Dapitan City Parole and Probation Office (PPO) emerged as the Best Field Office in Region IX, besting 12 other field office in the entire region for Calendar Year 2006.

In the Recognition and Awarding Night of the 31st Anniversary Celebration of the Parole and Probation Administration on July 26, 2007, held at Liga City, F. S. Pajares St., Pagadian City, Dapitan City PPO Received awards for “Best Implementor of the Volunteer Probation Aide Program”, “Best Implementor for Restorative Justice Program”, “Best Program Implementor”, “Best in Non-Livelihood Rehabilitation Project” and “Best Field Office for CY 2006” while Sr. PPO Josilyn S. Bael was given a “Special Award for her 100% Investigation Disposition Rate Performance”. CPPO Jose Alan B. Santillana disclosed that this is the second straight year that Dapitan City PPO was given the most number of awards by the Performance Recognition, Awards and Incentive System Evaluation (PRAISE) Committee of the Parole and Probation Administration Regional Office No. 9.

Mr. Santillana credited and thanked the hard work and dedication of his staff, the unselfish and the true spirit of volunteerism accorded by the Dapitan Shrine Volunteer Aide Association Multi-Purpose Cooperative headed by its President Mr. Margarito T. Pacilan, and the unwavering support extended to the office and its clients by the Local Government Unit of Zamboanga del Norte spearheaded by the tandem of Vice-Governor Francis H. Olvis and Governor Rolando E. Yebes; the Local Government Units of Dapitan headed by the hard working duo, Vice-Mayor Patri “Jing” Chan and Mayor Dominador G. Jalosjos, Jr., and the positive attitude of the residents of the community, for without them, the community based rehabilitation programs for probationers parolees and pardonees under the office’s supervision could not have gone this far. Also on the same occasion, CPPO Santillana was re-elected as President of the Parole and Probation Employees Association in Region IX. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 43)

Credits: Press Freedom is published every Saturday and entered as 3^rd class mail matter in Dipolog City. Printed by Young Printing Press with Editorial Office located at Upper Turno, Dipolog City. Tel. No. (065) 212-4343 or 212-6665

In view of the increasing market demand for yellow corn, the Department of Agriculture (DA) through the GMA Corn Program will develop and additional 46,000 hectares, mostly in the Visayas and Mindanao by the end of 2007. Assistant Secretary Dennis B. Araullo said that of this additional area, more than half (61%) or 28,000 hectares have already been planted during the first semester of the year. All told, these areas would produce 161,000 metric tons (MT) of yellow corn, forming part of the total production target of 4.1 million MT for 2007.  Total projected demand for the entire year would reach 4.6 million MT.  “We are carrying out this as per instruction from  Secretary Arthur C. Yap to complement our efforts to increase the yield of our existing areas so that demand-supply gap will be narrowed to 450,000 MT to 500,000 MT,” said Araullo, who is also the executive director of the GMA Corn Program. 

Most of the new areas will come from the provinces of Capiz, Iloilo, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Sur, Aurora, Negros Occidental, Palawan and Ifugao. The increasing pressure on yellow corn supply is mainly due to the steady growth of the poultry and livestock sectors, where the variety is used as the main feed ingredient. The country now produces more white corn than it needs for food and industrial purposes. This year, the DA hopes to achieve a total corn harvest of 6.92 million MT or 14% more than last year’s yield of 6.08 million MT. Attainment of the target would greatly improve the country’s corn sufficiency level to 94.2%—82% percent for yellow corn and 121% for white corn. By 2008, the DA hopes to create 65,000 hectares of new corn lands to increase sufficiency in yellow corn by 90%. To complement efforts to boost production, the DA has been providing corn farmers with new technology, production inputs, post-harvest facilities and marketing assistance to increase earnings.

For instance, the GMA Corn Program has recently dispatched 44 four-wheel tractors to selected corn clusters through counterpart funds from local government units and farmers-cooperatives to facilitate land preparations and ensure better soil conditioning. In addition to that, the DA established three post-harvest processing and trading centers in Barangay Reyes in Banga, South Cotabato; Barangay Osias in Kabacan, North Cotabato; and Poblacion in Malungon, Sarangani Province through funds sourced from the government-owned National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) and its venture partners.  Through these facilities, the DA hopes to lessen post-harvest losses from 15% to 5% and produce high-quality corn. A similar facility for white corn is under construction in Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte. More trading centers are targeted to be opened next year in Palawan, Ifugao, Isabela, Pangasinan, Aurora, Pampanga, Capiz, Iloilo and Bukidnon to guarantee continuous supply and stable prices of corn. The DA is also working, in tandem with industry stakeholders, to standardize corn specifications, to enable the government to fulfill its goal of making the Philip-pines self-sufficient in corn by 2010 and transforming the country into a major exporter of the product. The DA’s massive corn production program is in line with the “8 by ‘08" program of President Arroyo, which aims, among others, to mitigate hunger; pull down the cost of living; and create more jobs and generate more investments, especially in the countryside. (PIA-ZN)

The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) will bring together over three hundred senior government officials, leading researchers, and many of the Institute’s influential members from around the world to discuss and address some of the world’s most critical issues at the 5th IISS Global Strategic Review (GSR), to be held in Geneva from 7-9 September 2007.

The Keynote Address will be delivered by NATO Secretary-General Jakob Gijsbert ‘Jaap’ de Hoop Scheffer and is titled ‘The Role of NATO in Meeting Global Challenges.’ Other noteworthy speakers include: His Excellency Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Dr Jean-Marie  Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations; Dr. James Shinn, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, the U.S. Department of Defense; Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, US Navy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Commander, U.S. Fifth Fleet, and Commander, Combined Maritime Forces; and Mohammed Dahlan, National Security Chief of the Palestinian Authority.

"The Global Strategic Review is the 'Davos' for strategic thinkers.  In one weekend in Geneva, you gain insight from officials and experts about what risks and opportunities are really driving global security" said Dr. Patrick Cronin, IISS Director of Studies and organizer of the GSR.

Among other distinguished speakers and invited participants are leading scholars Professor Mary Kaldor, Director, Centre for the Study of Global Governance, London School of Economics, Dr Joseph S. Nye, Jr, University Distinguished Service Professor at Harvard University; Dr Antonia T Okoosi-Simbine, Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of Ibadan; Dr Keith Krause, Director, Programme in Strategic and International Security Studies, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva; Peter Ackerman, Founding Chair, the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict; Ambassador Barry Desker, Dean, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Dr. Farhad Kazemi, Provost and Professor of Middle East Politics New York University; Dr. Rose Gottemoeller, Director, Carnegie Moscow Center; and Professor Martin van Creveld of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

The 2007 GSR will have five plenary sessions on: Economic Security; Energy and Environmental Security; Keeping the Peace and Peacekeeping; Fissures in the Middle East; and Managing Global Risk.  The GSR will also have eight Break-Out Groups to include: Managing Global Proliferation; The Changing Face of Violence; Winning Complex War; Turning Guns into Ploughshares; Managing Transnational Terrorism; Energy and Eurasia; Trends, Shocks and Strategic Surprises; and The Persian Gulf Region.

For more information on delegate participation, the complete agenda, press policy and the history of the GSR, please reference: http://www.iiss.org/conferences/global-strategic-review

For instructions on providing press coverage of the GSR or to receive additional information, please contact gsrpress@iiss.org. 

The IISS is an international membership organisation based in London, and is both a limited company in UK law and a registered charity. It has offices in the US and in Singapore that operate under its name with charitable status in each jurisdiction. Founded in 1958, much of the Institute’s early work focused on nuclear deterrence and arms control, and the Institute was influential in setting the intellectual structures for managing the Cold War. Over the last decade the IISS has become a truly global organisation, with individual and corporate members in over one hundred countries. The Institute’s high-profile publications are universally regarded as providing the best independent, internationally sourced information and commentary on the main strategic events touching on national, regional and global security. The IISS owes no allegiance to any government, or to any political or other organisation. The Institute's conference activities are considered to be at the forefront of public policy development, given that its convening power is such that it can often bring government officials and others together in forum that they could not easily manage for themselves.

D.A. steps up bird-flu prevention program

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is putting in place additional measures to keep the Philippines as one of only three countries in Southeast Asia totally free of the dreaded avian influenza or bird flu virus, including setting up special task forces and emergency response plans at the municipal levels to deal with possible AI outbreaks.  In a report to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) said it would conduct “real-time simulation exercises” to test the measures already put in place under the Avian Influenza Protection Program (AIPP) as part of its stepped-up efforts to shield the Philippines from the virus that first resurfaced in the region in 2003.  The Philippines, Singapore and Brunei are the only bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia. BAI Officer-in-charge Dave Catbagan said that under the AIPP, the bureau would also set up expanded preparedness and response plans at the provincial, municipal and city levels, which would involve creating local task forces, conducting a checklist of AI preparedness measures, drawing up emergency response plans and encouraging local government units to pass ordinances to help address possible outbreaks of the bird flu.

 He said that to increase the country’s preparedness level against the bird flu, the AIPP would also involve training more military men and volunteers to adequately and effectively respond to possible outbreaks. “We will also intensify measures on compartmentalization and zoning to include the widening of the areas covered by disease surveillance,” Catbagan reported. Catbagan also reported that the bureau will also intensify its ongoing information and education campaign in 20 critical areas prone to AI infection, international borders and coastlines and in areas with high concentrations of ducks. The AIPP will also be reviewed in terms of its capability to carry out disease control and eradication protocols, he added. As of July 11 this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 192 out of 318 people were found in laboratory-confirmed cases to have been infected with the AI virus, have died since the H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus resurfaced in the region in 2003 and then spread quickly across the rest of the continent, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

 The findings of the Regional Avian Influenza Diagnostic Laboratory (RAIDL), the country’s first diagnostic facility to  promptly detect, monitor and control the spread of AI and other animal-borne diseases,  has so far showed that the Philippines remains negative of the bird flu virus. The RAIDL fully complies with international standards for a biosafety laboratory and is capable of conducting various tests to swiftly detect the presence of the AI virus in both live and dead bird samples. Yap said the RAIDL facility was built in Pampanga because Central Luzon (Region 3) is one of the high-risk areas for the AI virus, given the large concentrations of both commercial and backyard poultry farms and transient migratory birds in the region. (PIA-ZN)

Top officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) may not be aware of it yet, but they may have gotten themselves into a situation that would be difficult for them to get out of. As I understand it, the PNP has imposed new rules requiring their Colonels to pass the Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE) first, before they could be promoted as Generals. This is a good policy move as far as encouraging the role of career professionals is concerned, but on the other hand, this policy move involves a technicality that could cause problems for their “chain of command” in the long run.

**

A few years back, the CSEE system faced stiff competition from the Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) system; both being recognized as third level eligibilities at one time. As a matter of fact, the CESO system up to a certain time was largely viewed as the “stronger” eligibility, being more popular than the CSEE system. The truth of the matter is, the two systems could not be compared as if comparing two apples, because that would be like comparing a Rolls Royce with a Toyota.

**

Long before Martial Law was declared, the earlier Constitutions provided for a third level career eligibility system to be administered by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and that is how the CSEE system came into being, in line with that constitutional provision. As the Constitution also provided, those who are invested with the CSEE and are appointed into declared CSEE positions could not be removed from their positions not unless there is a reasonable cause, and only after a due process of law. As a matter of fact, the Constitution said that they could also not be transferred to any position or post without their consent. In other words, holders of CSEE positions are constitutionally tenured until they retire.

**

When Martial Law was declared however, the late President Ferdinand Marcos was faced with a problem. He wanted to appoint more career executives into the bureaucracy, but he could not find enough people who were eligible, probably due to the fact that the CSEE exam is very difficult to pass, even until now. Being a lawyer, he also probably knew that appointing those who have CSEE eligibility could pose problems, since they could not be removed without due cause, and they could not be transferred either, without their consent. This is perhaps the reason why the CESO system was created through a Presidential Decree during his time, under an Executive agency known as the Career Executive Service Board (CESB).

**

Ironically, the CESB was placed under the supervision of the CSC, a rather awkward situation because both of them had their own third level career executive systems to administer and promote. With the support of the Marcos regime, the CESO system became more favored than the CSEE system, to the point that the latter was effectively marginalized. Comparing the two however, the CESO system if supposed to weight lesser because it was only created by a decree and is administered by a mere Executive agency, unlike the CSEE system which was created by the Constitution and is administered by a constitutional body.

**

Moving ahead to the present times, the government took moves to combine the two systems, and apparently, the CSEE system is now the surviving entity. This is a positive development, because now anyone can become a third level executive strictly on merits, because anyone who passes the CSEE exam is vested with the eligibility automatically, since the process is immune from political interventions. This was essentially the downside of the CESO system, because it required an “endorsement” from an agency head, a provision that had fallen victim to political motivations.

**

What is going to happen now if CSEE tenured police generals who become too comfy with their positions or posts would refuse to be assigned elsewhere, citing the constitutional protection of their career eligibilities? For that matter, what is the government going to do now with all of those CSEE tenured executives who were removed from their posts without due cause and without due process, due to the earlier misunderstanding that they did not have CESO eligibilities? Could the government still bring back the clock of time? It would be unthinkable for CSEE tenured police generals to refuse to move if the PNP is a military organization, but it is not, because the law says that it should be “civilian in character”. If these generals would refuse, they could be accused of breaking the “chain of command”, but what is that “chain of command” doing in a supposedly civilian organization?

**

Join SamaKabuhayan, a member of the Inter-Charity Network. We assist people in looking for jobs, starting a small business, in financing and in marketing. Email ike@kaiking.net or text us at 09196466323.Unit 324, Guadalupe Commercial Complex, Guadalupe Nuevo, EDSA, Makati.

Magbabalaod sa siyudad sa Dipolog mipahayag nga si Governor Rolando Yebes wala makatuhop sa katuyoan sa ulahing resolusyon sa Sanguniang Panlungsod nga naghangyo kaniya nga tugotan ang siyudad sa Dipolog makakuha sa graba ug balas sa naandan nilang

quarry site sa Layawan River sa Barangay Sangkol atubangan sa gipalanog nga tubag sa gobernador nga nag-awhag sa kagamhanang lokal nga mangita ug laing lugar nga kakuhaan sa maong mga materyales kay wala man sila maghisgot ug laing dapit para ilang aplayan ug

News!  Hail storms in Northern Luzon!  Just what is Hail?  These are stone-like and gravel-like ice falling from the skies.  My curiosity is quietly wondering maybe we should also have a taste of these hailstorms. . . Then we shall have truckloads of hail (or hell). . .more than enough supply of stones and gravel from heaven-and not from the river beds. By the way, thanks to the Sangguniang Bayan of Sergio Osmeña for passing the resolution condemning the unabated, wanton extraction of sand, gravel, and stones along the stretch of Layawan River.  The municipal officials who are highlanders are proving they are more far-sighted than most of the lowlanders. Another news!  Drought!  Parched rice fields, dried-up reservoirs, irrigation systems in other parts of Luzon.  This dry spell will surely worsen if they can’t have rain this August.  Thus, people there are praying for storms, typhoons, and cyclones-anything, so rain will fall.  But although Pag-asa forecast says two or three typhoons will hit this country this August, no one can tell if these typhoons will really hit where they are needed.  What if they choose to detour and then hit Mindanao? – to drench and soak us some more.

Related to this drought problem, PGMA has ordered the release of more than P3Billion to counteract the coming calamity.  They are now making rain, repairing and upgrading agricultural methods and other means to face drought squarely.  Good.  But after the drought shall have been counter-acted, I hope the people will roll up their sleeves; to work harder and prevent another round of drought – [otherwise there will not only be drought to come again, but sadly, and more tragically, there will be “drought” in the national coffers.]

Another news!  From a local radio station dxFL-FM, we learned that DENGUE is now on the rise.  I have totalled their reported cases, and surely.  Dengue is really something to be alarmed at.  It is here.  Now.  The hospitals attending to the dengue cases are centered in Dipolog City.  So how can we beat Dengue?  Let’s follow the health guides we already know.  Otherwise, we will know we have dengue fever – only if and when the naughty mosquitoes shall have already bitten us. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 43)

Credits: Press Freedom is published every Saturday and entered as 3^rd class mail matter in Dipolog City. Printed by Young Printing Press with Editorial Office located at Upper Turno, Dipolog City. Tel. No. (065) 212-4343 or 212-6665

How does He see us?  The clear answer is in Mark 7:1-23, where Jesus says that all of us have a basic disease, sin.  Which defiles us and cuts us off from the Holy God who cares about us.  This sin has a variety of symptoms and comes from within a man, as Jesus said in this passage. It originates internally and not externally, we can’t blame anything or anyone else for it. To define sin experimentally rather than propositionally.  In our society sin is a nebulous, ill-defined thing that has lost any meaning.  Others have said sin refers to one specific kind of immortality.  If they don’t happen to be guilty of this kind of immortality, they become highly incensed because they do not see themselves as sinners in these terms. However, if we described sin in experimental terms almost all hearers agree that his includes them.  We can begin with an easily recognized fact that we don’t have to teach children to sin, it shows up in all of us very early.  Who of us has not lied or cheated?  Who hasn’t been cruel, hateful, jealous, covetous or self centered?  And that’s just the beginning of the list! Any list of overt acts proceeds from the inner disease of the heart which Jesus, described.  The symptoms vary widely with different people.  Its roots are the basic diseases of rebellion against God, of going our own way rather than His. Of saying to the creator I know better than you how to run my life.  This root of rebellion is not just for the streetwise dossier, we are all in this together.  This disease and its results are universal.  We are separated from God like a leaf cut off from a stem.  Beyond that, it is this separation from God, which is at the heart of our boredom, loneliness, moral weakness, lack of purpose and more.

BIBLE BITES!

Our mission as ambassadors of the kingdom of God is to bring those who are enslaved in the kingdom of darkness to Christ, the door, so that He can set them free to enter their full citizenship in God’s kingdom of light. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 43)

A Message from
Hon. Judge ORLANDO VELASCO
* November 12, 1948 - + July 27, 2007

Advice to the Young

My child, don’t forget what I teach you. Always remember what I tell you to do. My teaching will give you a long prosperous life. Never let go of loyalty and faithfulness. Tie them around your neck; write them on your heart. If you do this, both God and people will be pleased with you. Trust on the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser that you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong. 8If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.

The Benefits of Wisdom

My children listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. When I was only a little boy, my parents’ only son, my father would teach me.  He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live.  Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring your honor. She will be your crowning glory. The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over. My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my word. Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Never say anything that isn’t true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don’t hang your head in shame. Plan carefully what to do, and whatever you do will turn out right. Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way.

More Warnings

There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to the evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends. (Press Freedom, Vol. XIX No. 43)