Chief Justice Corona opens 5 new RTCs in Sarangani

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 3, 2011) – Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato
Corona led the groundbreaking ceremony and signing of the Deed of
Usufruct Wednesday (March 2) for the two Regional Trial Courts (RTCs)
at the Capitol complex.

Three other RTCs will open each in Glan, Malungon, and Kiamba.

In November 30, 2010, the Supreme Court en banc issued a resolution
for the creation of the five additional RTC branches, implementing RA
10123, and create new positions and transfer existing positions to
conform with the approved staffing pattern of the Regional Trial
Courts.

“Finally, the wheels of justice continue to run fastest in Sarangani,”
Governor Migs Dominguez said.

Dominguez recalled steady complaints in the province for the
twice-a-year hearing of cases and the overcrowded provincial jail when
he took office in 2004.

Dominguez said the government is always ready to intervene and assist
and urged everyone to stop pointing fingers to the Supreme Court
“because we are all concerned”.

Corona arrived at the Capitol Wednesday morning with Court
Administrator Midas Marquez, Deputy Court Administrator Jesus Edwin
Villasor, Assistant Court Administrator Thelma Bahia, members of the
Integrated Bar of the Philippines, judges and personnel.

Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel Pacquiao said provincial officials will put
their acts together in building the five new RTCs.
“We stand by our commitment to respond immediately to the call of
public duty,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao committed a P3-million initial fund for the project.

Pacquiao commended the implementation of the Justice Enhancement and
Empowerment Program (JEEP) in Sarangani.

A Small Claims Law Orientation Seminar and Validation Workshop
Dialogue were also held at the Capitol during the day.

Before his fight with Mosley in May, Pacquiao announced groundbreaking
for the other three branches will take place.

Mayors of the seven municipalities committed to donate land where the
RTCS will be built.

“We are bringing justice closer to the people,” Vice governor Steve
Chiongbian Solon said.

Solon said the provincial government has been building the mediation
skills of community leaders. “Justice is not a trickery only in favor
of the strong,” Solon said.

“This is a project borne out of union between the province and the
Supreme Court,” provincial legal officer Arnel Zapatos said.

“When justice was low if non-existent, the Supreme Court did not
hesitate to assist, turning the wheels of justice to the people’s
doorsteps,” Zapatos said.

Sarangani has the only locally operated Justice on Wheels (JOWS) in
the country. It has reduced the number of inmates at the provincial
jail by 64 percent from 600 inmates in 2008 to only 216 in 2010.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Finance, Budgeting,
Appropriations and Ways chaired by Board Member Eugene Alzate
sponsored Resolution No. 2011-7-002 creating a task group for the
implementation of RA 10123 and providing funds thereof.(Russtum G.
Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Welcome address

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Vice Governor Steve Solon who will turn 40 on Thursday (March 3) delivers his welcome address during the ground breaking ceremony of additional Regional Trial Courts for Sarangani province Wednesday, March 2, at the Capitol complex. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Signing of the Deed of Usufruct

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez and Governor Migs Dominguez sign the deed of usufruct as Congressman Manny Pacquiao and Chief Justice Renato Corona look on Wednesday, March 2, during the ground breaking ceremony of additional Regional Trial Courts for the province. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Rationale of the project

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Provincial legal officer Atty. Arnel Zapatos reads the rationale of the project during the ground breaking ceremony of additional Regional Trial Courts for Sarangani province Wednesday, March 2, at the Capitol complex. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Photo opportunity

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Chief Justice Renato Puno, Congressman Manny Pacquiao and Governor Migs Dominguez in a photo opportunity after the ground breaking ceremony of the additional Regional Trial Courts for the province Wednesday, March 2, at the Capitol complex. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Orientation and dialogue on small claims cases

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Governor Migs Dominguez delivers his message to participants of orientation and dialogue on small claims cases Wednesday, March 2, at the Capitol gymnasium. The event was organized by the Provincial Legal Office and participated in by barangay captains and women’s group of the province. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Ground breaking

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Chief Justice Renato Corona leads the laying of the capsule as his wife Cristina, Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez, Congressman Manny Pacquiao and Governor Migs Dominguez look on during the ground breaking ceremony for the additional Regional Trial Courts for the province of Sarangani at the Capitol complex Wednesday, March 2. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Dialogue and validation workshop

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Chief Justice Renato Corona speaks before the presiding judges of all the first level courts and the clerks of court of the ARMM and SOCSARGEN during the validation workshop Wednesday, March 2, at the Kasfala Hall. Also in photo are, from left, Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez; Cristina Corona, wife of the Chief Justice; and Michelle Solon, wife of Vice Governor Steve Solon. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Cong. & Gov.

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Governor Migs Dominguez shares a light moment with Congressman Manny Pacquiao during the ground breaking ceremony of additional Regional Trial Courts for Sarangani province Wednesday, March 2, at the Capitol complex. Congressman Pacquiao in his speech committed an additional fund of three million pesos for the completion of the project. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Chief Justice

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Chief Justice Renato Corona delivers his message to participants of the orientation and dialogue on small claims cases Wednesday, March 2, at the Capitol gymnasium. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Chief Justice with Capitol employees

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Chief Justice Renato Corona with wife Cristina are welcomed by provincial employees upon their arrival at the Capitol to lead the ground breaking ceremony of the additional Regional Trial Courts for the province and deliver messages to the orientation and dialogue on small claims cases and validation workshop for first level courts in ARMM and SOCSARGEN Wednesday, March 2. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Arrival of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 2, 2011) - Chief Justice Renato Corona (7th right) with wife Cristina, Supreme Court administrator Jose Midas Marquez (9th right) and Congressman Manny Pacquiao (8th right) pose with Governor Migs Dominguez (5th right), provincial legal officer Arnel Zapatos (extreme right), Judge Jaime Infante (4th right), Board Member Nene Saguiguit (8th left), Judge Oscar Noel (7th left), Atty. Armando Clarin (5th left), Michelle Solon (4th left), and officials from PNP and AFP upon their arrival at the General Santos City International Airport Wednesday, March 2. Corona arrived to lead the ground breaking ceremony of the additional Regional Trial Courts at the Capitol complex. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Partners come together for reforestation

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 28, 2011) – Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with private partners RD Foundation, Inc.; Gensan Shipyard, Inc. and Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (CLAFI) came together to “A Date With Nature” to reforest a denuded area in Kyumad Monday (February 28).

It is a five-hectare initial land area owned by Dominador Fernandez now being leased by Conal Holdings Corporation for its reforestation project.

“This is a TESDA-wide activity to help reforest our denuded areas as we are directed by the national government to participate,” Nora Guiloreza, TESDA provincial director, said.

The group planted 500 rubber seedlings in the grassland owned by Fernandez. Conal Holdings has a 7,500 hectare carbon sink project covering the highlands of barangays Amsipit, Seven Hills, Kablacan and Kamanga. Kyumad is a small community in Amsipit, home to the indigenous Blaan.

“With our nursery of rubber seedlings here, we can plant as many as we can, and we would like to thank you all for taking your part in protecting our environment,” Noli Cajutol of Conal Holdings carbon sink project said.

The nursery has 50,000 rubber seedlings as of now ready for planting.

CLAFI executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis led his staff and the team to the planting site. He hoped to see the hills in Amsipit and neighboring barangays planted with trees.

“We join the tree planting activity as part of our commitment to caring for the environment,” Magtulis said.

“This year, CLAFI’s endeavor is to join, to lead and be involved in more environmental protection programs for Sarangani’s forests and the bay. We have to care for Mother Nature from ridge to reef,” he added.

CLAFI has been giving assistance to Sarangani’s environmental and educational initiatives and making linkages with its partner non-government organizations.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office launched the International Day of Forests in February 2 with a planting activity in Langaran of barangay Kablacan.

Maasim has a total of 14,000 hectares of watershed areas that need rehabilitation. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

CLAFI

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 28, 2011) - Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (CLAFI) personnel headed by Richlie Lyndon Magtulis (2nd left) joins TESDA’s “A date with nature” tree planting activity Monday, February 28, at CONAL Holdings Corporation’s rubber seedlings nursery for carbon sink project in sitio Kyumad. Residents and RD Foundation staff also joined the event. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Briefing

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 28, 2011) - CONAL Holdings Corporation consultant for carbon sink project Noli Cajutol briefs participants on techniques and proper handling in planting rubber seedlings in a tree planting activity Monday, February 28, in sitio Kyumad. This event is part of TESDA’s “A date with nature” requiring all of its employees to plant trees to help save the environment from future effect of climate change. The activity is supported by CLAFI (Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc.), RD Foundation, and CONAL Holdings Corporation by providing rubber seedlings and area for planting. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

“A date with nature”

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 28, 2011) – CLAFI executive director Richlie Lyndon Magtulis and CONAL Holdings Corporation consultant for carbon sink project Noli Cajutol join TESDA provincial director Nora Guiloreza in a tree planting activity Monday, February 28, at CONAL’s rubber seedlings nursery for carbon sink project in sitio Kyumad. The activity dubbed as “A date with nature” is a nationwide event of TESDA which started last February 14 and ends February 28 and participated in by its employees. The event is supported by CLAFI (Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc.), RD Foundation, and CONAL Holdings Corporation by providing rubber seedlings and area for planting. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Kalilangan Festival street dancers

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (February 27, 2011) - Street dancers perform at the main streets of the city during the culmination program of Kalilangan Festival 2011 Sunday, February 27, with the theme “The challenge of change: Preserving tradition”. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Project visit

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 25, 2010) – Mayor Jose Zamorro (left) and Mahintana Foundation project coordinator Rex Teves discusses future plans while they visit a backyard garden as one of their alternative means they provided for the community of sitio Kyumad at barangay Amsipit to alleviate the tribe’s living condition. The said foundation also donated various medical supplies for their birthing place Friday, February 25. (MAASIM NEWS CENTRAL/Abner P. Arzaga)

Mahintana Foundation & European Union

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 26, 2010) – Mahintana Foundation
executive director Martiniano Magdolot (left) and European Union
representative Anja Bauer (right) check the sun-dried mongo beans as part of the projects funded under the South Eastern Philippines Health & Economic Alternatives (HEAL) as implemented by Mahintana Foundation at sitio Kyumad in barangay Amsipit Friday, February 25. The group provides valuable projects that will uplift the way of life for those settling along mountainous areas that are far from accessibility of basic needs. (MAASIM NEWS CENTRAL/Abner P. Arzaga)

HEAL recipient

MAASIM, Sarangani (February 25, 2010) – Barangay captain Allan
Muyak extends his thankful message for various projects that were
handed over by European Union and Mahintana Foundation, as representatives from the said organizations visited the tribal community in sitio Kyumad of barangay Amsipit Friday, February 25. The project known as South Eastern Philippines Health & Economic Alternatives (HEAL) provides various aids in any sort to uplift the ailing condition of the community living in the said place. (MAASIM NEWS CENTRAL/Abner P. Arzaga)