Feature: DPWH completes 29,370 km of nat’l roads, 314,453 lm of bridges under PGMA

by Rutchie Cabahug-Aguhob

Cagayan de Oro City (31 July) — Some 29,370 kilometers (km.) of the national road network and 314,453 lineal meters (lm.) of national bridges have been completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during the Arroyo Administration.

Thus revealed Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr. who said the DPWH has harnessed resources and manpower to put stone and steel to work to “Drive Development Through Responsive and Responsible Public Works” to connect the country’s more than 7,000 islands.

He said since 2001 when President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo assumed the Presidency, DPWH has improved or constructed and completed the following number of projects:

2001 – 1,301 km. of national roads and 19,771 lm. of national bridges and 2002 – 656 km. of national roads and 5,158 lm. of national bridges, 485 flood control projects and implemented 5,284 other infrastructure projects.

2003 – 244.82 km. of national roads, 6,887.58 lm. national bridges and six (6) flood control projects and 2004 – 940.27 km. of national roads and 13,971.77 lm. of bridges, 513 barangay roads, 266 local roads, 16 irrigation projects, 2,442 water supply projects, 1,993 school buildings, 107 hospitals and health centers and 26 national buildings.

2005 – 8,803 projects amounting to Php4.923 billion that included school buildings, hospitals/health facilities, markets and slaughterhouses, other buildings, irrigation canals and laterals, access facilities, infrastructure support and other public infrastructure.

2006 – 6,180.79 km. of national roads and 206.10 lm. of national bridges with a total value of Php19.02 billion and 8,168 other infrastructure projects with a value of Php5.434 billion.

Ebdane said in 2007, work on the State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA) projects of Pres. Arroyo got underway with the DPWH machinery primed to fast-track the delivery of the linkages to achieve the Super Regions targets.

“This package of projects under the wing of the DPWH emphasized the need for efficiency in planning and fiscal management, as well as the importance of supervising work on the ground as it happens,” he said.

The DPWH Secretary also said work on the construction, improvement and rehabilitation of 6,536 km. of roads and 20,423 lm. of bridges at a cost of Php43.458 billion marked their operations in 2008 while 7,713 infrastructure projects amounting to Php6.124 billion and Php5.0 billion worth of flood control projects were also implemented, during the period.

For this year, more segments and sections of the SONA projects are in various stages of completion to keep the targets well on track for the 2010 deadline, some of which are in Northern Mindanao.

Some of these completed projects are located in the following provinces: Bukidnon – Junction Sayre Highway, Colonio-Valencia City-Lumbo, 12.80 km., Maramag-Kibawe-Kabacan Road, Pinamaloy-Damulog Section, 105.10 km., Bukidnon-Davao Road, Dologon-Busco-Quezon Section, 5.40 km. and Aglayan-Zamboanguita Road, 5.0 km.

Kapalong-Talaingod Road, 2.09 km., and Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia Road, Junction T-A-K-ST-D-P Circumferential Road, Talaingod-Valencia City Section, 70.53 km., and Valencia Bridge across Pulangui River, Junction Sayre Highway, San Fernando Road, Bukidnon, 220.80 lm.

Lanao del Norte – Dobliston-Sultan Gumander, 16.08 km., Iligan City-Aurora Road, 97.26 km., Sultan Gumander-Dobliston Junction Road, 4.28 km., Iligan City-Marawi City Road, 9.40 km. Malabang-Sultan Gumander Road, 28.58 km., and Mandulog Bridge, Iligan City, 207 lm.

Misamis Oriental-Bukidnon By-Pass Road, 9.98 km., Cagayan de Oro City-Bukidnon Road, Puerto-Alae Section, 7.72 km., construction/improvement of sub-projects in Misamis Oriental, 24.32 km., Palaypay Bridge and approaches, Gingoog City, 203.00 lm. and 13 bridges other bridges along the Iligan City-Cagayan de Oro City-Butuan City Road, 1,579 lm.

Misamis Occidental – Calamba-Barcelona Road, Zamboanga del Norte & Misamis Occidental, 31.65 km. (PIA 10)

DOST gives recognition to outstanding science scholar graduates

by Tess Superioridad Baluyos

Cagayan de Oro City (31 July) — THE Department of Science and Technology Regional Office No. 10 (DOST-10) has given recognition to its outstanding DOST scholars graduates for school year 2008-2009.

The awarding ceremonies was held recently at the Pearlmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City in which a gold medal of academic excellence was each given to the awardees.

Regional Director Angelito Alolod said that the awardees are among the 121 DOST scholars who graduated last March 2009. Of the list, eight graduated magna cum laude, 36 are cum laude, and three are with honors.

The Magna cum laude honors went to Christ Ian Badana of Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST). The same honors were given to the following from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT): Somewhere Albacite, Patrick Vincent Aquino, Carlos Bating, James Phil Flores, Mhelmar Labendia, Lutchie Dyan Mendoza, and Aileen Mae Trinidad.

The cum laude honors were awarded to Myra Mae Cahanap, Marl Ian Dionaldo, and Anne Valerie Intong, all graduated from Central Mindanao University (CMU), Musuan Bukidnon.

Other awardees from MSU-IIT are the following: Arjay Alag, Joana Lou Ancajas, Novie Jay Andales, Peter John Aranas, Jeana Marie Bayon, Florie Bemanos, Karl Patrick Vincent Casas, Christine Marie Ceblano, Antony Cuaton, Stephanie Cudal, Herbejie Rose Cuizon, Arniel Ching Dizon, Michelle Fudot, Rodel Guerroro, Rommel Jagus, Kristine Ruby Laganao, Gibson Maglasang, Sandra Manulat, Hananish Joy Odarve, Majvell Kay Odarve, Jay Pee Ogaya, Arvey Oliveros, Quennie Paylaga, Dennis Pitogo, and Bryan Suarez.

On the other hand, those from MUST are the following: Lalene Cababat, Shean Mclea Cabanero, John Mark Fuentes, Abner Nalugon, and Adele Nalugon.

Those who graduated with honors from MSU-IIT are the following: Mohamad Mon-em Abangad, Zukra Asan, and Aldeemar Sampang.

Cum Laude graduates under the BS-MS Straight Program (Chemistry) included the following: Lorelie Imperial, Charlie Jr. Lavilla, and Jenny Syl Tabunag, all graduated from MSU-IIT.

The outstanding scholar-graduates, along with the other DOST scholar graduates are now included in the pool of science and technology workers which the Philippines needs.

They were part of the scholarship program of the government which supports the poor but talented youth who wish to pursue careers in science and technology.

Every year, (DOST) awards about 4,000 undergraduate scholarship slots to deserving high school graduating students all over the country.

For one to qualify to apply for the scholarship: he/she should belong to the upper 5% of the high school graduating class; a natural-born Filipino citizen; of good health; of good moral character; who does not have a pending status to migrate to another country; who is not more 21 years of age; and must pass a competitive examination before they are granted the DOST undergraduate scholarship.

Deadline for filing of application is on September 30, 2009 and the examination is on November 15, 2009. Application forms are available at DOST regional office or at its provincial science and technology centers. (DOST)

NGO’s “Year of the Rice” campaign stirs farmers

Digos City (July 31) — The “Year of the Rice” Campaign of the Pesticide Action Network of Asia and the Pacific (PANAP) launched April this year has become the bone of contention of farmers here.

The said campaign is aimed at eliminating the use of pesticides in rice farms in Asia and the abolition of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) which PANAP Philippine representative Danilo Ramos accused of “turning Asia’s staple food into into monocrop corporate products filled with poisonous chemicals.

Ramos was quoted in a PANAP press statement July 21, 2009 as saying in a forum in Colombo that “IRRI’s policies, activities and technologies are undermining the safety of rice as food and exacerbating the poisoning of rice fields by their close collaboration with the pesticide industry.”

PANAP is the umbrella organization of the anti-pesticide movements in the Philippines and draws funding from the Netherlands-based Oxfam NOVIB.

Their campaign against the use of pesticide in rice farming elicited mixed reactions among farmers here.

Veron Magaway of Barangay San Agustin here says it is worth trying but that alternatives have yet to be developed.

Members of the Matanao Irrigation Association said that they find the campaign “too utopian to be realistic as it is impossible to control the wide variety of pests that threatens rice production.”

“Depriving plants of essential chemicals is like depriving people of essential medicines,” said the province’s “Model Farmer of the Year” Reinerio Guevarra.

Guevarra said he have been into rice farming the past 33 years and that he had developed his own techniques which include the timely use of herbicides, nematicides and fungicides. He produced a record-high of 319 metric tons for two croppings last year in his backyard one-hectare farm here. (pr/M Teruel)

7th ARMM Business Congress in Marawi highlights agricultural investment

Islamic City Of Marawi (31 July) — The seaweed, fruit and abaca industries, all top dollar earners for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), will be the focus of the 7th ARMM Business Congress being held here from August 5 to 6.

“This event is a timely opportunity to show potential investors that business is alive and well in the region,” said Datu Haron Bandila, president of the ARMM Business Council (ABC), which is spearheading the event.

“Activities like this help the business sector to become more competitive and responsive to the demands of local and foreign markets,” said Atty. Mangondaya Solaiman, president of the Maranaw Chamber of Commerce and Industry, host chamber and co-organizer of the congress.

The ARMM Business Congress is an annual event organized by the ABC in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)–ARMM, Regional Board of Investments (RBOI), host provincial governments and local chambers of commerce, and USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

This year’s Congress, which will be held at the Provincial Gymnasium, New Capitol, will feature plenary sessions on the impact of the global financial crisis and on how to maximize the ARMM’s resources in fisheries, aquaculture and farm production.

The ARMM business community is mobilizing to keep pace with other progressive areas in Mindanao,” Bandila said.

Solaiman said that “business matching” sessions would be held between local developers and entrepreneurs, and potential investors, which include congress delegates from the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the Middle East.

Participants will also present action recommendations to the ARMM regional government designed to make it easier to do business in the region and to attract more investment.

ARMM includes the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur in central Mindanao, the Sulu Archipelago provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, and the Islamic City of Marawi. (GEM)

PGMA’s peace initiative in ARMM cited

By Mai Gevera

Davao City (31 July) — Of the numerous accomplishments reported by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address, business leaders in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) took PGMA’s suspension of military operations as the most favorable to liven up business activities in the area.

Datu Haron Bandilla, Chair of the ARMM Business Council, said in a press forum yesterday (July 29) that the said move is taken as a one of the highlights cited by the President in her SONA.

“We are already tired of this peace conflict and we take the President’s move as a signal for the business sector to move on and bring back the investors to our place,” Bandilla added.

It was in July 23 that PGMA issued a policy directive suspending the offensive military operations against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The said order was aimed to advance stability and peace in the conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. It also signaled the intensification of law enforcement measures as well as a sign that the resumption of peace talks is now achievable.

In the SONA of the President she stressed that there is now a good prospect for peace talks both with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the MILF.

“There is nothing more that I would wish for than peace in Mindanao. It will be a blessing for all its people, Muslim, Christian and indigenous peoples. It will show other religiously divided communities that there can be common ground on which to live together in peace, harmony and cooperation that respects each other’s religious beliefs,” she said.

The Suspension Order of Military Operations (SOMO) was issued by President Arroyo after receiving reports that a growing number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have suffered. The SOMO would then enable these IDPs to go back to their respective homes and continue living a peaceful life.

The government now expects a peaceful environment in ARMM as the SOMO requires the MILF to reciprocate the same action. This is to prepare ARMM for the resumption of peace talks soon. (PIA XI)