PNA BiCoL

Suspected NPAs torch passenger bus in Albay

2012-01-27T20:01:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 27 (PNA) - Suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels torched on Thursday night a passenger bus in Barangay Cagbacong, a remote village in this city, a Philippine Army officer reported on Friday.

The air conditioned Silver Star passenger bus was set on fire for refusing to pay extortion demands by the communist movement, Army Maj. Angelo Guzman, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said.

The bus carrying 21 passengers including three rebels was bound for Manila from Bulan, Sorsogon.

It was negotiating the Maharlika Highway at the vicinity of Barangays Cumadcad and Sogoy in Castilla town in Sorsogon when the three passengers with handguns introduced themselves as NPA rebels and subsequently hijacked the bus about 7:30 p.m. Thursday and ordered the driver to proceed to Barangay Cagbacong, an interior village in this city, where three more rebels with high powered assault rifles were waiting.

The passengers were told to get off after which the NPAs poured gasoline and set the bus ablaze.

After torching the bus, the rebels allowed the passengers to leave on foot trekking their way back to the national highway in Barangay Sogoy in Castilla.

An eyewitness stated the three rebels boarded the bus at the terminal in Sorsogon City.(PNA)

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More studies and mapping of Bicol’s geohazard zones underway By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 24 (PNA) – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) is conducting more studies and mapping of landslide and flood prone areas in Bicol as it moves ahead this year into formulating for the region another geological hazard maps in 1:10,000 scale.

Unlike the first maps prepared by the MGB for at least 113 towns and cities in the region which were in 1:50,000 scale two years ago, the 1:10,000 scale maps will be more detailed and extensive in coverage, according to MGB regional technical director Luis Loyola here on Tuesday.

“Given its geographical location that makes it the front door of typhoons developing over the Pacific, Bicol Peninsula is considered under high risk area for natural disasters resulting from the prevailing climate change that is why this new set of geohazard maps is a must for use by local authorities for their disaster mitigation and risk reduction programs,” Loyola said.

Apart from this, Bicol’s forests have already lost about 75 percent of its original cover owing to man-made destructions ranging from illegal logging and slash-and-burn farming to forest clearing to give way to the developments like geothermal energy explorations, mining and opening of access roads. This situation is particularly true in Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes.

And while most of the localities that are considered priority areas already have their first set of geohazard maps in 1:500,000 scale, still, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its MGB, Loyola said wants a more comprehensive material in scale 1:10,000 maps.

“We call this project densification of geohazard and climate change maps that would specific in a more precise and wider-scope detail of areas whose population are highly vulnerable and the parameters that could affect the stability of soil including the type and magnitude of landslides that may take place,” he explained.

Besides, according to the MGB regional chief, the formulation of this new set of maps is specified in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into last year between the DENR through Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Ramon Paje and Albay Governor and Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman Joey Salceda.

The MOA has tasked the DENR to come up with the 1:10,000 scale maps and help in the information drive in high risk areas as part of the campaign to educate communities on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, Loyola said adding that these maps would be flood and landslide hazard models identifying high risk areas.

The MOA provides for more thorough studies on the hazards being posed by landslides and floods in Bicol provinces and cities.

To be included in the studies are the disaster risk reduction plans of local government units (LGUs) of Albay province particularly of this city and the cities of Ligao and Tabaco and the municipalities of Rapu-Rapu, Manito, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Sto. Domingo, Oas, Pioduran, Malinao, Tiwi, Jovellar, Bacacay, Malilipot, Polangui and Libon.

The three cities and the municipalities of Sto. Domingo, Malinao, Bacacay, Malilipot, Daraga, Camalig and Guinobatan all sit near the foot and along major crevices and rivers emanating from the slopes of Mt. Mayon while Rapu-Rapu is site of a giant mining operation.

Manito on the other hand is host to the operations of the geothermal power generation facilities of the Lopez-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC) within the 250,000-hectare Bacon-Manito Geothermal Field while Tiwi is site of another geothermal energy facility being operated by Chevron.

Jovellar, Libon, Oas, Pioduran and Polangui are low-lying areas that serve as catch basin of flood waters from nearby mountains.

Meanwhile that the new maps are not yet ready, Loyola said local officials and disaster management authorities should maximize the use of the existing geohazard maps in 1:50,000 scale as it is their tools in identifying communities that need priority attention especially under the present situation that La Niña is dumping heavy rains in the region.

This weather phenomenon that could trigger flash floods and landslides has been prevailing in the region since the past three months and expected to last until February and “we are reiterating our reminders to LGU officials and residents with identified risk areas to take extra precautions to avoid any untoward incident that may result in loss of lives”, Loyola stressed. (PNA)

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PNoy’s Proclamation 313 to accelerate tropical fabric technologies commercialization—DOST By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-24T21:32:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 24 (PNA) – Pres. Aquino’s recent proclamation declaring January as “Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Month” will encourage industry stakeholders to be more aggressive in coming up with strategies to accelerate the commercialization of the country’s tropical fiber technologies, according to the Departmentof Science and Technology (DOST).

Signed by the President last January 12, Proclamation No. 313 promotes the judicious use of indigenous fibers in the country such as piña, banana, abaca and Philippine silk. It aims to sustain the increasing interest on local tropical fibers brought about by the celebration of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Day on January last year as mandated by Proclamation No. 86.

In a statement received here Tuesday, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo hailed the proclamation as it supports the competitiveness of indigenous tropical fibers developed by the DOST’s Philippine Textile Research Institute PTRI which is becoming well known.

Moreover, Montejo said research and development (R&D) works done on these fibers reveal they can have a broad variety of uses, from traditional formal wear to fashion accessories. “Its prospects are bright.”

The DOST-PTRI, which leads the research and development of technologies on the country’s tropical textiles, will spearhead the tropical fiber month celebration to be highlighted by a fashion show featuring local fibers given a new twist.

Dubbed “Bagong Habi, Salinlahi: Cutting-edge Philippine Textiles”, the show will unveil fresh, modern and exciting fashion pieces on February 8, 2012 at the InterContinental Manila, Makati City.

Some of the most successful and promising designers of this generation will showcase their creations using innovative indigenous weaves known as neo-ethnic fabrics.

It would include the “pinukpok” from Bicol, “abel” of Ilocos Norte, “hablon” of Iloilo and the “inaul” of Maguindanao. The show will also reveal several interesting pieces made of PTRI-developed tropical fibers from saluyot (jute), water hyacinth, and maguey, Montejo said

Bicol’s “pinukpok” is the fine, smooth and silky fabric processed by manually pounding abaca strands or fibers. It is hand-woven as pure abaca fiber or blended with cotton, silk, polyester or piña. This fiber is said to be three times stronger than cotton and silk fiber and could last for several years.

This fiber product has already evolved into a fine high-end fabric and has weaved its way into the textile industry and into the fashion scene with known designers like Rene Salud and Ditas Sandico Ong featured in their fashion shows. Prominent personalities like former first lady Ming Ramos, Sen. Loren Legarda, Patis Tesoro frequently order this fabric.

To guide all initiatives in promoting tropical fabrics and other hand-woven textiles, the PTRI, according to Montejo, has prepared the Philippine Tropical Fiber (PTF) Roadmap in 2010 which involves not only government agencies but also key players in the industry and the academe.

This year, the PTRI promises a sustained promotion of local tropical fibers and neo-ethnic fabrics through proactive advocacy campaigns.

“Through this roadmap, we can unify our efforts in advancing local tropical fabrics and ethnic textiles, thereby increasing competitiveness and opportunities of the local fiber, textile and garment industry,” Montejo said.

PTRI’s partners in developing the local fabric industry include among others the Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Civil Service Commission (CSC), University of the Philippines-College of Home Economics, Textile Mills Association of the Philippines and the farmers group represented by the Labo Progressive Multi-Purpose Cooperative based in Camarines Norte.

In the full implementation of the PTF roadmap led by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD-DOST PTRI also intends to erase misconceptions on indigenous fabrics as a sartorial choice during weddings and other formal occasions rather than as chic and sensible outfit for everyday use, Montejo added. (PNA)

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P-Noy orders release of P300M to bolster R&D for semiconductor and electronics industry By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-23T22:07:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 24 (PNA) – President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release an amount of P300 million to bolster government’s research and development (R&D) support for the semiconductor and electronics industry, an established driver of economic growth amidst the weakening of export markets.

The fund will be used by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in establishing an Advanced Failure Analysis Laboratory that the country’s manufacturers could use to test their products, Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo said in a statement received here Tuesday.

This project clearly signals that the Aquino administration is committed to the competitiveness and sustainability of the semiconductor and electronics industry as a priority area for job generation, Montejo said.

The industry, which has bolstered economic growth and job generation in the past, should be supported now that global markets continue to be weak, he explained.

With this facility which was positively endorsed by Montejo, local companies that do not have their own laboratories need not send their product samples abroad for testing. This will shorten the turn-around time and reduce costs, Montejo said.

The initiative was one of the agreements forged between the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI) and the DOST along with the DBM, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

To be initially funded by the P300 million provided by the President is the establishment of the advanced failure analysis laboratory that includes the purchase of major equipment and rehabilitation of the building located in DOST Compound to meet the International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements for a state of the art failure analysis facility.

The second phase of the project will deal with the enhancement of the into a “Nanotechnology Testing Center”, Montejo said.

The establishment of such facility is consistent with the Information and Communication Technology and Semiconductors Roadmap of DOST, where nanotechnology research will be geared towards building core facilities for nanometrology, solar cell testing, and failure analysis, he explained.

The electronics and semiconductor sector is considered one of the leading and important industries in the Philippines. Over the last two decades, the industry’s total share to the country’s exports has been steadily increasing from about 20 percent in 1991 to a peak of about 70 percent in 1998. In 2010 alone, the industry generated revenues of about US$ 31 billion, he added. (PNA)

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Bicol DA chief allays fear over new rice farm pest By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-23T22:05:00.001-08:00

PILI, Camarines Sur, Jan. 24 (PNA) – The regional head for Bicol of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has allayed fear over the recently reported new insect pest confronting several rice farms in the region, saying there is nothing to fear as the infestation is limited to only a very small area.

“Bicol farmers have nothing to be alarmed about this new rice menace as its infestation is not widespread. We are urging farmers and agricultural technicians, though, to closely monitor rice farms and immediately report to us any presence of the pest and other disease incidences,” DA regional executive director Jose Dayao said on Tuesday.

The new pest was first noted several months ago to have infested some rice farms in Ragay, Camarines Sur and Dimasalang, Masbate where a total of about 100 hectares have been affected with an extent of at least 50 percent damages.

Promptly upon receiving the reports sometime in September of last year, Dayao said, Dr. Evangeline de la Trinidad, the chief of the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) conducted ocular inspections of the affected areas and collected several specimens of the unidentified insect pest which she submitted to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) for analysis.

Several other regions of the country like Central Visayas or Region 7, Eastern Visayas (Region 8) and Caraga (Region 13) that also noted the presence of the insect pest initially called it by different names like rice seed bug, dirt-colored seed bug and rice grain bug.

It was however temporarily identified by the Eastern Visayas RCPC based in Tacloban City as Paromius longulus. It was found to be infesting rice panicles, from flowering stage to milking stage, which results to unfilled or discolored grains that eventually reduces its quality and subsequently yield.

Earlier this month, Dayao said he received reports that the infested farms in Ragay and Dimasalang have already been harvested and the pest had disappeared. “We are however not putting our guard down as it may resurge following within the ongoing cropping season that is why we wanted our technicians and the farmers themselves to stay vigilant,” he said.

The DA regional chief said that measures and strategies recommended by the BPI and attached agency of the DA through its director Dr, Clarito Barron include the plowing under soil of rice straws or stubbles right after harvest to kill the bugs.

The BPI also advises farmers to ensure sanitation and cleanliness around their farms including the dikes, monitor the field regularly to determine early pest appearance and in case the pest is already present, apply “green label” contact insecticides at early morning or late afternoon, Dayao added. PNA

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Siltation of waterways down Mt. Bulusan alarming, says DOST By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-19T16:31:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Jan. 18 (PNA) - There is an alarming state of siltation in the major river and all its tributaries that serve as receiving ends of volcanic debris swept down by rain waters from the slopes and crevices of Bulusan Volcano, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

All smaller tributaries of Cadac-an River, the main river system that traverses the municipalities of Juban and Irosin are now heavily silted even as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had recently conducted dredging operations, Gerry Asuncion, the DOST provincial chief said here on Wednesday.

The huge volume of lahar and other volcanic debris stored at the slopes of Mt. Bulusan during its series of eruptions starting since about three years ago and cascaded with rain waters into these river system brought about these siltation, said Asuncion as he warned local disaster management authorities and residents against its consequences.

This scenario is very likely to cause overflowing of the river and tributaries and trigger flash floods that could ravage nearby communities particularly these days that La Niña has been dumping heavy rains in the area, he said.

The DOST, Asuncion said has been monitoring the developments taking place in areas surrounding Mt. Bulusan which is still abnormal and presently under alert level which means more ash explosions or even a major eruption may occur anytime even as it has not been manifesting signs toward these events in the past days.

Latest bulleting issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) monitoring station based in Barangay Cabid-an here on Wednesday said “seismic network did not detect any volcanic earthquake during the past 24 hours. Weak emission of white steam clouds 50 meters high could be observed from southeast and northwest vents”.

Alert Level 1 status is strongly reiterated and the public as well local government units (LGUs) affected are reminded that entry to the 4-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) is strictly prohibited due to the possibility of sudden steam and ash eruptions.

Civil aviation authorities must also warn pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejecta from sudden eruptions may be hazardous to aircraft while people living within valleys and along river channels should be vigilant against sediment-laden stream flows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall, it added.

Asuncion said that DOST had come up with the river map of these areas for regular monitoring and have also installed a mechanism to find out the volume of mudflow, its increase and its impacts on these certain identified areas.

“With the heavy siltation of Cadac-an river, the barangays of Tampi, Taboc, Biriran and Binanuahan in Juban have now become highly threatened by floods as heavy downpours have been causing river overflowing which if not given immediate intervention, will also create a greater problem in terms of water supply needs,” he stressed.

Asuncion also explained that they are now devising a water filter out of clay that can be used to filter water and remove the particles of sand and silt to come up with safe water for immediate needs.

With the prevailing situation in Juban and Irosin towns, some highly flood-prone areas should be given attention in terms of clean and potable water supply, he said advising that water filter made out of clay can also be used to remove particles on water affected by the silting.

“This water filter can be used for immediate needs in evacuation centers as part of DOST’s disaster risk reduction mechanism intervention to have access to clear water supply to people in evacuation centers affected by flooding or other calamities,” he said.

“Evacuation centers should be able to use alternative means to provide safe drinking water and this water filter made out of clay can be mass produced so that areas affected by flooding can use these as a means to have clear water supply including for bath and toilet needs,” Asuncion added. (PNA)

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DA putting up more aggie tramlines in Bicol By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-19T16:29:00.000-08:00

PILI, Camarines Sur, Jan. 18 (PNA) -– Where farm-to-market roads are impossible, the regional office for Bicol of the Department of Agriculture (DA) had a solution: aggie tramlines.

This mode of transportation has been proving its usefulness since the DA, through the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) put up two of its kind in the abaca-rich island province of Catanduanes last year.

The two tramline systems are now making hauling of products from the mountainous abaca and coconut plantations in Viga and Panganiban towns of Catanduanes faster and convenient.

“We have identified three more sites for this project in Bicol--one in Ligao City, another one in its nearby Polangui town, both in Albay and the third in Camarines Norte. We are encouraging more local government units (LGUs) in the region to avail of it by submitting proposals,” DA regional executive director Jose Dayao over the week here said.

Remote agricultural areas that are not accessible by roads or any other form of transportation to transport their products to the market will greatly benefit from this project, he said.

There are still many farmlands in the region that are difficult to reach due to the absence of roads or isolated by wide rivers, steep ravines and mountainous terrain. The common sights in these areas are animal-pulled sleds loaded with crops and farmers on foot carrying farm products on their back from a distance to the market.

These modes of transport and movement cause deterioration of the farmers’ produce given the time consumed and punishment of negotiating rugged terrains. Thus, the PhilTech developed the agricultural tramline system to reverse the situation and at the same time minimize production losses.

Based on the study conducted by PhilMech, post-harvest losses are at 40-60 percent in horticultural crops in difficult areas with no road network and appropriate transportation system.

Given the importance of Catanduanes as the country’s leading abaca producer and the transportation woes being experienced by its farmers, Dayao said the DA and PhilTech made the province the first recipient of the tramline system project. (PNA)

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Countryside development programs to go full blast this year

2012-01-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 18 (PNA) -- National programs on countryside development would go on full throttle this year, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Development Council National Board said.

The NEDA RDC Board recently passed a resolution that would intensify, expand and accelerate national program thrusts towards development of the regions, said Albay Gov. Joey Salceda and national president of the RDC national committee.

Salceda who was unanimously elected president of the RDC Chairpersons, presided the other day over the 10th meeting of the NEDA Board Regional Development Committee held at the NEDA central office.

Salceda in an emailed statement said vital business tackled were the organization of an RDC Special Committee on Mindanao Power to find solution of the regions continuing power instability as well as the threat of illegal logging to Lake Lanao, a watershed that contributes almost 54 percent of energy in Mindanao.

Salceda also steered the RDCom in focusing on high power costs as the biggest single stumbling block to faster, more sustained and more inclusive economic growth.

“With improved governance, high power costs have emerged as the biggest disincentive to more domestic and foreign investments,” Salceda said.

He said the power sector has “transmogrified" into an instrument of inequitable distribution of wealth while provinces like Albay has been providing Luzon cheap geothermal energy of almost 464 megawatts (MW) while getting virtually nothing, under EPIRA it is now compelled to purchase the same power at WESM for P7.8/kwhr.

Salceda claim that with the national thrust being expanded and downloaded in the countryside, regions may see a more resolute phase towards development.

Salceda, elected as national chairman of RDC, would be assisted by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama as area chairman for Visayas and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for the Mindanao cluster.

Last week, Salceda was earlier chosen as chair of the Luzon Area Cluster of Regional Development Councils (RDCs), which coordinates the pursuit of development concerns of 38 provinces and 67 cities. (PNA)

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Bicol Pili included in the Intellectual Property Geographical Indication (GI) list: DTI

2012-01-16T23:41:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 17 (PNA) --- The Bicol Pili nut will soon be included in the list of Philippine food product registered with the Intellectual Property Office Philippines (IPOPHL), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bicol said on Tuesday, today.

The registration of “Bicol Pili” is part of the agency’s developmental approach in the use of industrial property for the total development of the pili nut industry here, Jocelyn Berango DTI spokesperson said.

Under the IPOPHL Geographical Indication (GI) it identifies a product that originates from a given territory or a region, it is also a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that place of origin.

Berango said a geographical indication consists of the name of origin of the goods, citing as an example is the famous Champagne the wine product is used exclusively for French Wines in the champagne province of France.

GI is a powerful intellectual and economic asset not only of the region but also of the nation as it leverages products to compete globally.

As a valuable marketing tool in today’s global economy, the department’s move towards GI for “Bicol Pili” aims to promote and protect pili nut in the local and international markets.

This dynamic instrument leads to wider market reach including trade negotiations between and among economies.

Corollary, as pili is indigenous to Bicol, it is also important to build an institution from a cross section of stakeholders of the pili industry, which will eventually own the “Bicol Pili”.

The DTI with IPOPHL will conduct on Tuesday a Forum on Geographical Indication (GI) for “Bicol Pili” this would give stakeholders and entrepreneurs vital inputs in the promotion, development and protection of Bicol Pili. (PNA)

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Sorsogon City to adopt low cost typhoon-resistant housing

2012-01-16T23:35:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Jan. 17 (PNA) –- The city government here is adopting the standards of low cost typhoon-resistant housing set by an international group in its urban housing policies as part of its climate change adaptation and disaster mitigation strategies.

The city government now is using the impacts of typhoons and other weather abnormalities brought about by the prevailing climate change as basis in assessing houses specially those located along the shorelines and other vulnerable communities.

City Mayor Leovic Dioneda on Tuesday said he had recently directed the City Engineering Office (CEO) to formulate the standards based on the United Nations Habitat Foundation Urban Planning (UNHFUP) prototypes introduced in various low cost housing projects it has implemented in the locality.

The Foundation has piloted here several housing units that have been either constructed or retrofitted according to the standards of typhoon-resistant dwelling structures for the poor.

These houses, located in six pilot-barangays in the city would serve as the prototype models for the local government’s low cost typhoon resistant housing program and policies, the mayor said.

On the part of the CEO, its chief Tito Fortes explained that the thrust of the city is to make people more aware in the style of houses that will be more resistant and situated in areas identified in the city urban planning mechanisms in creating resilient communities.

“We will also be guided by the geological hazard map prepared by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify flood and landslide prone areas in the city,” Fortes said.

The CEO, he said is already conducting a rapid assessment and profiling of communities within the areas indicated as highly vulnerable to certain kinds of climatic conditions and the proper mitigation will be part of the city ordinance’s housing standards.

The standards set for the creation of typhoon resistant houses will partly be provided funding coming from international funding agencies involved in climate change adaptation and mitigation projects and from local government budgetary allocations for urban planning, he said.

Hand in hand, Dioneda said all other departments of the city government are putting up efforts for the city to arrive at an action plan that would be transformed into community action plans so that doable projects are accomplished with the participation of all stakeholders.

Capacity enhancement trainings on governance skills, bench markings of environmental situations and the vigilance mind set especially in promoting disaster risk reduction efforts within the confines of their homes will also be provided among communities in vulnerable areas based on the UN Habitat program, the city mayor added. (PNA)

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DENR reminds Bicol LGUs to review geological hazard maps By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-16T23:14:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 16 (PNA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reminded local governments in Bicol to review their respective geological hazard maps.

This is intended to determine which portion of their localities are prone to floods or landslides amidst the La Niña phenomenon.

Most of the Bicol local government units (LGUs) have been provided with the geohazard maps prepared by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR as early as 2009.

This followed its massive hazard mapping activities to determine areas vulnerable to natural disasters.

These maps were prepared to be used as tools to help local governments in their disaster risk reduction and mitigation programs.

"This is why local officials should not just leave it earning dust in one corner of their offices," DENR regional executive director Marcus Joselin Fragada said here on Monday.

Fragada said: “They should use it and refer to it in identifying places and communities that need special attention in their anti-calamity preparations.

"While we in the DENR have already provided them the maps and taught them on how to use it, the responsibility of using it is now laid on the hands of the local officials.”

The LGUs that have been provided with the geohazard maps, according to MGB regional director Luis Loyola, include all the Albay towns of Camalig, Daraga, Guinobatan, Jovellar, Libon, Malilipot, Malinao, Manito, Oas, Pioduran, Polangui, Rapu-Rapu, Tiwi and the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco.

In Camarines Norte, its 12 towns--Basud, Daet, Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Labo, Mercedes, Paracale, San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Sta Elena, Talisay and Vinzons -- have the maps.

In Masbate, the towns of Aroroy, Balud, Cataingan, Cawayan, Dimasalang, Placer, Masbate City and Uson also have the maps.

In Camarines Sur, all its 35 towns--Baao, Balatan, Bato, Bombon, Buhi, Bula, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Caramoan, Del Gallego, Gainza, Garchitorena, Goa, Lagonoy, Libmanan, Lupi, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Nabua, Ocampo, Pamplona, Pasacao, Pili, Presentation, Ragay, Sagnay, San Fernardo, San Jose, Sipocot, Siruma, Tigaon and Tinambac -- and two cities-- Iriga and Naga -- are also provided with the maps, according to Fragada.

The towns of Barcelona, Bulan, Bulusan, Casiguran, Castila, Gubat, Irosin, Juban, Magallanes, Matnog, Sta. Magdalena and Sorsogon City in Sorsogon and Gigmoto, Pandan, San Miguel and Viga in Catanduanes have their maps as well.

There are some towns in the region -- in Masbate and Catanduanes -- which have not been provided with the maps.

Loyola explained these towns, like all the six in the islands of Ticao and Burias of Masbate and seven in Catanduanes, are not considered flood or landslide-prone.

For LGUs which have not yet claimed their geohazard maps from the MGB, Loyola said they can claim theirs at the regional Geosciences Division in digital format (JPEG or BMP formats) at Php500 per geohazard theme.

The different geohazard themes are landslide susceptibility, flood hazard, liquefaction potential and ground subsidence/ground settlement susceptibility maps, Loyola added.

Fragada said LGUs covering some gold panning areas such as in Jose Panganiban, Paracale, and Labo in Camarines Norte and Aroroy, Baleno and Mobo in Masbate should learn an example from the latest incident of landslide in Pantukan, Campostela Valley where scores were killed in the gold panning community hit by the calamity.

Following the calamity, Fragada said DENR Sec. Ramon Paje, had called on LGUs to desist from issuing small scale mining permits in their areas.

The DENR has decided against issuing any Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) that is required before starting with mining operations.

Under the mining law, local government units are given jurisdictions over the issuance of permits to small scale mining operations in their respective localities while the MGB and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), also of the DENR, just serve as monitors in the compliance of law by mining firms, he said.

Moves are now being initiated toward the amendment of the Mining Act to remove that privilege from LGUs because of the indiscriminate issuances of permits without properly considering environmental hazards, the DENR regional chief revealed.

Other towns that need to be extra vigilant are the Sorsogon towns of Irosin, Juban and Casiguran near Bulusan Volcano, Magallanes where several barangays were identified landslide risk and Sorsogon City.

The provincial capital city is at risk because flashfloods are likely from the mountains covered by the operations of geothermal energy facilities of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC). (PNA)

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Naga City formalizes shift to eco-friendly vehicles (Feature) By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-16T23:09:00.000-08:00

NAGA CITY, Jan. 16 (PNA) -– The city government here has formalized its position of gradually phasing out vehicles in the local public transport industry that use air pollution-causing conventional fuels by passing an ordinance that allows and promotes the use of ecologically-friendly vehicles.

Eco-friendly vehicles for not emitting pollutants to taint the air for a healthy atmosphere was the foundation of the recently passed City Ordinance No. 2011-065 which allows the operation of electricity powered vehicles particularly tricycles or e-trikes in the city.

The ordinance provides for a program on electric-driven vehicles that when made fully operational, according to City Mayor John Bongat, will pave the way for the fielding of a total of 1,600 e-trikes to ply the routes within the territorial limits of the city.

The legislation aims to provide the community with an alternative means of transport that will promote, among others, a less polluted setting and for the drivers and operators to have an opportunity to earn a higher and complementary source of income, Bongat said.

Since such vehicles will be using electric charges and not the conventional petroleum like gasoline, he said the ordinance also specifies that charging stations will be established in strategic public places within the city outskirts.

Recently, Bongat said the city government received 10 units of e-bikes, courtesy of a climate change adaptation program of the United Nations, making Naga the first local government unit (LGU) to be a recipient of the donation in the country, free of cost and for use by selected LGU departments in the delivery of basic services to its constituents.

Last year, the city government entered into a partnership with a private firm for the deployment of a fleet of electric vehicles into the city’s public transportation scene as the local government steps up its fight against the worsening air pollution which is being principally attributed to smoke emissions of petroleum using motor vehicles.

Bongat said 70 percent of some 3,000 passenger jeeps and tricycles plying the city streets are smoke-belchers even as their operators are constantly being warned of penalties provided for under the Clean Air Act of 1999.

Under the partnership agreement, Enzolutions Inc., a Manila-based private firm engaged in renewable energy generation and development of innovative clean technology products, will initially make available 50 units of e-trikes in the city.

The Enzolution’s electric vehicles program is in association with Eco-Merge Philippines, Inc., a Filipino-Japanese joint venture firm involved the development of solar energy projects all over the country and Gerweiss Motors Corporation the leader and the pioneer of various models and types of electric vehicles in the Philippines.

Eco-Merge will put up solar-powered charging stations within the year as a necessary component as the e-trikes program goes full swing and in anticipation of the e-jeep deployment, he said.

The same firm is also behind the ongoing establishment of the US-million 11-megawatt solar power farm in a 22-hectare property in the nearby Pili town in partnership with the Australian-owned engineering firm, SMEC Philippines Inc.

Bongat said that under the electric passenger vehicle program, the city government will endorse drivers who will operate the units under a lease scheme to be entered with the Enzolutions.

The deployment of the initial number of units of electric vehicles in the city is contained in the project’s first phase which aims to determine its commercial viability and demonstrate to the public the technical aspect of the vehicle as a cleaner and economical alternative mode of transportation, the city mayor said.

A study shows that an electric tricycle would do away with five to six liters of gasoline equivalent to P200 to P300 a day. Daily battery recharging costs only around P45 and based on the research conducted by the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies, gasoline-fed vehicles emit fine-particulate matters that bring serious illness to people.

The emissions become even worse due to vehicle age, poor maintenance, lubricant misuse and fuel adulteration, it said.

Bongat said the program is also in line with the desire of the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III to lessen pollution by way of fielding e-bikes across the country that are totally with no emissions.

A study of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) says that if all Philippine tricycles are e-bikes, the country can save much as 20 million metric tons of carbon footprints a year and tricycle drivers can save up to P300 in daily fuel costs.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered to provide loans for the Philippine government to finance a proposed re-fleeting program for tricycle drivers and operators shifting to e-bikes. (PNA)

DCT/DOC/cbd

BFAR renews campaign vs cyanide, blast fishing

2012-01-16T18:04:00.000-08:00

PILI, Camarines Sur, Jan. 13 (PNA) - Cyanide puts the blue in blue jeans and that low level of cyanide is found in many plants that Filipinos eat such as potatoes, sugarcane, radishes, beans and cabbage, according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

But when living things or organisms including humans and animals are exposed to a compound that produces cyanide ions when dissolved in water, poisoning occurs. The chemical makes the cells of an organism unable to use oxygen and inhalation of high concentrations of cyanide causes a coma with seizures and cardiac arrest with death following in a matter of minutes.

At a lower dose, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said, loss of consciousness may be preceded by general weakness, giddiness, headaches, vertigo, confusion, and perceived difficulty in breathing.

The MGB is trying to justify the usefulness of cyanide that is common in mining operations where numerous forms of cyanide exist, including gaseous hydrogen cyanide (HCN), water-soluble potassium, sodium cyanide, mercury, copper, gold, and silver cyanide salts.

The BFAR on the other hand is discouraging its application especially in fishing, a method in which divers squirt the chemical into reef crevices and onto fish, stunning them and making them easy to catch. From mining operations, when cyanide is leaked into the sea, fish kill is certain to take place.

Besides, according to BFAR regional director Dennis del Socorro here over the weekend, small organisms, especially coral polyps are killed by the cyanide in this process.

The BFAR has renewed its campaign against cyanide as well as blast fishing in Bicol’s fishing grounds as it urged local government units like municipalities and cities to take the lead role in this drive as primary responsibilities on these marine resources belongs to them and the BFAR’s function is only general supervision on municipal fisheries, Del Socorro said.

Both fishing methods are destructive of the marine resources and among the consequences is low fish production owing to the destruction of established sea organism communities, he said.

Humans destroy coral reefs directly through unfriendly fishing habits. Many coral reefs are overfished, destroying their sustainability. Practices like cyanide fishing and blast fishing destroy reefs. Blast fishing, in which explosives are sent into the reefs, can completely destroy the reef structure.

The use of cyanide on fishes, usually lapu-lapu, siganid, talakitok and maya-maya he said, is difficult to detect through its physical appearance when already in the market as it is only through laboratory examinations that it could be determined. “This means it could easily victimize unsuspecting consumers.”

Any person who would eat them may experience numbness of the throat, vomiting, lock jaw, uneasiness, rapid palpitation, hypertension, respiratory seizure then loss of consciousness leading to death, he said.

“We do not want to pinpoint particular municipal fishing grounds in Bicol where cyanide and blast fishing are rampant as for sure, local authorities are aware about the presence of such illegal fishers in their area of responsibilities. Our campaign is just o remind them and the fishing communities of its ill effects,” Del Socorro said.

Latest reports from all over the region however have shown significant drops in the number of persons apprehended by local authorities for using dynamites and cyanide in fishing because of the government campaign against these fishing methods but he said there are still some and we wanted it totally eradicated for the protection of our coastal environment,” he said.

He also reminded fish traders and vendors of the provision of Section 88 of Republic Act 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 that provides for the development, management and conservation of the fisheries and aquatic resources.

Under this law, selling of fishes caught through illegal methods like cyanide and dynamite is punishable with imprisonment from six months to two years.

It would be better if the traders and consumers would help each other in protecting themselves by way of rejecting fishes being delivered by illegal fishers and report them to the nearest police station or other local authorities, he added. (PNA)

LAP/DOC/cbd/

Purple color campaign for Corona slows down in Albay

2012-01-16T17:57:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 16 (PNA) --- The Purple campaign expressing support for Chief Justice Renato Corona failed to gather steam among judges and court employees in the 13 Regional and City Trial Court branches in the second district of Albay.

Court hearings in the 10 RTC branches and three Municipal and City Trial Courts went normally on Monday.

RTC Judge Pedro Soriao, RTC Branch 5 presiding judge and concurrent executive judge of Albay, in an interview on Monday, said his office had not receive from the Philippine Association of Court Employees (PACE) any communication enjoining employees and judges of various trial courts here to join the Purple Campaign designed to express support to CJ Corona.

He said that he believed on the “Freedom of Expression,” so every employees under the court have their rights to express their personal feeling about the impeachment trial CJ Corona is facing.

Soriao said “the battle field is right now in the hands of the Senate and not in the Supreme Court.”

Lawyer Jaime Anonuevo, Jr., assistant Clerk of Court said that 189 court employees and thirteen judges have mixed feeling about the impeachment trial.

He said some were silent about their personal opinion on the matter saying “let’s wait for the outcome”, while other says that the impeachment process is on the right track, “SJ Coronacshould face it.”

Asked about the Purple Campaign, Anonuevo pointed out that there was no big deal about the purple color since this is the official color of the courts under the Supreme Court.(PNA)

RMA/MSA/cbd

DPWH on for early start of P5.5-B infra projects in Bicol By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-16T17:44:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 16 (PNA) -– Works on the P5.5-billion infrastructure projects for Bicol this year are set for an early start under the government’s accelerated expenditure program to help drive domestic consumption and spur economic growth in the countryside, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here.

Regional director Danilo Dequito on Monday said most of the projects have already been bidded out as of the end of December last year and the rest are for bidding to constructors before the end of this month.

Bicol has been allocated an amount of about P5.3 billion from this year’s national budget which has been earmarked for the implementation of vital infrastructure projects in the region in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016.

Dequito said that this budget will finance a total of 146 projects that include roads, bridges, flood control structures and other vital infrastructures that are urgently needed in line with the Aquino administration’s thrust to attain inclusive growth, alleviate poverty, generate jobs and spur economic growth of Bicol as contained in the PDP.

The Plan’s infrastructure development program aims to contribute to inclusive growth and poverty reduction in support to the performance of the country’s economic sectors and ensure equitable access to infrastructure services, especially as these affect the people’s health, education and housing, Dequito said.

Toward these ends, the government is accelerating the provision of safe, efficient, reliable, cost–effective and sustainable infrastructure. “That’s all these projects we have programmed for this year under the P5.265-billion allocation are all about,” he said.

With this regional budget for 2012 which is higher by 30 percent than the P3.9 billion or P1.3 billion over the 2011 allocation, Dequito said his agency would be able to accelerate infrastructure development in the region as planned by the Aquino administration.

The 2011-2016 PDP, he said, recognizes the country’s inadequate infrastructure as a critical constraint to economic growth. This inadequacy, in both quantity and quality is the past result of low level of public and private sector investments in infrastructure which fall short of the requirements of a progressive economy and a growing population.

Moreover, inequitable access to basic infrastructure services has also become an obstacle to poverty reduction and more generally, to inclusive growth because it limits the opportunities for economic and social advancement available to marginalized sectors.

Implementation of these new projects, he said, would also be in accordance with the PDP’s intention of making the infrastructure sector contribute significantly to community employment generation and harness skills and technical expertise of the local workforce.

“We are adopting an employment-intensive or labor-based scheme of implementation whenever it is most optimal in infrastructure development while ensuring at all times the safety and health in public works undertakings,” Dequito said.

Dequito said that out of the total 146 projects to be constructed under the 2012 infrastructure programs of DPWH in Bicol, 80 have already been bidded out for a total cost of P1.2 billion as of December 31 last year while the next 46 worth P1.4 billion will be offered for bidding by the end of this month and the remaining 20 worth P2.9 billion will be all be up for bidding in February.

The projects worth P1.5 billion of the total allocation, he said, have been assigned for implementation by the DPWH regional office and these are the P500-million Legazpi City Urban Drainage System, the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project flood mitigation component worth P350 million, the P500-million Camarines Sur/Albay diversion road and the P150-million drainage works along national roads.

The rest are for implementation by the 14 district engineering offices of the DPWH across the six provinces of the region.

Dequito said that most of the road projects that are leading to tourist destinations in support to the region’s tourism development programs are part of DPWH Secretary Singson's commitment to pave all arterial road by 2014.

Apart from the P5.3-billion fund, he said another P500 million worth of calamity fund was released for the region early December of last year and the rehabilitation projects it covers have also been awarded to contractors.

Actual implementations are set to start this month to repair or restore typhoon damaged flood control structures, roads and bridges, Dequito added. (PNA)

DCT/DOC/cbd

All Catanduanes LGUs pass DILG’s ‘good housekeeping’ check; get P20.7-M incentives By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-16T17:34:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 16 (PNA) -– All the 11 local government units (LGUs) of Catanduanes, including the provincial government, passed the “good housekeeping” test of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) last year.

As incentive, they would be receiving a total amount of P20.7 million for their priority development projects.

DILG regional director Blandino Maceda said it is impressive that Catanduanes, despite being isolated by a wide body of water from the Bicol mainland, not one of its LGUs failed the “housekeeping” test.

Catanduanes, among the six provinces of Bicol, has performed perfectly with none of its local units failing the good local governance test, Maceda said.

According to the latest statistics released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Catanduanes, with a rating of 132.56, had the highest Good Governance Index (GGI) among the six provinces of Bicol and ranked 25th among the 79 provinces, Maceda said.

The NSCB explained that governance, as defined in the GGI framework it had developed “is the manner in which power is exercised in the management of the country’s economic and social resources for development.

"It also refers to the exercise of economic, political and administrative authority to manage the nation’s affairs at all levels”. (PNA)

DCT/hbc/DOC/cbd

Sorsogon City puts up hygiene clinic for ‘commercial sex workers’ By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-12T19:41:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) - The number of “commercial sex workers” (CSW) is steadily growing in this second class city which, as part of its “good practices,” established a new hygiene clinic for these women in the sex trade.

City Health Office (CHO) Senior Medical Technologist Rosanna Jordan, who heads the clinic, said the city is proud of being the first local government in Sorsogon province able to put up the facility for the CSWs they call “Guest Relations Officers” (GROs).

“From now on, these GROs would be required to submit to testing and hygiene at the clinic as a requirement for the issuance of sex yellow cards which would serve as their health clearance certificates,” Jordan said.

This requirement would enable the CHO to monitor possible cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as gonorrhea, syphilis and other non-gonococcal infections through a weekly cervical smear among CSWs or GROs, she explained.

Without this card, she said these women would be considered unfit to work in beer houses or other night establishments hiring them as GROs, entertainers or food servers.

Jordan said the CHO does not have an exact figure on the number of GROs or CSWs but the increasing number of pub houses and other night clubs indicates a growing number of women here getting into the prostitution trade.

Those who would be found positive of the infections will not be issued the card and advised to “take a rest” from work and undergo treatment and medications. Should they insist on working sans the yellow card, they will be declared illegal worker and meted with corresponding penalties when caught, she said.

That would be the time that men should start requiring CSWs or GROs to present their yellow cards to them before getting their services to be sure that she is not an STD carrier, she said.

The yellow card, according to Jordan would bear the name and photograph of its owner GRO and the last time that she underwent a hygiene test as attested by the City Medical Technologist.

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) personnel, meanwhile, have been going around to convince these sex workers to undergo regular examinations at the hygiene clinic.

On the part of the local police, Supt. Edgar Ardales, the city Philippine National Police station chief said men who would be caught having sex with GROs could be arrested and charged in court. “These sector of workers are protected by the law against sexual abuse and they are considered victims under the circumstances,” he said. (PNA)

LAP/LAM/DOC/cbd/

DOST tags thieves of Phivolcs monitoring equipment in Albay as ‘murderers’ By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-12T17:27:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) –- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) had likened to murderers the thieves who stole several meters of cables and five pieces of 12 volts batteries at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) seismic relay stations in Albay.

In a statement received here Thursday, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo said “these unscrupulous individuals are not only thieves they could also qualify as murderers as stealing the equipment jeopardize the safety of the people of Albay.

The thieves could be called economic saboteurs as they also put to risk properties as well as the resources of the province in the event of a major volcanic activity, Montejo said in expressing his dismay over the theft in the unmanned Phivolcs relay station near Mayon Volcano in Sto. Domingo, Albay.

According to an official report, the seismic station of the DOST- Phivolcs in Legazpi has not received any data from the two relay stations in the municipality of Sto. Domingo since December 14 last year.

Upon inspection of the team from the Phivolcs monitoring station based at the Ligñon Observatory here, it was discovered that meters of cables connected to the seismic sensors from the relay stations and five pieces of 12-volt batteries were missing.

The relay stations are equipped with seismic sensors and radio transceivers that transmit seismic data to the Phivolcs central station in Quezon City. These stations transmit vital information on seismic and volcanic activities of Mt. Mayon.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum said the incident has caused 50 percent loss in data transmission.“It is a good thing that Mayon Volcano is not active as of this time,” he said.

Mayon Volcano is on Alert Level 1 which, in a scale of 0-5, it is considered abnormal.

However, Solidum stressed that the incident, although it caused temporary disruption in seismic data transmission, did not hinder the normal operations of the agency in terms of volcanic and seismic monitoring. “The incident did not cripple Phivolcs because other relay stations in Albay are functioning efficiently,” he added.

Montejo has urged the people who live near DOST weather and seismic forecasting and monitoring stations to be vigilant in reporting malicious activities that compromise the safety of the people.

“The safety of the people is our primordial concern, which is why the government is aggressively installing weather forecasting and other monitoring equipment like rain gauges and water level sensors critical to monitoring flood prone areas,” he added.

This year, the government is set to install water level sensors and rain gauges in all major river systems in the country as part of the national flood forecasting, monitoring and mitigation program spearheaded by the DOST .

He has requested the local through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to look into ways on how to protect these vital monitoring equipment in the local level and immediately prosecute those caught stealing them.

Montejo also appealed to the community and their leaders to help protect these equipment. “More importantly, people in the areas where monitoring equipment are installed should help safeguard these equipment. After all, their lives, properties, and communities’ safety are all at stake here.”

He said Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III has certified as urgent the proposed bill in Congress penalizing the stealing of weather and disaster monitoring equipment of the DOST. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/DOC/cbd

Pagasa, Phivolcs warn Sorsogon residents on possible landslides, floods

2012-01-12T16:48:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) -– Heavy rains caused by the prevailing La Niña phenomenon may trigger landslides in identified vulnerable areas of Sorsogon province including barangays around Mt. Bulusan, government authorities cautioned residents.

Weather forecast on Thursday said the eastern seaboard of southern Luzon that includes the province will continue to experience cloudy skies and isolated rains during the week.

A Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) advisory released here Thursday said communities down the slope of Bulusan Volcano should be extra watchful against the possibility of flashflood and avalanches of volcanic debris that may be triggered by heavy downpour.

The Phivolcs Mt. Bulusan monitoring station based in Barangay Cabid-an here said a huge volume of lahar and other by products of the recent eruptions are still stored at the upper slopes of the volcano and may cause major disasters on lives and properties when loosened by rain waters into the low lying communities.

There are at least seven barangays within the municipalities of Irosin and Juban that are considered vulnerable areas to these form of disasters, it said.

Mt. Bulusan is currently under alert level one due to its abnormal condition that has resulted to several eruptions since March 2010. The alert warning means possible eruptions may occur anytime. Human activities are forbidden within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone of the volcano.

Elsewhere around the province, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned that continuous heavy rains could trigger landslides and floods in identified prone areas covered by the municipalities Magallanes, Irosin, Juban, Donsol and this city.

These areas have already been determined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through hazard mappings conducted by the Environmental Management and Mining and Geosciences Bureaus to be highly vulnerable localities due to existing mountains and rivers.

The Pagasa said rivers in these areas could easily overflow due to the excessive volume of rainfall brought about by the weather situation so that residents along its banks are cautioned of sudden floods and raging current.

Latest rainfall forecast of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Manangement Council (RDRRMC) in Legazpi city said rivers, stream and its tributaries in sorsogon and all parts of Bicol will be affected by rainfalls.

At least 24 persons were killed when a major landslide buried several homes in Barangay Hobo, Magallanes town at the height of typhoon Dante in May 2009. Several families that survived the landslide have already been relocated to resettlement areas but some other barangays within the municipality still have to be vigilant for similar occurrences, the Pagasa said.

The agency has enjoined the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Mananegement Council (PDRRMC) to remind residents and local officials about their contingency plans should emergencies take place amidst the prevailing La Niña phenomenon.

Evacuation centers should always be ready to accommodate evacuees in events of calamity while each local government should keep its disaster response operatives available for rescue operations. Relief goods should also be at all times readily available, the Pagasa added. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/DOC/cbd

Police tighten public security in Masbate City By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-12T01:03:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) – With the 120 policemen now manning the public safety and security setup of Masbate City, the regional headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP) here on Thursday said it is confident the maintenance of peace and order in that provincial capital will be closely attended to.

The number already represents one policeman to 700 population, a ratio that exceeds the standard 1:1,000 set up and with that, according to Bicol PNP regional director Chie supt. Cecilio Calleja Jr., “we are confident the crime volume in the locality would be further reduced, crime solution efficiency enhanced and orderliness managed”.

The fielding of so many policemen in Masbate City, the provincial capital, is in support of the PNP to the aspiration of the island province to keep abreast with the economic developments taking place in the Bicol mainland owing to the growing business investments and tourism industry particularly in Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes, Calleja said.

“This is to help Masbate detach itself from being one of the poorest provinces of the country and as the ‘murder capital of Bicol’ tag earned from intense political rivalries resulting to a long series of killings and other violent occurrences which happened in the past,” he said.

That political situation is already under control starting in the conduct and after the 2010 elections which saw local political camps yielding to the intensified anti-loose firearms and private armies drive put in place by the police and the military, the Bicol police director said.

“Masbate local officials are now focused on developing the economic potentials of the province by way of creating a favorable investment climate, implementing tourism programs and protecting its marine resources towards better productivity.The police is in full support of these initiatives,” according to Calleja.

Since last year, he said the city has improved its investment climate earning for it a citation last month from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as one of the “most business-friendly cities” in the region while latest statistics showed that the province had already gained headway in its economy by significantly elevating itself from the second to the 12th of the country’s poorest provinces.

“Sustaining those gains is now a concern of not only the local officials of Masbate but also of the PNP that is why we are providing preferential attention to the island in the placement of our forces,” Calleja said.

Part of the Masbate City police force now under the disposal of Supt. Rodolfo Abella, its station chief is a unit trained as Special Weapons and Armory Tactics (SWAT) that has been tasked to go after the so called “contract killers” that operate in tandems on board motorcycles.

In intensifying the security and public safety operations, checkpoints searching for loose firearms, patrols and quick response teams are now common sites around the provincial capital which according to Calleja has been effective in the maintenance of peace and order in the locality.(PNA)

LAP/DOC/cbd/

Albay braces for floods, landslide

2012-01-09T19:27:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) - The Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council (PDRRMC) is on heightened alert Monday and placed the province on a state of preparedness as intermittent rainfall spawned by the tail-end of the cold front affecting Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas might trigger floods and landslides in low lying areas, including mountain slopes.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda on Monday issued a PDRRMC advisory placing the province on disaster alert and preparedness status and directed 15 MDRRMC and three CDRRMC to be on 24-hour watch and to be ready to operationalize their respective flood and landslide evacuation plan once the volume of rainfall exceeds its normal levels.

Salceda also directed the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) to closely monitor in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) the hourly rainfall events and other weather instruments that would issue advisories to enable various disaster councils to keep track with the ongoing bad weather condition prevailing in the area.

He said the intermittent rains produced by the tail-end of the cold front may trigger floods, lahar flows and landslides in low-laying areas and mountain slopes in the towns and cities of Albay.

The landslide-prone areas are 127 villages in the towns of Libon, Polangui, Oas, Tiwi, Malinao. Sto. Domingo, Jovellar and Guinobatan, while flood-prone areas are 173 villages in the towns of Libon, Polangui, Oas, Malinao, Guinobatan, Jovellar, Camalig, including the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao.

Lahar flows would affect villages in the southeast quadrant of the volcano such as Guinobatan, Daraga, Camalig and Sto. Domingo and this city.

The PAGASA weather bulletin on Monday at 5 a.m. said the tail-end of a cold front will affect Southern Luzon and Visayas and Mindanao. These areas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over eastern Visayas and North Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and coming from the Northeast and East over the rest of the country. The coastal waters throughout the archipelago will be moderate to rough.

At the onset of heavy rains, villagers are warned not the cross swelling rivers and for residents living along mountain slopes to be on alert for possible landslides. (PNA)

LAP/FFC/MSA/cbd

Bicol's greening program overshoots goal by 12%

2012-01-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- The government's National Greening Program (NGP) in Bicol gained headway by surpassing its greening target by 12 percent with 6,303 hectares of open and denuded forestland planted with close to four million tree seedlings, a top official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the region said on Monday.

When the NGP was launched in Bicol in May last year, various stakeholders across the region were able to plant 3.9 million tree seedlings in some 6,303.9 hectares of open and denuded forest land, way above (12 percent) its 5,584 hectares target for 2011, Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR regional executive director said.

“Despite the fact that the NGP was carried out by the 2nd Quarter of 2011, we were able to exceed our target -- a significant achievement of our commitment to the government’s greening program,” Fragada in an interview said.

Fragada, quoting a yearend report from the Forest Management Service (FMS) on the agency’s National Greening Program (NGP) implementation in Bicol, said Camarines Sur led with 2,102,578 trees seedlings planted in 3,005.98 has.; followed by Albay with 478,999 seedlings planted in 854.5 has; Camarines Norte was third with 413,448 seedlings planted in 641.2 has.

Masbate has 357,305 seedlings in 714.5 ha, Catanduanes was fifth with 332,486 seedlings planted in 663.2 has., and Sorsogon with 227,561 seedlings planted in 407.3 has.

Based on the report, some 21,690 stakeholders have already enlisted in the program and took part in planting the seedlings during the year.

They represented a cross section of public and private volunteers from government agencies, schools, civic organization including the church, local government units, and business sectors.

Because of the positive development affecting the NGP Environment Sec. Ramon Paje announced recently that the DENR intended to double the national target at 200,000 hectares for 2012.

Meanwhile, Paje reiterated NGP’s goal of posting a minimum survival rate of 80 percent for the seedlings by tapping science and sound upland practices and confining identified NGP planting sites only in areas where there are communities who will be tapped to maintain and ensure growth of planted seedlings into mature trees.

The NGP targets to plant 1.5 billion tree seedlings in 1.5 million hectares nationwide from 2011 to 2016.

Priority areas for planting include mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domain areas, civil and military areas, urban areas under the greening plan of LGUs, inactive and abandoned mine sites, and all other suitable lands for reforestation.

“This year, we will double the effort to have practically all Bicolanos do their share in planting 10 trees each,” Fragada said. (PNA)

DCT/RMA/MSA/cbd

Senate to amend law creating Climate Change Commission

2012-01-03T19:00:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 3 (PNA) --- The Senate will pass a bill that seeks to amend the composition of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), replacing the President with a full time chairperson that will work 24/7, Senator Francis Escudero said over the weekend.

Escudero said while the government coped and did what it could to address the impact of Climate Change, it needed to reorganize the composition of the CCC and be a 24/7 fully functioning commission.

He said that Congress had made a mistake when it passed the bill creating the commission and putting the President as its chairman.

The President has so many work to attend to, and placing him to chair various commission under him would not be manageable and efficient.

Escudero said: “When the President heads a commission, meetings are always dependent on his availability, and therefore vital issues and concerns could not be immediately resolved.”

The Bicol solon at a press conference here said the impact of Climate Change was indeed felt in the communities, citing that Mindanao has always been free from typhoons but because of climate change, the path of typhoons now passes this area.

He also cited that in Bicol being a typhoon belt area where Super typhoons Reming and Milenyo ravaged the region in 2006, killing over thousands of people and displacing tens of thousands of families, while damages to infrastructure and agriculture have reached over billions of pesos.

But because of climate change, the region for the past five years was lucky enough that no typhoons hit the place, as typhoons that usually moves towards the Bicol peninsula is now moving towards the north and south.(PNA)

RMA/LQ/MSA/cbd

DOH offers free flu vaccine to indigent senior citizens in Sorsogon By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Jan. 3 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) through the facilities and health service personnel of the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital (SPH) here is providing free vaccine against flu to indigent senior citizens in the province.

Dr. Edgar Garcia, the provincial health officer and SPH chief on Monday said the free medical services and vaccines are under the health department’s Code White Alert being implemented as mitigating health strategy and as part of the disaster risk reduction management mechanism of the Aquino administration.

“The program wants to see to it that public health, as one of the priority concerns is well served in providing early interventions so that mitigation for health concerns is addressed,” Garcia said.

The prolonged rainy season and cold weather call for this preventive intervention as the elderly sector is exposed to flu contamination under this climate conditions, he stressed.

Flu or influenza, according to Garcia is a highly contagious viral infection that affects the respiratory tract. Compared to common colds, flu can cause severe illnesses and can lead to serious complications in all age groups.

While other viral infections carry symptoms that usually are mild and do not prevent most afflicted individuals from doing normal daily activities, flu symptoms are severe and prolonged and can cause the individual to miss days of work or school. The infection stresses the body, he said.

“Flu may cause high fever, cough, sore throat, a runny nose, headache, more malaise and severe body aches. Some people describe the flu as being like the worst cold of their life. Most people feel better after one or two weeks, but for some, the infection leads to serious, even life-threatening diseases, such as pneumonia,” Garcia explained.

Because of its infectiousness, severity of symptoms, time lost for work or other physical activities and the potential to lead to serious complications, it is important to prevent flu and the best way to avoid it is to get the vaccine each year before the flu season.

Each year, he said the influenza virus can change slightly making the vaccine used in previous year ineffective.

A world-wide flu surveillance has been established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to detect and select the most likely strains to circulate in the forthcoming flu season. These selected strains are used to develop the new vaccine formula.

The flu vaccine contains three different strains of the virus which scientists believe are most likely to show up. Flu vaccine is safe and almost all people who received it have no serious problems from it, Garcia said.

The vaccine is generally effective against the flu virus within two weeks of the vaccination. It works by exposing a person’s immune system to the virus as the body is enabled to build up anti bodies to the virus to protect you from getting the flu, he said.

The flu vaccine is 70 to 90 percent effective in preventing the flu in healthy people. Some people who get the vaccine will still get the flu, but they will usually get a milder case than people who were not vaccinated, Garcia said.

He however reminded everyone especially the senior citizens and children that are age groups highly flu vulnerable to maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise to reduce the impact of the infection.

The provincial health chief said indigent old people usually suffer respiratory diseases due to cold weather condition, poor living conditions and poor diet, thus it is exigent that vaccine to fight flu be given to this sector.

Local health workers from the province down to the barangays and local government officials were already informed of this free vaccination campaign and they were requested to advice indigent senior citizens within their areas of responsibility to avail of this services being given at the SPH, he said.

“They will not be charged of any amount for this as the vaccines are provided free by the DOH and the services are from government health works and doctors,” he added. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

DOST enjoins public to sync with PST starting this year

2012-01-02T18:44:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 2 (PNA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) regional office for Bicol here has advised Bicolanos to synchronize their time pieces with the Philippine Standard Time (PST) starting this year.

Regional DOST director Tomas Briñas on Monday said it was imperative that everyone now should refer to a standard time, which is the PST, so that the whole nation can simultaneously move with the developments in the new year.

Late last year, DOST through its attached agencies such as the Science and Technology Information Institute (STII) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), launched Juan Time, a national advocacy campaign for the synchronization of all time pieces with the PST in all government and private offices.

DOST-PAGASA, being the designated official time keeper by virtue of the Batas Pambansa Blg. 8 Sec.6, is equipped with the timing device system consisting of a rubidium atomic clock, a Global Positioning System receiver, time interval counter, distribution amplifier and a computer that precisely adjust PST accordingly.

The campaign was received by many government institutions, including the Department of Education (DepEd) which came earlier with an order urging all public offices and schools synchronize all time pieces to the PST.

Under the DepEd Department Order (DO) No. 86 Series of 2011 entitled “Synchronizing with the Philippine Standard Time” all school officials national wide have been directed to synchronize with the PST so that all school-based activities are conducted simultaneously.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said in the DO that it was an important move because it would add to work efficiency and better time management. “Time is a very precious resource which we tend to take for granted. If we are all guided by the Philippine standard time, then our work will be in sync and we can optimize use of time spent in school,” he explained.

To synchronize activities of DepEd to the school level, all offices are directed to set all clocks inside offices and school properties including time recording devices to match the PST established by the DOST through the PAGASA which displays the time in hours, minutes, and seconds in its website www.pagasa.dost,gov.ph.

The DepEd family is one with the nation in changing the concept of “Filipino time” to being “on time” Luistro said in the DO.

DOST Sec. Mario Montejo said: “We hope that the whole nation will join and synchronize our watches and other time pieces with the PST so we can further move as one nation starting in 2012.”

Television and radio stations in the Philippines often tell the time, but something is objectionable so, the DOST last September moved to synchronize the time in the archipelago to avoid the tardiness of the Filipinos in their own respective businesses.

Under this initiative, PAGASA installed a rubidium atomic clock, a GPS receiver, a time interval counter, distribution amplifier, and a computer to help calculate the time difference with every satellite within its antenna’s field of view.

Philippine Standard Time or the Pamantayang Oras ng Pilipinas, also known as Philippine Time and abbreviated as PHT, according to Briñas is the official name for the time in the Philippines. The country only has one time zone, the UTC+08:00 time zone.

Standard time zones can be defined by geometrically subdividing the Earth's spheroid into 24 lunes (wedge-shaped sections), bordered by meridians each 15 of longitude apart. The local time in neighboring zones would differ by one hour, he said.

However, political and geographical practicalities can result in irregularly-shaped zones that follow political boundaries or that change their time seasonally (as with daylight saving time), as well as being subject to occasional redefinition as political conditions change.

There are variations of the definitions of time zone which generally fall into two meanings: a time zone can represent a region where the local time is some fixed offset from a global reference (usually UTC), or a time zone can represent a region throughout which the local time is always consistent even though the offset may fluctuate seasonally, Briñas said. (PNA)

RMA/DOCalleja/cbd

Rates on PhilHealth contributions hiked By Danny O. Calleja

2012-01-02T18:30:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 2 (PNA) – While the tax exemption of Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) contributions has been affirmed and yet, its clients are faced with a separate burden — rates increase--starting this year.

Under PhilHealth Circular No. 22 s-2011 entitled New Premium Contributions to the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) in Support to the Attainment of Universal Health Care and Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the new premium rates take effect starting January 1.

PhilHealth regional director Veronica Mateum on Monday said the new rates affect contributions to sponsored, individually paying, overseas workers and employed programs that cover in Bicol over 3.7 million individuals or about 63 percent of the regional population of 5.9 million.

Under the sponsored program are those that are included in the National Household Targeting System - Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) list of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that are covered for two years. From P1,200, their annual premium would be P2,400 effective Jan. 1, 2012, Mateum said.

For individually paying members, the annual premium starting July, this year will be P2,400 or P200 monthly or an increase of 100 percent from the old rate of P100 per month. Self-employed professionals earning an average monthly income of more than P25,000, meanwhile will pay an annual rate of P3,600.

Premium contribution of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) starting this month had been increased from P900 to P1,200 up to June and starting on July 2012, their annual payments would become P2,400.

For the employed sector, contribution of each member is pegged at three percent of the basic salary shared equally by the employer and the monthly salary base is equal to P7,000 and salary ceiling, P50,000.

Mateum said the need of increasing the members' premium contribution had been explained by PhilHealth President Dr. Eduardo Banzon as necessary in sustaining the enhanced health benefits the PHIC is providing its members.

“Sa unang tingin ay medyo may kabigatan ito lalo na doon sa mga mahihirap na miembro, pero talagang kailangan para na rin sa kanilang kapakanan (At first glance, this may be heavy especially to indigent members but it is indeed necessary for their own benefits),” she said.

Mateum cited that PhilHealth benefit packages have been enhanced, mentioning among others the boosted newborn tests and care services worth P1,750 in addition to Normal Spontaneous Delivery (NSD) of P8,000 in Level One hospitals or P6,500 in Levels Two to Four hospitals, and the Indicated Caesarian Section (Cs) package of P19,000.

Also under the new procedure, rates for medical services and surgical procedures have been pre-fixed for 25 different cases that include dengue 1, P8,000; dengue 2, P16,000; pneumonia 1, P15,000; pneumonia 2, P32,000; essential hypertension, P9,000; cerebral infarction (CVA), 1, P28,000; cerebrovascular accident with hemorrhage (CVA) 2, P38,000; acute gastroenteritis, P6,000); asthma, P9,000 and; typhoid fever, P14,000.

New packages for surgical procedures are: radiotherapy, P3,000 per session; hemodialysis, P4,000 per session; appendectomy, P24,000; cholecystectomy, P31,000; dilatation and curettage; P11,000; thyroidectomy, P31,000; herniorrhaphy, P21,000; mastectomy, P22,000; hysterectomy, P30,000 and; cataract surgery, P16,000.

At the same time, she added PhilHealth contributions has been clarified by the BIR as exempted from its Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 53-2011 which states that voluntary contributions to the Social Security System (SSS), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Home Development Mutual Fund or Pagtutulungan sa kinabukasan Ikaw, Bangko, Industriya at Gobyerno ( Pag-IBIG Fund) are subject to tax.

The BIR considers as taxable “investments" the contributions made over and above those mandated by law, particularly because the benefits that members of these institutions are bound to receive – such as pension or loans extended – will be enhanced.

Voluntary contributions entitle members to avail of extra retirement, sickness, or unemployment benefits beyond regular or usual financial assistance extended to the members who only make mandatory contributions, the BIR said.

Revenue Memorandum Circular 27-2011 stated that voluntary contributions in excess of what the law allows are not excludible from the gross income of the taxpayer and hence, not exempt from Income Tax and Withholding Tax.

Consequently, the exemption from Withholding Tax on compensation referred to in Section 2.78.1 (B)(12) of Revenue Regulations No. 2-98 shall apply only to mandatory/compulsory GSIS, SSS and Pag-IBIG contributions.

It has been clarified by the BIR that PhilHealth does not collect premium contributions over and above the premium ceilings in anticipation for the entitlement of higher benefits, as they do not have a mechanism for it. “This is how social solidarity works that remains among the pillars on which the NHIP stands,” according to Mateum. (PNA)

RMA/DOCalleja/cbd

Iriga to hold Gayon-Bicol, Tinagba Festivals in time for hosting of Davis Cup in February By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-27T17:45:00.000-08:00

IRIGA CITY, Dec 27 (PNA) -– Preparations are now in place in this modest Bicol city for its hosting on February of the grand Gayon Bicol Festival and the prestigious International Davis Cup tennis tournament in time with the celebration of its very own Tinagba Festival.

Gayon Bicol is a week-long conjunction of all the famed festivals from the six provinces, seven cities and several municipalities of the region as they compete with each other in the Festival of All Festivals Showdown organized by the regional offices of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Among these festivals are the Ibalong of Legazpi City, Magayon of the province of Albay, Peñafrancia of Naga City, Kasanggayahan of Sorsogon Province, Sosogon of Sorsogon City, Bantigue of Masbate City, Catandungan of Catanduanes, Bantayog of Camarines Norte, Simarrones of Pili, Camarines Sur, Tabak of Tabaco City and Sunflower of Ligao City.

Street dancing among youths of school age in colorful costumes and effects will be highlighted by the themed festival showdown.

Now on its 8th year, Gayon Bicol, the region’s tourism strategy in promoting its numerous attractions will feature the festival showdown here on February 11 as the city culminates the celebration of its own Tinagba Festival, a harvest-offering celebration which also coincides on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the city’s patroness.

Tinagba is a yearly week-long festivity held from February 5 to 11 featuring farmers parading in carabao-drawn carts filled with the best of local produce that are blessed at mass and distributed to the needy. This feast originated from the early rituals of ancient Bicolanos who offered their first harvest to their Gods as a way of thanksgiving and to ask more bountiful harvest.

It also features revelers in mardi gras and native costumes who dance and parade around the city.

Tinagba is based on the Bicolano legend that tells of a people who lived under the shadow of a mighty mountain where the gods were said to reside. Here they spent their years giving birth, nurturing, planting, harvesting and dying.

They endured the elements, fought wars against neighboring tribes and survived the challenges of a pre-historic existence. But a time came when, no matter how hard they labored and toiled, the land refused to yield its fruit. The sun burned and the dry ground cracked under its glare. In desperation, the people begged the gods for mercy.

Apparently, their supplication reached divine ears and in no time at all, refreshing rain poured out from the skies. The fallow earth drank thirstily and life sprung forth from seeds once more. Grateful for the gods’ blessings, the people rejoiced and remembered this kindness through rituals and festivities celebrated since then.

This story serves as the backdrop for the festival and although the celebration may have been held sporadically throughout the centuries, it was revived in the ‘70s by the late Atty. Jose Calleja Reyes, whose research among the accounts of Franciscan chroniclers became the basis for the celebrations.

As host, the city’s Tinagba Festival will not participate in the regional competition, according to city mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen on Tuesday. Instead, the city government had slated a float parade competition among its barangays and civil society organizations that will depict the various values and characters the city is promoting in its Character City program.

The float parade will be held in the morning and in the evening when the self-same floats are expected to acquire a nocturnal look as they recreate and imitate Disneyland’s Fantillusion Parade with their varicolored lights and mechanical contraptions, Gazmen said.

For the first time in Bicol, the prestigious International Davis cup tennis tournament will be here here from February 10 to 12 next year and Gazmen said preparations of its venue which is the Iriga Coliseum is now in full swing. The preparations include its renovation and refurbishing into a world-class sports arena.

The Davis Cup gathers the best tennis players and tennis buffs within the Asia Pacific region and leading the Philippines team are five-time South East Asia gold medalist Cecil Mamiit; Treat Conrad Huey, a Filipino-American counted among the top 60 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) players and; Ruben Gonzales, ATP world trained singles and doubles player.

Also with the Philippine team are Jeson Patrombon, Junior Australian quarter finalist and Junior world top 10 player and Johnny Arcilla, Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) five-time Open Champion.

“We are expecting not less than 5,000 tennis buffs and players, visitors and tourist for these triple events that is why the city government is seeing to it that every detail of the preparations is in place. Hotels, restaurants, resorts, shopping areas, peace and order, transportation and cleanliness are among the primary concerns of the preparations,” she added.

As a tourist destination, this city is a fast growing urban center in the Bicol Peninsula which offers breathtaking natural wonders, a safe community and the warm company of kind, creative people.

It is known as the City of Crystal Clear Springs with more than 30 natural springs spread everywhere in the quaint city. It is also famous for its most prominent natural landmark, the majestic Mt. Iriga that offers a captivating view of the Bicol River Basin area. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/DOC/cbd

DA provides Sorsogon pili shell craft makers modern production equipment By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-26T00:19:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has provided organized groups of pili shell craft producers here with mechanical equipment that will help them produce more high-value items.

“The agriculture department is impressed with the creativity of these people engaged in the crafting of highly salable decorative and wearable items out of pili shells, a once trash by-product of pili nuts that in the past were useful only as kindling if not dumped elsewhere to rot,” DA regional executive director for Bicol Jose Dayao said here over the weekend.

Dayao who is based in the DA-Regional Field Unit (RFU) office in Pili, Camarines Sur was in the city for the yearend conference of the Provincial Agricultural and Fisheries Council (PAFC) where the pili shell processing machines were turned over to five groups of pili shell craft manufacturers organized under the PAFC.

“We have observed the way pili shells have evolved in terms of its usage into a new industry that now provides both the domestic and international markets with valuable items like home decors and even body accessories like native necklace, earrings, headbands and bracelets that has already gained some fashion statement within ecology-conscious circles,” Dayao said.

With its entrance in the global market, pili shell now offers opportunities for agricultural communities in Bicol particularly in Sorsogon province which is the region’s leading producer of pili to make use of the shell in an industry that promises more economic returns, he said.

Started several years back by the Rural Improvement Club (RIC), a barangay-based organization of women in the city, the shell has been creatively produced as elegant fashion jewelry and as add on local material that goes with beautifully crafted home products displayed in souvenir item stores and malls in the region as well as in Metro Manila.

PAFC chairman Godofredo Ditan said the industry has opened a livelihood opportunity to rural families that produce very saleable being low-priced but artistically made hand-made products now usually worn casually or even with office uniform by women who loves donning a bit of style in their daily dressing concepts.

It has also entered the market of innovative fashion jewelries as one of the best exportable biodegradable products, Ditan said.

“This ingenuity of the village men and women in using pili shell into different fashion jewelries has now gained some global recognition based on the different demand for this product which the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) seen during recent trade fairs and as monitored from local and Manila outlets,” he added.

Dayao said the DA arrived at the intervention of providing equipments to the frontline pili shell industry players in the province to facilitate wider production of the industry that has become a home-based agri-entrepreneur engagement among pili producing barangays in the province.

“The equipment we have just provided to groups of enterprising individuals will make pili shell craft production less tedious as this will lessen the time for crafting the shells into the desired designs. It would make them abandon the usual way of doing it manually for faster and more refined craftsmanship,” Dayao said.

Indeed, Dayao said these people are further proving that pili that has emerged as another “Tree of Life” next to coconut is the flagship crop of Bicol which has opened additional opportunities for Bicolanos to liberate themselves from poverty that makes the region one of the poorest in the country.

According to Dayao, pili plays a significant role in the regional economy as it provides additional income to some nearly 20,00 farmers, farm laborers, processing factory workers and handicraft makers.

Realizing that, concerted efforts are presently being initiated by various agencies like the DA, DTI, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and some non-government organizations (NGOs) to hasten the development of the industry in the region.

Pili has also been elevated as the 8th subnetwork under the Philippine fruit Research, Development and Extension (RDE) Agenda with much hope for this crop to become an export winner in the near future, Dayao said.

In Bicol, Sorsogon has the biggest area devoted to pili with 669 hectares followed by Albay 145 hectares, Camarines Sur 100 hectares, Camarines Norte 50 hectares and Catanduanes four hectares, he added. (PNA)

LAP/DOC/cbd

No more empty Bicolano table on Christmas under PNoy (Yearender) By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-26T00:17:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) — The Aquino administration in 2011 had shown to Bicolanos how to break the string of dearth that for decades pinned most of their communities to the vicious cycle of life difficulties.

“We are fully confident that even the poorest of the poor families in Bicol that have skipped “noche buena” in the past Christmases have something on their dining tables this time,” according to Remia Tapispisan, the regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWD) on Monday.

She based her optimism on how the administration’s anti-poverty agenda like the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), Makamasang Tugon (MT), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC), Cash for Work Program (CWP) and other poverty alleviation programs, all implemented by the DSWD worked for Bicol’s poor during the year.

CCT, which is also called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), now provides assistance to over 143,000 households in 65 of the region’s 99 municipalities. All these households are receiving maximum cash subsidies of P1,400 per month depending on the qualified beneficiaries.

Each child up to 14 years old is subsidized P300 monthly while the mother gets P500 on conditions that she undergo regular health checkup at nearest health center and the children attend required time in school.

CCT provides assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate needs and break the intergeneration cycle of poverty through investment in human capital such as education and health.

“So far we can say that the implementation of the CCT in Bicol has provided hope to these marginalized sector of society which, under the PNoy’s administration, is a priority so that poverty in the countryside is remedied", Tapispisan said.

MT, on the other hand, is the Aquino administration’s national government's framework program for a focused, accelerated, convergent and expanded strategy to reduce poverty by providing interventions on asset reforms, human development services, capacity building and participation in governance.

Under MT, the communities are the builder of the project not just passive recipients who most of the time, silently perceive government projects to be attended by graft and corruption.

The program applies refinements from the lessons learned in first phase of KALAHI-CIDSS covering among others financial controls, user-friendly community tools to assess environmental sustainability, management information system and rigorous impact evaluation to assess its impact on social capital and welfare measures.

The MT program’s effectiveness in empowering communities to be able to participate in and contribute to nation building, was proven in Barangay Tuboc, one of the 29 villages in Mobo, Masbate placed under the program by the DSWD being among the poorest of the poor communities based on the average poverty incidence of 53 percent of the small area poverty estimates of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

“This experience in the barangay is testimonial to the fact that through an empowered community, hopes to reverse the miserable economic condition of communities in Masbate, one of the most depressed provinces in the country and the entire Bicol, the country’s second poorest region are relived,” he said.

So far, 18 municipalities in Bicol — eight in Camarines Sur, three each in Camarines Norte and Sorsogon and two each in Catanduanes and Masbate, covering a total of nearly 400 barangays -- have been chosen into the MT implementation and once fully realized, the projects under it would promote sustainable growth across the region.

The SPISC provides a monthly stipend of P500 to 3,741 elderly 80 years old and above in 63 municipalities of Bicol who are not receiving any pension from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security system (SSS) or Armed Forces of the Philippines Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (AFMBAI) and other insurance companies.

Its implementation is based on the mandates of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior citizens Act of 2010 that provides for an additional government assistance to poor senior citizens all over the country.

The quarterly release of the money to Bicol’s qualified beneficiaries was started in July this year which means, the second release was made by the DSWD this month or in time for the Yuletide Season. With that, Tapispisan said, the region’s elderly have the money for “noche buena” and perhaps even for “media noche” on the eve of the New Year’s Day.

The CFW meanwhile is an emergency employment program representing a short term intervention for farmers and fishermen and their families to help them cope with the effects of increasing prices of commodities and fuel and to tide them over during the lean months.

Under the program, the beneficiaries received cash assistance in exchange for undergoing four-day training and rendering community service for seven days. Each beneficiary received P900 cash for the training plus a total of P1,575 for seven days of work at P225 daily based on the local minimum wage rate.

“All these programs and interventions have been effectively implemented in the region in 2011 which brings us to the optimism that none of Bicol’s poorest families gathered home on Christmas Day were with empty dining tables. We are also pretty sure that the whole year saw no one among them starving for even a day due to extreme poverty,” Tapispisan stressed. (PNA)

DCT/DOC/cbd

DPWH saves P130M from Bicol’s P4-B infra projects this year By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-26T00:10:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA) – Sans shady deals in the awarding of contracts and supply procurements, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol saved for the government some P130 million in the implementation of projects under its P4 billion regular infrastructure program (RIP) in the region this year.

“We implemented a total of 160 projects under our P4.044-billion RIP for the region this year and by applying the open competitive bidding process, we were able to push the cost of each project down by as much as 4.23 percent, saving for the government a total of P130.761 million,” DPWH regional director Danilo Dequito on Monday said.

He said P80.925 million of the savings were generated by the regional office while the remaining P49.836 million were saved by the 14 engineering district offices of the DPWH covering the 14 congressional districts in the six provinces of the region.

Out of 160 projects implemented under the RIP this year, Dequito said 33, costing P1.997 billion, fall under the implementation of the regional office while 127 worth P2.047 billion went to the district offices.

At least 84 of these projects have been completed while 63 were still on-going and 13 were yet to be started to post an over-all 45.05 percent accomplishment, or 1.64 positive slippage for the region.(PNA)

RMA/DOC/cbd

Iriga City is Bicol’s best in nutrition performance

2011-12-21T22:28:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 22 (PNA) -– Iriga, a third class component city of Camarines Sur, had been adjudged Bicol’s Best in Performing City on Nutrition for 2010 in the yearly evaluation being conducted by the National Nutrition Council (NNC).

The latest evaluation was started by the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) in November last year and the judging and deliberations made by the panel of judges ended recently which put Iriga city on top followed by this city and the City Ligao, also in Albay that placed third.

Awarding ceremonies were held Dec. 19 at the posh St. Ellis Hotel here with city mayors Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen, Geraldine Rosal and Lilia Gonzalez of Iriga, Legazpi and Ligao respectively personally receiving the awards.

Gazmen said the award is a reaffirmation of the effective and efficient health programs being implemented by her administration that attends to the nutritional and health needs of a population of 97,983 based on the 2007 census.

According to Arlene Reario, the NNC coordinator for Bicol, all the seven cities of the region underwent thorough evaluation conducted by the RNET and the entire judging panel of the search to ensure that the winners are indeed the best in their implementation of programs and projects in line with the government’s agenda towards the health of its people.

Apart from the winning the 2010 Best Performing City on Nutrition award, Iriga also bagged the top Performing Barangays award with two of its barangays—Sagrada and San Pedro adjudged as winners.

These barangays both registered an average rating of 90 percent during the regional evaluation conducted by RNET.

Reario said the search for outstanding performers in nutrition among local government units (LGUs) is being conducted by the NCC yearly to give recognition to those with outstanding performances in initiating local nutrition programs in the region especially in areas identified with high malnutrition incidences on preschool children.

Bicol is among the three regions of the country that fall under the more nutritionally at risk as based on the latest Family Income and Expenditures Survey of the NSO, the region had the lowest average family income in the country, thus poverty appears to be a major factor involved.

To address the problem, she said the NNC and LGUs in the region jointly implement programs for nutrition under the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) that underscores the involvement of health, agriculture, food production, food processing and manufacturing sectors to ensure adequate supply of safe, nutritious and quality food products to the people.

Its programs for nutrition are home, school and community food production; livelihood assistance; micronutrient supplementation; food fortification; nutrition education; food assistance; nutrition in maternal and child health services; and enabling mechanism, Reario added. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd

Albay to send WASH team to Cagayan De Oro By Mike de la Rama

2011-12-21T22:26:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 21 (PNA) -- Albay Governor Joey Salceda has ordered the deployment of the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Team to Cagayan de Oro, a mission to provide the victims of tropical storm Sendong with clean and potable drinking water.

Salceda said based on the ground assessment and localized consultation in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol, the province will be dispatching a WASH team like the Isabela Mercy Mission "including our purifying machine with a capacity for 33,000 liters/hr."

Salceda commended the Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID) for committing to significantly fund the operating expenses of the team.

WASH Team is being utilized by the provincial government of Albay and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council during emergencies to provide immediate potable drinking water and other sanitation support to calamity victims.

WASH is part of the Minimum Initial Service Package that respond to the immediate needs of the dislocated families in a very minimum approach.

The local government of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan can also seek assistance from the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) through the Minimum Initial Service Package that include the provision of kits for pregnant, lactating mothers, drugs, hygiene kits, and other medical supplies. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/LQ/MDR/cbd

Albay sends medical and Watsan teams to CDO and Iligan

2011-12-21T22:21:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 22 (PNA) -- Albay has dispatched on Wednesday a Watsan (Water and Sanitation) and medical teams to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, the hardest hit areas by tropical storm "Sendong" in Northern Mindanao provinces, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said.

Salceda in an email message said the Albay-OCD Watsan and medical teams is composed of 96 medical, sanitary and security personnel, including a water liquefying machine.

The teams left this city at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and will enplane for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Thursday.

Also, the governor said another team composed of sanitation personnel and water purifying machine proceeded to Pasacao Port and board a Philippine Navy vessel BRP Antonio Luna bound for Cagayan de Oro.

The medical team, with four doctors and 14 nurses led by Dr. Luis Mendoza, Albay Provincial Health Officer (PHO), will assist disaster and health authorities in CDO and Iligan in providing post disaster health intervention services.

The Watsan team, with 17 members led by Sanitary Engr. Willaiam Sabater of the Department of Health (DOH), will operate and distribute water to residents that badly need potable water in the two cities in Mindanao.

The water purifying machine can produced 33,000 liters of potable water per hour.

Salceda said the overall strategy of Team Albay was patterned to the Watsan and medical services interventions in Isabela, Iloilo during typhoon Frank, and Bagong Silangan, Quezon City when hit by tropical storms "Ondoy" and "Pepeng."

The 118-man team will render service for 15 days from December 23 this year to January 7, 2012.

This is a joint undertaking composed of the province disaster and health service personnel, Office of Civil Defense (OCD), DOH, Bicol Regional Training Teaching Hospital-Health Emergency Management Staff, Philippine Navy, Army and Air Force. (PNA)

FFC/LQ/MSA/cbd

PNP introduces new ecotourism destination in Masbate By Connie B. Destura

2011-12-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

SOMBRERO Island, Masbate, Dec. 20 (PNA) —- Nothing in the local tourism circle had been said yet about this quaint, hat-shaped (thus the name) islet at the middle of Burias Pass belonging to the political jurisdiction of the town of San Pascual, Masbate.

But San Pascual town Mayor Job Willard Rivera is hopeful the initiative over the week of the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office based at Camp Gen. Simeon Ola in Legazpi City in introducing the place to tourists would reveal its exotic secret.

The RPSB First Maneuver Company led by its company commander Senior Inspector Ebuenga Dipad Jr. with over a dozen of tourists from Manila and several local journalists in tow explored the islet with a land area of about 10 hectares enclosed by a coastline of glittering white sand and crystal clear beach water.

Sombrero Island belongs to a six group of islets at the western tip of the Burias Island covering the municipality of San Pascual and Claveria is one of the three major islands of Masbate Province. The nearby islets of Arena, Templo, Taguingui, Tinalisayan and Busing that bare fantastic rock formations are exciting places for island hopping.

Sombrero Island, with a latitude of 13.14 (13° 8' 32 N) and a longitude of 122.85 (122° 50' 43 E), is a hypsographic (island) situated 93 kilometers west of Legazpi City, Bicol’s regional government center and and 259 kilometers south east of Manila.

San Pascual is a fourth class municipality of over 8,000 household representing a population of nearly 40,000 residents that rely mainly on farming and fishing for their livelihood.

The exploration expedition started with an over two hour boat trip from Pasacao, Camarines Sur. From San Pascual town, another one-hour boat ride took the group to Sombrero Island.

The exhaustive boat ride vanished to the sumptuous meal of heavy seafood for lunch—grilled tuna, kilawing posit squid), calamares, stewed vegetables and fresh fruits.

A fulfilling feeling after heavy meal drew everyone to a nap under a relaxing wind blowing mildly from the surrounding waters of Alimang Bay.

At near dusk, the group frolicked around the fine white sand around the island while watching the beautiful view of the sun setting and being sent off by skin soothing cool wind that at the same time welcomed the rising of the full moon whose bright glare illuminated the clear and meekly tamed sea water.

At nighttime, the fishing lanterns used by fishermen off the island’s coast provided the sea with flickering lights. The tourist group joined by Dipad’s security group set a bonfire and music from group singing accompanied by guitars broke the silence of the night.

“The biggest lure of the island is the fact that it is quaint. It remains uncongested, affordable, very private and secluded,” Police Inspector Domingo Tapel, Assistant company commander of the RPSB’s First Manuever Company said.

“You should visit Sombrero because its rich biodiversity of marine ecosystem offers a once in a lifetime experience to those who love to commune with nature. The secrets Sombrero and its neighboring islets are exciting to discover,” he added.

Tapel said that aside public safety and eco-tourism makes Sombrero Island a stand out. He also assures travelers that a trip here will not burn a hole in the pocket.

Mayor Rivera said the municipal government is mulling on offering tour packages to tourist that could as low as P3,000 to P5,000 for them to be able to visit the islet.

“The food is fresh and affordable, the area is clean and crime is almost non-existent. It is very safe and convenient for tourists,” Tapel added. (PNA)

DCT/LOR/LQ/CBD

Bioethanol generates 180,000 jobs; saves foreign exchange savings By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-20T01:07:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec 20 (PNA) -– The country’s bioethanol industry has the potential of generating about 180,000 jobs and generate foreign exchange savings of nearly US$ 800 million by 2015, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Over the last five years, the BAR has been funding field testing of sweet sorghum varieties in different sites in the country in the vision to make Philippines less dependent on expensive, imported ethanol oil and generate rural jobs, its director Nicomedes Eleazar said in a statement here on Tuesday.

Through this initiative, Eleazar said it is estimated that bioethanol has the potential to generate jobs totaling to 179,386 by 2015 and 289,611 by 2020. It may also generate foreign exchange savings placed at US$ 789.3 million in 2015 based on a study of the National Sweet Sorghum Program (NSSP).

“Sweet sorghum is a good alternative to other ethanol feedstocks. It can stand alone as a life-giving crop to farmers in far flung areas because it is used to make many food products like juice and syrup. But we will maximize its economic value by producing ethanol from it,” Eleazar said.

BAR has already obtained outstanding varieties of sweet sorghum through its partnership with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and a distillery has also been developed with the assistance from Department of Science and Technology (DOST), he said.

The machine was developed by scientist Sergio Capareda following his recent return to the country after a long stint with Texas University in the United States.

Capareda designed the distilling column and guided its fabrication, while Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Material Science expert, Samuel Franco designed the furnace.

The NSSP, Eleazar said already sees hope of Philippines’ commercial production of sweet sorghum ethanol as several large companies have also positioned themselves for its processing. Among these are Seaoil’s Fuel Inc. and Philippine National Oil Company-Alternative Fuels Corp. (PNOC-AFC).

The Green Future Innovation Inc. (GFII) is also presently completing an ethanol plant in San Mariano, Isabela which will have a capacity of 250,000 liters per day. While its feedstock will primarily be sugarcane, it intends to use sweet sorghum as a complementary crop which may be used as feedstock in between sugarcane milling seasons.

An NSSP master plan being drafted indicates that from the collection of hydrous ethanol from the village level, this product should be transported to a Central Dehydrating Plant (CDP) near a fuel depot.

At the CDP level, the BAR director said bigger processing firms are expected to participate in this potential industry that is hoped to be supported by many government agencies. More investments may be required at the CDP-fuel depot level.

The “bench-type”distillery that processes sweet sorghum into ethanol in Ilocos Norte is seen to pave the way to Philippines’ mass production of biofuel that is using sweet sorghum as feedstock among small hold farms which will create jobs in rural areas.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has financed with P1 million through its KR2 program the establishment of the village-type distillery and now in its commission, the distiller has a capacity of 50 liters per day, merely a pilot scale. However, the government has a vision of massively replicating it in a bigger scale, Eleazar said.

“When they saw that it’s possible to put up this village-type distillery, NEDA saw the potential for sweet sorghum to create jobs in rural areas and create an industry since its low cost can enable its replication elsewhere,” Dr. Heraldo Layaoen, the NSSP head said in the same statement.

With more bench distillery in an area, farmers’ cooperatives may also be able to produce 1,000 to 5,000 liters of hydrous ethanol per day, he said.

Ilocos farmers, according to Layaoen have already been planting sweet sorghum in Batac, Ilocos Norte over the last five years with the assistance of the BAR. They are currently planting on 65 hectares but the target area is 100 hectares.

Field trials, he said have shown that farmers can achieve an average yield of 55 metric tons (MTs) per hectare of sweet sorghum stalk and 4,500 kilos of grains per harvest.

There can be as much as three harvests from one planting in a year-- that is one seed crop or from the one planted and two ratoon crops.

At a cane price of P700 per MT and at P10 to P12 per kilo of seeds, farmers can earn a net income of P83,000 to P95,000 per cropping. If cane price goes up to P900 per MT, farmers can earn a net income of P103,000 to P115,000 per cropping, Layaoen said.

Along with job-generating benefits, sweet sorghum ethanol production may generate for the country carbon emission reduction benefits, he added. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd

DPWH resets to 2013 start of P1.5-B road project in Catanduanes

2011-12-19T18:04:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 19 (PNA) – The start of the implementation of the P1.5-billion Catanduanes Circumferential Road Improvement Project (CCRIP)-Phase II previously set early next year had to wait for another year due to some delays in its pre-implementation processes, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here announced on Monday.

While the bidding and awarding processes of the project are expected to be completed in January next year, the start of the civil works had to be moved to 2013 to accommodate the changes that need to be done on its design, according to DPWH regional director for Bicol Danilo Dequito.

Besides, Dequito said the acquisition of the road right-of-way as a matter of new policy had to be completed first, way ahead of the actual civil works with the owners of the properties to be affected by the road widening compensated as early as February next year.

While waiting for all those processes to be completed however, the DPWH Catanduanes district engineering office would be busy implementing next year dozens of other multi-million infrastructure projects in the island province that the Aquino administration has included among the priority areas for its countryside development agenda.

Among these, according to Dequito are the concreting of 16 national road upgrading projects worth a total of P562 million whose implementations were started early this year and completion scheduled by the middle of next year.

Works on these projects whose funding were taken from the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) were supposed to be 80 percent complete by the end of last November as required by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson but only about 53 percent was achieved due to work delays owing to frequent heavy rains and bad weather, the regional public works chief said.

Four of these projects are the concreting of the Virac Port Road, Kanglangka Road and box culvert, Balongbong National Road, Puraran-Bentiocayan Road in Baras town and the Buenavista Junction leading to the radar station of the PAGASA. Completion rate of these projects were at 61.13 percent, Dequito said.

The others are the concreting of the Mabini-San Jose Road whose completion was at 50 percent; Milaviga Road, 61 percent; Inalmasinan-Hitoma Road, 39.30 percent; Marambrag Road, 51 percent and Puting- Baybay Road, 38 percent. These projects are within the 64-kilometer San Andres-Caramoran-Pandan national highway.

The rest of these ongoing projects for completion next year are the Agban Road with 48 percent completion as of November; Dororian Road, 43 percent; Sioron Road, 46 percent; Villa Aurora-Tinago Road, 58 percent and Tambongon Road, 52.50 percent, all within the Baras-Gigmoto-Viga National Secondary Road.

Dequito said another 16 new road projects worth a total of P341 million will be implemented in the province next year under the DPWH’s regular infrastructure program.

All these projects including the CCRIP, he said are geared towards the massive development of the island province that is considered by the Aquino administration as a vital economic growth area given its being the biggest producer of abaca in the country and wide tourism potentials. (PNA)

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Farmers ask DA to hold back onion importation permits to allow full market access for local harvest

2011-12-18T23:04:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 19 (PNA) - A group of onion farmers has asked the Department of Agriculture (DA) to put off any issuance of import permit for onion so as not to detriment the December local harvest that is now reaching the market by around 10,000 bags.

In a statement released here over the weekend, the Sibuyas ng Pilipinas Ating Alagaan (SIPAG) said it has just submitted a data with DA showing a stable inventory of 500,000 bags of 25 kilos each of onion nationally which is enough to supply the 350,000 bags of the country’s monthly consumption.

Ilocos farmers have a separate production of an estimated 10,000 bags for red shallots in December consisting of 4,000 bags from the north and 6,000 from the south, it said.

“DA Secretary Proceso Alcala has been very supportive of our farmers. We understand that he has to hear others who want an import permit now. But we will be making farmers sacrifice for us if imports are allowed now,” Francisco Collado, SIPAG president, said in the statement.

While government may be concerned about sufficiency of supply during the holiday season, SIPAG said price of onion has been relatively stable at P45 to P50 per kilo at farm gate for small onions and P55 to P60 per kilo for medium to big onions.

“Even if price becomes a little higher, our money just goes around the economy, from a farmer’s hand to another. But if we will just allow imports deliberately, it will be Chinese farmers that will benefit from it. That will not benefit our economy at all,” Collado said.

And even after Ilocos farmers will have been done with harvest by end-December, Collado said onion farmers in Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija will start harvesting by January.

“We would not have a shortage because before the older inventory from Ilocos runs out, harvests in other areas of the country are already approaching,” he said.

Collado said SIPAG takes the position that government should not at all allow anymore importation of onion in order to help this industry survive.

“How can we make the industry self-sufficient if we will allow importation every time? Because of the imports, farmers are hesitant to plant. Imports gave farmers reason to stop planting because imports push down local onion prices,” he said.

SIPAG is concerned that containers with imported onion are already in port areas and just need import permits so that they may be taken out of the ports.

Onion farmers nationwide have been pleading for government support since they have already lost their garlic industry to imports from China and Taiwan.

They said the government should regulate the industry so as to protect the remaining onion industry even in Ilocos which produces shallot onions that have some special uses for salads and fresh dishes.

The industry is concerned that imported onion has been dismally proliferating in Mindanao so that some stocks could even been seen in front of DA’s office in Davao, Collado added. (PNA)

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Albay gives P1-M aide to 'Sendong'-hit Cagayan de Oro, Iligan cities

2011-12-18T23:02:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 19 (PNA) - Albay province is donating P1 million in cash to the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Misamis Oriental province in Northern Mindanao, Albay Governor Joey Salceda said Monday.

He said the amount was sourced from the province's calamity fund. The two cities will receive P500,000 each.

“The financial aid would be given to the local government of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities on behalf of the people of Albay who expressed gratitude to other LGUs and the national government for the assistance it gave to the province in past disasters that hit the province,” Salceda said.

He said the cash assistance was decided as the better option in lieu of a Wash Mercy Mission (water, sanitation and health) and considering the local circumstances specifically the distance of the province to the Mindanao area.

A team from the provincial legislative board, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) will leave for Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Tuesday to deliver the cash assistance.

Salceda, in a text message, said “more than the amount which is modest, the Albay Sendong Aid Mission brings with them the spirit of solidarity and sense of kinship between our peoples so critical in overcoming this period of distress.”

They will also make an assessment based on face-to-face consultations with the local officials and communities affected on how Albay could further help in the early recovery and rehabilitation period.

On the other hand, the Ako Bicol (AKB) Party list will also donate P250,000 to the victims of Sendong in Cagayan de Oro.

AKB Representatives Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co will go to Cagayan de Oro on Tuesday to personally deliver the financial aid. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/MSA/cbd

Bureau of Agricultural Research pursues stevia production in Bicol By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-15T23:07:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 16 (PNA) – Given the great potential of stevia in the foreign market as a natural sweetener, the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is funding under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP) the commercial production of the plant in Bicol.

A project called “Commercialization of Stevia Rebuadiana: A Natural Sweetener” is now ongoing in Ocampo, Camarines Sur under the stewardship of the Naga City-based Bicolandia Greenfields Development Organization (BGDO), a non-government organization pioneering a private sector climate change adaptation strategy in high-value crop production in the region.

BAR director Nicomedes Eleazar in statement here over the week said the project now being funded by the Bureau through the NTCP is an adaptation and adjustment effort given the threat of climate change and its imminent impacts to the crop sector.

In Naga City, Dr. Maria Elena Quimio, the BGDO head said on Friday adaptation strategies are being conducted in response to climate change disturbances in the country and ensure the success of the project.

“Since stevia plants are not native in the Philippines, growing them has to be managed well through effective cultural management and technological interventions provided by the BAR,” Quirnio said.

Raised beds were established to prevent water log and peripheral drainage canals were built around the periphery of the farm area while ratooning, applications of organic sprays on plants and proper distancing to avoid crowding are being done to prevent infestation of fungus and pests brought about by rains and frequent rainy cloud conditions, she explained.

Her group, Quimio added, uses bamboo sticks to anchor newly planted stevia in table beds when sown during the typhoon season. Use of table beds is ideal for urban agriculture or for rooftop gardening.

"Proper timing of application of vermi-compost to prevent being washed out by rains and proper timing of planting of cuttings to avoid stress on roots caused by frequent rainfall should also be noted," she said.

Eleazar said that although stevia plant originated from Paraguay, it is now being widely cultivated and used in other countries including the Philippines. As a natural alternative to artificial sweeteners, the plant is being utilized as an ingredient in coffee, tea blends, and some health products.

“Leaf parts of stevia are about 10 times sweeter than sugar. Only tiny amounts of purified steviol glycosides, the sweet compounds in stevia are needed for food sweetening and drink preparations,” he said.

Eleazar also noted that stevia which is commonly called sweetleaf is widely grown for its sweet leaves and is popularly in demand abroad. As a sweetener and sugar substitute, stevia’s taste has a lower onset and longer duration than that of sugar.

With its steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has garnered attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar food alternatives. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose, it is attractive as a natural sweetener to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets.

Through this BAR-funded project on stevia, Eleazar said nursery production in plastic pots, table beds and in field conditions has been established. The plants are being grown in trays and pots in three screen houses and in fields in three areas located in Camarines Sur and Albay.

Farmer cooperators were already cited as part of the activities of the project. They will then be provided with planting materials and will be trained on nursery production and on good agricultural practices, he added. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

DA formulating next five-year’s Bicol agri-fisheries development By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-14T17:05:00.000-08:00

PILI, Camarines Sur, Dec. 14 (PNA) – Starting next year until 2017, the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office for Bicol will heighten the modernization of agriculture and fisheries in the region based on the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and on the principles and practices in Agri-Pinoy 2011.

“Our Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP) 2012-2017 would translate into operational terms Chapter 4 of the PDP and Agri-Pinoy under the Aquino administration that incorporates principles and practices in optimizing the development of the country’s resources to achieve national development goals,” DA regional executive director for Bicol Jose Dayao said here on Wednesday.

It will help optimize use of limited resources; provide strategic, medium-term and consistent context for the DA annual budget and strengthen "culture of performance", Dayao said.

Chapter 4 of the PDP aims for a competitive and sustainable agriculture and fisheries sector toward attaining the targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while Agri-Pinoy or Agrikulturang Pilipino is the over-all strategic framework of the DA that guides its services and programs from 2011 to 2016 and beyond.

One of the strategies that would be applied with the Bicol AFMP under the PDP, according to Dayao is productivity enhancements to make agriculture and fishery products more competitive, contributing to the growth of the other economic sectors.

This strategy involves production diversification; improvement of rural infrastructure and support facilities such as irrigation and drainage systems, farm-to-market roads and post harvest facilities like trading posts; market development; and more research and extension.

Among the guiding principles of Agri-Pinoy on the other hand are food security and self-sufficiency that seeks to minimize dependence on food imports and; sustainable agriculture and fisheries to insure that producers and other stakeholders in the whole value chain “from farm to table” receive economic benefits that enable them to sustain their participation.

These principles also include natural resource management focusing on the natural resource endowments of the region and how to manage them so that they are not exhausted, while enhancing their competitive advantage; and local development based on the devolution of governance and the recognition of an eco-system framework of development.

“We are now in the finishing stage of the process of formulating our AFMP being done through series of workshops and consultations with local government units (LGUs) in the six provinces of Bicol. This process is required under the provisions of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997 and Republic Act 7160 or the Local government Code of 1991” according to Dayao.

“Under the AFMA, the clients of the DA are the LGUs and the clients of the LGUs are the farmers. The LGUs are responsible for devolved support services under their respective areas of jurisdiction and to perform their ‘rowing functions’, LGUs are provided by the DA with the funding, capacity-building, and other ‘enabling supports’," he explained.

The DA's complementary "steering role" is to perform core functions which are infrastructure support, research, development and extension, regulation, policy, planning and legislative liaison and risk reduction including climate change adaptation.

The workshops and consultations seek to generate immediate and priority needs in every municipality by utilizing simplified area-based value chain analysis focused on value creation, innovation, product development and marketing. The analysis aid in deriving costs efficiencies as well as help the LGUs come up with appropriate interventions.

DA Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations Edgar Madrid said the LGUs are urged to mainstream their priority projects in the formulation of the AFMP for the LGUs and the national government to achieve a unified direction. (PNA)

DCT/LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

21 barangays qualify for Bakas award in Albay

2011-12-14T17:02:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) - Twenty one (21) barangays in the province of Albay have qualified in the first level screening of the search for outstanding Barangay Kasangga sa Edukasyon (Bakas).

The Bakas search aims to recognize the initiative of barangay in improving quality education in the community.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said Barangay Kasangga sa Edukasyon (Bakas) is an expansion of the Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon which will recognize barangays in the province with exemplary education related projects.

Bakas is another award system that recognizes and rewards the significant contribution of barangay through their barangay officials and community to the cause of quality education in the province of Albay.

The provincial government started the reward system in 2008 under the Education for Quality Albayanos (EQUAL) now being organized by the Provincial Education Department (PED).

The Provincial Education Department is expected to announce the finalists before the end of the month. Awarding of winners will be done during the Titser's Nayt set on April 2012.

The goal of the provincial government is to provide universal education. The budget for education was increased from virtually nothing outside of the Special Education Fund (SEF) to P178 million in 2010 or another 17 percent of the budget while the SEF itself increased from P5 million to P18 million. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/MDR/cbd

Naga City bet dominates barangay nutrition workers’ battle of wits in Bicol By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-14T00:17:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) – The knowledge of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) on the role they play in the delivery of health and nutrition services at Bicol’s grassroots level has been tested here anew and Naga City’s bet proved to be the best.

The contest now on its third year and held at the Pacific Mall in this city over the week is a project of the Nutrition Communication Network (Nutricomnet)-Bicol that fitted 11 finalists who represented the six Bicol cities and five provinces of the region.

The two contestants for Masbate province and city were prevented by inclement weather from making it to the competition, according to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional director Eduardo de Leon who chairs the network on Wednesday said.

The contest was focused on testing the wits of each BNS through their answers to questions asked by the panel of judges that were centered on the important role they play in the delivery of nutrition and health services to improve the living conditions of family members especially infants and children in their respective barangays, De Leon said.

Naga City’s bet, Marilou Jimenez of Barangay Carolina, a densely populated urban village of the city emerged as the champion. She got a trophy in citation of her wit and microwave oven as prize.

The other winners were Mary Jane Macapagal who represented Sorsogon City and Eugenia Paa from Camarines Sur won the first and second runners-up respectively.

As consolation prizes, all the other finalists earned P1,000 each. They were Karen Ortega Cortez of Albay, Babelyn de Luna of Camarines Norte, Ederlina Avila of Catanduanes, Rey Lofamia of Sorsogon province, Edvit Balang of Iriga City, Aura Jane Toledo of this city, Emily Atienza of Ligao City and Marsha Bondoy of Tabaco City.

The conduct of the Bicol Regional Nutri-Quiz Year-Three was a collaborative effort of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Bicol, National Nutrition Council (NNC), Commission on Population (POPCOM) and the inter-agency Nutricomnet.

De Leon said it is an annual friendly competition designed to test the current skills of BNS in the performance of their task and responsibilities as volunteer workers in the field of health and nutrition in the barangay level.

The BNS Program as mandated under Presidential Decree No. 1569 is a human resource development strategy of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition which involves the recruitment, training, deployment and supervision of volunteer workers in every barangay to serve as links of the community with service providers.

They locate and identify malnourished children through a regular community survey that involves weighing of all preschoolers and interviewing mothers to determine how the child is cared for, and the resources available in the family for their participation in nutrition and related interventions.

The regular weighing provides the basis for corrective actions which may include referral to the appropriate service or implementation of nutrition projects, together with the community.

Apart from this task, the BNS also moves the community to organize into networks of 20-25 households, or into community-based organizations working for the improvement of their nutrition situation.

They may not necessarily deliver direct nutrition services to the community but serve as linkage-builder to ensure that members of the community, especially those with underweight children, avail of nutrition and related services.

The BNS thus, must be aware of the services available and of those who need these services, and establish a system through which those needing certain services are referred to the appropriate service provider. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

DA formulating next five-year’s Bicol agri-fisheries development By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-14T00:15:00.000-08:00

It will help optimize use of limited resources; provide strategic, medium-term and consistent context for the DA annual budget and strengthen "culture of performance", Dayao said.

DCT/LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

Rebels attack Army-CAFGU detachment in Albay; militiaman killed, two others hurt

2011-12-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 13 (PNA) - A militiaman was slain while two others including a civilian were wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels bearing assault rifles fired upon on Monday a Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) detachment in Barangay Caguiba, Camalig town in Albay, a Philippine Army (PA) officer said Tuesday.

The rebel attack killed Jesus Canuel, a member of the Army-CAFGU detachment while those hurt were a certain Santiago, a CAFGU member, and Bryan Maravillas, 18, a civilian and resident of said town.

Army Maj. Angelo Guzman, 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, in a text message said the incident happened around 8 p.m. Monday, when at least five NPA rebels armed with assault rifles fired from a distance at the CAFGU detachment in that remote village in Camalig.

Guzman said the para-military detachment was set up to provide security to a government road opening project in that remote village some seven kilometers away from the town proper.

Army militiamen were securing the heavy equipment owned by the Sunwest Corporation, a construction firm contracted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to carry out the road project there.

The road opening project forms part of the Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga and Legazpi (GUICADALE), an economic platform program of Albay Governor Joey Salceda.

The Guicadale Project comprises economic corridors that will consist of a circumferential road and new arterial roads to interconnect these urban centers and its surroundings to the Bicol International Airport in Daraga town, the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Central Station, the new regional center site and various resettlement sites.

The project was designed to encourage new economic activities safe from the threats posed by Mayon volcano eruptions, lahar flows, floodings and tsunamis.

The Guicadale Economic Platform is designed to spur economic activity in the province by integrating Albay and Sorsogon into one common economy enlarging demand base and resulting in better economies of scale that would attract domestic and foreign investments. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/MSArguelles/cbd

Bicol DPWH to get P5.3-B infra fund next year By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 8 (PNA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office in Bicol has been allocated an amount of about P5.3 billion from next year’s national budget which it has earmarked for the implementation of vital infrastructure projects in the region in line with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016.

DPWH regional director Danilo Dequito on Thursday said his office has lined up 156 projects that include roads, bridges, flood control structures and other vital infrastructures that are urgently needed in line with the Aquino administration’s thrust to attain inclusive growth, alleviate poverty, generate jobs and spur economic growth of Bicol as contained in the PDP.

Toward these ends, the government is accelerating the provision of safe, efficient, reliable, cost–effective and sustainable infrastructure. “That’s all these projects we have programmed for next year under the P5.265-billion allocation are all about,” he said.

The 2011-2016 PDP, he said, recognizes the country’s inadequate infrastructure as a critical constraint to economic growth. This inadequacy, in both quantity and quality is the past result of low levels of public and private sector investments in infrastructure which fall short of the requirements of a progressive economy and a growing population.

Implementation of these new projects, he said would also be in accordance with the PDP’s intention of making the infrastructure sector contribute significantly to community employment generation and harness skills and technical expertise of the local workforce.

The approved 2012 General Appropriation Act that carries with it a P1.816 trillion national budget appropriates an amount of P125.5 billion to the DPWH, the second highest among national government agencies next to the Department of Education (DepEd).

A huge portion or about P800 billion which is some 44 percent of the national appropriation has been allocated to the countryside in response to clamor for a greater dispersal of the budget to the regions to ensure that national government spending benefits people, especially those in the regions, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Florencio Abad had earlier explained.

This policy in the 2012 budget that provides higher budgetary outlay for the regions, provinces and municipalities also ensures that funds would be remitted to the implementing units of national agencies and that programs and projects go directly to where they are needed most, at the soonest possible time, Abad said.

Along that line, Dequito said 132 of the total of 156 infrastructure projects for the entire Bicol region next year amounting to some P2.4 billion will be implemented by the respective engineering offices of the DPWH in the 14 districts of the six provinces of the region.

All these projects for the district offices, he said cost no more than P50 million and those that are more than that amount up to P150 million composed of 20 individual projects will be under the implementation of the regional office.

Dequito said that DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson had earlier directed the DPWH regional office and the district engineering offices to fast track the pre-construction activities meaning that all these projects should undergo bidding by the end of this year and construction should start immediately by January.

They will be implemented in adherence to Singson’s 3Rs (right project, right cost, right quality) policy, the regional DPWH chief added. (PNA)

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TB stigma kills, World Vision says By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-07T19:00:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Dec. 7 (PNA) – Once a top killer disease in the Philippines, tuberculosis (TB) is now highly curable but the stigma it develops among some of its hosts kills, according to the local chapter of the World Vision Development Foundation.

World Vision Community Development Officer Leo Legaspi on Wednesday was referring to the case of a 54-year housewife from a farming village here who died of TB last June.

Legaspi said the victim, identified only as Aling Clara, “reminds us that TB stigma still defeats a victim’s morale as what happened to this poor housewife who feared being discriminated, isolated and ridiculed by the community once found out that she was ailed with this once dreaded disease”.

Aling Clara’s case was referred to the World Vision’s local office by its volunteer health worker based in the same village where she lived when symptoms of TB were noticed two years ago.

Legaspi said the health worker, a midwife encouraged Aling Clara to visit the rural health center for a TB test but she dismissed the suggestion saying “ubo lang ito dahil sa sipon. Wala akong TB. Bigyan mo na lang ako ng antibiotics (this is only cough due to cold. I do not have TB. Just give me antibiotics).”

Over the years, she repeatedly insisted on the same excuse to hide her disease despite constant encouragements made for her to submit herself to free diagnostic attention like sputum examination and chest X-Ray being offered by the health center and other local medical institutions under the Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) strategy, Legaspi said.

The DOTS strategy combines diagnosis with a secure supply of quality anti-TB drugs and supervised treatment and assessment of patients by community members.

When she could no longer bear her sufferings from pains and excessive coughing, Aling Clara finally agreed to be taken to the health clinic where she was diagnosed with acute TB. But it was too late. She died soon after, Legaspi lamented.

Legaspi explained that stigma can be experienced internally (self-stigma) or externally (discrimination). Internal stigma can lead to a person’s unwillingness to seek help or access resources.

He said that external stigma can lead to discrimination based on one’s perception. It can be seen through negative reactions that prejudices seriously the sick person. There is no researched facts however about the impact of discrimination and TB stigma in this city.

Stigma according to Legaspi as scientifically defined is the process by which the reactions of others spoil normal identity and this is the usual behavior displayed by persons afflicted by tuberculosis as in the case of Aling Clara.

He said the World Vision is taking this case as a challenge as it strengthens its campaign to articulate to the community that TB is a disease that is curable and reduce stigma of persons afflicted for them to develop health services-seeking behaviors toward its cure.

World Vision is an international Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. TB is one of its major concerns in its local works that focuses on defeating its stigma.

In the Philippines, he said TB claims 75 lives everyday most of the victims confronted by stigma and resigned to living fearfully with TB discouraging them from seek the treatment they need.

As part of the global campaign against TB, World Vision is helping communities in the Philippines respond through a network of local volunteers dedicated to supporting those affected by the disease.

“People would rather suffer in shame and silence than seek medical attention and this is what we are working on closely so that we are able to convince people with symptoms of TB to seek diagnosis and access free treatment from local health services,” Legaspi added. (PNA)

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Albay gets P45.5M under DOH potable water supply program

2011-12-07T18:53:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec 7 (PNA) -– The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently released P45.5 million to finance the establishment of water supply systems in various resettlement sites in Albay under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Potable Water Supply Program for this year.

DBM regional director for Bicol Rebecca Olayon on Wednesday said the amount was part of the P210-million fund intended for 2011 to address potable water supply problems in 21 provinces across the country.

The P45.5 million that Albay got would be solely used to put up potable water supply system projects in several resettlement sites in the province where thousands of families displaced by the past calamities particularly from near the foot of Mt. Mayon have been permanently relocated, Olayon said.

The projects will be implemented by the Bicol DOH regional office and its regional director Nestor Santiago said they have already identified the specific resettlement sites where the water supply systems will be put up, among them the Anislag Resettlement Village in Daraga town.

This resettlement site, the newest in the province is hosting to more than 1,000 families from at least five Daraga villages whose houses were either swept away by floods or buried under volcanic debris as part of the massive devastations triggered by super typhoons Reming and Milenyo in 2006.

The housing units that these families are now occupying in the resettlement sites were built for them by the government and humanitarian groups like the Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Life and although they are now living comfortably in their new-found community and decent abodes, Santiago said source of potable water is indeed a problem.

The other resettlement areas that would be recipient of the project, he said, are the Taysan and Banquerohan Relocation site in this city and those that are in the municipalities of Camalig and Sto. Domingo and the City of Ligao, among others.

The projects will be immediately implemented to address this problem once and for all according to the desire of the Aquino administration to reduce the number of communities without access to potable water in line with the government’s commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the President’s Social Contract to the Filipino People, he said.

The potable water program of the DOH, he added is in synergy with the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), a poverty alleviation program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other social protection programs initiated by the government.

The potable water supply program is covered by a memorandum of agreement (MOA) entered into among the DOH, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) for its implementation in communities chosen.

The identification of its beneficiaries is based on poverty criteria of the NAPC, “Seal of Good Housekeeping” standards of the DILG, priority areas identified by the DOH for the reduction of water-borne diseases and guidelines of the National Economic Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee pertaining to national government grants for devolved services. (PNA)

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DENR padlocks 6 mineral plants in Camarines Norte By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-06T17:18:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 6 (PNA) – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office here has closed down six mineral processing plants in Camarines Norte that were found operating illegally and causing water pollution.

MGB regional director Luis Loyola on Tuesday identified the facilities served last week with cease and desists orders (CDOs) by his office as the P&F Mineral Experts Corporation, Green Gold, Triple A and Talla, all in the municipalities of Paracale and the Escober and Romeo Diaz mineral processing plants located in Jose Panganiban town.

“All six processing plants were subject of public complaint, particularly from fisherfolks allied with Samahang Mangingisda ng Paracale for polluting the town’s fishing grounds including two major rivers, Malaguit and Bato-Balani in Jose Panganiban,” Loyola said.

He said that the issuance of CDOs came following the conduct of investigations by a team from the MGB joined by personnel from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) which discovered the mineral processing plants, except Green Gold, to be in active operations despite expired permits from the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB).

Under the People’s Mining Act of 1991, the PMRB is in charge of issuing licenses for the operation of custom mill and other mineral processing plants subject to the pollution control and safety standards.

The board is chaired by the MGB regional director, vice-chaired by the provincial governor, with representatives from the small-scale and large-scale mining industries and local non-government organizations (NGO) as members.

Green Gold was closed down due to defective wastewater treatment facility as determined by the EMB, according to Loyola.

“The closure of these mineral firms is part of our regional crackdown on illegal mining and operations of facilities that produce materials that are hazardous to the environment. It would serve as warning to others that commit similar violations that they should comply with the law or be shut down and penalized criminally,” he said.

There are still several mineral processing facilities in Camarines Norte that are being closely watched by the MGB and EMB given the fact that hundreds of small-scale gold mining activities are ongoing in several parts of the province and “we will not hesitate to close them down once found guilty of violating environmental and mining laws”, Loyola said.

Based on the department’s rules and regulations, any company that generates wastewater should secure a wastewater discharge permit from the EMB and once a mining permit of a project expires, its wastewater discharge permit also expires with it, he explained.

“We are under strict instructions from DENR Sec. Ramon Paje to always apply our policy in DENR that any company that discharges wastewater with an expired EMB permit or no permit at all will be held liable for violating Republic Act No. 9275, otherwise known as the Clean Water Act,” the MGB regional chief said. (PNA)

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DA says ‘uraro’ could save PHL US$ 200M in wheat importation By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-06T00:38:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 6 (PNA) – The Philippines spends over US$ 200 million yearly for food wheat flour importation, an amount that could be saved had it has been established earlier that arrowroots locally called “uraro” is a good substitute.

It is not too late however as the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) had already developed technologies for the commercial production of the crop and its processing into flour for bread, pastry and other flour-based products, according to DA regional executive director for Bicol Jose Dayao.

In a statement released here Tuesday, Dayao said the production technology is now being applied to pilot farms established by the DA-BAR and the Southern Tagalog Integrated Agricultural Research Center (STIARC) in Catanauan, Quezon for its arrowroot production enhancement program.

The technology interventions in the program include land preparation as farmers began plowing and harrowing their soil unlike in previous planting where no land preparation was practiced, use of new planting stock each season unlike the use of the same old stock prior to the program and cutting of top leaves and excess roots of the planting materials before planting, Dayao said.

STIARC assistant manager for technical programs Rosemarie Olfato said in a separate statement that the program raised farmers’ “sense of ownership” in the project which enable able them to realize that agriculture can be a lucrative business.

The use of organic fertilizer was one of the major interventions of government in raising arrowroot production in the project, she said.

“We adopted the concept of participatory action research method derived from Social Psychology and Group Dynamics model developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin in formulating the uraro production program. It is aimed at improving performance quality of a community in an area of concern, agricultural productivity in this case, Alfato explained.

Farmers were also taught planting of three suckers per hill at 30 centimeter (cm) by 50 cm distance compared to the disorderly ”bugsok-tanim” done previously. They were also told to do weeding two-three times yearly.

In results, Alfato said yield increased over three times from 4.04 metric tons (MT) per hectare in 2010 to 12.7 MT in 2011. Growth was also impressive from 9.59 MT per hectare in 2010 to 20.8 MT. From planting to starch generation, gross income increased from P45,000 to P227,272 in 2011.

Non-government stakeholders on the other hand are helping Calauan farmers in providing for drying and food grade processing facilities while the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had committed to provide the farmers involved in the project an equipment to be used in the mechanized recovery of starch from uraro tubers, according to Alfato .

The STIARC is also eying on the acquisition of a hammer mill for the uraro flour processing while the Quezon Provincial Agricultural Office will grant a cabinet type drying facility, she said.

While end-product from uraro at present is mainly cookies, Olfato said that with a product development program, STIARC can expand products to include baby food and starch-based food for adolescents with digestion problems.

“Our product is favored by our customers because of its color, purity, and consistency,” she added.

Dayao said uraro thrives anywhere in the country for as long as there’s enough moisture and “we are replicating the project in Bicol where a vast area of land could be used for a larger scale production of the crop and farmers need more government interventions toward better agricultural productivity.

According to BAR director Nicomedes Eleazar, “addressing the felt needs of farmers should be paramount to all development efforts as it encourages sustained people’s participation in government’s programs”.

The Philippines has long been in a search for food and wheat-based flour substitutes that may help reduce the country’s dependence on food wheat importation. Among these potential alternates are corn flour used in pan de sal, pigeonpea flour used in noodles and pasta, squash flour used in Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s “yellow pan de sal”, Eleazar said

A US Wheat Associates data indicated that the Philippines imported 2.28 million MT of wheat in 2010. Wheat is used for food and feed. With food accounting for around half of this, the country spends an estimate of more than US$ 200 million for food wheat import, Eleazar added. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

1,100 more Masbate households to be added to CCT beneficiaries next year

2011-12-05T17:37:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has identified another 1,100 households in the province of Masbate that would be included next year among the beneficiaries of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) subsidy program.

CCT which is being implemented by the Aquino administration through the DSWD is an extended version of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides cash subsidy to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged 0-14.

This new number, according to DSWD regional director Remia Tapispisan here on Monday will be added to the over 80,000 families each already enjoying the cash subsidy of a maximum of P1,4000 monthly from the program in the island province which is considered the poorest in Bicol.

All the 20 municipalities and one city of the province are under the CCT coverage, she said.

These additional beneficiaries who were identified through the DSWD’s National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) and validated through coordination with the local governments would come from the municipalities of Cataingan, Dimasalang, Mobo and Palanas, she said.

“They are the new households with children not more than 14 years old, do not have stable source of livelihood and have agreed to comply with the requirements of the program,” according to Tapispisan.

Each of the beneficiaries of the program with three qualified children receives a subsidy of P1,400 a month during the school year to be used for educational expenses. A maximum of three children per household is allowed and an additional P500 a month per household is given for health and nutrition expenses.

There are already more than 140,500 households in 65 of the region’s 99 municipalities and seven cities benefiting from the program and Tapispisan said her office is targeting an additional of some 56,000 more next year given the approval of the P39-billion budget allocated for its implementation nationwide.

Among the other new beneficiaries to be added next year would come from the municipalities of Talisay and Daet in Camarines Norte with a total of 4,899 qualified households and San Jose, Camarines Sur with 2,089, she said.

Bicol that is listed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) as the second poorest region in the country is among the top priorities of the Aquino administration for this program, Tapispisan said, added. (PNA)

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Villagers elated by PAMANA project in Camarines Norte By Danny O. Calleja

2011-12-05T17:32:00.000-08:00

LABO, Camarines Norte, Dec. 5 (PNA) – Since time immemorial, residents in Barangay Exciban, an insurgency-torn gold-panning village deep in the mountainous terrain of this first class municipality, have had to trek down a long, rugged trail to reach the national highway.

By next year, that agony would be gone as the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program of the Aquino administration being implemented through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has earmarked an amount of P50 million for the construction of a road from the heart of the village down to the next barangay of Dumagmang.

Part of the project is the concreting of the existing two-six-kilometer feeder road and the opening of a nearly six-kilometer gravel layered extension, town Mayor Dindo Pardo said here over the weekend.

It will be an eight-kilometer farm-to-market road that would be constructed by the Camarines Norte Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) to link Barangay Exciban with its next barangay down to the Maharlika Highway courtesy of the OPAPP’s PAMANA program, Pardo said.

PAMANA is the national government’s peace and development framework for empowering conflict-affected areas in the country. It operates in seven different geographical areas that would be provided with development programs according to the needs of the people residing in area.

For the around 2,000 Barangay Exciban residents representing some 400 households, the project is a manna as it would open up opportunities to the long-been stalled development that they need to liberate themselves from poverty and life uncertainties brought about by the insurgency problem hounding their daily existence.

“We would be able then to easily bring our agricultural crops to the market and ease the difficulties being suffered by our children in going to school,” according to barangay captain Ramon Baning.

Most families in the village rely on farming for livelihood while some are engaged in gold panning, Baning said.

Peace and order is very unstable in the area not only due to insurgency but also to the presence of outsiders who come to engage in the highly competitive gold panning and trading ventures, he added.

According to Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado the P50-million fund allotted by OPAPP for Barangay Exciban is part of the P140-million initially intended for the province to cover 11 barangays in three of its 12 municipalities—Labo, Jose Panganiban and Mercedes that have been identified as conflict affected areas (CCAs) under PAMANA by the OPAPP.

“PAMANA is a program towards attaining economic progress for the province as its objectives are based on initiating reforms and development projects in CCAs like ours in line with the national government’s peace agenda and ending internal armed conflicts,” the governor said.

The province, he said qualified well to the three pillars of the program’s implementation, the first being the building the foundation of peace, building resilient communities and addressing regional development and the second which is focused on empowering households and promoting convergent delivery of goods and services to the community.

The third pillar on the other hand addresses sub-regional challenges, including constraints to regional economic development, linking of poor areas with more prosperous areas and regional connectivity improvements, Tallado explained.

Camarines Norte is the second poorest province of Bicol next to Masbate that both qualified to the PAMANA’s pillars of implementation being considered as among the most CCAs in the region along with Sorsogon and Albay. (PNA)

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Bicol Express resumes train operation in Albay

2011-12-05T17:16:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA) - The famous “Bicol Express” is set to open its train trips to Albay on December 8 this year, Albay Governor Joey Salceda said today.

Salceda said preparations are all in place for the explorer run of Philippine National Railways (PNR) Bicol Express from Tutuban Central Station in Divisoria Manila to Polangui Station in Albay.

The train is schedules to leave the Tutuban Central Station at 10 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 7) and it is expected to arrive in Polangui station by 8 a.m. on Thursday.

Salceda said, “The first arrival of Bicol Express would be very timely as we celebrate the feast of Immaculate Conception.”

The Bicol Express explorer run from Manila to Albay which would be led by Salceda who is also the Bicol Regional Development Council Chair, Juan Escandor, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Bicol chief, Polangui Mayor Cherilie Sampal, six members of Albay’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and media reporters would compose the train entourage.

The train run from Manila to Albay would take about 10 hours traversing several towns and city stations from Manila, including the provinces of Laguna, Quezon, and Camarines Sur.

Salceda, in an interview, hailed PNR general manager Junio “Jun” Ragragio for taking the extra steps to make this run possible which would prompt positive consequences on the economy of Albay and Bicol and on the lives of ordinary people.

He also thanked Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas for pushing and approving the recent resumption of the Bicol Express train in Albay.

The PNR management has been working on restoring the “Bicol Express” train service since the start of the Aquino Administration.

The train service in Albay was halted in 2006 due to damage on the tracks caused by Super Typhoon Reming that hit Bicol, destroying vital bridges and railroad tracks across the region.

The construction works are still ongoing for the completion of the vital PNR bridge in Guinobatan town which links the town to neigboring towns of Camalig, Daraga and this city. The bridge is expected to be finished by January next year, Salceda said.

Resumption of train operation would boost the trade, tourism and passenger choice, according to the governor.

Trade activities would greatly improve as products from Bicol, and manufacturers from Calabarzon and Manila would use the railways thus this would result in cheaper products, freight cost and fast travel time.

“Rail transport is the cheapest while exerting competitive pressure on the other forms of transportation by increasing supply,” Salceda said.

He noted that the rail transport is government-subsidized up to 70 percent anywhere in the world in order to equalize opportunities for the rural countryside and promote tourism as well.

For tourism, Bicol Express also offers a different and distinctive perspective of the countryside to tourists both domestic and foreign as it will give unrestricted view of Mayon Volcano surrounded by the greenery of Bicol farmlands, he said.

“With Bicol Express, passengers would have all travel options... rail, road, air options to Manila and rest of Luzon,” Salceda said.

According to the PNR the resumption of the Bicol trips “closes the loop” linking the North and South Rail project.

PNR magement said the refurbished coaches from Japan offer comfort to passengers with a line of first class coaches, sleepers' coaches, economy coaches, restaurant, and cargo coaches.

The PNR expects its passenger base to increase from the previous 400,000 a month to 600,000.

He said that if the trend continues, the PNR will have to increase the departure of trains from its usual 30-minute interval to 15 minutes to cope with the demand.

Bicol Express maintains a regular daily trips from Manila to Naga City.(PNA)

LAP/LQ/MSArguelles/cbd

DENR urges Bicolanos to join ‘Pera sa Kweba’ promo until Dec. 30

2011-12-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec 5 (PNA) – The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urges Bicolanos to make shots at the “Pera sa Kweba” text promo for the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and have the chance to become the next millionaire out of the P25-million cash prize for the grand winner.

DENR regional executive director for Bicol Joselin Marcus Fragada said the promo has been extended up to December 30 to help the PPUR fortify its hold of one of the seven spots in the search for the world’s New 7 Wonders of Nature (N7WN).

The PPUR, the only entry of the Philippines that made it to the semi-final selection that ended last November has landed in the provisional list of winners as announced recently by the organizers of the competition. Final winners will be judged according to international support given by voters through text or on line votes early next year.

“We need more votes for the PPUR and the Bicolanos should also rally behind this entry for national pride and the tourism industry of the country,” Fragada on Monday said.

In the initial voting, he said Bicolanos had shown strong support to PPUR based on the about a million votes cast since the launching of the Search some two years ago, especially when Mayon Volcano was among the entries.

“Voting is now more attractive because of the “Kuarta sa Kweba” promo which was launched last October and we expect more participation from Bicolanos for its extension until the end of this month,” Fragada said.

The text promo will give away more than P30 million worth of cash prizes with the grand prize of P25 million to be given away to one lucky winner on the final draw. Lucky texters can win cash prizes from P10,000 to as much as P1 million in consolation prizes.

Fragada said the lucky grand prize winner of the P25 million in the first phase of the promo that ended last November was a housewife from Malolos City, Bulacan.

To join the promo, just type “PPUR” and send to 2861 for all local networks. Each SMS costs P2.50, and entitles the texter to one raffle entry. Winning mobile numbers are electronically drawn under the supervision of the Department of Trade and Industry, he added.

It was initiated by the private sector to promote the PPUR as an eco-tourism site and to educate the public on why it deserved to be in the N7WN list. (PNA)

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DTI issues alert vs X'mas lights without ICC markings

2011-12-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 2 (PNA) - With Christmas just around the corner, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bicol warned consumers to be cautious in buying Christmas lights that do not bear the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark.

In its consumer advisory, the DTI reminded the public to only buy Christmas lights that bear the ICC mark to ensure safer Christmas festivities.

Jocelyn Blanco, DTI regional director, advised the public to be vigilant and extra cautious in choosing the Christmas lights they buy and adorn in their homes so as not to put the lives of their loved ones in danger.

Blanco said, “only those sets of Christmas lights with the ICC sticker have passed DTI’s mandatory safety tests, thus these products are safe and reliable to use”.

DTI regulates the sale of Christmas lights to protect consumers from the hazards of using substandard products such as electric shock and overheating that often lead to fire, property damages and even loss of lives.

Under the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) Product Certification Scheme that is based on the Department Administrative Order (DAO), all importers of Christmas lights shall secure an ICC certificate, prior to the sale and distribution of their products in the local market.

Only those whose products have complied with the requirements based on the Philippine National Standard are appropriately issued with the ICC Certificate and are allowed to affix the ICC stickers on their products or product packages.

Blanco emphasizes, “The ICC mark is in sticker form and comes with a unique serial number. Those sets of Christmas lights with pre-printed ICC mark on its package are definitely uncertified and did not undergo proper tests and inspections of the Department.” (PNA)

LAP/LAM/LQ/MSArguelles/cbd

Soldiers seized high powered assault rifles in Sorsogon encounter

2011-11-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 1 (PNA) -- Army soldiers seized several high powered firearms on Tuesday while patrolling and followed by an encounter with communist guerrillas at a village in Barceloan town in Sorsogon, a Philippine Army (PA) officer said Thursday.

The seized firearms were five M16 rifles, a Garand rifle, a M1 Carbine rifle and a shotgun, and various ammunition, Army Maj. Angelo Guzman 9th Infantry Division (ID) spokesperson said.

A nine-man squad of soldiers on combat patrol at about 10 a.m. Tuesday at the shorelines of Barangay Poblacion Norte inspecting an abandoned sea vessel found, a Carbine rifle and a shotgun believe to be owned by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels operating in the area.

Four hours later, while scouring the area, the same squad of soldiers led Army Corporal Jeffry Balajadia encountered some 10 NPA rebels about half a kilometer from the abandoned vessel.

A 10-minute firefight ensued after which the NPA rebels fled towards the northwest direction leaving behind them five M16 rifles and one cal.30 M1 Garand rifle.

No casualty from the government was reported while they are still determining casualties from the NPA rebels as bloodstains were seen in the encounter site. (PNA)

FFC/LQ/MSA/cbd

P730M released for infra projects in Bicol

2011-11-28T00:32:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 28 (PNA) - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has recently released P730 million to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol to fund various infrastructure projects in the region.

Under the list of infrastructure projects for immediate implementation starting in December, P351.9 million will be under the Accelerated Disbursement of President P-Noy (ADPP) and P378.9 million will finance various infrastructure projects under the Bicol Calamity Fund.

Engr. Danilo Dequito, DPWH regional director, said that the amount released is part of the P5.5 billion released to the DPWH central office under the P72-billion Accelerated Disbursement Program of the Aquino administration.

Dequito said that under the ADPP, the amount will be used to finance 38 projects distributed in the six provinces of Bicol for the construction of roads, bridges and flood control projects.

He furthered that the DPWH district offices in the six provinces will implement 37 of the projects while the regional office will implement one project worth P20 million.

He said Albay has the biggest slice of the budget release with P163 million for 13 projects; followed by Sorsogon with 84.7 million for seven projects; Camarines Sur P45.7 million for eight projects; Catanduanes, P1.5 million for three projects; and Masbate, P2 million for one project.

For DPWH's 2nd Tranche of Priority Infra Projects for 2011, it has received P144 million to finance roads, bridges and flood control projects in Albay, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur and Masbate.

For the calamity fund projects, DBM has released some P224.2 million to be spent for major, secondary roads and bridges and other infra facilities destroyed by Typhoons Juaning, Mina, Pedring and Quiel that hit Bicol this year.

For calamity funding, Albay got the biggest chunk with P136 million; Camarines Sur with P35.7 million, Sorsogon – P32 million, Camarines Norte – P17 million, Masbate – P2 million and Canatanduanes with only P1.5 million.

Deqquito said that he has directed the district engineers to fast track the implementation of the projects without sacrificing the quality of the projects once completed. (PNA)

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Spanish envoy hails PHL’s leadership in Asia-Pacific vs climate change By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-28T00:30:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 28 (PNA) – Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Jorge Domecq has expressed elation over the Philippines’ leadership in acting against climate change in its being considered as role model in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of governance for climate change at central and local levels.

In a press statement released here by the local office of the Agencia Española de Cooperacion International Para El Desarrollo (AECID), Domecq said “I want to take this opportunity to praise the Government of the Philippines for its commitment to reform institutions, policies, strategies and legislation to better cope with climate change”.

AECID is the Spanish International Cooperation Agency for Development working in the Philippines.

“The inclusion of Climate Change in the Philippine Development Plan is a good proof of the relevance attached to the issue and I congratulate the government also for the recent approval of the National Action Plan on Climate Change,” Domecq said.

It is a landmark decision worth celebrating that further enhances to government’s commitment to address the threats posed by this climate phenomenon, he stressed.

“Spain has supported and wishes to continue upholding this endeavor of the Philippines, a strategic partner for Spain and a priority country for our development cooperation. Climate change is a top priority of Spain which over the past decade has significantly improved its environmental policies,” Domecq said.

Its action lines encompass a wide range of sectors such as transports, waste managemnrt, conostuction, tourism, energy, forestry and innovation. In transports, Spain has given preference to railways over other more polluting means and approved taxes for polluting vehicles, he said.

In energy, Domecq said Spain has decided to invest heavily in the development of renewable energies, a approach that enabled a thriving industry to be developed in the country, founded on technological innovation and the use of the abundant homegrown and clean energy sources.

“The best example of its success is that, to date, Spain is the largest solar thermal electric producer in Europe and the second largest in the world; second largest wind energy capacity in Europe and the fourth largest worldwide and; the second greatest photovoltaic capacity in both Europe and the world,” he said.

In this respect, he added, Spain looks forward to deepen its cooperation with the Philippines by sharing lessons learnt and best practices as well as its related sectors such as renewable energies, energy efficiency, waste management, water governance and health, among others.

There are also further possibilities to tap into the still unused money allocated to the Philippines in the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) for projects to be defined, he said.

“Spain and the Philippines are already partners in this common challenge as the former supports the efforts of the latter’s government to effectively develop coping mechanisms for Climate Change through the Joint Spain-Philippines-UN program titled ‘Enhancing Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change 2008-2011being financed under Spain’s Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund and the newly-opened Climate Change Academy is one of its outputs ,” Domecq said.

Formally put into operations during the inauguration rites graced by President Benigno Aquino III last Friday, the Academy, housed in a two-storey building inside the main campus at the Bicol University (BU) here and established through the initiative of Albay Governor Joey Salceda would serve as an international institution of learning towards climate change adaptation.

This joint program, he said intends to enhance tools and systems enabling appropriate planning and implementation of climate change adaptation, to generate precise information on technological adaptation and to provide sustainable development options useful for addressing the impacts of climate change at local level. “We welcome the evaluation of its impact and expect its sustainability,” he said.

The Philippines has been an advocate of the idea that climate change is truly everyone’s problem and everybody is part of the solution, introducing a very much participatory and transparent approach in which the academe and the civil society are key actors in national strategies and plans.

“We share the idea. A broad range of adaptation options and knowledge are already in place or are being tested within the country,” he further added. (PNA)

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LGU bans geothermal energy exploration within Mt. Bulusan eco-park By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-27T23:03:00.001-08:00

BULUSAN, Sorsogon, Nov. 28 (PNA) – A resolution passed by the local legislative council has fortified the opposition of this ecologically-rich municipality to the geothermal energy exploration project being pushed by the Department of Energy (DOE) within the Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP).

BVNP is a 350,000-hectare protected area covered by this town and five other municipalities around the active Mt. Bulusan. Gifted with lush vegetation teeming with exotic flora and fauna, it serves as home to several endangered species of birds and animals like falcon, monkeys, deer, wild pigs, among other rare ecological properties that contribute to its rich biodiversity.

It is also a watershed area supplying water to thousands of households and irrigating extensive farmlands within the six towns bordering it. It covers the scenic Bulusan Lake Ecological Park, a sprawling virgin forest area that encloses the magnificent Bulusan Lake, Sorsogon province’s main eco-tourism landmark.

Bulusan SB Resolution No 55-2011 passed last week and approved by town mayor Michael Guysayco Monday strictly bans any form of exploration and establishment of geothermal energy project within its jurisdiction covering six barangays inside the BVNP.

Authors of the resolution, Councilors Celestino Frades and Pedro Frando said its provisions are based on the mandates of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 that recognizes the critical importance of protecting and maintaining the natural biological and physical diversities of the environment.

The resolution also invokes the municipality’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), an ecological strategy instituted based on the pro-environment mindset of its people that embraces the common stand against all forms of exploitation of the natural resources of the locality especially geothermal projects like what the DOE is pushing, according to Frades and Frando.

In approving the resolution, Guysayco said the measure is aimed at securing for the people of Bulusan representing the present and future generations the perpetual richness of the municipality’s environment and biodiversity that form the national park which the Constitution protects from exploitation of whatever form.

Enforcement of this measure, he said would be assisted by the recently organized brigade of Wildlife Environmental Officers (WEOs), a 400-strong volunteer group from the BVNP communities to be deputized as forest rangers by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

This group was organized under “PRESERVE”, a United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-funded project which provides for a mechanism to involve communities within the BVNP covered by this municipality in the protection and care of its verdant forest and exotic biodiversity, according to Gusayco.

“The people of Bulusan have already expressed their strong opposition to the proposed geothermal project during a series of public consultations initiated by the DOE and its private contractor, the Summa Kumagai Industries (SKI) and this legislative measure fortifies that position,” the mayor said.

Two of the three other towns - Irosin and Casiguran whose barangays near the foot of the volcano will be directly affected by the project have also expressed opposition. Only the town of Juban through its mayor, Jimmy Fragata who hails from the Ilocos region and formerly a ranking employee of the BacMan geothermal project in Sorsogon City has signified approval.

The project expects to produce some 40 megawatts of geothermal power following a five-year exploration and construction activities that would slash into the BVNP was awarded early last year by the DOE under its Geothermal Resource Energy Service Contract (GRESCO) to the SKI Construction Group Inc., a fully-owned subsidiary of First Philippine Holdings Corporation of the Lopez Group.

SKI president and chief executive officer (CEO) Albert Altura on the other hand said they are not giving up the project despite oppositions from the host communities and they will continue holding public consultations to explain its benefits not only for the localities but to the entire Luzon area that will make use of the electricity to be derived from it.

He said that their optimism is still alive that the SKI and DOE would be able to neutralize the opposition through more public information, education and communication (IEC) initiatives.

The Bulusan Geothermal Energy Project (BGEP) service contract between the DOE and SKI, Altura said covers a five-year development arrangement, the first two years for the exploration or pre-development stage and the next three years for the full development stage.

The pre-development stage would involve the conduct of date review, geochemical sampling, geophysical investigations, data evaluation and resource assessment through drilling of exploratory wells down to the earth’s core within the 26,000 portion of the BVNP.

The development stage is for massive constructions, forest clearing and well-drilling activities to put up roads, geothermal plants, power turbines, toxic waste tailing ponds and other installations, he explained. (PNA)

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Philippine media declares support to climate change adaptation

2011-11-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA) - Various media organizations on Friday presented to President Benigno C. Aquino III the Philippine Media Declaration on Climate Change pledging their concerted action to catalyze public awareness and pursue a nationwide advocacy for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) read and subsequently turned over to the President the four-page media declaration.

Coloma said that an increased public understanding of the urgency of climate change is essential to mitigate its negative impacts and to avert human suffering.

The statement emphasized that access to relevant information on climate change is vital to sustain a living planet and for the survival of human beings.

Vital information concerning climate change would significantly acknowledge social, economic and environmental benefits in taking action to combat the effects of climate change.

He said media institutions recognize that the information provided by media plays a critical role in stimulating policy debate and in mobilizing knowledge to empower societies to make informed decisions on options for mitigation and adaptation.

The media declaration was signed by officials of the National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC), Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP), Publishers Association of the Philippines (PAPI), Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and the Philippine Network of Environmental Journalist (PNEJ).

The declaration is the major output of the three-day First National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation held at the Bicol University Amphi-theater where hundreds of media representatives from across the country attended.

At the conference, print and broadcast journalists agreed to share and disseminate climate change information and hold training sessions on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for media.

They also agreed to promote regional and international collaboration among all media organizations for the enrichment of climate change reporting and skills enhancement of media practitioners through training, exchange of knowledge and best practices.

They also asked the President to certify and put into action by incorporating media participation in the roll-out of the National Climate Change Action Plans (NCCAP) and providing funds for media campaigns and media trainings.

President Aquino flew in to this city to keynote the media conference sponsored by Albay Governor Joey Salceda, an international advocate on CCA.

The President, clad in yellow shirt and denim pants, also unveiled the marker which formally opened the First Climate Change Academy at the BU compound.

Salceda said Albay Climate Change Academy is the first educational institution in the country that offers to train local planners, decision and policy makers and other sectoral agencies skills and competencies on Disaster Risk Reduction and CCA mainstreaming.

The provincial government has spent P10 million to spruce up the two-storey building that would house the CC Academy at the BU compound.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, at the conference opening on Thursday, pledged to give P5 million to finance the initial operation of the CC Academy.

He also lauded the initiative of Salceda in establishing the first ever climate change academy in the country.

Dr. Flaviana Hilario of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA), said that based on local and international studies, it was observed that the warming of climate in the country is “unequivocal” in terms of intensity.

She noted effects of climate change and global warming are significantly increasing events by way of extreme temperature, rain falls, storm surges, tropical cyclones and sea level rise.

She said: ”There are more hot days and warm nights as compared with the frequency of cold days and cold nights.”

She said that of the 1,054 tropical cyclones that developed yearly worldwide, 70 percent or 738 pass through the Philippine area of responsibility. Of this figure, about 19 to 20 tropical cyclones hit the Philippines, she said. (PNA)

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P-Noy formally opens Climate Change Academy in Albay By Danny O. Calleja and Connie B. Destura

2011-11-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA) -– President Benigno C. Aquino III formally opened here on Friday the first and only education institution in the country offering comprehensive learning on climate change.

The Climate Change Academy (CCA) was established by the Albay provincial government within the main campus of the Bicol University (BU) in this regional government capital.

The facility will serve as the country’s repository of knowledge, experience, success stories and best practices in climate change adaptation being championed by Albay province through its Governor Joey Salceda.

Speaking before some 200 journalists representing various local and international media organizations to the ongoing three-day National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation at the BU Amphitheater, President Aquino said adaptation and disaster preparedness are imperative at this time when climate change is now recognized as the world's major environmental problem.

“Magagawa nating lampasan ang pagsubok na ito. Ikinalulugod ko ang mga kaganapang nangyayari dito sa Albay katulad nitong pagbubukas ng Climate Change Academy at ng patitipun-tipon na ito ninyong mga mamamahayag na nagpapakita ng pagbubuklod tungo sa ating kahandaan upang harapin ang mga hamon sa bayan,” he said.

“Tularan po natin si Gobernador Joey Salceda na daig pa ang isang Boy Scout sa pagiging laging handa laban sa kalamidad na sana po ay tularan ng lahat na mga pahahalaang lokal para sa kaligtasan at kapakanan ng kanilang mga nasasakupan,” the President said, adding that the newly opened CCA will help them a lot toward this end.

Salceda said the Academy establishes a living laboratory and demonstration facility that will showcase innovations, practices and technologies that contribute to climate resiliency by improving the quality of life, increasing agricultural productivity, protecting the environment, promoting the well-being of families and conserving natural resources.

The establishment of the facility, housed in a newly refurbished two-story building at the BU complex, was made possible through the province’s international development partners, among them the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Spanish government, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the BU, Department of Education (DepEd) and other local partners.

“It is essentially a knowledge management institution that will allow everyone to see how Albay residents prepare for calamities such as floods and typhoons and offer short courses focused on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management," Salceda said.

Researchers including students from Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, Kenya, Vietnam and various provinces in the Philippines have been coming to the Academy to find out what Albay is doing, he said.

The academy offers short-term courses and officials are currently talking with the Asian Institute of Management and Development Academy of the Philippines if the courses could be included in the requirements for masteral and doctoral degrees.

Aside from short term courses, Salceda said researchers and students go to Albay especially during typhoons to personally observe how the province conducts its pre- and post-typhoon programs and activities including actual evacuation procedures.

Pres. Aquino said Albay is a good example of climate change resiliency and the whole country look up at the province for this.

The President said he had just convened the Climate Change Commission in Malacanang ordering it to adopt the national climate change action plan in compliance with the country’s international commitments especially to the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Convention which will be presented to the climate change conference in Durban, South Africa.

Before delivering his message for the participants of the media conference, Sec. Sonny Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO) presented to the President the media declaration of commitment to become the government’s partner in promoting the importance of considering climate vulnerabilities and extremes in development.

The declaration advocates the use of science-based analytical and planning tools in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management. (PNA)

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2011-11-24T22:29:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA)--- His Excellency BENIGNO SIMIONE AQUINO III as he deliver his speech in the opening of the First National Media Conference On Climate Change Adaptation.

(PNA Courtesy of Connie Destura)

Camarines Norte gets P140M for Pamana projects

2011-11-24T17:39:00.000-08:00

DAET, Camarines Norte, Nov. 24 (PNA) – The Camarines Norte provincial government has been granted P140 million by the Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) for the implementation of various developmental projects under its Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) program.

Pamana is the national government’s peace and development framework being carried out by OPAPP for the empowering of conflict-affected areas in the country that include the Bicol Region with Camarines Norte identified as one of its four provinces that yielded indicative plans for the program’s Pillars One and Three. The other provinces are Sorsogon, Albay and Masbate.

Sorsogon was the first to be identified under the program and its seven covered municipalities-- Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Casiguran, Barcelona, Juban, Irosin and Magallanes are now implementing development projects worth a total of P30 million.

Pamana Pillar One lays the foundation of peace-building through development interventions while Pillar Three addresses sub-regional challenges, including constraints to regional economic development, linking of poor areas with more prosperous areas and regional connectivity improvements.

Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado on Thursday here said at least three municipalities of the province—Jose Panganiban, Labo and Mercedes would be the initial beneficiaries of P140-million projects that would build farm-to-market roads (FMR) to facilitate fast and convenient transport of agricultural products.

Among the projects are the concreting of the FMRs between Barangays Sta. Rosa Sur and San Rafael in Jose Panganiban worth P20 million; between Barangays Exiban and Maligaya to Malibago of Labo, P40 million; Barangays Bakiad, Sta. Cruz-Funadado, also of Labo, P10 million and; Barangays Pambuhan to Lanot in Mercedes, P20 million.

OPPAP Area Manager Paul Escober said P112 million of the fund representing 80 percent will be released to the province from the stimulus fund of President Benigno Aquino next week so that the projects are implemented at once and completed early next year.

More funds for similar projects will be poured under the Pamana into these first three municipalities plus two others in the next three years, Escober said.

“The whole of Camarines Norte, a poor province disturbed by insurgency that hinders local development is very grateful to the Aquino administration for this development projects that are in line with the national government’s peace agenda and ending internal armed conflicts,” Tallado said.

“We see Pamana as a program of the Aquino administration towards attaining economic progress in its localities given its objectives that are based on initiating reforms and development projects in conflict affected areas like ours,” he added. (PNA)

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Masbate bans ‘super-light’ fishing in municipal waters By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-24T17:36:00.000-08:00

MASBATE CITY, Nov. 24 (PNA) – The use of “super light” in fishing within the municipal waters here is now completely forbidden.

Superlight as defined by the Anti-Super Light Ordinance of 2011 recently enacted by the city legislative council and now being enforced following its approval by City Mayor Socrates Tuason is a type of high-powered light using halogen or metal halide bulb which may be located above the sea surface or submerged in the water to attract fishes.

Like trawl and fine-meshed net fishing, the use of super light is blamed for overfishing that Republic Act (RA) 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 has included as among the banned forms of fishing in municipal waters around the country--the waters within 15 kilometers from the coastlines.

The city’s municipal waters cover portions of the Masbate Pass and San Bernardino Straits.

Under the city ordinance, a violator shall be punished with imprisonment from six months to two years or a fine of P5,000 or both at the discretion of the courts, the same penalties that RA 8550 provide, according to Tuason.

The ordinance also outlaws the use of mercury lights and lights with more than 4,000 watts in combined electrical power of light bulbs in fish catching in the city’s waters but allows the use of incandescent lamp, pressurized gas lamp, compact bulb as well as “hasag,” a traditional gear of fisher folks, the mayor said.

Violators of the prohibition on the use of mercury lights and lights of more than 4,000 watts shall be slapped with a fine of P1,000 and imprisonment for up to six months.

The ordinance also provides monetary reward for law enforcers involved in the apprehension of violators while those responsible in the prosecution towards the conviction such as personnel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bantay-Dagat Task Forces and barangay enforcers will get 25 percent of the fine.

“This reward system is applied as provided under the ordinance to encourage local authorities to enforce the law seriously so that the city government is able to totally curtail super light fishing that is severely detrimental to our local fisheries resources,” City Vice Mayor Allan Cos explained.

The ordinance that is aimed at strengthening the city government’s fight against marine wealth exploitation is also protective of the rights of marginal fishermen that should be given the preferential use of the municipal waters for their livelihood, he said.

“We are ensuring the rational and sustainable development, management and conservation of our fishery and aquatic resources consistent with the primordial objective of maintaining a sound ecological balance, protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment,” the vice mayor who is presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panglunsod (SP) which enacted the ordinance said.

While doing that, he added the city government also provides support to the municipal fisherfolk through appropriate technology and research, adequate financial, production, construction of post-harvest facilities, marketing assistance and other services as they should receive a just share for their labor in the utilization of marine and fishery resources, he added. (PNA)

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Albay holds 1st National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation By Lorenzita Quitasol and Mike dela Rama

2011-11-24T16:15:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 24 (PNA) - The Albay provincial government through the Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) together with its partners, is conducting the three-day 1st National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation November 24-26, the first in the country.

United Nations Senior Global Champion on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda has invited President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to be the special guest of honor at the event.

The conference will have various plenary sessions. To jump start the activity, the principals from the Province of Albay; Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCCO); Climate Change Academy (CCA); Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); National Economic Development Authority (NEDA); Department of Science and Technology (DOST); Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster sa Pilipinas (KBP); Energy Development Council (EDC) and development partners like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) will give messages to the summit.

Gov. Salceda said the conference will cover four major topics: Reporting the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); PAGASA's climate change projections; Climate Change 101, and Risk Management Communication.

The conference workshop aims to promote the importance of considering climate vulnerabilities and extremes in development; highlights the need to accelerate the achievements of MDGs at the local level; advocates the use of science-based analytical and planning tools on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management; provide updates on MDG Achievement Fund: 1656 initiatives; and, identify partnerships.

The event targets the participation of 400 media practitioners from leading print, online and broadcast news outlets across the country.

"It will be an opportunity to enhance the media's awareness of climate change and its impact on development and equip them to effectively communicate climate change issues to the general public," Salceda said. (PNA)

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DPWH provides P87.7M for Bicol’s flood control projects

2011-11-23T23:44:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 24 (PNA) – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has committed some P87.7 million in fresh funds which would be released soon for the rehabilitation of damaged flood control structures and construction of additional ones in Albay and Sorsogon.

DPWH regional director for Bicol Danilo Dequito here on Thursday said the amount is part of the P1.282 billion recently released to the agency’s central office by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to cover the implementation of various priority infrastructure projects nationwide.

Some of these projects are the rehabilitation of the Bongalon-Busay River Control in Daraga and the San Francisco River Control in Guinobatan that both serve as protection walls for residential areas against flashfloods emanating from the slopes of Mt. Mayon, according to Dequito.

The Daraga project that is located near the historic Cagsawa Ruins is allocated an amount of P20 million while the Guinobatan project at the foot of the volcano is given P18 million, he said.

For Sorsogon, the projects are the constructions of Concrete Protection Wall of Cadacan River in Juban town that was allotted P19.7 million and the Cawayan River Control in Sorsogon City worth P30 million.

The Juban project would reinforce the existing flood control structure along the pathway of floods and lahar avalanches from the slope of Mt. Bulusan, Dequito said.

The Cawayan River structure will be for the protection of vast rice fields and residential sites along the route of landslide debris and floods from the mountains within the giant Bacon-Manito geothermal field being operated by the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), he said.

“We have given priority to these projects given its life-saving and farm protection roles and we are under instructions from DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson to start the implementation immediately upon receipt of the funds by this month to alleviate flooding in these parts of Bicol that have been posing threats to lives and properties in the area,” the DPWH regional chief said.

Apart from this incoming P87.7 million fund, Dequito said more funds are expected to be released to the Bicol DPWH regional office for the rehabilitation of other vital projects damaged by the recent spate of typhoons in the region.

“Among those that we are anticipating is the coming of the P156 million whose release was recently ordered by Pres. Aquino as part of the P1.197 calamity fund allocated by Malacañang for the rehabilitation of typhoon and flood-damaged government infrastructures nationwide,” he added. (PNA)

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NPA rebels carried out 29 summary executions in Bicol within the last 10 months -- RPOC

2011-11-23T19:11:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 24 (PNA) --- The New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Bicol have committed at least 29 extra judicial killings (EJK) the victims of which were mostly civilians, the Regional Peace and Order council (RPOC) said on Wednesday.

Army Maj. General Josue Gaverza, commanding officer of the Army”s 9th Infantry Division (ID) told members of the RPOC that for the past 10 months, a total of 29 NPA perpetrated EJKs were initiated victimizing 16 civilians, four policemen, four government informers, three militiamen, a rebel returnee, and a soldier.

Gaverza said what is alarming is that 16 innocent civilians in Bicol were victims of EJKs carried out by NPA rebels, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Just recently, NPA rebels in Albay claimed responsibility for the killing of Ruel Macalla who was gunned down last November 8 in Barangay Talahib in Daraga, Albay, followed by another summary killing of a certain Jun Vasquez in Bato, Camarines Sur.

“It has already been the practice of the communist movement to admit responsibility for the summary killings of several innocent civilians in the region. They usually tag them as military informant to justify their criminal acts,” said Major Angelo S. Guzman, the 9th ID spokesperson.

However, the RPOC in Wednesday's meeting presented a report by Karapatan, a militant Human Rights group indicating that in Bicol they have monitored 15 cases of extra judicial killings from the period July last year to March this year.

However, the report did not specify if these EJK cases were NPA-initiated killings.

Guzman disclosed that eight barangays (villages) in Camarines Norte and 18 barangays in Sorsogon were already cleared and due for deletion in the list of CPP/NPA- influenced barangays. (PNA)

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Christmas serenade tilt up in Catanduanes

2011-11-23T15:53:00.001-08:00

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Nov. 23 (PNA) -- Christmas Serenade Competition in this province will start during its annual Christmas Cheers at Plaza Rizal starting Dec. 16.

Organizers of the event will accept one official entry in each of the 12 invited schools from the province. Each entry shall be composed of not more than 20 members who are all pupils of the school they represent and one conductor, who is a faculty in the same school.

Participating groups are expected to sing 2 songs: one standard song "Carol of the Bells" and another one is a song of their choice, accompanied with live guitar or piano only or by a capella.

The performance proper shall be six minutes and shall not exceed eight minutes presentation time.

Champion will receive a cash prize of P20,000, P15,000 for the first runner up and P10,000 for the second runner up and P2,000 shall be given for non-winning groups. (PNA)

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Camarines Sur National High School bags PHL's finest eco-friendly school

2011-11-22T23:11:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 23 (PNA) --- The Camarines Sur National High School (CSNHS) in Naga City is this year finest eco-friendly secondary school across the country, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Wednesday.

Declared high school level champions were the Camarines Sur National High School in Naga City (1st); University of San Jose Recoletos – High School in Cebu City (2nd); and Daniel R. Aquinaldo National High School in Davao City (3rd).

Joselin Marcus Fragada, DENR regional executive director lauded the CSNHS for being adjudged the champion and garnering the most coveted top award among a number of regional high school across the country.

“This should serve as an inspiration among our local academe, to do well and strive harder to pursue a green institution, wherein students are highly aware of their roles in keeping our environment sustainable and protected” Fragada said.

Never settling for its 2009 second place honor, the CSNHS triumphed among the country’s eco-friendly schools and managed to get the national championship this year.

Known among the academe for its sustainable environment friendly programs, CSNHS was adjudicated as Bicol’s most eco-friendly school in school year 2011, which further pushed its environmental programs and projects to the fore of the school’s curricula.

The DENR, together with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Smart Communications, has named nine schools as the national champions of the 2011 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools.

DENR Assistant Secretary for Management and Finance Corazon Davis, representing DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje; Smart’s Community Partnerships senior manager Darwin Flores; DepEd’s Nutrition Division head Dr. Juan Araojo Jr.; and CHED Director William Malitao handed the awards at a simple ceremony held at the SM City North EDSA here on Wednesday.

In a speech read by Davis, Paje described as “overwhelming” the schools’ response to the call for entries to the competition.

“The contest was launched so that schools will participate more actively in environmental programs. We hope that in doing so, the students will also encourage others to adopt sustainable practices,” Paje said.

The nine national champions were chosen from 45 regional champions representing the elementary, high school and college levels. For the elementary level, Iliranan Elementary School of San Carlos City in Negros Occidental; Kibawe Central School in Kibawe, Bukidnon; and San Mariano Elementary School in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro were proclaimed as first, second and third placers, respectively.

Meanwhile, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas in Cavite; Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa City; and Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City were awarded the first, second and third places for the college level.

The national champions each received plaques of recognition and cash prizes of P50,000 for first place, P40,000 for second place, and P30,000 for third place.

The awarding coincided with the celebration of November as National Environmental Awareness Month as provided under Republic Act No. 9512, also known as the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008.

Now on its second run, the nationwide competition aims to recognize educational institutions from elementary to college levels with the best sustainable and environment-friendly programs and activities.

It is the Philippines’ initiative in support to the ASEAN Environmental Education Action Plan (2008-2012), and the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

RMA/LQ/MSA/cbd

World AIDS Day celebration in Bicol all set By Mike de la Rama

2011-11-22T17:44:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 23 (PNA) – Events for this year’s World AIDS Day celebration in Bicol are all set, according to Albay Board Member Herbert Borja, co-chairman of the Albay AIDS Council.

Borja said Albay is the host province for this year’s World AIDS Day celebration set on December 1 and 2 with the theme – Getting to Zero for discrimination, zero new infection and AIDS related deaths.

Borja said the first event on December 1 is the Street Walk Information Caravan to be participated in by various o private and public organizations, including students of different colleges and universities. “The objective of the Information caravan is to increase awareness on HIV and AIDs prevention.”

On December 2, a policy congress on Getting to Zero will be held in Casablanca convention hall which will be highlighted by the presentation of the Rapid Assessment of the Vulnerability (RAV) result. This study was conducted in the municipalities of Bacacay, Sto Domingo, Guinobatan and Ligao City. RAV is one of the activity of the Albay AIDS Council and Department of Health (DoH) to determine the magnitude of Most At Risk Population and its vulnerabilities on HIV and AIDS.

The policy congress aims to validate the result of the RAV and formulate immediate measure to address gaps and concerns on the prevention of HIV and reduce the number of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) specially among Men who are Having Sex with men (MSM).

Meanwhile, Gayon Albay (an organization of Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Transgender) will also launch the Human Soul Exhibit in Pacific Mall Legazpi on December 2. The Human Soul Exhibit actually promotes anti-discrimination legislations that would help eliminate stigma and discrimination among the LGBT community. This activity is in partnership with the United Nations Development Program, Health Action Information Network, Lad-Lad, Bluethumb, Alliance Francaise de Manilla, The Library Foundation-Share and Pacific Mall Legazpi. (PNA)
DCT/LQ/MDR/cbd

Woman strangled to death near her home

2011-11-20T22:43:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov.21 (PNA) --- A 28 year old woman was found dead and suspected to have been raped in a subdivision here early Monday, a police officer said.

The victim was identified as Maria Sarah Aragon, a resident of Block 2, Central City Subdivision.

Police Supt. Ato Battaler, Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol spokesperson, said residents found the victim's body sprawled at a vacant lot at Block 2, a few meters away from her residence at around 6:30 a.m. Monday.

Battaler said police investigators found a plastic bag wrapped around the victim's head hinting she was strangled to death. The victim's blouse was raised and her pants were lowered, exposing her underwear, indicating that she might have been raped.

Police operatives immediately invited for questioning her alleged boyfriend, identified as Vicente Natividad, a resident of Sitio Tico-tico, in Barangay Taysan, a village in the southern part of this city.

The victim and her boyfriend were reportedly seen together on Sunday afternoon.

The victim's body was brought to a funeral parlor where an autopsy would be conducted today to determine the cause of her death and to find whether she was raped or not.

Police investigators also recovered from the the crime scene the cell phone of the victim.

Probers said the cell phone would give them possible leads who the victim talked with and text messages she sent and received before she was killed.(PNA)

RMA/LQ/MSA/cbd

Tiwi town tagged as 'Tuna capital of Luzon'

2011-11-20T22:22:00.000-08:00

TIWI, Albay, Nov. 21 (PNA) -- Tiwi, a geothermal rich town in Albay, may soon be the “tuna” capital of Luzon with potentially abundant supply of this kind of marine product off the towns coastal waters located at the eastern seaboard of Bicol facing the vast Pacific Ocean.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, chairperson of the Senate Committees on Food Security and Agriculture in his visit here over the weekend, said he sees that the town has a great potential in supplying the much needed tuna requirements in both local as well as foreign markets.

He said: “ I see the potential of the tuna product found here in terms of quality, price, and supply that would be likely competitive with other areas in Mindanao and the Visayas.”

“Malaking potential ito na dapat bigyan ng suporta ng gobierno, malaking pagkakakitaan ito ng ating mangingisda,” Pangnilinan averred.

According to Pangilinan the tuna found off the coastal water of Lagonoy Gulf in Tiwi belong to a special species called “Albacore thunnus.”

According to fishery specialist, the albacore is a type of tuna which may be marketed as “white meat tuna." It is found in open waters of all tropical and temperate oceans, Lengths range up to 140 cm and weights up to 45 kg.

Albacore is a prized food because it is caught by pole and line, long-line fishing, trolling and some purse seining.

In this town, the fishing method required to be used by fishermen is the hand line fishing, in compliance with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) policy.

The WWF policy aims to improve management in order to safeguard the fisheries sustainability, the policy is being carried out in Lagonoy Gulf and Mindoro Occidental where the WWF is closely working with the LGU and chain of stakeholders from people organization.

Unlike the tuna products found in Samar, Mindoro and General Santos, fisher folks in Tiwi can catch tuna fishes two kilometers from the towns shorelines.

Compared with Gen. Santos, fishermen there catches tuna using high gear fishing equipment and vessels and catch them in open seas near or sometimes inside the Indonesian borders while here, Tiwi fisher folks only use hand line fishing rod.

Pangilinan, at the Partner’s Forum on Sustainable Tuna Fisheries held here on Friday, told stakeholders that aside from being tag as tuna capital of Luzon, with appropriate government and private sector intervention, the town’s vast mineral and aquatic resources could also be transformed into a top tourist destination.

“Local and foreign tourist will find the place enjoyable to visit wherein they can dine and savor the delicious taste of tuna grilled, steamed or the famous Japanese delicacy sashimi.”

Giving an added boost to improve further the fisher folks livelihood, Pangilinan said he would support and find ways to fund the setting up of a fish landing site that would be also used as a “bagsakan” or a central trading post.

The establishment of a central trading post would link directly the fishermen and their prospective buyers warding off the services of middle men.

Wilfredo Chavenia, a fisher folk and chairperson of the town Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council (MFARMC) in an interview, said the presence of middle men engage in buying and selling tuna products are dictating and manipulating the prices of tuna placing the thousands fisher folks in a disadvantage point.

He said “we can get better prices of our fish catch when we can deal directly with the buyers.”

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) provincial officer Ariel Poquinto, in an interview, said tuna fishes thrive in a so called tuna belt in Lagonoy Gulf covering the coastal towns of Tiwi in Albay and Sangay town in Camarines Sur.

Tiwi is a first class municipality in Albay with 44,261 people in 8,036 households, it is the seat of the Tiwi Geothermal Plant operated by the Aboitiz Corp. generating 220 megawatts electricity to the Luzon Grid.

The town coastline covers 17,287.05 meters or 17 kilometers. It has a total of 1,440 accredited fishermen operating 720 registered fishing boats engage in tuna fishing.

Leonila Coralde, Tiwi Municipal Agriculture Officer, said at the forum that an average yield of some 59.8 metric tons of tuna per year have been caught by local fishermen here for the past three years.

The tuna fish carries a market price ranging from P90 to P170 per kilo during lean months and as low as P30 during peak season, she said.

Coralde said to sustain the tuna fisheries in Tiwi and to address and thwart illegal fishing practices in the area, the local government has established a 4.4-square kilometer Corangon fish sanctuary and marine reserved.

She said they had required fishermen and their fishing boats to be accredited and registered to closely check that fishery regulations were being followed.

With the LGU’s fishery regulation in placed, the apprehension of illegal fishing practices significantly dropped by 90 percent from 200 cases in 2004 to only 18 in 2009.

It has also increased the yield of tuna catch to 56.2 metric tons (mt) in 2010 as compared to the highest catch in 2005 at only 14.5mt. (PNA)

RMA/LQ/MSA/cbd

DSWD releases cash subsidy to 1,123 new CCT beneficiaries in Camarines Norte

2011-11-17T00:23:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 17 (PNA) -– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released the first tranche of cash subsidies to 1,123 new beneficiaries in Camarines Norte of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), a poverty alleviation program of the Aquino administration.

CCT, also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), provides assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate needs and break the intergeneration cycle of poverty through investment in human capital such as education and health.

DSWD regional director Remia Tapispisan on Thursday here said the new beneficiaries in Camarines are from the towns of Basud, Vinzons and San Vicente making the total coverage of the program in the province to 10 municipalities with overall number of beneficiaries of 24,759 households.

All these households are receiving maximum cash subsidies of P1,400 per month depending on the qualified beneficiaries for the P300 for each child up to three children between zero and 14 years old and P500 for the mother on conditions that she undergo regular health checkup at nearest health center and the children attend required time in school.

Camarines Norte, a gold-rich but among the poorest provinces in the Bicol region, had 12 municipalities and the first eight already under the CCT coverage are Capalonga, Sta. Elena, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Mercedes, Jose Panganiban, Labo and Paracale.

The capital town of Daet and its nearby municipality of Talisay remained uncovered but Tapispisan said processing for their inclusions are in progress.

In Sorsogon, Tapispisan said a total of 45,783 was the latest reported number of CCT beneficiaries from all the 14 municipalities of the province excluding the City of Sorsogon, the provincial capital.

So far, she said a total amount of P41.8 million had already been released to these Sorsogon beneficiaries in 454 barangays covered by the towns of Donsol, Pilar, Castilla, Casiguran, Juban, Magallanes, Irosin, Bulan, Matnog, Sta. Magdalena, Bulusan, Barcelon, Gubat and Prieto Diaz.

Enhancement of capability-building, networking, monitoring and evaluation of the beneficiary update systems are also being regularly conducted in order that those who are not complying with the requirement of the program are properly guided, she said.

Latest DSWD listings show that CCT or 4Ps is already benefiting about 143,000 households in the six provinces of Bicol covering 65 of the 99 towns of the region, the second poorest in the country today according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

These figures on the number of beneficiaries and bounds of coverage are expected to increase next year when the P39-billion proposed 2012 budget for the program is approved. This year’s budget is P21 billion, Tapispisan added. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd

Sorsogon’s anti-rabies drive gets US$ .3M in foreign fund By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-15T23:40:00.000-08:00

SORSOGON CITY, Nov. 16 (PNA) – The Sorsogon Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) here on Wednesday announced the approval by a foreign donor of a US$ 300,000 (P12 million) fund grant for the province’s anti-rabies program.

Enrique Espiritu, the provincial veterinary officer said the fund that would come from the UBS Optimus Foundation would be for a three-year agenda under the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) that is spearheading the Communities Against Rabies Exposure (CARE) program.

The UBS Optimus Foundation is a charitable institution established by UBS which supports projects all around the world in two core areas-- education and child protection and global health research to secure access to education and healthcare for a great number of children.

Espiritu said the fund grant will be prorated on a US$ 100,000 a year release starting early next year to facilitate the coordination of surveillance, molecular epidemiology, dog population model control, participation in health economics group and consultation for rabies prevention and control models.

This undertaking, he said is an offshoot of the Bohol success story which demonstrated that rabies can be eliminated and children can be saved from dog bites by empowering communities to take responsibility, develop and share adequate tools for sustainability provided by global assistance and expertise.

“Sorsogon will replicate this Bohol model so that the province becomes another sustainable rabies free area,” according to Espiritu.

He said that based on studies conducted, rabies is a disease of poverty that mainly affects children living in marginalized communities. Over 99 percent of human rabies deaths today occur in Africa and Asia as a result of being bitten by an infected dog and up to 60 percent of all dog bites and rabies deaths occur in children under 15 years of age.

Rabies, according to world statistics is a life-threatening risk for over one billion people living in poverty across Asia and Africa.

Espiritu said that with this GARC program, the local government will strengthen awareness to prevent exposure to this disease by eliminating or controlling the source of infection in dog populations.

“Massive dog vaccination is cost effective to control rabies and sustainable than interventions aimed at humans only," he explained.

The program will also work on the reduction of the province’s dog population by way of community and local governments’ support in reducing the reproduction rate of dogs, thus reducing the cost of rabies control undertakings on the part of the government and significantly reduce if not totally eliminate the incidence of public health problems associated with dogs as vectors. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

PNoy orders release of P156M calamity fund for typhoon-damaged infra in Bicol

2011-11-15T18:18:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 15 (PNA) – The regional office for Bicol here of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday announced the approval by President Benigno S. Aquino III of the release of over P156 million in calamity fund for the rehabilitation of government infrastructures damaged by a series of typhoons that hit the region this year.

DPWH regional director Danilo Dequito said the amount is part of the P1.197-billion calamity fund allocated by Malacañang nationwide.

The amount of P156.250 million ordered released by the President for Bicol is only an initial funding to speed up restorations of vital public infrastructures damaged by typhoons Juaning in July, Mina in August, Pedring in September and Quiel in October that all triggered flashfloods and landslides, Dequito said.

The amount will finance a total of 32 rehabilitation projects mostly on roads and bridges in the six provinces of Bicol with Albay getting the biggest share of P98 million for nine projects, followed by Camarines Sur with seven projects worth P35 million, Dequito said.

Camarines Norte gets P17 million for four projects; Masbate, P2 million for a single project; Sorsogon, P2 million for three projects and; Catanduanes, P1.5 million also for three projects.

Typhoon Juaning alone destroyed some P1.09 billion of infrastructures mostly roads, bridges and flood control structures in the region but “we understand the situation as the total amount had to be proportionately distributed based on the damages suffered by each region”, Dequito said.

Anyway, he said, “we have been assured by DPWH Sec. Rogelio Singson that more funds would be given to Bicol from the next tranches of releases to complete the rehabilitation works. Besides, the maintenance funds allocated for each of these damaged structures are keeping them still usable for the meantime”.

“We are under instructions from Sec. Singson to speed up the works without sacrificing its quality in anticipation of the coming of the next calamity funds for the other rehabilitation projects,” the DPWH regional chief said.

In Albay, he said priority is given to the Nagas and San Fernando Bridges in Sto. Domingo and Tiwi towns, respectively. The former’s approach suffered heavy scouring rendering it temporarily impassable while the latter that incurred structural defects had to be considered for condemnation and replacement.

In the meantime, Dequito said in order to ease the discomfort of motorists, a detour steel bridge has been put in place near the San Fernando Bridge but we still intend to maintain the present alternate route in anticipation for the total replacement of the bridge next year.

With the calamity fund coming in, he said an amount of P9.2 million had earmarked for these projects-- P3.5 million for the repair of Nagas Bridge; P4.2 million for the installation of a detour steel bridge and P1.5 million for the repair and maintenance of San Andres to San Fernando road. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/DOC/cbd

Bicol Pili Culinary feast set Nov. 29 By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-15T18:15:00.001-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 15 (PNA) -– The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will showcase the importance of pili as Bicol’s flagship commodity in an affair dubbed Pili Culinary to be held in Naga City on Nov. 29.

It will present to the medium and high-end markets new delicacies concocted by various local confectioners in addition to the dozen others that are already making big hits in both the domestic and international markets, DTI regional director Jocelyn Blanco here said on Tuesday.

The delicacies already existing in the market include pili candies like honey glazed, roasted , salted, pastilles, molido, mazapan, chocolate-coated and macaroon, among others.

Ground kernels are made into cake mixers and toppings, breads, bonbons, salad and ice cream while kernel oil are for salad dressing, cake manufacture of sardines, soaps, pharmaceutical and cosmetics.

The affair to be attended by hundreds of pili industry stakeholders from farmers, pili product manufacturers, distributors, store owners and food service providers will also give recognition to the commodity as a vital contributor to the economic agenda of the region, Blanco said.

The DTI, she said has been assisting local entrepreneurs and manufacturers in coming up with new nut recipes through researches and studies as part of the government program towards the development of the pili industry which had been playing a significant role in the regional economy in particular and of the country in general.

The program is specifically aimed at instituting a long term mechanism to further boost the commodity’s contributions to the culinary and food industry, the DTI regional chief said.

Pili, known in Bicol as another “Tree of Life” next to coconut provides additional income to over 15,000 famers in the region and generates employment to thousands other people in the manufacturing sector engaged in the processing, packing and trading of not only of pili nuts but other products derivable from its tree.

The nut processing sector alone according to Blanco had already about 500 small, medium and micro entrepreneurs spread in several parts of Bicol particularly in Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte and Catanduanes where pili farm productions are considered substantial.

Aware of the great potential of pili as a commercial crop it was selected as the flagship crop of Bicol thus, the concerted efforts by various agencies and some non-government organizations (NGOs) to hasten the development of the industry in the region and make it an export winner in the near future.

The commodity has been recently elevated as the 8th subnetwork under the Philippine Fruit RDE Agenda.

RDE or Rule Developing Experimentation is a systematized solution-oriented business process of experimentation that designs, tests and modifies alternative ideas, packages, products, or services in a disciplined way so that the developer and marketer discover what appeals to the customer, even if the customer can’t articulate the need, much less the solution.

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) estimates that Bicol with its about 1,000 hectares of farms devoted to pili had the largest area in the country planted to the crop. Sorsogon has the biggest area with about 700 hectares followed by Albay with around 150 hectares; Camarines Sur, 100, Camarines Norte, 50 and Catanduanes, five.

In the November 29 Pili Culinary event, Blanco said “we are also mapping out activities that would further widen pili products’ market abroad taking advantage of the fact that pilinuts are being acclaimed as superior replacement to walnuts and almonds that account to millions of tons of United States’ imports.

Pili is also a potential substitute for macadamia and cashew that have great demands in Korea, Hongkong, Singapore and Australia, she added. (PNA)

DCT/LAM/DOC/cbd

Bicol competitiveness committee starts work

2011-11-14T00:31:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 14 (PNA) – The Bicol Competitiveness Committee (BCC) has started mapping out ways to ease doing business in the region.

The initial plans formulated by the committee focused on standardizing the processing of application for the issuance of business permits and licenses issued by local governments units (LGUs), reducing the cost of doing business and how to further improve productivity.

These shall be implemented in the first quarter of next year.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional director Romeo Escandor, who presided over the Committee meeting, said part of the initial plan is to make these government agencies as well as the local chapters of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCIs) more customer-oriented with the help of a friendly system in dealing with their clientele and costumers.

These include among others the Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS), Philippine Business Registry (PBR) and the National Single Window (NSW) whose process needs to simplified towards easier and expeditious transactions, he said.

Escandor said the process would require full automation so that it provides for more innovative delivery of services to the public at the same time the coming of more investments and faster tax return.

The BBC was created by the Regional Development Council (RDC) in August following the presentation made by National Competitiveness Council (NCC) chairman Guillermo Luz showing that the Philippines ranked 136 out of 183 countries in terms of ease of doing business.

However, in the Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) released by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the Philippine ranking jumped from 85 to 75 among the 142 economies in the world.

This improvement was one of the highest recorded worldwide for this year by the WEF and is the highest on record for the Philippines since its entry into the global competitiveness rankings in 1994, the NCC report said.

The Philippines recorded improvements in ranking in nine of the 12 pillars, with significant jumps in terms of macroeconomic environment, technological readiness, and institutions.

However, a key challenge for the country was in the area of infrastructure particularly the areas of port and air transport infrastructures notwithstanding the overall ranking of quality of infrastructure that improved marginally.

Citing the country’s gains as pleasing, chairman Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, a topnotch economist, said the need to improve those ratings is necessary.

Salceda expressed hope that through the BCC working on a teamwork between the government and the private sector, Bicol would be persistent and systematic in efforts to achieve consistent improvements over time.

Some of the members of the committee are the regional agencies of the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI), Interior and Local government (DILG), Labor and Employment (DOLE), Science and Technology (DOST), Tourism (DOT), NEDA and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Also members are the Provincial Planning and Development Councils (PPDCs) of the six Bicol provinces, City Planning and Development Councils (CPDCs) of the region’s seven cities and LCCIs. (PNA)

LDV/LQ/DOC/cbd

Karangahan Green Christmas 2011 to feature Culinaria Albay

2011-11-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 13 (PNA) -– Albay stages its season-long Green Christmas advocacy project for the second year this year, with a new added element aimed at fortifying its terms of endearment with the local folks with special focus on ethnic culture, food and tastes.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda has recently launched here ‘Karangahan sa Pasko: Albay Green Christmas 2011, an expanded version of its maiden edition last year. This year’s version admittedly “provokes a more celebratory attitude that builds on the spirit of the season”.

“In 2010, we launched Albay Green Christmas, essentially as an advocacy campaign for less pollution and reduced carbon emissions through ‘Iwas Paputok’; proper solid waste management through ‘No Plastics/Less Garbage celebration; and zero casualty, Salceda explained..

He said they added a new ingredient to this year’s ‘Karangahan sa Pasko,’ designed to bring out and fortify "the terms of endearment of Albayanos to their province" and enhance their pride and unique sense of ethnicity as Albayanos that is articulated by their culinary arts and other cultural forms.

Karangahan is a Bicol term derived from the root word ranga, which refers to a higher level of joy and contentment, and later was used to mean endearment.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino is set to switch on the lights of the giant Green Christmas tree at middle of Penaranda Park in front of the Albay Provincial Capitol on Nov. 25, marking the start of the month-long festivity. The President will also formally inaugurate the Climate Change Academy at the Bicol University here.

The giant Green Christmas tree is about 58 feet tall, fashioned from recycled fuel drums painted green, with close to a thousand flickering solar powered led lights. It eloquently speaks for Albay’s advocacy and campaign for environment protection.

Salceda said Karangahan has some 40 to 50 activities lined up and has six pillars – Equalympics, a province-wide academic competition for High School, Elementary and Kindergarten/ Nursery levels students; Culinaria Albay – which seeks to promote Albay cuisine and its world-competitive restaurants; Green lantern and Christmas décor competition; Iwas Putok, a campaign for no-firecracker and safe celebration of the season; Wellness – interclub tennis tournament; and an indigenous art competition.

Of the many activities lined up, of special interest are "MusicHERO" or battle of the AFP bands featuring the bands of the Philippine Army, the Marines, the Navy and Air Force; and competitions for composers and signers from all over the country who will be asked to submit or perform their original Christmas jingles in English, Bikol or Tagalog. The entries must be themed Albay and must have a festive beat. (PNA)

RMA/JCN/rsm

Catanduanes to break world record in tree planting with 11-11-11 project By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 10 (PNA) – The world record on the most number of trees planted in one activity listed in the Guinness Book of World Records currently belongs to Camarines Sur but its neighboring island province of Catanduanes is aiming for a dramatic grab of the title.

On Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 (11-11-11), Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of the lone congressional district of Catanduanes is initiating a massive tree planting activity that targets to plant 111,111 trees all over the island to surpass the record established by Camarines Sur with its 64,096 trees planted in just an hour last February 23.

The Camarines Sur record was posted as it launched its massive reforestation program of planting 12 million trees by 2012 in line with the National Greening Program (NGP) of the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III. It surpassed India’s 50,033 trees record earlier established in the Guinness Book.

The planting project was initiated by Camarines Sur provincial governor Luis Raymund Villafuerte and the “El Verde”, a local multi-sectoral group advocating the protection of the forest.

“What if we would plant 111,111 trees also in an hour during this historic date—11-11-11? We grab from Camarines Sur the record, right? But that is not the most important because what we want is to restore the lush vegetation of Catanduanes lost to typhoons, landslides and illegal logging activities,” Sarmiento said in a statement here Thursday.

He said planting materials provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are already available while thousands of volunteers from schools, barangays, local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), farmers and fishermen’s groups and other sectors of the province have already been organized into the activity.

His district congressional office based in Virac, the provincial capital had already distributed about 103,000 of these planting materials across the province as of Wednesday particularly in far-flung villages and the barangay officials and community leaders would take charge of the planting in their respective areas, the congressman said.

“The province had 315 barangays and all its leaders have willingly signified their intentions to participate in this memorable affair in behalf of our environment which we intend to preserve for the present and incoming generations,” he said.

Practically, all the areas of the province will be covered by this synchronized planting activity that “would add more greenery to our still existing verdant forests but threatened with extinction by both natural and man-made calamities,” Sarmiento added.

The planting activity is also being supported by the Catanduanes provincial government under Gov. Joseph Cua who had earlier issued a memorandum to all Capitol employees to take part in the tree planting project.

Cua would mobilize a group that will take care of the planting of 3,000 mangrove propagules in coastal areas of the province and 5,000 trees in areas affected by slash and burn farming system locally called kaingin and illegal logging, Sarmiento said.

The LGUs of 11 towns comprising the province have also tasked themselves of simultaneously planting 65,000 trees in their respective areas of responsibility through their officials and employees with their families and the help of volunteers from almost all the public and private schools in their localities.

The rest of the 111,111 tree seedlings will be planted by the barangay groups, NGOs and other volunteer sectors, the congressman added. (PNA)

LAP/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd

DOT developing Catanduanes as Bicol’s surfing capital By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 3 (PNA)-– Owing to its geographical location that makes the Bicol province of Catanduanes the first landmass of the Philippine archipelago to be kissed by the dazzling waves of the Pacific Ocean, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is developing the island into becoming the region’s surfing capital.

Its location also makes the province directly open to the path of typhoons, gaining for it the moniker, “Land of the Howling Winds."

Nonetheless, according to DOT regional director for Bicol Maria Ong-Ravanilla, Catanduanes has been one of the leading eco-tourism destinations in the region particularly foreign tourists who love to commune with nature.

“Surfing off the coastlines of Catanduanes is rather impressive as it should be as the deep, exciting Pacific Ocean is its breathtaking host. The waves travel a long distance before they hit land and the first on its path is this island. And thinking how giant waves batter the island during typhoons could give an idea what the surf would be,” Ravanilla on Thursday said.

Surfing is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore.

Waves suitable for surfing are found primarily in the ocean and the waters of the Pacific surrounding Catanduanes is the best place for it in Bicol, she said.

“I myself witnessed how amusing it was during the “Majestic Surfing Cup” competition held at the Puraran Beach which was made part of the pre-festival activities of the Catandungan Festival and the province’s 66th founding anniversary celebrations last week,” Ravanilla said.

The competition, the first of kind in the island was participated in by dozens of local and foreign surfers who beat giant waves before thousands of thrilled spectators in the competition sponsored by the provincial government, Smart Communications, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Baras municipal government, she said.

Best known as “Majestic”, Puraran Beach, located in the municipality of Baras is one of the province’s leading surfing sites, an hour and a half land trip from the capital town of Virac.

Ravanilla said behind the beach’s powdery white sand, crystal clear beach water and panoramic location, the waves jumping out of the ocean very quickly to form fast moving bowls that slam into shallow reefs are gravely dangerous.

“This is the situation that surfers want although a British surfer was killed in the area about three years ago.”

A Japanese group had invested in improving the site by building cottages of single occupancy, a dining hall and a surfing area for enthusiasts but Ravanilla said it needs more developments to accommodate not only surfers but also beach-goers and surfing spectators.

Initially, she said the DOT along with Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, the representative of the lone district of the province had assured the allocation of P5 million for the construction of a huge movable platform that would extend from the shoreline to an area closer to the surfing venue.

This will allow the audience to witness surfers perform their craft right near the breaking waters.

“When we are able to draw more people into the site during surfing events, perhaps the province will become more popular as a surfing area worldwide. This would mean more tourists coming in especially during the staging of Catandungan Festival that also presents tourist-oriented merrymakings,” Ravanilla said.

Now on its 16th year, Catandungan is already listed by the DOT’s as one of the country’s leading festivals. It is the unification of all the island’s municipal festivals that amalgamate all these into one celebration to demonstrate the local color and divergence of Catanduanes and the entire Bicol region, she said.

The festival also highlights Catanduanes’ main strength and that is its attractions for nature lovers given its lush forests, exciting waterfalls, centuries-old caves, reefs and beaches that are kept pristine and intact.

Among the other interesting beaches in the province are the Mamangal which is also a surfing area and ideal for picnics and scuba diving also in Baras and Igang that features white sand and another surfboard and wind surfing site.

Caves near the area offer thrilling experiences and the fantastic coral formations are ideal for spear fishing, Ravanilla added. (PNA)

LAP/LOR/LQ/DOC/cbd

Bicol expo sales reaches P17M By Danny O. Calleja

2011-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct 31 (PNA) – The recently concluded “Orgullo Kan Bikol (OKB) or Bicol’s Pride-Gayon Bikol (Beautiful Bicol) trade and tourism expositions were successful in promoting “green trade” as measured by its record-high sales amounting to P17 million, its organizers said over the weekend.

With the theme, "GREEN! Naturally, Responsibly, Sustainably", the joint fairs, held at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, showcased distinct products made up of indigenous and organic materials for sustainable industry.

Trade fair organizer, regional director Jocelyn Blanco of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for Bicol, said here the products included wearable, house wares and furniture crafted out of Bicolano ingenuity, processed foods derived from Bicolandia’s culinary originality and native health and wellness concoctions, all from locally available raw materials.

“On its 15th year this year, making OKB-Gayon Bikol the longest running regional trade fair in the entire country has joined the world in promoting green trade as it transformed Bicolano micro, medium and small enterprises (MSMEs) into direct and indirect exporters that have been contributing significantly to the region’s socio-economic growth,” Blanco said.

“Started in 1996, the yearly fair indeed has gone a long way and every step of the way, it has made its over-reaching goal to market the distinct products of our homegrown entrepreneurs in the national and international market,” she said.

For this year, OKB-Gayon Bicol garnered a total sales of P17 million, the highest so far in its history and considered to be remarkable since sales jumped up by 70 percent of the target, the first time that it happened in 15 years, according to Blanco.

“That made the trade fair hit the total sales of P131.2 million generated since its inception in 1996 which in many ways perked up the business transactions in the region. This figure only includes the sales generated during the staging of the fair. It has also contributed much to job generation in the Bicol’s countryside,” the DTI regional chief said.

It is worth mentioning that Bicol MSMEs have already developed a world-class packaging of their processed food products which are now more competitive and the international market as far as Europe and America, she said.

The DTI also endeavors to support MSMEs in areas of product development by tapping the services of local designers to assist OKB participants in developing new designs for their handcrafted products to keep pace with the changing times.

The fair, being an example of a public-private partnership had for its private partner the OKB Association, the group which the DTI is grooming to be the front-runner of OKB Regional Trade Fair in the next years with the agency staying around to support the activity, she said.

On the part of the Department of Tourism (DOT) which is behind the Gayon Bikol tourism fair, tourist destinations and the rich cultural heritage of Bicolandia were highlighted the beauty and bounty of the region.

“With the DTI-DOT tandem, OKB back-to-back with Gayon Bikol has drawn a lot of people to the fair and brought in excellent sales,” DOT regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said.

The ever undying support of its sponsors like the PhilExport, Bicol’s local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), the Rural Micro Enterprise Promotion Program (RuMEPP), Albay governor and Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman Joey Salceda was also worth mentioning in this success, Ravanilla said.

In acknowledging the success of the fairs, Salceda said much still has to be done for Bicol to move steadily forward on the road to progress as a continuing partnership of all concerned sectors is much needed.

“It is heartening to note that our partners in development have taken worthy steps to strengthen the collaboration and as the partnership moves toward more substantial outcomes, we remain optimistic that its gains will remain to be our pride, the tradition continues and our heritage goes on,” the governor said. (PNA)

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Sun Cellular introduces " Magic" sim card to Bicol By Connie B. Destura

2011-11-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 31 (PNA) -- Sun Cellular has brought its "magic" to the Bicol Region via its exclusive Sim Cards and prepaid products dubbed as Sun Magic Zone Bicol, designed just for Bicolanos.

In a press conference here marking the launching of the new product over the weekend, Sun assistant vice president for Marketing Services Jocel Adorable said Sun Magic Zone Bicol Sim offers call and text unlimited (MCTU) that gives subscribers non-stop intra-network calls and text and the Sun Magic Zone Bicol Text Unlimited (MTU) that allows to text without limit within Sun network.

All features of a Sun Cellular prepaid Sim card, such as making and receiving calls to and from other networks anywhere in the country and the world, downloading and subscribing to the Sun Value-Added Services (VAS), including Facebook Zero and iMessenger among others remain available with the “Magic Zone”, Adorable said.

Sun makes the offer more than half their regular rates exclusively for Bicol residents and the Sun Magic Zone Bicol call and text unlimited comes in different denominations to suit one's communication needs. For students whose contacts are also mainly Sun users in Bicol, the P10-denomination of MCTU that has unlimited Sun-to-Sun calls and text valid for one day, she explained.

Those with friends from other networks, meanwhile may avail of the P15 MCTU denomination that gives them unlimited Sun calls and texts and 10 texts to other networks valid for one day. For young professionals and every budget-conscious individual who want longer intra-network validity, Sun Magic Zone Bicol MCTU P50 and 200 denominations with 7 days and 30 days validity, respectively.

The unlimited Sun Magic Zone Bicol load can call and text to any Sun Magic Zone Bicol subscriber or Sun Cellular subscribers, as long as they are within Bicol. It can also be availed of through Xpress Load, Call Cards and Conversion for as long as they are using Sun Magic Zone Bicol Sim, according to Adorable.

“So, where ever you are in the Bicol Region-- Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate or Sorsogon, you'll definitely enjoy this Sun Magic treat, she added. (PNA)

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Army, TV5 spearhead medical mission, relief operations in Matnog, Sorsogon

2011-10-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

SORSOGON CITY, Oct. 28 (PNA) – The Philippine Army (PA) and TV5 along with several other volunteer groups over the week spearheaded a medical mission and relief goods distribution for hundreds of families in Matnog, Sorsogon.

Col. Felix Castro, the commanding officer of the PA’s 903rd Infantry Brigade that operates in the province on Friday said more than 700 families in at least four coastal barangays of the municipality benefited from the humanitarian mission arranged by TV5 Resource Mobilization Officer Chay Dionco in cooperation with the PA and Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).

The Kapisanan ng mga Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran ng Matnog, Inc. (KABALIKAT), the Matnog municipal government along with its Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Rural Health Units (RHUs) assisted the medical mission which offered free consultations, treatments and medicines to sick residences, Castro said.

Free haircut services were also offered by Army barbers while relief goods provided by the TV5 were distributed to the beneficiaries. A feeding program was also initiated for school children in Grades I to III in the villages’ public schools, the Army commander said.

Mrs. Marie Ubaldo, who represented her husband, town Mayor Emilio Ubaldo in the mission, expressed gratitude to the attention given by the PA, TV5 and PRC to the villages of Matnog, one of the poorest municipalities of Sorsogon province.

Meanwhile, the PNRC said it is intensifying its Pledge 25 and RC 143 campaign being initiated to help victims of dengue not only in the province but elsewhere in the country.

PNRC Sorsogon Chapter manager Salvacion Abotanatin said they have been mobilizing volunteers from local schools and local government units (LGUs) in the campaign’s blood donation program for dengue patients who may need blood transfusion.

“Although dengue cases in the province are not alarming as no outbreak has been reported by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), so far, we are continuously enlisting blood donation volunteers in anticipation of possible needs and to help the PRC national office in its blood stocking program under its Pledge 25 and RC 143 campaign,” Abotanatin said.

PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang had earlier issued a memorandum addressed to all its chapters nationwide calling for the intensification of the campaign in their respective areas of jurisdiction to maintain vigilance against dengue.

Abotanatin said the PNRC is also helping in the information campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) on the prevention of dengue outbreaks like controlling the spread of dengue carrying mosquitoes in the communities.

“We have organized our RC 143 Community Health Teams and Pledge 25 volunteers for these purposes and they are readily on call in emergency cases,” she added.

PNRC national office records, Abotanatin said posted 38,000 dengue cases nationwide from January to July this year with 200 deaths. In Sorsogon province, Abotanatin said only nine dengue cases were recorded during the same period. (PNA)

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'Oplan Undas' launched in Bicol

2011-10-27T00:03:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 27 (PNA) -- Security measures are in place after police launched "Oplan Undas", an officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol said Thursday.

Police Senior Supt. Wilson Asueta, PNP Bicol spokesperson, said "Oplan Undas" would ensure that peace and order is maintained in various cemeteries, major roads during the observance of All Saints Day on November 1.

Asueta said aside from existing police units, they would field additional personnel to support public assistance centers in various cemeteries, terminals, ports and highways.

The police assistance center would assist incoming and outgoing passengers in the cities of Naga, Legazpi, and Masbate and in Virac town in Catanduanes.

He said checkpoints would be set up to assist motorists and other visitors from other places to observe the week-long religious observance.

Security checks would be strictly enforced in bus terminals and major seaports across the region, he added.

Asueta said the police would also closely coordinate with the Army with regards to security measures of cell site relay stations and towers in remote villages that have been prone to attacks by the New People's Army (NPA) guerrillas. (PNA)

DCT/FFC/LQ/MSA/cbd

Anti-tobacco group enjoins LGUs to institutionalize smoke-free Albay measures By Danny O. Calleja

2011-10-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) – Taking a cue from the all-out campaign of the city government here in providing for a healthful environment, a local civil society group working on making Albay a smoke-free territory has enjoined local government units (LGUs) in the province to enact and enforce ordinances that would institutionalize their respective anti-smoking drives.

Albay board member Herbert Borja who heads the Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN) on Wednesday said that on the part of the province’s legislative board, legislation of the Smoke-Free Albay ordinance would be set up for committee hearing as soon as the provincial legal office is through with its review of the proposed ordinance.

Lawyer Rodolfo Bonafe Jr., the provincial legal officer said his appraisal of the proposed ordinance would be completed before the end of this month.

The proposed measure, Borja said is in line with the goal of the Department of Health (DOH) for a smoke free environment, a campaign started in the province by the city government here through its Revised Smoke-Free Ordinance enacted in 2009 which is now being strictly enforced in all public places of the city including government offices, public conveyances, malls and parks.

For this, the city government had won the DOH’s Red Orchid Award twice in a row of two years, the latest of which was this year. The award is being given yearly by the health department in recognition of LGUs’ successful implementations of anti-smoking programs in their localities.

Borja said, the drive for smoke-free province, also includes an appeal to towns and cities in Albay to pass similar ordinances. Except for Tabaco City and the municipality of Daraga, all the 12 other towns and Ligao City were yet to come up with a similar campaign.

In her report to the SFAN over the week, Tabaco City’s councilwoman and chairperson of the Sangguniang Panglunsod’s committee on health Sheina Onrubia said the smoke-free ordinance of her LGU has been approved last week. Daraga town had also passed the same ordinance.

SFAN’s executive secretary Rose Olarte-Orbita said that part of organization’s anti-smoking advocacy is training for its members to equip them with knowledge and capacity in dealing with the implementation of its programs.

“We have 23 members including myself who attended a meeting cum seminar on effective smoke-free implementation conducted by the University of the Philippines’ College of Law Development Foundation (UPCLDF) in Diliman, Quezon City last September 26,” Orbita said.

Such forum provided SFAN with the “teeth” and tools in its smoke-free advocacy and created a venue to discuss effective means in dealing with tobacco industry interference especially in the passage of ordinances by local government units, she said.

UPCLDF founding members and UP Law professors Rowena Daroy Morales and Cyril Alfred Castro discussed important issues on tobacco industry issues on Republic Act 9211, DOH smoke-free model ordinance and other policies, how to deal with tobacco industry interference and the use of UPCLDF tools and materials for effective implementation in the local level.

Both discussed the G7 model on how seven cities in Metro Manila are making inroads in their implementation of tobacco ordinances. G7 stands for the cities of the National Capital Region composed of Quezon, Makati, Manila, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Calooocan which spearhead the campaign for smoke-free Philippines.

Participants to the seminar considered the activity as enhancement of smoke free advocacy to LGUs and government offices in implementing tobacco control laws. It will support enforcers raise peoples’ awareness of tobacco related laws and put into effect initiatives for law enforcement.

Pastor Deodato Quintela, the head of the Smoke-Free Legazpi enforcement unit who also attended the seminar said he found the UPCLDF encounter a valuable and helpful experience.

SFAN whose set-up includes membership of government and non-government organizations is led by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda as its honorary chairman. Salceda signed an executive order creating the SFAN in October last year. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd

Authorities form task force to curb illegal fishing in Bicol

2011-10-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) - In the wake of a mounting clamor for more government actions toward the protection of Bicol's remaining marine resources, the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (RLECC) has organized a multi-agency task force to go after illegal fishing activities in the region’s fishing grounds.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office based in Pili, Camarines Sur had been assigned to head the task force whose members were drawn from the regional Philippine National Police (PNP) office at Camp Gen. Simeon Ola here, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Maritime Police and the Philippine Army (PA).

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Departments of Justice (DOJ), Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) are also members of the task force.

In the organizational meeting conducted here by the RLECC headed by PNP regional director Chief Supt. Cecilio Calleja Jr., it was recalled that nine Bicol-based bishops last September 5 wrote a letter to President Benigno Aquino III appealing for “immediate enforcement of the law against commercial fishing within the coastal waters of Ragay Gulf in Camarines Sur and Burias Pass in Masbate”.

The bishops asked the President to compel and enable marine and coastal resources authorities to apprehend and prosecute commercials fishers who violate the law covering municipal waters, as well as, small fishers who practice illegal fishing, Calleja said.

The President was also asked by the bishops to order the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and BFAR to expedite the formal demarcation of municipal water boundaries as stipulated by the Fishery Code of the Philippines or Republic Act 8550.

Calleja said that the task force will pool together available resources and assets of member agencies of the task force to be able to conduct successful operations against the illegal fishers. “It is now preparing operational plans on how best to totally stop these illegal activities”.

‘With or without that letter sent by the bishops to the President, we are relentless in conducting anti-illegal fishing operations in the region’s territorial waters and we have accomplishments to boast,” the regional police chief said.

Senior Supt. Eduardo Chavez, the PNP regional intelligence chief said that from the period January to September this year, a total of 665 persons were arrested for illegal fishing which resulted in the confiscation of seven commercial fishing vessels, 44 fishing boats, 29 motor boats, nine bancas, 17 compressors, 1,846 kilograms of assorted fish, and the filing of 70 cases. (PNA)

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Tanada sees enactment of FOI bill by next year

2011-10-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) --- Deputy House Speaker and Quezon Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III said on Wednesday that the much awaited Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill will be passed into law next year.

Tanada was confident that the FOI bill, once approved by the Senate and House Bicameral Committee, would subsequently be signed by President Benigno Aquino III into law next year.

Tanada, who is also the Liberal Party spokesperson at a press conference here, said Aquino considerws the FOI as an important piece of legislation that he would wanted to be enacted during his term.

He said Aquino, when he was Senator was among the lawmakers who supported the bill.

The Quezon 4th district solon said he was among the principal sponsor of the Freedom of Information Act during the 14th Congress where the bill had been endorsed at the Congress Bicameral Committee for deliberation and approval, but the bill was overtaken by events with the holding of the Presidential and National election on 2010.

Tanada said the bill was one step away from passage, but the House of Representatives did not deliver as its last session day before going on recess for the May 10 elections.

Tanada said he was strongly pushing for the ratification of the bill on the last session day, but the House session was immediately adjourned because of lack of quorum. Only 91 congressmen were present, short of the needed 135 congressmen for a quorum.

During the 14th Congress the lower House failed to ratify the bill, putting to waste all the efforts put in by its advocates who said the bill would allow ordinary citizens access to information of public concern from all branches of government.

In the 15th Congress the FOI bill was set to be approved by the House Committee on Information chaired by Samar Rep. Ben Evardone while in the Senate a Technical Working Group (TWG) was formed to further study salient provision of the bill.

Tanada said one critical provision being studied by both houses was the proposal of the Aquino administration to exempt from the FOI act issues concerning “national security.”

The FOI, once passed, government agencies shall make available to the public for scrutiny, copying and reproduction of all information pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as government research data used as basis for policy development. (PNA)

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Legazpi City water supply unsafe for drinking

2011-10-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 25 (PNA) - City Mayor Geraldine Rosal issued a health bulletin on Tuesday advising residents here to refrain from drinking the water supplied by the Legazpi City Water District (LCWD).

She said residents who could not afford to buy from water refilling stations may opt to boil their tap water for not less than 25 minutes.

A study of the University of the Philippines Natural Sciences and Research Institute (UP-NSRI) revealed that the water provided by PhilHydro to the LCWD does not conform with the Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water (PNSDW).

The study showed that the water that flows to household faucets contains high levels of magnesium, hardness (calcium carbonate) and total dissolved solids (TDS).

The presence of magnesium in water enhances the formation of kidney stones when regularly taken, according to Engineer Alain Mape, Provincial Sanitary Office.

PhilHydro, a water facility firm operating in this city, faces possible closure after it was found out by the Department of Health (DOH) to have committed violations in the Sanitation Code of the Philippines.

PhilHydro's business permit was revoked by the city government on recommendation of the DOH, saying that the company failed to comply with the requirements needed to operate a water supply facility.

Nestor Santiago, DOH regional director, said the agency found that PhilHydro committed at least three violations including the failure to secure with the DOH an initial permit to develop a drinking water supply system.

The company after it completed the construction of the water supply system and supplied drinking water to consumers also failed to secure a DOH Operational Permit, Santiago said.

PhilHydro entered an agreement with the LCWD in March 2007 to supply bulk water for a period of 25 years.

A consumers' group, and a non-government organization complained that the water supplied by the LCWD through PHilHydro facility was murky and with foul odor.

Last June, the Sangguniang Panglunsod served a notice of the violation and PhilHydro was given 60 days but failed to comply with the DOH requirements until its deadline expired on Sunday.

Rosal said Rolando Mangulabnan, PhilHydro chief operating officer, in responding to the notice instead asked for an extension of six months to meet the requirements to secure for the DOH initial and operational permits.

The city government is just waiting for the final action of the DOH regarding this matter.

PhilHydro with a P500-million investment to operate a Bulk Water supply facility supplies 600,000 cubic meters of potable water monthly to the LCWD which in turn delivers this water to 25,000 households in this city. (PNA)

LAP/LAM/LQ/MSA/cbd

VP Binay inaugurates typhoon-resistant housing units in Sorsogon By Danny O. Calleja

2011-10-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

SORSOGON CITY, Oct. 20 (PNA) – Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr. on Wednesday led the inauguration ceremonies for the typhoon-resistant housing units built by the city government for homeless indigent families in a calamity-vulnerable village here.

The housing project is located in Barangay Talisay, one of the city’s villages that usually suffer severe impacts of typhoons and storm surge due to its proximity to Sorsogon Bay.

City Mayor Leovic Dioneda said the housing units inaugurated will also be replicated in other barangays here that are also considered highly vulnerable to natural calamities.

His coming to the city, according to Binay, was part of his role as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) that implements and oversees the government's housing thrust in line with the standards being instituted under its climate change mitigation and adaptation (CCMA) mechanisms across the country.

“I also wanted to experience for myself the merrymakings of the Sorsogueños as they celebrate Kasanggayahan Festival being held this year in time with the 117th founding anniversary of the province,” said the Vice President who was welcomed by thousands of people including school children who lined up the city’s main street on his arrival Wednesday afternoon.

The children waved colorful flags while chanting “NoyBi” the campaign slogan coined by political campaigners in the 2010 presidential elections that supported then senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for president and Binay for vice-president. The two ran under separate political camps and voters here gave them overwhelming approvals over their respective rivals.

After the inauguration rites, Binay was ushered by Dioneda to the five School Mitigating, Adapting and Resilient to Typhoons (SMART) school buildings, water treatment facility and several other housing units newly constructed by the city government through funding provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The Vice President also met with other local chief executives in the province with whom he discussed concerns on instituting quality housing provisions for those who are usually affected by severe weather disturbances, identify relocation areas and provide housing that can withstand adverse effects of the change in weather conditions.

Important issues that include comprehensive land use plan, inventory of lands, housing regulation and land use planning, national drive against professional squatters and squatting syndicates, group housing loan program, community mortgage program and disposition of acquired assets, were also discussed.

Binay stayed overnight in the city and early in the morning of Thursday, he joined hundreds of runners in the five-kilometer Kasanggayahan Fun Run organized by his Bicol-based fraternity brothers in the Alpha Phi Omega.

The Vice President’s two-day stay here was part of the Bicol leg of the Pabahay Caravan, the second to the last of the series of forum in all 17 regions in the country to hasten the shelter program of the government in partnership with local government units (LGUs) being initiated by the HUDCC.

HUDCC regional director for Bicol Cristina Abaño said that the Pabahay Caravan launches the granting of financial support to LGUs so that they will be able to implement their own housing projects. Under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, LGUs have important roles in pursuing housing programs for their constituents.

Abaño said that the Pabahay Caravan is expected to ease the housing backlog in Bicol which is about 46,000 per year. Based on the HUDCC inventory, the housing backlog in the country is estimated to 3.7 million units. (PNA)
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Mangrove Planting Activity

2011-10-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

CAGRARAY ISLAND, Bacacay, Albay -- The mangrove planting activity initiated by Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists (PNEJ) regional coordinator for Bicol Rhaydz Barcia (with camera), along with elements of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol), Tactical Operation Group of the Philippine Air Force 5 (TOG-PAF5) and local residents plant over 10,000 propagules of mangroves in the island’s coastal areas over the weekend. (PNA photo)

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NGP can make Bicol ‘Pili Capital of the Philippines’ — DENR By Danny O. Calleja

2011-10-19T18:14:00.000-07:00

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct. 19 (PNA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office for Bicol based in this city on Wednesday said President Benigno Aquino III’s National Greening Program (NGP) could earn for the region the title “Pili Capital of the Philippines”.

NGP is the flagship environmental program of the Aquino administration that aims to plant 1.5 billion trees in 1.5 million hectares of lands across the country until 2016 and according to DENR Regional Executive Director for Bicol Marcus Joselin Fragada, half of this targeted number of trees are fruit-bearings like pili.

Other that fruit trees, Fragada said forest trees identified for planting in the uplands include dipterocarps, narra and other premium and indigenous species, as well as fast growing species such as mahogany, gmelina, bagras, acacia and rubber.

Bamboos and mangrove species are also tapped as reforestation crops particularly in river banks and coastal areas to control soil erosion and as buffer against wave action, he said.

Fragada said Bicol had a total land area of over 1.7 million hectares and 1.2 million hectares of it are considered alienable and disposable. The remaining 541,189 hectares are classified as forest but as of today, only about 20 percent of this area is forested and the rest are denuded owing to destructions caused by illegal logging activities and industrial developments through the years.

Under NGP, he said the DENR which is the lead agency in its implementation targets at least 100,000 hectares to be planted in Bicol during the remaining five years of the program and “perhaps, depending on the availability of planting materials, we can plant at least 10,000 hectares with around two million pili trees across the region”.

Popularly known as the “majestic tree,” pili (Canarium ovatum) is ideal for agro-forestry, as well as an ornamental or lawn tree, along avenues, in parks, subdivisions and golf courses. As an evergreen with an even spread of branches and leaves, the tree is an excellent shade and typhoon windbreaker as it does not shed leaves with the changing for the seasons, Fragada said .

The plant easily adapts to different agro-climatic conditions and being indigenous to Bicol, it thrives in marginal soil conditions, harsh tropical climate and in low and high elevations. It also fits into the agro-ecotourism program of the government because its lush crown provides shelter to wildlife.

To take an active role in the NGP, several farm level stakeholders in the local pili industry, Fragada said have vowed to produce at least a million seedlings starting this year as part of their commitment to the program and at the same time to reinvigorate the industry.

“If Bicol has been able to get the title ‘sili capital’ of the country, it would also become the “Pili Capital of the Philippines’ once this massive pili tree planting inspired by the NGP is done in the region,” he said.

Pili used to be one of the seven major fruits of the country. However, production area is generally sporadic and semi-forestal with existing pili trees, which are natural borne such that land owners in the past take them for granted and cut them indiscriminately to give way to others like coconuts and various annual crops.

It is a promising crop of Bicol which has a great potential for development as a major export crop and like the coconut, pili is a tree of life, with all its parts being useful. The resin (elemi), which is extracted from the bark, is a known export product of the country for many years.

It has both pharmaceutical and industrial uses being ingredient in the manufacture of plasters, ointments, paints, varnish, sealants, lacquers, asphalt, water and fire proofing, linoleum, plastics and printing inks.

Rich in micronutrients such as magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, calcium, ascorbic acid, riboflavin, zinc, copper, iron, sodium, thiamine and niacin, it can be eaten raw or processed as roasted, fixated or sugar-coated and is served in the same way as cashew or almond, or peanuts.

Oil from both kernel and pulp is considered equal if not better to olive oil in quality and is suitable for culinary uses while the pulp also produces pickle, vegetable dishes and edible oil. It also serves as nutritious feeds for cattle and swine. (PNA)

LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd