Environment officials push for effective management of Ligawasan Marsh
Koronadal City (DENR XII/PIA SarGen) -- Officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region XII and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are bent on pushing for the effective management of Ligawasan Marsh.
This developed as the DENR XII hosted the Management Effectiveness Assessment and Midterm Planning for projects funded by a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) on July 7-8, 2010 in Phela Grande Hotel in General Santos City.
DENR Region XII Executive Director Raquil-Ali M. Lucman extended his warm welcome to the participants, even citing their important role in biodiversity conservation and uplifting the socio-economic condition of the people. In attendance were GEF project implementers from the five regions of the country including observers from the Mindanao River Basin Rehabilitation and Development Project.
In his message read by Director Romeo Manzan of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau, DENR-ARMM Regional Secretary Usman T. Sarangani, Sr. called on the participants to protect the country's largest freshwater wetland. "My dear friends and colleagues, we stand together by working hard for our common good. We still have a big room for improvement; it is not too late. With the presence and support of the technical men and women around, we can be assured that our resources will be used wisely," Sarangani said.
On hand to extend their support were officials from the DENR Central Office and the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) in Quezon City. Also present was Honorable Mayor Datu Alandatu Angas of the Munipality of Sultan sa Barongis, Maguindanao. Angas sits as a member of the Ligawasan Marsh Wetland Management Council, a policy-making body composed of local chief executives in the area.
US Undersecretary visits Cotabato, leads in turnover of JEEP materials to government school
COTABATO CITY, July 21 (PNA)-- US Undersecretary for Political Affairs William J. Burns on Wednesday led the turnover ceremonies of 41 computer sets and software drives to students enrolled under the USAID – Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Job Enabling English Proficiency (JEEP) Project at the government-ran Cotabato City State Polytechnic College (CCSPC) here.
The CCSPC is the latest school to embark on the program that aims to improve the employability of their graduates at key industries in the West.
‘The JEEP Program strengthens the spirit of the US and Philippines to push for education as means to improve the peace and development needs of your country,” the US official said in his speech delivered at the jam-packed CCSPC gymnasium here.
“Never forget that your future is yours to shape,” he told students who joined in welcoming him at the school.
Together with Burns in his visit here were USAID Acting Mission Director Elzadia Washington and US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Leslie A. Bassett.
Specifically, the program was designed to equip students of partner colleges and universities with the English language skills needed for gainful employment in sectors such as business process outsourcing (BPO), travel and tourism, maritime services, among others.
JEEP comprises two sets of courses offered to qualified college students.
Soldiers in Sarangani trained to fight and to care
Maasim, Sarangani (PIO Sarangani/PIA SarGen) -- At the 22nd Founding Anniversary celebration of Philippine Army's 73rd "Neutralizer" Infantry Battalion Friday (July 16), peace partners and local officials disclosed deep appreciation of the soldiers' effort to relive peace in the communities.
"This is the first time I attended a celebration where there's so much pride," Governor Migs Dominguez said.
"You have successfully embodied what we want in each and every soldier, by coming with solutions to conflicts in our communities which clearly shows that we care. This is the kind of patriotism that will carry our country to excellence," the governor added.
The battalion under commanding officer Lt. Col. Edgardo de Leon opened the celebration with a pass-in-review in the morning to honor guests.
"I am always proud of this unit being exemplars of discipline and patriotism," guest of honor and speaker Major General Carlos Holganza said.
According to Holganza, the 73rd IB is the only battalion facing two fronts - the New Peoples' Army and the secessionists fronts - under their area of operational responsibility "but were able to maintain their position with flexibility and balance".
"We are changing the image of the soldier. We are having a paradigm shift and expanding our role as soldiers. In our context, soldiers are to be respected and not to be feared," Holganza said.
"We are trained to fight and trained to care. It is always important to think about other people."
SoCot mining company aims for zero harm to residents, workplace
DAVAO CITY, July 20 (PNA) -- Sagittarius Mines Inc., (SMI) in Tampakan, South Cotabato is working on a target of “zero harm” for its people and in its workplace.
“Zero harm is our goal,” Danny Acosta, SMI safety training supervisor, said during a security briefing to visiting Davao-based media here recently.
Visitors at SMI’s environ particularly at its Tampakan Project in Tampakan Municipality, South Cotabato is no exception to the culture of safety, which SMI is imposing in its workplace and community.
The visitors are required to follow SMI’s policies to ensure their safety from using the specified visitors’ identification card to wearing the specified clothing and gadgets like hard hats and the like.
“It’s a must to wear ID inside the company for security,” Acosta said.
Acosta said the matters of safety, health, environment, and community, are equally important to production.
He said to achieve SMI’s goal of zero harm in the workplace, every employee is accountable for safety performance.
That’s why SMI’s employees are trained to improve their safety knowledge and skills and make them aware that they have a responsibility to themselves, their family and friends to work and behave safely.
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Maasim, Sarangani (16 July) -- For tribal chieftain Pepito Lanon, having a nearby school where he could send his kids everyday is a blessing after long years of waiting.
Yet, the school built by Conal Holdings Corporation in their nearby village, Langaran, from their own, Tahakayo, is still five kilometers away along tapered roads of Amsipit hills.
On July 14, the Department of Education in Sarangani headed by Schools Division Superintendent Deborah Adrales, Quality Education for Sarangani Today (QUEST), Conal Holdings, with Mahintana Foundation and Alcantara Foundation, opened two primary schools in Langaran and Lebe of barangay Amsipit.
Langaran is a Blaan village 18 kilometers away from the main road to Maasim. The school site, donated by Eyog Malo, is 3,000 feet above sea level and second to Maasim's highest plateau, Datal Basak. Lebe is eight kilometers lower than Langaran.
Adrales told parents the importance of education especially for the future of their children. She said the Department of Education has been fielding more number of teachers for the remote barangays to complement the province's campaign for education.
In partnership with QUEST, 250 more teachers under the Provincial School Board were sent to farthest schools by the DepEd.
QUEST is an education program of Sarangani under the Governor's Office.
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in Electronics by Marcy11, 09-09-10 22:37
