Plant a tree, live happily

by Jocelyn O. Abao
Contributor

There is an old adage that says, “To be remembered one should write a book or plant a tree.”

The participants of a tree planting activity here on Monday not only planted trees to be remembered but rather to make a big difference in preserving our environment.

A mangrove tree planting event was spearheaded by LGU Mahinog in collaboration with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group in the foreshore areas of barangay San Roque last April 16, 2012.

The said activity started at 7:00 in the morning and ended in the afternoon. After the event most of the participants felt too tired but felt great with what they have achieved.

The activity gave them a real sense of achievement and satisfaction because they were doing this to attain a more pleasant environment and for our future generations.

I remembered an article about a man from India who planted a forest. He lived in isolation for about 30 years in the forest just planting and taking care of his plants.

The message is clear: if this one man could plant a forest, then there's is no reason we can not just plant one tree?

As the saying goes, to be happy for a year, plant a garden; if you want to be happy for life, plant a tree.

Plant a tree and spend the rest of  your life in happiness.

(The contributor is a head teacher III of cluster schools under Mahinog district)

World-renowned photojournalist visits Camiguin to capture images of women in micro-credit

Photo by Raymundo C. Agaton Jr.

Pep Bonnet, a renowned international photojournalist visited Camiguin last February 8-9, 2012 to capture images of women in Micro Credit in Mantigue island in the municipality of Mahinog.

This was learned from Raymundo C. Agaton Jr. of PRRM Camiguin in a press release sent to Mahinog Trumpet.

Bonnet is from NOOR (an Arabic word meaning “light”), an international photo agency and foundation established in 2007 primarily to create and distribute compelling photojournalistic works with the aim to raise awareness, enhance an understanding of the world and contribute to visual history of mankind.

The NOOR photo agency solicited the help of Philippines Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) for its project “Women in Micro-Credit.”

PRRM is an NGO working in Camiguin for almost two decades now, with a mission to enhance the capacity of rural communities in the planning, advocacy and implementation of sustainable development, through an integrated program of education, livelihood, health, habitat, environment, and self-governance.

According to Agaton, Bonnet chose the island of Mantigue in Mahinog, Camiguin to shoot images of women engaged in seaweeds production.

“The images of women engaging in fishing in Mantigue Island is a very fascinating human interest story for this project,” Mr. Bonnet told Agaton during the visit.

Agaton said Bonnet’s exhibit of images will feature 10 countries including Philippines due for exhibition and possibly into a book by April of this year.

”This will portray microcredit as the most visible innovation in anti-poverty policy where it has been successful in bringing formal financial services to the poor,” Agaton said.

For his part, Mahinog town mayor Alex R. Jajalla said since these images will be seen all over the world, this is a good opportunity to promote Mantigue island as among the alternative ecotourism destination in the region.

Mantigue island, branded as "Restoring Paradise" after local government developed the area as eco tourism destination since 2007, has now become a popular tourist attraction in the province of Camiguin.

Photo by Raymundo C. Agaton Jr.

LGU Mahinog to receive P1M award from DILG for excellent performance

MAHINOG, Camiguin - The Local Government Unit of Mahinog will receive a Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) of P1-million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for their “good housekeeping” or excellent performance in good governance.

The recognition will be held on August 19, 2011 at Pearlmont Inn, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City at which event the LGU Mahinog together with other LGU qualifiers in the region will be conferred with the "seal of good housekeeping," according to DILG-X regional director Loreto T. Bhagwani in a fax message sent to the office of the mayor of Mahinog.

The “good housekeeping seal” is given to LGUs that have excelled in key government areas which include planning, fiscal management, transparency and accountability, and valuing performance management.

These LGUs have also fully complied with the full disclosure policy and have no adverse reports from the Commission on Audit (COA).

The DILG established this program as a way of rewarding LGUs for their high performance, reports said.

Out of the 5 municipalities in the province of Camiguin, only the town of Mahinog passed the standards of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) program, it was learned.

Among the 4th to 6th class municipalities and cities in the region (Northern Mindanao) that passed the standards are the following:

1. Sumilao Bukidnon

2. Mahinog, Camiguin

3. Aloran, Misamis Occidental

4. Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental

5. Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental

6. Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental

7. Tudela, Misamis Occidental

8. Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte

9. Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte

10. Linamon, Lanao del Norte

11. Magsaysay, Lanao del Norte

12. Matungao, Lanao del Norte

13. Munai, Lanao del Norte

14. Salvador, Lanao del Norte

15. Alubijid, Misamis Oriental

16. Gitagum, Misamis Oriental

17. Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental

18. Libertad, Misamis Oriental

19. Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental

20. Tangub City

Mahinog mayor Alex R. Jajalla said that the prize will be used to augment funds for the establishment of a passenger terminal going to Mantigue Island in Katunggan Park, in sitio Queobe in barangay San Miguel.

Once the project is completed, ferry and passenger terminal going to Mantigue island will be relocated from barangay San Roque to Barangay San Miguel, where the Katunggan Park (that mangrove area) is located and a mangrove boardwalk was constructed.

For this year, the municipality allocated additional PhP 100,000.00 for the project, which may serve as counterpart fund of the LGU to the PCF.

The project is geared to boost tourism and local economic development in the town, local officials said in a resolution.

Meanwhile, the Sangguniang Bayan on Monday passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the MOA with the DILG to access the PCF.

Judge denies motion to dismiss criminal case against Mantigue is. occupants

MAHINOG, CAMIGUIN - A municipal court judge here has denied defense attorney’s "demurer to evidence" to persuade the court to dismiss the criminal case that the municipal government of Mahinog filed against Mantigue island residents accused for unlawful occupation in the said island declared as forest land.

Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Eduardo E. Chan made the ruling on March 10.

A "demurrer to evidence" has the same effect of a motion to dismiss, with the connotation that the evidence of the prosecution was not sufficient.

Defense lawyer argued that on the basis of Section 53 of P.D. No. 1559 occupants who entered in forest lands before May 19, 1975, without permit or authority can not be prosecuted. Their lawyer claimed since accused entered Mantigue island in 1968 or long before May 19, 1975 they can not be prosecuted.

In a two-page resolution, the court said it cannot concede with the defense arguments because Section 53 should be interpreted in relation to Section 69 of P.D. 1559. Unlawful occupation or destruction of forest lands is when any person who enters and occupies or possesses any forest land without authority under a license agreement, lease, license or permit, refuses to vacate the area when ordered to do so pursuant to the provision of Section 53 of P.D. No. 1559.

The court said, a perusal of evidence of the prosecution show that the accused entered, occupied and possessed a forest land without authority under a license agreement, lease, license or permit and that they refused to vacate the area when ordered to do so.

The court added, this elements taken together may somehow create the impression that accused are culpable of the crime charged. The issue of whether there was a proper demand for all the accused to vacate or was the person who made the demand was the proper authority are matters yet to be proven in full dress trial. For this reason the Demurer of evidence is set aside.

The case was calendared for further introduction of evidence.

The Municipal Government of Mahinog was represented by Provincial Prosecutor Renato Abbu, while the accused was represented by Atty. Gil Banaag.

New Zealand team in Camiguin to assess coastal resource project

New Zealand review team leader Rina Rosales (center) interacts with the members of Mahinog Coastal Law Enforcement Action team (Clean)

MAHINOG, Camiguin - A team from New Zealand Embassy arrived in Camiguin on Saturday to conduct mid-term assessment in the implementation of the five-year integrated coastal resource management project that started in 2007 in 40 coastal villages and five municipalities of the province.

With its rich and diverse coastal resources, Camiguin is one of the few provinces to get P116 million funding from the New Zealand Agency for International Aid (NZAid) to institutionalize its integrated coastal resource management program (ICRMP).

The project, according to the agreement, envisions to increase natural productivity and enhanced integrity of coastal and marine resources in the island province. At the same time it provides sustainable economic activities among the Camiguinons to improve quality of life.

According to Mahinog town coastal resources management officer Arlino C. Arca that through the project, major development and conservation activities in Mantigue Island in barangay San Roque and Burias Reef to make these areas as ecotourism sites have been undertaken. Water quality monitoring stations in Mantigue Island have been established.

He said the project has since generated significant incomes for the municipality and provided livelihood opportunities among the fisherfolks.

In addition, seven (7) marine protected areas have been established and rehabilitated in Mahinog alone while municipal waters in five municipalities have been delineated.

Morever, coastal law enforcement action networks (CLEAN) formerly the bantay dagat teams have been trained and mobilized to strengthen coastal law enforcement. Four patrol boats have been provided for this purpose.

Also in Mahinog, alternative livelihood and enterprise activities such as green mussel production project in barangay Benoni, among others, are being established.

The team, composed of Ms. Rina Rosales, team leader, Mr. Kenneth Mackay and Ms. Lourdes Padilla, will assess issues being faced in the implementation of the program and propose whether phase 2 of the project should be granted or not.

Their visit includes interaction with the technical working committee, the Governor and Mayors of the 5 municipalities of Camiguin and several beneficiary groups of the project.