Barangay Health Station

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy led the turn-over ceremony of the Barangay Health Station at P-5, Prosperidad, Montevista, Comval together with the provincial, municipal and Barangay officials of the municipality of Montevista, Compostela Valley Province on October 24, 2019.

(Photo by: M. Lasaca, PS Comval)

In Comval: Signing and Groundbreaking Ceremony ...

... for Proposed DOLE Provincial Office

Compostela Valley Province--- Deed of Usufruct Signing and Groundbreaking Ceremony for proposed DOLE Provincial Office took place at the Provincial Capitol Lobby, Cabidianan, Nabunturan, Compostela Valley Province on October 21, 2019.

In line with the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley Province’s 4Ps+ program, the construction of the Provincial DOLE Office will contribute to the province’s  prosperity and easy access for all Comvaleños in terms of employment concerns .

The ceremony was attended by Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Dole Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante and other government officials of of the province. The proposed Dole Provincial Building is worth 30 Million pesos and will be constructed within the Provincial Capitol Complex of Compostela Valley.

Together with Governor Uy, Dole Regional Director Raymundo G. Agravante signed the contract and was grateful for granting the said project witnessed by PG Department Head of PHRMDO/ Provincial PESO Manager Lara Zaphire Kristy N. Bermejo together with DOLE Provincial Director Albert Degamo.

The proposed 30 Million worth building will become a 1 two-storey building which will serve as the DOLE Provincial Office and 1 building as a training center for all activities by DOLE in Comval. (Jasteen P. Abella, ID COMVAL)

Comval Tourism receives six pearl awards

Compostela Valley Province-- Six (6) pearl awards were received by the Provincial Tourism Office through the Supervising Senior Tourism Operations Officer (SSTOO) Ms. Christine Dompor of Compostela Valley during the conduct of the 20th Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) National Convention on October 2-5, 2019 at the Fort Ilocandia Resort, Ilocos Norte.



With this year’s theme, “Tourism and Jobs: A Better Future for All”, tourism officers and tourism stakeholders from all over the country had convened to share their knowledge, build networks, immersed in different communities and learned from these visits towards sustainable tourism.


According to Dompor, ATOP is an organization of tourism officers from all over the country who aims to strengthen its capabilities in tourism development, strive towards the highest standard of information and services for tourists, promote the welfare of its members and other partners, and foster unity in the industry.

Dompor added that the highlight of the four-day event of the DOT in Ilocos is the pearl awards were the association are being recognize for their exemplary practices, programs, and innovations employed by the Local Government Units (LGUs) in tourism governance. Together with the Department of Tourism (DOT), ATOP encourages Local Chief Executives to actively participate in the country’s tourism development initiatives. The award-giving program also is supported and partnered with the technical partner, the University of Sto. Tomas (UST).

Now on its 15th year, the PEARL AWARD: ATOP-DOT Best Tourism Practices of the Philippines Awards, honors local governments, and tourism officers who have contributed the significantly towards achieving sustainable tourism development in their respective communities.

“As of this year, ATOP added a new set of categories open to all levels, provincial, city and municipal were out of 300 plus entries all over the country, Compostela Valley was able to reap 6 pearl awards,” the tourism officer said.

For Provincial Category Comval were able to receive the 1st Place for Best Tourism Month/Week Celebration for the Tourism Month 2018 activities and 1st Place for Best Tourism Event Sports Festival for Visit Davao Summer Fun in Comval.

While for the Municipal Category Grand Champion for the Best Tourism Festival as Contemporary/other art form in NABIFILMEX of Nabunturan; 1st Place for Best Tourism Event Festival as Heritage Conservation for Lyurot Festival of Golden Valley in Mabini; 2nd Place for the Best Tourism Event-Adventure for the Tapok Tunob sa Langub Caving activity in Mawab, and a Special Citation for Best Tourism Event Festival as Thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest during the conduct of Simbalay Festival in the municipality of Nabunturan

All in all, 6 trophies garnered by the Comval delegation with two (2) LGUs already making names out of its tourism programs and projects.

Attending and receiving the award were led by Christine T. Dompor together with her office staff Prescila A. Decena and Larrah Jay M. Caparas, Jimmy Catamora Municipal Tourism Staff of LGU Mabini, and Leah M. Calamba – Municipal Tourism Officer of LGU Nabunturan. (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

PWDC Chair Sholai Lim strengthen ties with China for greater opportunities

Provincial Women Development Council (PWDC) of Compostela Valley Province Chairperson Ma'am Sholai Lim participated as part of the Philippine delegation to the recently concluded dialogue at the National People's Congress in Beijing, China.

The bilateral talks and institutional visits were arranged by the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Zhao Jianhua for DUMPER Partylist Representative Hon. Claudine Bautista where fellow women leaders like Vice Mayor Josephine Mariscal of Municipality of Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental and Atty. Mary Kristine Joy Paras of the Office of President were also present.

The discussion highlighted the now better relationship status of the Philippines and China under President Rodrigo Duterte's leadership, and the importance of political stability in pursuing genuine developments for the people.

Cong. Bautista and Ms. Lim are set to implement vital projects and programs for the women sector of Davao de Oro. Initial planning was done between the two women leaders on how they can help public utility drivers and empower their families, especially the mothers.

Hon. Mayor Jason Joyce of JAS, Marketing & Communications Consultant Mr. Reymond Pepito, Mr. JP Gabareto of DUMPER Partylist and Mr. Shadrach Lindong of the Office of the Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy were also present during the discussions

(PDWC FB Page/ID Comval)

Not only love is in the air ...

My column in Mindanao Daily and BusinessWeek Mindanao

OPINION

By KLAUS DORING

 October 17, 2019

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WHILE I was staying in Manila for a couple of days, I experienced it 24/7.  Getting into a traffic jam is every driver's nightmare. Endless minutes (or worse: hours) in which nothing's moving forward can turn what should be a short car-ride into a seemingly never-ending odyssey. But congested streets aren't just annoying for commuters — they have far-reaching consequences.

But not only in Manila. Europe's environmental watchdog has warned that city dwellers in Europe are at risk of life-threatening air pollution. The report recommends EU countries take rapid action such as decreasing the number of cars in cities.
    
Poor air quality caused 412,000 premature deaths in Europe in 2016, the most recent year data is available, according to an EU report released on Wednesday. Meanwhile is it 2019.

Sixteen of the EU's 28 member states reported at least one case of unacceptable levels of nitrogen dioxide that surpass legal EU limits. Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain were all found to have unsafe levels of the gas that's among the major vehicle emissions.

The report recommends European countries reduce the number of cars to lower nitrogen dioxide levels — and therefore air pollution.

An air quality expert at the European Environmental Agency and author of the study, Alberto Gonzales Ortiz, warned that air pollution is "currently the most important environmental risk to human health."

The report referred to World Health Organization (WHO) figures that found heart disease and stroke were the most common reasons for premature death due to air pollution, followed by lung disease and lung cancer.

The study also found that certain groups including children, the elderly, pregnant women and people living close to roads and industrial areas were more vulnerable to its effects.

While the level of dangerous particles in European cities was dropping, Ortiz said it was not falling fast enough. In line with EU law, member states are required to examine the level of a range of pollutants and take action if pollutants, such as ozone matter, exceed healthy levels.

As we all know: cities across the whole world pledge air pollution changes, but are they ready? Over 30 mayors from across the globe have pledged to deliver clean air for the 140 million people living in their cities. Delivering clean air on such a scale will take both ambitious targets and concrete action.  Believed to cause 7 million premature deaths every year, air pollution is increasingly recognized as a silent public health emergency.

Quoting British journalist Holly Young, "It's perhaps the most explicit illustration of how closely intertwined our health is to the state of our environment. Its particles have been found in human hearts and brains. It has been linked to asthma, Alzheimers, dementia, cancer, and stroke as well as mental health issues and miscarriage".

Despite its known damage, over 90% of people around the world still breathe dirty air. The Clean Air Cities Declaration announced at the World Mayors Summit this month in Copenhagen is a notable attempt to move the dial in tackling the issue. Held by C40, a network of over 90 cities dedicated to tackling climate change, 35 mayors and pledged to deliver clean air for the 140 million citizens in their cities.

The declaration highlights that the air pollution crisis is one "rooted in social injustice," due to the way it typically hits the poorest and most vulnerable communities hardest. According to WHO it is low- and middle-income countries that suffer the biggest burden from air pollution.

State of the City Address of Mayor Sara Duterte

Here are some visual impressions:

Philippines’ Samantha Lo missing ...

... at Miss Grand International 2019 welcome party in Caracas, Venezuela

BY JILLIANINA ESTEVEZ ON OCTOBER 16, 2019

Samantha Ashley Lo

The 2019 Miss Grand International held its welcome ceremony and press conference with its official candidates at TELEVEN TV Station in Caracas, Venezuela on October 15, 2019. Filipino beauty pageants were worried why Samantha Ashley Lo, 26, of the Philippines was not among the candidates who participated in the event.

Neither Miss Grand International nor Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Incorporated has released a statement about Lo’s absence. According to reports, the beauty queen from Cebu, Philippines missed her plane to Venezuela when she arrived in Paris, France where she was not allowed to stay for more than one day.

Lo reportedly had a passport issue, was sent back to the Philippines and is currently trying to get a ticket again to go to Venezuela. These claims have yet to be confirmed.

On October 2, 2019, a send-off press conference was held at the Versailles Tent of Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City, Metro Manila for Lo and Bb. Pilipinas Globe 2019 Leren Mae Bautista. Representing the Philippines, Bautista and Lo will compete in Miss Globe 2019 on October 21, 2019 in Tirana, Albania and in Miss Grand International 2019 in Caracas on October 25, 2019.

On October 9, 2019, Lo took to Instagram to share a photo of herself leaving the Philippines while holding the Philippines flag. She expressed her excitement to arrive in Venezuela.

As of October 16, 2019, Lo’s pre-arrival photo is still in Miss Grand International’s Facebook page. If she makes it to the competition and wins, she will become the international beauty pageant’s first ever titleholder from the Philippines.

Lo is an English as a Second Language instructor. She was crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on June 9, 2019.

UNCOMMON, ODD, UNACCUSTOMED

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

Our globe and its population bear innumerable strange facts. Following many people's opinion, this world shows mostly worried characteristics and symptoms nowadays. No wonder. Just try to consume and digest today's headlines and news from all around the globe. Yes, I'm experiencing very strange feelings while watching and reading the daily news.

On the other hand: It is a world with quickly bridged distances -  our Mother earth is becoming smaller and smaller. Any tourist, even with little time and with only a small budget, can travel to other faraway cultures. But joining them as well as different races and religious communities requires first of all, great care, tact, instinctive feelings, empathy, and logical ideas.

The stranger whom we meet for the first time during a business meeting, for example, maybe an uncommon, odd and extraordinary guy. He may be someone from a foreign country, who speaks another language and whose skin is of another color. He may be a migrant, a restless hiker or the expatriate in our neighborhood.

The foreigner beside you and me can become a provocation or a challenge. Strangeness can become exoticism. Maybe, that's why my family and I decided to move to the Philippines. On the other hand - going abroad can open other and even better horizons. We must not feel as "a stranger in paradise". By the way, I never did!

However, a migrant bears a juxtaposition of optimism (even calculated optimism!), confused feelings, nostalgia, and homesickness. Yes guys, during the first  years of my expat's life here in the Philippines, the round trip ticket was always in my mind, because no one among us can escape his native roots.

But, I am really a lucky guy. I experienced an amazing tolerance in the Philippines. A real practicing tolerance. Until  now! Already, during my first business meetings, I met supportive, forbearing and  broad minded people. A wonderful mix of different cultures without giving up own identities... .

The following quotation remains always in my mind: "I have nothing to offer but blood, sweat and tears!" - The British statesman and former Prime Minister Sir Winston L. Churchill (1874-1965) said this in 1940 - certainly, in a sad interrelation during World War II. Anyway, I like that remark. Blood, sweat and tears. Because of new challenges and changes - also as an expatriate in the Philippines doing business here.

Every new challenge in a strange country means a change. Changes in life are necessary and important. Let's alter or make a difference; let's put one thing for another; let's shift; let's quit one state for another; let's take fresh clothing. Let's burn the "lock fat" away. Blood, sweat and tears - and remember: nothing comes from anything.

Another Bayanihan school in Comval opens

By Fe F Maestre

Pantukan, Compostela Valley – Grade 8 student, Jerry Kim Baltazar, goes to school everyday at 6 in the morning to walk about an hour and a half just tokan reach the nearest school in Sitio Sapanglubog, Barangay Tibagon in Pantukan. 

Used to be made of a makeshift tent, the 18-year old student has the more reason to be excited in the morning of October 9, 2019 as this will be the first time they will have their classes inside the newly-built 1 unit-3 classroom building in the said sitio.

“Ok ra magbaktas kog layo, ang importante makahuman ko kay gusto ko mag-maestro ug makatabang nila ma’m puhon diri,” he said, referring to the only 4 teachers assigned in the area.    

Named the Gintong Pag-asa Integrated School, the school was built through Bayanihan sa Paaralan (BSP) initiated by the provincial government of Compostela Valley in partnership with the local governments, national agencies and private partners. The scheme  follows the bayanihan way and the whole of nation approach as a peace-building initiative as it reaches geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA) and conflict-affected areas (CAA) in the province.

“We want to see to it that the farthest communities will not be left behind, they deserve our attention more. Kadtong lisod ang dalan, kadtong wala pa naabot sa serbisyo sa gobyerno ang dapat tutukan. Wala’y lisod nga problema basta magtinabangay,” said Gov. Tyron Uy.

Also joining the turn-over ceremony were Pantukan Mayor Roberto Yugo,  Ltc Esteveyn E. Ducusin of 71^st IB, Cong. Ruwel Peter Gonzaga,  DepEd SDS Dr. Reynante Solitario,  and other local officials.

The school has a total of 55 Kinder to Grade 8 students according to Mellisa Quirol, Teacher in-charge. “Nagsugod mi ug tudlo diri paghunong gyud sa Salupungan aron dili madelatar ang pag-eskuwela sa mga bata. Katong makeshift pa lang among school, naglisud jud mi kay guut kaayo mao nga lipay kaayo mi nga dali kaayo nahuman ug conducive kaayo ang maong eskuwelahan,”  Quirol said.

This is the 3^rd series of newly-built schools that was turned over under the Bayanihan sa Paaralan project with the construction finished in just several weeks. Particularly, a 1 unit-2 classroom building each was turned over on October 3 in Purok 3, Brgy. Panansalan in Compostela and another on October 4 in Sitio Bongloy, Brgy. Pagsabangan, New Bataan.

At the end of this week, another 1 unit-2 classroom building will soon be turned over on October 12 at Side 4, Brgy. Mangayon in Compostela.  These four school sites kicked off the build just on September 20, 2019.

While the last school to be turned over will happen on October 13 at the remote Sitio Danawan, Brgy. Manurigao in New Bataan with its kick-off ceremony held just last September 29, 2019.

What’s more, aside from the classroom buildings, a teachers’ cottage to house the teachers who will be staying for the whole week due to distance, a Kusina ng Kalinga kitchen, and a Gulayan sa Paaralan vegetable garden were also put up as component to the Bayanihan sa Paaralan project.   

The BSP school sites were led by management teams from the different offices of the provincial government and partnered with Municipal and barangay LGUs, Department of Education and other national agencies, and other private partners.  The Provincial Agriculturists Office, Prov’l Veterinary Office, Prov’l Assessor’s Office, Prov’l Engineering Office, Comval Provincial Hospital-Pantukan, MLGU Pantukan, MLGU Mabini, DepEd Pantukan District, BLGU Tibagon, and 2^nd Dist. Congressional Office managed the said school build in the area. (fe maestre/ id comval)

TURN-OVER

Comval Governor Jayvee Tyron L. Uy together with Congressman Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Pantukan Mayor Roberto M. Yugo and OIC-Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Reynante A. Solitario led the turnover  of the newly-built 1 unit-3 classroom building in Sitio Sapanglubog, Barangay Tibagon in Pantukan, Comval on October 9, 2019. (Photo by:M. Lasaca, ID Comval)

Salt

"You are like salt for the whole human race" (Matthew 5, 13).

JUST being back from Manila staying in my office. I found some old clippings from my late grandmother (born 1899!). She taught me many things regarding daily life. I really admired her and didn't care to travel hundreds of miles to her house located in the former East Germany - just to spend a few hours there. The wall and border which divided Germany into two, aggravated such journeys many times. Maybe, I just remember that time, because I happily joined the great celebration of 29 years Germany's unity being in Manila for some days.

That's what I kept in heart and mind from my grandmother. There are innumerable thoughts how to convent bible sayings into reality.

Salt of the earth: People during various activities and occupations. "Black" and "white" meet each other, shake hands, smile... . And old woman selling vegetables in the market. She looks tired but her features still show hope and peace... . Young people, walking through a shopping mall - laughing, joking, being happy... . Fishermen at the shore doing their work in sorting nets... .

Salt on earth: Many things can be like that. Not only during mass service in the church. Not only by preaching. Also these touching hands of my distressed friend, listening to my lonely neighbor; remembering someone and writing him or her a letter or an email. I join others by helping, working, laughing, playing, singing. I listen to love's melody.

Salt of the  earth: Christian life doesn't always mean possessions or property. Christian life is doing something, it's collecting one's thoughts. It's giving and receiving. It's a hug or a smile or comforting talk. Christian life means having as Christian acting people in my surroundings.

Salt on earth: Of course, as we all know: too much salt is also dangerous to our health. But if we plan to live without any salt, we might fail to survive also. Do you know, that wars have been waged and nations have been extinguished because of salt. Salt is more than a simple stabilizer.

Before the refrigerator was invented, salt was a miracle of daily life. Salt made foodstuff keep well. So, let's think about it: if we are part of earth's salt, who are we? Do we bring rottenness or do we preserve and keep well our surroundings?

We should be salt on earth as in  cleaning, helping and healing, but not salt, that brings caustic, corroding and mordant poison in other's life.

Salt on earth without being dumb, mute, silent, stale, and incompetent!