NDBC NEWS BRIEFS

3 men nabbed for shabu possession MAKILALA, North Cotabato (Sept. 8/NDBC) – Three men,
identified as Abdullah Mansib Alimudin, 18, Mohamad Cadalen Sapalon, 26,
Samsudin Paglas, all residents of Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato, were
arrested in an anti-drug campaign by Makilala PNP over the weekend.

The raid was conducted
in Baslid Street, Barangay Saguing, Makilala where the police seized three
heat-sealed sachet of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as
shabu,” sets of motorcycle keys and drug paraphernalia.

They are now
detained at the Makilala PNP and charges had been filed against them. Police investigators are also coordinating
with Kabacan PNP to determine if they have similar police records. ( Wilnard
Bacelonia, DXND-Kidapawan )

NIA-SoCot seeks P50-M for dam repair

KORONADAL CITY (Sept. 8/NDBC)- National Irrigation Administration (NIA) OIC manager
Engineer Orlando Tibang has proposed a P50 million budget to the NIA central
office for the rehabilitation of ruined dam in Barnagay Magsaysay, Koronadal
City.

Tibang told DXOM-FM
Radyo Bida Koronadal if unattended, the dam cold destroy about 250 hectares of
rice field in Magsaysay and nearvy areas.

He said the
current state of the dam could be traced to rampant quarrying activities in the
area that inundated the irrigation canals.

But the
provincial environment office denied his claim.

Tibang said
his office is still waiting for the good news” from NIA-Manila.

The Central Office
of the NIA is yet to announce its approval to the program of works submitted by
Tibang’ office. ( Carl Ulyssis Aguillon, DXOM- Koronadal )

Day-long gun bursts greet Matalam villagers

KIDAPAWAN CITY (Sept. 8/NDBC) – Residents of a remote
village in Matalam, North Cotabato were on their toes Sunday as armed men
traded bullets for almost a day.

A resident who
seek anonymity told Radyo Bida Kidapawan the day-long exchange of bullets and
explosions occurred in Barangay Estado, Matalam, North Cotabato.

The incident
was triggered by the ambush on a cargo truck loaded with lumber and owned by
Village Councilor Florencio Pepito along Purok 4, Barangay Estado.

It promoted
Pepito’s armed followers to trade bullets with the unidentified gunmen.

Nobody was
hurt in the day-long Sunday music” to residents’ ears but several panicked
civilians have fled.

Matalam police
said the incident was triggered by a long standing land dispute. ( Neriza
Espino, DXND Kidapawan )

Cops looking for gun, get shabu, marijuana instead

KIDAPAWAN CITY (Sept. 8/NDBC) – Police searching for
illegal firearms at a checkpoint here instead got prohibited drugs from a motorist
Sunday.

Subjected to Oplan
Kapkap Bakal,” Rex Mendoza Pason, 22, of Barangay San Vicente, Makilala, North
Cotabato, was unarmed but his pocket yielded suspected methamphetamine
hydrochloride and marijuana when frisked by policemen.

He is now detained
at PNP lock-up cell facing charges of violation of Republic Act 9165. ( Jores
Llanto, DXND-Kidapawan)

DOLE vows payment of NorCot SPES allowances

KIDAPAWAN CITY (Sept. 8/NDBC) –- Students who worked under
the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in North Cotabato
need not worry, the labor deparment regional office said.

Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial office here said about 40 to 50 percent
of the total number of SPES grantees have been paid with their honoraria.

Each SPES
grantee is expected to receive 60 percent of their pay from employer and 40
percent from the government.

According to
Michelle Olog, DOLE-12 regional focal person for employment, there were changes
in the releases of payment. It used to
be through the automated teller machine of banks but now through money transfer
nationwide.

She said efforts
are underway to complete payment of honoraria to all North Cotabato SPES grantees.
( Stella
Cadungon, DXND-Kidapawan)

Maguindanao mayor feeds orphans on his natal day

COTABATO CITY (Sept. 8/NDBC) – Mayor Shameem Mastura celebrated
his natal day with a feeding program to some 180 orphaned children in Sultan
Kudarat, Maguindanao Sunday.

The children became
orphans during the 2000 war waged by then President Joseph Estrada in
Maguindanao in year 2000. They are
studying for free at a Madrasah in Barangay Crossing Simuay.

Mastura, who
turned 23, said he wanted to let the orphans feel they were special and feeding
them during his natal day was special too.

These children
are now under the care of their relatives when their parents perished during
the Maguindanao war. ( Sam Sali,
DXMS-Cotabato )

So. Upi LGU reminds residents vs. calamities

SOUTH UPI,
Maguindanao, (Sept. 8/NDBC) – The local government here reminded its residents
to institute safety measures to avoid harm during natural calamities.

Marlon
Bansigan, South Upi Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC)
officer, issued the appeal as rain still occur in South Upi where a farmer
drowned last week.

He said the
local government unit has prepared emergency evacuation centers should mass
movement of people is necessary when rivers overflow or landslides occur. ( Krezel Sampani, DXMS-Cotabato )

200 trees planted in Parang watershed

COTABATO CITY (Sept. 8/NDBC) – Environmentalist groups, led by
Balik Kalikasan Advocacy Group (BKAG), soldiers, students and non-government
organization members, planted about 200 antipolo trees in a watershed in
Parang, Maguindanao.Joining BKAG
were elements of the 37th Infantry Battalion, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, local government employees, students and
workers of lumber company MINRICO.

The activity
was aimed at preserving the watershed from erosion and flash floods.
Parang Mayor
Ibrahim Ibay lauded the participants for the activity while DENR-ARMM Sec.
Kahal Kedtag was hoping groups and everybody would not lose interest in tree
planting activity. ( Chin-Chin Haw Tay,
DXMS-Cotabato)