DRY SPELL DESTROYS PHP15.8M CROPS IN GENERAL SANTOS

Around P15.8 million worth of agricultural crops here have been destroyed due to the impact of the continuing dry spell triggered by the El Nino Phenomenon.

Ms. Elsie Villanueva, assistant head of the City Agriculture Ofice (CAO), said Wednesday the intense dry weather has so far affected at least 462 hectares of farmland in eight of the city's 26 barangays.

She said the areas that were hit hardest by the dry spell were upland farms that not covered by the irrigation facilities of the National Irrigation Administration.

The official specifically cited portions of Barangays Batomelong, Connel, Bawing, Upper Labay, Sinawal, Tinagacan, San Jose and Olympog.

"Our damage computation mainly covered short-gestating crops like coconut and fruit trees.

CAO personnel are currently conducting weekly monitoring and assessments in the affected barangays regarding the status of standing crops and possible damages.

"If the dry spell will prolong as predicted, we expect the affected areas and damages to also increase later on,"she said.

The city and parts of region 12 has been ex- periencing below normal rainfall since october last year due to the el nino , which, according to philippine atmospheric geophysical and astro-nomical service admin - istration ( PAGASA ) , could extend until june.

 Also known as SOCCSKSARGEN, the region is composed of the province of South Cotabato , Sultan Kudarat , Sarangani and North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal , Tacurong , Kidapawan and Cotabato .

The Department of Agriculture in Region 12 launched cloud seeding operations in parts of the region last week to help mitigate the effects of the dry spell.

Cloud seeding is the process of manually spreading either dry ice or salt into the upper part of the clouds to help stimulate the precipitation process and form rain . ( PNA )

Obama carries various religious symbols in his pocket

WASHINGTON (Reuters)- President Barrack Obama will make his first visit as president of a US mosque next week in defense of religious freedom. The White House said, following a rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.

           Obama will visit on Wednesday the Islamic Society of Baltimore mosque, where he will hold a roundtable with the community and deliver remarks, A White House official said on Saturday.

          At the mosque, the president will “reiterate the importance of staying true to our core values- welcoming our fellow Americans, speaking out against bigotry, rejecting indifference, and protecting our nation’s tradition of religious freedom,” the official said.

           He has visited mosques outside the United States on his trips abroad.

           Obama, a Democrat in his last year as president, has appealed to Americans to reject anti-Muslim comments by politicians, most notably Republican president hopeful Donald Trump.

           Trump, who is leading the Republican field in opinion polls, called for a ban on Muslim visitors to the United States after a Muslim couple inspired by Islamist militants killed 14 people in a shooting in San Bernardino, California, in early December.

           According to Gallup poll in December, Americans are now more likely to name terrorism as the top issue facing the United States than any other issue. 

DAVAO AND GENSAN: Tale of the two cities-

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – A partnership is brewing between two of Mindanao’s premiere cities.

           This development has now grown into possibility as Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City and Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera of Gensan City finally met on January 16 at Phela Grande Convention Center during the induction of the new officials of Junior Chamber International Philippines.

          The event was graced by Duterte as he was the delegated inducting officer chosen by the organization.

          But apparently, the main highlight was the crossing of paths of Duterte and Rivera- both local chief executives of two of the most highly urbanized cities in Mindanao.

           It was an opportunity that was seized by Mayor Rivera of Gensan as he was seeking strategies and advice on how to efficiently serve the people- from a “tested and proven” Duterte of Davao City.

           “Duterte has much experience in running in the local government. He made Davao as one of the progressive cities in the country. And it is very visible that his people is happy about it,” Rivera said.

           During a conversation, Rivera also mentioned the first time he met Duterte.

           “I first met Duterte when I was still in the private sector. The two of us are motorbike enthusiasts, so one time, when he had a leg in Davao, I got the opportunity to meet him,” Rivera narrated.

           “Years after, I am a public official already. Things are different. But I still look up to him because I want to make Gensan as progressive and safe as Davao.

           Mayor Duterte affirmed the statements of Rivera, and cited the promise that Gensan holds.

          “Gensan is a beautiful place. Your roads are wide. You have many resources There’s a lot of things that can be done here.” Duterte said.

           “You can’t see anything like these even in Cagayan, Zamboanga. Even in Davao, our streets are clogged already.”

          The Mayor of Davao also mentioned that the key into running the government efficiently are heart and decisiveness.

           He also noted that there’s nothing instant in growing a city.

             But he gave an exemption to the statement, affirming drugs and corruption should be eradicated fast.

          “If I will become the president, I will end drugs and corruption. Six months should be long enough. And if I can’t do it, then choose another to replace me,” Duterte said.

          Davao and Gensan are two neighboring cities in Mindanao. Both are accessed through the Asian Highway 26 (AH26).

         Davao boasts its strong economy coming from real estates, BPO’s, industrial services, and other diverse commercial activities.

          The city also a hotspot for tourism because of developed suburban destinations.

         On the other hand, Gensan is a becoming the agro-industrial hub of the SOCKSARGEN region. Due to its complete transportation platforms via land, sea, or air.

          Tuna and fishing Industry is still steady in the city, albeit to the global challenges it is facing.

         Business also started to flock to Gensan when Rivera entered in 2010.

          This is proven by the 300% growth of MSMEs roughly from 1,000 to 8,000.

          Trade, business and food and agriculture could blossom in the southern Mindanao if the two cities would work hand-in-hand.

           Duterte became the Mayor of Davao in 1987 and got a short stint of being a congressman.

          Rivera, on the other hand, became the mayor of Gensan in 2013, after ending the 27-year.

 political reign of Achievement Integrity Movement. (AIM)--- Local counterpart of the liberal Party (LP)

          The mothers of these two mayors are both teachers.

          They also show enthusiasm in motor biking (Gensan CPIO/ Ian John Lagare).

        

   

                  

IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY - POLICE TO CATCHE SMOKING VIOLATORS

           GENERAL SANTOC ITY – Police personnel in the city are now ready to catch anyone who are smoking in restricted premises.

           A deputation order coming from City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera was received by General Santos City Police officer (GSCPO) director Maximo Layugan on Wednesday (January 20,) which authorizes the police to fully implement the Anti-Smoking Ordinance.

           The Anti-Smoking Ordinance (Ordinance no. 6 Series of 2015) was enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod-under the directive of Mayor Rivera-to make Gensan a non-smoking city.

           “I want to make Gensan a non-smoking city, I even stopped smoking for this.” said Mayor Rivera. “Of course, I want a strict implementation on this. That’s why we have the police.”

           For individual who will be caught for the first time, a fine of P1,000 will be charged to them. The maximum fine an individual can incur is P3,000.

           Business establishments in the city are also included in this ordinance. Smoking in their Non-smoking areas are fineable of P1,000 up to P5,000.

           However, these business establishments may designate a smoking area in their premises. The barangay treasuries will collect the fines coming from the violators. Those that cannot pay will be subjected to police inquest.

           Police city director Layugan pledged that the GCSPO will be the city’s partner on enforcing the said ordinance.

           The anti-Smoking Ordinance of Gensan is not limited in apprehending smokers.

           In the Ordinance, an individual is not also allowed to smoke electronic cigarettes (vapes) and shisha in public places.

           Public places, as defined by the ordinance, is any form of public conveyances, accommodation and entertainment establishments, public offices and buildings, School Campuses both public outdoor spaces, workplaces and government-owned vehicles except in the duly designated smoking areas within the territorial jurisdiction of General Santos City.

           Selling cigarettes, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and sisha to minors are also prohibited by the ordinance.

           An Anti-Smoking Task Force was also created to promote awareness for the said ordinance will be implemented and enforced.

            According to the department of health (DOH), smoking kills 10 Filipinos per hour. Aside from the smoking is also attributed to several fatal diseases such as Cancer and tuberculosis.

          Rivera said that the facts alone should serve as an encouragement to stop smoking already.

          “I know dangerous smoking is because I was a heavy smoker myself. When I stopped, the withdrawal symptoms almost made me sick for a month” he added.

           “I decided to quit because I think of my family, malulungkot sila Kung may mangyari sa akin dahil sa paninigarilyo.” (They will be sad if there is something that will happen to me because of smoking)

          “And of course I cannot perform my job well as the city mayor if I am sick always”, the mayor emphasized.

          The Anti-Smoking ordinance of Gensan is somehow patterned after the anti-smoking ordinance of Davao City (Gensan CPIO/Ian John Lagare)

NGCP transmission pole burned in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao;

Power restored to Cotabato City and MAGELCO this morning

NGCP’s Sultan Kudarat Substation – Cotabato City – Datu Saudi Ampatuan 69-KV  line tripped on 22 January at 10:57PM because of a burned transmission pole in Salimbao, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. Initial findings indicate sabotage.

Power to Cotabato City was restored at 1:39AM and to MAGELCO areas at 7:14AM today, 23 January. NGCP completed the necessary repairs at 1: 54PM today with the installation of a modified lightweight tower.

NGCP is doing all it can to ensure continued, uninterrupted power transmission services all over the country.

However, power interruptions caused by force majeure events like sabotage and tower bombings, are beyond our control.

We are appealing to the national government, the local government units, law enforcement agencies like the PNP and the AFP, as well as to the local communities and their leaders, to help us secure our transmission lines to prevent such power interruptions.By: Bambie Capulong and Gemma Roda

EXPECT LOWER POWER RATES IN GENSAN, SARANGANI, COTABATO

GENERERAL SANTOS CITY (PNA) – Power rates in this city and parts of Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces will be reduced by around P3 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) once the 105-mega-watt (MW) coal-fired power plant of the Sarangani Energy Corp. (SEC) starts commercial operations in March.

           Ferdinand Corales, SEC project manager, said Monday their projections showed that the area’s power rates will drop to around P5 per kwh, with the streaming of its power supplies to local distribution utility South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socoteco II).

           In 2015, the average power rate passed on by Socoteco II to local consumers reached P8.35 per kwh, which included the costs of charges for transmission, distribution and other components.

           “The cost of electricity here will be significantly reduced, although the final rate will still be determined by the Energy Regulatory Commission,” he said in a statement.

           SEC started last week the synchronization of its 105-MW power plant in Barangay Kamanga in Maasim, Sarangani with Socoteco II and the Mindanao Grid.

           The synchronization, which will last until the end of the month, is part of the plant’s load and reliability tests, in preparation for its targeted commercial operations by March.

           The electric cooperative had signed a power sales agreement with SEC for the provision of 70 MW of base load to its service area.

           Sococteco II, which has a peak demand of 130 MW, serves this city and parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.

           Crisanto "Bong" Sotelo, Socoteco II acting general manager, acknowledged that the area’s power rates are currently considered relatively higher than those with other localities.

          He said this was largely due to their dependence on contracted power producers operate using diesel. Diesel is much more expensive compared to coal,” Sotelo said.

ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY town mayor killed, 3 wounded

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Tungawan Mayor Randy Climaco was killed an ambush in his town in Zamboanga Sibugay on Monday afternoon.

           Zamboanga Sibugay governor Wilter Palma confirmed the death of Climaco, who was ambushed while he and his team were on their way to the village Bantungan, also in Tungawan.

           “It was shocking, It bothers us. Who will be the next? Palma told to the Daily Philippine Inquirer by phone.

           Vice Mayor Raup Arbirson and two others were wounded in the 4 pm attack.

           Palma said he has directed the police to go after the suspects.

           The governor said Climaco was serving his last term as Tungawan mayor,

           “I didn’t know if he was able to file his certificate of candidacy for another position,” the governor said. (SFM)