Religious org'n marks anniversary in working for peace & dev't in Negros
NEGROS ORIENTAL, March 10 (PIA) -- The Church Military Advisory Group-Negros (CMAG-N), an organization composed of four Catholic Dioceses, military units and the police offices in Negros Island, marked its 4th year anniversary of working together and strengthening bonds for peace and development in the Island.
The anniversary's theme is "Peace and Development for God’s People - Our Mission, “For we are partners working together for God… (1 Corinthians 3:9).”
Army Information Officer Capt. Anacito Naz shared that the anniversary was celebrated on March 8 with a Holy Mass at the Little Way Seminary in Kabankalan City followed by a series of presentation updates on peace talks and peace agreements.
According to Naz, Diocese of Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Patricio Buzon expressed in his homily his gratitude for the presence of the military in the remote areas of Kabankalan City and the appreciation of the peace and development efforts the military is doing especially in the hinterland.
Before the final blessing of the mass, CMAG-N presented and awarded plaques of recognition to people that had contributed to the peace and development efforts in the area.
Recognitions were given to Most Rev. Jose Advincula Jr., former Bishop Diocese of San Carlos; Mgen. Vicente Porto (Ret) and Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, former 3rd Division Commanders; Brig. Gen. Manuel Luis Ochotorena, former 302 Brigade Commander; Col. Franco Nemesio Gacal, former 11th IB Commander; Col. Erwin Bernard Neri and Col. Pio Diñoso III, former 79th IB Commanders; Ltc. Antonio Nafarrete, former commander of the 1st Scout Ranger Battalion; Col. Eduardo Gubat and Ltc. Alberto Desoyo, former 62nd IB Commanders.
In the same occasion, briefing updates were given on the peace talks between Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army/ National Democratic Front.
Naz said part of the program was the message of Negros Occidental 6th district Cong. Mercedes Alvarez that acknowledged the army’s peace and development activities which contributed in addressing the primary needs of the residents especially in the conflict-affected areas in her district.
She added that the army serves as the catalyst in the successful delivery of basic social services to the less privileged residents in the area.
Church and military officials from the two provinces of Occidental and Oriental Negros took turns in giving their messages during a forum before a video and CMAG-N’s accomplishments presentations.
The peace and order concerns of the hinterlands were discussed followed by an open forum with participation from the members of the Basic Christian Community (BCC) in the hinterland of the CHICKS area (Cauayan, Hinobaan, Ilog, Kabankalan and Sipalay).
Naz said the whole day celebration-activity was very memorable with everyone encouraged to take part in addressing the peace and order problems in Negros Island.
Its member organizations were unanimous in their observation that peace and development problem can be fully addressed through convergence of efforts among the various stakeholders, not only the church or the security sectors, but the whole Filipino nation, the military officer said.
The military added that the Negros-based Army units in cooperation with other stakeholders will continue to extend support and assistance especially to the poorest among the poor who need assistance.
This is to complement with the army and concerned government agencies’ efforts under the AFP’s IPSP “Bayanihan” in addressing the insurgency and poverty problems in Negros Island, added Naz. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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EDC pours add'l aid to quake victims in Negros
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 10 (PIA) -- The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) poured in an additional P500,000 worth of relief goods to the quake-hit families in the towns of Tayasan, Jimalalud and Guihulngan City.
EDC Vice President for its Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field, Engr. Dwight Maxino said, EDC has already given out P1.5 million worth of relief bags containing rice, canned goods, bottled water, blankets and flashlights to the earthquake victims since February up to the present.
“We have decided to go back and hand out more relief goods to them because we knew that many of the residents there still lacked food and water supply,” Maxino added.
EDC likewise provided potable drinking water to its host community in Brgy. Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental and assisted them in repairing its water system that was damaged by the earthquake.
“We are thankful to our employee-volunteers who tirelessly packed these goods and distributed them,” smiled Maxino.
In recognition for its efforts to help families affected by this natural disaster in Negros Island, the Private Sector Disaster Management Network (PSDMN) has included EDC among its partners.
Maxino said this effort is part of the company’s community partnership program at work as he thanked also the PSDMN for recognizing the corporation’s contributions to the province in times of disaster. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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RAFI to present 6th Triennial Awards finalists
DUMAGUETE CITY, March 10 (PIA) --The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), a Cebu-based NGO, is to present its 6th Triennial Awards for outstanding individual and institution in the Visayas on March 22 at the Grand Ballroom, Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City.
According to Chief Operating Officer Dominica Chua the RAFI Triennial Awards is conferred every three years. The awards are given in two categories, the Ramon Aboitiz Award for Exemplary Individual and the Eduardo Aboitiz Award for Outstanding Institution.
The RAFI Triennial Awards in the Visayas and Mindanao was launched in 1996 to give recognition to individuals and institutions who committed themselves to building a more humane, equitable, and caring society.
The awards honor the men and women who, through their efforts to bring about change and improve the lives of the less-privileged, reflect the philanthropic, humanitarian and holistic ideals and values of Don Ramon Aboitiz and Don Eduardo Aboitiz.
Aside from the awarding, a series of activities include a heritage and press briefing for the media practitioners on March 21-22. (mbcn/JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)
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Mobile passport services in Dumaguete set in Mau
Applicants urged to visit City Tourism Office to be listed
DUMAGUETE CITY, May 10 (PIA) -- A two-day mobile passport service will be done in Dumaguete City on May 5 and 6, 2012.
Personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Bacolod Consular Office will be at the Robinson’s Place to entertain applications for new and renewal of expired passports from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 5, and 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. on May 6.
Jessica Layumas of the City Tourism Office here is urging applicants to visit the city tourism office immediately to be listed for the mobile services.
“Our staff will also pre-evaluate documents to determine which papers are lacking, if there are any, to avoid delays and confusion during the processing day,” she said in a statement released by the City Information Office.
The tourism office has requested the DFA to once again bring what is now their fourth mobile passport services in Dumaguete City following the high volume of requests from the public.
Since it was first held in the city in 2009, more than 2,000 passports have been processed by DFA during the mobile services held in the city in coordination with the tourism office.
This equates to an average of 700 passports per activity, a figure which DFA says is unprecedented in the department’s experience during their mobile passport services in Negros island.
The statement from the City Information Office quoted DFA Bacolod Chief Executive Officer Joselito Blas as saying that the lowest turnout they’ve had was 28 applicants in a local government unit in Negros Occidental.
Layumas said the city tourism office will continue to facilitate more mobile passport services in Dumaguete in the future.
The two-day passport service also kicks off the month-long celebration of Santacruzan Festival in the city in May. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)