4th Mech initiates "Sukang Kalasag" livelihood project for FRs

ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--The 4th Mechanized Infantry (Kalasag) Battalion initiated a livelihood project for former rebels (FRs) to provide for their basic needs while their enrolment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) is being processed.

"Mayroon kaming mga resources na nakacommit muna sa kanila while waiting sa reimbursement from the E-CLIP kaya naisip namin na gumawa ng program para matustusan ang pangangailangan nila na hindi naman naaapektuhan yung resources ng Battalion," said Lt Colonel Rommel M. Pereña, commanding officer of the unit.

[We have resources that are committed to them while waiting for reimbursement from the E-CLIP so we thought of making a program to provide for their needs without affecting the resources of the Battalion.]

Pereña said they pursued a vinegar production project since it's easier and quicker to produce and the return is also high.

"Naisip namin dati ang paggawa ng turmeric tea which is medyo matagal gawin, dapat yung mabilisan lang. May kaibigan kami na gumagawa ng suka na similar sa Pinakurat ng Iligan. Naisip namin na madali itong ituro at medyo malaki rin ang kita rito," he said.

[We thought of making turmeric tea which takes a longer time to produce, it should be fast. We have a friend who makes vinegar similar to the Pinakurat of Iligan. We thought this is easy to teach and the earnings is also quite high.]

Pereña said they would be undergoing the processes required by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Food and Drugs Administration to institutionalize the "Sukang Kalasag" hoping that the FRs can continue to pursue this livelihood after their enrolment to the E-CLIP.

The Battalion commander disclosed that they are also pursuing other livelihood projects for the FRs such as hog raising through the help of the Department of Labor and Employment,  and dressmaking and knife making through the assistance of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

Iligan Chamber to help senior citizens become entrepreneurs

Good news for senior citizens aspiring to become entrepreneurs!

This, after the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc. (CCIFII) announced that it will conduct learning sessions on barangay entrepreneurship in the following months.

CCIFII President Reggie Punongbayan said the entrepreneurship learning sessions will focus on how to get started in doing business particularly on business name registration and start-up mentoring.

It will also include orientation on Barangay Micro Business Enterprises and cooperativism.

The barangay entrepreneurship is one of the services to be offered during the Iligan chamber's Seniors Caravan that will kick off in identified barangays in Iligan in October this year.

Arturo San Luis, chairperson of CCIFII's Committee on Senior Citizen Affairs, said the caravan aims to provide economic opportunities to the elderly under their Seniors Helping Seniors Program.

Other services that will be offered during the caravan are community pantry and medical aid.

To further empower senior citizens, the CCIFII will also launch a food terminal that will serve as a central hub of fresh produce that will be managed by the elderly sector. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

Arturo San Luis, chairperson of CCIFII Committee on Senior Citizen Affairs, shares the Seniors Helping Seniors Program of Iligan Chamber to empower the elderly sector. (Michael John Paclar/PIA-ICIC)

Senior citizen caravan to commence in Iligan

PhilSys online registration not yet available in Iligan, LDN

Online appointment for Step 2 of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration is not yet available here and in the province of Lanao del Norte, according to the Phillippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

"Wala pa gyud bisag usa sa online nga getagaan og notice to proceed for Step 2 nga ipahigayon nato ang biometric ug iris capturing (not one in the online has been given notice to proceed for Step 2 for biometric and iris capturing)," said PSA-Lanao del Norte chief statistical specialist Osler Mejares during the Kapehan sa Iligan Chamber Wednesday, July 28.

Mejares said this is the reason why those who tried to register online are receiving an 'error' feedback.

But he assured that online registration will be available soon for Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. "We will be having also online registration but since atoang gamit or equipment nga atong gerequest wala pa niabot so pending sa siya," he said.

[We will also be having online registration but since the equipment that we requested has not yet arrived, it is still pending.]

Mejares said those interested to register can visit their office or designated registration centers as walk-in clients and avail of Step 2 however PSA Lanao del Norte is currently prioritizing those registrants who have completed Step 1, particularly the face-to-face or house-to-house demographic data collection in priority barangays.

The 13 priority barangays in Iligan are Bonbonon, Bunawan, Digkilaan, Dulag, Hindang, Kabacsanan, Mainit, Rogongon, Upper Tominobo,  and parts of Buruun, Dalipuga, Ditucalan, and Tipanoy.

Operational registration centers Lanao del Norte are located in Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Tubod, Kapatagan, Lala, Baloi, and Maigo. In Iligan City, the registration centers are located at the PSA-Lanao del Norte Office and Robinsons mall.

A total of 44,251 individuals in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte have finished the Step 2 registration as of July 27.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte, Republic Act 11055 or the PhilSys Act aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens. With PhilSys, access to financial services, social protection, health, education, and other government services will be easier and more convenient. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) -Lanao del Norte Chief Statistical Specialist Osler Mejares shares updates on the ongoing PhilSys registration in Iligan City and Lanao del Norte province during the 10th episode of Kapehan sa Iligan Chamber with the Philippine Information Agency and Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation of Iligan Inc.

PSA records 12,546 PhilSys Step 2 registrants in Iligan

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has reached 12,546 registrants for its second step of the registration process for the Philippine Identification System as of Tuesday, July 27.

Step 2 registration involves capturing the registrant’s biometric data and verifying their demographic information at registration centers.

PSA Iligan - Lanao del Norte chief statistical specialist  Osler Mejares said the national ID is helpful especially to those who are from hinterlands.

“Kini dako ug gamit labi na ug kamo na mga naa sa bukid,” he said.

[This is really helpful and useful especially to those who live in the hinterlands.]

Mejares also said that their office targets to profile 200 individuals each in the registration centers located in PSA Iligan Office and Robinsons Place Iligan.

Meanwhile, for the step 1 registration, a total of 81, 186 individuals from  23 hinterland barangays in the City have been profiled after PSA enumerators registration officers conducted house-to-house interviews to collect their demographic information.

Step 3, on the other hand, involves the issuance of PhilSys Numbers (PSNs) and physical IDs to the registrants which will be shipped by the Philippine Postal Corporation. (LELA/PIA-ICIC)

Philippine Statistics Authority Iligan - Lanao del Norte chief statistical specialist  Osler Mejares says the national ID is helpful especially to those who are from hinterlands. (Michael John Paclar/ PIA ICIC)

Siao welcomes creation of CDPC, virology institute

"Giving them time and attention in no less than the SONA was very well-deserved considering the dangers they had faced and continue to face due to this pandemic," he said. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

Cops eye robbery in Iligan shooting

Recovered from the crime scene were a caliber 45 fired cartridge case, a caliber 45 pistol.

Operatives are still hunting down the perpetrator.

Man shot dead inside car in Iligan City

Man killed in Iligan shootout

Courtesy: Iligan PNP

Iligan City Hall soon to have lactation, clinic, child-minding space

City Hall clients and employees who are looking for privacy to breastfeed or pump during workdays will soon have a private lactation space at the City Hall.

Employees of the city government can also entrust and leave their little children for care in the proposed child-minding center, also set to be established at the City Hall.

This was disclosed by City Councilor Lamberto Macapagal Jr. during the City Nutrition Committee meeting on Thursday, June 24, when he gave updates on the status of the proposed City Hall clinic.

'In the latter part of 2019, we have a series of meetings regarding sa pag-setup og usa ka clinic diri sa City Hall. Unfortunately, it was overtaken by the COVID pandemic so the whole year of last year wala gyud na namo na tackle.  Yesterday, we have a meeting again na kailangan padayunon na nato ni. We will have our own clinic diri sa City Hall, we will have our own doctor that will cater to regular as well as the casual employees of City Hall," he said.

[In the latter part of 2019, we have a series of meetings regarding setting up a clinic here at City Hall. Unfortunately, it was overtaken by the COVID pandemic so the whole year of last year we never tackled it. Yesterday, we had a meeting again that we need to continue it. We will have our own clinic here at City Hall, we will have our own doctor that will cater to regular as well as the casual employees of City Hall.]

Macapagal, who is also the SP chairperson for the Committee on Health, said the setting up of the breastfeeding area and child-minding center are part of the plan.

He is hoping they can start carrying it out in August. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

Iligan City Councilor Lamberto Macapagal Jr., SP chairperson for the Committee on Health, presides over the City Nutrition Committee meeting. (ADD/PIA-ICIC)

DSWD's milk feeding program benefits 1,914 children in Iligan

This was disclosed by Jennifer Hora of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) during the Iligan City Nutrition Committee (CNC) meeting Thursday.

The milk feeding program aims to rehabilitate underweight and severely underweight children ages 3-4 years old enrolled in Child Development Centers and Supervised Neighborhood Plays.

Under the program, each child is given three liters of fresh milk per week to combat malnutrition.

"Last May 5 nag start mi sa milk feeding ug mag end nami tomorrow June 25 kay eight weeks ra man ang implementation sa program," she added.

[We started the milk feeding last May 5 and we will end tomorrow, June 25, because the implementation of the program is only eight weeks.]

Hora said the program is implemented by the CSWDO with funds from DSWD Field Office 10 through the Bayanihan Grant 2.

Aside from boosting the government's efforts to combat malnutrition, the milk supplementation also seeks to support the local dairy industry. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

The milk feeding program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development benefits 1,914 children in Iligan City. (DSWD-10)

Iligan City gears up for nutrition month celebration

ILIGAN CITY, (PIA)--The city government of Iligan through the City Nutrition Committee (CNC) has started preparations for the upcoming National Nutrition Month celebration this July.

Representatives of CNC-member agencies laid out proposed activities to be lined up during the month-long celebration in a meeting held at the SP Session Hall here, Thursday.

These include hanging of streamers, conduct of Kapehan sa Iligan, feeding programs, distribution of vegetable seeds for urban gardening, and the launching of the Enhanced Nutribun for 3 to 5-year-old severely wasted children, among others.

Dr. Glenn Manarpaac, city nutrition action officer, said this year's nutrition month celebration is anchored on the theme "Malnutrisyon Patuloy na Labanan, First 1000 days Tutukan! to focus on efforts during the first 1000 days of life as a strategy to prevent malnutrition among children.

In line with the celebration, the City Social Welfare and Development Office is also set to kick off the 11th cycle of DSWD's Supplemental Feeding Program to improve and sustain the nutritional status of 13,311 children in the city. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

Dr. Glenn Manarpaac, city nutrition action officer, says this year's nutrition month celebration is anchored on the theme "Malnutrisyon Patuloy na Labanan, First 1000 days Tutukan!. (Angelo Dologmandin/PIA-ICIC)

Iligan readies inoculators for opening of 2nd vaccination hub

ILIGAN CITY, (PIA)--The local government of Iligan City through the collaborative efforts of the City Health Office (CHO) and the Department of Health (DOH)-10 kicked off a simulation exercise Tuesday, June 15 to prepare vaccinators for the operation of the second vaccination site in the city.

CHO-Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Health Cluster Manager Dr. Belinda Lim said such the exercise will ready the involved personnel of the protocols during the actual rollout of the vaccination.

“Nia ta karon sa La Salle kay nagsimulation exercise ta para masuwayan gyud ang actual puhon kung mahitabo gyud nga mahimo siyang ikaduha nga vaccination site, bali simultaneous sa Robinsons,” she said.

[We are here in La Salle because we are having a simulation exercise to really try the actual if this really becomes the second vaccination site, which will be simultaneous to Robinsons.]

Lim said the new vaccination site is just appropriate for its purpose as this is an open space which is a necessity for the dilution of the virus if there is somebody within the parameter who is infected.

She also said the new venue will significantly augment the number of vaccinees making the local government achieve its target compared to the result when the city has only one site.

“Ato gyud givisualize nga kung pwede, mapaspasan gyud nato og vaccinate aron makab-ot nato ang 70% nga herd immunity kay kung usa ra atong vaccination site, naa ra ta sa mga 2,500 ug siguro the most, 3,000 per week ra atong mavaccinate. In one month, naa ra ta sa mga 10,000 or 12,000. Layo ra kaayo ang 70% of the population,” said Lim.

[We really visualized that if possible, we can really accelerate the vaccination to attain the 70% which is the herd immunity because if we only have one vaccination site, we will just vaccinate 2,500 and maybe, the most will be 3,000 per week. In one month, we will only be about 10,000 or 12,000. Seventy percent of our population is just so far.]

The second vaccination hub is seen to operate next week or within this week depending on the availability of more vaccines as the LGU requested additional 1,000 doses from DOH.

The new hub will cater to persons with comorbidities belonging to the A3 priority group, synchronous to Robinsons Place Iligan which will accommodate senior citizens under the A2 priority group by then. (CRG/ PIA-ICIC)

LGU Iligan puts up another Covid vax site

PGLDN, DOLE release wages of 296 TUPAD beneficiaries

LANAO DEL NORTE,  (PIA)--The Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte (PGLDN) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) started the release of wages of over 296 beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating mga Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program in the province.

The beneficiaries coming from the different municipalities in the province received Php6,000 cash as wages for their 16-days work.

The cash assistance has a total amount of Php2,375,000 of which the Php1,900,000 was funded by the DOLE and Php475,000 is the PGLDN 20% equity.

TUPAD aims to provide assistance to displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers through engaging them to render service and work at their own homes or communities. This also includes those who have lost their jobs due to the health crisis brought by the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Provincial Governor Imelda ‘Angging’ Quibranza Dimaporo encouraged the beneficiaries to use the cash assistance wisely and to cooperate in the fight against COVID-19 especially that there are some areas in the province that still have several active cases.

She also reminded them of the importance of strictly following health protocols such as wearing face masks and face shields and maintaining social distancing at all times to contain the spread of the unseen enemy.

The TUPAD payout, held at Macapagal Training Center in the municipality of Tubod from May 27-31, 2021, is facilitated by the Provincial Public Employment and Services Office and Provincial Treasure’s Office. (PIO-LDN/PIA-ICIC)

Vaccine hesitancy, not a major concern in Lanao del Norte town

DTI, SBCorp approve P21.37M loans for Covid-hit MSMEs in Iligan, Lanao del Norte

Evelyn Geronimo, DTI's Junior Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pag-asenso (P3) Provincial Coordinator, shared during the Kapehan sa Iligan Chamber Friday, that as of May this year SBCorp has already approved 237 loan applications from MSMEs that sought relief assistance to restart their businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic

These applications, she said, have an equivalent approved amount of P21,377,098.77.

Geronimo said the loan approvals are under the COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) program, a financing facility under the P3 to support MSMEs affected by the economic impact of Covid-19.

This, she added, is pursuant to Bayanihan 2 which directed SBCorp to expand its existing loan programs to help mitigate the adverse impact of the pandemic on MSMEs.

According to her, the CARES program has allotted financial support amounting to P100 million for MSMEs in Iligan and Lanao del Norte. (APB/PIA-ICIC)

DPWH continue to clears highway of flood-hit towns in Lanao del Norte

ILIGAN CITY,  – Continued heavy rainfall due to a low pressure area southeast of Mindanao brought severe flooding in the coastal towns of Bacolod, Maigo and Tubod, of Lanao del Norte province.

Maintenance personnel from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office (LDN2 DEO) were immediately dispatched to conduct road clearing operations along the Linamon-Zamboanga national highway.

Flood debris, tree stumps and mud were cleared by the DPWH maintenance teams as they moved towards the capital town of Tubod.

“We are always on heightened alert every time there is heavy rainfall. This gives us a faster response time to address emergencies and calamities since all of our personnel and heavy equipment are already on stand-by and awaiting orders," explained District Engineer Alykhan Ali.

The coastal flooding experienced in these communities is the result of the large volume of rainwater coinciding with the peak of high tide.

Several mudslides were also observed and cleared by the DPWH teams particularly in the towns of Tubod and Maigo. 

The maintenance personnel also removed uprooted trees and bamboo clumps stuck under several bridges of Lanao del Norte.

“It was already dawn when our teams arrived from their clearing operations but they have successfully cleared the national highway along the flooded towns of Lanao del Norte. For that, I commend all of them," expressed Ali. (VNL/DPWH-PIO/PIA-ICIC)

GSIS to subsidize education of 5K members’ kin

DPWH turns over 2 multi-purpose gyms in Brgy. Pugaan, Iligan

ILIGAN CITY, – Members of Pugaan Barangay Council and officials of Espiridion Encabo Memorial High School received two newly-completed multi-purpose buildings constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways  (DPWH) – Lanao del Norte 2nd District Engineering Office.

The simple turn-over ceremony was held on December 21, 2020 at the brand-new Pugaan gymnasium. 

“We never expected that we can have a beautiful gymnasium like this. We are grateful to District Engineer Ali for transforming our old and dilapidated gym into this modern building," expressed Punong Barangay Virgie Raman.

The renovation of the old gymnasium and barangay hall was allocated Php9.6-million under the regular infrastructure program of DPWH. Meanwhile, the construction of a new multi-purpose building in Espiridion Encabo Memorial High School amounting to Php3.3-million is part of the Local Infrastructure Program (LIP) of Representative Frederick Siao of the Lone Congressional District of Iligan City.

“We are truly thankful to Congressman Siao because this multi-purpose building is highly important to us, especially when our students return to school and we have to ensure strict compliance of social distancing," explained Principal Eugene Daguio.

For his part, District Engineer Alykhan Ali is hopeful that the newly completed buildings will be put to good use and for residents of Brgy. Pugaan to realize that the national government is working hard to improve the lives of Filipinos especially those in remote areas of the country. 

“As the infrastructure arm of the national government, it’s not enough to work hard. The public, the people whom we are serving, must know that the government is working for them," said Ali. (VNL/DPWH-PIO)

The recently turned-over cavernous gym of Brgy. Pugaan in Iligan City is now being used for various barangay activities like this monthly meeting of their women’s organization.