Finale presentation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 10, 2011) - Scholars perform their finale
presentation during the culmination of English Access Microscholarship
Program Wednesday, March 9, at Phela Grande Convention Center. (Cocoy
Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Certificate of completion

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 10, 2011) - Ms. Najlaa Abdus-Samad, US
Embassy’s assistant cultural affairs officer, assisted by Maasim
Mayor Jose Zamorro and Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez distribute
the certificate of completion to scholars during the culmination of
English Access Microscholarship Program Wednesday, March 9. (Cocoy
Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Assistant cultural affairs officer

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (March 10, 2011) - Ms. Najlaa Abdus-Samad, US
Embassy’s assistant cultural affairs officer, expresses her
appreciation to the leadership of Sarangani Governor Migs Dominguez
for helping the US government find ways to help in her keynote address
during the culmination of English Access Microscholarship Program
Wednesday, March 9, at Phela Grande Convention Center. (Cocoy
Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Ribbon cutting

MAASIM, Sarangani (March 8, 2011) – Mayor Jose Zamorro (left)
and Vice Mayor Uttoh Salem Cutan lead the cutting of ribbon as local
officials and employees along with a PNP official and religious
leaders join the offshore launching and blessing of "Bantay Dagat"
patrol boat at Barrio Site in Barangay Colon Monday, March 7. (MAASIM
NEWS CENTRAL/Abner P. Arzaga)

Patrol boat

MAASIM, Sarangani (March 8, 2011) – The P460,000-“Bantay Dagat” patrol
boat is blessed and launched at Barrio Site in Barangay Colon Monday,
March 7. Mayor Jose Zamorro believes that this boat would address the
issues against illegal fishers, piracies, and other related maritime
drawbacks along the coastal town of Maasim. (MAASIM NEWS CENTRAL/Abner
P. Arzaga)

Bantay Dagat

MAASIM, Sarangani (March 8, 2011) – Mayor Jose Zamorro
(6th from right) and Vice Mayor Uttoh Salem Cutan (5th from right) and
legislators along with municipal department heads, and religious
leaders of Islam and Christian faith and a PNP official pose for a
souvenir shot as they join the blessing and offshore launching
ceremony of "Bantay Dagat" patrol boat at Barrio Site in Barangay
Colon Monday, March 7. (MAASIM NEWS CENTRAL/Abner P. Arzaga)

Morning exercise

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 7, 2011) - Manuel Almoroto, a local stage comedian, leads his co-employees in a morning exercise during the flag raising ceremony Monday, March 7, at the Capitol. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Equal opportunity

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 7, 2011) - “Everyone has the right to equal opportunities”, Governor Migs Dominguez tells provincial employees during the flag raising ceremony as the province joins the international month-long women’s celebration Monday, March 7, at the Capitol. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Women’s month celebration

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 7, 2011) - Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit urges her co-legislators to pass a resolution subjecting all female employees of Sarangani to a free cervical cancer vaccination in her message during the flag raising ceremony Monday, February 7, as the province joins the International Women’s Month. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Soldiers in pawikan sanctuary

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 4, 2011) - Members of the 73rd Infantry Battalion assigned in barangay Pinol led by PFC Vogart Pecato, look at the newly-hatched pawikan. Two weeks ago, these men found eggs on the shore. They buried them. When the eggs hatched, they immediately reported this to the tourism staff. (Arnelito Ramirez/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Courtesy call

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 4, 2011) – The Military Information Support Team (MIST) from the US Army pays a courtesy call on Governor Migs Dominguez in his office at the Capitol Friday, March 4. The MIST supports AFP, PNP, LGUs and NGOs. They specialized doing printed information products, radio broadcast support and handing out certain novelty items. (Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Community excited as Rep. Pacquiao, local legislators polish issues on coal-fired power plant

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 4, 2011) – A Legislative Forum on Power Generation and Sustainability was held Thursday (March 3) among local legislators to seek majority opinion on Conal Holdings’ proposed 200-megawatt coal-fired power plant in barangay Kamanga, Maasim.

“We want assurance from Conal on the environmental impact of the project,” Rep. Manny Pacquiao said. Pacquiao said he doesn’t want to impose on what he wants but a decision by the majority.

As Pacquiao, Governor Migs Dominguez, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and barangay councilors met, some community leaders and participants expressed excitement as to when the plant will start its construction.

“The purpose of the forum is to provide an avenue to listen to stakeholders and to know the regulations for the protection of the environment,” Board Member and committee chair on Natural Resources and Environment Eleanor Saguiguit said.

At the forum, Saguiguit was sworn into office by Governor Dominguez as member of the National Board of Directors of the Lady Local Legislators League of the Philippines.

“Building the power plant in our place is no longer an issue,” Ben Donato, municipal tribal chieftain of Maasim said. “The question is when the company is going to start the construction,” he said.

“You see, it’s us who shall be the first victims if the project will fail, but now they’ve come to realized there is nothing wrong with the project at all through continued dialogue and information drive,” Umbra Macagcalat said.

Macagcalat is former member of the Sangguniang Panalalawigan. He said he tried to convince his former colleagues not to further delay the project because the community has fully understood the purpose of the project that does not necessarily risk their lives.

“It’s our own families and properties on the line but we concede.”

Conal’s SM 200 Project is said to address power shortage in Mindanao that will serve primarily the South Central Region as a huge increase of investments is eventually seen here.

Sarangani Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Cherrilyn Marie Espinosa said businesses always seek for a reliable and affordable power source to support their investment.

In 2008, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines projected an estimated 500-megawatt power shortage in Mindanao.

With the inevitability to buy and acquire additional energy from hydro power sources in Mindanao, South Cotabato Electric Cooperative-II general manager Rodolfo Ocat assures reliability of energy source because of its proximity, and affordability since coal is cheapest among all other power generating sources.

Environmental critiques fear most of the environmental threats that the coal-fired power plant can create.

In October 2008, Conal had acquired its Environmental Compliance Certification from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“The use of modern technological equipment for the project assures you that we are well below the pollution control limit set by the government,” Conal’s vice president for business management Jose Nocos said.

In addition, he said there is a continuous monitoring of the multipartite monitoring team that can recommend for the closure of the company operation at anytime it violates what the government requires.

At the open forum, Maasim municipal councilors urged Nocos to make a comprehensive presentation of the Conal project among environmental critiques who are members of the Diocese of Marbel.

Late last year, parishioners led by parish priest Romeo Cathedral expressed their opposition to the Conal project.

Nocos assures legislators safety measures with the use of modern technology and monitoring system will be in place as the company starts its construction of the project July this year. (Russtum G. Pelima/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Women behind

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 4, 2011) – Governor Migs Dominguez talks to Liza Ugay, coordinator of Mindanao Peoples Caucus-Civilian Protection Component (MPC-CPC); Cynthia Petrigh, European Representative-International Monitoring Team; and to MPC Secretary General, Atty. Mary Ann Arnado during the launching of Mindanao Peoples Caucus in partnership with the Civilian Protection Component and all women contingent of the International Monitoring Team at Capitol gymnasium on February 28.(Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Madaris-PTCA officials

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 4, 2011) – Sarangani provincial officials take a photo shoot with the Madaris PTCA officers and Madrasah student government presidents from 47 Madrasah centers located at Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum on their first mass induction at Capitol gym on February 28. Sarangani has 110 asatids who now serve as madaris facilitators. (Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICER)

Kalinaw team leader

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 4, 2011) – “Socio-cultural sensitivities must be properly addressed to eliminate cultural conflicts and institute a culture of peace” says Sarangani-Kalinaw Project coordinator Jocelyn Lambac-Kanda during the launching of Mindanao Peoples Caucus in partnership with Civilian Protection Component and all women contingent of the International Monitoring Team at Capitol gym on February 28. MPC is one of the four non-government organizations that the GRP and MILF agreed would spearhead the humanitarian protection work of the International Monitoring Team headed by a Malaysian contingent. (Romina Rabina/SARANGANI INFORAMTION OFFICE)

A challenge to Mindanao leaders

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 3, 2011) - Rodolfo Ocat, general manager of South Cotabato Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO), challenges leaders to attract investors to put up power plant especially in Southern Mindanao to address the ongoing power shortage. Ocat made a power point presentation during the legislators forum on power generation and sustainability Thursday, March 3, at A Montana Resort. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Conal Holdings VP for Business Management

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 3, 2011) – Conal Holdings’ vice president for business management Joseph Nocos gestures as he gives a presentation to guests and participants of legislators forum on power generation and sustainability Thursday, March 3, at A Montana Resort. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Lady Legislators League of the Philippines

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 3, 2011) - Governor Migs Dominguez administers the oath of office to Board Member Eleanor Saguiguit as member of the national board of directors of the Lady Legislators League of the Philippines during the Legislators Forum on power generation and sustainability Thursday, March 3, at A Montana Resort. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Legislators Forum

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 3, 2011) - Congressman Manny Pacquiao delivers his speech during the Legislators Forum on power generation and sustainability Thursday, March 3, at A Montana Resort. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Why coal?

ALABEL, Sarangani (March 3, 2011) - Joseph Nocos explains to guests and participants why Conal Holdings Corporation chose coal as fuel in its proposed power plant to be constructed in barangay Kamanga. Nocos made a power point presentation during the Legislators Forum on power generation and sustainability Thursday, March 3, at A Montana Resort. (Cocoy Sexcion/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)