MAGNITUDE 6.6 NA LINDOL: YUMANIG KANINA SA DAVAO OCCIDENTAL | SARANGGANI

Sarangani seeks to plant 1 M trees in 3 years

by Joseph Jubelag, Manila Bulletin

ALABEL, Sarangani – The Sarangani provincial government launched on Wednesday, Oct. 5, a reforestation program that seeks to plant and grow some one million trees across the province in the next three years.

SARANGANI Gov. Ruel Pacquiao and wife, Jobelle, lead the launching of the One Million tree-planting project in Barangay Bagacay, Alabel, Sarangani on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

Provincial officials led by Gov. Ruel Pacquiao attended the kick-off ceremony of the Sarangani One Million Trees project at the watershed areas of Barangay Bacagay here.

Hundreds of local officials, national government employees, and non-government organizations planted some 1,000 seedlings of iron bamboo and fruit trees, including coffee, langka, durian, rambutan, and lanzones.

Pacquiao urged residents and community stakeholders to take part in the environmental project.

“It could be a long way to go, but with the support of the community stakeholders, we can possibly save the depleting watershed of the province,” he said.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rolando Tuballes said the provincial government launched the environmental protection program amid a study conducted by the USAID-Safe Water Project that showed that some 20,000 hectares of the province’s forest covers have been degraded from 2015 to 2020.

He said the degradation had caused soil erosion and siltation triggered by perennial flooding.

“The massive tree-planting and tree-growing project for the next three years will intensify the reforestation of the denuded watershed areas which aimed to improve the quantity and quality of the province’s water supply,” Tuballes said.

Sarangani Profile

 

Sarangani Southern Philippines’ front door to BIMP-EAGA, is the southern most province in the mainland of Mindanao. It is cut midway by the city of General Santos giving its two sections hammock-like shapes that hug the mountains and Sarangani Bay. Sarangani is surrounded by the Celebes Sea, Sarangani Bay, and the province of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur.

The Province is also a coastal zone of SOCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos), one of the country’s fastest growing development clusters.

Sarangani has seven municipalities (Alabel, Malapatan, Glan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum) with 141 Barangays. Its vast beachfront, rolling hills and plains offers plenty of opportunities.

Major Industries: Aquaculture, Fishery, Agriculture Plantations and Tourism.

Power supply comes from the National Power Corporation (NPC) 69-KV transmission line and redistributed by a local electric cooperative, SOCOTECO II. The Southern Philippines Power Corporation (SPPC) stationed in Brgy. Baluntay, Alabel also supplies 55-MW from its diesel power plant, By 2015, Sarangani Energy Corporation, a coil-fired power plant located at Maasim will be operational with 200-MW capacity.

Water supply is sustained by spring development projects, construction of water systems and digging of artesian and swallow tube wells.

Telephone lines are connected in all seven towns of the province. All seven towns are now covered by the services of the cellular phone networks and wireless internet connection.

A 145Kms. world-class road network connects the seven municipalities and traversing through the city of General Santos, which maintains an international airport and a wharf. Commercial and rural banks provide business institutions and populace easy and efficient access to financial services in each municipality.

Sarangani hospitals get P95-M medical equipment from DOH

Photo taken by Jake Narte on October 26 during the ceremonial turnover of brand-new medical equipment and supplies at the Sarangani Healthcare Facility.

ALABEL, Sarangani (November 4, 2021) – The six provincial government-run hospitals in Sarangani have obtained P95-million worth of brand-new medical equipment from the Department of Health (DOH) as part of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

Total equipment cost for each hospital varies with the P20M for Glan Medicare Community Hospital, P10M for the Malungon Municipal Hospital, P14.5M for Maasim Municipal Hospital, P20M for Dr. Cornelio T. Martinez Sr. Memorial Hospital in Kiamba, P6M for Maitum Municipal Hospital, and P25M for the Sarangani Healthcare Facility (SHF) inside Capitol compound in Alabel.

Health Regional Director Dr. Aristides Tan turned over the medical equipment on October 27 at the SHF which were part of their “2017 fund allocation” for the provision of medical equipment in the different hospitals in the region.

In Sarangani, the equipment turned over were X-ray, Ultrasound and Ventilator machines, a brand-new unit of ambulance and operating tables which Provincial Health Officer Dr. Arvin Alejandro expected to “drive the medical staff to better their service to the people.”

According to Alejandro, the said equipment will immediately be of use soon as the supplier will finish the installation as well as the needed training and orientation to properly operate the equipment.

As among the pilot sites of the implementation of the UHC, Alejandaro said Sarangani was afforded with the medical equipment as the UHC Law, he said, targets to provide equipment and other needs of the hospitals in the identified implementation sites.

“For as long as we comply with the necessary requirements for the UHC maturity levels one, two and three," Alejandro said, "there are more coming equipment and supplies next year."

RD Tan anticipated the equipment delivered will be a “driving force” for the improvement of the three Level 1 hospitals in Sarangani and for the Sarangani Healthcare Facility to deliver the “best medical service.”

He, too, expected that implementation of the UHC Law in the province will be successful.

As of this writing, Sarangani has already three Level 1 hospitals situated in Malungon, Glan and Kiamba. Alejandro said these “are duly approved to serve as Covid—19 facility.” Also, he said, the SHF is already applying for its accreditation to be a Level 1 hospital.

“A certificate of need has already been issued which is the first requirement to become a Level 1 hospital,” Alejandro said.

The continuous improvements in the health sector in Sarangani were made possible with the strong tandem of Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, Deputy Speaker Congressman Rogelio Pacquiao, and Vice Governor Elmer De Peralta with the full support of the town mayors and all the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Meanwhile, Governor Solon commended all the medical staff “who are tirelessly working and who are taking the risk every day to give their service to those who are in need.”

The UHC Law was signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in February 2019 to usher in massive reforms in the Philippine health sector.

Among the salient features of the UHC Law are the expansion of population, service, and financial coverage through an array of health system amendments.

The UHC Law ensures that every Filipino is healthy, protected from health hazards and risks, and has access to affordable, quality, and readily available health service that is suitable to their needs.

 (Joshua John Pantonial/SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)

No Perils in Sarangani Oil Spills

This photo, taken out of a coast guard helicopter, should tell us and the entire world : There are no perils in Sarangani Oil Spills. i have joined several helicopter flights regarding other topics. I experienced the difficulties stating issues....

This was also the assurance of the Philippine coast Guard in the wake of the latest marine accident in Sarangani Bay, one of my most favourite places in Mindanao, when two vessels collided.

About 3,000 liters of oil spilled from M'V Bulk Carrier,which consequently sank.

Local official and a lot of residents, contacting me via Facebook and Twitter, were fearful that the oil sheen located 4,4 nautical miles off Maasim (following "offical reports'?!) would reach the shore and cause damage to to marine life.

Hay naku! It seems (official government and responsible people!) really don't understand what's going on here. Heaven forbid!

Sarangani Bay Festival 2011

The Mindanao Tourism Council is ready for the "Southern Invasion" from May 20-21, 2011 with a delegation of its officers, travel operators, members of the media (I am glad, I'll be joining!) and other tourism stakeholders for the biggest beach party in Southern Philippines.

The Sarangani Bay Fest 2011 will be sponsored by Hon. Congressman Manny Pacquiao, Hon. Board Member Nene Saguitguit and the Provincial Government of Sarangani for the hosted meals and accomodation.

See you there - and/or  expect more details here on my website.