172 ARBs installed in northern Negros city

BACOLOD CITY — A total of 172 farmer-beneficiaries have been installed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Negros Occidental-North in two landholdings at Cadiz City for February.

As of Thursday, the agency reported the installation of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Barangays Mabini and Jerusalem under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

In Mabini, 109 ARBs were installed on February 21 on the property previously owned by Bernadette Gustilo, among others, covering 44.6447 hectares.

A total of 109 farmer-beneficiaries were recently installed on a property in Barangay Mabini in Cadiz City by the Department of Agrarian Reform in Negros Occidental-North.
*Contributed Photo*

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Jessan Saquian said in a statement the installation is proof that the DAR is implementing the program mandated by the government as a measure to improve the lives of farmer-beneficiaries.

“Raise issues and concerns on land reform to the authorized agency, which is the DAR,” he told the farmer-beneficiaries.

Last February 13, the DAR in Negros Occidental-North also installed 63 ARBs in Barangay Jerusalem a day after they received their certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs).

The farmer-beneficiaries were given titles to almost 58 hectares of landholdings that used to belong to Honey Lopez Panganiban.

Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officer Antonida Yulo oriented the farmers about their rights and obligations as new landowners under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Village councilman Ariel De Erit called on the farmer-beneficiaries to live in unity and harmony, and make their awarded lands productive to improve their lives. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063198

NegOcc diocese ‘shocked’ by sexual abuse rap vs. priest

BACOLOD CITY — The Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental has expressed sadness and shock over the sexual abuse accusation faced by one of its parish priests in Cadiz City.

“We are greatly saddened and shocked that a young child is alleged to have been molested by one of our clergy,” Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Diocese of San Carlos Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services on Thursday.

Alminaza issued the statement after the Cadiz City Police Station Women and Children Protection Desk on Wednesday filed a rape complaint before the Cadiz City Prosecutor’s Office against the priest for allegedly molesting a four-year-old girl.

Although the statement acknowledged the incident, the bishop did not name the priest, who has already been relieved from his assignment.

“I have assigned a priest to take over temporarily the shepherding of the parish concerned,” he said.

This will “give the accused time to spiritually prepare himself to face the allegations and to give way for an impartial investigation,” he added.

Alminaza, however, said they are “not hiding the accused to protect him from the charges.”

“We are proceeding with our own canonical process as dictated by church law by providing pastoral care to the accused while allowing the legal process to take its course,” the bishop said.
He also said that while the Diocese of San Carlos “acknowledges the right of the accused to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” they are also “steadfast to assist the victim and cooperate in the process so the truth will come out and justice is served.”

Alminaza described the incident as “painful” which “creates a deep wound and hurt not only to the victim and the victim’s family but also to the communities and to the entire clergy of the Diocese of San Carlos.”

The bishop said they have also reached out to the family of the minor.

“We assure the family that we are concerned that their child is given proper care and intervention and we have asked our parish leaders to reach out to them on our behalf,” he said.

Alminaza added the Diocese of San Carlos is “committed to search for truth and to make sure the process will be fair and just to both parties and whoever is responsible will have to face the consequences.”

Chief Insp. Robert Mansueto, officer-in-charge of Cadiz City Police Station, said in a media interview that the girl’s mother informed them on February 23 that her daughter was sexually abused by the priest on February 8.

The mother, who serves as the parish secretary, would usually bring her daughter to the church, but eventually the girl seemed hesitant to go with her.

According to the police, medical results showed the victim was negative of laceration. However, the incident can still be considered as rape since there was a reported sexual assault involving the girl’s private part, it added. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063192

20 Yolanda-hit families in north Negros get houses thru TESDA

BACOLOD CITY — About 20 families affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda in two local government units of northern Negros Occidental have received houses under the initiative of the Technical Education and Skills Authority (TESDA).

TESDA-Negros Occidental said in a statement on Wednesday, February 6 they partnered with the city government of Cadiz and the municipality of Manapla for the implementation of the Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery Program Training Cum Production.

TESDA-Western Visayas and Negros Occidental personnel led by Regional Director Ashary Banto with city officials of Cadiz and beneficiaries during the recent turn-over of the housing project in Barangay Daga.
*Photo courtesy of TESDA-Negros Occidental*

As of the first week of February, 10 families in Cadiz City received five duplex-type shelters located in Barangay Daga while in Manapla, the same number of beneficiaries were also awarded five duplex housing units in Gawad Kalinga Village, Barangay Punta Mesa.

The recipient-families have already occupied their new and permanent shelters.

Through the program, TESDA pushes for sustainable development among Yolanda-affected communities through provision of livelihood and skills training opportunities.

In 2013, after “Yolanda” hit the Visayas, TESDA participated in relief efforts and also helped in rebuilding structures that were destroyed by the typhoon. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061283