MANILA, Philippines — Since 1989, priests and brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have been working among the poor and disadvantaged in the country, initiating pastoral and social activities particularly in Mindanao.

For the last 22 years, they have been involved in missionary work, religious formation, and social projects for the poor with priority given to the formation of the youth and lay leaders, indigenous people, victims of abuse and social injustice.

The priests are also providing scholarship to members of the Higaonon and Subanen tribes, and support the Kasanag Daughters Foundation, a home for young girls who have been sexually abused, in Cagayan de Oro City. (Christina Hermoso)

Greening drive

COTABATO CITY — Amid rehabilitation efforts for the havocs of recent floods, two vital agencies in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) forged a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) mandating massive tree planting in denuded parts of the region in cohesion with existing people’s organization (POs) organized for community activities by foreign agencies.

ARMM Social Fund Project Manager Nasser Sinarimbo and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Secretary Sultan Usman Sarangani signed the MoA in simple rites at the conference room of the Office of the Regional Governor here. (Ali Macabalang)

Cotabato fest

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato (PNA) — The provincial government of North Cotabato has vowed to celebrate its 97th founding anniversary starting from August 26 to September 1 to be more festive and bombastic, with its new and old festival name – Kalivungan Festival.

Prominent leaders and members of the cultural communities, who were part of the group and pioneered the celebration, said they had been actively participating in the festival. “Because of the Filipinism entry by our Christian brothers, the phoneme ‘V’ and ‘U’ were substituted with ‘B’ and ‘O’ thus the word Kalibongan was used,” they said.

ICT support

DAVAO CITY — The creation of a permanent national agency on information and communications technology (ICT) has been strongly supported by sectors here that even the local government has joined the call to push for it.
Joining the call of the private sector, the city government endorsed the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology through a resolution passed by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

Mayor Sara Duterte said “the city government appreciates the fact that ICT is currently among the sunrise industries in the country.” (Mick Basa)

Agri assistance

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Region 12 office of the Department of Agriculture (DA-12) turned over some P10 million worth of agri-based projects to the provincial government of North Cotabato. The turnover was made during the Information Caravan dubbed “Ulat sa Bayan” held recently at the Kidapawan City Gymnasium.

The “Ulat sa Bayan” is a quarterly report of DA’s projects, programs, and accomplishments to its clientele, the farmers, the fisherfolk, as well as the general public. DA-12 Director Amalia Jayag-Datukan said the projects were implemented under the Agri-Pinoy rice, corn, livestock, and high-value crops development program. (Joseph Jubelag)