“Water is life.”

Rotary Club (RC) of Dipolog President Edna “Beng” Capili-Chan recently made such pronouncement in highlighting the RC Dipolog’s recent project which would benefit over 300 households in two mountain villages in Zamboanga del Norte.

The beneficiary communities will have access to clean, potable water as the Rotary Club of Dipolog City and the USAID funded-Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (AMORE) Program launch the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Project on January 29 at the Provincial Capitol grounds in Dipolog City.

Community-based water systems are to be constructed each in Barangay San Antonio in the municipality of Sergio Osme?a and Barangay Panampalay in Roxas.

“The provision of safe and potable water is among the key concerns and theme of many Rotary projects worldwide. It is therefore with great pride that our Rotary Club here in Dipolog will implement this water project in collaboration with Rotary International, USAID and local government units,” Beng Chan said. “We believe that this project will have a deep and meaningful impact to the beneficiary communities.”

Among those expected to grace the groundbreaking ceremony are Zanorte Governor Rolando E. Yebes, representatives from the USAID and the AMORE Program, and Dipolog Rotary officials headed by their President Edna Chan.

Falling under the broader USAID-Rotary International Water Alliance Program, the WASH project not only promises to bring safe, potable water from the mountain source down to the communities at least 100 meters below through the construction of a water system, but aims to educate community members on proper sanitation and hygiene as well. The WASH project engages the community’s active participation in the community-based water system’s operation and maintenance for long-term sustainability and impact.

AMORE is a rural electrification program that since 2002 has energized over 14,000 households in over 400 barangays in rural Mindanao using renewable energy sources such as solar and microhydro. And as demonstration of high-value social application of renewable energy technology, the AMORE Program has also constructed potable water systems. To date, ten potable water systems have been constructed benefiting over 5,000 households across Mindanao.

Presently, barangay residents have to endure long hours of walk to the low-lying barangay centers where water access points are located to fetch water. Sourced from the pristine mountains that nestle the barangays, water passes through rundown pipes from an old uncompleted water system in the case of Barangay San Antonio, and from low-volume, low-lying intermittent springs in the case of Barangay Panampalay. While most residents do not really complain about the lack of more accessible water source having known no other way, some community members admit to falling ill with diarrhea and stomach pains, albeit, not really recognizing that such may have been caused by infected water.

The municipalities of Roxas and Sergio Osme?a are two municipalities in Zamboanga del Norte considered “waterless,” having less than 50 percent of households with reliable access to clean, potable water. The Rotary Club of Dipolog and the AMORE Program hope that the WASH project to be piloted in barangays in these municipalities could be replicated and benefit thousands more households in the province.

The Philippines is one of the three pilot countries for the USAID-RI Water Alliance, the others being Ghana and the Dominican Republic.

The Rotary Club of Dipolog, formally organized on Dec. 6, 1950 by the Rotary Clubs of Zamboanga and Dumaguete, has a long list of activities and programs to act out its selfless motto of “service above self.” Aside from physical projects such as the current WASH Project and others such as its skating rink project at the Plaza Magsaysay which won the RC of Dipolog the Significant Achievement Award in the late 70s, the Children’s Playground Equipment at the Dipolog Pilot Demonstration School, and most recently the renovation of the computer laboratory for future computer education in the Upper Dicayas Integrated School (UDIS) on July 6 of last year; the club also boasts of service projects including the Share–A–Book Program where the club gathered more than 15 tons of books from Rotary Clubs in the United States of America and Australia and distribute such to 20 barangay elementary  and secondary schools in the city of Dipolog and some barangays in the province, the Share-A-Skill Program, and the most recent service program of “Bringing Information Technology (I.T.) Literacy” to UDIS last year. The club also features the Rotary Exchange Program, which has a history of hosting students from Japan, Australia, Canada, Mexico and the US and sending Dipolognon students as ambassadors of goodwill to countries as far as Australia, Japan, Canada and the US. In fact, to attest to such program are three former exchange students hosted by RC Dipolog and who are now active Rotarians – Atty. Albert T. Concha Jr, Engr Richard “Mao” Concha, and Dr. Gerald “Gerry” Concha. Another program beneficiary was former Australian exchange student and now active Rotarian Alan Terret, whom the club hosted in 1972 and has been coming back to Dipolog almost every year to help the club with its numerous projects, one of which is the Share-a-Book Program.

Another project of the club is the Rotary youth activity done every September of each year. It is an intensive training program for community youth leaders.  Young people from different high schools in the city are chosen for their leadership potentials, to attend an all-expenses-paid training to learn leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice

Officially adopted by the Rotary Club of Dipolog since 1981 during the time of then-president Atty. Alberto P. Concha Sr., this youth activity features top high school students in the city and will allow them to step into the shoes of provincial government officials for one week every September since 1981.

“This annual activity is one of the most significant programs of the Rotary service as students will act as public servants from governor down to board members to provincial government office officials. The impact spreads further as the program influences other young people. This program clearly demonstrates the Rotary’s respect and concern for our youth,” Rotarian, Engr. Richard Concha said. (with additional report from Tyrone Jay V. Samson)

By Tyrone Jay V. Samson

The 33-year-old Rizal Rural Bank (RBR) Incorporated recently unveiled its newly built, seven-storey state-of-the-art building – the new RBR Corporate Center located at Rizal Avenue, Dipolog City.

The official opening of the said building was held last January 8 in front of RBR officials headed by its chief executive officer, Atty. Alberto P. Concha; former Dipolog City Mayor Roberto Uy; Vice Mayor Senen Angeles; and Zamboanga del Norte provincial tourism officer, Atty. Ivan Patrick Ang. Also present during the opening were officiating priests Father Beltran Patangan and Father Cuaton; and other guests including PNB manager, Dr. Cesar Bala.

“Looking back in 1977, with only meager resources but driven with the zealous desire to advance development and promote progress in the countryside, I courageously built my first branch in Mapang with a firm faith on our God Almighty. And with unwavering faith, by offering the best services through the time-honored practice of professionalism, fairness, dynamism, prudence and reliability, it is with great pride to have built a sturdy and tall edifice to show our eagerness to be a significant partner in the building of a strong Republic starting from the grassroots – empowering our farmers, overseas foreign workers, teachers and other small to medium entrepreneurs. Like a tiger, we will fiercely growl with prosperity and abundance for the Filipino people,” RBR chair, Atty. Concha said.

Guided by its vision “to gain leadership in the rural banking sector, providing superior and responsive products and services to uplift the lives of the Filipino people,” the bank dubbed as “Ang Bangko Nga Kasaligan, Para Sa Tanan” and is originally located in Mapang, Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte as head office, has produced four established branches in Dipolog City, Polanco, Sindangan, and Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

“RBR in its 33 glorious years has been true and has never wavered in its vision and mission to be the most respected financial institution in the countryside and to achieve the goal of poverty alleviation and reduction in our community. With the help of our beloved members of RBR family, we can make things happen, we can make a real difference in the lives of our borrowers and depositors and in return our lives as well! This edifice are not stonewalls but a symbol of our stability, and our ever increasing desire to be at top in the business of banking,” RBR assistant vice president for Marketing, Dr. Gerald Concha, said.

The RBR was established in August 29, 1975 with eleven (11) entrepreneurs as incorporators and is duly authorized by BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS (BSP) and a member of PHILIPPINE DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (PDIC). It commenced its operation on January 17, 1977. The Program Components of Rural Bank of Rizal (ZN), Inc. then was Training, Savings Mobilization, Credit Services, Insurance and others.

RBR was honored with an award by the Landbank of the Philippines as Most Outstanding Rural Bank in Region IX FOR 2002 & 2003. aside from that, the RBR is also a Philippine Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC) awardee in 2003. It is a member of various banking organizations including the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), Rural Banker’s Association of the Philippines, Rural Banker’s Federation of Zanorte, Southwestern Mindanao Confederation of Rural Bankers, Rural Bankers Research and Development Foundation, Inc., and the Dipolog City Bankers Club.

Recognizing that microfinance is one if not the most effective tool in empowering the low-income entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their lives, RBR opened its doors to micro-financing in 1998 in addition its traditional banking operations.

Among its new products for this year, the RBR is offering a “Pabahay Loan” which features a chance to purchase a house and/or lot or construction, renovation or repair of residential house and lot. Another offering is the “Kotse Loan” which features an acquisition of vehicles for personal use, car repair or upgrade with accepted models 2005-2010 and with your car as collateral. There is also the “Negosyo Loan” featuring Market-Stall-Owner Loans, Stall Business Loan or Retailer’s Loan, and Cart Loan; the “OFW Allotment & Seaman’s Loan” for families with a family member working abroad and receiving an allotment of at least P15,000.00 per month; “Back-to-back Loan”; “Farmer’s Loan” featuring Palay Production Loan, Farm Equipment Loan, and Sa-op Loan; and “Jewelry Loan”.

By Tyrone Jay V. Samson

Putting the DMC College Foundation banner high in the field of sports, DMC teams in football, badminton and lawn tennis garnered the school recognition in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Games held in Zamboanga City last December 16-22.

Reinforcing its hold as the regions number one in football, the DMC Lifesavers’ Booters team recently bludgeoned its opposition winning the championship match against the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) with the score of 2-1. the said championship match pitted the Private Schools Athletics Association (PRISAA) champion DMC against the State College and Universities Athletics Association (SCUAA) champion WMSU.

To get to the cross over championship, DMC humbled the Pagadian PRISAA 4-0 in the PRISAA finals after hammering the Basilan PRISAA 12-0 in the semifinals.

The DMC team, under the mentorship of Coach Reginald Jukes, is composed of GR Gleen Acopiado, Jeffrey Arquiza, Michael Aubrey Atienza, John Lloyd Bastasa, John Michael Bastasa, Clifford Daypuyat, Johnquinnoel Dequiña, Vincent Gambana, Cyri Icalina, Oliver Manalo, Renando Mantua, Lendon Loi Marcojos, Niño Ochotorena, Je-lord Paghasian, Sergio Alexis Pellerin, John Michael Samonte, Russel Veña, and Rezziel Villaespin. Accompanying them are the DMC coaching staff of Head Coach Jukes, Assistant Coach Joseph Fiel and Sports Coordinator Joelito Turno.

Also giving DMC another regional champion is the DMC women’s team of badminton under Coach Ronald Enero. The DMC men’s team of badminton, on the other hand, is not so fortunate as it succumb to Ateneo de Zamboanga in the championship match finishing second place.

Finally, the DMC Lawn Tennis team under Coach Dexter Abria also lorded the CHED Regional games competition as it defeated WMSU in the men’s championship.

The aforementioned DMC Booters, badminton team for women and the lawn tennis team of men will represent region 12 – Eastern Mindanao in the CHED National Games 2010 to be held in Pasay City in Manila on February 20-28 this year.

“With such a positive result here, I hope that we can do the same during the national games. I’m very proud of the DMC athletes. Congratulations to all of you. The hard work you’ve put forth in practice have definitely paid off. With the school’s support, I hope that you will continue to strive for excellence in your respective fields,” Turno said.