By Jacmen Macatimbol LIGAN CITY (June 30, 2016) – Thursday morning, newly elected legislators has formally sworn to assume office on July 1, 2016. The oath taking was administered by Executive Judge Albert Abragan at the Anahaw Amphitheater, Buhanginan Hill, Pala-o, Iligan City [City Hall]. While elect Mayor Regencia was not present, he has accordingly made his oath of office in the prison facility before the public ceremony; first lady of Iligan City Mrs. Mariza Regencia together with their children received the official pen and signed oath of office document. Despite of his absence in the ceremony, Regencia conveyed his feelings through phone patch and said, he regret not being with the people on this memorable event, he will continue to serve the Iliganon and vowed to strengthen/ improve delivery of basic services. Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz supports the commitment of the Mayor. While he also dismissed the idea about him take a seat as Mayor because of the current situation of Regencia. “There is only one mayor elected and that is Mayor Celso Regencia. To those people who think that because he is in prison, I will sit as Mayor. That will not happen because I have no ambition to replace him,” he said. Vera Cruz appeals to the President [Duterte] to expedite the review of the case of Mayor Regencia because he believed that the accusations are false and been framed since he is a hindrance to the [political opponents] agenda. As a symbol of sincerity, Vera Cruz along with Father Albert Mendez and Councilors had their hair shaven bald in support for the appeal.
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By ICRC News Bureau Manila (ICRC) – To help alleviate the plight of communities affected by the El Niño phenomenon, food rations were distributed to over 29,000 people in two drought-hit municipalities in North Cotabato province in central Mindanao.
In addition to facing the consequences of armed violence that has persisted for decades, thousands of farmers are now also bearing the brunt of drought as their farmlands are getting drier by the day. “The last harvest was very poor for some farmers in North Cotabato; others experienced total crop failure. They have had difficulties coping, especially as they live in interior and upland villages,” said Dominic Earnshaw, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Cotabato City. “By providing food to the affected families, we aim to help them save their seeds for the next planting season,” he explained. From 26-30 April, the ICRC, together with the Philippine Red Cross, provided food to farming families from 15 far-flung villages in President Roxas and Magpet municipalities of North Cotabato. The food rations – covering a family’s needs for one month – consisted of 25 kilograms of rice, 24 tins of sardines, 2 liters of cooking oil, 2 liters of soy sauce, 2 kilograms of sugar and 1 kilogram of salt, as well as basic hygiene items. “We have experienced drought in the past, but what is happening now is the worst. No one is spared. Our livelihoods are adversely affected,” said 56-year-old Isias Buned, chief of Sundungan village in President Roxas, North Cotabato. “We never thought the Red Cross would deliver relief from the consequences of the dry spell.” The ICRC is a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization whose mandate is to protect and assist people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. It has had an established presence in the Philippines for over 70 years and a permanent presence in Mindanao since 1982. Environmental activists launch nationwide campaign against mining and coal-fired power plants7/1/2016 By Jun Enriquez Iligan City (June 29, 2016) - Environmental activists Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMJC) spearheaded the nationwide campaign together with other activists civil society groups for the protection of the environment against irresponsible mining and other destruction arising from the massive pollution that will destroy the precious environment. The group of environmental activists favored and supported the appointment of the then incoming Secretary and now the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Ms. Gina Lopez of the ABS-CBN Foundation. The then incoming President and now the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Ms. Lopez for the position as DENR Secretary. Lopez was never spared in bullying from the big mining operators especially from the alleged mining magnate Manny Pangilinan. Ms. Inday Gonzales, spokesperson from PMCJ said that the nationwide campaign is for the Filipino people. She said that Ms. Lopez is an environmentalist and sincere in her campaign for environmental protection. Ms. Lopez was one spearheaded the rehabilitation of the Pasig river, an environmental flagship project called “piso-piso para sa Pasig river” to become productive and served as the alternative route using passengers’ boat for the commuters to evade heavy traffic in land transportation in Metro Manila. Gonzales said that the campaign will include the stop of the construction of the monstrous coal fired power plants in the country. Gonzales said that Ms. Lopez will not afraid of the bullying from the mining operators because the people supports her appointments.The then incoming President and now the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Ms. Lopez for the position as DENR Secretary. Lopez was never spared in bullying from the big mining operators especially from the alleged mining magnate Manny Pangilinan. Ms. Inday Gonzales, spokesperson from PMCJ said that the nationwide campaign is for the Filipino people. She said that Ms. Lopez is an environmentalist and sincere in her campaign for environmental protection. Ms. Lopez was one spearheaded the rehabilitation of the Pasig river, an environmental flagship project called “piso-piso para sa Pasig river” to become productive and served as the alternative route using passengers’ boat for the commuters to evade heavy traffic in land transportation in Metro Manila. Gonzales said that the campaign will include the stop of the construction of the monstrous coal fired power plants in the country. Gonzales said that Ms. Lopez will not afraid of the bullying from the mining operators because the people supports her appointments. There are ongoing constructions of coal fired power plants in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte with generating capacity of 540 megawatts (MW), 300 MW in Ozamiz City and 20 MW in iligan City that potentially cause massive damage in the Iligan bay and panguil bay including air land and other bodies of water in the Lanao region, Misamis Occidental and nearby places. All these ongoing construction of coal fired power plants have no proper consultations with the people and it was believed that environmental impact studies are bogus to support the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC). The people in Kauswagan were complaining of deception, conspiracy and manipulation in constructing the coal plant because at first the people were consulted that solar power will be constructed in their place but later on it was a coal fired power plant. Just recently the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Lanao del Norte has conducted a final public hearing on June 26, 2016 in Libertad, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte for the Provincial Ordinance Banning the construction of coal fired power plant in the province. Board member Atty. Usop Omar, the author of the draft ordinance No. 002 series of 2016, together with Board members Casimero Bagol and Jack Maruhom said that the ongoing construction of the GN Power Kauswagan (GNPK) will take their own risk against the ordinance if approved. Omar said that the GNPK have not seek clearance from the provincial government especially in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the construction of the coal fired power plant. Omar said that the Mayors in nearby municipalities complaint on the construction of the GNPK because they have not been consulted but in general the said coal plant will bring destruction to humanity in the province of Lanao del Norte and nearby places due to the pollution of many substances such mercury, lead, nickel, sulfur, carbon dioxides and other gaseous forms which are carcinogenic, a cancer causing substances. Other groups participated the nationwide campaign are the freedom from debt Coalition (FDC), Power Alternative Agenda in Mindanao (PALAG), Balay Integrated Rehabilitation for Total Human Developemnt (BIRTHDEV), Iligan Sendong-survivors Movement (ISM), Lanao Alliance for Human Rights Advocates, Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace (CSO-FP), Ranaw Women and Children Rahabilitation Center (RWCRC), Ranao Disaster Response and rehabilitation Action Center (RDRRAC), ECOWEB, Kapamagogopa, Inc (KI), the Youth, Women and other sectors. With reports by Teresita Dalman & photo by Jack Macatimbol. |
AuthorA news blog started by CSO-FP Managing Director, Mr. Jun Enriquez to keep the people of Lanao, Mindanao and the Philippines updated on current local issues especially the peace and order situation in conflict affected areas. Archives
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