DepEd Sarangani celebrates anniversary

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 18, 2015) - Despite a heavy downpour, public school teachers of Sarangani revel in their presentation of songs and yells during the first day of the 22nd DepEd Sarangani Foundation Anniversary at the Capitol grounds on August 6. The celebration culminated the next day at Lagao Gymnasium in General Santos City, with the theme “Sa K- 12 Kayang Kaya Basta Sama- sama, Tayo na, Karunungan Isulong na.” The song and yell competition was among the activities prepared for the educators. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Farnazo: Unity key to quality education

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (August 18, 2015) - Department of Education (DepEd) regional director Allan Farnazo speaks about the significance of unity among students and teachers in the pursuit of quality education during the 22nd Foundation Anniversary of DepEd Sarangani on August 7. Farnazo, a former schools division superintendent of Sarangani, was keynote speaker of the two-day celebration held at Lagao Gym with the theme “Sa K to 12 Kayang-kaya basta Sama-sama, Tayo na Karunungan Isulong na.” (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Governor Solon inducts officers

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (August 18, 2015) - Governor Steve Solon inducts the new officers of Division of Sarangani Personnel Association, Public Schools District Supervisors Association, National Greening Program and Youth Environment in School Organization on July 7. The officers took their oath before the governor and some 4,400 public school teachers from the seven municipalities of Sarangani at Lagao gym. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Governor Solon, Dominguez join teachers’ celebration

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (August 18, 2015) – Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon (left) greets former Governor Migs Dominguez (right) who now represents the Synergia Foundation Inc. during the State of the Division Address f Schools Division Superintendent Isagani dela Cruz in celebration of the 22nd Foundation Anniversary of DepEd Sarangani at Lagao Gym on August 7. The provincial government of Sarangani through Sulong Karunungan, Synergia Foundation and other partners and stakeholders are closely working together with DepED Sarangani to give quality education for Sarangani children. (Mark Christopher Quiño/DepEd SARANGANI)

 

SDS highlights 6Rs

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (August 18, 2015) - Isagani dela Cruz, schools division superintendent (SDS) of Sarangani, delivers his State of the Division Address 2015 on July 7 at Lagao gym. Citing the K to 12 program, an overhaul of the Philippine education system, Dela Cruz emphasized the 6Rs - Reach, Responsiveness, Rating, Returns, Revenue and Recognition of the division. (Jake Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Gensan & Sarangani hosting national palm oil congress

By BEVERLY PAOYON

 

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (August 17, 2015) – Philippine palm oil industry top executives have recognized the potential of expanding oil palm plantations to Mindanao as crucial in building inclusive growth for a stronger industry in the country.

 

On Wednesday (August 19), the Philippine Palmoil Development Council, Inc. (PPDCI) will open the two-day 9th National Palm Oil Congress in General Santos City. Expected to attend are some 600 farmers and industry players mostly coming from Mindanao and other invitees interested to go into the oil palm business.

 

PPDCI president Alfredo Montecillo said speakers from Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia were invited to share recent techniques in managing oil palm farms.

 

With Malaysia, being the world’s biggest exporter, and Indonesia and Thailand ranking next, Montecillo anticipated this congress would be a great venue for Filipinos to learn from the experiences of these countries.

 

Meanwhile, Montecillo also disclosed the promotion for oil palm farming expansion to Mindanao is also geared towards addressing the shortage of palm oil produce in the country.

 

The Philippines, he said, “is still a net importer of palm oil.”

 

The total production in the country, he said, can only cope up 30% of its total demand while 70% is still being imported either from Malaysia or Indonesia.

 

“We need about 100,000 metric tons of palm oil annually,” Montecillo said, but “only 30% of that or even lesser” is supplied domestically.

 

Montecillo is eyeing areas in Mindanao like Sarangani, South Cotabato and General Santos City to complement the shortage and reduce importation.

 

Particularly for Sarangani, Montecillo reported some areas to be potentially viable for oil palm farming that could also create a lucrative livelihood for the local farmers here.

 

“The potential is very big for Sarangani. We have conducted a lot of surveys already and there are many areas that can be developed,” he said.

 

Although the “topography is a challenge because majority of the areas are really mountainous,” still Montecillo reported there are areas in Sarangani suitable for the crop.

 

He also cited the possibility of expanding in Tantangan, South Cotabato and a little area in General Santos City where an initial plantation has already started.

 

Sarangani Investment Officer Milbie Daguro reported “around 150 hectares are already planted to oil palm in Sarangani and some 20,000 hectares have been surveyed all over the province to be suitable for oil palm farming.”

 

Daguro said some of the identified areas have existing crops but disclosed what they are targeting are “idle lands to make them productive, create economic activities and job opportunities in the community.”

 

According to Daguro, there are big companies willing to put up palm oil processing plants in Sarangani “but we need to be able to have at least 5,000 to 10,000 hectares of plantation to sustain a processing plant.”

 

Presently, the nearest mills are about 120 kilometers from General Santos which are in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat and Buluan, Maguindanao. (Beverly Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Why do pupils and teachers get vaccinated?

By BEVERLY PAOYON

 

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 13, 2015) - Around 21,000 school children and teachers throughout Sarangani are being immunized this month against Measles Rubella, Tetanus-diptheria and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

 

With the P100 million the Department of Health (DOH) has allocated for the school-based immunization program, millions of school children belonging to the top 20 poorest provinces in the country would obtain the booster vaccines for free. Sarangani belongs to this group.

 

However, the provincial government augmented a P1-million budget to cover the first 100 female teachers belonging to the 22 to 30 years old age bracket for their HPV vaccine as one component in the prevention of cervical cancer.

 

Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon explained this as a Sulong Kalusugan scheme of the provincial government to have health safety precaution for kids and teachers.  

 

Solon appreciated the intervention that DOH rolled out in public schools that gives immunity of these children “to diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus that have been noted to be cause of deaths among children.”

 

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Arvin Alejandro, however, reported no cases of outbreaks in Sarangani on the mentioned diseases.

 

He said HPV was the second leading cause of deaths among the general population in the Philippines.

 

Dr. Alejandro said studies showed HPV was the primary cause of cervical cancer for females aged 14 to 44 years old. He pointed out that this group belongs to the sexually active population.

 

“The moment you are sexually active then the risk of having Human Papillomavirus is also high,” he said. Immunization would be a preventive action to protect this group from the virus.

 

The combined measles rubella and tetanus-diptheria vaccination cover Grade 1 to Grade 7 while Grade 4 pupils with ages 9 to 13 will be given HPV as an integral immunization strategy. This would eliminate measles and tetanus and control mumps, rubella and diphtheria alongside the prevention of cervical cancer.

Several years from now, these children will reach their productivity stage “hence they should be vaccinated with HPV. Dapat healthy sila all throughout,” Dr. Alejandro said.

 

The National School-Based Adolescent Immunization covers school children and adolescents during the whole month of August.

 

In Sarangani, the program kicked-off with a ceremonial provincial launching on August 3 in Barangay Malandag where a number of children and teachers got vaccinated.

 

Some 4,100 Grade 1 pupils, 10,000 Grade 7 pupils and 10,000 Grade 4 pupils in Sarangani are the target beneficiaries of the immunization program. This intervention, Dr. Alejandro said, is steered towards the provincial government’s goal of “achieving 95% coverage among target school children for a better health outcome.” (Beverly Paoyon/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

2 Maitum brgys get REACH aid

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 12, 2015) – From left: Deputy chief of police Senior Inspector Ruben Mapangal Lambago, Mindanao Tulong Bakwet, Inc. coordinator Fairudz Ibrahim-Ebus, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Laarni Nagal, Human Resources Officer-designate Eldifonso Bergis, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council representative Arsenio Aragao, Batian Barangay Captain Diokno Kilam, Upo Barangay Captain Mary Jane Kusin, and Batian Elementary School official Christopher Tanedo hold the symbolic key of the REACH Mindanao Project during the turnover ceremony at the municipal auditorium on August 7. The project dubbed as Resilience and Change for Children and Families in Mindanao (REACH Mindanao) has turned over a total of 16 handheld radios, two motor sirens, three megaphones, and an electric bell to the barangay councils of Batian and Upo, and to the officials of Batian Elementary School. The program was attended by over 50 participants from Barangay Upo and Batian, and some employees of the local government unit of Maitum. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

REACH Mindanao helps school

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 12, 2015) - Mindanao Tulong Bakwet, Inc. coordinator Fairudz Ibrahim-Ebus congratulates Batian Elementary School representative Christopher Tanedo as he receives a unit of electric bell and a megaphone during the REACH Mindanao turnover ceremony at the municipal auditorium on August 7. The project dubbed as Resilience and Change for Children and Families in Mindanao (REACH Mindanao) was funded by the Swedish International Development Agency and implemented by Plan Philippines in partnership with the Mindanao Tulong Bakwet and Maguindanaoan Development Foundation Inc. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Villagers attend turnover

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 12, 2015) - Barangay Officials and residents of Barangay Batian and Barangay Upo attend the turnover ceremony of REACH Mindanao Project at the municipal auditorium on August 7. The project dubbed as Resilience and Change for Children and Families in Mindanao (REACH Mindanao) has turned over a total of 16 handheld radios, two motor sirens, three megaphones, and an electric bell to the barangay councils of Batian and Upo, and to the officials of Batian Elementary School. The project aims to assure that boys and girls living in the resilient communities are able to access their health and protection rights through locally delivered and managed services. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Bounty of Sarangani appears

KIAMBA, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) - Residents of Dingcaling in Barangay Tambilil flock around a heap of Lupoy (young mackerel) ready for selling, drying or fermentation. Fisherfolks are happy with the emergence of this type of fish which signals a greater catch of bigger fish like tuna and sambagon, commonly known as pirit. Lupoy are known to appear during the dry season at the second quarter of the year. This type of fish is popular as complements to local Filipino dishes, made into bagoong (fish paste) and patis (fish sauce) through the process of fermentation. Sarangani province has a coastline of 226.4 kilometers from Pinol Point in Maitum to Tinaca Point in Glan, where a scene like this is commonly seen during this season. (Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

PDRRMO conducts disaster awareness for students

ALABEL, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) - Students of Alabel National Science High School read the “Baha” primer of Sulong Kaligtasan during the symposium on July 28 conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) in celebration of the National Disaster Consciousness Month. The symposium’s aim is to enlighten the students regarding disaster awareness and preparedness. This is just one of the many seminars conducted by PDRRMO for community awareness. (Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

Sulong Kaligtasan leads bamboo planting

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) - Sulong Kaligtasan, in collaboration with the Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Office represented by forester Emie Alvin Gler (2nd from right), delivers 12,000 bamboo seedlings to the barangay council of Kalaong headed by Barangay Captain Linda Narte (extreme right) on July 29. The distribution of bamboo seedlings is intended for riverbank rehabilitation of the province to prevent flash floods and soil erosion. (Jake T. Narte/SARANGANI INFORMATION OFFICE)

BFP Glan holds fire drill, feeding in school

GLAN, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) - The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Glan Office culminated the Disaster Consciousness Month celebration with an earthquake drill and a feeding program in a remote public elementary school in this town.

 

Around 250 school children in Kiogam Elementary School from kindergarten to Grade 6 joined the drill and benefited from the agency’s gift of food sharing on Tuesday (July 28).

 

Incorporating these two activities, according to Municipal Fire Marshal S/Insp. Lielani Bangelis, is their strategy of attracting the interest of the children to participate.

 

She pointed out that these activities were primarily aimed at promoting community welfare and at the same time gaining people’s “trust and confidence” in government especially in BFP.

 

Bangelis said conducting regular drills, feeding programs, house to house campaigns, organizing and strengthening group volunteers, performing inspections to establishments, other visibility activities, and being prompt in responding to emergencies are BFP’s way of drawing people’s trust to the bureau.

 

She encouraged other line agencies to actively promote public safety.

 

The feeding program came in as part of the bureau’s social responsibility. But she said this is also her office’s initiative “to help alleviate short-term hunger during school days which is a primary vehicle for meeting nutritional requirements.”

 

Bangelis hoped their simple way of reaching out to communities to educate and perform feeding program would generate positive impact on poverty and hunger related problems and will empower communities.

 

During the drill, F03 Ronillo Barsumo taught the children the basic dos and don’ts in earthquake and fire situations.

 

“Lacking basic knowledge and preparedness,” he said, “could put one’s life at risk.”

 

School principal Ritacio Tumulak said the earthquake drill was very important in equipping his pupils with the knowledge that would help them save not only their lives but the lives of others as well whenever disasters strike. (Osias Paoyon/BFP GLAN)

Bikes for Blaan village

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) – The Lamlifew Tribal Women's Association receives 10 mountain bikes from ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) through Bantay Kalikasan-Green Initiative Project. Green Initiative is a joint project of ALKFI and the provincial government in developing community-based sustainable tourism, community-based enterprise, environmental conservation and people's participation. The partnership was forged under the administration of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

Cultural cooks learn food handling

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2014) – School of Living Tradition museum cooks learn the basics during a demo food cliniquing such as food presentation, table setup and food handling in Sitio Lamlifew, Datal Tampal. Other topics are good manufacturing practices for traditional food delicacies and cuisine. The training was facilitated by Gretchen Foster through the Sulong Tribu Program of the Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

Cultural learner at SLT

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) – Blaan eight-year-old Shandy Lacna is one of the 34 cultural learners of the School of Living Tradition (SLT) on traditional music and playing of musical instruments. Lacna can do chanting and play fuglong, skills she learned from her grandmother Heminia Lacna (background). The SLT is based in Sitio Lamlifew, Barangay Datal Tampal. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

Road to Lamlifew gets major upgrade

MALUNGON, Sarangani (August 5, 2015) - Road concreting is ongoing in Sitio Lamlifew, Datal Tampal where one of the well-known tourist destinations of Sarangani is located, the School of Living Tradition and Community Village Museum of the Blaan tribe. This major upgrade to the once difficult road leading to the tribal village of Lamlifew was spearheaded by the Department of Tourism, Department of Public Works and Highways and Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. (Ener Toguin/SULONG TRIBU)

DTI sponsors SME Roving Academy

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 4, 2015) - Engr. Nenita Barroso, trade and industry provincial director, orients some 300 participants about the Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) during the SME Roving Academy (SMERA) at the JLC Hall on July 30. ProGED Project is a joint undertaking of the Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations Group and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The program aims to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises by helping them adopt climate-smart and environment-friendly strategies by using the value chain approach. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)

Quality control pushed for SMEs

MAITUM, Sarangani (August 4, 2015) - Nilda Cordero of Sultan Kudarat shows to aspiring young entrepreneurs the method on how to assure tablea (cocoa beans) have good quality during the techno-training on cacao processing in line with the SME Roving Academy program at the JLC Hall on July 30. (Joylyn Ty/MAITUM INFORMATION OFFICE)