Bansalan mayor shuts down VM's rice mill

originally posted @ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/bansalan-mayor-shuts-down-vms-rice-mill

By Orlando Dinoy

visit http://now.abs-cbn.com/ondemand/premium/tvpregional/davao/20090723-tvpdavao-high.asx to view tv news
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THE 2010 election reached its fever pitch in Bansalan, Davao del Sur after two of its highest elected officials almost had a fistfight Thursday morning.
The altercation started when Mayor Edwin Reyes padlocked the rice mill of Vice Mayor Peter Melchor Arches at Sitio Curbada in Barangay Poblacion, Bansalan. The rice mill reportedly did not have a building permit.
Sun.Star Superbalita witnessed the exchange of heated words after Arches, formerly the town mayor, stopped employees of the business bureau from padlocking the rice mill.
Arches insisted he had been paying as much as P3 million in taxes to the Municipal Government.
"Kabalo ko politika ang hinungdan ani kay mobalik ko pagdagan og mayor unya di man na siya kadaog nako ba bisan og mag-eleksyon dayon kay daghan ang nasuko niya (I know this is politically motivated because I am seeking the mayoralty post in 2010. He knows he will not win if I run against him since a lot of people dislike him)," Arches claimed.
But Reyes said he ordered the shutting of Arches' rice mill "because (the vice mayor) abused his authority during his term as mayor."
Reyes accused Arhes of signing his own business permit as well as that of the Municipal Engineer's Office.
Arches admitted that his second rice mill does not have any building permit because the mayor's office and the business bureau have been delaying its release.
Reyes said he is against the construction of the rice mill "because it is within an agricultural land," a violation of the province's zoning ordinance. He said it was built when Arches was "still in power and used his influence."
"Naa man daghan diha, gani ang mga industrial katapad gyud sa mga balay pero ngano ako iya initan tungod ba kay nasirad-an na iyang ubang mga negosyo? (There is a lot of business establishments located in residential areas. Why does he have to pick on me? Is this because his other businesses have gone bankrupt?)," Arches said.
Reyes laughed off such accusation and said that he has filed a case of abuse of authority against his vice mayor before the Ombudsman Mindanao.
"Di man nako madali kay ginalangay-langay ang mga dokumento unya di sab lalim ang proseso. Harassment ni iyang gihimo sa ako, nawad-an og trabaho ang 200 nako ka mga tawo, operator ug uban pa, di na moboto niya (It is not my fault if the documents were not released. This is harassment, 200 of my employees lost their jobs. These people will not vote for him)," Arches countered.Tension was high as municipal employees forcibly padlocked the rice mill which could have ended in fistfight if municipal engineer Narciso Batingal did not intercede.
Arches agreed to closing down the rice mill.

5 rob gang members nabbed in Davao

Originally published @
Philippine Daily Inquirer, by Orlando B. Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao
July 23, 2009
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BANSALAN, DAVAO DEL Sur—Police said they scored big against robbery syndicates with the arrest late Monday of five gang members who had robbed a store owned by a Chinese-Filipino businessman.

Last week, Senior Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, officer-in-charge of the provincial police, acknowledged an increase in robbery cases in Davao del Sur.

Dela Rosa said what was alarming were reports that some men in uniform, including police officers, were involved.

Senior Insp. Nasruddin Tayuan, Bansalan police chief, identified the arrested suspects as Sanny Sarmiento, 25, and his brother Romnick, 18, both of Canuman, Zamboanga del Sur; Roldan Ven Dela Torres, 23, of Digos City; Jovel Dacolos, 30, of Cagayan De Oro City; and Rogelio Sabarte, 23, of Toril District, Davao City.

Tayuan said the suspects arrived at LCE General Merchandise on board a van and immediately declared a holdup.

When the store’s cashier resisted, one of the robbers choked her while the others emptied the cash register of some P13,000 in cash.

Tayuan said police set up road blocks and stopped the robbers in their getaway vehicle.

Dela Torres later said it was his group’s first time to operate in the province.

But he said the group had been operating in northern Mindanao, including Cagayan de Oro.

Bansalan kids get help( By Henrylito D. Tacio)

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originally posted at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/bansalan-kids-get-help

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AUTHOR'S Note: Although they are now living abroad, the former residents of Bansalan, Davao del Sur never forget where they came from. As a way of saying thanks, they are helping their townmates to uplift their standards of living. Sending some of those deserving pupils to school is just a part of the endeavors these people are supporting.)

They are very young as their ages range from seven to ten years old.

Despite their being innocent, they have their own hopes: one day, they will become what they want to be.

A few days before the opening of classes, they found themselves forming a queue near a barangay hall in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Their purpose: to get their own school supplies, like notebooks, papers, pencil, and crayons, among others, school bag, and one set of school uniform (blouse and skirt for girls and pants and shirt for boys).

"The main purpose of providing these things is to help these pupils get better quality education as it will motivate them to finish school despite the current hardships and difficulties in life," said Anna Marie Noel.

"We want to provide these children the basic needs they need in school so that they will be inspired to follow their dreams and to continue dreaming even if life is very difficult these days," added Randy Albores.

Both Albores and Noel are officials of the Bansalan chapter of the Association of Bansaleños Worldwide (ABW); Albores is the chair while Noel is the secretary. Both personally handed the basic school needs to the scholars.

In a way, the children are ABW scholars. "We really don't have several criteria. In fact, it is not so much with the grades they earned during the past year," Noel explained.

"As long as they passed and got a grade of 80 and above. Most of them, however, are children of poor parents who have no reliable source of income and have a hard time meeting their basic needs like food. But they have one thing in common: they want to go to school to upgrade themselves and their families," he added.

"I am very happy that my apo is one of the beneficiaries," said the 63-year-old Flavia Gumba from Purok Banikanhon. "I have three grandchildren under my care since their mother is working. Their father had abandoned them, and I heard has another family. It is really too hard to send children to school these days, much more buying them their basic school needs like notebooks and papers."

"When I heard from one of my neighbors that ABW is helping some children in providing school needs, I immediately applied. I was not discouraged even if I knew that there were so many who applied. Even if only one of my grandchildren is given the opportunity, I am basically elated and happy," she added.

This year, the ABW is supporting 99 scholars. These are 54 pupils in Bansalan Central Elementary School, 20 in Dolo Elementary School, 15 in Mabuhay Elementary School, and 5 from Sibayan Elementary School. The remaining 5 elementary pupils are supported in collaboration with the barangay officials of Poblacion Uno. In addition, two female high school students are attending Nazareth High School (third year) and Marber High School (second year).

In return, these ABW scholars have to attend in all ABW activities and required to come to a designated office to meet the coordinator every month. More importantly, at the end of the year, they must pass in all their subjects. Parents of the scholars, on the other hand, must see to it that their children are going to school; also, they are urged to meet regularly once every three months.

ABW is a virtual community composed of current and former residents of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, who now live abroad and in other parts of the Philippines. Its mission is to advance the quality of life of the people in their former hometown.

"We envision a peaceful, progressive, prosperous Bansalan," explained Leila Rispens-Noel, the president of ABW International. "We will support initiatives that will make the town a caring and desirable community in which to live and work."

One of its strategies is providing educational assistance to deserving children and youth. According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), one in six school-age children is being deprived of education and the number is rising steadily, indicating that the country is still far from its goal of providing education to all.

"To give back to my hometown" is the main reason why Rispens-Noel is supporting the cause. "I believe that there are many children who wanted to go to school but because of circumstances they simply could not do it. With a little support we give the children the chance to make their dreams come true. I also believe that lack of education is one of the root causes of poverty." (She used to live in the Netherlands but has moved to Hong Kong recently.)

Dr. Hilario "Bongging" Lapena has the same idea. "It's the pay forward principle," said the physician who now lives in Ajax, Canada. "As a student, I got a scholarship in high school and up to medical school. The scholarship was a huge load off the shoulders of my parents."

Tune Sonza-Inumerables, who is supporting the 15 scholars attending Mabuhay Elementary School, has another point of view. "I see in the scholars the hope that once upon a time made me inspired to strive hard in my studies," pointed out the former Mabuhay resident who now works in New York and the association's auditor. "I see in these children so much potential. By helping them, I want them to improve their lives in the future."

Writing songs from the heart (By: Henrylito Tacio, Originally posted @ http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/writing-songs-heart)

LAST year, Randy A. Albores emerged triumphant when his composition was declared as the winner in a choral contest initiated by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). This was in Cagayan de Oro City during the 18th anniversary celebration of the government agency.

Memorable part of the song goes this way: "Tapat sa sinumpaang tungkulin sa 'ting bayan / Handang maglingkod sa pamahalaan at lipunan / Init, ulan, malayo ma'ng pupuntahan / Di bale na't bayan ay mapagsilbihan."

Eventually, the song was declared by the CDA board of administrators as the National CDA Hymn in the meantime that the national competition has yet to be conducted in March 2010.

"I was totally surprised when my name was called," the 33-year-old Albores, who hails from Bansalan, Davao del Sur. "I am not a pro." It was his boss, Rosalinda E. Villaseca, who encouraged him to join.

The contest was exclusively for CDA employees from Mindanao, and there were four entries. "Some entries were written and composed by professional musicians," he said. For instance, the Cagayan de Oro piece, which was chosen second place, was written by the regional director. "I am just a simple man who wrote the song straight from my heart."

During the first Philippine Cooperative Teamshop held at Lagao Gym in General Santos City, the administrators presented him an Award of Commendation for composing the song. But before the awarding, the CDA Davao Choir (trained by Violeta Granador) was asked to sing the song before the 2,000 delegates from all over the country. "After the awarding, I went backstage and I cried," he shared. "I remembered my son."

In a way, it was his son who inspired him to write the lyrics and compose the song. "I always consider that it was me and my song together who made the song," he admitted. "That's why I usually called it 'our song.'"

His son's name is Jessie Ranz (JR for short). He is the eldest of the three siblings, and he has been diagnosed with global developmental delay. "He is seven years old now, but he still cannot do anything," he informed. "He can't talk or walk."

The chorus of the song states, "Taglay nitong katangian ay pag-asa/Kooperatiba'y buong pusong paglingkuran/Para sa kaunlaran ng buong bayan."

Albores claimed, "My song is a message of hope. For my son, I am hopeful that God will give him a normal health someday."

While doing the tune of the song, he was reminded of his favorite singer Eric Clapton, who composed "Tears in Heaven." "He dedicated the song to his son who fell from a 53rd-story window in his mother's friend's New York City condominium. I always thought of my son who has been struggling for the past seven years. My song was coupled with tears but full of hope. My guitar and my keyboards were witnesses of my sentiments."

In writing the lyrics, however, he was inspired by the accomplishments of his officemates, particularly those who are assigned in the far-flung areas. "Oftentimes, most of us are almost out of traveling allowance and other logistics, but these don't deter us to continue serving the cooperatives," he said.

He wrote the song during the second week of January in 2007. "I was already bored as a government employee for 10 years," he said. "It was if there were no challenges anymore. As I wrote the song I was thinking, 'Would I be able to live up with my words?' The song expresses what supposed to be the real attitude of government employees. Because of that song, my interest and my zeal to serve the people was restored."

Ranz, as friends called him, is the eldest of the three children of Julian and Myrna Albores (both dedicated government employees). He was a consistent honor pupil while attending the Rizal Elementary School in Rizal, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. He graduated high school with honors from the Holy Cross of Bansalan College.

Ranz never dreamed of becoming a government employee. In fact, he was aiming to become a priest. He finished his AB Philosophy at the St. Francis Xavier College Seminary in Catalunan Grande, Davao City with the Merit of Cum Laude. After that, he transferred to Lorenzo Mission Institute in Makati City and then studied theology at San Carlos Graduate School of Theology. But he went out in 1998 during his second year of theologate.

Today, he works as Cooperative Development Specialist II under the CDA. "I like the nature of my job because I always meet people and new friends as well," he said. "I think God placed me in seminary for a purpose -- to prepare me for greater responsibilities that lie ahead."

Three years after he went out from the seminary, he got married at the age of 25. "My wife's name is Cherish Sophia Dawa, an elementary school teacher," he said. "She is fondly called by her friends as Aubrey. We are blessed with three children."

His final words: "I just let God direct my way. As I grow older, my attitude towards life has also changed my idealism and youthful fantasies. During my adolescent years, I wanted to accomplish many things. But now that I am 33, I wanted to do things in its proper time and order. I will continue composing songs, not for myself alone but to bring message of hope to others."

Bakeshops in Bansalan

For a small town like Bansalan, a dozen of bakeshops had invested here since the year 2007. Majority of these establishments are actually branches of the food chain companies in Mindanao like Panadero, Rose Bakeshop, Gretz Paul, Manolette, and Park and Go. Yet, the original bakers from Bansalan like Mabuhay Restaurant, Virvics, Snazzy, Sklyplaza, and the like are still continuing their bakery businesses. The bakery firm of the Leynes family had been diverted into new more profitable ventures like internet café and branching of their gas stations in the nearby municipalities. JK Salazar Bakeshop for example invites people from the nearly municipalities in view of its services in bank check exchange.

The result of this seemingly competitive environment brings a lot of advantages to the consumers. Breads are now being sold at lower prices, clean and conducive refreshment areas, lots of choices on recipe and a lot more. People are looking forward for the opening of Central Warehouse Club sometime in the 3rd quarter of 2009. To be sure, another bakeshop will be established in this new shopping center.

Some of these bakeshops are operating 24/7. The famous “pandesal” is still the best seller especially early in the morning. No doubt, these investors are bringing employment opportunities in our town. They also contribute to the local revenue collection and in other economic aspect. In one way or another, they make Bansalan more attractive to the eyes of some investors.

Why Cut the Trees?

Why cut the trees? Are we not environment -friendly? Why remove the shades? These are the common queries of the residents in Bansalan upon seeing the joint action of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Bansalan in the on-going cutting of trees adjacent to the national Highway. The main intent is to clear the National Highway from any obstructions and any other related traffic interference. The ruling of the DPWH pointed out that there should be an allowance of clear area at least 30 meters from the center lane of the National Highway. This is to give way to a better shouldering area to prevent accidents and any other traffic related problems.

Trees have been cut down alongside of the National Highway from Curvada up to KM 77. Bansalan now is preparing its area to accomodate the long-planned four(4)lane concrete road. Said project will be implemented thru the present administration of the Hon. Edwin G. Reyes. Common folks have diverse reactions to this plan. Some would say, this four-lane project was conceptualized during the 70's but until now there was no action done. On the other hand, some would claim that the cutting of trees is the first step for the implementation of the project. It can't be denied that Bansalan's national highway is among the most destructed road in the province of Davao del Sur. Worst part of it is located in Barangay Dolo up to Marber National Highway.

Bansalan Barbeque Avenue

Bansalan Barbeque Avenue was formally opened last Saturday , April 18, 2009. The project was financed by Pepsi Cola Philippines in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Bansalan Davao Davao del Sur. Pepsi Cola had invested P456,000.00 for the construction of the stalls and the LGU had allocated P250,000.00 for the walling of the foundation. This newest attraction in Bansalan is the first Pepsi Cola financed Barbeque Avenue in Mindanao.

Bansalan Barbeque Avenue is located alongside of Miral River Bridge, fronting Gulayan ng Bayan. Barbeque vendors who used to do business at the center of the public market were given clean and descent stalls in the new business site. Pepsi Cola will soon install a wide television screen to attract more customers. During the opening, hundreds of Bansaleños and visitors from the neighboring municipalities were excited to enjoy the taste of the so-called "barbeque sa Miral". The Honorable Mayor Edwin G. Reyes had graced the occasion together with the executives from Pepsi Cola Philippines.

The establishment of Bansalan Barbeque Avenue had upgraded the image of Bansalan's business and food industry. The good ambience captivates the attention of the customers to spend the night alongside of the the Miral River. Its economic impact will surely contribute to the development of Bansalan which was proclaimed by the Deparment of Finance as being upgraded from second class municipality to a First Class Municipality several months ago.