Kidapawan City and North Cotabato Province

[earlat]

nindot kaayo ang Sarangani.. Tourism destination jud cya sa South Central Mindanao..

[Fahdingding]

Isla Jardin del Mar, Glan’s newest white beach resort opens

Bariles just received an invitation from the owners of Sydney Hotel and Isla Parilla to the “soft opening” of their newest baby – the Isla Jardin Del Mar, a beach resort at Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani Province on Saturday, January 23, 2010.


"THE PICTURE FILE OF THE INVITATION TO THE ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR SOFT OPENING OF JANUARY 23, 2009"

Situated at what was once a secluded cove along the shorelines of Gumasa, right after the property of the Salazars and the Adarna’s, the whole resort occupies a total of 34 hectares, have of which have earmarked for development. Isla Jardin Del Mar which literally means “Island Garden of the Sea” in Spanish is managed by Charlemagne “Wanchin” Tan-Delfino. She gushes about how the provincial Governor Migs Dominguez and Glan Municipality Mayor Yoyong Yap were instrumental in the resort’s development with their provision for a road to be built from the highway to the beach. Why that name? Because if viewed from the air, Isla Jardin del Mar looks like a “peninsula connected to a small island… with the cottages and a restaurant floating over two separate white sand bars.”, according to the Sarangani Provincial Office P.R. The P.R. continues: “The pinkish white shoreline stretches and curves 750 meters, which gives one an impression that the beachfront is part of a small island”.



Each available airconditioned bamboo cottage with terrace and private bathroom may be rented out for P2,000 per day and is inclusive of free breakfast for two. Ten more fan-equipped cottages are cheaper at P1,500 and is good for four people. There is also a line of open cottages for those who don’t plan to stay overnite.

There is a lagoon at the other side of the road and a fish pond is being readied for fishing hobbyists. Mountain trek activities have been arranged for would-be nature enthusiasts and the views from the hills which serve as boundaries for the property should delight everyone. Just at the other side of the road is a lagoon.

“There will be crabs and a fish pond in the future so we can do fishing,” Delfino disclosed. It is a breathtaking view of a small lake and the Sarangani Bay atop the hills which serve as the boundaries for Isla Jardin Del Mar. At the beach there is a coral garden about 25 meters from the shoreline which can be enjoyed by snorkelers and divers due to this thriving school of colorful coral fish.

Watch out for a follow up article on Isla jardin del Mar, this time with more pictures. Bariles and his friends will be at the opening where a Beach Volleyball competition and an SMB Beach Party with live band await them. Yey!

[michael_ray]

Maayong Gabii Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat! Yours truly and @BarPa of Davao City have started our campaign of creating SSC MINDANAO. The primary aim of this campaign is to build camaraderie, harmony, and unify all members of Skyscrapercity Mindanao which includes all cities, provinces, and region. I am sure many of you are aware of CVCs especially between CdeO and Davao. We want to end this and transform skyscrapercity as a venue for brotherhood. Will this really work? As long as we have the support of the majority then we will consider this campaign a success. We will then have rules where everybody's voice will be heard. Let us no longer tolerate conflicts. How? Do not reinforce the negative comment posted by one member. Instead, immediately remind him to be tact and calm. Let us immediately kill the fire if we can sense that it's already there.

Please support us by putting your city and your name in the list. To all those who have already supported this campaign DAGHANG SALAMAT. To all those who have shown their interest, we truly appreciate your kind gesture. Please support this campaign by putting your city and your name in the list. Thank you and GOD bless us all.

This is the list of our supporters as of January 27, 2010 (20:28).

SSC Mindanao supporters from CdeO:
1. Michael_Ray
2. Adeuksom
3. regjeex
4. dark_knight_detective

SSC Mindanao supporters from Davao

1. BarPa

[hakz2007]

N. Cotabato Provincial hospital to receive funding, facilities

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato, Feb. 16 (PNA) - With additional funding from the Department of Health and congressional funds, the North Cotabato provincial hospital is expected to have face-lift and improved hospital services, Rep. Bernardo Pinol (2nd district, North Cotabato) on Monday said.

Pinol was pushing for the conversion of the provincial hospital into a regional hospital, but his proposal remained pending before the House Committee on Health.

Pinol was able to secure P72 million additional funds for the improvement of the Cotabato Provincial Hospital.

He said P54 million was allocated for the construction of additional hospital rooms while P18 million will be utilized in the purchase of sophisticated hospital equipment, including a platelet separator.

Speaking during his radio program, Pinol said another P15 million has been secured for the improvement of the Mlang District Hospital in the town of Mlang, North Cotabato.

Pinol said the amount will be taken from the budget of the Department of Health for 2009.

“With these developments, I am very optimistic that we can improve the delivery of health services in the 2nd district,” Pinol said.

Earlier, South Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Arthur Pingoy, chairman of the House Committee on Health, told Pinol during their meeting that the conversion of CPH into a regional hospital is not possible at this time.

Pingoy said the DOH has not yet conferred full recognition of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Cotabato City as official medical center in Region 12.

He said DOH only allows one regional hospital per region thus Pinol’s proposal remains pending before the committee.

Pinol posed no objection to the move of Pingoy’s committee but said he expects that his proposal will be given priority in the committee’s succeeding meetings. (PNA)

[hakz2007]

Sarangani gov backs greater private sector investment in tourism

Koronadal City (22 February) -- For tourism industry to be a viable business and a sustainable venture, a larger part of the investment should come from the private sector, says Governor Miguel Rene Dominguez of Sarangani.

Gov. Dominguez, in his message during the fourth leg of Eco-Mismo: The Philippine Conference on Eco-Tourism and Eco-Productivity in this city on Saturday said, "Our formula in Sarangani, hindi po dapat ang gobyerno lamang ang mamumuhunan at magplano para sa isang industriya na ang makikinabang ay hindi lang ang gobyerno kundi tayong lahat."

"Six years ago, when Sarangani was created out of South Cotabato? Sarangani does not have tourism activity," Dominguez said.

It is now one of the major destinations in the region, taking pride in its pristine beaches, diving sites, water tubing adventures, and festivals to name a few. (PIA)

[hakz2007]

Daily rotational brownouts in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat extend to 5 hours
By Allen V. Estabillo

KORONADAL CITY, Feb. 24 (PNA) – The daily rotational brownouts here and the neighboring areas rose to at least five hours Wednesday following another cutback in power supplies implemented by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Engr. Santiago Tudio, general manager of the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Socoteco)-I, said they were forced to extend the scheduled daily brownouts to five hours from the previous four hours implemented last Tuesday after the NGCP further reduced its power load for the South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat service areas.

“NGCP relayed to us on Tuesday evening another change in its allotted power and it resulted to a daily brownout of at least five hours based on the computations from our engineering department,” an advisory from Socoteco’s member services division said.

Socoteco-I serves the municipalities of Tampakan, Tantangan, Surallah, Banga, Norala, Sto. Nino, T’boli Lake Sebu and the city of Koronadal in South Cotabato as well as the municipality of Lutayan in Sultan Kudarat.

The electric cooperative implemented power supply cut to its area feeders beginning Wednesday morning in two rotations at two hours and 30 minutes each.

The five-hour brownout is so far the worst since the NGCP implemented its load shedding scheme in central and southern Mindanao last November.

In late January, local power utility firms started imposing daily rotational brownouts of at least two hours and it increased to three hours by the second week of this month.

In an advisory, the NGCP said the Mindanao grid still has limited power supply due to generation deficiency triggered by the decreasing water levels of the Pulangi River in Bukidnon and the Lake Lanao-Agus River System in Lanao del Sur.

It said the reduction to critical low levels of the two water resources, which hosts the National Power Corporation’s (NAPOCOR) main hydroelectric plants, was mainly caused by the continuing onslaught of the long dry spell or El Niño Phenomenon.

“Due to very low water inflow to the power plants' reservoirs, the capabilities of Agus plants were reduced by 50 percent. Pulangi plant's capability was reduced by as much as 75 percent,” the advisory said.

As of February 24, the NGCP reported that the existing power resources in Mindanao only has an available capacity of 863 megawatts (MW), dropping by more than 200 MW since last week.

With Mindanao grid’s peak load leveling at 1,220 MW, the NGCP said the island’s power deficiency has far at least 357 MW. (PNA)

[hakz2007]

For hosting geothermal plant, Kidapawan demands 'special treatment' from NGCP

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) -- For hosting one of the biggest geothermal plants in the country, the city government here is demanding a ‘preferential’ treatment from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)

Vice Mayor Joseph Evangelista, chair of the Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Kidapawan, said that as host of the Mount Apo geothermal power plant, the city deserves a ‘special’ treatment from the NGCP.

By special treatment, Evangelista meant that the city be spared from long hours of blackouts as a result of the load shedding that the NGCP has been implementing since February 1 when the generation deficiency of the Mindanao power grid continues to decline due to the dry spell.

“It’s an irony that we are suffering so much from the series of blackouts while it’s true that we host one of the country’s biggest geothermal power plants. We will not just ask but demand from the NGCP that we be given special or preferential treatment. I believe we deserve that,” said Evangelista.

According to him, the city government is bent on pursuing the case it filed in 2009 against the NGCP for violating the memorandum of agreement (MOA) it signed in early 1990s when the geothermal power project was still being discussed.

Evangelista clarified that contrary to reports, the city government is not ‘dumping’ the case against the NGCP. “It’s just that the case is still being tried in court here. We have not heard of it after we filed the case in 2009,” he said.

In 1994, the NGCP inked an agreement with the then Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), the Cotabato Provincial Government, and the City Government of Kidapawan where it said the province would be given a separate or direct line from the geothermal plant.

Evangelista, then mayor of the city, was one of the signatories.

The city, since the NGCP started to shed load from the Mindanao power grid, is experiencing an eight-hour blackout daily. Power is shut off from 4 a.m. up to 6 a.m.; from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“The long blackouts are hurting us, the city’s economy in particular. We can’t afford to see our businesses here suffer so much from these blackouts,” he said. (PNA)

[Blueleo]

Small business players mull closing shops
Saturday, February 27, 2010
By Bong S. Sarmiento

KORONADAL CITY -- Several business owners in South Cotabato are now considering closing shops temporarily due to prolonged rotating brownouts prevailing in the area, a business chamber official said Friday.

Carlito Y. Uy, president of South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc., said the worsening power situation caused losses to electricity-dependent small business establishments.

"They're thinking of closing shops until the power situation returns to normal," he noted.

Among the sectors reeling from the rotational power outages are internet cafes, service and machine shops, and fresh food producers, Uy said.

The province experienced a near-straight 10-hour power interruption on Wednesday, a big leap from the one-to-two hours rotational brownouts previously implemented in the area.

An advisory from the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative I said that power rationing would be cut daily by six hours in one service area -- in twice basis interruptions starting Friday, until the supply improves.

The National Grip Corp of the Philippines, the private operator of the country's transmission network, has placed Mindanao in a red alert status due to the declining power production in the island.

As of Friday, Mindanao has available capacity of 900 megawatts (MW) against peak load of 1,210 MW, or a deficit of 310 MW.

Power generation in southern Philippines has been in the declining mode due to low water inflow to the Agus and Pulangi plants. More than half of Mindanao's power requirement comes from hydropower plants.

The El Nino climatic condition has been blamed for the low water inflow.

[Fahdingding]

Construction of $450-M coal-fired power plant in Sarangani postponed
by MindaNews
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 20:27



GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/02 March) — Delays in the finalization of the contract has caused the postponement next month of the construction of the Alcantara-led 200-mewagatt coal fired power project in nearby Maasim, Sarangani, a senior company official today said.

Conal Holdings Corp., proponent of the $450 million coal power plant in Barangay Kamanga, had planned to begin construction of the plant within the first quarter of this year.
“The implementation of the [coal-fired power plant] project will officially be launched in the beginning of April,” said Joseph C. Nocos, Conal Holdings vice president.

Nocos told MindaNews the company is presently in the process of finalizing negotiations with the prospective contractors, which he declined to name.

Asked whether Conal has inked an agreement with investors to help push the project, he replied that “an announcement will be made in due course.”

Nocos also said they were not keen on asking the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to bankroll the project, following a report that Conal Holdings and bank officials had a recent meeting in Maasim town.

He said that the company was not in discussions with the ADB for financing. The ADB has been financing power generation projects, such as the $135-million loan for a coal-fired power plant project in the People’s Republic of China.

Nocos said Conal Holdings’ power plant will be built in two 100-MW phases, at an interval of one year, which will improve supply in the Mindanao grid.

It is expected to go on commercial stream two to three years from now.

Since last month, Mindanao has been experiencing daily rotational power interruptions due to the declining generation capacities of the Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants.

Low water level inflow due to the El Nino weather phenomenon has diminished the production capacities of these hydropower plants, which provide more than half of Mindanao’s power supply.

Nocos said their coal-fired power plant project will be the “most economic and quickest solution to the need for a non-hydro baseload power station in the Mindanao grid.”

It will help reduce the island’s dependence on hydro resources which are vulnerable to the vagaries of the weather, he added.

Conal Holdings is 60% controlled by Alsons Corp. The rest is held by the Electricity Generating Public Company, Thailand's biggest power producer.

The local Catholic Church and various environmental groups have been opposing the coal-fired plant project of Conal Holdings, which will rise near a world-class diving spot in Maasim town, on concerns over its impact on human health and the environment.

Even with the power shortage Mindanao has been experiencing, Fr. Romeo Q. Catedral, social action director of the Diocese of Marbel, nixed anew the coal-fired power project.

The priest has urged the company to embark on renewable energy sources. (MindaNews

[hakz2007]

Smart partners agro-forestry project with Sarangani

Alabel, Sarangani (2 March) -- The Smart Communications, Incorporated (SMART) Public Affairs Department in Mindanao has provided 10,000 rubber hills and other provisions for its reforestation project in Sarangani.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) head Noel Cariño noted the project contributes significantly to the province's own reforestation project.

"At first, Smart made a pledge of commitment with the province in 2006 for the mangrove reforestation in Maitum and Alabel," Cariño said. Smart provided mangrove propagules for the 6-hectare planting site in Maitum.

Smart has a total of 500 hectares for its reforestation project in Sarangani while the province has 2,200 hectares for its upland reforestation project.

Cariño said his office will employ agro-forestry technology for sustainable upland management and contour farming.

"This will include planting of fruit trees and cash crops which we plan to ask assistance from the other departments like the office of the agriculturist," Cariño said.

"It's an environmental program which is part of our corporate social responsibility," Smart-Mindanao public affairs officer Haydee Bernabe said.

"In Sarangani, we chose rubber and coffee plantation to provide livelihood for the community. These fruit trees bear fruits faster and can be managed more easily."

Smart purchased more than 200 kilos of coffee or 750,000 seedlings for propagation from Nestle Philippines. In a hectare of land, 20 hills of rubber can be planted.

Smart also provided 10,000 6'x8' cellophanes for planting hills.

"Our main job is to strengthen the communities by providing them technical trainings in order to sustain the project," Cariño said.

Barangays to receive Smart's reforestation project are New Aklan in Glan, Alegria in Alabel, barangays Lun Masla and Patag in Malapatan, and Falel in Kiamba.

The project includes a tree-planting site in Bagacay, Alabel to develop the town's Septage Treatment Facility into an eco-park.

PENRO also helped Conal Holdings Corporation's reforestation of 7,500 hectares focused on the MAKIMA (Maasim-Kiamba-Maitum) Industrial Triangle as "carbon sequestration" project for its 200 megawatt power generation plant in Maasim. (PIOSaragani/PIA SarGen)

[hakz2007]

Electric coop in North Cotabato defies NGCP load shedding order

Koronadal City (2 March) -- In an emergency meeting yesterday, the board oif directors of the Cotabato Electric Cooperative (Cotelco) has decided to disregard orders from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) for load shedding in its area of responsibility.

Cotelco's BOD reasoned that it is irrational for North Cotabato to experience power outages despite the fact that two of the country's largest geothermal power plants are located in Mt. Apo in Kidapawan City, this province.

This decision came after the request of the electric cooperative to be given preferential or special treatment with regards to the ongoing power curtailment.

Cotelco Board Member Rodolfo Cabiles Jr. said, "Cotelco will not shut off its sub-stations. We will leave it to NGCP to cut off power to our lines."

"Bahala ang NGCP mag-cut off sa ating linya, kung gugustuhin nila," Cabiles stressed.

The decision was made effective after the board's 12:00 to 1:00 pm meeting with members of the media yesterday.

He explained that the failure on the part of NGCP to provide separate and dedicated line from the geothermal plants for Cotelco constitutes a breach to the memorandum of agreement signed between the Government of Cotabato, National Power Corporation (Napocor), and the Philippine National Oil Corporation (PNOC).

The MOA was signed in 1994, four years before the actual operation of the geothermal plants in Mt. Apo.

Also, the board of directors and staff of the cooperative plan to visit Lake Lanao and Pulangi dam to confirm the conditions of the hydroelectric power plants. (PIA 12)

[hakz2007]

Sarangani gov relieves warden, 5 jail guards over escape of MILF leader

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 5 (PNA) -– Sarangani Gov. Miguel Dominguez ordered the relief Friday of the jail warden and duty guards of the Sarangani provincial jail in connection with the escape early Thursday of an alleged field commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who was tagged as behind the series of attacks in Maasim town in 2008.

Dominguez said he relieved jail warden Renato Purisima and five of his men pending the ongoing investigation on the escape of suspect Muhammad Jafar Maguid alias Tikboy Maguid from the provincial jail in Barangay Baluntay in Alabel town around dawn Thursday.

The relieved jail guards, who were listed as on duty along with warden Purisima at the time of the jailbreak, were identified as Cesar Abton, Benjamin Tondog Jr., Ragie Bogador, Venancio Mandi and Frederick Tanedo.

“We’re trying to establish whether this was a case of an inside job or he escaped just by his own,” the governor said.

Aside from the relief of the six jail personnel, Dominguez said they have put up a P100,000 reward for any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect, who was considered a “high risk” prisoner.

A report released by the Sarangani provincial jail management said Maguid escaped from the jail’s cell number 4 between 12 midnight Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday by sawing off one of the steel bars protecting its windows.

Maguid reportedly took of his personal belongings during his escape, which was confirmed at around 5:30 a.m. by one of the 16 other inmates confined at the cell.

Maguid had been charged with murder, destructive arson, robbery with violence against or intimidation of person for the August 18, 2008 attack by suspected rogue MILF members on the Maasim municipal police station and the town’s public market that resulted to the killing of two civilians.

His group was also blamed for the twin grenade attacks infront of the Maasim municipal hall on the eve of its foundation anniversary celebration on June 20, 2009.

The suspect was arrested on July 30 last year in a raid by joint police and military personnel at his alleged hideout in barangay Daliao in Maasim town and was moved to the provincial jail on August 3.

Senior Supt. Restituto Gatera, Sarangani police director, said they have launched a region-wide manhunt against the suspect, who supposedly admitted during previous inquiries of being a member of the MILF’s 105th base command.

“We’ve dispatched some of our personnel to determine the possible areas that he might have gone after the escape,” he said.

Gatera said they already alerted other police units in the region for the possible presence of Maguid and distributed his photographs to police and other law enforcement agencies in the area to help properly identify the suspect. (PNA)

[hakz2007]

Fire razes Kidapawan City mall

COTABATO CITY, March 8 (PNA) -- A fire of still unknown origin destroyed the two-story KMCC Mall in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato Monday morning.

Initial reports from radio DXMY here said the fire started at around 8:35 a.m. at a neighboring hardware store and quickly spread to the mall and a local bank.

Loud explosions were heard from inside the mall amid the ongoing blaze, the reports said.

Fire trucks from various parts of the province rushed to the area to help contain the fire.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the incident. (PNA)

[hakz2007]

Sultan Kudarat bets to sign peace covenant to ensure HOPE

COTABATO CITY, March 8 (PNA) - To ensure honest, orderly, and peaceful elections, local candidates in Sultan Kudarat will commit not to use violence, intimidation and electoral fraud by signing a peace covenant for the purpose.

Lawyer Ken Laguialam, Sultan Kudarat election supervisor, said a covenant signing initiated by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), police and military and other stakeholders for the May 10 elections will be held in Koronadal City on Tuesday.

Laguialam explained that neaby Koronadal City was chosen as venue because it was "neutral."

While Sultan Kudarat is not traditionally violent during elections, Laguialam said a peace covenant is still needed to ensure the balloting would be peaceful.

"Sultan Kudarat is not politically hot spot but peace covenant signing is till important because it will help the outcome to become more credible," Laguialam said.

Sultan Kudarat has one city, 11 municipalities, 249 barangyas, 2,513 precincts with a total of 383,264 registered voters.

Those running for the governor are Efrain Defino (Ind), Rodolfo Villaceran Estorque (Ind), Suharto Tan Mangudadatu (Lakas), and Carlos Valdez Jr.

Ernesto Matias Fontanilla is running unopposed as provincial vice governor.

Those seeking for the first congressional seats are reelectionist Pakung Mangudadatu (Lakas) and Radin Camlian Sakaluran (Ind).

For the second congressional seat, the candidates are Reynaldo Arguelles (Ind), Roberto Examen (Ind), Arnulfo Go (Lakas), Nesthur Gumana (Ind) and Jacqueline Talmadge (Ind).

Fourteen candidates are seeking to become board members in Sultan Kudarat’s two congressional districts. (PNA)

[hakz2007]

Sarangani mulls declaration of state of calamity due to El Niño

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 9 (PNA) – Sarangani officials are pushing for the immediate declaration of the entire province under the state of calamity due to the continuing onslaught of the long dry spell or El Niño phenomenon that already destroyed some P28 million worth of agricultural crops in the area.

Sarangani Vice Gov. Steve Solon said Tuesday members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan have started discussions during its regular session on Monday regarding the possibility of declaring a state of calamity in the province due to the El Niño, which already affected four of its seven municipalities.

He said the move was based on a recommendation for a calamity declaration submitted by its Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC).

“We’re now studying the PDCC’s proposal and also started gathering the necessary data from the field to determine the extent of the damage wrought by the El Niño,” Solon said.

Solon assured that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is ready to make a calamity declaration if it later finds necessary to do so.

Hermelo Latoja, PDCC action officer, said the latest assessment made by the PDCC and the province’s Task Force El Niño showed that the dry spell already affected palay and corn farmlands in Alabel, Maasim, Malapatan and Malungon municipalities.

He said the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG) reported an initial crop damage of P18.88 million for corn and P8.78 million for palay.

“Right now, around 46 percent of the 70,000 families in the province were already affected by the adverse effects of the El Niño,” Latoja said. He said the sectors that were so far hit hardest by the drought were the farming and municipal fishing sectors.

On Tuesday, the OPAG dispatched its personnel to the areas that were affected by the ongoing drought to consolidate the extent of the damage to agricultural crops and livestock.

Provincial Agriculturist Jonathan Duhaylungsod and other members of the Task Force El Niño also made rounds with officials of the affected local governments to work out the immediate declaration of their areas under the state of calamity.

Under the Local Government Code, local government units are authorized to declare a state of calamity to allow the utilization of its calamity fund, which comprise five percent of their annual budget.

A province may be placed under the state of calamity if at least three of its municipalities were already affected by a calamity and have officially made such declaration. (PNA)

[hakz2007]

US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bassett inaugurates new school in Sarangani

MALAPATAN, Sarangani—A two-classroom building worth P700,000 was inaugurated in barangay Tuyan here Monday, with a top US Embassy official in attendance.

The building was donated by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Petron Foundation, and officially turned over by US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Leslie Bassett, said Rustom Pelima, provincial information officer of Sarangani province, on Monday.

Bassett said in a statement recorded by Pelima, “We have to pick the schools that have the support of everybody, including local government officials like the barangay captains, schools that have wonderful teachers to work extra hard with pupils to try to improve education.”

Bassett was with her staff, including USAID Director Elzadia Washington, who turned over to the school books from USAID’s Education Quality Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQUALLS2) project.

The Sarangani provincial government has opened 18 new integrated schools in its remotest barangays where education is one of the centerpiece programs under Gov. Miguel Rene “Migs” Dominguez.

Tuyan Elementary School in barangay Tuyan here is the only school of peace in Sarangani being recognized by the United Nations.

“This is because we have the cooperation of the community as we integrate the concept of peace in our curriculum which our faculty members learned from the province-wide Culture of Peace trainings,” said Edgar Egano, school principal.

Petron Foundation executive director Malu Erni said Sarangani has constructed various school buildings  in the province. Erni said of these, Petron assisted in the construction of 120 new school buildings. Erni said Petron Foundation still has 480 school buildings up for construction under their education program.

“Petron fuels the HOPE program. HOPE stands for Helping Filipinos Overcome Poverty through Education,” Erni said.

Also thanking the donors was Department of Education regional director Isabelita Borres.

“We promise to use our new school building and all its facilities wisely,” Ayesha Harid, a Grade V pupil, said.

[hakz2007]

PPA earmarks P75M more for expansion of Sarangani port

GLAN, Sarangani, March 19 (PNA) – The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has earmarked an additional P75 million for the proposed expansion and upgrading of the terminal port here within the next two years.

Engr. Francisco Belimac Jr., PPA district manager, said the funds would be used to improve the existing facilities of the Glan port in the wake of the foreseen surge in trade activities between the area and nearby North Sulawesi province in Indonesia.

“We’ll be expanding the wharf area and construct additional facilities to help accommodate bigger ships (from Indonesia),” he said.

On Thursday, a delegation from Tahuna Regency in North Sulawesi arrived at the port here for a three-day trade mission in Sarangani province and areas covered by the emerging Jose Abad Santos, Glan, Sarangani-Cooperation Triangle (JAGS-CT).

JAGS-CT refers to the trade cooperation earlier forged by the municipalities of Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani in Davao del Sur and Glan in Sarangani.

The arrival of the 164-man delegation, which is specifically looking to expand trade and cultural ties with JAGS-CT, was personally graced by President Gloria Macapal-Arroyo during a brief swing in the area Thursday.

Belimac said the Glan port expansion project covers the construction of additional 30 meters of the existing wharf area that is worth P35 million, the construction of the P16 million roll-on, roll-off or RoRo ramp and the repair of its existing rock causeway worth at least P24 million.

He said the extension of the wharf area will complete its expansion by at least 35 meters, which would reportedly be enough to allow standard cargo and passenger vessels to make their call at the port.

He said the repair of the port’s rock causeway will focus on its expansion into a two-way lane to help ease the movement of cargo trucks to and from the wharf area.

Belimac said the construction of the RoRo ramp will mainly complement the earlier completion of the RoRo terminal port at Mabila port in Sarangani town in Davao del Sur.

He said both Mabila and Glan Roro port facilities were being developed for the proposed opening of the RoRo route between the area and Tahuna Regency.

“We’re now developing the RoRo route within the JAGS-CT area, which would later expand towards North Sulawesi and hopefully the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area),” Belimac said.

The visit of the Tahuna delegation was an offshoot of a request made earlier this year by the local government of Tahuna to the Indonesian Consulate to further strengthen its bilateral initiatives with the JAGS-CT.

The areas of cooperation between JAGS-CT and Tahuna include education and training, socio cultural development, tourism promotion, fisheries, marine resources development, and trade and commerce. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...d=2&rid=265389

[Fahdingding]

Summer Rate Promos at Isla Jardin del Mar

Gumasa,Glan,Sarangani Province, The cold month of February has just left us but it seems that summer is already here much, much earlier courtesy of the El Nino Phenomenon. The series of daily brownouts that ensued has made matters worse for everyone, disrupting work schedules, bedtime habits and sleeping hours due to the sweltering heat and humidity, especially in this city of what was once the barren lands of dusty Rajah Buayan.

It seems that all everyone wants to do right now is to hie off to the nearest beach getaway in GenSan or nearby Sarangani Bay or fresh water pool resort to escape from all these.

The good news is one such resort has come up with their Summer Weekdays Escapade Promotions in time for the long hot Summer break.

Friends, below is Isla Jardin Del Mar Resort’s Summer Weekdays Escapade Promo which have been adjusted to accommodate more barkadas and families looking for the perfect and affordable getaways.



Isla Jardin del Mar, located at Gumasa, Glan, Sarangani opened less than three months ago in a star-studded affair and has lowered their rates for beachgoers and vacationists who hate the usually crowded weekends and go for the more peaceful weekdays at the beach.



The Isla Jardin del Mar Weekdays Escapade Promo is valid only from Mondays to Thursdays and runs from Marh 8, 2010 to June 30, 2010. Please read the mechanics of the two packages they are offering in the poster above. They have separate packages for DAY TOURS and OVERNITE STAYS plus separate fees for their OPEN and CLOSE COTTAGES.



"THE TWO ROWS OF OPEN COTTAGES OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR RESORT LOCATED AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BEACH"



"SOME OF THE 10+ OVERNIGHT COTTAGES OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR RESORT FOUND AT THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BEACH FRONTAGE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER FANS OR AIRCONDITIONING. EACH COTTAGE HAS TWO ROOMS WITH DOUBLE-DECKED BEDS."

Here are some of the pictures we took during our visit there at the Inauguration, courtesy of Manager Wanchin Tan-Delfino.



"THE NORTH SIDE BEACH OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR"



"BEACH VOLLEYBALL IS JUST ONE OF GAMES ONE CAN PLAY AT ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR"



"A JET SKI COULD BE RENTED WHILE AT ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR RESORT. AN INSTRUCTOR WILL BE ON STAND BY TO ASSIST YOU"



"THE LARGE LAGOON BEHIND THE OVERNIGHT COTTAGES. IT COULD ALSO BE SEEN FROM THE HILLSIDE ROAD LEADING TO ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR'S MAIN ENTRANCE."



"THE CLUBHOUSE BESIDE THE ENTRANCE OF THE RESORT SERVES AS THE MAIN RESTAURANT/CANTEEN OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR."



"THE CONCRETE ROAD BEHIND THE OVERNIGHT COTTAGES."



"SOME PICNICKERS ENJOY THE SHADE OF THE TALISAY AND COCONUT TREES AT THE BEACH:



"THE ENTRANCE OF ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR AFTER NEGOTIATING A ROAD CARVED OUT FROM THE HILLS OF GUMASA GLAN COURTESY OF THE PROVINCIAL GOVT OF SARANGANI. THAT'S THE BUS WHICH OFFERS FREE RIDES TO PICNICKERS."



"BARILES IN A SOUVENIR SHOT WITH (L-R) BING & ARMI ROYECA; ISLA JARDIN DEL MAR MANAGER WANCHIN TAN-DELFINO; BLOGGERS JINKY BORELA; MANDI NICOLAS (GENSAN GAZER); LYLE SANTOS, ORMAN MANANSALA; RIC DUMALAY DURING THE OPENING OF THE NEW TOURIST DESTINATION."

[hakz2007]

Pacquiao mounts aggressive campaign for his Sarangani congressional bid

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, March 24 (PNA) –- World boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao will temporarily set aside his recent ring exploits once he arrives here on Friday as he takes on another shot for a congressional post through the lone district of Sarangani province in the upcoming May 10 synchronized national and local elections.

Dominico Congson, chair of Pacquiao’s political party People’s Champ Movement (PCM) here, confirmed Wednesday that Pacquiao will immediately join the campaign trail once he arrives via the city airport here on Friday, which is also the start of the official campaign period for local candidates.

“We were advised that he (Pacquiao) will forego with the usual grand arrival activities here to give more focus to his campaign,” he said.

The city government here usually organizes a grand hero’s welcome for Pacquiao’s homecoming following his successful fights abroad.

After demolishing Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto in an exciting fight last November, city folks gave Pacquiao a rousing welcome through a motorcade around the city proper and a public press conference at the oval plaza gymnasium here.

Pacquiao, currently the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, successfully defended his crown last March 13 in a clinical 12-round domination of former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana.

Congson said Pacquiao, who is facing businessman Roy Chiongbian in his bid for Sarangani’s lone congressional seat, will proceed to the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani to join the launching of PCM’s campaign bandwagon.

He said the opening salvo of Pacquiao’s planned aggressive campaigning will be personally graced by Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Manuel Villar and other national candidates.

Pacquiao’s PCM forged an alliance with Villar’s NP last December in a bid to propel the boxing champion’s second attempt for a seat at the House of Representatives in the coming May elections.

In the 2007 elections, Pacquiao lost his bid for the first congressional district seat of South Cotabato to incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

He has since changed his official residence from this city to Kiamba town in Sarangani province, where his wife Jinkee hails, and registered PCM as a local political party as part of his political plans.

Ernesto Quisay, chief of staff of City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr., said they already anticipated such decision but cited that they have yet to get official word on the matter from the Pacquiao camp.

He said the local government will proceed with their usual preparations for Pacquiao’s scheduled homecoming on Friday for possible last-minute changes on the latter’s plans. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...=13&rid=266090

[hakz2007]

11 rebel returnees in Sarangani receive cash aid

DAVAO CITY, March 28 (PNA) -- Eleven rebel returnees in Sarangani formally received initial cash assistance under the government's social integration program during a simple ceremonies over the weekend at the provincial capitol of Sarangani Province.

Second Lt. Angela Friga Cinco of the civil-military operations of the 73rd Infantry Battalion based in Sarangani Province said the surrenderees came from various areas of the province also yielded their firearms after learning the opportunity offered by the government for them to return to the folds of the law and live normal lives with their respective families.

She said the 11 returnees underwent a 5-day values formation and reorientation seminar designed by Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process as part of a process to reintegrate them into the mainstream society and start a new life.

“The awarding of economic package has restored hope to the former rebels whose life was ruined by Communists teachings,” Cinco said.

Dante Tiwado, alias Garry, 19 years old, the youngest among the rebel returnees, voluntarily surrendered to 73rd Infantry Battalion on Aug 04, 2009 bringing along with him an Armalite (M16) rifle with two magazines and one rifle grenade. According to him, the rifle was trusted to him by NPA leader named Kumander Brigol.

He turned himself in for he can no longer bear the difficulties of constantly running away and playing hide and seek with authorities.

Lt. Colonel Edgardo de Leon, commanding officer of the 73rd IB called on the rebels to follow the cue from their former comrades who are now on the side of the government.

He assured the sincerity of the government for them to be given a second chance in life.

“The government is sincere in its offer of economic assistance to rebels who will voluntarily surrender with their firearms. We are calling upon the colleagues of Garry to follow and take this opportunity to have a new life of a free man”, de Leon said. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=...d=2&rid=266873