics sugod karong Hulyo 27 ngadto Agosto 12.
“Buo po ang ating suporta sa inyo (Filipino
athletes). Umaasa po tayong magiging maganda ang inyong performance sa
Olympics, diyan po sa palakasang ‘yan. At talagang marami pong nanonood at
marami ang sumusubaybay, at sana po maging maganda talaga ang performance ng
ating mga atleta,” matud ni Valte.
Ang Team Philippines nga mosalmot sa 2012
Olympics mao sila Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting, women’s 58 kg), Jasmine Alkhaldi
(swimming, women’s 100m freestyle), Jessie Lacuna (swimming, men’s 200m
freestyle), Brian Rosario (shooting, Skeet), Tomohiko Hoshina (judo, men’s
+100kg), Daniel Caluag (cycling, men’s BMX), Mark Barriga (men’s boxing, light
flyweight), Marestella Torres (athletics, women’s long jump), Rene Herrera
(athletics, men’s 300m steeplechase), Rachelle Anne Cabral (archery,women’s
individual) ug si Mark Javier (archery, men’s individual).
Ang flagbearer sa delegasyon sa Pilipinas atol
sa opening ceremony mao si Hidilyn Diaz ang 24-anyos nga weightlifter gikan sa
Zamboanga City, nga mosalmot sa ikaduhang higayon sa Olympics Games.
Ang delegasyon sa Pilipinas alang sa maong
Olympiad maoy pinaka gamay nga delegasyon sa kasaysayan sa partisipasyon sa
nasod sa maong quadrennial sporting event sukad niadtong tuig 1932.
Ang Olympic Games gikonsiderear isip maoy
pinakadakong internasyunal nga kalihukan ug world’s foremost sports competition
nga adunay summer ug winter sports diin liboan ka mga atleta gikan sa mokabat
200 ka mga nasod ang mopartisipar sa nagkalain-laing mga sports.
Ang maong Games kasamtangang gipahigayon matag
duha ka tuig, uban ang Summer ug Winter Olympic Games, pasabot kini ipahigayon
matag upat ka tuig sulod sa respective seasonal games niini. (PIA-Surigao del
Norte)
