DFA Mobile e-Passporting slated this month

Oroquieta City – A two-day mobile passporting by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Consular Office 10 will be conducted here to facilitate the acquisition of individual passport to residents of this city.

This is one project by the national offices is fully supported by the local government now under its new leadership.

With the authority given by City Mayor Jason P. Almonte to his tourism designate, is now preparing for the said passporting on August 20-21, 2010 at the City Gymnasium with the DFA Consular Office 10 employees who will come to the City of Good Life.

Accordingly, with the new e-passporting, Oroquietanons who will avail such identification papers will experience the I.T. technology activated passports for their personal used such as to work or travel abroad were passports are very important documents.

Lately, the department has introduced to the Filipinos, the e-passporting which application and its acquisition is now adopted worldwide. The e-passport is easy to access and ready to use as long as all required information about individual Filipinos can be accumulated by the passporting division and approved to be issued.

Here in the city, this will be the first outside service of the DFA to this part of Northern Mindanao, it may be recalled that only the provincial government has sponsored such passporting services of the DFA.

In his message, City Mayor Almonte expresses gratitude’s to the DFA in this endeavor that can surely help Oroquietanons economically. “I thank the DFA for this service to our people, with this, Oroquietanons can save economically, especially in having passports for their use instead of going to Cagayan de Oro or Cebu Consular Offices or even Manila to have a passport.” He said.

Today’s passport is worth 1,200 pesos excluding other documents to be processed like Birth certificates, NBI clearances, and other documents that need payments. With the DFA program of bringing e-passporting to localities and communities, these will minus travelling and hotel fees for any Filipino citizen to have a passport.(PJTremedal, BNDMisOC/CIB-OCM)

The Search is on… Oroquieta City Singing Ambassador 2010

Oroquieta City – On August 14 and 21 this year, audition for the Search of the 2010 Singing Ambassador will start to represent the City of Good Life in the Pasundayag 2010 at the SM Mall of Asia came November.

Mr. Jay Lorenzo, City Tourism Designate and Mr. Gilbert Roa, OCPAG Executive Director made emphasis to this year’s guidelines and criteria to those who are interested to join the search and those who will pass the audition, 10 of the finalist who will be become the city’s chore group will be trained, to be given singing workshops, and eventually exposed to public audiences before competing on October 2, 2010.

In the said guidelines, the audition is open to all singers in Oroquieta City; residence qualification must be by birth, presently enrolled in the 9 colleges in the cities and the 47 barangays for those out of school youths, while those who are transient must have a residency for at least 6 months or he or she is a permanent resident of the city.

The applicants for audition must be single, 18-23 years of age, at least 5 feet tall with pleasing personality and a good moral character. All applicants must also submit their resume to qualify the contest.

Mr. Roa in an interview said that ten (10) chosen contestant after the audition will compete with each other on the contest proper and the winner will represent to the Pasundayag 2010, WOW Region 10 at the SM Mall of Asia in Metro Manila this coming November.

WOW Region 10 “Pasundayag Festival” is an initiative of the Department of Tourism WOW Philippines Project to promote tourism industry of the country. Said WOW Project is now regionalized to cater all regions and to showcase their Tourism Industry potentials, Arts and Culture, Songs and Music, native delicacies and native products.

The Search for the Singing Ambassador, originally it was Cagayan de Oro City Tourism Office who initiated said project to show goodwill thru songs to its visitors and guests, because of its effect and public acclamation, DOT Regional Office under Mr. Catalino B. Chan, Regional Director conceptualized it to be done in every provinces and cities of Region 10.

Thus, Search for the Singing Ambassador is now in consonant of the promotion of tourism industry of Region 10 and eventually promotes Original Pilipino Music (OPM) composed by Filipino Artists.

On October 2, 2010, Voice Quality( Diction, Enunciation, and voice distinction) 40 %, Level of Performance (Mastery, Projection, Timing and Style) 30%, Star Quality (“Stage presence, Personality, Confidence and Ability to capture audience attention) 30% will composed the criteria of the search and with a 100% total score, Winners will received P5,000 pesos and a trophy for the champion, P3,000 for the 2nd place, and P2,000 for the 3rd place, and a consolation 500 pesos to those non-winning contestants.

However, Mr. Gilbert Roa stressed that, those non-winning contestant some of them will still join the city delegation for the Pasundayag 2010 presentations and performances.

Northern Mindanao or Region 10 has five province namely; Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte and 9 cities; Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Ozamis, Oroquieta, Tangub, Gingoog, Valencia, Malaybalay and El Salvador. (PJTremedal, BNDMisOC/CIB-OCM)

OCPAG bring s home the bacon…Wins the Kinabayo Festival 2010 Championship

Dapitan City – Oroquieta City Performing Arts Group (OCPAG) brings home the bacon with triumph and joy after it conquers the allegorical battle of Clavijo in the Shrine City of the South.

Winning the championship and bringing four special awards, the 120 performing contingent led by their Best Choreographer, Mr. Gilbert Roa of the Office of the City Mayor has proven their worth as the ambassador of goodwill of the City of Good Life.

In the recently held Kinabayo Festival whom thousands of visitors and resident came and pay homage in honor of Santiago Matamoros or otherwise known as St James the Moor-Slayer, Dapitan City’s patron Saint, Cultural Troupes form Pagadian City, Liloy and Polangco towns of Zamboanga del Norte, Barangay Cawa-Cawa of Dapitan and OCPAG showed their might in dancing and movements with the beat of drums and sounds of trumpet as they sway their bodies with the “Sinug” and “Gonzos” in honor of the patron saint.

OCPAG as a self-liquidating performers showed the board of judges that they are the champion of this Year’s celebration. With One Hundred Thousand Pesos cash prize and trophy, they also garnered another four special awards.

OCPAG brings home the Best Choreography Award, The Queen of the Festival, and the Best in Mascot (St .James the Greatest) while, Pagadian City who run-away with the second just stop and say congratulations. Third place goes to the Polangco, ZaNorte dancers.

Meanwhile, City mayor-elect Jason Paredes Almonte who was represented by City Councilor Ruvy Ala, Chairman of SP Committee on Tourism with Mr. Jay Lorenzo, Tourism Officer, Mrs. Azucena Boncayao of the OCM, Mr. Dexter Rejoy and Mr. Freddie Ondo of the City Information Bureau, was indeed happy and excited seeing the OCPAG and extended hearfelt congratulations, especially to its leader, Mr. Gilbert Roa.

Artistically, Mr. Roa, a licensed Medical Technologist who chooses Culture and Arts as his strength had been a proud choreographer and executive director of the OCPAG who is born champion in his own right is also an experienced artist.

He also bring Oroquieta City in the map of the Tourism Industry of the country especially in promoting Inug-ug Festival, as champion of 2007 Dalit Festival in Tangub City, and champion of the 2007 Harvest Festival of Dumingag, Zambo Sur, and other theatrical events, to include the city’s participation in the DOT-Wow Philippines culture and arts festivals.

“As part of my Tourism upliftment agenda of my administration, I do hope that more culture and arts exposure and local talents from the city of good life will be known nationwide, to include other tourism potentials and destination that this city that can be offered to our visitors, local or foreign tourists, and with this agenda ,this means, a better economic opportunities to our people” Mayor Almonte said. (PJTremedal, BND-MisOC/CIB-OCM)

JPA’s First 100 Days to focus on Projects, Human Resource

Oroquieta City – City Mayor-elect Jason Paredes Almonte, who gave a message during the Inaugural Session of the new Sangguniang Panlungsod, made emphasis on his 10 point agenda within the first 100 days of governance last July 8, 2010 at the SP Hall.

Said ten point agenda within his 100 days focused on project continued implementation of his predecessor now Congressman Jorge Taghap Almonte of the First Congressional District of Misamis Occidental and strengthening human resource amidst budgetary deficiency that befallen his administration.

Almonte who was elected as first councilor in the 2007-2010 administration had been a dreamer of good governance and project development czar as he followed his predecessor, not because of their political agenda as Team One Oroquieta, Mayor “Jingjing” as he is called by his supporters and volunteers decided to go ahead with his ten point agenda within the first 100 days of governance.

Top of his agenda is to strengthen budgetary requirement for to every project to be continued and set his priorities with the last quarters of his administration. In the said inaugural session the City Mayor set his task to be followed and coordinated with the tenets of the ordinances of the Sangguniang Panlungsod as provided by law.

In his message, City Mayor Almonte prioritizes the transfer and merging of the City Solid Waste Management and the City Motor pool into his office or the City Administration. The reason of which is the City Engineering Office who had been tapped by the former government as an enormous job to have it more effective and transparent, second, he would like to revisit the investment code of the city as it was already outdated since 1995-1997, the city most adopt a new code to move forward, thirdly Ordinances governing the city ports and guidelines for the 180-M City Town Center in its operation.

The city mayor also planned for a Legislative and Executive meeting for the budget preparation for 2010 , and to create Task Forces to focus on Traffic Management, Waste Management, Commercial and Industrial Business Structures, Sidewalks and etc that the city is facing as a social problem.

One of his priority is to revisit the city donations of the Registry of Deeds building, to take it back if this will not be used by the former national office, local governance activities will be in coordination with every department thru the SP committees, focused on budgetary requirement and funding for employment and projects and performance rewards according to its surplus in each department.

“This is administration is not for public employment alone but to pursue an agro-industrial program and projects for the betterment of the people of Oroquieta” He said.

As quoted, in the response of the City Vice Mayor-elect Harry Guantero during the inaugural session, “In unity there will be progress” He said.

As team players for the progress and development of the City of Good Life, City Mayor Jason P. Almonte and his SP has a long way to achieve their dreams. (PJTremedal, BND/MisOC/CIB-OCM)

City of Good Life celebrates Nutrition Month

Oroquieta City – The City of Good Life, Oroquieta City celebrates this year’s 36th Nutrition Month with its theme: “Sa Pagkaing Tama at Sapat Wastong Timbang ni Baby ang Katapat”.

All 47 urban and rural barangays with their Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) in cooperation with the citys Nutrition Council with Mrs. Flor Sarmiento as the City Nutrition Action Officer and Ms. Milagros Ompoc, BNS City Coordinator prepares for its culmination program.

On July 28, Nutrition Month culminates with the city executives to witness the accomplishments of each BNS in every Barangay.

On the said culmination program, Awards will be given to the BNS who satisfactorily implements its programs and action plan to eradicate malnutrition and improve the quality of life of every Oroquietanons especially the children.

City Councilor Jeselie C. Borbon, Chair of the SP Committee on Health, Women and Social Welfare will open the activities at the ABC Gym this city and this will be followed by messages from the City Mayor Jason Paredes Almonte and Vice mayor Harry Guantero.

Awards will be given are: Lowest Prevalence in Malnutrition Rate of 2010, Best Performing Barangay in the improvement on nutritional status of Pre-scholers, Healthy baby of the Year and Best Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF-BNS) Program in each Barangay.

As one of its accomplishments, “Operation Timbang” of 0-5 years old children is done two times a year to monitor malnutrition. “Children of this age, their weight will determine of their health, whether they are under nourish or not. Weighing them help us monitor malnutrition rate” Ms. Sarmiento, said.

Meanwhile, City Mayor Jason Almonte who just started his administration does concentrate on Health and Medical Care programs of the city thru the help of its City Health Office under Dr. Blanche Flores and the City Nutrition Council.

Meantime, Councilor Borbon who is a nurse by profession filed resolutions and ordinances to implement good and doable health program for the betterment of the constituents of the city regarding health and medical care.(PJames Tremedal, BND-MisOC/CIB-OCM)

European Commission supports Oroquieta Farmers

By PJTremedal, BNDMisOC/CIB-OCM

ClarinSettlement,O.C.- With the European Commission-Focused Food Production Assistance to Vulnerable Sector or EC-FPAVAS thru its implementing agency, SEAMED/SEARCA Project Development Management Unit of Misamis Occidental and its local government unit (LGU) counterpart, The City of Good Life is a recipient.

In the country, EC started its help and support last February this year to plan and signed memorandum of agreement between the six major recipients that includes the province of Misamis Occidental, the other five comprises of the provinces of Negros, Camarines Sur and Norte, and the Mindoro provinces.

In Misamis Occidental, EC will support and finance thru SEARCA six target municipalities to include the three cities, Oroquieta, Tangub and Ozamis, while the six municipalities are: Pana-on, Sinacaban, Bonifacio, Tudela, Clarin and Don Victoriano.

Last July 8-9, A seminar-workshop of more or less 60 farmers-participants was conducted to start implementing the project in consonant with the mission and vision of the EC-FPAVAS comprising of six components; Food production Assistance (Upland & Lowland), Food Production Assistance (Inland and Coastal Waters), Food production Assistance (Aqua-Culture Development), Mainstreaming of Climate Change Adaptation, Capability Building and Institutional Strengthening and knowledge management and Public awareness Campaign.

Said seminar-workshop was done in Barangay Clarin Settlement and Bunga.

Oroquieta City as a pilot area, the two barangays will be taught of High Value Vegetable Production, Organic Fertilizer Development, Corn production and Upland Aqua-culture Development.

“The province as a recipient of the EC-FPAVAS program will be benefited and farmers quality of life will improved and its food security is not a problem anymore, but this will be a challenge to every farmer involved in the program” Said, Mr. Orlin Aquillon, SEARCA Project Manager.

Moreover, Mr. Larry Enerio, Information officer, who represents City Mayor Jason Almonte added, that with the project, farmers of Clarin Settlement and Bunga will now be a model of the 47 barangays of the city.

EC-FPAVAS is to help reduce poverty, improve well being, and ensure access to safer food and vulnerable sector.

Meanwhile, as the new executive of the city, City Mayor Jason Almonte said that with the implementation of the EC-FPAVAS in the two barangays will be expanded as it goes along with our goals to make life of every Oroquietanons fully sustainable.

In the said two day seminar-workshop the participants will be involved in the planning of its project objectives, Local Economic Development plan, Value Formation and Capability building enhancement to accomplish its vision, mission and goals of their established groupings like a farmers’ cooperative.

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