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Friday, November 28, 2008
Cha Monforte Blogs November last week 2008
posted by Rural Urban News @ 6:03 AM   0 comments
CHA MONFORTE BLOGS NOVEMBER LAST WEEK 2008
Comval Congress 2010

NEWS: Ramil breaks silence, says his ambition remains

“Roger Sarmiento will do a comeback”

nov 28

Vice Governor Ramil Gentugaya yesterday broke his silence and said that his “ambition to run for Congress in 2010 remains”.

“However, being a member of the Lakas-CMD party, I will abide by the decision on however the party will endorse as the standard bearer, ” he said in a text message.

“At this point no one has been endorsed yet, thus the field is still open. Anything is possible,” he added.

It is about two weeks until yesterday that Gentugaya had been mum on the local press following the revelation of Apsay that she had participated in a leadership training at Tagbilaran City in Bohol sponsored by the Lakas-CMD nationale directorate.

Later this month she is slated to undergo another leadership training for women Lakas leaders in Manila. The same the Lakas national directorate will foot the bill for its Manila affair.

Observers said that the Lakas-CMD national directorate appears to be already grooming Apsay as its pick for standard bearer for the post that her father Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” will be leaving by 2010.

But others see otherwise, saying it is the Lakas local leadership, the provincial directorate chaired by Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy which has the “greater voice” in the choice of the standard bearer.

As this developed, a source said that former Cong. Roger “RMS” Sarmiento is already going for a comeback as he would reportedly run to vie against Gentugaya or Maricar, or both in a scenario of a three-corner fight over the District 1 congressional post.

Compostela Barangay Poblacion secretary Pepot Garcia said that he was approached recently by a Compostela resident and former manager of the Sarmientos who said that Roger Sarmiento is girding to run to reclaim the congressional post that he bequeathed to Cong. Zamora when he ran but lost as governor against former Gov. Jose “Joecab” Caballero in 2001 polls.

Provincial elder Prospero Amatong was also reportedly qouted as saying that Sarmiento would be running for the post, mediaman Rudy Calansingin said.
Amatong was interviewed by the local media inside the residence of former Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Anthony del Rosario during the last Tagum City fiesta. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: boardmember maricar zamora-apsay, comval vice gov. ramil gentugaya, former comval cong. roger "rms" sarmiento, newsman rudy calinsingin, pepot garcia compostela | Tagged: , , , ,


NEWS: Workers themselves cover for employers’ violation of minimum wage law- Davnor DOLE exec

nov 28

TAGUM CITY- A provincial officer of the Dept. of Labor and Employment has bared here that there are cases when the workers themselves cover the violations of their employers on the minimum wage law.

“Di sila kaako motug-an sa gipanghimo sa ilang employer sa ila (They cannot afford to tell to the labor department what their employers have been doing),” said Albert Degamo, DOLE provincial officer in Davao del Norte during yesterday’s edition of the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo in the Media Center, Capitol at Mankilam.

Degamo however bared that his office has been hearing cases every Monday relating to labor standards including those covering minimum wage laws and orders.

He could not though cite provincial statistics on the extent of violations of employers and businesses on mandated minimum wage of the workers.
Instead he cited that his agency has three frameworks in enforcing the minimum wage law.

He said that at the latest Wage Order 15 made by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-XI the workers in the region employed in businesses having 10 or more workers the current effective rate for minimum wage is P265 per day from P250 per day for the period June 16 to Sept. 16, 2008.

The framework to be taken for businesses having 1 to 9 workers requires only technical visit during which employers are only required to give their action plan on the minimum wage, adding that DOLE is still giving small businesses “time to grow”.

“For businesses having 10 to 129 workers, we do inspection on whether they comply with the law and enforce our labor standard laws,” Degamo said.

“For those having 200 workers or more, we make no inspection but rely the self-assessment on implementation of minimum wage on labor unions as embodied in their collective bargaining agreement (CBA) (with their employers),” he added.
Micro-enterprise businesses, he said, are exempted though from complying with the minimum wage law. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: albert degamo tagum dole, davao del norte minimum daily wage, davao del norte workers | Tagged: , ,


NEWS: City dads to correct junked Urban Poor Ordinance

nov 27

The Tagum City Council will make due corrections and revisions to their Urban Poor Ordinance that was not confirmed and returned by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to the City Hall Monday.

City Councilor Nicandro “Nickel” Suaybaguio Jr, also housing committee chairman, said in a text message yesterday that he and his colleagues will take into consideration the recommendations of the SP in revising the ordinance, adding that “we are of the same plight of protecting the welfare of the urban poor.”

“My committee will find pursue to find ways to address the problems of the urban poor,” he said.

As of yesterday, Suaybaguio had not yet received a referral of the ordinance to his committee

He added that for this his committee is also presently crafting the city’s housing code and reviewing the zoning ordinance.

The known Urban Poor Ordinance of Suaybaguio, City Ordinance 302, sought to defer for five years the issuance of accreditation and approval of development plans to new urban poor associations wanting to undertake housing subdivisions projects for their members.

The City Hall came up with the measure to stop urban poor housing projects that it said resulted to low occupancy, underdevelopment and blight due to lack of basic facilities and services such as access roads, drainage, water system, power and electricity, solid waste disposal system, and other facilities.

It however gave exemptions to ten community associations which are still on the process of complying the necessary permits and those which have already approved preliminary approval and locational clearance (PALC) and development permit (DP) but with a low occupancy rate will be subjected to verification process to be conducted by the City Planning and Development Office.

Listed exempted were Barangay Magugpo East Urban Poor Homeowners Association, Curvada-Magdum Homeowners Association, Immaculada Concepcion Urban Poor Homeowners Association, Malinawon Urban Poor Homeowners Association, San Antonio Homeowners Association, San Jose Homeowners Association, San Rafael Homeowners Association, Tagum CEBOLE Homeowners Association, Inc., Velasco Urban Poor Homeowners Association – Phase 1, and Velasco Urban Poor Homeowners Association – Phase 2.

The measure also provided that the ordinance will be lifted anytime when ninety five percent actual occupancy rate of those subdivisions that have low occupancy is realized. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: tagum city councilor nicandro "nickel" suaybaguio jr, tagum urban poor, tagum urban poor ordinance | Tagged: , ,


OPINION: Tough class acts of Pros Amatong

BLOGISTA

By Cha Monforte

Nov 24

The last time I got an opportunity to interview today’s best known provincial elder-statesman Prospero “Pros” Amatong was in the late 80s, when he was still the governor of the erstwhile undivided Davao del Norte. That time I was then with the defunct Northern Star published by late Cesar “Rasec” Sotto. Thursday was like the same day repeating in terms of ambiance in my interview with him in the 80s.

The grand old man in Davao del Norte-Comval politics was still at his signature form at home: he donned pure cotton white shirt and shorts, while Ma’am Luz sit nearby. The same - he has been smoking menthol then and now. For all those greatest political and electoral feats after over 4 decades in public service, Pros Amatong remains down-to-earth and charismatic, speaks candid, terse jab, punch lines and unleashes keen political thoughts, while the Amatong ancestral house in Purok 3, Nabunturan remains largely the same inside: wooden, archaic and its kitchen downstairs can still be seen from the sala. Nabunturan’s greatest father is unblemished: not a single Ombudsman complaint, not even from anonymous complainant, has been filed against him in his 45 years of public service.

He’s one unscathed after serving as Nabunturan councilor (3 years), Nabunturan mayor (14 years, 2 years in New Corella), undivided Davao del Norte governor (9 years), District 2 Comval congressman (9 years), 2 years as project manager of the Philippine National Oil Corp. and 6 years as project engineer of the then Bureau of Public Works, his first stint in government.

He has two episodes when his mandate was cut short: the first on September 28, 1977 when he was purged by dictator Marcos for being with the opposition and replaced by Vice Mayor Zosimo Bugas who served for 4 years, and on March 31, 1986, after reclaiming his mayoral seat in 1980 polls, when he was appointed by President Cory Aquino as the OIC governor of the Davao del Norte.

Now at 77, Nabunturan’s kingmaker visibly remains yet so influential in town and even the whole province despite his exit from political corridor of power in 2007. “When I say I’ll no longer run, I’ll not run,” he says in vernacular adding that he differs to others who make a lot of fuss over their political decisions. His decision of no longer running for office in 2007 polls is tough class act of seasoned and experienced politician. But from it, he bequeathed his political power to his successor son now Cong. Rommel “Bobong” Amatong. At a time when he retired began the baptism of fire in politics of his political heir. All out of the service-rich patriarch, the neophyte scion becomes a shoo in. This shows though particularly for Davao del Norte now that there were no two or more Amatongs holding the reins of power at the same time.

In the circles of politicians and barangay kapitans asking for projects from him, his bluntness is well known. Davao del Norte Vice Gov. Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio recalls that when Amatong fumed anger he surely would give the proponent the project requested. “It’s like a situation of a father scolding a son,” Suaybaguio says as he recalls how Amatong counterparted much for the province when he built Totit during VG Baby’s stint as Tagum mayor.

It’s in Amatong’s brand of management that government projects must always be placed on the ground based on “felt need”. Same words then and now. Visibly this is one of the cornerstones why he stayed long in public office. “The felt need is determined by experience,“ he says. When he went on a spree of opening new roads and building bridges in farthest villages across the then undivided Davao del Norte after EDSA Uno people power, he ended up beloved by many not only in Comval but also in Davnor. As to one of the values he holds dear, he talks on the need of a no-changing character that must be in place in every politician regardless of the stardom status one may have reached in his political career. But, he added, it should be the people themselves who’ll remind politicians in power who’ve changed in character.
After all those punishing years in public service, include there Jun Pala’s Kumander Puti witchhunt when he became the OIC Davnor Gob, the acknowledged Comval father Pros Amatong remains oozing with charisma and gems of political thoughts despite that he’s gone south of his age now. But by and large, as I see him now, he’s one great political statesman-elder, who has rich legacies that have reshaped towns and provinces and vast experience as a vintage master politician behind him from whom today’s provincial and local politicians ought to take stock of for advice if not emulation. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: provincial elder-statesman prospero amatong, vice gov baby suaybaguio | Tagged: , , ,


NEWS: Pulis mas alerto karon sa Tagum bisperas, pista- Gunabe

Seguridad pahugtan pa gyud

nov 22

Pahugtan pa gayud ug ensakto ang pagbantay sa kapulisan sa seguridad sa syudad karong adlawa nga bisperas na sa kapistahan ni Patron Kristong Hari sa syudad sa Tagum.

Magduha na ka semana sugod nga gipataas sa kapulisan ngadto sa heightened alert ang ilang 0agbantay sa kalinaw sa syudad.

Sa pagpahugot sa kapulisan sa ilang pag-gwardya aktibong ginamobilisar usab ang mga barangay tanod, matud pa ni Tagum City police chief Dario Gunabe sa pakighinabi kagahapon.

Subay niini, ang hepe sa kapulisan nanawagan usab sa suporta sa katawhan sa pagsalmot sa pagbantay sa kalinaw tungod kay matud niya gamay ra gayud ang mga elemento sa kapulisan ikumpara sa kadaghanon sa katawhan sa syudad.
Bisan niini kanunay pa gihapong alerto ug aktibo ang kapulisan sa pagpakgang sa mga krimen nga makadaut sa maayong estado sa kahusay ug kalinaw sa syudad, dugang pa ni PSupt. Gunabe.

Siya usab mipahibalo nga sa natalang estadistika sa kapulisan sa tibouk nasud nakit-an nga sa bulan sa Nobyembre ug Disyembre partikularmente sa panahon sa kapaskuhan taas gayud ang national rate sa crime against property.

Nagpasabot, matud niya, nga modaghan ang mga kaso sa kawat, pagpanglungkab ug uban pang krimen batok sa propriedad.

Ang unang makakontra niining klaseng krimen mao ang pagbantay mismo sa katawhan sa ilang pinuy-anan diin anaa ang ilang mga propriedad, matud pa sa hepe. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: Tagum police chief Dario Gunabe, tagum city fiesta | Tagged: ,


NEWS: Pros Amatong: “DA, real recipient of Bolante fertilizer”

His office just coordinated the distribution

nov 21

Former Compostela Valley District 2 Congressman Prospero Amatong bared yesterday that the real recipient of of the so-called Bolante fertilizer was the Department of Agriculture-XI and that his congressional office then just coordinated its distribution to the farmers in his district.

“We just identified the recipients of the fertilizer,” he said in an exclusive interview.
He added that the fertilizer was a cargo and he shied away from micro-managing it.

“Sila na adto, bagahi to siya ug kapoy kung ako pay mangunay adto,” he added.
Even then, he said there was an auditing team from Commission on Audit which went to his congressional office and cleared the transaction.

“The Bolante fertilizer just passed in my congressional office,” he said, adding that he had not much thought of it since he saw mayors and farmers in the province also coordinating DA-XI to access it.

He said his office ultimately received goods in the form of fertilizer and not money.
He recalled that his office received the fertilizer close before the elections and that its distribution went beyond the elections due to the election ban.

Asked on how he is seeing the investigation on the P728-million fertilizer fund scam reportedly pulled by former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante before the May 2004 polls, he said that the current drift of pinning down the suppliers and the DA “is good” and that those culpable could be uncovered through a “paper trail” and “missing links”.

The recognized provincial elder has been undefeated in electoral races in his 50 year of public service during which not a single Ombudsman complaint, even from anonymous sender, was filed against him. His son Cong. Rommel Amatong is taking his footsteps at present.

Earlier, several incumbents during the 2004 polls had already spoken on the Bolante fertilizer scam.

Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario in a TV report said he did not receive the Bolante fertilizer but drip irrigation projects to boost vegetable production in his province.

At that time he was the national president of both the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)

On Monday Davao del Norte Cong. Arrel Olano (District 1) admitted he received Bolante’s fertilizer and distributed it to some 6,000 farmers in Asuncion, Kapalong, San Isidro and Talaingod towns. He said his recipients could be verified right in the field.

Olano said that he started distributing the fertilizer before the May 2004 polls and stopped when the election period began. He said he continued distributing the fertilizer after the elections.

Last Sunday, Comval Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora (District 1) admitted, too, he received fertilizer but only in August 2004, after the May polls in that year.
Zamora said his recipients included even the farrmers belonging to the militant Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas in his province.

He said the transaction was “duly accounted for” and that he has a list of recipient barangay captains throughout his district except Monkayo town. where he did not distribute the fertilizer as Zamora were at political odds then with Mayor Manuel Brillantes.

Both Olano and Zamora said they did not receive money but only fertilizer.
Early last week, former Comval Gov. Jose Caballero said he did not receive any fertilizer nor money for it, although he complied with the requirements asked by the DA for him to access the so-called Bolante fertilizer.

Former Davao del Norte Cong. Antonio “Tonyboy” del Rosario (District 2) has yet to issue a statement on the issue to the local press.

Bolante has been accused of engineering the alleged diversion of P728 million to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom he had cleared to have not been involved in the scam, along with other names of local officials and congressmen who were identified as proponents of the fertilizer funds.

A total of 103 congressmen, 53 provincial governors and 23 mayors were identified as among those who availed of the funds. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: cong. olano, cong. way kurat, former comval cong. prospero amatong, former cong. tonyboy floirendo | Tagged: , , ,


OPINION: Forget Sto. Tomas and Nabunturan cityhood

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

nov 20

There was that buzz last week that the cityhoood in Nabunturan is forthcoming. Was it another diversionary stuff for the P90-million bond flotation that the town’s administration pushes to be implemented? (The bond float pushers are now respondents to an injunction case filed by representatives of people initiative petitioners in town. We’ll not touch this for now at the risk of being held in contempt of court). But sadly, for Nabunturan, the cityhood isn’t really coming (so with Sto. Tomas in Davao del Norte) since the Supreme Court the other day struck out the 16 new cities including the near Mati in Davao Oriental, Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte and Tandag, Surigao del Sur. They’re now back as municipalities!

Forget the costly hoopla and celebrations when these towns became cities via Congress and not via the requirements of the New Local Government Code. What now magistrates, when the “city” officials have been already called as city mayores, city vice mayores and city konsehales? Throw into the garbage cans their calling cards, stationeries, and discard the new “city” logo and seal, or put white-outs to the word “city” in the birth and marriage certificates of those who were born and who married during the time when Mati, Bayugan, Cabadbaran and Tandag were still called as “cities”?

In declaring the 16 cityhoood laws unconstitutional, the High Couirt pointed out: “The Constitution is clear. The creation of local government units must follow the criteria established in the Local Government Code and not in any other law. There is only one Local Government Code. The Constitution requires Congress to stipulate in the Local Government Code all the criteria necessary for the creation of a city, including the conversion of a municipality into a city. Congress cannot write such criteria in any other law, like the Cityhood Laws.” It’s really a big sorry for our four neighboring towns.

The trouble with their city conversion was that they had their congressmen sponsored their respective cityhood bills when their annual income had not yet hit the P100-million mark. They asked for exemption for it and the Congress granted. That’s via legislative fiat.

Really, forget the congressmen unless they sponsor for the further revision of the New Local Government Code (LGC) and not file bill through the short-cut, backdoor route. You see there’s that ultra-resistence from the cities as the SC’s nullification came from the court case filed by the the league of cities. They, like Tagum City, just don’t want more towns to become cities to eat with them the big IRA allocation for the cities.

But now the real route to cityhood is the New Local Government Code, as amended. Through this, the 3 requirements are needed: 100 square kilometer land area, 150,000 population based on the latest 2007 census and P100 million annual income. Nabunturan has 245.26 sq. kms land area, check. In 2007 census, it has only 67,365 population, fail. By next month, the town’s real income is still less than P100 million as the P40-50 million is still a planned borrowing for the bond float. I said it before, at the very least, the town could only hit the 150,000 population mark in 15 years.

Monkayo is more dejado since it already has the land and income requirements. If Mayor Manuel Brillantes is wise enough, he’ll have to lobby for the correction of the wrong boundary line of Comval’s north and Monkayo gets big chunks of population of Laak, and the Agusan del Sur towns of Santa Josefa and Veruela, and presto, it immediately qualifies to become a city. In 2007 census, Monkayo has 90,971 population.

What’s in a name? Nabunturan town can still function like a city without a city tag if has all the amenities, facilites and services well in place for its residents to live in comfort and convenience. Unfortunately, the town administration of Mayor Macario Humol has apparently been lacking of efforts in delivering good, potable water for the poblacion residents. This, for one gauge alone. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: bayugan agusan del sur, cabadbaran agusan del norte, comval, davao del norte, mati davao oriental, nabunturan, nabunturan cityhood, nabunturan mayor macario humol, sto tomas davao del norte cityhoo, sto. tomas, tandag surigao del sur. requirements of cityhood | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,


OPINION: Way K’s realpolitik

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

There are now signs and the inevitable came out: it was no other than Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay held at bay by a mix of persons in the media to talk about politics last Sunday amid the ongoing 58th birthday celebration of his father, Cong. Way Kurat at their known Octagon farm park in Monkayo.

“The equity of the incumbent applies only to the reelectionists of the same position,” she said in answering the earlier postulation that Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya is most senior among Lakas partymen to claim for the coveted title of becoming the administration standard bearer for the District 1 congressional post by 2010.

There were no ifs, nor buts for the BM Maricar on this issue. The post that sooner his father would be leaving is really an open one, vouched even by an earlier opinion of Lakas-CMD regional president, Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario.

So it’s the party that would really decide who from the front-running congressional wannabes- BM Maricar and VG Ramil would be picked up. There seems no more District 1 bidders for the post. Lito Brillantes, for one, is outsider, not incumbent. As of this writing, Monkayo Mayor Manuel Brillantes, then with Liberal party (Atienza wing) is smoking a peace pipe with Way Kurat and Lakas-CMD when he took oath as a party member two weeks ago.

We heard from buzz that VG Ramil has stockpiled financial logistics when he became a married man last Oct 18. “If it’s Maricar, he (Ramil) would either stay or go out from the party,” said Cong. Way Kurat in an imprompto presscon amid his birthday bash. “But if it’s Ramil… ah we will not talk about it as it will never happen anyway,” he added as he turned quizzical.

We’ve learned also that BM Maricar appears to be already groomed as the Lakas-CMD national directorate’s pick. She just joined in the Tagbilaran leadership training, all at the national party’s expense. There, BM Maricar along with 40 other Lakas-CMD potential standard bearers were accordingly trained on “how to’s” rudiments including how to win in the coming polls. By the end of this month, she’ll again join in another Lakas-CMD leadership training for women party leaders sponsored by the Lakas-CMD national directorate.

We’ve also learned that Cong. Way Kurat was just testing who his loyalists really are when he floated he would be running as Compostela mayor. “Atik ra to,” he announced before over a thousand of birthday well-wishers.

He said he is due to retire from politics two years from now to be the Lakas-CMD campaign manager, as Gob. Uy listened intently. In the presscon, he said he don’t want also to suffer the same fate of Caballeros and Palma Gils in Davao Oriental, who were all defeated for running simultaneously in two top positions. Well, we knew of ex-Gob. Joecab and ex-BM Kris.

Meantime, Konsehal Dolfo Ang of Compostela enthused that the election is still far and “many things would still happen”, when referred of the no Way Kurat for mayor scenario in his town. Ang was reported to be vying for mayoral post. But he just don’t believe yet of the scenario.

With these, we see that Way Kurat’s plan of becoming a Lakas-CMD campaign manager in the province is one big enigma. While it’s one caveat for ensure Maricar’s pick (for who else could not vote against a scene-stealing and stage-propa veteran politician becoming the admin campaign manager?), a realpolitik act, but the spectacle of seeing Way K become a plain citizen again after the May 2010 elections doesn’t sit well among his loyalists. Maybe he’ll also take a crack for the vice gubernatorial post, and bargain for it, too, or the much-touted Comval unity will come crashing down in smithereens. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

Filed under: boardmember maricar zamora-apsay, compostela councilor dolfo ang, comval politics, comval vice gov. ramil gentugaya, cong way kurat zamora, way kurat birthday | Tagged: , , , , ,


NEWS: Flexi-fare ordinance takes effect without SP confirmation

Fare is already P8 starting yesterday

nov 19

The tricycle fare should already be P8 and not P10 starting yesterday in Tagum City based on the brackets in the approved flexi-fare ordinance.

Under it and at today’s reduced price of gasoline, the senior citizens and students would have to pay only P6 for the average ride.

City Land Transportation and Regulatory Board chairman Atty. Roland Tumanda, also the city legal officer, clarified in an interview with Sidlak that even if the ordinance has not yet been confimed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the city government has the legal basis and is empowered to enforce it to give urgent public welfare.

“But once it (the ordinance) is not confirmed by the SP, we will stop (the implementation),” he said.

Last Monday’s SP session, the flexi-fare ordinance was not yet even calendared while the SP secretary Dennis Dean Castillo confirmed that as of 5:00 PM that day he had not yet received the ordinance.

The ordinance was approved in last week’s session of the city council.

The measure was enacted due to decreases of gasoline prices.

Earlier, Mayor Rey Uy asked for patience of commuting public in the city to wait for the eventual approval of the ordinance amid calls for decrease of tricycle fare.
The ordinance has brackets of tricycle fares that would either increase or decrease depending on the current pump prices of gasoline.

Under the ordinance, the CTFRB is the one which will call for fare increase or fare decrease from time to time.

Uy pushed the flexi-fare ordinance a week after the ordinance on fare increase from P7 to P10 effected last September 19.

Tagum is a component city of Davao del Norte and under the New Local Government Code all city resolutions and ordinances are subject for review and confirmation by the SP. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: atty roland tumanda, flexi-fare ordinance, tagum city mayor rey uy, tricyle fare tagum city | Tagged: , , ,


NEWS: RDR’s turn to say on Bolante fertilizer: “I did not receive it”

nov 19

It is two more to go for their say on P728-million fertilizer fund scam that spilled over in Davao del Norte an Compostela Valley areas.

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario took his turn yesterday in saying he did not receive any of the controversial fertilizer from former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante before the May 2004 polls.

In a DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum report early morning yesterday, the governor said that instead he received from the Dept. of Agriculture funds for irrigation projects for the province’s farmers.

A google search ended up in link stating that the govenor at that time was the national president of both the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)

After Del Rosario’s made his turn to talk with the local media on the issue, who remains now in the so-called Bolante list in the two provinces is former District 2 Cong. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo, and Comval Cong. Prospero Amatong (District 2), who would still have to state on whether they had receive Bolante’s fertilizer or not prior the May 2004 elections.

Sidlak tried but failed to reach them yesteday.

The other day Davao del Norte Cong. Arrel Olano (District 1) admitted he received Bolante’s fertilizer and distributed it to some 6,000 farmers in Asuncion, Kapalong, San Isidro and Talaingod towns. He said his recipients could be verified right in the field.

Olano said that he started distributing the fertilizer before the May 2004 polls and stopped when the election period began. He said he continued distributing the fertilizer after the elections.

Last Sunday, Comval Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora (District 1) admitted, too, he received fertilizer but only in August 2004, after the May polls in that year.
Zamora said his recipients included even the farrmers belonging to the militant Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas in his province.

He said the transaction was “duly accounted for” and that he has a list of recipient barangay captains throughout his district except Monkayo town. where he did not distribute the fertilizer as Zamora were at political odds then with Mayor Manuel Brillantes.

Both Olano and Zamora said they did not receive money but only fertilizer. .
Last week, former Comval Gov. Jose Caballero said he did not receive any fertilizer nor money for it, although he complied with the requirements asked by the DA for him to access the so-called Bolante fertilizer.

Bolante has been accused of engineering the alleged diversion of P728 million to the 2004 campaign kitty of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whom he had cleared to have not been involved in the scam, along with other names of local officials and congressmen who were identified as proponents of the fertilizer funds.

A total of 103 congressmen, 53 provincial governors and 23 mayors were identified as among those who availed of the funds. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

Filed under: bolante fertilizer comval, bolante fertilizer davao del norte, comval cong prospero amatong, davao del cong. tonyboy floirendo, gov. rodolfo del rosario | Tagged: , , , ,


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Thursday, November 13, 2008
davao del norte compostela valley recent news and views posts november 1st-2nd week 2008
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davao del norte comval news november 1st-2nd week 2008

NEWS: Judge Clapis subpoenas DoF, DBM experts for say on P90 M bond float

On TRO, injunction vs. Nabunturan bond flotation
nov 13

NABUNTURAN- Regional Trial Court Judge Helarion Clapis here has ordered yesterday to send subpoenas to the regional offices of the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management for their experts to testify and give opinions as neutral parties on the P90-million bond flotation project of the municipal administration which town oppositors seek to stop through court action.

Bond float oppositors last Friday filed at RTC-Branch 3 here last Friday a court case praying for injunction with application for writ of preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order (TRO) against respondents Mayor Macario Humol, Vice Mayor Romeo Clarin and Councilors Iluminada Cabuga, Darwin Tan, Edilberto Minoza, Vivencia Secuya, Cheryl Trinidad, ABC president Alfredo Manalop, sectoral representative Felipe Masambo and Sangguniang Kabataan president Jennifer Gamao.

Not included in the case were also oppositionist councilors Raul Caballero and Editha Arangcon.

Complainants of the case and authorized representatives of the people’s initiative petition were Councilor Alfonso Tabas, Jr. Emilio delos Reyes and newsman Cha Monforte.

The case filed was docketed as Civil Case No. 898.
The respondents have answered yesterday their comment and opposition to the case following Monday’s summons of Judge Clapis for them to enter appearance within 15 days from receipt of summons.

Only Minoza and Gamao were absent in yesterday’s hearing.

They were represented by their counsels prosecutor Ferdinand Villanueva and provincial prosecutor Graciano Arafol.

On the other hand, the complainants’ counsels were Atty. Rex Lopoz and Atty. Carlo Ancla.

In yesterday’s first hearing on the injunction with TRO, following hearing of arguments that a took a little over an hour, Judge Clapis said, citing Rule 58 on the rules of court on injunction and a “limited knowledge of this court” on bond flotation such as about its fees and costs and how it affects the people of Nabunturan, “there is a need to issue subpoenas” to DoF and DBM “to testify and inform this court on the effects of bond flotation, whether or not it would be for the benefit or disadvantage of the people”.

He said that the court has the power to impose an injunction to a government unit if there is a need for “special probationary remedy to correct an error”.
He said there is a need for experts from neutral parties and not those coming from local parties on the bond flotation to enlighten his court whether he would issue an injunction or not.

He ordered his court sheriff Rene Suarez to serve the summons to DoF and DBM today and scheduled the next hearing Thursday next week, Nov. 20. (Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . atty carlo ancla, atty. rex lopoz, comval nabunturan news, comval provincial prosecutor graciano arafol, councilor alfonso jun tabas, emilio delos reyes nabunturan ptca official, jr, nabunturan bond flotation, nabunturan councilor ABC president alfredo manalop, nabunturan councilor cheryl trinidad, nabunturan councilor darwin tan, nabunturan councilor edilberto minoza, nabunturan councilor editha arangcon, nabunturan councilor raul caballero, nabunturan councilor sangguniang kabataan president jen, nabunturan councilor sectoral representative felipe mas, nabunturan councilor vivencia secuya, nabunturan councilors iluminada cabuga, nabunturan mayor macario humol, nabunturan vice mayor romeo clarin, prosecutor ferdinand villanueva, regional trial court nabunturan judge gelarion clapis, rtc nabunturan judge helarion clapis.


NEWS: Mayor Uy will not revoke business permit if payment is voluntary

As NDC-Tagum appeals

nov 13

Tagum City Mayor Rey Chiong Uy will not be revoking the business permit of North Davao College Tagum Foundation Inc if the school will first make voluntary the payment of the fees for the nursing review and mock board examinations.

The mayor made bare his stand in a text message yesterday following Tuesday’s appeal of the censured officials and nursing students in lower years of the NDC-Tagum for the mayo not to revoke the school’s business permit.

In a DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum report yesterday, Dr. Roberto Palec, NDC-Tagum dean of nursing, pleaded to Uy to make more probe on the allegations against his school before making his final decision on whether to revoke the business permit of the school particularly for its nursing school program.

Dr. Palec said there is a process to follow before they could be penalized with revocation of business permit.

In another radio report, the NDC-Tagum nursing students in lower years especially those in the fourth year now also asked for non-revocation since they are already graduating by March next year.

On Monday the city council has censured the school with seven resolutions including the declaration of four top officials of the school as persona non grata and the revocation of the permit of the school’s nursing course program.

NDC president Anita Somoso, Palec and other officials went to the mayor’s office on Tuesday for the purpose but they were only met by City Administrator Raffy Abrenica and City Legal Officer Roland Tumanda.

Meanwhile, Councilor Francisco Militar said that while the city council has declared persona non grata to several NDC-Tagum officials it can only declare as such and could not put the censured officials in contempt.

He advised complaining party of nursing graduates and parents to go first to the barangay and then to the court for due relief. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , . atty roland tumanda, mayor rey chiong uy, ndc-tagum, nursing gradautes tagum city, tagum city administrator raffy abrenica


NEWS: RDR: Tagum Lakas chair reserved for CO

nov 13

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said yesterday that since Tagum Mayor Rey Uy was the standard bearer of the ruling administration Lakas-CMD, the party’s chairmanship in the last 2007 elections is thus reserved to the latter being the top incumbent official in the city, said a DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum report.

“As far as I know, he is still with Lakas,” said Del Rosario in apparent comment to the report that the mayor has been gravitating towards the opposition based on his statements on a few of national issues in the past.

“Hinid na kailangang galawin ito,” he said referring to the current leadership set-up on the administration party in the city.

Picking up from the recent Lakas-CMD unification in Compostela Valley, the governor said the Lakas-CMD in his province would also have its oathtaking and reaffirmation of membership before the year will end.

The Lakas-CMD in Comval is chaired by the city mayor’s elder brother Governor Arturo Uy. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , . dxdn radyo ukay-tagum news, governor rodolfo del rosario, lakas-cmd in comval, lakas-cmd in davao del norte, tagum city mayor rey uy


OPINION: VG Baby’s good reflex (Look ma, no pork)

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

nov 13

The feathers of one of Tagum’s illustrious sons have been unruffled, to say proverbially. Right after the Davao del Norte’s 2009 annual budget of P624.5 million was approved Monday by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan without still an item Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) which has been considered as the pork barrel fund, Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio told me the budget is “reflective of the real needs of the province”. He added that he has no regrets that it has no PDAF for the SP members including for himself.

“Mao gyud na ang tama, ang amo lang is to legislate,” he added.

He said that due to limited funds the legislative department is with Governor Rodolfo del Rosario in concentrating funds for his priority programs under the RDR wheels strategy of governance.

He said though that for the next year the SP has also no capital outlay and almost the same budget for the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) compared to this year.

What a sportsman he is. Well, earlier reports said that the governor’s predecessor ex-Gob YG had reportedly dispensed PDAF for the BMs and VG for them to respond to thousands of requests of small projects, services and solicitations like medicines for the sick and hospitalized, paupers burials etc, etc from barangays and constituents (read: the voters).

It’s what Speaker Boy Nograles asserted in his white paper to justify his giving of pork barrel to the congressmen, like Joe DV. They are also politicians and in a band of legislators also engaged in politics, congressmen also need magnanimity, the pork regardless of the many issues and allegations hounding it. Otherwise, BM Dangpanan is quite right in asking his constituents’ indulgence for giving only a pittance for solicitations or else he goes home with much dwindled take home pay from his P28,340 salary or of the VG’s P29,474 salary, without yet counting their monthly RATA yet, anyway.

Be that at it may, but VG Baby may well be apprised that in the country’s fiscal structure in LGUs it is, as usual, skewed to the executive, the implementor.
As in the approved budget, the Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) got the usual bulk in terms of personal services (PS, which is for salaries and wages) and MOOE across offices, seizing up about 13 percent or P81,060,617 of the total Capitol’s budget of P624,504,612 for 2009.

The PGO’s budget is further boosted by budget allocations across various fund accounts and services such as the P20.8-million general fund for regular programs and various services listed under the 20-percent development fund.

Under the general public services of the 20-percent development fund, the governor has P17,168,000 for the peace and order program, from which the confidential intelligence fund (IF) is pegged. Well, the IF is computed to be either 30 percent of the total peace and order appropriation, or 1 percent of the annual budget, whichever is lower, or hence Gov. Del Rosario has P5.15 million intel fund for next year.

Besides, the PGO has also P28 million for universal Philhealth coverage
of the P38.7 million for health services, P11 million for other general public services, P61.2 million for various economic services, among others.
Under this traditional fiscal parameter, look ma no pork, VG Baby’s office and the SP offices have only a budget of P15,261,550 and P30,998,586, respectively, or a total of P46,260,136 for the legislative department’s PS and MOOE. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, email: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

nov 13

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , , , . boardmember salary, davao del norte 2009 budget, governor rodolfo del rosario, intelligence fund computation, pork barrel funds in davao del norte, vice governor salary, vice governor victorio "baby" suaybaguio


NEWS: Sarmiento compound in Montevista now a log buying station?

nov 12

The sprawling and known Sarmiento compound in Montevista, Compostela Valley has been reported to have been already leased and used as log buying station allegedly fronting for sawmills and log processors operating outside the town.

The still unknown entity leasing the Sarmiento compound that has big warehouse and a ricemill inside is accordingly engaged in buying logs sourced from as far as Santa Josefa town in Agusan del Sur even if it has allegedly no sawmilling, logging operations and clearances secured from the municipality and the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.

Sources said that legitimate wood processors have now been experiencing scarce wood supplies these days.

Sidlak tried but failed to contact the provincial environment officer Gregorio Lagura, who was out of his office yesterday morning.

The Sarmiento compound was once a known political venue since the 80s until the late 90s when the Sarmientos were then on their heydays as political kingmakers in Comval and the old first district of the still undivided Davao del Norte. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , . comval penro gregorio lagura, logging in comval, sarmiento compound montevista


NEWS: Oyo: “I’m also eligible for Congress”

nov 12

First-termer City Councilor De Carlo “Oyo”, son of Mayor Rey Uy, said when prodded in an interview that he is also eligible to run for the congressional post that would be considered by Lakas party as vacant once its holder last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano goes out from the office by 2010.

But he said that that for now “trabaho muna bago yang politika”.
Asked if the report was true on his close friendship with former Vice Gov. Anthony Rafael del Rosario, he smiled and said that it might be because they are both young.

The young Del Rosario has been reported to aspiring for Olano’s post, while Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel has been making louder noises on his congressional ambition over the airwaves through DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum where Israel anchors in an early morning program.

Mayor Uy, who recently said that he still has one more term to serve, has remained silent until press time on his son’s 2010 plan.

Observers said that there seems now a start-up guessing game as to what Councilor Oyo would take a crack on by 2010, which they say may include also the vice mayoral post considering that the Davao City’s tandem of Mayor Rody and his daughter Vice Mayor Sara had already been realized and made as precedent.

Asked on his stand on the City Hall’s tiff with the North Davao College Tagum Foundation Inc., he said that the city council had thoroughly studied and discussed all the issues and their ramifications and as collegial body they ended up approving the resolutions that censured the school officials.

He admitted though that the city council has no power to contempt, even as it has the power to declare persona non grata. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , . boardmember dangpanan israel, cong. arrel olano, ndc-tagum, tagum city councilor de karlo "oyo" uy, tagum city mayor rey uy


OPINION: Dangpanan sings louder this time

BLOGISTA
By Cha Monforte

nov 12

After his recent trip in Rome where the Santo Papa lives, Davao del Norte Boardmember Roger “Dangpanan” Israel isn’t yet singing a different song. He’s still singing the same song but already louder this time.

Before his departure last month, Tagum’s veteran politician, who came from the ranks of the local media, told me in an interview that he would go into “deep personal reflection” that included on whether he would finalize his plan of running to run for the first congressional post that the last-termer Cong. Arrel Olano is finishing to serve at present.

In that interview, he said that considering his length of service as an elected official and the masteral studies on public administration he graduated, he is ready and capable to handle higher posts including that of the governor and congressman.

But Dangpanan is most interested to run though for Congress which is also being vied by former Vice Gov. Anthony Rafael del Rosario, son of Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, the district’s recognized kingmaker.

“We still have not made an agreement on it,” he said referring to the young Del Rosario as the other party.

In his early morning radio program over DXDN Radyo Ukay-Tagum late last week, Israel, who said he had just gone from Rome in Europe, was not yet singing a different tune but was more loudly repetitious on the absence of agreement between him and Anthony.

On the airwaves, he’s either been singing “It’s not too late” or “It’s now or never” with a refrain that he could not wait to be 65 anymore by 2013.

But in a rather bellicose commentaries, Israel, also of the administration party, announced that he would be going to the barangays and consult the people on his congressional plan “kay wa man silay gusto nako”.

He bared his plan of organizing a grassroots structure parallel to the RDR Wheels of the governor.

He also asked for indulgence from his constituents for the small amount he is giving for their solicitations reasoning on the present absence of pork barrel funds for the Davao del Norte boardmembers.

He also alleged that the capitol has been engaged on borrowing binge from banks here and there and bared that the 2009 budget for education for the thousands of provincial scholars would not be for the 2009 expenditure but for the 2008 payables to the schools where the scholars study.

But also playing coy on his plan, Israel said that “pwede pod ko nga di na lang modagan ug mag technician na lang sa FM station ni kanhi governor ug congressman Pros Amatong sa Nabunturan” as he greeted the provincial elder on the air. An FM station owned by Amatong located along the road going to the Cabidianan Capitol in Nabunturan is now reportedly ready for test broadcast.

The other day, he said he has gone in seven countries in Europe including the country-city Rome, from where he brought home a holy miraculous water he is sharing at press time to his constituents.

After I recently enjoyed listening to what appears as BM Roger’s comic cum tear-jerker and hullabaloo on his congressional plan, I imagined of the coming Tagum’s fiesta bolanteros. From such imagery it’s now either kwarta o kahon, or believe it or not, or she loves me, she loves me not. But when he makes true his threat of running for Congress, there’s then that spectacle of ruining the Lakas unity in Davnor, and one may say, nah naluke na. (For online edition, visit my blog at: http://cha4t.wordpress.com, for comments and reactions, email: chamonforte@yahoo.com, or ruralurbanews@yahoo.com)

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , . anthony del rosario davao del norte, boardmember roger "dangpanan" israel, cong. arrel olano, fofer mer cong prospero amatong, gov. rodolfo del rosario


NEWS: P624.5 M Davnor budget for 2009 OKd

Still no PDAF pork for VG, BMs

nov 11


A total of P624.5 million annual budget for year 2009 was approved yesterday by the Davao del Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan without still an item Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) which has been considered as the pork barrel fund of provincial board members.

Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio, in an interview with Sidlak after the SP budget approval, said that the budget is “reflective of the real needs of the the province” adding that he has no regrets that it has no PDAF for the SP members including for himself.

“Mao gyud na ang tama, ang amo lang is to legislate,” he added.
He said that due to limited funds the legislative department is with Governor Rodolfo del Rosario in concentrating funds for his priority programs under the RDR wheels strategy of governance.

He said though that for the next year the SP has also no capital outlay and almost the same budget for the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) compared to this year.

In the approved budget, Provincial Governor’s Office (PGO) got the usual bulk of the budget in terms of personal services (PS, which is for salaries and wages) and MOOE across offices, seizing up about 13 percent or P81,060,617 of the total Capitol’s budget of P624,504,612 for 2009.

The PGO’s budget is further boosted by budget allocations across various fund accounts and services such as the P20.8-million general fund for regular programs and various services listed under the 20-percent development fund.
Under the general public services of the 20-percent development fund, the governor has P17,168,000 for the peace and order program, from which the confidential intelligence fund (IF) is pegged.

The IF budget is computed to be either 30 percent of the total peace and order appropriation, or 1 percent of the annual budget, whichever is lower, or hence Gov. Del Rosario has P5.15 million intel fund for next year.

Besides, the PGO has also P28 million for universal Philhealth coverage
of the P38.7 million for health services, P11 million for other general public services, P61.2 million for various economic services, among others.
On the other hand, the Vice Governor’s Office and the SP offices have only a budget of P15,261,550 and P30,998,586, respectively, or a total of P46,260,136 for the legislative department’s PS and MOOE. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , . davao del norte 2009 budget, governor rodolfo del rosario, prok barrel funds for davao del norte boardmembers, vice governor victorio "baby" suaybaguio


NEWS” NDC-Tagum execs declared persona non grata

Because of controversy, NDC nursing grads cannot take Nov. 30 exam anymore

nov 11

Four top officials of the controversy-wracked North Davao College Tagum Foundation Inc. were declared by the Tagum City Council after a lengthy question hour portion attended by some school and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials in yesterday’s sanggunian session.

Declared persona non grata in the city council’s Resolution No. 534 were Dr. Anita Somoso, NDC-Tagum school president, Dr. Roberto Palec, dean of college of nursing, nurse Ms. Rosie Jay Rom, assistant dean, and Lida Natavio, school administrator.

Somoso was not present in yesterday’s session.

Dr. Palec was largely unmoved though at times put in precarious situation in defending his school to the several allegations posed by lead proponent Councilor Joey Millan.

Palec debunked allegations that they were into money-making activities in collecting P10,000 review fee and P7,500 mock board examination fee from their nursing graduates before school credentials could be released to them.

But present councilors after hearing the side of several NDC-Tagum officials were still unconvinced and made true approving their last week’s seven resolutions censuring the school and its officials with only insignificant amendments.

Also approved by all members present were Resolution No. 535 demanding to NDC-Tagum to release the school credentials of the affected nursing graduates, Resolution No. 536 demanding for the refund of the collected sum from the P10,000 review fee and P7,500 mock board exam fee, Resolution No. 537 urging CHED to investigate the alleged 20-percent interest charged on late payments on financial obligations of the nursing graduates, Resolution No. 538 urging CHED for the non-renewal of the school’s permit to operate as nursing school, and Resolution No. 539 manifesting the city government’s stand never again to enter into contract of affiliation with NDC-Tagum.

The city council amended to approve the last Resolution No. 540 urging the city mayor to revoke the NDC-Tagum’s business permit to operate a nursing course only from a business to operate as an entire school following debate between Councilor Millan and Councilor Rey Salve.

Salve contended that it was still premature to censure the school entirely with the proposed resolution, citing that the lower year nursing students and other courses might be affected which would result to transfers to other schools or closure of the school.

Millan however contended that the resolution was only an expression of sentiment of the body following tedious five sessions of deliberating the issues. He subsequently agreed for amendment after Vice Mayor Allan Rellon called for on-recess caucus attended by him.

During the question hour where Dr. Palec was the one always grilled by Millan, the gallery was filled of nursing graduates and their parents and several faculty members of the school.

Millan reminded present school officials on the standing CHED Memorandum Circular No. 13, series of 2006 which prohibits schools to force their students to take up review classes to schools not of their own choice and to withhold credentials after being cleared of all academic and financial obligations.

Palec denied charges that they were forcing the graduates to take the in-house nursing review and the mock board exams and the withholding the graduates’ credentials saying that they have only school’s requirements and obligations to satisfy.

He denied forcing the graduates to take the in-house nursing review and mock board requirements which he said have been implemented in the school for three years now, drawing some heckles from the gallery.

But Palec immediately shot back to those in the gallery not to make disturbance during the question hour saying “it’s against the law”.

He added that they made the review in house with Kaplan Review Center as the school’s choice saying that “it somehow gives them the confidence in the school … that (the graduates) can pass the board exams”, adding that they also noted of the strict requirement of the Professional Regulation Commission of closing nursing schools based on the failing rate of graduates.

CHED OIC regional officer Eduard Aquino, on the other hand, said that his office has made efforts in negotiating with school officials to release the graduates’ credentials but the latter was insistent of enforcing their own school policies.

He informed that NDC-Tagum officials had “committed lapses” contrary to CHED policies.

Aquino though said that CHED lawyers would be coming this week to investigate the case and make “final word” on the matter.

Both Palec and the school human resource director Evelyn Dismas said respectively they made “shortcomings” and “lapses” in informing the graduates’ parents.

For the several allegations, Palec dared graduates to go to court to settle the issues.

On his parting shot, Palec said that they may release the graduates’ credentials with notation “for employment purposes” and not “for board exams” unless the fees for nursing review and mock board exams are paid.

He implied however that the school officials would still meet to study on whether to refund the fees or not.

Because of the controversy, at least 52 nursing graduates of the school are sure they could no longer take the slated Nov. 30 nursing board exams since their credentials were already withheld for not paying the said fees and as the deadline of application to take the board exam already lapsed a month ago.

It was learned that some 208 nursing students graduates from NDC-Tagum last March and unaccounted number of whom had resorted to executing promissory notes with the school for the contended fees in order to secure school credentials needed for the board exams.

Also present yesterday were Councilors Allan Zulueta, De Karlo “Oyo”, Nicandro “Nickel” Suaybaguio, Mylene Baura, Joedel Caasi, Vicente “Enting” Eliot Sr. and Robert “Tete” So. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 14, 2008. Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , . Ms. rosie jay rom assistant dean NDC tagum. lida natavi, dr. anita somoso, dr. roberto palec, ndc-tagum, tagum councilor allan zulueta, tagum councilor de karlo "oyo", tagum councilor joedel caasi, tagum councilor joey millan, tagum councilor mylene baura, tagum councilor nicandro "nickel" suaybaguio, tagum councilor rey salve, tagum councilor vicente "enting" eliot sr. tagum council


NEWS: Silence on for Maricar-Ramil for Congress tiff for now til January

nov 10

Silence would be observed for now by both camps of Compostela Valley Vice Gov. Ramil Gentugaya and Boardmember Maricar Zamora-Apsay on who of them is rightful to be standard-bearer for fielding by the unified Lakas-CMD party- but only until January.

In a report carried by a daily in Davao City, Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy said both of the congressional wannabes who earlier both declared to be running for the congressional post in the first district have agreed to abide with a party decision on who to field for the post.

The governor said that the Lakas-CMD party will make a formal announcement of its decision in January.

Also, a source close to Lakas-CMD provincial leaders said that both agreed not to talk to the media on the issue “so that energies would not be wasted by anyone of them.”.

The source said that the party will hold a caucus by December especially to resolve it and strike consensus and agreement so as not to divide the party in the first district.

Earlier, last-termer Cong. Manuel “Way Kurat” Zamora said that he would be sticking to the agreement on July 1, 2007 forged by him, daughter Maricar, Uy and Gentugaya for Maricar vie for the congressional post while Ramil would seek for reelection in his current post by 2010.

The suggestion that in order for the party not to be divided in the first district Maricar would instead take the vice gubernatorial bid while Cong. Way Kurat take the mayoral bid in Compostela town was earlier thumbed down by the congressman, saying that the said agrement was already “a solution that has been there.”

Meanwhile, Boardmember Moran Takasan in an interview said that the second district runs smoothly without political quivering thus far as Cong. Rommel Amatong is not facing a challenger at this early from within the party.

Earlier, former Gov. Jose “Joecab” Caballero said that he would still be running “either-or” meaning either for a return bout for the congressional post or for gubernatorial bid. (Cha Monforte/Rural Urban News) http://ruralurbanews.blogspot.com

November 10, 2008. Tags: , , , , , , . boardmember maricar apsay-zamora, comval boardmember moran takasan, comval vice gov. ramil gentugaya, cong way kurat zamora, cong. rommel amatong, former gov. joecab caballero, gov. chiongkee uy
posted by Rural Urban News @ 6:49 PM   0 comments

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