Tinuy-an Falls

Casualties Gangas Landslide

January 15, 2009 @ 12:15 PM
Sitio Gangas, Cumawas, Bislig City

ROSE JANE L. TEJERO
DOMINADOR PAQUIDING

8th Charter Day Celebration - Bislig City

"Karawasan Festival"
September 15 - 18, 2008

Tema: "Kalambuan diha sa Panaghiusa"

Day 1 - September 15
Opening Salvo
Diana
Motorcade
Flag Ceremony w/ Ecumenical Prayer
Opening of Trade Fair
Start of Sports Competition
Jobs Fair
Variety Show (Music Nuts)
Disco w/ Live Band

Day 2 - September 16
Trade Fair
Sports Competition
Jobs Fair
Purefoods/San Miguel Foods Cooking Demo
Dog Show
Drum, Lyre & Bugle Competition
Literary-Musical Contest

Day 3 - September 17
Trade Fair
Sports Competition
Jobs Fair
Purefoods/San Miguel Foods Cooking Demo
Palarong Bayan
Dance Sports
Disco with Live Band

Day 4 - September 18
Mass
Charter Day Program
Kasala ng Bayan
Pista sa Baywalk
Fellowship Night w/ Fashion Show
Disco with Live Band

PICOP Resources Inc. - in the news

Court stops Picop, affiliate from selling properties

The Makati Regional Trial Court issued a stay order preventing Picop Resources and its affiliate, New Paper Industries Corp., from selling, encumbering, transferring or disposing of properties except in the ordinary course of business.

The court issued the order in response to the petition for corporate rehabilitation filed by Land Bank of the Philippines for Picop and New Paper Industries.

Makati RTC presiding judge Cesar Untalan said the court found the petition filed by LandBank for the corporate rehabilitation of Picop and New Paper sufficient in form.

The court appointed Roberto Lozada as rehabilitation receiver.

Picop is the only integrated forest and paper company in the country. It is engaged in the manufacture of newsprint and pulpwood products, while New Paper Industries is into buying and selling pulp, paper and paper bonds of every kind.

LandBank is a creditor of Picop, holding more than 25 percent of the company’s total liabilities based on last year’s audited financial statement.

The bank said Picop’s financial obligations had ballooned and that the company could no longer pay its obligations as they fell due.

LandBank said Picop hasdalso begun to default on the payment of its outstanding obligation despite several restructuring and demand.

LandBank earlier said it filed the petition “for Picop and New Paper to continue operating in view of the massive impact in the 12 municipalities and the City of Bislig in the four provinces affected by its operations.”

Picop earlier asked the assistance of LandBank for the release of its harvesting permit, which had been pending since June last year with the office of the environment secretary.

Picop hoped that the court and LandBank could help facilitate the release of the harvesting permits from the Energy and Natural Resources Department. Manila Standard Today. Jenniffer B. Austria (August 16, 2008)

Fauna at Tinuy-an Falls

Dragonfly at Tinu-an Falls, Burbuanan, Bislig City

Glencore International AG of Switzerland buys Bislig coal.

Finally, coal from Bislig City has a buyer. Sultan Mining and Energy Development Corporation, with its subsidiary firm, MG Mining and Energy Corp., entered into contract with the Glencore International AG of Switzerland. According to the Energy Department, that under the terms of the contract, Glencore International will buy from MG Mining a total of 90,000 metric tons of steam coal for delivery between August and December 2008.Steam coal or bituminous coal has a broad range of commercial uses and has long been utilized for steam generation in electric power plants and industrial boiler plants.

Orchids at Tinuy-an Falls

Bislig Central Elementary School

Bislig Central Elementary School - Poblacion, Bislig City
Mr. Cesar J. Masancay - Schools District Supervisor - Bislig District I
Mrs. Marcela T. Masancay - Elementary School Principal II

View From Ocean View Park Restaurant - Gangas, Cumawas, Bislig City

Cumawas & Poblacion, Bislig

To Mangagoy

Mangagoy, Bislig City

PICOP in the News

From Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Picop may shut paper mill sans DENR permit
By Daxim Lucas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:40:00 03/08/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- Publicly listed Picop Resources Inc. said it might shut down its pulp and paper plant if regulators continued to withhold issuance of forestry permits that would allow it to cut trees in its reserve for use as raw materials.

In a statement to the stock exchange, Picop said the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had yet to issue a new harvesting permit that would allow resumption of its forestry operations, which have been suspended since May 2007 on the expiry of its last integrated annual operations plan.

The company said it had submitted a new harvesting plan to the DENR, which it said had not acted on it. It said that under the law such a plan should be “automatically approved” after three months if the regulator fails to act on it.

“The DENR has not been respecting these [legal] provisions since 2001,” it said.

Picop told the exchange that the situation was, in effect, a stoppage order, which it said was illegal because the operator of a tree farm is allowed by law to do what it pleases with trees on its property.

“Thus, Picop cannot be deprived of its rights as owner of the planted trees and worse, without due process at all,” the company said.

It added that it was contemplating whether to comply with the “illegal stoppage order.”

“The long suspension of our forestry operations, vital component in supplying the needed quantity of raw materials for our pulp and paper mill, had severely constrained the plant’s operation,” it said.

It added that it would review the viability of operating significantly below capacity “if only to keep thousands of workers continuously employed,” while the DENR “continues to withhold Picop’s harvesting permit from the natural forest that it had protected and sustainably managed for over 50 years.”

Arroyo at Cooperative Summit

Bislig Today

The sky was so dark and gloomy outside,
the rain pours endlessly.

Agriculture

Agriculture is considered as the backbone of the society. The enhancement of farmers and fishermen's income are imperatives in the programs and projects that will be initiated.

Sustainable inland fishery and mariculture should provide adequate income to our fisherfolks. Animal disease prevention should result to productive endeavors for livestock and poultry producers as well as the safety of people and consumers from the dangers of potentially fatal diseases.

2007 Legislative Report
Atty. Conrad C. Cejoco
City Vice Mayor

City Mayor's Report to the People of Bislig

CITY MAYORS REPORT

To all Bisliganon

2007 Year End Accomplishment Report

February 28, 2008

3^rd Floor, City Hall, Poblacion, Bislig City

Sa atong tinahod na Gobernador-Hon.Vicente“BB”Pimentel Jr., ang atong buotan na kongresista sa Segundo Distrito sa Surigao Del Sur-Hon. Florencio “Inciong” Garay. Mga Bokal sa Probinsya pinanguluhan ni Bise Gobernador Lib Navarro. Mga konsehales ning dakbayan sa Bislig uban sa atong batan-on nga Bise Mayor Atty. Conrad Cejoco. Mga kapitanes sa 24 ka sakop nga barangay uban sa ilang mga kagawad, Mga opisyales sa distrito ug purok, Mga hepe sa nagkalain-lain nga opisina-pribado man o publiko, Magbalantay sa kalinaw, Mga magtutudlo ug mamumuo, Mga mangingisda ug mag-uuma, Mga organisasyon nga nag ayuda sa atong lokal nga gobyerno, Mga negosyante ug grupo sa mga kababayen-an, Mga senior-citizen, Mga kabatan-onan, Mga bisita, Mga higala, Mga kapuso, ug kapamilya, Sa akong asawa ug mga anak.

Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan!

Tugoti nga akong ipahibalo kaninyo ang 2007 City Year End Accomplishment Report base sa Executive Legislative Agenda ning dakbayan kay ang atong proyekto ug programa gikasabotan man sa atong konseho sa lehislatora ug ehekutibo nga depatmento uban ang pribadong sektor pinaage sa City Development Council.

Damgo sa syudad sa Bislig nga mamahimong leading producer and processor of agri-forestry and aqua marine products in Mindanao.

Pinasikad niini nga damgo ang sectoral approach for balance development maoy gi adopt na estratehiya ubos sa lima ka nag-unang sektor:

I. GOVERNANCE

II. ADMINISTRATION

III. SOCIAL SERVICES

IV. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND

V. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

I. GOVERNANCE

A total of P55M worth of Infrastructure Project were completed last year. Around P36M were implemented thru contract and these are mostly under the SEDIP Program. These have generated job good for 1,800 people.

City Planning & Development Office and City Cooperative Office were able to source out from foreign donors with minimal correspondent from LGU. KR2 NEDA livelihood program worth P1.4M of involving fund was granted to fish pond operators. Cassava Processing Plan with WEVAICO as member partner thru the assistance extended by the Spanish Government.

Water supply for Burboanan costing P1.2M and for Coleto P1M under the Kalahi Kalayaan Program. We also completed the P1.2M Burboanan Steel Footbridge and P0.04M Coleto Multipurpose Shed a USAID funded program of MEDCO.

A total of 49 infrastructure projects costing P65.058M are on going and nearing completion. A conservative estimate of P20M was allotted for the cost of labor generating more than 2,000 local labor force.

For transparency in governance, City Public Information Office embarked a regular weekly Radio Program. A quarterly Press Conference and regular press releases. These are the activities designed to inform Bisliganons of the latest issues and updates and development of the programs of the city.

II. ADMINISTRATION

There was a noted increase in business tax due to increase of business establishment as against 2006 acquiring to 105.78%. Bislig City was ranked #3 in the entire Caraga for Tax Collection Efficiency.

We have implemented the civil remedies in the collection of delinquent real property taxes thru administrative and judicial actions against the property owners of 118 delinquent real property units (RPUs).

We have improved the processing system of our One Stop Shop Business Permit and Licensing at CEEDO Office covering the period from January to February.

The City Accounting Office is up to date in the submissions of the Consolidated Annual Financial Report and the Monthly Financial Report to Non-Government Agency (NGAs) with Counterpart Funds for City Programs & Projects. We have started roll-out of Electronic New Government Accounting System (eNGAS) last October 22, 2007.

We have completed the General Revision of Real Property Assessment pursuant to SP Ordinance No. 2005-10. As a result, we have registered 19,947 Real Property Units (RPUs) to be taxable and 835 Real Property Units (RPUs) exempted or a total of 20,782 Real Property Units (RPUs). A total assessed value costing 1.346 B are taxable properties and have generated tax collectible of P13.46 M for basic tax and the same amount for Special Education Fund (SEF) or a total collectible of P26.92 M.

The City Assessor’s Office has processed 133 RPUs for newly discovered assessment, 50 RPUs for consolidation, 125 RPUs being transferred, 153 adjustments and 148 RPUs for annotation of lien and encumbrances.

There were 11 Appraisal Reports endorsed by the City Appraisal Committee covering properties affected by government projects subject for payment of just compensation and submitted the same to the Sangguniang Panglungsod, Bislig City, for adoption.

In line with the flagship projects of this administration regarding the automation of the operation of revenue generating departments, Bislig City is fortunate to have availed P6.571M financial grant from LOGOFIND, BLGF, Dept. of Finance and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for the RPTA project under the City Assessors Office and BTEP of the City Treasury Office. Total cost of these 2 projects reached P 13.142M with a minimal equity of 2.285M or 25% local counterpart and the remaining P 2.285M or 25% loan and P6.571M or 50% as grant. The RPTA component costs P 8.612M while BTEP costs P4.53M. We have availed these important projects through the support of our City Council, the support of City Treasurer Roberto Viduya and City Assessor Mr. Edwin Acevedo who happened to be the President of the Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors in Caraga Region and the Vice President for Mindanao of the National Association of the Provincial and City Assessors of the Philippines.

The Human Resource Management Division have administered programs on Personnel Administration, Employee Welfare and Benefits, training and development programs and assistance to services currently offered by PAG-IBIG and GSIS. We have facilitated the issuance and approval of 1,901 contract of service and job orders from various offices and conducted orientation to the newly appointed city employees. GWAPS Kiosk machine was installed on August 30, 2007 in Bislig City Hall to cater the needs of GSIS members for the entire District II of Surigao del Sur.

The Office of the City Civil Registrar has persistently implemented the Barangay Civil Registration System (BCRS) in coordination with the Barangay officials, health workers, midwives, district and purok officials, and the able assistance of Vice Mayor Conrad Cejoco.

The free birth registration services has facilitated 3,000 Certificate of Live Births and 55% of which were already processed and the remaining applications are still pending for further verification and confirmation.

The Free Civil Mass Wedding dubbed as the “KASALAN NG BAYAN” was solemnized during Valentines celebration which highlight the Civil Registration Month celebration with 32 couples solemnized and 84 couples during the 7^th Charter Day Celebration.

We have pursued the search for a Well – Managed Park and Resort participated by 16 barangays. Search for Idol Ko Si Kap was launched for the first time to give recognition to our barangay captain.

The City Planning & Development Office has facilitated the updating of city website www.bislig.gov.ph and local area network connection to 10 departments. We have developed systems on Warehouse Information System and upgrading of Zoning Information System. We have facilitated the preparation of the Annual Investment Program for 2008 and assisted the preparation of Barangay Development Plan for 24 barangays together with the review of their respective budget. We have processed two subdivision plans under Preliminary Approval of Locational Clearances, issued 1,616 Zoning Clearances and 110 Locational Clearances. These manifest that the physical development of the city is fast growing.

Disaster Risk Management Plan is in placed. Organized Barangay Tanod and functional Lupon Tagapaya in the 24 Barangay Centers. Peace and order situation of the city remain stable and generally peaceful. Police record showed 19 incidents of index crimes or a low of 0.19% incidence rate and there were 24 incidents of non index crimes or 0.24% incidence rate. Bislig City is one of the lowest crime rate incidence in Caraga Region.

In our desire to complete the pool of road building equipment and for mobility support of city’s front line departments, the city has acquired 1 unit brand new hydraulic excavator, 1 unit brand new bucket loader and 1 unit reconditioned vibratory compactor. We have also purchased 2 units brand new pick up and 3 units multicab.

Local Special Bodies of LGU Bislig City were steadfast and committed in their developmental undertakings. Let me extend my personal thanks to the members of the City Development Council, the Local School Board, the Peoples Law Enforcement Board, the Local Health Board, the Peace and Order Council, the Council for the Protection of Children, the City Tourism Council, the Tinuy-an Management Board, the Economic Enterprise Management Board, the Environmental Management Board, the Project Supervision and Monitoring Committee, the Labor Management Council, the Gender and Development Council, the Watershed Management Council, the Solid Waste Management Board, the Local Finance Committee, the City Appraisal Committee and the Bids and Awards Committee. These Local Special Bodies and its members have contributed much to the effective governance of this administration.

III. SOCIAL SERVICES

The City Social Welfare Office have implemented major welfare programs on Child, Youth, Family, Women, emergency, disabled welfare programs and livelihood training for women. Massive expansion of existing Self Employment Assistance Kaunlanran (SEA-K) have reached Barangay San Jose and Sitio Sikahoy providing seed fund to SEA K members. There were 100 SEA-K members in Mangagoy area being elevated to the second level due to their outstanding performance. The City spent P3.857 M to sustain operations of Social Welfare Services Programs and have implemented whole year round delivery of quality and responsive social welfare services.

More than a year have elapsed and the city government is consistent in our commitment to uplift the living condition of the fire victims. We have spent more than P8M for our backfilling works and have tapped private sector thru the Couples for Christ/Gawad Kalinga, Group of Methods Analyst - former employees of PICOP and the National Government thru Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide financial assistance in our housing program for the 610 fire victims in Bongaitan. We have faced numerous stumbling blocks, like compliance of environmental permits, inadequate space to accommodate the number of fire victims, absence of quarry site, lack of quarrying equipment, lack of funds, bad weather condition and lack of cooperation by either the beneficiaries and some detractors of this administration. But inspite of these predicaments, we have moved forward and was able to implement 16 houses built under Gawad Kalinga program, 28 lots awarded to fire victims who are holder of Title and Tax Declaration, P3.6M was released by DSWD National Office to start the construction of initial 50 houses under Core Shelter Program, 25 fire victims received cash assistance of P20 thousand in lieu of the assigned lot. The 60 beneficiaries for build own shelter scheme is on process waiting for the proper awarding. The core shelter housing program with 80 sq.m. per lot was transferred to Barangay Poblacion, near the Bislig District Hospital. On going backfilling works costing P3.4M is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2008. These strategies are not enough to accommodate the number of fire victims. The balance of 231 families still need more or less 2 hectares of lot to be acquired and developed.

The City of Bislig thru the City Health Office has implemented 28 health services projects costing P1.8M. This amount is counter parted by the National Government and foreign donors under their regular programs. We have been a model LGU in terms of health services delivery in the entire Caraga Region and was adjudged as best practices being replicated in other LGUs of entire country. Recipients of various awards from the World Health Organization and other various health programs. This also include among other awards received from PHILCAT on a tuberculosis control and was cited as model on Institutional Rehabilitation Program. We have sustained our partnership with private sector in the innovative program dubbed as Kanami Health Insurance Program. The SOCMOB framework of Bislig is replicated in the entire region of Caraga. For this reason, City Health Office of Bislig City was included in the Asia Pacific Summit for SOCMOB planning sponsored by Global Funds. Scholarship program were also afforded to indigent and middle class family under the initiative of City Health Office.

The Bislig City Division in coordination with the City Government of Bislig has facilitated the implementation of Alternative Learning System (ALS). These program greatly help lessen illiteracy and augment the economic status of our clienteles.

Sports development programs were sustained thru the able support of the Committee on Sports Development. Community involvement in sports were open during the 7^th Charter Day Celebration with Mayor’s Cup for tennis, badminton, inter agency basketball tournament and volleyball.

IV. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The City’s Provincial Agri-Industrial Center- Economic Zone in San Vicente, have attracted two investments; the expansion of Florland Ventures and Pan Asia Woodcore Industrial Products. These business ventures have employed more or less 100 workforce mostly a residents of Barangay San Vicente, Sta. Cruz, Bucto and Sebaroy.

Another remarkable accomplishment was the signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the Agencia Española International for the establishment of Integrated Coconut Processing facility to be located at PAIC site costing P7.04M and hopefully it will be another source of employment for the people of Bislig.

The City Veterinary Services Office has undertaken animal health care services that includes a quarterly deworming, vitamin supplementation of poultry and other farm animals. We have enforced the save a herd program, Task Force Hot Meat and Animal pregnancy diagnosis.

A permanent Animal Pound is now established at Sian, Sta. Cruz where stray animals particularly dogs are kept for safety.

The City Veterinary Office regularly conducts ante, post mortems and post abattoir inspection at the City’s Slaughterhouse which was adjudged 2^nd place as Best Slaughterhouse in Caraga Region.

We have concentrated our effort and resources in agricultural production support services. There were 13 major programs implemented costing P4.1M sourced out locally and P2.0M funding from the Department of Agriculture and other National Line Agencies. We have assisted 1,376 has. of rice land producing 4,813.2 MT of rice assisted thru loan assistance of 1,074 bags of fertilizers and 689 bags of certified seeds. Corn production has produced 586 MT of corn thru loan assistance of 204 bags of fertilizers and 50 bags of certified corn seeds. 50 hectares was developed to high value crops, 13,400 assorted planting materials were distributed to marginalized farmers, 667,000 fingerlings were distributed to our fisher folks. There were 21 trainings conducted and continued weekly School on the Air Program. 5 projects were implemented for Indigenous People on livestock, and high value crops production. 5 communal gardens were established by 1,300 households. Cassava production was pursued by providing 50,000 bundles of cassava stalks to cover 50 hectares of developed cassava plantation.

Income from Market operations has significantly reduced due to low rental rates of temporary market stalls. In spite of the fire incidence we were able to restore, a total of 646 stalls. Economic enterprise of slaughter house, jeepney terminal and cemetery operations were viable while market was operating on deficit and subsidized by the general fund.

V. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

There were six major programs implemented by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office costing P1.655M. These include Mangrove reforestation in Taguicon, San Fernando, CBFM initiatives, maintenance activity for adopt a site program in San Antonio watershed, nursery in Poblacion, and Bantay Gubat protection of our natural resources.

The Solid Waste Management Program has shifted the old conventional approach of garbage disposal to sanitary land fill based on the requirement of RA 9003. The mandatory closure of open dumping has opted the City to prepare a Transition Strategy of Solid Waste Management Plan. Innovative technology of handling domestic garbage was introduced using our newly completed Material Recovery Facilities. The city has spent more than P5M on the hauling and disposal of our domestic waste.

REVENUE FOR THE YEAR 2007

Bislig City is 87.25% dependent to the share from the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) amounting to P271.990M while 12.75% or P39.77M was collected from local sources derived from the general fund, LSB fund and CEEDO income. Collection efficiency on IRA and LSB fund have a high collection rating of more than 100% while CEEDO and General Fund have low collection efficiency.

BUDGET DISTRIBUTION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007

Salaries and wages shares P125.993M or 46.6% of the total budget. About P75.34M or 27.90% were allotted to Development Programs for Capital Outlay, GAD Projects, OSCA/OPDA, health programs and Economic Development Programs. MOOE accounted to P55.163M or 20.4% and the remaining P13.614M or 5% Calamity reserve fund. Supplemental Budget amounting to P60.875M was realized due to the adjustment of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and some reversion of unimplemented projects. The bulk of the budget was allotted to rehab of public market, site development for fire victims, rehab of farm to market road in Barangay Lawigan and other equally important projects.

Sukad sa sinugdan hangtod karong mga taknaa nagpadayon ang akong pagserbisyo sa katawhan sa Bislig nga puno sa gugma, sinsero ug matinud-anon. Kini inubanan usab sa panabang sa atong labawng Makagagahum ug sa inyong suporta kanako.

Tugoti nga akong personal nga ipaabot ang kinasingkasing nga pasalamat sa mga membro sa Sanguniang Panlungsod pinanguluhan ni Bise Mayor Atty. Conrad Cejoco, mga hepe sa mga opisina ning dakbayan sa Bislig, ug mga empleyado, mga organisasyon sa pribadong grupo, sektor sa mga relihiyoso, magtutudlo, negosyante, mamumuo, mangingisda ug mag uuma. Mga lideres sa probinsya ug nasyonal. Ngadto kang Gobernador “BB” Pimentel ug Kongresista Inciong Garay ug sa uban pang sektor nga nagtabang kanako sa bisan unsang pamaaagi. Sa akong maalagaron nga asawa-Edna ug sa akong mga anak uban sa pangaliya sa Kahitas-an.

Daghan Kaayong Salamat.

Mabuhay Bisliganon!

SULIG BISLIG!

Grenade Explosion at Andres Soriano College

A graduating student of Andres Soriano College, Claude Pamo was slightly hurt when a certain Jeretim Pacis, former security guard, hurled a hand grenade inside the campus around 3 P.M. Pamo was rushed to hospital and out of danger. Pacis escaped after the explosion but was arrested around 5 PM.

Earthquake

According Philvocs, an intensity 3 earthquake rocked Bislig City around 1:13 am February 27, 2008. The tremor was tectonic in origin and has a depth of 14 kilometers. The earthquake epicenter located 100 kilometers from Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.