Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
March 15 - 21 Issue -- CAN THEY REALLY STOP JUETENG IN BICOL
EDITORIAL: CAN THEY REALLY STOP JUETENG IN BICOL? 
Farmers implore NIA fund release By Rey M. Nasol LIBON, Albay -- Some 600 farmers in Albay's 'rice granary' are awaiting the release of P56 million fund from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in order to consistently support President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Rice Sufficiency Program. Mrs. Visitacion N. Racho, president of the South Quinale irrigators' Association Inc., (SQIA) said the fund is still unmoved for unknown reason. "The said fund is intended for construction of the distribution canals of the existing rubber dam at the South Quinale River which was built replacing the old facility that was devastated by past typhoons particularly 'Reming' in November 30, 2006," Racho explained. In a resolution, the SQIA sought the NIA-Bicol regional office through the NIA-Albay Provincial Irrigation Office Caretaker Engineer Cristeta E. Mesias for the immediate implementation of the P56 million out of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) Fund of 2008 for the repair and construction of South Quinale Communal Irrigation System. The resolution said that "the repair of the Left Main canal first will irrigated the 550 hectares of rice field in Barangays Gumabao, Linao, San Vicente, Burabod and part of Bulusan and will make the 600 farmer-beneficiaries very much happy if they can plant rice this coming 'wet season.'" Racho has lamented that the irrigators' board of trustees received no information of whatever hindrance or reason for not implementing the project soon and while the farmers are not too busy in their respective farms so that they can actively participate in the construction. On motion of Jaime B. Pacampara and duly seconded by Board Director Cresencio B. Llarenas, the resolution was forwarded to the concerned agency whose copy furnishes also went to the NIA regional director and the NIA-PIO Caretaker, Engr. Cristeta E. Mesias for their information and appropriate actions. Racho said the rubber dam would be fully beneficial to the farmers if the distribution canals would be put up as soon as possible, if only to convince the Albayano farmers that the government is truly sincere in its Rice Sufficiency Programs. Vege-farming tech wonders By Mabelle R. Ilan WHO SAID that salad vegetables could only be grown in the highlands or in greenhouses? This is not true with Renato Norte of Topas Sogod, Nabua. He has proven that these vegetables could be grown in the lowland. Encouraged by MAO Arnel Duran of Nabua Mang Rene converted the once grassy vacant lot into an organic garden. He has proven that it only takes industry and patience to convert the 2,000 square meter lot into an organic garden without using tractor or carabao. He only used hoe in land preparation. 
Starting anew is not easy. A retired plant mechanic Mang Rene tried his luck in Mindanao after his retirement in 1993 but his wife Charito was homesick. So they settled in Nabua last year. A friend offered a vacant lot in Topas Sogod. They constructed a nipa hut and began to cultivate the land. He collected rice hull and produced his own carbonized rice hull to improve soil tilth. He also applied chicken dung and prepared insect repellant made from oriental herbal nutrient plus citronella leaves. He used indigenous microorganisms, which he used as spray for pests. He also prepared fish amino acid, the extract of which are sprayed on the plants as fertilizer. 
Some of the highland vegetables he planted include: cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, romaine and chives. His first attempt was successful. He obtained the seeds from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Nabua and from the Department of Agriculture Programang Gulayan para sa Masa program. He planted the vegetables on a staggered basis to sustain a regular supply. He has been harvesting lettuce since December and his wife Charito is in-charge of marketing. Lettuce was sold at Ps 120 per kilo but they also have smaller packs ranging from ¼ to ½ kilo. Mang Rene proudly reported that he was able to sell 150 kilos of lettuce from December to mid February this year. Experimenting and testing new technologies are challenging says Mang Rene. He does research on how to grow organic vegetables and how to produce organic fertilizer to avoid overspending on commercial fertilizer. With only one son, Mang Rene is happy that they found a new source of income. He can now sustain his son's college education out of his income from vegetables. Aside from lettuce, Mang Rene also planted other crops like brocolli, cauliflower and romaine lettuce, which according to him command better price. He is now harvesting his romaine lettuce, which he says is an excellent source of vitamin A, foliate, vitamin C, manganese and chromium. He added that it is also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and the minerals potassium, molybdenum, iron, and phosphorus. To promote his produce, Mang Rene has his favorite line "salad days are here again… keep your heart young eat vegetable salad everyday". Philpost assures to do away with 'Return to Sender' mails in Bicol True to its commitment of continuing service to the Bicolanos, the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) for Bicol region, launches another commendable initiative to be known as 'Bringing the Postal Service to the Grassroots." This project will be piloted in 17 far-clung barangays in this city with the sole purpose of eliminating undelivered mails or what is better known as 'return to sender' (RTS) mails. Philpost region-5 (Bicol) director for finance and administration Apolonio Cantuba, said that his office in coordination with Legazpi City Director Elmer Pecson of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will finalize the formal launching of said project within the coming weeks. Cantuba said that Philpost and DILG, being partners for progress and development in the countryside, will be putting up linkages with the local officials of the 17 barangay beneficiaries of the project. The barangay officials will be requested to assist in the delivery of non-recorded mails and notices which make up the bulk of undelivered mails so that all mails will promptly be delivered to their addresses thereby minimizing, if not totally eliminating RTS. To carry out this services-oriented project, a dialogue with the barangay captains of Barangays Bagacay, Banquerohan, Bariis, Bonga, Boyuan, Buenavista, Cagbacong, Estanza, Homapon, Imalnod, Lamba, Mabinit, Mariawa, Maslog, Matanag, Padang, and Taysan was set on March 25 2009 to solicit their assistance in the realization of 'Bringing the Postal Service to the Grassroots" 'Cutest' Butanding rescued off Pilar, Sorsogon gave rise to scientific probes By Rey M. Nasol ENVIRONMENT activists have rescued what they believe might be the smallest living offspring of the world's biggest fish, a whale shark (rhincodon typus) the size of a forearm. The 'cute' gentle giant was sighted off the shores of Pilar, an adjoining town of 'Butanding Capital' of Donsol, Sorsogon last weekend. This serendipitous rescue cum discovery has led to mounting theories that Sorsogon was a birthing place for the world-renowned friendly giant. The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature said maritime officials, along with the environment activists in Pilar, Sorsogon, a town in eastern Philippines, rescued the 15-inch (38 centimeters)-long, believed to be a newborn whale shark and released it in deep waters. It's tail was tied to small rope on a beach when the rescuers discovered the creature. The group called it "arguably the smallest living whale shark in recorded history." WWF said the discovery was the first ever indication that these parts of Sorsogon coastlines, which included Donsol town, known as the whale shark capital of the world, may really be their birthing ground The group has encountered very few baby whale sharks and could only compare the size of its new discovery to embryos found in a dead female shark in 1996 - which measured 14.6 to 18.9 inches (37 to 48 centimeters), according to Elson Aca, project manager for the WWF whale shark tracking project. Regional center site move out of Legazpi By Rey M. Nasol DARAGA, Albay -- The further development of Legazpi City and this premiere town is no longer seen within the main thoroughfares. This is according to Governor Joey Sarte Salceda after massive threats of lahar, tsunami, flashfloods and volcanic catastrophes were proven in previous years of succeeding calamities which brought the economy down to almost flat zero in the midst of taking center-stage prior to super typhoon Reming in 2006. The main catalyst for this shift is the ongoing construction of the Southern Luzon International Airport at Barangay Alobo of this town. The area being elevated compared to present business district will become home to new 'offspring' of residential, business developments and the nearby spot for the regional center site at Barangay Villahermosa, near Alobo. The regional center which is currently located at Rawis, Legazpi City is a government lot where the offices of the national agencies are found. But the present regional center site is considered prone to flooding, the threat of lahar and tsunami as it sits next to the shorelines and below the lahat pathways. Asked of what would happen to Legazpi and this town proper, Salceda said there is no compulsory moving out of the present settings "pero pag nanganganak diba hahanap at hahanap ng bagong lugar (But in case of new offsprings, there should be new dwellings for them)," Salceda told this writer. A number of civil engineers consulted by this writer prior to writing, have opined that residential and similar human activities have to really move to safer areas while the frequently flooded areas may still be utilized for various industrial purposes such as manufacturing plants, navigation farming and other production related activities whose edifices can be ensured for easy capital recovery in cases of calamities. Salceda noted that because of sad experiences to calamities especially from floodings, new house builders opt for higher elevations and that the area around the prospected airport site is ideal for new developments because it sits on top of a huge plateau. Earlier, the local chief executive of Camalig town, next to Daraga, had also manifested eagerness to conquer the upland areas where the railroad and new road openings meet towards the airport site. Camalig was one of the towns mostly devastated by lahar during the height of 'Reming' and every heavy downpour thereafter. By operation of nature and the climate change adaptation, being one of the advocacies of Salceda and his Consultant Nong Rangasa, people should seek new areas for home developments and business activities in safer elevation that are also not prone to landslides. They both believe the new international airport site is indeed the 'catalyst' for new growth areas of this town and the rest of Albay province. Bicol tourist arrivals 1.3M in ‘08; up by 45.5% from 2007 By Ed de Leon, PIA-5 Tourist arrivals in Bicol continue to grow over the years as it registered a growth rate of 45.59 per cent over the 2007 figures according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office here. Maria Ong Ravanilla, DOT Bicol regional director, said that a total of 1,306,792 tourists visited Bicol last year which is 409,292 over the 2007 figures. She said that of the total number, 1,057,735 were domestic tourists while 249,237 were foreign nationals. She added that total gross receipts generated by the tourism industry jumped to P781,995,280 million from P443,558,400 million in 2007 or an increment of 56.72 per cent. While the total job generated reached 499,336 or 181,462 over the other year. Ravanilla said that the highest number of tourist arrivals last year was registered by the province of Camarines Sur with a total of 721,024 comprising of 523,580 domestic and 197,444 foreign or 55.167 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in Bicol. Foreign tourist arrivals to Camarines Sur also top the six provinces of Bicol hitting 79.21 per cent or a total of 249,237 foreign nationals that visited the region. She said this was because the province invested heavily on tourism facilities like the now world famous Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CSWC) inside the provincial capitol compound; the world class Gota Beach Resort in Caramoan town; and now the newly opened Lago del Rey, an 18-hectare man-made lake just beside the CSWC which is expected to attract more tourists to the province this year. She disclosed that Albay was second in terms of tourist arrivals with 173,959; Masbate, third with 166,784; Camarines Norte, fourth with 105,051; Sorsogon is fifth with 83,541; and Catanduanes, sixth with 56,613. Albay pursues Philhealth enrollment for 122,000 Medicare beneficiaries By Rey M. Nasol THE provincial government of Albay is renewing some 122,000 Philhealth membership to cover almost the whole population which is around 1 million as of latest statistics report. The massive distribution of "Medicare Para sa Masa" through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) cards for this year is already 50 percent with 70,000 distributed so far across the province, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Yolly Guanzon told the Philippines News Agency in an interview Wednesday. Guanzon said distribution is still to be completed in the town of Oas where some 5,000 PhilHealth cards were coursed through the barangay captains who shall then distribute them to their constituents regardless of political affiliations and ethnicity. Oas town was allocated a total of 10,000 PhilHealth cards and Wednesday's turnover represented 50 percent of the number. "Depending on the size of population, each municipality and city is entitled to a corresponding number of PhilHealth cards to reach out to as many family beneficiaries as possible," Guanzon explained. Last year's allocation reached some P36 million for the start of this program entitling heads of families as the primary members to the PhilHealth "Medicare para sa masa" and that their corresponding dependents are also eligible for the health services. PhilHealth services cover hospitalization, medications and related emergency services to its members. However, the PSWDO revealed that the office has received several reports on difficulties among the beneficiaries and that "We are trying our best to address some myths and the need to inform and educate them on their rights to avoid frauds by deceitful practices among hospitals and clinics," Guanzon assured. She advised the card holders to be vigilant against frauds by not signing blank documents and lending their original papers to the doctors or hospitals upon billing stages to avoid overcharging the PhilHealth beyond the member's knowledge, among other things. The PSWDO has decided to course the distribution through the barangay captains and sought to avoid politicking to be able to reach out to all eligible beneficiaries without biases and favoritisms. Tricy men join health advocates on wheels By Mike dela Rama DARAGA, Albay -- About a hundred tricycle drivers have joined as health advocates on wheels by using the vantage space inside their side cars to advertise free Information Hotline as part of their participation to strengthen awareness campaign launched Monday in this developing premier town. Known as the "midnight riders" of the vulnerable sex group, the drivers got on the spot health orientation in the place where their wheels are park near the public market and each received stickers from the personnel of the Daraga Municipal Health Office (MHO) and members of the Peace Corps Volunteer and Bicol Regional Health Information Network (BRHIN). Written on the stickers are: cell phone number 090292074818; Reproductive Health Hotline Curious Ka? Shy Pa? Ask Na!: and an enticing red heart in between the word of TEXT MATE making it perfect. This will open access to every passenger of the tri-mobile, the information on gender & sexuality, pregnancy; human immune virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS); sexually transmitted infections (STDs); condom; pills and other sex related queries, said Dr. Edna Freya Barba-Tan. The free access to health information is expected to heighten awareness not only to workers of entertainment business but also to those transients and moving from one place to place by using the "perfect text mate" hotline.
Farmers implore NIA fund release By Rey M. Nasol LIBON, Albay -- Some 600 farmers in Albay's 'rice granary' are awaiting the release of P56 million fund from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in order to consistently support President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's Rice Sufficiency Program. Mrs. Visitacion N. Racho, president of the South Quinale irrigators' Association Inc., (SQIA) said the fund is still unmoved for unknown reason. "The said fund is intended for construction of the distribution canals of the existing rubber dam at the South Quinale River which was built replacing the old facility that was devastated by past typhoons particularly 'Reming' in November 30, 2006," Racho explained. In a resolution, the SQIA sought the NIA-Bicol regional office through the NIA-Albay Provincial Irrigation Office Caretaker Engineer Cristeta E. Mesias for the immediate implementation of the P56 million out of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) Fund of 2008 for the repair and construction of South Quinale Communal Irrigation System. The resolution said that "the repair of the Left Main canal first will irrigated the 550 hectares of rice field in Barangays Gumabao, Linao, San Vicente, Burabod and part of Bulusan and will make the 600 farmer-beneficiaries very much happy if they can plant rice this coming 'wet season.'" Racho has lamented that the irrigators' board of trustees received no information of whatever hindrance or reason for not implementing the project soon and while the farmers are not too busy in their respective farms so that they can actively participate in the construction. On motion of Jaime B. Pacampara and duly seconded by Board Director Cresencio B. Llarenas, the resolution was forwarded to the concerned agency whose copy furnishes also went to the NIA regional director and the NIA-PIO Caretaker, Engr. Cristeta E. Mesias for their information and appropriate actions. Racho said the rubber dam would be fully beneficial to the farmers if the distribution canals would be put up as soon as possible, if only to convince the Albayano farmers that the government is truly sincere in its Rice Sufficiency Programs. Vege-farming tech wonders By Mabelle R. Ilan WHO SAID that salad vegetables could only be grown in the highlands or in greenhouses? This is not true with Renato Norte of Topas Sogod, Nabua. He has proven that these vegetables could be grown in the lowland. Encouraged by MAO Arnel Duran of Nabua Mang Rene converted the once grassy vacant lot into an organic garden. He has proven that it only takes industry and patience to convert the 2,000 square meter lot into an organic garden without using tractor or carabao. He only used hoe in land preparation. 
Starting anew is not easy. A retired plant mechanic Mang Rene tried his luck in Mindanao after his retirement in 1993 but his wife Charito was homesick. So they settled in Nabua last year. A friend offered a vacant lot in Topas Sogod. They constructed a nipa hut and began to cultivate the land. He collected rice hull and produced his own carbonized rice hull to improve soil tilth. He also applied chicken dung and prepared insect repellant made from oriental herbal nutrient plus citronella leaves. He used indigenous microorganisms, which he used as spray for pests. He also prepared fish amino acid, the extract of which are sprayed on the plants as fertilizer. 
Some of the highland vegetables he planted include: cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, romaine and chives. His first attempt was successful. He obtained the seeds from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Nabua and from the Department of Agriculture Programang Gulayan para sa Masa program. He planted the vegetables on a staggered basis to sustain a regular supply. He has been harvesting lettuce since December and his wife Charito is in-charge of marketing. Lettuce was sold at Ps 120 per kilo but they also have smaller packs ranging from ¼ to ½ kilo. Mang Rene proudly reported that he was able to sell 150 kilos of lettuce from December to mid February this year. Experimenting and testing new technologies are challenging says Mang Rene. He does research on how to grow organic vegetables and how to produce organic fertilizer to avoid overspending on commercial fertilizer. With only one son, Mang Rene is happy that they found a new source of income. He can now sustain his son's college education out of his income from vegetables. Aside from lettuce, Mang Rene also planted other crops like brocolli, cauliflower and romaine lettuce, which according to him command better price. He is now harvesting his romaine lettuce, which he says is an excellent source of vitamin A, foliate, vitamin C, manganese and chromium. He added that it is also a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and the minerals potassium, molybdenum, iron, and phosphorus. To promote his produce, Mang Rene has his favorite line "salad days are here again… keep your heart young eat vegetable salad everyday". Philpost assures to do away with 'Return to Sender' mails in Bicol True to its commitment of continuing service to the Bicolanos, the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) for Bicol region, launches another commendable initiative to be known as 'Bringing the Postal Service to the Grassroots." This project will be piloted in 17 far-clung barangays in this city with the sole purpose of eliminating undelivered mails or what is better known as 'return to sender' (RTS) mails. Philpost region-5 (Bicol) director for finance and administration Apolonio Cantuba, said that his office in coordination with Legazpi City Director Elmer Pecson of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will finalize the formal launching of said project within the coming weeks. Cantuba said that Philpost and DILG, being partners for progress and development in the countryside, will be putting up linkages with the local officials of the 17 barangay beneficiaries of the project. The barangay officials will be requested to assist in the delivery of non-recorded mails and notices which make up the bulk of undelivered mails so that all mails will promptly be delivered to their addresses thereby minimizing, if not totally eliminating RTS. To carry out this services-oriented project, a dialogue with the barangay captains of Barangays Bagacay, Banquerohan, Bariis, Bonga, Boyuan, Buenavista, Cagbacong, Estanza, Homapon, Imalnod, Lamba, Mabinit, Mariawa, Maslog, Matanag, Padang, and Taysan was set on March 25 2009 to solicit their assistance in the realization of 'Bringing the Postal Service to the Grassroots" 'Cutest' Butanding rescued off Pilar, Sorsogon gave rise to scientific probes By Rey M. Nasol ENVIRONMENT activists have rescued what they believe might be the smallest living offspring of the world's biggest fish, a whale shark (rhincodon typus) the size of a forearm. The 'cute' gentle giant was sighted off the shores of Pilar, an adjoining town of 'Butanding Capital' of Donsol, Sorsogon last weekend. This serendipitous rescue cum discovery has led to mounting theories that Sorsogon was a birthing place for the world-renowned friendly giant. The World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature said maritime officials, along with the environment activists in Pilar, Sorsogon, a town in eastern Philippines, rescued the 15-inch (38 centimeters)-long, believed to be a newborn whale shark and released it in deep waters. It's tail was tied to small rope on a beach when the rescuers discovered the creature. The group called it "arguably the smallest living whale shark in recorded history." WWF said the discovery was the first ever indication that these parts of Sorsogon coastlines, which included Donsol town, known as the whale shark capital of the world, may really be their birthing ground The group has encountered very few baby whale sharks and could only compare the size of its new discovery to embryos found in a dead female shark in 1996 - which measured 14.6 to 18.9 inches (37 to 48 centimeters), according to Elson Aca, project manager for the WWF whale shark tracking project. Regional center site move out of Legazpi By Rey M. Nasol DARAGA, Albay -- The further development of Legazpi City and this premiere town is no longer seen within the main thoroughfares. This is according to Governor Joey Sarte Salceda after massive threats of lahar, tsunami, flashfloods and volcanic catastrophes were proven in previous years of succeeding calamities which brought the economy down to almost flat zero in the midst of taking center-stage prior to super typhoon Reming in 2006. The main catalyst for this shift is the ongoing construction of the Southern Luzon International Airport at Barangay Alobo of this town. The area being elevated compared to present business district will become home to new 'offspring' of residential, business developments and the nearby spot for the regional center site at Barangay Villahermosa, near Alobo. The regional center which is currently located at Rawis, Legazpi City is a government lot where the offices of the national agencies are found. But the present regional center site is considered prone to flooding, the threat of lahar and tsunami as it sits next to the shorelines and below the lahat pathways. Asked of what would happen to Legazpi and this town proper, Salceda said there is no compulsory moving out of the present settings "pero pag nanganganak diba hahanap at hahanap ng bagong lugar (But in case of new offsprings, there should be new dwellings for them)," Salceda told this writer. A number of civil engineers consulted by this writer prior to writing, have opined that residential and similar human activities have to really move to safer areas while the frequently flooded areas may still be utilized for various industrial purposes such as manufacturing plants, navigation farming and other production related activities whose edifices can be ensured for easy capital recovery in cases of calamities. Salceda noted that because of sad experiences to calamities especially from floodings, new house builders opt for higher elevations and that the area around the prospected airport site is ideal for new developments because it sits on top of a huge plateau. Earlier, the local chief executive of Camalig town, next to Daraga, had also manifested eagerness to conquer the upland areas where the railroad and new road openings meet towards the airport site. Camalig was one of the towns mostly devastated by lahar during the height of 'Reming' and every heavy downpour thereafter. By operation of nature and the climate change adaptation, being one of the advocacies of Salceda and his Consultant Nong Rangasa, people should seek new areas for home developments and business activities in safer elevation that are also not prone to landslides. They both believe the new international airport site is indeed the 'catalyst' for new growth areas of this town and the rest of Albay province. Bicol tourist arrivals 1.3M in ‘08; up by 45.5% from 2007 By Ed de Leon, PIA-5 Tourist arrivals in Bicol continue to grow over the years as it registered a growth rate of 45.59 per cent over the 2007 figures according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office here. Maria Ong Ravanilla, DOT Bicol regional director, said that a total of 1,306,792 tourists visited Bicol last year which is 409,292 over the 2007 figures. She said that of the total number, 1,057,735 were domestic tourists while 249,237 were foreign nationals. She added that total gross receipts generated by the tourism industry jumped to P781,995,280 million from P443,558,400 million in 2007 or an increment of 56.72 per cent. While the total job generated reached 499,336 or 181,462 over the other year. Ravanilla said that the highest number of tourist arrivals last year was registered by the province of Camarines Sur with a total of 721,024 comprising of 523,580 domestic and 197,444 foreign or 55.167 per cent of the total tourist arrivals in Bicol. Foreign tourist arrivals to Camarines Sur also top the six provinces of Bicol hitting 79.21 per cent or a total of 249,237 foreign nationals that visited the region. She said this was because the province invested heavily on tourism facilities like the now world famous Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CSWC) inside the provincial capitol compound; the world class Gota Beach Resort in Caramoan town; and now the newly opened Lago del Rey, an 18-hectare man-made lake just beside the CSWC which is expected to attract more tourists to the province this year. She disclosed that Albay was second in terms of tourist arrivals with 173,959; Masbate, third with 166,784; Camarines Norte, fourth with 105,051; Sorsogon is fifth with 83,541; and Catanduanes, sixth with 56,613. Albay pursues Philhealth enrollment for 122,000 Medicare beneficiaries By Rey M. Nasol THE provincial government of Albay is renewing some 122,000 Philhealth membership to cover almost the whole population which is around 1 million as of latest statistics report. The massive distribution of "Medicare Para sa Masa" through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) cards for this year is already 50 percent with 70,000 distributed so far across the province, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Yolly Guanzon told the Philippines News Agency in an interview Wednesday. Guanzon said distribution is still to be completed in the town of Oas where some 5,000 PhilHealth cards were coursed through the barangay captains who shall then distribute them to their constituents regardless of political affiliations and ethnicity. Oas town was allocated a total of 10,000 PhilHealth cards and Wednesday's turnover represented 50 percent of the number. "Depending on the size of population, each municipality and city is entitled to a corresponding number of PhilHealth cards to reach out to as many family beneficiaries as possible," Guanzon explained. Last year's allocation reached some P36 million for the start of this program entitling heads of families as the primary members to the PhilHealth "Medicare para sa masa" and that their corresponding dependents are also eligible for the health services. PhilHealth services cover hospitalization, medications and related emergency services to its members. However, the PSWDO revealed that the office has received several reports on difficulties among the beneficiaries and that "We are trying our best to address some myths and the need to inform and educate them on their rights to avoid frauds by deceitful practices among hospitals and clinics," Guanzon assured. She advised the card holders to be vigilant against frauds by not signing blank documents and lending their original papers to the doctors or hospitals upon billing stages to avoid overcharging the PhilHealth beyond the member's knowledge, among other things. The PSWDO has decided to course the distribution through the barangay captains and sought to avoid politicking to be able to reach out to all eligible beneficiaries without biases and favoritisms. Tricy men join health advocates on wheels By Mike dela Rama DARAGA, Albay -- About a hundred tricycle drivers have joined as health advocates on wheels by using the vantage space inside their side cars to advertise free Information Hotline as part of their participation to strengthen awareness campaign launched Monday in this developing premier town. Known as the "midnight riders" of the vulnerable sex group, the drivers got on the spot health orientation in the place where their wheels are park near the public market and each received stickers from the personnel of the Daraga Municipal Health Office (MHO) and members of the Peace Corps Volunteer and Bicol Regional Health Information Network (BRHIN). Written on the stickers are: cell phone number 090292074818; Reproductive Health Hotline Curious Ka? Shy Pa? Ask Na!: and an enticing red heart in between the word of TEXT MATE making it perfect. This will open access to every passenger of the tri-mobile, the information on gender & sexuality, pregnancy; human immune virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS); sexually transmitted infections (STDs); condom; pills and other sex related queries, said Dr. Edna Freya Barba-Tan. The free access to health information is expected to heighten awareness not only to workers of entertainment business but also to those transients and moving from one place to place by using the "perfect text mate" hotline.Monday, March 23, 2009
OFW Success Stories
Jocy (center) with Sajith Arayadath, an Indian national (Left) and a european Safety Officer
Editor’s note: Jocelyn Millares is a lady from the Visayas region and married to a Bicolano. Incidentally the editor had a stint of working with her at the Safety Department of the Joint Venture New Doha International Airport (JV-NDIA) construction during its reclamation phase. This feature is a ‘reporter’s notebook’ featured on the OFW Guide website citing her as one of the remarkable Overseas Filipina Workers. The editor believes that OFWs have better chances of fair treatment and even due recognition in the construction industry rather than in the domestic help job. While the editor was deploying workers to the 22 square kilometer project site, Jocelyn assists him in their safety induction and provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). The editor has been the Project Site Coordinator of the said site after having been elevated from being a Secretary upon 4 days of assuming the applied job when he left the country.
When did you arrive in your current location?
I arrived in Doha last November 29, 2004, as a Secretary in a fitness gym. It was my first time to work abroad so I have big dreams for my family although at that time my salary was only $400. I have a happy-go-lucky personality, they say that I'm very transparent, sometimes tactless, but with a good sense of humor too. With regards to my work, I haven't received any complaint as I am fast-learner and also well-conversant in English. The gym that I used to work is owned by a Sheikh, they don't like my personality so, in short, after only 1 month of stay there, I was terminated & they really wanted to send me back to the Philippines. I cried and begged to give me a chance to transfer to other companies as my family is depending on me. At last, they gave me eight (8) days to find another company to transfer my sponsorship otherwise I don't have any choice but to go back to Philippines. Eight (8) days was a very short period of time to find another job in Qatar. It was really a devastating reality for me...
Tell us what has happened during your stay in this country you have worked in.
It was those times that I cried and prayed to the good LORD 'Lord have mercy upon me give me another job, don't let me go back to the Philippines and be a loser again'. Before I go to Qatar I have debt of P80,000.00 because every year I borrow money for the tuition fee of my 2 children.
I went to seek the help of Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO). There I found several employers looking for Secretaries, and truly when GOD closes the door, he opens a very big window. I was terminated at the Gym last January 11 and in January 15, I started my job in the Joint Venture New Doha International Airport Project. A very big project indeed!
JV NDIA is a joint venture of four (4) biggest dredging companies making the platform of the New Doha International Airport. I'm presently working there as a Secretary in the Safety Department. Dredging company is basically a men's world. In our company, there are only 10 ladies versus 600 men working on the land site and on the water side.
What were your most memorable moments in your current location?
My most memorable experience is during those times that I have to assist my boss in our daily Safety Induction because everyday before each worker will go on the site, we have to give induction for them to know the safety procedures like wearing the basic PPE such as helmet, high visibility vest, safety goggles, and safety shoes. Sometimes, my boss is irritated that the entire people are looking at me instead of listening to him! But I think it's also a good advantage having a lady in the safety department because I can arrange my store room very neatly and the people, especially men listen to a lady rather than men. Ladies usually have our own charm and people in the Middle East admire ladies who are dynamic and smart because here, ladies usually are second-class citizens, they usually stayed in their homes and can't deal in a working environment such as this..
What are the things that you miss about the Philippines?
The thing that i miss in the Philippines is my family. I miss having a nice family get-together like watching movies or going to the park or mall. I also miss my mom very much. She died while I was here in Qatar. It's so sad that before I go, she gave me nice hug and kisses, not knowing that it will be our last moment together...
What is your message to all OFWs around the world?
To all my fellow OFW: just keep on working very hard to impress our boss. Let's prove to them that we are not only good in work but we are also honest and we have perseverance in any kind of job. I know that we are not doing it only for ourselves but for the rest of our family. We want to give brighter future for our children...With the help of our Almighty GOD, success is very easy to achieve...
Bicol students, parents oppose tuition fee hikes
By Mike dela Rama
Private schools in Bicol region have a slim chance of implementing an increase in tuition fee next school year because of continuous opposition from students and parents.
Dr. Dominador Peralta, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regional director in Bicol, said 16 private schools in the tertiary level have filed their proposed tuition hike.
"As a matter of policy they (schools) are required to conduct consultation with students, parents and teachers to discuss the mechanism on tuition hike," Peralta said.
The decision of the CHED whether to approve the request to implement tuition increase for school year 2009-2010 will depend on the result of the consultation.
"In case students and parents oppose the new hike we can not allow any school to implement the same," Peralta said.
The CHED has received letters from various organizations urging it to disapprove any tuition fee increase.
Meanwhile, Albay board member Neil Montallana, chairman, committee on education, has urged all private schools in Albay to defer their proposed tuition hike. "We have also to consider the present economic condition in the country," he said.
"Any increase in tuition is an additional burden to the Albayanos," he added.
Salceda inducts paramedics
By Rey M. Nasol
The newly-trained Albayano volunteers are now ready to face various disaster scenarios in Albay as the province equips itself with stronger disaster preparedness measures to lessen impact of typhoons, volcanic eruptions, landslides and lahar floods to lives and properties.
Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda inducted the graduates at the Conference hall of the Provincial Disaster Operation Center Wednesday morning.
The group consisting of 107 graduates, called Emergency Medical Responders (EMR), finished a six-month paramedics training under the Albay Health and Emergency Management (AHEM) project.
Jukes Nuñez of the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), the lead agency, said the training was administered through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Bicol University (BU), Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Provincial Government of Albay.
Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda promptly responds to radio interviews before the induction rites
According to earlier interview with APSEMO chief Cedric Daep the training started last October, 2008 from pre-qualification, screening activities and other related preliminary activities. It was followed by a series of lectures on theories and literature from January until last week.
Rey Añunuevo, training director of the APSEMO, said the APSEMO is conducting series of trainings for local government units across the province to encourage them put up their own 'institutionalized' disaster management offices with corresponding permanent personnel and budget.
DOLE tightens helmet rule to promote workplace safety
In the Bicol region, it is not only the police who enforce the helmet rule, but also the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a move to promote workplace safety, particularly in the construction industry, DOLE-Bicol, starting this coming April will strictly enforce the construction safety rules, like wearing of helmet and hanging of safety nets, and other personal protective equipment (PPEs) to avoid workplace-related accidents.
"In this time of crisis, the last thing we do not want is a workplace accident. Accidents are expensive both for labor and management and it will give a lot of headache to everyone. So let's prevent it while we can. Remember, we're doing this not to make the life of construction companies miserable but to prevent accidents. Prevention is better than cure," DOLE Bicol Regional Director Ernesto C. Bihis explained.
DOLE-Bicol information officer Raymond P. Escalante told this writer that there is a need for an information campaign on the Internationally Accepted Safety Measures such that companies which are ISO-Certified (International Safety Organization) are required to promptly comply with safety rules such as ISO-9000 series.
ISO 9000 series certifies a company, particularly those engaged in construction, for Quality Management Systems (QMS) vis-a-vis compliance to international safety standards and practices. Sadly, this writer's random check in recent sorties confirmed very few construction companies in Bicol are adhering to, if not completely ignoring, safety rules, a thing the DOLE-Bicol wants to correct immediately to prevent loss of lives among workers.
To further advocate construction safety, DOLE-Bicol called all construction firms and safety practitioners in the region for a four-day training on construction safety this week at the Kanzo Hotel in Legazpi City. The training aimed to "remind" construction firms about their role in having a safe and healthy working environment.
Participants were reoriented on the various safety procedures on construction, most specifically the adherence on the wearing of personal protective equipment or PPEs.
DOLE Workplace Safety Focal Person Engineer Roberto Aranas said that the training program was actually a review since a similar training had been conducted in previous years.
Gladly in Bicol, workplace deaths are very minimal but small unreported accidents do happen. "These are the accidents that happen because of neglect. These are the accidents that should have never happened if only they adhere to the helmet law and use of prescribed PPEs," Bihis said
DOLE Bicol Assistant Regioanl Director Irma S. Valiente said that a region-wide advocacy on the use of construction helmet and construction safety gears are being pushed by the office through trainings and the institutionalization of safety practitioners. "If mishaps due to carelessness happen or due to non-adherence to this rule, the safety practitioner will be liable. We will strip-off their licenses," Valiente warned.
Tabaco gets P.3M for emergency job efforts
TABACO CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Bicol has granted a total of P300,000 over the weekend for this city's "Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers" (TUPAD) program.
The DOLE said the grant would "shoot two birds with one stone" because aside from providing jobs, the program will also contribute a significant improvement to the environment through cleanups and face lifting of the city's riversides and greening up efforts.
"City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro, managed to get a total of P300,000 grant from DOLE-Bicol for the implementation of the government's emergency employment program," said DOLE-Bicol Information Officer Raymond P. Escalante.
The grant, which was personally turned-over by DOLE Bicol Regional Director Ernesto C. Bihis last weekend during a flag ceremony at the Tabaco City Hall, will be used to pay the wages of some 51 workers from the informal sector affected by the global challenges.
Qualified workers will earn a minimum wage of P260 per day for a one-month work schedule.
The work program focused on the rehabilitation of the Tabaco River which includes riverside clean and green maintenance, dredging, some street sweeping and some paint jobs.
"Mayor Krisel has lined up the work activities to be done by the workers on this emergency employment. We hope that we could at least supplement the needs of the global crisis affected workers thru this program" Bihis said.
The DOLE's TUPAD program was launched last February to specifically address the aftermaths of the global challenges. The aim is to provide immediate job placement to affected workers in the area.
"We plan to implement all TUPAD programs within the 1st quarter. Even though Bicol is not so much affected by the crisis, still we have workers who were affected which needs immediate job," he said.
Bihis said that since January, DOLE-Bicol has already released a total of P 2.4 million for emergency employment to various recipients region-wide.
DPWH puts up P2.9 Billion projects in Bicol
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now implementing some P2.9 billion worth of pump-priming projects in Bicol for this year. It aimed at exciting the economy which could generate more jobs in the countryside and mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis.
DPWH Bicol regional director Orlando Roces said that the amount will be used to fund some 87 projects in the six provinces of Bicol in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's P330 billion pump priming program for 2009.
Roces said the projects include road opening, road concreting, flood control structures, construction of new school buildings, and repair of roads and bridges.
Some 360 workers have been initially hired since the launching of the job generation program of the DPWH two weeks ago.
In a statement, Roces said that a total of 742 applied for the jobs under the "Programang Pangtrabaho ni Pangulong Arroyo" job generation program being handled by the agency.
The initial holding of the one-day jobs fair resulted in the immediate hiring of 360 workers by participating contractors who are undertaking pump priming infrastructure projects of the DPWH in the region.
He said that the DPWH's role is to match the available jobs with the skills of the applicants before they are recommended for hiring by participating contractors.
Roces said that similar job fairs will also be conducted in the coming months to be able to hire more workers who were earlier retrenched by their previous employers.
He added that the job fairs is being undertaken in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the National Constructors Association and the Philippine Constructors Association, Inc.
8 hurt in landmine blast in Masbate
At least six policemen and two civilians were injured by an explosion from an improvised landmine that hit the passenger jeep they were riding on Thursday in Balud, Masbate, a Philippine Army (PA) report said Friday.
Hurt in the blast were Police Officer (PO)2 Rogelio Bolante, PO1s Ian Mark Antiporda, Menard Danao, Darius Capili, Juvy Llunar Ronel Paac and civilians Editha Race and Gilbert Leonor, driver.
Army Capt. Razaleigh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the incident took place around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The victims where on board the jeep negotiating a road at Sitio Pinamangkahan, Barangay San Pablo, Balud town when their vehicle hit an improvised landmine planted on the side of the road by suspected communist guerrillas.
Bansawan said the eight policemen of the 506th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) were on their way back to Masbate City after completing regular patrol work when they were ambushed by New People's Army (NPA) rebels led by Luis Gonzaga alias "Ka Jaypee".
He said the rebels attacked the policemen with the use of a detonated explosive device planted at the roadside.
The victims were rushed to the Masbate Provincial Hospital. Attending physicians said two of the policemen are in critical condition while the rest are recovering from shrapnel wounds sustained from the blast.
Bansawan said, "The use of landmine by the NPA is clear violation of international humanitarian law, they even fired at the passenger jeep, knowing that there were civilians on board".
Military intelligence said the rebel offensive is a show of force since the NPA will celebrate their anniversary on March 29, with a directive to conduct tactical offensive against government forces in various parts of the country. (Mar S. Arguelles)
Spain turns over P110M projects to Albay
The Spanish government through the Agencia Español de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) turned over on Thursday some P110 million worth of infrastructure projects to the province of Albay, Governor Joey Sarte Salceda said.
The turnover ceremonies led by Luis Romero Arias, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines and Salceda including city and town executives here were held separately on Thursday in the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and the town of Daraga where the Spanish government projects are located.
Salceda said the P110 million were financial assistance given by Spain to the province heavily devastated by two super typhoons and the Mayon volcano eruption in 2006.
Salceda said aside from the projects recently turned over by the AECID, another P160.5 million projects are being finalized by the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) in coordination with AECID involving proposals for a disaster risk reduction project in Albay.
He said that P60.5 million of the total amount has been approved with signed project acceptance by the Spanish government, involving construction of two emergency evacuation centers in the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan and the strengthening of APSEMO by providing the office with the latest state-of-the-art communication system to be used in pre and post-disaster operations.
At the turnover rites, Spanish Ambassador Arias said his country is committed to assist the Philippines since the Philippines and Spain have maintained close ties for several centuries.
Arias said "our countries are sisters and we have ratified these commitments to reduce poverty in the country including the preservation of lives and properties during natural disasters."
Arias said, "We are also committed to fight the ill-effects of climate change," as he announced that he will earmark some P15 million as funding for the strengthening of the province's agriculture and livestock industry.
Salceda, for his part, expressed his deep gratitude for the Spanish government assistance, saying that "he will forever be grateful to the terms of endearment and engagement given by Spain to his province."
Ambassador Arias and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) granting the city P93 million for the implementation of a comprehensive solid waste management project.
Rosal said the project involves the setting up of an efficient solid waste management system in the city designed to improve the social and environmental condition of residents in this city.
He said the project will be established in a 12-hectare land owned by the city government in Barangay Banquerohan, some 22 kilometers from the city proper.
Rosal said the project has four components, namely: sanitary land fill development; materials recovery system; reduction, and recycling system and project administration.
In Ligao City, the Spanish Ambassador turned over to Gov. Salceda the newly renovated Doña Josefina Belmonte Duran Memorial District Hospital (DJBDMDH), a 50-bed tertiary hospital servicing the medical needs of residents in the seven towns and a city in the third district of Albay.
The AECID released some P14 million in 2007 for the renovation of the district hospital worth P8 million and hospital equipment worth P6 million.
In Daraga, Albay, the Spanish government also turned over the newly constructed P13-million evacuation center located at the top floor of the new Daraga Public Market.
The evacuation center will be used in times of disaster. In normal times it will be used as training center for livelihood projects and the likes.
Governor Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay Province (center) witnesses the ceremonial key turnover for the newly built Evacuation Center on the roof top of this town’s public market. Spanish Ambassador Luis Romero Arias, representing the donor country through the Agencia Española De Cooperacion International para el Desarrollo (AECID) hands over the key to Daraga town Mayor Cicero Triunfante during the inauguration of the edifice early this month. Photo below shows (from left) Arias’ wife Soledad Lavina, Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda (JSS), Ambassador Arias and Vice Mayor Len Magayanes. Both ladies cut the ribbon for the said inauguration.
Mayon is background for Spanish Ambassador Luis Romero Arias (5th from left) during the inauguratin of the emergency evacuation center here which was donated by the government of Spain. With him are Jesus Molina, Representative of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Lidia Hernandez, Regional Director, Mayte Toledano, Junior Professional Officer, Bella Fernandez, Program Officer for Social Development, And Jose Antonio Mira Padial, and Ambassador Arias’ wife, Soledad Lavina. (Photo by Rey M. Nasol)
By Mike dela Rama
Private schools in Bicol region have a slim chance of implementing an increase in tuition fee next school year because of continuous opposition from students and parents.
Dr. Dominador Peralta, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regional director in Bicol, said 16 private schools in the tertiary level have filed their proposed tuition hike.
"As a matter of policy they (schools) are required to conduct consultation with students, parents and teachers to discuss the mechanism on tuition hike," Peralta said.
The decision of the CHED whether to approve the request to implement tuition increase for school year 2009-2010 will depend on the result of the consultation.
"In case students and parents oppose the new hike we can not allow any school to implement the same," Peralta said.
The CHED has received letters from various organizations urging it to disapprove any tuition fee increase.
Meanwhile, Albay board member Neil Montallana, chairman, committee on education, has urged all private schools in Albay to defer their proposed tuition hike. "We have also to consider the present economic condition in the country," he said.
"Any increase in tuition is an additional burden to the Albayanos," he added.
Salceda inducts paramedics
By Rey M. Nasol
The newly-trained Albayano volunteers are now ready to face various disaster scenarios in Albay as the province equips itself with stronger disaster preparedness measures to lessen impact of typhoons, volcanic eruptions, landslides and lahar floods to lives and properties.
Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda inducted the graduates at the Conference hall of the Provincial Disaster Operation Center Wednesday morning.
The group consisting of 107 graduates, called Emergency Medical Responders (EMR), finished a six-month paramedics training under the Albay Health and Emergency Management (AHEM) project.
Jukes Nuñez of the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO), the lead agency, said the training was administered through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between Bicol University (BU), Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), the Department of Health (DOH) and the Provincial Government of Albay.
Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda promptly responds to radio interviews before the induction ritesAccording to earlier interview with APSEMO chief Cedric Daep the training started last October, 2008 from pre-qualification, screening activities and other related preliminary activities. It was followed by a series of lectures on theories and literature from January until last week.
Rey Añunuevo, training director of the APSEMO, said the APSEMO is conducting series of trainings for local government units across the province to encourage them put up their own 'institutionalized' disaster management offices with corresponding permanent personnel and budget.
DOLE tightens helmet rule to promote workplace safety
In the Bicol region, it is not only the police who enforce the helmet rule, but also the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
In a move to promote workplace safety, particularly in the construction industry, DOLE-Bicol, starting this coming April will strictly enforce the construction safety rules, like wearing of helmet and hanging of safety nets, and other personal protective equipment (PPEs) to avoid workplace-related accidents.
"In this time of crisis, the last thing we do not want is a workplace accident. Accidents are expensive both for labor and management and it will give a lot of headache to everyone. So let's prevent it while we can. Remember, we're doing this not to make the life of construction companies miserable but to prevent accidents. Prevention is better than cure," DOLE Bicol Regional Director Ernesto C. Bihis explained.
DOLE-Bicol information officer Raymond P. Escalante told this writer that there is a need for an information campaign on the Internationally Accepted Safety Measures such that companies which are ISO-Certified (International Safety Organization) are required to promptly comply with safety rules such as ISO-9000 series.
ISO 9000 series certifies a company, particularly those engaged in construction, for Quality Management Systems (QMS) vis-a-vis compliance to international safety standards and practices. Sadly, this writer's random check in recent sorties confirmed very few construction companies in Bicol are adhering to, if not completely ignoring, safety rules, a thing the DOLE-Bicol wants to correct immediately to prevent loss of lives among workers.
To further advocate construction safety, DOLE-Bicol called all construction firms and safety practitioners in the region for a four-day training on construction safety this week at the Kanzo Hotel in Legazpi City. The training aimed to "remind" construction firms about their role in having a safe and healthy working environment.
Participants were reoriented on the various safety procedures on construction, most specifically the adherence on the wearing of personal protective equipment or PPEs.
DOLE Workplace Safety Focal Person Engineer Roberto Aranas said that the training program was actually a review since a similar training had been conducted in previous years.
Gladly in Bicol, workplace deaths are very minimal but small unreported accidents do happen. "These are the accidents that happen because of neglect. These are the accidents that should have never happened if only they adhere to the helmet law and use of prescribed PPEs," Bihis said
DOLE Bicol Assistant Regioanl Director Irma S. Valiente said that a region-wide advocacy on the use of construction helmet and construction safety gears are being pushed by the office through trainings and the institutionalization of safety practitioners. "If mishaps due to carelessness happen or due to non-adherence to this rule, the safety practitioner will be liable. We will strip-off their licenses," Valiente warned.
Tabaco gets P.3M for emergency job efforts
TABACO CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Bicol has granted a total of P300,000 over the weekend for this city's "Tulong Panghanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers" (TUPAD) program.
The DOLE said the grant would "shoot two birds with one stone" because aside from providing jobs, the program will also contribute a significant improvement to the environment through cleanups and face lifting of the city's riversides and greening up efforts.
"City Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro, managed to get a total of P300,000 grant from DOLE-Bicol for the implementation of the government's emergency employment program," said DOLE-Bicol Information Officer Raymond P. Escalante.
The grant, which was personally turned-over by DOLE Bicol Regional Director Ernesto C. Bihis last weekend during a flag ceremony at the Tabaco City Hall, will be used to pay the wages of some 51 workers from the informal sector affected by the global challenges.
Qualified workers will earn a minimum wage of P260 per day for a one-month work schedule.
The work program focused on the rehabilitation of the Tabaco River which includes riverside clean and green maintenance, dredging, some street sweeping and some paint jobs.
"Mayor Krisel has lined up the work activities to be done by the workers on this emergency employment. We hope that we could at least supplement the needs of the global crisis affected workers thru this program" Bihis said.
The DOLE's TUPAD program was launched last February to specifically address the aftermaths of the global challenges. The aim is to provide immediate job placement to affected workers in the area.
"We plan to implement all TUPAD programs within the 1st quarter. Even though Bicol is not so much affected by the crisis, still we have workers who were affected which needs immediate job," he said.
Bihis said that since January, DOLE-Bicol has already released a total of P 2.4 million for emergency employment to various recipients region-wide.
DPWH puts up P2.9 Billion projects in Bicol
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now implementing some P2.9 billion worth of pump-priming projects in Bicol for this year. It aimed at exciting the economy which could generate more jobs in the countryside and mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis.
DPWH Bicol regional director Orlando Roces said that the amount will be used to fund some 87 projects in the six provinces of Bicol in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's P330 billion pump priming program for 2009.
Roces said the projects include road opening, road concreting, flood control structures, construction of new school buildings, and repair of roads and bridges.
Some 360 workers have been initially hired since the launching of the job generation program of the DPWH two weeks ago.
In a statement, Roces said that a total of 742 applied for the jobs under the "Programang Pangtrabaho ni Pangulong Arroyo" job generation program being handled by the agency.
The initial holding of the one-day jobs fair resulted in the immediate hiring of 360 workers by participating contractors who are undertaking pump priming infrastructure projects of the DPWH in the region.
He said that the DPWH's role is to match the available jobs with the skills of the applicants before they are recommended for hiring by participating contractors.
Roces said that similar job fairs will also be conducted in the coming months to be able to hire more workers who were earlier retrenched by their previous employers.
He added that the job fairs is being undertaken in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the National Constructors Association and the Philippine Constructors Association, Inc.
8 hurt in landmine blast in Masbate
At least six policemen and two civilians were injured by an explosion from an improvised landmine that hit the passenger jeep they were riding on Thursday in Balud, Masbate, a Philippine Army (PA) report said Friday.
Hurt in the blast were Police Officer (PO)2 Rogelio Bolante, PO1s Ian Mark Antiporda, Menard Danao, Darius Capili, Juvy Llunar Ronel Paac and civilians Editha Race and Gilbert Leonor, driver.
Army Capt. Razaleigh Bansawan, 901st Army Brigade spokesman, said the incident took place around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The victims where on board the jeep negotiating a road at Sitio Pinamangkahan, Barangay San Pablo, Balud town when their vehicle hit an improvised landmine planted on the side of the road by suspected communist guerrillas.
Bansawan said the eight policemen of the 506th Provincial Mobile Group (PMG) were on their way back to Masbate City after completing regular patrol work when they were ambushed by New People's Army (NPA) rebels led by Luis Gonzaga alias "Ka Jaypee".
He said the rebels attacked the policemen with the use of a detonated explosive device planted at the roadside.
The victims were rushed to the Masbate Provincial Hospital. Attending physicians said two of the policemen are in critical condition while the rest are recovering from shrapnel wounds sustained from the blast.
Bansawan said, "The use of landmine by the NPA is clear violation of international humanitarian law, they even fired at the passenger jeep, knowing that there were civilians on board".
Military intelligence said the rebel offensive is a show of force since the NPA will celebrate their anniversary on March 29, with a directive to conduct tactical offensive against government forces in various parts of the country. (Mar S. Arguelles)
Spain turns over P110M projects to Albay
The Spanish government through the Agencia Español de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) turned over on Thursday some P110 million worth of infrastructure projects to the province of Albay, Governor Joey Sarte Salceda said.
The turnover ceremonies led by Luis Romero Arias, Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines and Salceda including city and town executives here were held separately on Thursday in the cities of Legazpi, Ligao and the town of Daraga where the Spanish government projects are located.
Salceda said the P110 million were financial assistance given by Spain to the province heavily devastated by two super typhoons and the Mayon volcano eruption in 2006.
Salceda said aside from the projects recently turned over by the AECID, another P160.5 million projects are being finalized by the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) in coordination with AECID involving proposals for a disaster risk reduction project in Albay.
He said that P60.5 million of the total amount has been approved with signed project acceptance by the Spanish government, involving construction of two emergency evacuation centers in the towns of Camalig and Guinobatan and the strengthening of APSEMO by providing the office with the latest state-of-the-art communication system to be used in pre and post-disaster operations.
At the turnover rites, Spanish Ambassador Arias said his country is committed to assist the Philippines since the Philippines and Spain have maintained close ties for several centuries.
Arias said "our countries are sisters and we have ratified these commitments to reduce poverty in the country including the preservation of lives and properties during natural disasters."
Arias said, "We are also committed to fight the ill-effects of climate change," as he announced that he will earmark some P15 million as funding for the strengthening of the province's agriculture and livestock industry.
Salceda, for his part, expressed his deep gratitude for the Spanish government assistance, saying that "he will forever be grateful to the terms of endearment and engagement given by Spain to his province."
Ambassador Arias and Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) granting the city P93 million for the implementation of a comprehensive solid waste management project.
Rosal said the project involves the setting up of an efficient solid waste management system in the city designed to improve the social and environmental condition of residents in this city.
He said the project will be established in a 12-hectare land owned by the city government in Barangay Banquerohan, some 22 kilometers from the city proper.
Rosal said the project has four components, namely: sanitary land fill development; materials recovery system; reduction, and recycling system and project administration.
In Ligao City, the Spanish Ambassador turned over to Gov. Salceda the newly renovated Doña Josefina Belmonte Duran Memorial District Hospital (DJBDMDH), a 50-bed tertiary hospital servicing the medical needs of residents in the seven towns and a city in the third district of Albay.
The AECID released some P14 million in 2007 for the renovation of the district hospital worth P8 million and hospital equipment worth P6 million.
In Daraga, Albay, the Spanish government also turned over the newly constructed P13-million evacuation center located at the top floor of the new Daraga Public Market.
The evacuation center will be used in times of disaster. In normal times it will be used as training center for livelihood projects and the likes.
Governor Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay Province (center) witnesses the ceremonial key turnover for the newly built Evacuation Center on the roof top of this town’s public market. Spanish Ambassador Luis Romero Arias, representing the donor country through the Agencia Española De Cooperacion International para el Desarrollo (AECID) hands over the key to Daraga town Mayor Cicero Triunfante during the inauguration of the edifice early this month. Photo below shows (from left) Arias’ wife Soledad Lavina, Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda (JSS), Ambassador Arias and Vice Mayor Len Magayanes. Both ladies cut the ribbon for the said inauguration.
Mayon is background for Spanish Ambassador Luis Romero Arias (5th from left) during the inauguratin of the emergency evacuation center here which was donated by the government of Spain. With him are Jesus Molina, Representative of Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Lidia Hernandez, Regional Director, Mayte Toledano, Junior Professional Officer, Bella Fernandez, Program Officer for Social Development, And Jose Antonio Mira Padial, and Ambassador Arias’ wife, Soledad Lavina. (Photo by Rey M. Nasol)
Legazpi Aviation chief, subordinates sacked
THE Department of Tourism Bicol Regional Office supported Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal and Albay Provincial Governor’s call to oust Mr. Frisco Sto. Domingo Sr. from his post as the manager of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) at the Legazpi City Domestic Airport.
DOT-Regional Director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said it is but proper for our leaders to urge the central office of the national aviation office to remove Sto. Domingo from his office.
Some 80 passengers including Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and his family were almost killed in an accident during landing Saturday morning when a van was sighted on the runway by a french pilot of the Cebu Pacific airplane.
The van was allegedly driven by Frisco Sto. Domingo Jr. at the runway during a busy day. Said person was also involved in an vehicular accident at Sagpon, Daraga, Albay recently according to reports.
The Sto. Domingos have yet to issue their side on the issue as efforts to get their comments did not materialize as of writing.
A jet liner descends on the Legazpi City Airport which has been endangered by abusive Air Transportation Officials who allowed cars at the runway during busy navigation hours. This mess almost killed 80 people (Saturday) including Tourism Secretary Ace Durano during his visit to Bicol. (Photo by Rey M. Nasol)
RMG staff sacked too
By Mar S. Arguelles
At least 26 members of the Bicol Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Group (RMG) training staff were relieved of their duties while three of them will face dismissal for direct involvement in the hazing practices of hundreds of new police recruits.
An official of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Bicol reported the relief of the RMG staff on Wednesday.
Chief Supt. Paterno Bangui, Bicol police chief, directed the administrative relief of the entire training staff of the 5th PRMG including its Group Director Police Senior Supt. Joel Regondola effective March 5 this year.
The relief order came following a directive from the NAPOLCOM in Bicol for the relief of the entire training staff after complaints were received against some of them who were directly involved in hazing practices.
Lawyer Pedro Magannon, NAPOLCOM regional director, said his office issued the recommendation after they received on March 3 an undated letter complaint with a compact disc containing a video footage of the alleged hazing incident committed by three training staff against PNP-Scout trainees at the PNP training camp here.
Magannon said those relieved were placed at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) for proper disposition while awaiting the full and speedy resolution and appropriate sanctions of the case by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD).
Facing summary dismissal are Police Officers 1 Vernon Palibino, Eugene Ros and Israel Caolie, as evidence against them were strong as shown by the video footage sent to NAPOLCOM.
Magannon said "the video footage were clear evidence that the three police training staff indeed committed acts in violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, grounds for dismissal for the service."
The result of the joint NAPOLCOM-PNP investigation recommended to the Bicol police chief the filing of administrative case of Grave Misconduct against the three policemen.
They were meted with 90 days preventive suspension effective yesterday.
Magannon also said the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Bicol was provided with a copy of the investigation report for their information and appropriate action.
The report said that two hazing incidents occurred last year and one that occurred on December 2 was documented by a video footage submitted to the NAPOLCOM and a local TV network which aired the footage.
The other incident took place on December 8 where one Azucena, a new police recruit, formally complained of hazing in their training camps.
The video footage showed the three police training staff punching, paddling a trainee as a ritual at the training sessions.
Unconfirmed reports also revealed that the trainees were subjected to various forms of hazing such as forcing them to drink water laced with "Chlorox", a bleaching solution.
Magannon said the hazing expose in Bicol was so far the first to be recorded across the country.
To deter future incidents of hazing, the NAPOLCOM would conduct a review of the PNP training program and regularly hold inspection tours on various training camps in the region, he added.
THE Department of Tourism Bicol Regional Office supported Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal and Albay Provincial Governor’s call to oust Mr. Frisco Sto. Domingo Sr. from his post as the manager of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) at the Legazpi City Domestic Airport.
DOT-Regional Director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said it is but proper for our leaders to urge the central office of the national aviation office to remove Sto. Domingo from his office.
Some 80 passengers including Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and his family were almost killed in an accident during landing Saturday morning when a van was sighted on the runway by a french pilot of the Cebu Pacific airplane.
The van was allegedly driven by Frisco Sto. Domingo Jr. at the runway during a busy day. Said person was also involved in an vehicular accident at Sagpon, Daraga, Albay recently according to reports.
The Sto. Domingos have yet to issue their side on the issue as efforts to get their comments did not materialize as of writing.
A jet liner descends on the Legazpi City Airport which has been endangered by abusive Air Transportation Officials who allowed cars at the runway during busy navigation hours. This mess almost killed 80 people (Saturday) including Tourism Secretary Ace Durano during his visit to Bicol. (Photo by Rey M. Nasol)
RMG staff sacked too
By Mar S. Arguelles
At least 26 members of the Bicol Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Mobile Group (RMG) training staff were relieved of their duties while three of them will face dismissal for direct involvement in the hazing practices of hundreds of new police recruits.
An official of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in Bicol reported the relief of the RMG staff on Wednesday.
Chief Supt. Paterno Bangui, Bicol police chief, directed the administrative relief of the entire training staff of the 5th PRMG including its Group Director Police Senior Supt. Joel Regondola effective March 5 this year.
The relief order came following a directive from the NAPOLCOM in Bicol for the relief of the entire training staff after complaints were received against some of them who were directly involved in hazing practices.
Lawyer Pedro Magannon, NAPOLCOM regional director, said his office issued the recommendation after they received on March 3 an undated letter complaint with a compact disc containing a video footage of the alleged hazing incident committed by three training staff against PNP-Scout trainees at the PNP training camp here.
Magannon said those relieved were placed at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) for proper disposition while awaiting the full and speedy resolution and appropriate sanctions of the case by the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD).
Facing summary dismissal are Police Officers 1 Vernon Palibino, Eugene Ros and Israel Caolie, as evidence against them were strong as shown by the video footage sent to NAPOLCOM.
Magannon said "the video footage were clear evidence that the three police training staff indeed committed acts in violation of the Anti-Hazing Law, grounds for dismissal for the service."
The result of the joint NAPOLCOM-PNP investigation recommended to the Bicol police chief the filing of administrative case of Grave Misconduct against the three policemen.
They were meted with 90 days preventive suspension effective yesterday.
Magannon also said the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Bicol was provided with a copy of the investigation report for their information and appropriate action.
The report said that two hazing incidents occurred last year and one that occurred on December 2 was documented by a video footage submitted to the NAPOLCOM and a local TV network which aired the footage.
The other incident took place on December 8 where one Azucena, a new police recruit, formally complained of hazing in their training camps.
The video footage showed the three police training staff punching, paddling a trainee as a ritual at the training sessions.
Unconfirmed reports also revealed that the trainees were subjected to various forms of hazing such as forcing them to drink water laced with "Chlorox", a bleaching solution.
Magannon said the hazing expose in Bicol was so far the first to be recorded across the country.
To deter future incidents of hazing, the NAPOLCOM would conduct a review of the PNP training program and regularly hold inspection tours on various training camps in the region, he added.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
OPINION
OUR LESSON FOR TODAY
By Joel N. Sayson
March 8-14, 2009 issue
Love Your Work
Recently we were shaken by news on Global Financial Crisis in which even some local companies have already declared bankruptcy. We can also observe the recessions from other countries and even the big countries are not exempted from it.
If you have your job as of the moment, well, congrats! But do you care about your job? If not you might be the next one to lose your it. More often, we are told by our friends that work is a curse and labor is misfortune instead of telling you that it is a blessing from God.
Let us have a glimpse of the past when were just fresh graduates of a bachelor’s degree. During the first few days after our graduation we are very excited to have our job and our own life. We do not care about the salary that our employers might offered us? The only thing which concerns us is that we do not want to be branded as a "professional tambay".
Little by little after you were employed you are already thinking about the security of tenure, the high compensation, incentives etc. well, perhaps, that is good, but sometimes we feel tired and jaded of working specially when we cannot get the things that we expect from our companies.
Let me share you some of the passages from the literary masterpiece of Kahlil Gibran entitled About Work. May these passages make us realize that we should love our work amidst the hardships that we encounter in our work place everyday.
"When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music." Gibran tells us that if we learn to love our job we will find every single minute in our office enjoyable.
"If you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine." This passage tells us if we are working with hatred we are not the only ones who might suffer the bad effects of our inferior outputs, our company or worst, our family might also be badly affected. In order to avoid the ‘spilling of the poison’ Gibran also mentioned in his essay "if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, its better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy."
If you are already bored or tired of dealing with your officemates just look around and find new things in your office that will make your day exciting and enjoyable.
"When you work with love, you bind yourself to yourself and to one another and to God" -Kahlil Gibran.
OUR LESSON FOR TODAY
By Joel N. Sayson
‘Siranikos’
MOST of the youth nowadays and even the young at hearts owned "Teki" devices such as cellular phones, mp4 or iPODs, digital cameras, and the likes (as observed in the campus). All of us have one common thing to fear and that is to find out that these gadgets are not functioning as expected. Unfortunately, I was one of the troubled "tekis", my mp4 was about to say goodbye. Out of the blue an idea came out from my mind to bring my beloved mp4 to a repair shop located in one of the well known mall here in our locality. I was very happy then to hear that the technician can still extend the life of my mp4. Due to my excitement I paid the initial deposit which was asked by the technician and upon getting the initial payment I was told by the "teki" doctor to come back the next day. The following day I got my mp4 and he assured that it will function good as new, and then I already paid the full amount of service fee which was already half the price of the gadget.
When I got home I started to enjoy again my mp4 which was given to me as a graduation gift by my cousin. After several hours it started again to turn on and off and I started to feel very disappointed to the technician whom he called himself "professional". The next day I went back to the shop then surprisingly after I told them about the problem and they started to blame me that I did not tell them the cause of the malfunction during the first time that I brought to them my mp4. Isn't it very unprofessional for them to ask their customer about the cause of the malfunction? I started to argue with the technician that if I know the cause of the malfunction and if I have an idea to fix it then I would not bring it to their shop. Besides he was the one who should first know it because he is the expert as their store logo says. He insisted again to get my mp4 but I already refused to give it because it was very obvious that he does not have an idea or enough knowledge about gadget repairs or perhaps he was just taking chances on our gadgets.
This article was written to warn the youngsters to be fully careful when choosing the repair shops where they will entrust their precious gadgets or much more important that when buying gadgets choose the high quality devices that can last for a long time rather than buying the fake ones. Due to the financial crisis we are tempted to buy the affordable devices, in that case when your gadget malfunctions do not try to bring it to the morticians, I mean the fake technicians.
Before having a repair, try to compute the cost of the service (that was obviously not guaranteed) then canvas for a brand new gadget and I am sure that it is more affordable and ideal to buy a new one or you can try to buy branded products which for sure has a service center.
By Joel N. Sayson
March 8-14, 2009 issue
Love Your Work
Recently we were shaken by news on Global Financial Crisis in which even some local companies have already declared bankruptcy. We can also observe the recessions from other countries and even the big countries are not exempted from it.
If you have your job as of the moment, well, congrats! But do you care about your job? If not you might be the next one to lose your it. More often, we are told by our friends that work is a curse and labor is misfortune instead of telling you that it is a blessing from God.
Let us have a glimpse of the past when were just fresh graduates of a bachelor’s degree. During the first few days after our graduation we are very excited to have our job and our own life. We do not care about the salary that our employers might offered us? The only thing which concerns us is that we do not want to be branded as a "professional tambay".
Little by little after you were employed you are already thinking about the security of tenure, the high compensation, incentives etc. well, perhaps, that is good, but sometimes we feel tired and jaded of working specially when we cannot get the things that we expect from our companies.
Let me share you some of the passages from the literary masterpiece of Kahlil Gibran entitled About Work. May these passages make us realize that we should love our work amidst the hardships that we encounter in our work place everyday.
"When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music." Gibran tells us that if we learn to love our job we will find every single minute in our office enjoyable.
"If you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine." This passage tells us if we are working with hatred we are not the only ones who might suffer the bad effects of our inferior outputs, our company or worst, our family might also be badly affected. In order to avoid the ‘spilling of the poison’ Gibran also mentioned in his essay "if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, its better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy."
If you are already bored or tired of dealing with your officemates just look around and find new things in your office that will make your day exciting and enjoyable.
"When you work with love, you bind yourself to yourself and to one another and to God" -Kahlil Gibran.
OUR LESSON FOR TODAY
By Joel N. Sayson
‘Siranikos’
MOST of the youth nowadays and even the young at hearts owned "Teki" devices such as cellular phones, mp4 or iPODs, digital cameras, and the likes (as observed in the campus). All of us have one common thing to fear and that is to find out that these gadgets are not functioning as expected. Unfortunately, I was one of the troubled "tekis", my mp4 was about to say goodbye. Out of the blue an idea came out from my mind to bring my beloved mp4 to a repair shop located in one of the well known mall here in our locality. I was very happy then to hear that the technician can still extend the life of my mp4. Due to my excitement I paid the initial deposit which was asked by the technician and upon getting the initial payment I was told by the "teki" doctor to come back the next day. The following day I got my mp4 and he assured that it will function good as new, and then I already paid the full amount of service fee which was already half the price of the gadget.
When I got home I started to enjoy again my mp4 which was given to me as a graduation gift by my cousin. After several hours it started again to turn on and off and I started to feel very disappointed to the technician whom he called himself "professional". The next day I went back to the shop then surprisingly after I told them about the problem and they started to blame me that I did not tell them the cause of the malfunction during the first time that I brought to them my mp4. Isn't it very unprofessional for them to ask their customer about the cause of the malfunction? I started to argue with the technician that if I know the cause of the malfunction and if I have an idea to fix it then I would not bring it to their shop. Besides he was the one who should first know it because he is the expert as their store logo says. He insisted again to get my mp4 but I already refused to give it because it was very obvious that he does not have an idea or enough knowledge about gadget repairs or perhaps he was just taking chances on our gadgets.
This article was written to warn the youngsters to be fully careful when choosing the repair shops where they will entrust their precious gadgets or much more important that when buying gadgets choose the high quality devices that can last for a long time rather than buying the fake ones. Due to the financial crisis we are tempted to buy the affordable devices, in that case when your gadget malfunctions do not try to bring it to the morticians, I mean the fake technicians.
Before having a repair, try to compute the cost of the service (that was obviously not guaranteed) then canvas for a brand new gadget and I am sure that it is more affordable and ideal to buy a new one or you can try to buy branded products which for sure has a service center.
EDITORIAL
Can they really stop Jueteng in Bicol?
GOVERNMENT efforts to crackdown illegal gambling in the country is not that successful as promised.
What seems to be the problem with the law enforcers especially the Philippine National Police and the local government officials?
No less than PNP direcrtor Jesus Versosa stressed that illegal gambling especially “Jueteng” must be stopped at once.
In Bicol region alone, “Jueteng operation is rampant, law enforcers opt to stop the operation of Jueteng behind the Small Time Lottery (STL) in Bicol only when there is a high ranking officials visiting the region.
Some enforcers even mix thing up when they halt the operation of the legitimate STL for taking it as Jueteng. The ‘which’ and the ‘What’ seemed to have been confused with.
Police and local officials became silent when it comes to the issue whether to stop or not the operation of Jueteng.
If director Versosa is truly sincere in his campaign why in Bicol Region particularly in Albay does “Jueteng” operation continue to operate.
Although several apprehensions have been made against “Jueteng” collector the existence of this illegal numbers game freely operates in full throttle.
It is very embarrassing on the part of the police authorities and local government official who pretend to be law abiding citizens. It seems they have been blinded by the shining jueteng payola.
The media which is sometimes taunted as mum on the issue is in the first place not the ones responsible for curbing Jueteng. It is the police authorities’ job.
And so “Jueteng” thrives in Bicol.
Airport Safety
March 8-14, 2009
How safe is your place?
One should ask this question if he thinks of becoming a tourist to a particular or after having been invited by a friend to visit his hometown.
Legazpi is traying its best to answer all questions relative to this issue without letting words scape from the nostrils.
Among the most considered issue is the peace and order situation. Legazpi City and Albay is generally safe if you ask the authorities about this.
Aside from peace and order, the neatness of the area and the cost of doing a sortie around and the number of tourist spots. All of these have favorable answers in Albay and Legazpi City.
Taxi fares? well there are no taxis here! The alternative is Tricycle. But problems of extortions and overcharging is still to be fully addressed as several reports still bug the local chief executives on such abuses.
Now how safe is your airport? One would ask. This has been sour and only discovered when a Cebu Pacific plane piloted by an expert from France was missed by a possible ‘fireball’ of death among 80 passengers that included Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and his family. Mayor Rosal was at the tarmac to welcome the visitors. Unfortunately the abusive son of the air transportation officials has allegedly been andangering the aircraft passengers by using the runway as his access road during air traffic hours.
Now, would a mere call for retirement be enough to punish Frisco Sto. Domingo. He and his son must be put in jail!!!(If only in other countries)
Jubilant veterans
When all is said and done, the reality is that the World War II Filipino Veterans, those who survived the twilight of their years in particular, can rejoice now, even belatedly.
Okay, we smirk at the thought that their valor and sacrifices were reduced to dollars and cents; we shudder at how those who died in the 63-year gap since the war ended were unable to get what their living comrades now enjoy, or ought to enjoy, granting that death can be postponed even for a year until February 18, 2010, when all claims shall have been fully paid.
At the end of the day, surviving veterans, or their immediate beneficiaries, should still be grateful to Uncle Sum for the $ 198 million lump-sum appropriation that was inserted into the just signed stimulus bill by President Barack Obama.
In life as a whole, a popular adage says, fix your eyes on the doughnut, and not upon the hole.
For Pinoy veterans living in the Philippines the doughnut of $ 9,000.00 translates to no less than P 400,000.00, and that's quite an amount, considering that many grand old lolos now in their 80's and 90's still remain a crucial breadwinner of their families, new or extended families of married apos living under one roof.
For those living in the US, the doughnut is $ 15,000.00, and a portion of it would surely end up in the country like any remittances from our OFWs sent home.
Sixty-three years. What a long time, even if we consider that the serious effort to fight for the Equity Bill in the US was just about the past fifteen years or so.
And so, out of the estimated 200,000-strong Filipino veterans - the guerillas, the USAFFE, or Philippine Scouts -- only some 18,000 to 20,000 remained alive, and this number is fast diminishing at the rate of 10 persons dying per day, according to grim statistics.
In the US over the years, some American war veterans have been working round the clock the past six decades to correct the moral injustice inflicted to their Pinoy buddies, and they deserve due respect, like Sen. Daniel Inouye, himself a US veteran (in the European war theater).
Since 1946, Pinoy veterans had been promised the doughnut but got instead the doughnut's hole. Now the real doughnuts have arrived, and for that alone we should celebrate.
GOVERNMENT efforts to crackdown illegal gambling in the country is not that successful as promised.
What seems to be the problem with the law enforcers especially the Philippine National Police and the local government officials?
No less than PNP direcrtor Jesus Versosa stressed that illegal gambling especially “Jueteng” must be stopped at once.
In Bicol region alone, “Jueteng operation is rampant, law enforcers opt to stop the operation of Jueteng behind the Small Time Lottery (STL) in Bicol only when there is a high ranking officials visiting the region.
Some enforcers even mix thing up when they halt the operation of the legitimate STL for taking it as Jueteng. The ‘which’ and the ‘What’ seemed to have been confused with.
Police and local officials became silent when it comes to the issue whether to stop or not the operation of Jueteng.
If director Versosa is truly sincere in his campaign why in Bicol Region particularly in Albay does “Jueteng” operation continue to operate.
Although several apprehensions have been made against “Jueteng” collector the existence of this illegal numbers game freely operates in full throttle.
It is very embarrassing on the part of the police authorities and local government official who pretend to be law abiding citizens. It seems they have been blinded by the shining jueteng payola.
The media which is sometimes taunted as mum on the issue is in the first place not the ones responsible for curbing Jueteng. It is the police authorities’ job.
And so “Jueteng” thrives in Bicol.
Airport Safety
March 8-14, 2009
How safe is your place?
One should ask this question if he thinks of becoming a tourist to a particular or after having been invited by a friend to visit his hometown.
Legazpi is traying its best to answer all questions relative to this issue without letting words scape from the nostrils.
Among the most considered issue is the peace and order situation. Legazpi City and Albay is generally safe if you ask the authorities about this.
Aside from peace and order, the neatness of the area and the cost of doing a sortie around and the number of tourist spots. All of these have favorable answers in Albay and Legazpi City.
Taxi fares? well there are no taxis here! The alternative is Tricycle. But problems of extortions and overcharging is still to be fully addressed as several reports still bug the local chief executives on such abuses.
Now how safe is your airport? One would ask. This has been sour and only discovered when a Cebu Pacific plane piloted by an expert from France was missed by a possible ‘fireball’ of death among 80 passengers that included Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and his family. Mayor Rosal was at the tarmac to welcome the visitors. Unfortunately the abusive son of the air transportation officials has allegedly been andangering the aircraft passengers by using the runway as his access road during air traffic hours.
Now, would a mere call for retirement be enough to punish Frisco Sto. Domingo. He and his son must be put in jail!!!(If only in other countries)
Jubilant veterans
When all is said and done, the reality is that the World War II Filipino Veterans, those who survived the twilight of their years in particular, can rejoice now, even belatedly.
Okay, we smirk at the thought that their valor and sacrifices were reduced to dollars and cents; we shudder at how those who died in the 63-year gap since the war ended were unable to get what their living comrades now enjoy, or ought to enjoy, granting that death can be postponed even for a year until February 18, 2010, when all claims shall have been fully paid.
At the end of the day, surviving veterans, or their immediate beneficiaries, should still be grateful to Uncle Sum for the $ 198 million lump-sum appropriation that was inserted into the just signed stimulus bill by President Barack Obama.
In life as a whole, a popular adage says, fix your eyes on the doughnut, and not upon the hole.
For Pinoy veterans living in the Philippines the doughnut of $ 9,000.00 translates to no less than P 400,000.00, and that's quite an amount, considering that many grand old lolos now in their 80's and 90's still remain a crucial breadwinner of their families, new or extended families of married apos living under one roof.
For those living in the US, the doughnut is $ 15,000.00, and a portion of it would surely end up in the country like any remittances from our OFWs sent home.
Sixty-three years. What a long time, even if we consider that the serious effort to fight for the Equity Bill in the US was just about the past fifteen years or so.
And so, out of the estimated 200,000-strong Filipino veterans - the guerillas, the USAFFE, or Philippine Scouts -- only some 18,000 to 20,000 remained alive, and this number is fast diminishing at the rate of 10 persons dying per day, according to grim statistics.
In the US over the years, some American war veterans have been working round the clock the past six decades to correct the moral injustice inflicted to their Pinoy buddies, and they deserve due respect, like Sen. Daniel Inouye, himself a US veteran (in the European war theater).
Since 1946, Pinoy veterans had been promised the doughnut but got instead the doughnut's hole. Now the real doughnuts have arrived, and for that alone we should celebrate.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Alconas pushes Kampsax Kruger System to lower water rates in Albay
Kampsax-Kruger Water System, though its antiquity dates back to King Herod's times, is still very viable today especially to the developing countries such as the Philippines.
Believe it or else!
Inspired by the available data on parameters and basis, Albay Consumers Association (Alconas) spokesman Rafael A. Villar, a Mechanical Engineer, said there has been a tremendous mismatch of priorities between water and electricity systems in our country and that they need to be addressed by either going back to old yet useful technologies or further advance towards the high-end technologies.
Inspired by the available data on parameters and basis, Albay Consumers Association (Alconas) spokesman Rafael A. Villar, a Mechanical Engineer, said there has been a tremendous mismatch of priorities between water and electricity systems in our country and that they need to be addressed by either going back to old yet useful technologies or further advance towards the high-end technologies.
However, the sector that needs the old technology (water systems) seemed to have grabbed the unnecessary advancement and the one needing to adopt technological boost (electricity sector) is the one being left behind. Villar believes reviewing priorities could significantly reduce prices of these services.
The advocacy has, in fact obtained support from the office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which ought to stir its delegated subordinates in the water and electricity utilities in the country.
The advocacy has, in fact obtained support from the office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which ought to stir its delegated subordinates in the water and electricity utilities in the country.
Thus, believing on U.S. President Barack Obama's promise to make 'farms flourish and clean waters flowing from faucets of households in the developing countries', Alconas dramatizes the sentiments of consumers.
Water Systems
Water Systems
Kampsax-Kruger System is the water siphoning method with the use of gravitational flow from well sources and impounding into reservoir without the use of fossil fuels and electricity, thereby saving cost and fossil fuels that contribute to the worsening climate change.
"The implementation of Kampsax-Kruger in Albay's communal Water Supply and distribution network system of operation, under a Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme of financing could serve as a 'Pilot project' for the rest of the water districts in the country and even in other parts of the developing world," Engr Villar explained.
Studies have shown that this system is very practical even in the small communities where there are sloping terrains (common in the Philippines) to serve households without the need to spend for processing a murky water from a river to a very expensive and commercial outputs.
While we have abundant natural wells in our mountains, they remained untapped and now even water districts opt for contractualization of water purifications from rivers, a thing which is supposed to be only used by desert dwellers that have no other choice but to withdraw raw water from the sea.
Considering a news item that came out of the Philippine Star, the "Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is exploring cheaper but appropriate technologies to lessen the operating costs among water district. Let us hope, together with Engr. Villar's earlier e-mailed proposal to LWUA Chairman Prospero Pichay that the agency realizes that Kampsax-Kruger system is exactly the technology he is looking for.
Pichay cited a project in Mindanao that uses imported equipment to reduce turbidity (mud) in drinking water while there is locally available equipment that can perform the same function at a cheaper operating cost.
Engr. Villar also cited Legazpi City Water District which distributes higher (than original) price of water after buying it from its contractor that withdraws water from Yawa River instead of the fresh and abundant Mayon Springs along its slopes.
Studies have shown that Mayon Volcano possesses some 200 billion cubic meters of potable water and that there is hardly only 4 days without rainfall to replenish within the volcano's edifice.
Electricity sector
On the other hand, putting to work the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition-Energy Management Systems (SCADA/EMS) as envisioned for Bicol Communal Electric-Power Supply and distribution network system of operation under the BOT scheme could serve as pilot project for the rest of the electric districts (also known as Area Control Centers) in Luzon.
SCADA/EMS is the modern electricity distribution and sourcing system to avoid brownouts, minimize equipment breakdowns and maximize the use of electricity that results to lower power rates as in the cases of China and Singapore, to name a few who have adopted proper technological advancement in the electricity sector.
But the case of the Philippines is not yet the same as that of China and Singapore which have realized its proper priorities-which sector needs high-tech and which sector needs the old-tech, all towards efforts to minimize price hikes to end consumers.
BOT Scheme
The BOT scheme is more economical and less prone to corruption, perhaps this is the reason why the BOT scheme did not make it to the defunct National Broadband Network and the 'accused' opted for a loan from those who were also taunted as multi-billion bribers.
The BOT represents an authoritarian financing system while loans represent that of the democratic capitalism that has outlived its usefulness.
Examples of BOT's are financing systems by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Examples of BOT's are financing systems by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The SCADA/EMS system in China also used the BOT scheme and now they are reaping the benefits of this technology that originated in the Philippines yet we remained awaiting its full implementation in our locality.
These advocacies are now enlightening the concerned agencies and in fact, gaining favorable responses and endorsements of local and national leaders.
Coffee will never lose its market in Bicol Region (Feature)
By Mike dela Rama
COFFEE will never lose its market in the Philippines specially in the Bicol region.
A coffee farmer here in Bicol said: "Filipinos cannot do away with coffee and drinking coffee is a favorite pastime and an engaging social activity.
"Coffee shop nowadays is a thriving business in major cities of Bicol region and for coffee lovers no coffee can taste good without sending a sweet aroma to the nostrils."
"Coffee shop nowadays is a thriving business in major cities of Bicol region and for coffee lovers no coffee can taste good without sending a sweet aroma to the nostrils."
Many Bicolanos could not start their day without a cup of coffee to perk up their morning.
That's why Francisco Aranda, "Frank" to friends and relatives, invested in coffee production because coffee will never lose its market.
Determined to have a coffee plantation, Mang Frank settled in Sorsogon City in 1984. He started from scratch.
Determined to have a coffee plantation, Mang Frank settled in Sorsogon City in 1984. He started from scratch.
Mang Frank is popular among his provincemates as the peddler of vinegar and soy sauce. Daily, he would roam around the city carrying bottles of vinegar and soy sauce on his shoulder. His industry and perseverance paid off. He was able to buy five hectares of farmland in Bgy. Cabid-an, Sorsogon City.
With the help of his children, he cleared the area and started to make a layout. He brought a sack of coffee berries from their farm in Batangas and produced his own seedlings.
According to him, producing seedlings before quite tedious. "You have to prepare a raised seedbed because there were no plastic bags for use in propagation," he said.
He planted the coffee berries and was able to produce the seedlings needed for his farm, then removed the pulp by hand and soaked the beans for 24 hours to remove the mucilage.
Mang Frank removed the floaters as these were not good ones. He prepared a germination bed one meter in width and of convenient length. He sow the seeds at ¾ inch deep and covered with fine soil. After 7 to 8 months, he was able to produce thousands of seedlings.
"Kapeng barako" or Liberica is well adopted in Sorsogon," Mang Frank said. The berries are plump, big and rounded. It is known for its distinct taste, aroma and flavor and it is tolerant to drought and could be grown in a wider type of soil.
He explained that transplanting of seedling was done during the onset of the rainy season.
He chose coffee seedlings with six pairs of leaves. He followed the 3 x 3 meters distance of planting. Mang Frank explains that he has to dig bigger and wider holes to accommodate the ball of soil attached to the seedlings to keep the roots intact.
The coffee farmer also added compost and chicken manure. After a year, he applied complete fertilizer (14-14-14) at 250 grams per tree.
Regular pruning is one technology he adopted to ensure that the trees are shorter for easy harvesting and to facilitate other farm operations. Likewise, pruning shoots helps produce more branches, more flowers and berries. It also promotes better light penetration and aeration.
With a total of 4,500 trees, he is now harvesting berries every eight months. In Sorsogon, harvest starts in October until March.
Coffee is picked or harvested individually to avoid presence of pedicels. To maintain quality coffee, berries must be matured. Oftentimes, it is colored red.
He harvests an average of 147 sacks of coffee berries. He is happy because he is now providing jobs to his neighbors especially during harvest. Coffee is dried for 8 to 9 days in concrete drying pavement.
Mang Frank explained that the secret to quality coffee is the roasting process. "Roasting is the process of applying heat to transform the chemical and physical properties of coffee beans into roasted coffee products," he said.
The right amount of heat, the right timing in a uniform manner are required to achieve the desired flavor from the beans. He said that coffee roasting involves proper heat application, and the common problems encountered include uneven distribution of heat inside the roasting chamber and the lack of insulating materials which results to excessive heat loss. Poorly roasted beans would yield poor tasting coffee drink.
With the absence of hauler and roasting equipment Mang Frank has to bring dried coffee beans to Lipa City in Batangas to have the outermost cover removed and then roasted. He has to pay P8 per kilo for de-hauling and Ps 9 per kilo for roasting.
Mang Frank emphasizes that pricing depends on the quality of the beans and the variety. But coffee always commands a good price in the market.
A sack of roasted coffee costs Ps 8,900. Mang Frank sells milled coffee at Ps 260 per kilo.With the help of the Department of Trade and Industry he already has his brand name "Uncle Franks roasted coffee". His packaging was improved and he now sells coffee in 250 grams, 500 grams, and 1 kilogram packaging.
He has a bit of advice to those who want to venture into coffee production: "Make sure that you get good quality product to make it big in business. Once you hit the market, make sure it attracts buyers."
That is why during exhibits, he displays his products and even provided free taste to visitors.
He readily offers his area for techno demo because he wants to learn new technologies and techniques. In return, he also teaches his fellow coffee growers of the techniques he learned. He also hosted field days for them to see the crop stand and the effects or the impact of the technologies adopted.
As president of the Para Café' kan Sorsogon City Association, Mang Frank shares his technologies to its members so that they too could produce quality coffee. They envisioned to place Sorsogon in the map of those leading provinces producing coffee in the country. The group is determined to realize their vision by producing coffee not only for its aroma and taste but as source of livelihood for the Sorsogueños.
100 Daraga farmers adopt new farm tech for cacao
SOME 100 farmers from seven barangays of this premier town received their graduation diploma following a month-long training for Cacao Production and Technology during the closing ceremony held today at the Covered Court of Ninoy Aquino Park, here.
Initiated by Agricultural Cooperative Development International- Volunteers Overseas Cooperative Assistance (ACDI-VOCA) and COCA Philippines, Incorporated, the farmer cooperators and barangay captains of Dinoronan, Gabawan, Burgos, Mabini, Kinawitan, Penafrancia and Tabon-tabon underwent training on how to produce chocolate and its derivatives from cacao.
Under the program Cacao Production and Technology, project coordinator Waldymar Nantes, said that concerted efforts made with ACDI-VOCA and the group named Sustainable Cocoa Enterprises Solution for Small Holders (SUCCESS), to attain the transfer of technology to Daraga farmers.
According to Rogi Simbulan, ACDI-VOCA Project Coordinator for Southern Luzon, cacao trees could be planted under coconut plantation to maximize farm production and could withstand the changing weather nowadays.
Daraga Agriculturist Segundina Ll. Loba said, the timely intervention of the private sector to empower the farmers especially those who suffered set backs will enliven the agricultural sector.
Daraga Mayor Cicero C. Triunfante has prioritized agriculture rehabilitation under his administration's matrix of development to regain back farm losses results of calamities that hit the town.
The farmers' training has started with a whimper last Jan. 8, 2009 and ended with a bang Feb. 27, 2009, with attendance coming from Provincial Agriculture Office and top honchos of the sponsoring agencies.(EJ Bandol)
DOLE takes part in 'Save Bicol's Abaca' efforts
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol has expressed fear that there is a need to drumbeat efforts to save the region's abaca industry to avert further job losses among farm workers.
Due to reports received by DOLE-Bicol from other government agencies that specifies the Abaca industry as one of the most vulnerable sector to be affected by the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), DOLE-Bicol Regional Director Ernesto C. Bihis in cooperation with NEDA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA)-Bicol called for an emergency meeting, this week at DOLE conference room to identify issues and concerns and craft immediate intervention on the sector. "Based on the data that we gathered, Bicol is among the two best abaca producing regions".
Statistics have revealed that 70 percent of the region's revenue is derived from its export industry with abaca and coconut as its primary raw materials.
DOLE-Bicol even revealed that a high percentage of workers comes from the fiber and cottage industry with which, still, abaca is the raw material. "Imagine if this sector breaks down because of GFC, then Bicol would lose its backbone" DOLE Bicol Assistant Regional Director Irma S. Valiente explained.
DOLE-Bicol even revealed that a high percentage of workers comes from the fiber and cottage industry with which, still, abaca is the raw material. "Imagine if this sector breaks down because of GFC, then Bicol would lose its backbone" DOLE Bicol Assistant Regional Director Irma S. Valiente explained.
Along with other agencies, DOLE-Bicol plans to strengthen the abaca-industry by pooling resources and expertise. "We will encourage continuous planting of abaca. The plan is to look for alternative market, alternative product lines that will be embraced by the local market thereby if the international market slows down the industry will still be alive" Valiente said. One of the plan is to revive the "pinukpok" or abaca silk project previously implemented by DOLE as its poverty free zone program to boost the industry. Abaca fiber is said to be 100 times stronger that the ordinary silk which can be sewed and crafted into various forms like clothing.
On the other hand, DOLE already released a grant amounting to P300,000 to LGU-Minalabac, Camarines Sur to fund its 60-hectares abaca plantation project. The plantation is said to culture, scientifically, the best varieties of abaca plant.
"Actually it is not only the DOLE making an effort but everyone. What we want to do is to have a convergence of all resources for a stronger intervention," Bihis said. (With reports from Raymond P. Escalante)
DA, Camarines Sur solon to launch chicken dispersal
PILI, Camarines Sur -- Some 200 poor farmers in nine towns in the 2nd congressional district here will benefit from a livelihood project, dubbed "Manokan sa Segundo Distrito kan Camarines Sur", through the joint efforts of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Congressman Luis R. Villafuerte.
The P250,000-project, intended to promote food security and livelihood, is a partnership between DA's Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) Livestock program and Rep. Villafuerte (2nd district, Camarines Sur).
Dr. Edgar Madrid, officer-in-charge regional technical director for Research and Development of DA Bicol, said the project's funding came from the department's Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (BCARE) funds worth P90,000 and from Villafuerte's Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of P160,000.
Madrid said that the chicken dispersal project involves some 2,000 heads of sasso chicken to be distributed to 200 families in 20 barangays of Bombon, Calabanga, Canaman, Magarao, Ocampo, Pili, Gainza, Milaor, and Camaligan towns. Each beneficiary will be given 10 heads of Sasso chickens.
The formal launching of the project is set March 6, 2009 at the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC) here. It will be attended by Villafuerte, DA Bicol regional executive director Jose V. Dayao, CSSAC President Marito Bernales, local officials, and the project beneficiaries.
Accreditation for private sector to RDC Bicol on stream
THE Regional Development Council (RDC) is inviting private sector organizations (PSOs) in the Bicol region to apply for RDC accreditation.
RDC accredited organizations nominate private sector representatives (PSRs) to the RDC and participate in the election of PSRs to the RDC.
A PSO must have the following qualifications to be able to participate in the nomination and selection of PSRs:
a) Legal Personality. The PSO must be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or any government agency which registers organizations and associations for the purpose of bestowing legal personality.
b) Track Record. The PSO must have conducted socio-economic activities for at least three years from date of registration in the region. The scope of activities must be at least province or citywide.
c) Nationality. The PSO must be a Filipino organization. Organizations managed by foreigners, whose officers and members are primarily composed of foreign nations, or are considered branches of affiliates of foreign organizations are disqualified.
d)Non-government. Organizations which have government officials and employees as ex-officio members or whose operations are funded by the government are disqualified. (Funding support by the government to PSO projects is not considered as funding support to operations).
Application forms are available at the NEDA Region 5, Arimbay, Legazpi City. They can also be downloaded at http://www.neda5.net/.
For more details please contact Cha Berces at telephone 482-0498.
DENR names illegal logging 'hot spots' in bicol
DENR Bicol has been closely monitoring at least seventeen areas identified as illegal logging 'hot spots' in three provinces in the region as part of the intensified campaign to protect the country's environment and natural resources.
Echoing DENR Secretary Lito Atienza's warning, Bicol regional executive director Joselin Marcus Fragada earlier told DENR field officials that they are accountable for whatever environmental violations that may happen in their respective area of jurisdiction.
Fragada also admonished the officials on the 'one-strike' policy of the agency on elaborating that only one verified report of any environmental violation such as illegal logging or illegal mining happening in their respective areas is enough ground for the officials' suspension.
Identified 'hot spots' include Barangays STa. Barbara, San Pedro and San Martin in Jose Panganiban; Colasi, Tarum and Pambuhan in Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Bicol National Park particularly Sitio Nalisan, Tuaca, Basud town in Camarines Norte; Sitio Weber, Malaya, Iriga and Saragawsaw in Barangay Sooc, and Sitios Curamusan and Castilla in Barangay Napolidan, all in Lupi, Camarines Sur.
In Rinconada District, the illegal logging 'hot spots' are the timber land in Bula located in Barangay Inoyonan, San Francisco, Itnagon, Bagolagio, Panoypoyan, Casugad, La Victoria and Taisan; Forest Reserve of Balatan located in Barangays Cabanbanan, Mapulang Daga, Maqiron and Camangahan; private lands in Bato situated in Barangays Manga, Lubong, Payak and Cristo Rey; and timber land of Iriga City located in Barangays Sagradam STa. Teresita, Antipolo, and areas surrounding Mt. Asog.
In Catanduanes, the 'hot spots' are Sitio Kilometer 80, San Miguel, Panganiban; Sitios Kilometer 13, Carbun, San Miguel, Panganiban; Minaile, Bagamanoc; Tubli, Caramoran; Minabobo, Caramoran; Dugui-Too, Dugui-Wala, Virac; and Paraiso, San Miguel town.
Secretary Atienza has declared 2009 as Law Enforcement Year, saying that "for the rest of the year, we will give more dedication and seriousness in effort to protect the environment, including the land, air, water and forests, against environmental violators whom we will pursue guided by our environmental laws."
"I will ensure that the full force of the law will be meted out against anyone who will violate the environmental laws because the certainty of punishment is the best deterrent to the commission of a crime," Atienza said.
The DENR chief, however, said that due recognition will also be accorded to DENR officials who properly apply the full force of the law in their respective areas. "Kung mayrong parurusahan ay mayroon ding bibigyan ng parangal," Atienza said.
The DENR chief, however, said that due recognition will also be accorded to DENR officials who properly apply the full force of the law in their respective areas. "Kung mayrong parurusahan ay mayroon ding bibigyan ng parangal," Atienza said.
I am confident that year 2009 can make the difference. Aside from the fact that we have 42 environmental laws that give us more teeth in our fight against environmental violators, the judiciary is also taking a more active role in protecting nature and the country's environment," Atienza said. (Alfredo S. Araya, DENR/PIA-5)
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