Coup Update – Davao City

I just got word that a protest is ongoing near to Ateneo University here in Davao.  I will be headed down there shortly with camera in hand.  I will update this site after returning from the protest.

In Manila, it the NTC (National Telecommunications Council) has informed Press that they are subject to being taken over by the government, if they give reports that do not meet the approval of the government.

Stay tuned!

Coup plot underway… no action in Mindanao so far

You can look at any Philippine news site, or CNN’s website and see that a coup attempt is underway in the Philippines today.  While so far, the coup has been put down, word is still rampant that more action is to come.  In addition, people are starting to gather at EDSA and at other spots in Manila.  Even though President Arroyo has declared a State of Emergency, and revoked all permits to rally against the government, rallies are gathering as I write this.

The Arroyo government is actively watching the actions of troops in Mindanao to see if there will be any participation from here.  All word is, so far, that troops in Mindanao are remaining loyal to the government at this time.

This morning, I was out for a walk, and saw a group of about a dozen AFP troops gathered on the road near to the Central Bank in Davao, and felt it was unusual to see such a sight these days, but it didn’t seem to be anything major.  By the time I got home, the news was full of coup stories.  I sort of doubt that the troops I saw here in Davao were related in any way, but it was unusual.

Keep an eye on this site for any major developments.

Gov’t agencies monitor coliform in Davao waters

By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (24 February) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health, is continuously monitoring the beaches in Davao City to determine the level of coliform despite the lack of equipment and other facilities.

Engr. Teresita Tagorda of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said the bureau do not have the necessary facilities like a pumpboat to regularly monitor the levels of coliform along Davao beaches.

“If only we have enough facilities, DENR can also monitor pollution in inland waters,” she said.

DENR said the level of bacterial contamination monitored in major monitoring stations based in Marina Asul, Liberty, Bonguyan and Feliz beach resorts, including beaches in Samal island, varies but is not so high.

The Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health (RIACEH), an inter-agency spearheaded by DOH with its focal person, Engr. Rex Labadia said people can still bathe on beaches but have to make sure that the beaches are far from drainage canals or sources of water pollution.

The monitoring made by DENR last year showed that beaches in the city have varied coliferom levels, which prompted DENR to advise the public to take precautionary measures such as taking a bath after swimming in beach resorts.

Usually, after a long dry spell followed by strong rains, it precipitate heavy coliform presence in rivers and seas. (PIA)

Cagayan de Oro City Library draws more users

Cagayan de Oro City (23 February) — More and more Cagayanons are going to the City Public Library now that it has offered internet services and opened for business on Saturdays.

City Librarian Myrna Acedera said that the library now averages 120 users a day, especially on Saturdays. Saturday office hours are 8-12 am and 1-5 pm.

Acedera said that because of their updating and improvement, more and more students and professionals are now availing of the facilities at the city government-run library.

Meanwhile, Acedera invites all interested Cagayanons to become members of the library. At a very reasonable annual membership of only P30, one can use the various library materials and services the library has to offer like magazines, newspapers, books and the internet. (City Information Office / RAGCOM)

Commentary: Still the Land of Promise!

by Aida C. Agad

Koronadal, South Cotabato (23 February) — The island of Mindanao, living up to its name as the Land of Promise, now welcomes the prospect of a lasting atmosphere of peace as the final truce is likely to be signed before the year wraps up.

Peace, now springing up in former war-torn areas, is after all what Mindanaoans, Muslims and Christians alike, always longed for.

The long years of war that ravaged most places in the region left scars that made most leaders from both camps become firm in their resolve to put a stop to the in-fightings between brother Muslims and Christians, which had caused the lives of innocent childrens and civilians as well as ruined the future of their offsprings.

Efforts to make the peace initiatives sustainable for the coming generations now pose a big challenge to every Mindanaoan as the forging of a peace accord between the government and secessionist and rebel forces is now being drawn closer to the line.

With support from local and foreign donor agencies now pouring in, more infrastructure mushrooming, more projects implemented by national government agencies, more non-government organizations joining efforts with government towards an ultimate end-Peace, Unity and Cooperation in Mindanao! Who then could afford to ruin these stories of re-gaining Mindanao’s lost glory — of Peace in Mindanao that now prevails?

One of the tangible result of the previous peace efforts that put an end to the decade old problem is the creation of the then Office of the Regional Commission (ORC) and later the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which gave opportunity to former MNLF combatants to run their own affair since 1989. Events then turned smoothly.

Just lately, a statement of support from former ARMM governor and Moro National Liberation Front leader Nur Misuari for the socio-economic programs of the present leadership under the young Zaldy Ampatuan was described by leaders as a unity move towards peace-building efforts in the region.

Ampatuan, cognizant of the support of the former leader, magnified this is a gesture of their sincerity “in showing to the whole world that despite our political differences and group affiliations, we the leaders of the ARMM can easily unite and agree on common peace and development plans for the region.”

Let us then rally behind efforts of our political leaders in the region in pursuing peace and development, after all, this is Mindanao our homeland – still the Promise Land for us! (PIA 12)