Moreno sets eyes on Oro mayorship

MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno yesterday revealed that he is considering on running for mayor of Cagayan de Oro in 2013.
Moreno announced this during a news conference following the launch of the Mt. Balatukan Range Convergence Agro-Enterprise Zone at the capitol. "I say that now that I am considering on running [for Cagayan de Oro mayor]," said Moreno. He called Cagayan de Oro Mayor Vicente Emano "the problem" in the city, Misamis Oriental and Northern Mindanao.

Moreno said Emano has not performed the way a mayor should since he (Emano) dominated Cagayan de Oro politics in 1998.
"He (Emano) is threatened because we deliver results. We constructed classrooms at Mogchs (Misamis Oriental General Comprehensive HighSchool) and that is something he failed to do even when he was governor of the province," said Moreno.
Because of that, according to Moreno, Emano's allies in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by provincial board member Jesus Jardin have launched a smear campaign against him. "They're attacking me for building classrooms," Moreno said.

P1m for meals, entertainment

A FORMER official of the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD) spent nearly P1 million for meals and "official entertainment" in 2009 alone, prompting the audit commission to call the attention of the facility on the way it has been spending its money. Gaspar Gonzales, the COWD general manager at that time, was only allowed to use P22 thousand in discretionary funds and P72 thousand for miscellaneous expenses (EME) in 2009.

But Gonzales overspent by P737,474.92 - his discretionary funds exceeded by P467,637.53 and his extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses exceeded by P269,837.39, according to the 2009 report of the Commission on Audit (COA).

The report stated that Gonzales, who served as COWD general manager up to October 2009, sought reimbursements amounting to P831,474.92 or P489,637.53 charged to discretionary funds and P341,837.39 charged to extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses. Alfredo Reyes, COA director for northern Mindanao, said auditors also found that Gonzales's successor, Engr. Proceso Pag-ong Jr., also spent P69,346.53 in discretionary funds and incurred P86,184.75 in extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses before year-end.

CDO prevails over Iligan on 1st day of reg’l qualifying

FOUR football associations from Northern Mindanao are participating in the ongoing Northern Mindanao qualifying tournament of the simultaneously-held Suzuki Under 23 National Cup. In the kickoff game Tuesday, host team Cagayan de Oro - Misamis Oriental Football Association (Cmofa) prevailed over Iligan - Lanao del Norte Football Association, 5-4.

The next game is scheduled this morning, as follows: Surigao del Norte Football Association and Butuan - Agusan del Norte Football Association. The games are held at the Xavier University Open Field and the tournament will run until April 2.
Other qualifying tournaments are held in Luzon and Mindanao, bringing together 23 squads where qualifiers from the National Capital Region (NCR) and the Visayas await them. Cmofa president Mike Batiles said the Suzuki Under 23 National Cup serves as breeding ground for future members of the Philippine men's national football team, affectionately known as the Azkals.

Batiles said he is confident that the teams from Mindanao will shine over their Luzon, NCR and Visayas counterparts, saying the 17 participating football associations from the island are the "most active" in the Philippine Football Federation.
The top two teams from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and NCR will slug it out in the finals to be held on May 15.
The winners will join the Azkals and will see action for the first time in the Southeast Asian Games in November in Indonesia.

by Mark Francisco www.goldstardailynews.com

All hail Jackie Chan, King of Comedy Kung Fu!

Azkals vs Mongolia

Scout Ranger El Bryan Cañedo says he is OK.

THE New People's Army (NPA) yesterday released two photographs and an audio clip of its captive, Scout Ranger El Bryan Cañedo. The soldier called on government forces to stop offensives in Mindanao due to a cease-fire agreed on as a result of the resumption of peace negotiations between rebels and government representatives in Oslo.

In an audio recording, Cañedo assured his family that he was sleeping and eating well, and his rights were being respected by his captors. Private Cañedo, 23, also called on military and police officials to order a halt on all offensives to speed up his release. He asked the leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo and Davao Mayor Sara Duterte to work for his speedy release. One of the photographs shows Cañedo having a cup of coffee while another showed him seated and holding a newspaper.

"The continuing 10th ID-AFP offensive combat operations in Compostela Valley province, in Agusan Sur and Davao Oriental despite the simultaneous GPH-NDFP ceasefire that started Feb. 15 could only delay the expeditious investigation of POW PFC Cañedo by revolutionary authorities. Sugarcoated AFP ‘rescue' missions for POW Pfc Cañedo would only end up in complete failures and in further humiliating the bankrupt 10th ID-AFP," said Homer Sandejas, spokesperson of the NPA's Front 25 operations command.

Cañedo, a member of the 5th Scout Ranger Company under the 2nd Scout Ranger Battalion, was captured and disarmed at a NPA checkpoint in Barangay Maparat, Compostela, Compostela Valley province last Feb. 7. He is being investigated for possible "crimes committed against the masses and the revolutionary movement."
Meanwhile, National Democratic Front (NDF) spokesperson for Mindanao Jorge Madlos continued to hurl brickbats at the military for the alleged blatant violations of the mutually agreed cease-fire between the government and communist rebels forces.

LTFRB okays hike in region’s PUJ fare

OUCH AGAIN! A commuter pays her fare to a public vehicle driver. The Land Transportation Franchise Regulatory Board has given northern Mindanao jeepney drivers the green light to charge passengers a minimum fare of P7.50 from P6.50. photo by bobby lagsa

By LITO RULONA,
BOBBY LAGSA
Correspondents
and MARK FRANCISCO
Staff member

THE minimum jeepney fare anywhere in the region is now P7.50. The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday gave jeepney owners and drivers in northern Mindanao the green light to collect P1 more from commuters used to paying a minimum fare of P6.50. LTFRB director for Region 10 Mandangan Darimbang said the regulatory board does not really see the new fare as an increase. He said it was merely the implementation of a July 2008 order for new jeepney fares. In 2008, organized jeepney owners asked the LTFRB to suspend the implementation of the fare increase, he said. Because of that, Darimbang said the minimum jeepney fare had remained at P6.50 with an additional P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer.

Economy’s growth highest since ’75

THE economy expanded by 7.3 percent last year, the fastest pace and highest in over three decades, the government said yesterday. Romulo Virola, secretary general of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), said despite the El Niño and the diminished government spending during the second semester, the domestic economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), "sizzled to its highest annual GDP growth in the post Marcos era of 7.3 percent in 2010 from 1.1 percent in 2009." The 2010 GDP growth was the highest since 1975 at 8.8 percent and surpassed the government's target of between five percent and six percent. Virola attributed last year's strong GDP growth to the global economic recovery, higher foreign trade, election related spending and the peaceful national elections. In 2010, Virola said industry once again took the driver's seat in boosting the economy with its huge 12.1-percent growth from a decline of 0.9 percent the previous year.

Services provided more than able support as it grew by 7.1 percent from 2.8 percent. However, agriculture, hounded by El Niño, posted a negative 0.5 percent from zero growth in 2009. In the fourth quarter alone, the GDP grew 7.1 percent from 2.1 percent in the same period in 2009. Virola said the growth during the last quarter of 2010 came from services, with 3.3 percentage points; industry, 2.7 percentage point and agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF), one percentage point. read more

Tabor fears more traffic jams due to two big road projects

A COUNCILOR is anticipating more traffic jams in the city with two major road projects of the national government that have been given a push by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of the city's 2nd District. The projects are the widening of a road in Puerto in preparation for a planned P385-million flyover project of the Aquino administration and the construction of the coastal road from Gusa to Igpit, Opol in Misamis Oriental. The Puerto road widening project is expected to be finished by October while the P341-million coastal road would be completed in June 2012.

Councilor Ramon Tabor called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to closely coordinate with city hall so that a traffic plan could be mapped out. The call came even as Tabor expressed disappointment over a road repair in Macanhan that has been forcing motorists to take a detour in Carmen.