Media summit for North Western Mindanao held
and ZANDRA JANE PONDOVILLA
Iligan City | December 4, 2016
A summit of members of the Media in Northwestern Mindanao was held last November 28-29 at Macapagal-Macaraeg Ancestral Home in Timoga, Buruun, this City.
According to Juanito “Jun” Enriquez, Jr., Managing Director of Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace and President of the Mangagawang Media ng Mindanao, the summit was jointly organized by Macapagal –Macaraeg Ancestral Home, Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace, Manggawang Media ng Mindano and the City Government of Iligan.
Among the topics discussed were: Federalism, Government Peace Process with MILF and NDF, Power and Energy and the Government’s Campaign against Illegal Drugs.
Among the speakers on Federalism were Mr. Candido Aparece, Jr., Executive Director of Centrist Democracy Political Institute, Davao City, Ryan Rosauro, Journalist, Ozamis City and Atty. Franklin M. Quijano, former Mayor of Iligan City and a forerunner in the campaign for Federalism and Atty. Ganding Bayamban, Regional Director for Non-Sectoral Hugpong Federal Movement the Philippines, Region 9, Pagadian City.
On the second day, a representative Undersecretary Benito Ranque of the Department of Energy spoke on the Mindanao Energy Situation.
He reported that there is an energy surplus in Mindanao that needs to be passed on other consumers. It was also mentioned that the NGCP, the transmission company, is finding problems due to sabotage of towers, trees planted along transmission lines and adverse right of way claims.
Representatives of National Power Corporation were also present who informed the participants that now they are just the managers of the Agus and Pulangui Hydroelectric Plants which are now owned by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) the government agency in charge of privatization.
The also said that the existing facilities are operating normally except the Pulangui Dam that needs de-silting.
In the afternoon, PNP SSupt. Gerardo Rosales, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, presented a report on the accomplishments of PNP Region X in Oplan Double Barrel.
Generally, the report indicated an excellent performance that included arrests and neutralization of high value targets, acceptance of drug pushers and users who surrendered and coordination with other government agencies in the rehabilitation of users.
He noted that apparently, the local governments are not ready to administer programs that would bring the pushers and users to the mainstream of society.
He also reported that the PNP is undergoing internal cleansing and drug testing of all policemen in the region has been completed.
In the anti-drug operations conducted by the police one was killed and two were wounded in action.
Also about 9 policemen throughout the region are now under process of disciplinary action that may include dismissal for testing positive of drugs and involvement in the drug trade.
Responding to a Media query on whether or not it is true that there is a narco-politician in Iligan, Rosales, smiled and said, “I have not seen the list.” tnrs
According to Juanito “Jun” Enriquez, Jr., Managing Director of Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace and President of the Mangagawang Media ng Mindanao, the summit was jointly organized by Macapagal –Macaraeg Ancestral Home, Civil Society Organization-Forum for Peace, Manggawang Media ng Mindano and the City Government of Iligan.
Among the topics discussed were: Federalism, Government Peace Process with MILF and NDF, Power and Energy and the Government’s Campaign against Illegal Drugs.
Among the speakers on Federalism were Mr. Candido Aparece, Jr., Executive Director of Centrist Democracy Political Institute, Davao City, Ryan Rosauro, Journalist, Ozamis City and Atty. Franklin M. Quijano, former Mayor of Iligan City and a forerunner in the campaign for Federalism and Atty. Ganding Bayamban, Regional Director for Non-Sectoral Hugpong Federal Movement the Philippines, Region 9, Pagadian City.
On the second day, a representative Undersecretary Benito Ranque of the Department of Energy spoke on the Mindanao Energy Situation.
He reported that there is an energy surplus in Mindanao that needs to be passed on other consumers. It was also mentioned that the NGCP, the transmission company, is finding problems due to sabotage of towers, trees planted along transmission lines and adverse right of way claims.
Representatives of National Power Corporation were also present who informed the participants that now they are just the managers of the Agus and Pulangui Hydroelectric Plants which are now owned by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) the government agency in charge of privatization.
The also said that the existing facilities are operating normally except the Pulangui Dam that needs de-silting.
In the afternoon, PNP SSupt. Gerardo Rosales, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, presented a report on the accomplishments of PNP Region X in Oplan Double Barrel.
Generally, the report indicated an excellent performance that included arrests and neutralization of high value targets, acceptance of drug pushers and users who surrendered and coordination with other government agencies in the rehabilitation of users.
He noted that apparently, the local governments are not ready to administer programs that would bring the pushers and users to the mainstream of society.
He also reported that the PNP is undergoing internal cleansing and drug testing of all policemen in the region has been completed.
In the anti-drug operations conducted by the police one was killed and two were wounded in action.
Also about 9 policemen throughout the region are now under process of disciplinary action that may include dismissal for testing positive of drugs and involvement in the drug trade.
Responding to a Media query on whether or not it is true that there is a narco-politician in Iligan, Rosales, smiled and said, “I have not seen the list.” tnrs
