3,500 athletes in Comval Sports Meet

CAMARADERIE. Capitol chief executive assistant Belo Melendres, 2nd from right, representing Gov. Arturo Uy, led the opening of the Comval Provincial Athletic Association Meet that fostered unity, camaraderie and sportsmanship among elementary and high school students. A. DAYAO/idscomval

A total of 3,500 athletes from the 11 municipalities competed for medals in the Comval Provincial Athletic Association Meet
on October 26-29.
Held at the Don Lorenzo Sarmiento Sr. Sports Complex in New Bataan, competitions included Archery, Arnis, Athletics, Badminton, Baseball, Chess , Football, Basketball, Boxing, Gymnastics, Lawn tennis, Sipa/takraw, Softball, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball and swimming.
Executive Assistant Belo Melendres, representing Gov. Arturo Uy, said the sports meet  event fostered unity, camaraderie and sportsmanship among elementary and high school students.

New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin congratuled DepEd-Comval, organizers, officials,  athletes  and teachers for the success of the 4-day event that was supported by Cong. Rommel Amatong,  SP Member Ruwel Peter Gonzaga, Dr. Chanet Cadiente of DepEd-Reg. XI, DepEd-Comval OIC Feliciano Tamundong Jr., and Nabunturan Mayor Romeo Clarin.
Meanwhile, Education Program Supervisor Ruben Reponte said Comval will host the Davao Region Athletics Association (DAVRAA) Meet sometime on February 2012 to be held in New Bataan.   (Fe F. Maestre/ ids comval)

inVALLEYNEWS

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

PUBLISHED IN THE DURIAN POST NO. 84, Nov 07-13, 2011

More chairs for ComVal public schools

Governor Chiongkee Uy helps pupils of Mabini Central Elementary School unload school desks and chairs. A. DAYAO-idscomval

By Fe Maestre

Illegal logging is a most-despised illegal activity in this nature-loving province but it has its upside: confiscated contraband logs aka “hot logs” are turning up as desks, chairs and tables in public schools.
A total of 254 school furniture—120 armchairs, 84 school desks and 50 kiddie chair—were given on October 25 to Mabini Central Elementary School, the latest beneficiary of Capitol’s chair-giving project.    Gov. Arturo Uy and brother Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy presided over the turnover of the school furniture to the teachers and pupils,  and Mabini Mayor Hadji Amir Muñoz.
ComVal, the Tagum City local government and the Department of Education (DepEd) have a Memorandum of Agrement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to utilize confiscated hot logs in production of school chairs and desks for public schools.
“By the time the pupils come back after the school mid-year break, they will have new and comfortable chairs to sit on,” thankful school principal Liza Bernalte said.
The school furniture were made from logs seized in this province and Davao del Norte and manufactured bayanihan-style by volunteers in Tagum City.
All in all, ComVal has distributed 1,524 school chairs to elementary and secondary public schools all over the province since last month. (ids comval).

inVALLEYNEWS

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

PUBLISHED IN THE DURIAN POST NO. 84, Nov 07-13, 2011

ComVal, Laak back-to-back winners in Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Award

By Rodielyn A. Manugas

For exemplary performance in local governance, Compostela Valley and the municiplaity of Laak have been awarded the

GOVERNOR ARTURO UY with DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo

Gawad Pamana ng Lahi  Award,     Gov. Arturo T. Uy and Laak Mayor Reynaldo B. Navarro received the award on October 11, 2011 in ceremonies attended by President Benigno Aquino held at at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.
The award for Provincial Government category won for Compostela Valley P3 million in cash and trophy; for winning in the municipality category, Laak pocketted P1 million.
Also known as the Presidential Local Government Heritage Award, the award recognizes local government’s programs that enriches heritage and contribtuion to national development.
ComVal and Laak were also cited for programs that supported the “Biyaheng Pinoy: Tapat na Palakad, Bayang Maunlad” advocacy of President Aquino.
The award, sponsored by the
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). is in five categories of local government units.
The local governments were ssessed on their performance on the Implementation of Katarungang Pambarangay Program (Lupong Tagapamayapa Economic Incentives Awards); Environmental Management/Clean and Green Program (Presidential Awards for the Cleanest and Greenest Local Government Units of the Philippines); Innovations in Local Governance (Gantimpalang Panlingkod Pook or Galing-Pook); Maintenance of Peace and Order (Peace and Order Award);  Sports Development Program (Siglakas Bayan Award); Population Management (Population Management Award);  Promotion and Implementation of Nutrition Program; Poverty Alleviation Initiative and Financial Resource Management. (IDS COMVAL)

Not impossible – -DURIAN POST COLUMN

VOICE FROM THE VALLEY

By FE MAESTRE

A 1-classroom building built in just 14 days! Or a 2 classroom building built in 18 days! Impossible? In Compostela Valley, we say it’s possible. A miracle? No, it’s “bayanihan.”

Such is the spirit and energy of the “Kalinga sa Kabataan: Bayanihan sa Paaralan” program, another innovation of Gov. Arturo Uy, that more than enough volunteers came out to help.

“We’re supposed to have 20 volunteers but more than 40 turned out to help on the first day,” said Herminigildo Mates, teacher-in-charge of Mapawa National High  School Annex.

In Elizalde National Highschool, Maco, teachers and parents were teary-eyed out of gratitude and when testimonies on their build experiences were given during the turn-over ceremony.  They said they will miss the camaraderie and experience while working among government employees and other volunteers.

Governor Uy has seen for himself the problem on overcrowded classrooms with students holding classes in barangay halls and multi-purpose halls, etc.
Not one to sit on his laurels, he believes that any endeavor related to education must involve all stakeholders including business entities operating within the province as part of their corporate social responsibility.
And so the “Kalinga sa Kabataan, Bayanihan sa Paaralan” (KB-BSP) was introduced by the provincial government.      Banking on the spirit of “Bayanihan,”  the program pooled resources from public and private institutions and individuals with direct participation of the local government units, teachers, parents and even the schoolchildren.
The community-based, public-private partnership of school building projects started on September 13 and 14 with the construction of 7 classrooms in the 1st Pilot areas: Sapawan Primary School in New Albay, Maragusan (1 classroom),  Mapawa National High School Bagong Silang Annex in Maragusan, Elizalde National High School in Maco, and Eduardo Maquidato Sr. Elementary School in  Sitio Magapalway, Brgy. Bongabong, Pantukan with 2 classrooms each.  After 14 and 18 days of build, all these classrooms were formally turned over on October 4-6.
With the bayanihan spirit coming into play, the government saved about a million pesos from the total project cost of P4 million of the projects.
Okay, no? May schoolbuildings na, may savings pa!
We wanted to construct the school buildings in the shortest possible number of days, to minimize the cost and maximize resources without compromising quality standard. This way we can stretch our savings and use this for our succeeding construction, Gov. Uy said adding that the bayanihan spirit would also factor when more schools are built in Laak in barangays Kapatagan, Kaligutan, Longganapan and San Antonio.

CHILDREN OF PANTUKAN, COMPOSTELA VALLEY GIVE A THUMBS UP TO VOLUNTEERS of the 8^th USWAG Gawad Kalinga Bayani Challenge  held in Pantukan recently. Gov. “Chiongkee” Uy and Mayor “Tok” Sarenas extended their deepest gratitude to tvolunteersThe volunteer builders–3,967—built 40 houses  at the “Lambo Pantukan Uswag GK Village” at Townsite Brgy. Kingking. (a. dayao/ids comval)

Davao military camp to be an eco-tourism destination

BY ROGER M. BALANZA

COMPOSTELA VALLEY – Mindanao’s largest military camp in terms of area would soon be a tourism destination.

        Camp Manuel T. Yan, the headquarters of the 10^th Infantry (Agila) Division of Eastern Mindanao, in Tuboran, Mawab has a ground area of 100 hectares.

The provincial government of Compostela Valley,  the municipal government of Mawab, and the 10^th ID command officially launched on tourist destinationAugust 12 preparations for the camp as an eco-tourism.

The launch was highlighted with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Governor Uy represented by Exec. Asst. Belo Melendres, Maj. Gen. Segovia, and Mawab Mayor Evalina Jampayas represented by Vice-Mayor Ruprio Gonzaga.

Gov. Uy said the transformation of the military camp into a tourist destination is a first in the country and dubbed Camp Manuel T. Yan as a “military-eco-tourism destination.”

inAROUNDDAVAO

PUBLISHED IN THE DURIAN POST NO.75, August 22-28, 2011

ComVal celebrates International Humanitarian Law Month

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Month Celebration on August 1, 2011, highlighted by the oening of the ‘Humanity in War Photo Exhibition at the Capitol Lobby. (A. Dayao/IDS- ComVal)

By Grace Almedilla

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC)- ComVal Chapter in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)spearheaded here this month the observance of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The celebration included a photo exhibit ‘Humanity in War Photo Exhibition’ at the Capitol Lobby.

Part of the program was the turn-over of copies of the book “Humanity in War’ to Governor Arturo T. Uy represented by Provincial Administrator Virgilia S. Allones and Vice Governor Ramil L. Gentugaya represented by SP Member Neri R. Barte, and DILG Provincial Director Liborio B. Diana.

PRC Chapter Administrator Joseph Randy Loy said other activities are the IHL Day, a walk-for-a-cause dubbed as Humanitarian Light of Unity parade:  A Journey to Camp Solferino and a Governor’s Night on August 12.  There‘s also a 3-day Red Cross Youth- Camp Solferino from August 12-14.

Camp Solferino, as shared by Jean-Robert Jorda, ICRC Head of Sub-delegation for Mindanao, is the battlefield in Northern Italy during the war and where the Red Cross was born.

On August 31 will be the ceremonial ground breaking of the ‘Building for Humanity,’  a project center that will serve as PRC-ComVal’s Blood Bank, Operations Center, Administrative Building, and Training Center.  There will be a Raffle for a Cause on the same day.

The nationwide celebration is in accordance with Executive Order No. 134 in 1999 which requires the yearly commemoration of the 1949 Geneva Conventions signing that protects the wounded and sick soldiers in the field, prisoners of war, and civilians.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme, “International Humanitarian Law, International Criminal Court and Republic Act 9851:  Protecting Against Impunity as an Instrument of Peace.” (IDS-ComVal)

Comval execs harvest Sandugo awards

Sandugo Award. Vice Gov. Ramil L. Gentugaya receives the National Sandugo Outstanding Local Government Executive Award in behalf of Gov. Uy last July 26, 2011 at Diamond Hotel, Manila. .

By Rodielyn A. Manugas

           Governor Arturo Uy, all of the mayors of the 11 municipalities and 80 barangay captains are awardees in the National Sandugo Outstanding Local Government Executive Award this year.

            Vice Governor Ramil L. Gentugaya and Provincial Board member Ruwell Peter Gonzaga in behalf of Gov. Uy received the awards during awarding rites on July 26, 2011 at Diamond Hotel in Manila.

             Getting the highest award is Gov. Uy with his Super Achiever Award, in the contest being undertaken by the Department of Health (DOH).

The province gathered 9,463 blood bags of 500 cc units from donors this year, which is the basis for the Sandugo awards, one of the highest in the country for a province.

DOH Center for Health Development Assistant Regional Director Dr. Salvador Estrera informed Gov. Uy in a letter dated July 14, 2011 that the local executives were among 193 throughout the country who passed screening by the DOH awards body.

             In the blood donation drive, Maco topped the list with 1,966 bags, earning for.Mayor Arthur Carlos Voltaire Rimando, a Sandugo awardee for the 7^th time, the Super Achiever Award for municipal mayors..  Following Maco is Compostela with  1,819..(IDS COMVAL)

inVALLEYNEWS

TAGUM CITY

PUBLISHED IN THE DURIAN POST NO.74, August 15-21, 2011

Community outreach for Adopt-A-Child program

COMPOSTELA VALLEY PROVINCE — Governor Arturo T. Uy sents a team to  conduct  Health & Nutrition Education and Medical Outreach to Banagbanag and  New Visayas, the recipient barangays in Montevista of his initiated Adopt-A-Child Program II on July 19 & 20, 2011.

Facilitators were the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC), Special Programs Unit/ Barangay Development Program, PGO-Community Affairs & Development Section (CADS), Provincial Social Welfare & Development Program (PSWDO), Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAGRO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), and the Provincial Economic Enterprise Management Office (PEEMO).

 The beneficiaries were so thankful to have availed the program. “Daku kaayo ni ug natabang sa amoa (This really helped us),” says Rosario Mancao.  “Daghan mi ug nakat-onan niining maong programa (We’ve learned a lot of things from this program),” stresses Nancy Toos. “Mapasalamaton mi ug daku sa probinsya ug kang Governor Chiongkee Uy nga kami naka-benepisyo niini (We’re thankful to the provincial government and to Governor Chiongkee Uy that we’ve benefited from this program),” added Milagros Solis.

More than a hundred barangay residents including children availed the free medical and oral check-up, growth monitoring services, lectures on proper nutrition and dietary food intake, close relationship within the family, rights of children, importance of good health and the practice of healthy lifestyle, livestock raising, and Bio-intensive vegetable gardening.  Supplementary feeding were also conducted for children while the parents received vegetable seedlings.

IN VALLEYNEWS

COMPOSTELA VALLEY

PUBLISHED IN THE DURIAN POST NO.72, August 1-7, 2011

COMPOSTELA vALLEY Capitol wages battle vs. malaria

Barangays get insecticide-treated nets…headline

A total of 72,070 Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLITN) from the Global Fund Malaria Component was received by the province through Pilipinas Shell Foundation.  About  48,274 last year and 24,296 this year.

The mosquito nets were given to barangays with high cases of Malaria.

Aside from the identified recipient Malaria Endemic Barangays, USWAG Gawad Kalinga Villagers were also given with the Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets. Recipient villages were Andres Canada GK Village in Montevista, Li’l Baguio GK Village in Maragusan, New Zealand GK Village in Nabunturan, PBB USWAG GK Village in New Bataan, USWAG GK Designer Village and USWAG-CSAP GK Village in Maco, Bansilaw USWAG GK Village in Monkayo, SOP Kahiusahan USWAG GK Village in Compostela and BASIC USWAG GK Village in Laak.

The acquisition and distribution of the mosquito net is part of the continuous  mitigating measures of the provincial health office in combating malaria cases. It is Governor Arturo T. Uy’s vision that mortality rates brought about by malaria will eventually be eradicated in Compostela Valley.  (IDS COMVAL)