MINDANAO DAILY TRUTH | JUSTICE | PROGRESS
Volume XII, No. 094
www.mindanaodailynews.com
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
P15.00
Transport coops want same loan benefits with Agri sector
C
agayan de de Oro — The Government ‘s Transport modernization is doomed to fail if not offered the same loan benefits with that of the Agriculture Sector.
This warning comes from the National Consolidated Transport Union (NCTU) Mindanao Area Coordinator Joel Gabatan saying the government loan policy for the transport modernization must be reviewed thoroughly the soonest time possible. Gabatan said agricultural cooperatives enjoy an almost interest-free scheme while the transport cooperatives under the so-called Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) find it hard to swallow the high interest rates being offered to transport vehicle
loan borrowers. Transport cooperatives are being imposed with a loan window of 5 percent Equity, 6 percent annual Interest with 7 years to pay while loans for agricultural cooperatives enjoy the best support from the government wIth NO equity and NO interest rate with only 3 percent service charge, a staggering disparity of loan services offered for the transport cooperatives. “This disparity of loan services has created a disturbing divide among these sectors that would
By Alexander Lopez BUTUAN CITY – Some parts of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte experienced heavy rains on Saturday night and greeted Christmas Day on Sunday with floods. Strong winds also forced the Philippine Coast Guard stations in Surigao del Norte and Siargao Island to tem-
porarily suspend sea travels. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) dispatched personnel to Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte as families were rescued in the villages of Mahanub, Villaflor, Ipil, Cambo-ayon and Poniente with the help of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management
Surigao, Agusan communities flooded on Christmas Day
See FLOODED, page 11
CHRISTMAS RESCUE. Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection, local police and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office rescue residents in flooded Purok 1, Barangay Mahanub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte on Christmas Sunday (Dec. 25, 2022). Rescue operations were also done in the villages of Villaflor, Ipil, Cambo-ayon and Poniente. (Courtesy of BFP-Gigaquit)
The traditional jeepneys currently plying the streets soon brew into an industry commercial loans plus the Council similar to the Agunrest if left unchecked by voluminous requirements rIcultural Credit Policy the Marcos administration that are hardly attainable Council (ACPC) of the at the onset of year 2023”, by ordinary transport co- Department of Agriculture operatives, Gabatan said. to synchronize all credit Gabatan said. The government is urged policies and programs in Loans for the transport cooperatives are treated like to put up a Transport Credit support of the transport
modernization program. Gabatan said the transport sector is equally important with that of the agricultural sector as forerunners of the Philippine See LOAN, page 11
Rescue ops greet NorMin LGUs on Christmas as flooding continues
By Nef Luczon CAGAYAN DE ORO CIT Y – Christmas did not come easy to some local government units in Northern Mindanao as they welcomed the supposed most joyous event of the year by rescuing stranded residents amid flooding in many parts of the region over the weekend. In Misamis Occidental province, Gov. Henry Oaminal has called on local Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) units to expand their operations to the affected barangays and urged the public to go to evacuation centers if they live in danger zones. "Please support the designated evacuation centers because it's for everyone's welfare, and don't worry in your stay because the provincial government is ready to provide your needs," he said during a press briefing Sunday.
HOLIDAY RESPONSE. The situation in some parts of Misamis Occidental province where rescuers and volunteers respond to evacuate affected residents after flooding greeted them on Christmas Day. (Photos courtesy of Misamis Occidental Provincial Police Office) Initial reports from Re- to evacuation centers. of Calamba, Aloran and The town of Sinacaban Tudela have yet to submit gion 10 DRRM Council (RDRRMC-10) showed also reported infrastructure their evacuation figures. that the town of Jimenez damage worth PHP280,000 Ozamiz City has also evacuated 2,274 residents, from power lines and water reported flooding in some or 454 families while 124 system pipelines. city streets and barangays. The city government of residents of 51 families In an interview, JC Monfrom Sinacaban also went Oroquieta and the towns See RESCUE, page 11