Ledesma makes a 'triumphal entry' into C. de Oro

ARCHBISHOP Antonio Ledesma’s arrival from Zamboanga del Sur was greeted with a rousing fanfare in Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro on Sunday.

Thousands waited as a caravan organized for the new archbishop passed by parishes until it reached St. Augustine Cathedral.

People waved white and yellow flags and hung welcome streamers along the highway.

Priests and parishioners, including local politicians, greeted Ledesma as he dropped by the towns.

He spent about 10 minutes in every town he visited just to talk to people, said Monsignor Rey Monsanto.

From the Our Lady of Peace Parish in Lugait town, Ledesma visited at least nine other Misamis Oriental towns––Man-ticao, Naawan, Initao, Libertad, Gitagum, La-guindingan, Alubijid, El Salvador and Opol––before proceeding to Caga-yan de Oro.

Archbishop emeritus Jesus Tuquib greeted his successor at the Arch-bishop’s Palace past 5 pm. The two visited a chapel where they briefly prayed. They then sang ‘‘Te Deum,’’ an early Christian hymn of praise.

From the chapel, Monsanto said Ledesma and Tuquib had dinner with priests, nuns and lay leaders.

Last night, a pre-installation reception for Ledesma was hosted by relatives and friends of the new archbishop, said the Rev. Fr. Butch Zayas.

The fanfare continues today with the official installation of Ledesma as the fourth archbishop of Cagayan de Oro by Manila Archbishop Gaudencio
Cardinal Rosales at the St. Augustine Cathedral. Some 11 bishops are expected to grace the event, including Bishop Angel Lagdameo, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and former Social Welfare secretary Dinky Soliman as well as local politicians are expected to witness Ledesma’s installation.

Ledesma and the local archdiocese would also honor Tuquib who served here for 22 years.

Ledesma hails from Negros and served as the dean of the College of Agriculture of the Jesuit-run Xavier University from 1983 to 1993. He was also dean of the Xavier’s College of Arts and Sciences for three years before he was named the bishop of Ipil in l996.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily>Link

Militant groups ask Church leaders to openly oppose ID system

MILITANT groups in the city on Saturday challenged Church leaders and ‘‘intellectuals ’’in northern Mindanao to join them in asking the Supreme Court to reverse its previous decision on the ‘‘unified multi-purpose identification system," saying the scheme would result in violation of citizens’ rights.

Ryan Guerrero of the local Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said the ID system would become another form of harassment.

During the rally near the capitol, activists sharply criticized President Arroyo’s Executive Order 420, calling it ‘‘anti-people’’ and the ‘‘handiwork’’ of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales.

The ID system, according to Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran’s daughter Oda, would allow the state to spy on citizens suspected of being the government’s enemies.

The KMU and other militant groups said they would launch an information campaign aimed at telling people in the region about the dangers of the planned ID system.

They maintained that EO 420 is the same as Administrative Order 308, which was issued in 1996 by then president Fidel Ramos. The administrative order was an attempt to set up a national computerized identification reference system.

The High Court invalidated AO 308 on the grounds that "a national ID card system requires legislation because it creates a new national data collection and card issuance system where none existed before."

"People are really tired on the government’s position on the right of the people to live in a democratic country like the Philippines," said Guerrero.

Beltran’s daughter Oda said Arroyo’s executive order was tantamount to usurpation of legislative powers.

Guerrero called on Cchurch leaders in Cagayan de Oro and elsewhere in the region to openly criticize the proposed ID system for the sake of citizens whose right to privacy would likely be violated.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily>Link

Tanduay faces Young Guns, Slashers meet Veterans in Oro Aces Summer Tourney Crossover Semis

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Baños / May 28) IT was supposed to be two no-bearing games to mark the end of the elimination round, but someone forgot to tell the Oro Aces. Result? A pair of cliff hangers that saw some of the best basketball in the summer tournament so far.

In the first game, No. 4 Tanduay racked up its second straight win after four straight defeats at the expense of No. 1 Team A Young Guns, the same team they now have to beat twice in the crossover semifinals to get a shot at the summer tourney crown.

The Distillers used an eye-popping 39-point third quarter after scoring only six in the second, to cushion the 26 points of Boyet Macarayan and prevail, 83-80 after the Young Guns erased a 18-point third quarter deficit behind the torrid shooting of Macarayan, who dropped six triples, four of them in the last quarter, to tie the game twice.

Despite outscoring Tanduay 32-17 in the final canto, the Young Guns, who sorely missed the scoring sock of J.B. Valle, Ramil Rendon and Acenas, and the rebounding of Luis Borja, missed several scoring chances in the final 40 seconds of regulation that would've sent it into overtime.

The Distillers leaned on the team high 23 points of Bert Lim and the 19 points of Arnold Bertulfo, most of them in the paint, to buck Macarayan's game high 26 points. Loloy Bollozos chipped in 16 and Gali Garcia 15 points for the losers.

In the second game, the Team C Veterans proved steadier down the homestretch to lead all the way in turning back the Slashers of Team B, 75-64. The Veterans played ball control throughout, more by necessity than purpose, having only seven players to field, but controlled the tempo from the start, ending the first and second quarters on top 24-17 and 42-34, behind the 1-2 outside-inside punch of Alan Lumayno who shot a tournament high 28 points and the slashing of Gabriel Rosales who chipped in 20.

The Slashers closed to within three after the third quarter, 53-50, leaning on the beefy Acedera and Gonzaga to outscore the Veterans 16-11 for the period. But experience proved too much in the final canto as Lumayno continued his steady sniping with a game high six treys and veterans Jun Oran and Tony Cadiz controlled the boards and successfully protected the lead for the final count.

Due to scheduled repairs at the MPSC gym, the tournament shifts venue to the Macasandig covered courts next Sunday as Tanduay meets Team A in a grudge match, needing two games to get into the finals. Team B and C were tied with similar records of 3-3 after the double round robin elimination round but Team B gained the No. 3 seed as a result of its +17 quotient, compared to only +11 for Team C. Thus, Team C will also have to beat Team B in their rematch this Sunday to get into the tournament finals.
____________

Schedule of Games:
Cross-Over Semifinals
June 4, 2006
Bgy. Macasandig Covered Basketball Court

First Game : No. 1 (Team A)* vs. No. 4 (Tanduay)
Second Game: No. 2 (Team B)* vs No.3 (Team C)

* Twice to beat advantage

Results:

First Game:

TANDUAY 83 – B. Lim 23, A. Bertulfo 19, R. Roma 13,

G. Keng 10, Gonzales B. 6,

G. Lim 4, D. Guevara 4,

F. Lim 2, V. Guevara 2

TEAM A Young Guns 80– B. Macarayan 26,

K. Bollozos 16,

Garcia G. 15,

V. Gaabucayan 7,

De La Cruz 6,

Banaag 6,

J. Reyes 4,

L.R. Banos 0

Quarters: 21-13, 27-32, 66-48, 83-80

Second Game :

TEAM C Veterans 75 – A. Lumayno 28, G. Rosales 20,

P. Oran 10, A. Cadiz 9, M. Banos 2, A. Bax 0

TEAM B Slashers 64 – Acedera 16, L. Cadiz 12, Amparo 12,

R. Labitad 7, P. Oran 5, Gonzaga 4,

D. Ramas 4, Cadiz 4, N. Onico 0, J.G Banos 0

Quarters : 24-17, 42-34, 53-50, 75-64
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'Irresponsible,' says Zubiri of Nat'l security adviser

Baguio defend Arroyo adviser, Camp Evagelista

BUKIDNON Gov. Jose Zubiri yesterday continued to hurl brickbats at National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales. He called the Palace official ‘‘irresponsible.’’

Zubiri’s tirades came even as the provincial board threatened to declare Gonzales persona non grata unless he apologized to Bukidnon for claiming that there were mass graves in the province.

The mass graves story was later denied by the source––barangay chairperson Jimmy Arion of Kibongtod, San Fernando town––whom Gonzales cited when he made the claim at Camp Evangelista over a week ago.

Zubiri said the story was a hoax. He denied that two mass graves were found in Quezon and San Fernando towns and that these yielded 29 bodies.

The bodies supposedly belonged to victims of the New People’s Army (NPA).
But Zubiri said only one body was exhumed by the military in San Fernando last year.

‘‘Bukidnon is peaceful,’’ said Zubiri, citing a military report that said the Maoist rebel group only has a little over 100 armed members in the province.

Bukidnon officials said Gonzales’ pronouncements make the province look like a ‘‘killing fields,’’ hence the demand for a public apology.

Arion, the village chief, was presented by the military to Gonzales during his recent visit to Camp Evangelista, the seat of the army in the region. After he ‘‘escaped’’ from Camp Evangelista, he claimed the military forced him to make the story up.

The police in northern Mindanao however defended Gonzales and Camp Evangelista, saying the claim was ‘‘factual and no concoction.’’

It was just a matter of semantics, said regional police director Chief Supt. Florante Baguio.

Said Baguio: "There are killings that were attributed to the CPP-NPA (but there are) no mass graves. The term used is not correct, it should be ‘buried separately.’’’

Baguio said the pronouncements of Gonzales were based on facts, adding that the remains of over 20 people murdered by communist rebels were found in the province.

But he said the victims were killed and buried separately since 2000.
The victims, he said, were ordinary civilians from the hinterlands of Bukidnon who did not cooperate with the rebels.

Baguio said he suspected Arion was under pressure, hence the retraction.
"The probability of a threat on Arion and his family is possible. That is the usual practice of the rebels," said Baguio.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily>Link

Luna to rights advocates: What about the NPA's civilian killings?

FOURTH Infantry Division chief Cardoso Luna on Wednesday lashed at human right advocates in northern Mindanao for ‘‘unfair’’ and ‘‘biased’’ to the military.

"Why only us? They are just are criticizing us if there are violations committed by soldiers. It is unfair to us," said Maj. Gen. Luna, speaking before reporters.

Luna said communist rebels have committed many human rights violations and yet the same groups never raised a howl of protest.

Luna said the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) have been abusing ordinary civilians and have even killed innocent people.

"Where are freedom, justice and equality there?" Luna asked.
Luna also called on the Commission of Human Rights ‘‘to be factual and fair’’ to the military and the police.

He challenged CHR to investigate the alleged human rights violations, including murders, committed by rebels, citing the case of farmers who were allegedly tortured and then killed by guerrillas in an outlying village in Surigao.

"Pinatay sila ng walang kalabanlaban, nasaan ang hustisya? Nasaan ang mga human right advocates dyan?" asked Luna.

He also challenged militant groups to make a stand and issue statements in regard to killings attributed to the NPA.

Meanwhile, Luna assured that journalists would not be barred from Camp Evangelista, the seat of the army’s 4th ID. He said this in response to reports that Camp Aguinaldo issued a memorandum to restrict the movement of journalists in military camps, including Camp Evangelista.

Luna also assured that the military was not spying on journalists.

"What we are asking is for you tell us where you want to go and we’ll make the coordination," Luna told reporters.

"that can be read at Gold Star Daily, gsd9000.tripod.com>Link

Mindanao power supply to remain critical despite coal plant

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (Mike Baños / May 25) The worst may be over for the Mindanao grid this summer with the onset of the rainy season, but power supply in the island remains critical, as oil fired plants come down and repairs in its hydroelectric plants continue.

Emmanuel Abellanosa, Transco area manager for North Central Mindanao, said they have been constrained to implement voluntary power curtailment or "power shedding" at various times this simmer due to imbalances between the available power from National Power Corporation (NPC) and the demand from residential, commercial and industrial users.

"There's not enough spinning reserve in the Mindanao grid to address contingencies," Abellanosa said.

NPC figures show the system gross reserve in Mindanao from the latter half of 2005 to year end 2006 to be insufficient to meet the 11.9-percent load following/frequency reserve and spinning reserve requirements.

NPC president Cyril C. del Callar, NPC president Cyril C. del Callar earlier warned that "recurring power shortages are expected especially during peak periods, when generators and or associated transmission lines are on forced outage."

Peak power demand in Mindanao this summer topped 1,100 megawatts but the NPC only managed to supply an average of 1,050 megawatts to the Mindanao Power Grid. As a result, whenever there's a glitch in the distribution system, power is cut in some areas as the grid seeks to balance the remaining available power throughout the delicately balanced system.

Abellanosa said NPC's total power generated has been curtailed due to ongoing rehabilitation works in the Agus IV Hydro-Electric Power Plant at Iligan City, the 255-megawatt Pulangi IV Hydro Electric Plant in Bukidnon and the Iligan Diesel Power Plant in Ditucalan, Iligan City, turned over a few years back by independent power producer Northern Mindanao Power Corporation.

Agus IV's generators Nos.1 and 4 with a total output of 92 MW experienced problems with its turbines while low water level in the catchment area for the Pulangi IV HEP drastically curtailed its production. The Iligan Diesel Power Plant (25 MW) is not producing as much power as it should.

As a result, power supply to the Zamboanga peninsula and nearby areas was curtailed by 50MW causing up to three hour power outages although Cagayan de Oro city managed to get by due to the Mindanao Energy Systems (Minergy) power plant which augmented available power to the local utility (Cagayan de Oro Electric Power & Light Co. or CEPALCO) with 18 MW.

The onset of rains bodes well for the hydroelectric power complexes in Agus and Pulangi rivers but until power from these sources stabilize, Transco would be constrained to continue its power shedding contingency, Abellanosa said.

Rafael Magbanua, communications officer for Transco NCMA, said at least 85 percent of Mindanao has already been tapping independent power producers (IPPs) and NPC power barges particularly in key areas.

"But we are still talking about a very erratic and critical power supply...this power sourcing is very abnormal still," he said.

That's for the short term. Over the medium and long term, even if only ongoing base load coal-fired power plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental comes online as scheduled by year end, it's merely going to patch things over but not fix it.

Although the grid is being weaned away from its traditional dependence on hydroelectric power plants, the bulk of generated power in the island is still being sourced from the Agus Hydroelectric Power Plants in Iligan City and Lanao del Sur and the Pulangi Hydroelectric Power Plants in Maramag, Bukidnon.

The Regional Development Council in Region 10 (RDC-10) has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating power situation in Mindanao.

Arsenio L. Sebastian III, RDC-10 vice-chairman and Dr. Modesto Babaylan, RDC 10 infrastructure committee co-chairman, disclosed recently that Pulangi is producing only 100-120MW of its 255MW rated capacity due to accumulated siltation in the Pulangi River feeding its catchment basin.

Besides the lack of available funds to dredge the Pulangi river, Sebastian said they also have no place to dump the dredged silt taken from it.

Sebastian is also concerned the Mindanao Coal –Fired Power Plant might be delayed. Department of Energy statistics show a rising demand for power that the present supply might be unable to meet even with the new base load plant online, he said.

STEAG state power communications officer Jerome Soldervilla said RDC-10's fears are unfounded. "As of 15 May 2006, the power plant project is 95.5% complete. Based on this figure vis-à-vis the timelines, we are on track and confident that it will commence commercial operations by end of this year,"

"Right now, we are at the commissioning stage, meaning all mechanical and electrical facilities and equipment undergo series of testing," he added. "Transco's term of 'on-line' simply means that the power plant (through its 6-kilometer 138kV transmission line connected to Transco's sub-station in Natumulan, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental) is already energized and is technically connected to the grid."


NPC President del Callar earlier said that from 2007 to 2008, power supply in Mindanao would be stable as the system gross reserve remains sufficient to meet the LFFR and spinning reserve with the scheduled commissioning of the 200 MW coal plant.

The average power supply reserve margin in the Mindanao grid from 2005 to 2008 is 7.26% with 2008 having the lowest projected power supply reserve margin of 3.93% . By 2009, peak demand for power in Mindanao will start to exceed the existing power capacity , with additional new capacity of about 57 MW to be needed for the year and an average of 116 MW every year thereafter.

But the environmental advocacy group Task Force Macajalar (TFC) has called the NPC projections inaccurate.

TFM spokesperson BenCyrus Ellorin said Mindanao can sustain its power needs without resorting to fossil fuels like oil or coal because its existing hydropower plants are sufficient to meet the island's needs if their full potential of 12,000MW is tapped.

Latest NPC figures only show an existing power band of 982 –1,500 MW with independent power producers (IPPs) capable of another 543 MW.

NPC expects power demand in Mindanao to grow 11.8 percent from 2005-2011 and would need to have an installed capacity of 2,830MW by the end of this period with the Mindanao Coal-Fired Power Plant filling the gap.

Ellorin believes Mindanao would be better off if it rehabilitates its present hydroelectric power plants and reforest the watersheds that support them or inter-connect with the rest of the Philippine grid with the Leyte-Mindanao Inter-connection project.

The Mindanao grid is divided into three sub-grids - North, West, and South Mindanao. Of these, , only North Mindanao enjoys an excess capacity while the West and South Mindanao grids have to import from the North Mindanao sub-grid to sufficiently address peak power demand in their respective areas.

The country's Power Development Plan for 2005 to 2014 stresses the importance of putting up more power generating plants in order to avert a power shortfall in the major islands of the country, particularly in Mindanao since the previous surplus has been effectively erased with the reopening of the National Steel Corporation (NSC, now Global Steel International, Inc. or GSII) steel plant in Iligan City.

If power plants were to deliver the expected power supply in the future, the time to construct them (in no. of years) would be : coal (6), hydro (5), geothermal (5), diesel (high capacity)-4, gas turbine (4), wind (4), diesel (low capacity)-1, power barge (8 mos.)

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Enteria warns of Oro ban on VT Lao

COUNCILOR Maryanne Enteria yesterday threatened to push for a ban on Adhi Karya-VT Lao Construction in the city if the firm fails to finish in giving the Ysalina Bridge a major facelift on time.

Enteria also warned the contractor could be slapped with forfeiture unless it finishes the project on or before June 23.

She said the firm’s executives may even be declared persona non grata in the city.

"Sorry for them if they fail to finish the repair of bridge on the target date. People are expecting them to follow the contract heartily... The contractors should be man enough in their dealings with the government," said the councilor.

Enteria said she is serious in her plans to convince her fellow councilors to demand the forfeiture of the the contract and in banning Adhi Karya-VT Lao Construction from undertaking more projects in the city.

The warning came after a representative of the construction firm undertaking the Ysalina Bridge retrofitting project failed to attend the city councilo session last Monday despite an invitation. It was the second time, according to councilors, that the firm ‘‘snubbed’’ the council.

The council invited Jesus Diaz, resident engineer of the construction firm contracted to repair the Ysalina Bridge, and the district engineers to answer questions in regard to the ongoing project last Monday.

"We’re now studying their contract,’’ said Enteria. ‘‘If they will fail to show up during the session next week, the resolution may be filed," warned Enteria.

She added: "The harshest will be declaring them persona non grata if they would fail to appear again."

Meanwhile, Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya said the construction company should be asked to issue a bond to the government from five percent to 10 percent of the total cost of the project.

"This proposal would only be effective through an ordinance. We have no enabling ordinance to impose or demand a bond yet," Nacaya said.

Nacaya said the city council should immediately approve a resolution to this effect if local legislators feel that the contractor would not be able to finish the project on time.

Nacaya said he agreed that the firm’s executives should be declared persona non grata if they fail to beat their June 23 deadline or if they snub the city council again.

"They are supposed to come in aid of legislation and for the interest of the people of Cagayan de Oro," Nacaya said.

Diaz declined to comment when asked why he did not show up last Monday. He merely maintained that the firm would finish the project on time.

Earlier, Diaz faulted city hall for the delay, saying it did not immediately act on its request to start the project last March. The city hall greenlight, he said, was given in late April, hence the delay.

"There is nothing wrong with their (councilors’) plan, that is their right. I am only hoping that their criticisms would be based on the contract," Diaz said.

Vice Mayor Michelle Spiers, the acting mayor, earlier issued an order allowing the bridge to be fully closed until June 4.

She was reportedly assured that the complete closure of the bridge until June 4 would fasttrack the ongoing repairs. The extension would mean that the project would be finished on June 15 or eight days ahead of the target date, according to the City Information Office.

One lane of the Ysalina bridge will be opened to vehicles from Carmen from 5 am to 2 pm and to motorists bound to Carmen from 2 p.m. to 10 pm starting on June 5.

The project has been blamed for the traffic jams that have inconvenienced thousands of motorists and commuters since May 7.

that can be read at Gold Star Daily>link

A Call to Arms

Hammer&Anvil

By Mike Banos

EARLIER this week a radio journalist earned the dubious distinction of becoming the 42nd media worker to be killed under President Arroyo's tenure at Malacanang, the 79th since 1986, the fifth in the first five months of this year.

It has also won the Philippines the equally dubious distinction of being the most dangerous country in the world for journalists, second only to strife-torn Iraq.
And how does Malacanang react to this appalling genocide in its constituency? Urging journalists to carry firearms to defend themselves. Hello?

Even regional police director Chief Supt. Florante Baguio admits this is no guarantee for the safety of journalists'. He cited the case of the radio commentator who managed to fire back at his assailants but still died from his wounds.

The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC) concurs. We thank the PNP's PRO-10 for their assurance of support and protection but again, this is no assurance of safety for the members of the fourth estate.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP) said in a statement both police and the military should ensure the safety of journalists because arming journalists is an admission of failure from the authorities to protect not only media but anybody from armed assault and perpetrates what NUJP spokesperson Joe Torres calls "the culture of impunity."

The body count of murdered journalists under the GMA presidency already exceeds that of the 14 year Marcos dictatorship and similarly unabated attacks on human rights activists will soon make the record for that death count history also.

The PNP has admitted that, of the 79 journalists killed since the so-called democratic restoration of 1986, only five cases have been resolved by the courts, and in none of those instances was the mastermind ever brought to justice, perhaps because many of those responsible are themselves persons in authority.

The failure of this administration to protect the Filipino people, journalists among them, is its failure to defend democracy. On top of that, it has the gall to continue trying to censor media, adding insult to the injury already heaped on the "free" Philippine press for this conspiracy to bury the truth from its constituents.

Now, the deaths of our colleagues has become fair game in the name of political survival and gamesmanship. Enough is indeed enough.

Let this insult on journalists to protect themselves with guns be our battle cry and call to arms.

The NUJP is right in saying let us fight this battle with the weapons we know best– our profession, our pens, our cameras, our microphones.

Over and above that, may I also humbly exhort our colleagues to continue doing with fervor their excellent record of reportage which has unveiled the graft and corruption in our society responsible for this genocide of those who dare bring their lies, deceit and thievery into the light of day.

Tama na! Sobra na! Makibaka na kayo! Makibaka tayong lahat!

Mabuhay ang Filipino….


comments to mike_banos@walla.com
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