Sendong Victims In Iligan City Get Rice Donation

by Vincent N. Labial

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte, December 29 (PIA) -- More than 5,000 families who were displaced by the deadliest typhoon to hit the country this year received rice packs from the provincial LGU of Lanao del Norte and Integrated Center for Alternative Developments (ICAD) Foundation of Turkey.

Each pack contained three kilos of commercial rice and was given to the head of every family in the evacuation centers of Iligan City.

The food assistance is the third wave of calamity aid that the provincial government has extended to the flood victims of Iligan.

Last December December 18, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) delivered 100 sacks of rice, 10 boxes of sardines and 10 boxes of noodles to the Iligan Disaster Operation Center.

On December 21, Governor Khalid Dimaporo also sent sixdoctors from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to Iligan City for a medical mission in Brgy. Upper Hinaplanon.

“This shows that Iligan City and Lanao del Norte are one and united. Whatever pain and suffering that the people of Iligan are experiencing, we also feel it in Lanao del Norte,” former congressman Abdullah Dimaporo said.

Also leading the rice distribution team is Rep. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo, who visited the various evacuation centers of Iligan to personally deliver the needed food aid and assess the living conditions of the victims.

“It is heartbreaking to see these people suffering like this especially now that it’s Christmas season. We hope that through this humble assistance we have made their lives a little better after what they have gone though,” Rep. Dimaporo expressed.

A total of 10,000 rice packs have been prepared for distribution, however, some of the roads leading to the interior barangays remain impassable to motorized traffic.

“We will continue our rice distribution effort as soon as we can have access to these far-flung barangays that were also hit by the flashflood,” Information Officer Lyndon Calica said.

Among the evacuation centers visited by the team were MSU-IIT, Tambacan Elementary School, Mangga Elementary School, Iligan City Central School, JAL Elementary School, Ubaldo Laya Memorial School, Echavez Elementary School, and Saint Michael’s College-Tibanga Campus.

“We are thankful to our Turkish brothers and sisters for their steadfast support to these flood victims. We are doing our best to give as much help as we can to all those affected by this great tragedy,” ICAD President Ferhat Kazkondu expressed.

Also present to accept the rice assistance for Iligan City and witnessing the actual rice distribution in the identified evacuation centers were Iligan Rep. Vicente Belmonte and Mayor Lawrence Cruz.

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P242.13 Million for Sendong Victims in Iligan City

by Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY NEWS - Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman handed over to City Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz a cheque amounting P 242.130 million on her recent visit here.

The amount is intended for some 3,459 families whose houses were totally devastated in the wake of the tropical storm Sendong that hit Iligan City.

In a meeting with the members of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC), Soliman said the local government shall identify a resettlement site that shall be constructed with an 80-square meter lot area-standard for a core shelter per one family.

Out of this amount released, the Department has allotted P70,000 per core shelter, having one room and a toilet. The city may have a counterpart for the construction by soliciting non-government organizations or other groups willing to do it through adopt-a-shelter program.

“We make sure that they are safe from danger areas, and the site shall have access road and potable water, to include other site development, that make settlers comfortable to live,” said Soliman.

Soliman added, "We should not allow these families to go back to where the tragic incident occurred," as she reiterated the statement of President Benigno S. Aquino III during his visit in Iligan.

Relative to the disposition of logs which were swept downward at barangays severely hit by the tropical storm, the Secretary said there are 879 pieces of logs found which can be used for building construction of shelter, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to secure the logs in coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources DENR), to undergo due process through a Deed of Donation, and shall turn it over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In her statement, Soliman said that despite some social workers were also affected of the disaster, they have done in the best of their ability to perform the mission of DSWD on its relief and response/early recovery and rehabilitation stage, and serve the affected families here.

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Diyandi Festival in Iligan City Kicks Off

By Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY LOCAL NEWS — The Parade of Lights, together with the Angels, will be a great time for the family to watch.

So, too, are the floats with dazzling display of lights, sounds and performances while the parade goes on, Monday night, Sept. 19, around the city thoroughfare.

This was the concept of City Councilor Ruderick C. Marzo, concurrent president of the Alpha Phi Omega International (APO) Fraternity/Sorority, Iligan Chapter, to make more festive this year’s Diyandi Festival, for the enjoyment of the public, especially, the kids.

The parade will start at 6:00 p.m., near the Hinaplanon Bridge and will converge at the City Public Plaza.

Being the proponent of this first ever event, APO, in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Iligan City, intends to have this event done every year.

This could become part of the month-long activities lined up for the Diyandi Festival to celebrate the feast of Saint Michael, the Archangel, the city’s patron, every 29th of September.

“We were able to get confirmation from 19 participants, from the different sectors, barangay and city level, who will be joining with their floats artistically decorated depicting this year’s city fiesta theme, “SIDLAK ILIGAN,” Marzo said.

He has encouraged the participants to preferably utilize/use those power and energy saving and all weather resistant type of lighting materials to light their floats.

Live angels to be placed in the participating floats could be in any age bracket. Angels could be from the participating agencies or they could be requested from the DepEd. The more angels, the merrier, he said.

The board of judges will be having their rating in a 50/50 percent based on the criteria of relevance to the theme and artistry, accordingly.

Prizes at stake shall be Php30,000, Php25,000, and Php20,000, for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, respectively, while non-winning entries will receive plaques of appreciation.

Highlighting the event during the awarding at the city plaza will be the fireworks display, courtesy of the management of Gaisano, Inc.-Iligan. PIA

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91 Houses Burned In Iligan City

By Lorry V. Gabule

ILIGAN CITY NEWS — For victims of the conflagration, it was kind of a night mare when they woke up. Nothing was left but ashes of their properties, after they were totally burned.

Around 12:10 a.m. of Sept. 11, fire furiously razed 91 houses, inflicting total damage, that left 192 families with 455 dependents of Puroks Abestilla and Bagong Lipunan, Barangay Mahayahay, here, homeless.

. Likewise, there were 48 identified as renters, boarders, and sharers, whose belongings were partially damaged.

The fire started at the residence of Guro Alam Tucal of Purok Bagong Lipunan. It was reported that upon the arrival of the city fire truck, three (3) residential buildings made up of mixed materials were already engulfed by fire.

Firefighters have controlled the fire after one hour and 30 minutes (1:30min.) of firefighting operations and declared fire out at around 3:00am, said City Fire Marshal Wilfredo A. David, Chief, Bureau of Fire Protection, (BFP).

Sixteen (16) fire trucks from the city and neighboring towns responded to fully clear the area out of danger while the stimated damage to property amounted to Php20 million.

Several victims are now at the evacuation center in the barangay gymnasium, while others took refuge at the houses of their relatives.

David said a thorough investigation on the cause of fire is being conducted, which is still on-going as of press time.

“We based our listings from the actual interview using the intake form of the families affected, which was done by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) workers assigned in the area,” explained Josefina Mabanta, CSWD Supervisor, District 3.

The city government provided rice, sardines, noodles, kitchen wares, beddings and used clothing as immediate relief assistance to the fire victims, which are directly distributed by pack to the victims at the evacuation center.

Other groups who donated food packs were the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Abante Mindanao (ABAMIN) Party List, city councilors, individuals and religious groups, clubs, who brought their donations directly to the evacuation center.

Meanwhile Evelyn Madrio, Team Leader of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), region 10, Cagayan de Oro City, has requested for augmentation of relief assistance from the region to be distributed to the fire victims, and cash assistance to the totally/partially damaged houses/properties of the victims. (PIA-10)

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Feasibility Study on Proposed Iligan City Coastal Road

SP requests NEDA to conduct feasibility study on proposed Iligan Coastal Road

By Melvin T. Anggot

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- The members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP) of Iligan requested the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), region 10, to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Coastal Road Project of the city.

This was done through a resolution endorsed by SP Kagawad Jose Zalsos, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Works, recently.

Kagawad Zalsos said the plan for the proposed project was discussed in a personal meeting of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz with Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad in Manila.

Zalsos said it was Secretary Abad who suggested that we request NEDA to make the feasibility study as basis and a step toward the realization of the project.

Based on the plans, Phase 1 of the coastal road will go through Bacolod Street to the side of the fence of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the beach of Saray connecting to Emilia Khu Street that comes out towards the national highway.

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Latest Geological Condition in Iligan City Exposed

by: Melvin T. Anggot, Virgilio C. Garcia

ILIGAN CITY news, – An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the latest DENR data include the geological condition of Iligan City.

As learned from the Office of Mayor Lawrence Ll. Cruz, the presentation of the report on August 17, will be made by Geologist Osin Sinsuat, Jr., head of Geosciences Division of the Mines Geosciences Bureau under DENR-10.

Sinsuat will make the presentation to barangay captains, personnel of the City Housing Board, City Environment Management Office and other concerned offices in a meeting to be held at the City Engineer’s Office- Building E, Pala-o this city.

The report on geological condition will serve as a guide of people to determine what part of Iligan is safe from landslides and other calamities especially during inclement weather when are rains frequent. (CIO/PIA-10)

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Water Purifiers Benefit Seven Public Schools In Iligan City

ILIGAN CITY NEWS - Seven public schools in Iligan City were recipient of 15 water purifiers from the Sea to Sea Ministries and Cross Culture Ministries of Vancouver, Canada represented by two (2) couples, Darrell and Hannah Nelson and Dale and Gwen French.

The turn-over ceremony was held at Bayug Island Elementary School of Barangay Hinaplanon that received five (5) units.

The ceremony was attended by school officials of Abuno Elementary School that also received five (5) units. Other schools that received a unit each were Mainit Elementary School, Dodiongan Elementary School, Digkilaan Elementary School, Sardab Elementary School and Day Care of Bayug.

The water purifier uses the technology called Biosand Filter or BSF.

In the same occasion, City Councilor Marlene Young disclosed that water purifiers are part of Project Angle Tree sponsored purposely to secure donations to help grade schoolers and pre-schoolers. (CIO)

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