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DILG: Federalism can unlock Soccsksargen’s chest of natural wealth

Federalism can be the key to unlocking Soccsksargen’s untapped abundance of natural and mineral resources, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“The people of Soccsksargen are literally sitting on gold, copper, and iron, but are still living in poverty because of unequitable distribution of wealth under the present system of government,” says DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya.

Soccsksargen is home to the country’s metallic mineral reserves such as gold, copper, and iron, specifically in the provinces of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato.

“Imagine if the taxes go to the regional government instead of Metro Manila. If we adopt the Consultative Committee’s (Concom’s) model of federalism, the opportunities for socio-economic development are endless,” Malaya says.

He further adds that a federal setup could boost the potential of Region 12 in revenue collection as it is home to Mt. Apo, Mindanao’s major geothermal source.

Aside from power, the region has fertile soil due to the many rivers and lakes irrigating the forests and agricultural lands.

Under Concom’s proposed Bayanihan Federal Constitution, the federated regions will be entitled to a 50% share of all net revenues from the exploration, development, and utilization of all the natural resources within the territory.

Last year, Soccsksargen’s economy grew by 8.2%, faster than the 4.9% growth rate the region posted in 2016.

This was due to the recovery of its agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing sector.

Meanwhile, about 31 out of every 100 families in the region are poor with poverty incidence levels at 30.5 in 2015.

“With more power spread to the regional government, the economy of Soccsksargen will fly, thus generating more jobs and easing the poverty situation in the region,” says Malaya.

The DILG will be conducting its federalism roadshow in Polomolok on October 29-30, 2018 and invites the people of Region 12 to attend its Pederalismoserye town hall meeting with basic sectors and the convention/rally for federalism on the second day.

National Tuna Congress 2018

Ang Genasan nagpahigayon na pag-usab ug duha ka dagku na event ang Tuna Festival nagsugod katong September 01 hangtud September 05, 2018. One of the highlights sa Tuna Festival ang pagpahigayon ug National Tuna Congress – “20 Years and Beyond: Continuing Remarkable Convergence” nga gipahigayon katong September 05 hangyod September 07, 2018 sa SM City, General Santos City. Duha ka adlaw na activity nga naka fucos sa Congress, mga news update sa Tuna-negosyo. Nahisgutan usab ang kabahin sa Climate Change Consideration in Philippine Tuna Fisheries og Daghan pang mga Activities. Ubay-ubay nga mga dinapit nga mga negosyante nga gusto makisayod sa kahimtang sa Tuna sa Gensan. Pitsa 30 palang sa Agosto mipahigayon na og Presscon ang National Tuna Congress sa Rosewood Plaace Clubhouse, Lagao General Santos City. Naguna sa Presscon ang Chairman sa National Tuna Congress na si Joaquin T. Lu. Daghang mga guest og media practitioner ang mitambong sa conferensya. Sa Grand Opening sa Tuna Festival nag sugod na sa Parade sa mga Plot na nakadesenyo ug kabahin sa Tuna. Og sa grand opening ceremony na gipangunahan sa atong Halangdong Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera og Fisport Manager na si Jose Abarquez

Antipas farmers receive P817-K interventions from DA

Antipas, North Cotabato. Around 500 farmers coming from different barangays of this town flocked at the covered court of Barangay Dolores on July 08 (Sunday) to welcome the Department of Agriculture led by Secretary Emmanuel Piñol.

Secretary Piñol brought his recent Biyaheng Bukid to this highland and interior municipality of North Cotabato saying that “this barangay is close to my heart.”

As the highlight of the event, Piñol distributed close to P700, 000 worth of agri-fishery interventions to the local government of Antipas, which included P181, 500 production inputs from the Rice Program; P436, 500 corn seeds from the Corn Program; P12,550 worth of planting materials courtesy of the High Value Crops Development Program; P30,000 worth of modules of sheep from the Livestock Program; and P35,000 worth of farm implements was granted by the Organic Agriculture Program.

Meanwhile, to address the poor road conditions in the area, Piñol vowed to include in the 2020 DA budget the concreting of 1.8-kilometer farm-to-market road that connects the villages of Dolores and Datu Selo. Initial allocation is put at P20 million.

“We (DA) may not be able to complete all FMRs within this year but I promise that it will all be finalized before my term ends,” Piñol said.

He also committed around P20-M available credit under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) program for the municipality of Antipas.

At the sideline of the activity was the launching of the Barangay Food Terminal (BFT) cum Bigasan ng Bayan in Barangay Dolores. This BFT has a freezer, digital weighing scale, crates, and NFA rice worth P50,000. Valued at P450, 000, the project has a P70,000 fund allotment for building improvement, as well as trainings and seminars.

SAAD awards P117-K farm implements

The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program distributed more than P117, 000 worth of farm implements which included 25 knapsack sprayers; 25 water sprinklers; 24 rakes; and 72 lagaraos. (DA-RAFIS 12)

PR No. 02

DA-SAAD distributes P475-K goats to Sultan Kudarat province farmers

The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program of the Department of Agriculture visited the coastal towns of Lebak and Kalamansig to deliver 120 goats worth P475, 000.

DA 12 Regional Executive Director Milagros Casis led the delivery and turn-over of the intervention to these towns’ villages on July 4 and 5.

For municipality of Lebak, DA-SAAD team distributed 29 goats to Barangay Keytodac and 30 goats to Barangay Salansang.

On the other hand, the program awarded 30 goats to Barangay Paril and 31 goats to Barangay Sangay in Kalamansig.

Director Casis told the farmer-beneficiaries that the government is doing its best to reach the far-flung areas to make sure that each underserved Filipino will be provided with the support that they need for them to improve their living conditions.

“If you’re going to seriously manage and maximize this intervention that you received from the government, you will be able to uplift your life,” she stressed.

SAAD is one of the pet projects of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol aimed at contributing to the attainment of the available and affordable food campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Secretary Piñol has said that SAAD was cited by the Philippine Statistics Authority as one of the government programs that greatly contributes in the economic progress of the country. (DA-RAFIS 12)

New agri lab in Region 12 eyed to thwart animal diseases threats

General Santos City. Animal and human health concerns in Region 12 will soon be easily addressed with the inauguration of renovated and improved laboratory as well as facilities of the Department of Agriculture 12 (DA 12).

The new Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RADDL) of the DA 12 located here was inaugurated on June 04, 2018 to unravel concerns such as enhancing prevention, detection, treatment and eradication of zoonotic diseases, and human transmission.

This project was implemented under the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) of the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (US-DTRA), proposed by the DA through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards.

Lance Brooks, the Program Director of CBEP, and Dr. Ronnie Domingo, the OIC-Director of the DA-BAI, were the guests-of-honor during the inauguration rite. They were also joined by the delegates from the US-DTRA, the top management of the DA 12 and local officials.

DA 12 Regional Executive Director Milagros Casis said that this project aligns fully with the priorities set out in the vision of the DA, specifically, to develop national laboratories and regional integrated agricultural laboratories.

“This project is in line with the prescription of the Department Order 4, Series of 2017 entitled Department Policy on Rationalizing and Strengthening DA National and Regional Laboratory Services,” she said.

Casis added that the project could surely prevent outbreaks involving animal diseases which not only have negative impacts in the agricultural production but also on the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens as this pose direct threats to human health.

Meanwhile, Director Brooks noted that the project is a defense against the increasing number of severe risks from animal diseases set to occur in the Asia-Pacific Region.

“The reported cases could occur either as epidemic or endemic not only in your country but also across national boundaries and territories,” the foreign official added.

The inauguration was just part of the P230-Million Enhancement of the Biosafety and Biosecurity Capabilities at the DA Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories which also covers the construction of new facilities and improvement of labs of RADDLs in Regions 2, 3, 7, 10, and 11, and as well the lab at the DA-BAI in Quezon City.

The project components included the construction and renovation, provision of laboratory and IT equipment, supplies for sustaining capacities for disease diagnosis, and training for lab personnel.

In the country, routine and primary diagnosis is performed at the RADDLs. (CULAguillon)

Approved for release by:

MILAGROS CAPAO-AN CASIS, CE

      Regional Executive Director

KALIMUDAN LOGO 2017

Cong. Datu Suharto 'Teng' Mangudadatu, Sultan Kudarat Province