Aboitiz now owns Tiwi and MacBan plants
The holding company for the Aboitiz Group's investments in power generation and distribution takes over two geothermal facilities May 26, 2009.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has turned-over to the Aboitiz Power Renewables (APR), the ceremonial keys of Tiwi and Makban Geothermal Plants, after the APR won the bid for the 20-year old facilities of the National Power Corp. (NPC). The ceremony will be held at the Makati office of the Power Sector Assets & Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) which is mandated by law to dispose NPC's assets and liabilities. The APR's total bid price for these assets is $446.9 million.
The Tiwi Geothermal plant in Tiwi, Albay, north of Mayon volcano, has 289 megawatts (MW) capacity while Makban (which stands for Makiling and Banahaw) based in Laguna and Batangas provinces supplies 458.53 megawatts (MW) to the main grid of NPC, said PSALM Chief of Staff Atty. Conrad Tolentino.
Represented by Luis Miguel Aboitiz, president of APR, the company presented to the President a large facsimile check for P8 billion (as downpayment) for the two plants that are now operating at their rated capacities. The Aboitizes bought the plants to become a dominant renewable energy supplier of the country, Tolentino said.
A ceremonial awarding of the geothermal plants to the Aboitiz was earlier held, wherein the power firm has signed P8 billion wire transfer to PSALM, representing the 40 percent down payment for the plant. The PSALM in turn gave the papers of the plants to APR.
PSALM was created in 2001 to dispose the assets and liabilities of NPC. This is the twelfth plant that PSALM has sold even as it also works on the trimming down of NPC's foreign obligations through either bond flotation, power rate increases and other mechanisms, Tolentino said.
Only last week, PSALM was able to generate $1 billion of bond floats the part of which will be used to pay off the debts of NPC (totalling $17 billion) plus interests on these obligations so that consumers will not be burdened with power rate adjustments, Tolentino added.
Under the assets and liabilities management program of PSALM, part of the obligations are being passed to the consumers through either the ICERA (international currency exchange rate adjustments) or the basic fuel GRAM (generation rate adjustment mechanism).
The bidding for these plants began in September 2005 with 15 prospective bidders participating. The bidding date was set for the second semester of 2006, which, however, was delayed because of the non resolution of the issue on the effectivity of the Geothermal Resources Sales Contract (GRSC) between PSALM and Philippine Geothermal Inc. (now Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings Inc.). (PIA V Release)
Consumer groups seek scrap of OATS
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - The Albay Consumers Association (Alconas) is urging the office of President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo to intervene in doing away with the Open Access Transmission Service (OATS) as it is feared to have caused difficulties in reducing power rates in the Luzon Grid.
Rafael A. Villar, an engineer and spokesman of the Alconas told the Dateliner that his previous letters to Arroyo have been favorably endorsed to the respective agencies of the power industry of the country.
Villar said the power outages and the problems on high rates of electricity can only be solved by prompt implementation of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquitision - Energy Management System (SCADA-EMS) which modernized the whole sourcing and distribution systems of power within the Luzon Grid.
"Whevever the available surce of connected power load provided for 'Open Access' consumers is not coordinated or included in the 'Load-scheduling program' beign beforehand prepared by Systems Operator designated in any given time Area Control Center-Coverage, most likely and oftentimes will result to disruption, distortion, interference or even cause brownouts in the energy transmission systems or circuits," Villar said adding that the automatic load-shifting operations, under the SCADA-EMS system, for supply-feeders to its repective distribution feeders cannot be realized and, or attained. Hence, he said, energy utilization cannot be maximized. Instead enormous unnecessary 'system loss' is incurred.
"In the case involving Wholesale Spot Market Operations (WESM), our explanation and recommendation therein was to confine or limit operations in only one or two adjoining Area Control Center citing Singapore as successful along this line since Singapore Land coverage area is only 225 square miles, further, as to which source of available connected for cheaper-wholesale pricing is determined knowledgeably by one systems operator singly operating within his area control center-coverage," Villar explained in a mailed reply to a recently received response from the Malacanang.
Records will show that the privatization program of the government have long been overdue and delayed, "Schemes similar to corporate marauding schemes have allegedly been employed in the purchase and sale of NPC's geothermal power plants from NPC to
Chevron and from Chevron to succeeding present-day owners," the Alconas spokesman said.
Villar said that since the issues involved are not only inter-agency (Gov't) related but has reached global-scientific research proportions, with ongoing excessive emission of carbon dioxide released by operating power plants worldwide, it is imperative that very urgent measures should be undertaken such as international regcognition of the people's Republic of China as having succeffully implemented the SCADA-EMS system in the communal electricity supply and distribution in its territory.
Villar said there is also a need to transfor the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) number one transmission firm in southeast Asia, as vowed by Zhang Oiquing, Director for International Cooperation of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC).
A copy of a position paper submitted to Arroyo and addressed to the United Nation's Secretariat has been sought for endorsement by the Philippine Representative to the U.N. for appropriate action.
Biazon joins ‘Tour of Hope’ cervical cancer awareness campaign
By Rey M. Nasol and Mar S. Arguelles
LEGAZPI CITY -- Health authorities sounded alarm bells on their route to Bicol over the rising incidence of cervical cancer among women, which is now the number two killer disease among women in the country.
Health advocates further cited cervical cancer kills at least 10 women everyday worldwide while some 9,000 Filipinas are suffering from this kind of disease in the country.
For this reason Muntinlupa City Representative Ruffy Biazon, together with Cervical Cancer advocates, joined this year's Tour of Hope, entitled "XXX-Dare to be Bold" to spread his advocacy of cervical cancer prevention to women in Southern Luzon.
The Tour of Hope kicked off in Cong. Biazon's district of Muntinlupa last May 24 and will end in Camarines Sur on Saturday. The tour made stops in Cavite, Tagaytay, Batangas and Quezon.
A joint project of Bravehearts, Cervical Cancer Prevention Network Program (CECAP) for the Cancer Institute Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline Philippines, Creative Juice, Campaigns PR Inc., and in strategic partnership with Team David's Salon, the Philippine's first all-women multisport team, this year's tour will cover approximately 500 kilometers of the Southern Luzon and the Metro Manila area.
In each stop, doctors from the Cervical Cancer Prevention (CECAP) Network Program of the Philippines will be holding lay flora on cervical cancer and its prevention spreading the advocacy of cervical cancer prevention to women in these areas. The activity will also aid in promoting tourism and in providing much needed awareness that the Philippines has a lot of scenic biking destinations.
Biazon first partnered with CECAP to raise cervical cancer awareness in his own district. He allocated his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the purchase of a cryotheraphy unit and the training of local health providers in the "Single Visit Approach" for the screening, detection and treatment of the disease.
Through his initiative, the City Health Office of Muntinlupa earned the "Best Practices Award" in the year 2008.
Earlier this year, Rep. Biazon was awarded the title "Honorary Woman" by CECAP and SM Women's Committee for his commitment to the anti-cervical cancer program.
They recognized his efforts in consistently implementing health programs for the welfare of the women in his district.
Aside from the program with CECAP, he consistently conducts free medical missions with pre-natal check-up with ultrasound, CBC, blood typing and hepatitis B screening for expectant mothers.
Refusing to be confined to his own district, Biazon extended his time and effort in spreading the advocacy to other women.
He joined last year's Tour of Hope where more than 200 bikers covered 500 kilometers stretching from the province of Vigan down to Olongapo City.
Lay lectures were conducted on cervical cancer prevention and it was attended by over a thousand people spreading the advocacy up north.
DOT infuses grant to Donsol’s Butanding eco-tourism project
By Mike dela Rama
LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has completed the second half of its infrastructure and skills development grant to the 'Whaleshark' town of Donsol to help the industry cope up with the needs of visitors, both foreigners and locals.
Bicol DOT regional Director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said in a recent meeting of the Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC) that the last phase of the P2.5-million fund assistance to the province of Sorsogon for the establishment of various infrastructure and other tourism projects, has been released earlier this week.
"The first half of the grant was released first week of April and used for the construction of a Wellness Center in Donsol now being managed by the local government in partnership with the Donsol Therapeutic Association."
The DOT has identified unemployed residents in Donsol who underwent skills training.
"The therapeutic training to unemployed residents in Donsol is part of the livelihood enhancement program in the tourism sector," Ravanilla said.
But Ravanilla also said that other tourist destinations in Bicol region have been identified. "Most of them need additional fund for rehabilitation and construction of tourism related infrastructures."
"We are very strict in terms of tourism development specially when it comes to infrastructure," Ravanilla explained.
She explained that several proposed tourism development projects were submitted by private companies to the DOT but some of those have been denied for some reasons.
Ravanilla cited the decision of the DOT not to allow Globe Telecommunications to undertake a submarine cable project in Dancalan, Donsol.
She said that while the project is meant to upgrade the communication technology, it would put to risk the region's eco-tourism advantage and eventually hurt the livelihood gains being provided by the presence of whale sharks in Donsol.
The Globe project does not guarantee positive or negative effect on the presence of whale sharks in Donsol waters.
The present Donsol Eco-Tourism site is now the model of the Expanded GREET project and a pilot on the Philippine Rural Community-Based Tourism by the DOT.
The Donsol eco-tourism product on Whale Shark interaction has positively changed the income capacity of the local government, the reason that Donsol is now a third class town from being a fifth class municipality.
It has significantly increased the income of the direct private beneficiaries like Butanding interaction officers, Boat Operators, Hostelry and Food Beverages Facilities and Land Transport facilities.
Even Legazpi and Sorsogon cities, Ravanilla said, remarkably benefit in the venture with about 30 percent of the gross revenues from tourists.
Ravanilla also announced that Gayon Bicol Travel and Bath House are now operational. "Portion of the grant to Sorsogon was utilized for the establishment of Travel and Bath House," she noted.
Gayon Bicol Travel and Bath house caters to all travelers with complete amenities.
Farmers rising against Dante’s farm disarray
By Emily B. Bordado, DA-Bicol
Pili, Camarines Sur - Over 170 farmers from this province have enlisted to participate in the season-long (3 months) training on high value commercial vegetables production using the modern technology under the Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan Program. This program initiated by the SM Foundation Incorporated (SMFI) in collaboration with HARBEST Agribusiness Corporation, the Department of Agriculture regional field office and the local government units.
The program aims to help farmers improve and increase their productivity and income through application of modern technology like the use of plastic green house and mulch, use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides.
HARBEST Agribusiness Corp. will provide the seeds and other inputs including the technology. The DA will provide technical assistance, the training venue and the techno demo-site of 5,000 square meters located at the Bicol Experiment Station which shall serve as field-school for the participants. The SM Foundation with its chain of hypermart and supermart including the newly opened supermarket inside the SM Mall in Naga City will serve as the market arm for the successful farmer graduates of this training who will venture into commercial vegetable production after the training. It is also hoped that with this program local vegetable farmers would be able to produce quality vegetables for the local markets as substitute for vegetables brought in from other areas which are expensive.
The training program consists of lectures and hand-on training of the participants using the concept of the Farmers Field School, which is a group-based learning process that incorporates concepts and methods from agro-ecology, experiential education and community development. Participants will meet one whole day once a week for a total of 10 sessions or a span over 2 months. Luz Marcelino, superintendent of the BEST will serve as the project manager.
The launching was attended by Cristie Angeles, project director of SMFI, Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA regional executive director, Arsenio Barcelona, president HARBEST, some private agribusiness entrepreneurs of the province, farmers, technicians, researchers and local media representatives.
Barcelona challenged the Bicolano farmers to produce their own vegetables because per their survey the vegetables available in the local market are not produced here but were brought either from North Luzon or from Mindanao that is why they are very costly. A big chunk of the cost being shouldered by the consumers for the vegetables they buy are actually the transport cost.
Ms. Angeles urged the farmers to be dreamers and risk-takers, just as the SM founder Mr. Henry Sy had been. She narrated how Mr. Sy started as an ordinary owner of a sari-sari store but not only dreamt but really worked hard to realize his dream.
Dir. Dayao for his part encourages farmers not only to be content with increasing production but also their income. He said Bicolanos should seize every available opportunity coming our ways such as this noble program.
Sagñay chosen site for global millennium school
SAGÑAY, Camarines Sur - The first global millennium school in Camarines Sur achieved another first with the choice of Nato High School here as the site of the first ever global millennium school of the country.
The millennium school is an offshoot of the Global Millennium School Design competition initiated by the advocates of the "Be Better Build Better" Program which main objective is to devise a school structural design that utilizes indigenous materials like bamboo that could withstand typhoons and rough monsoon weather.
Ground breaking ceremonies for the model school were held last Friday (May 15) at the Nato High School.
Officials of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur officials and municipal government here joined the representatives from the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Private Sector Disaster Management Network (PSDMN), Petron Foundation, ABS CBN Bayan Foundation, Department of Education (DepEd) and various stakeholders attended the milestone event
In his remarks during the ceremony, PSDMN chair Alex Escaño said that the support and cooperation of Governor LRay Villafuerte and the officials of the local government of Sagñay in pursuing the project set a good example to show the world that working together can achieve better result.
Taking the lead for the "Be Better Build Better" Program for the Millennium School are the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC/DND), DepEd, DSWD, DPWH, My Shelter Foundation, UAP and the PSDMN.
ABS-CBN Foundation and Sagip Kapamilya will sponsor the construction of the model school within the compound of Nato High School.
Present during the occasion were former board member Ernie Verdadero, architects Amado Tandoc, Jr. and Francisco Mañosa of UAP, Allan Victorino and Dani Bayani of Petron Foundation, Dr. Orfelina Tuy, ARD of DepEd Bicol and Dr. Emma I. Cornejo of DepEd Camarinees Sur; Aldwin S. Gonzales of ABS CBN Foundation; director Bernardo Alejandro IV, OCD R5; Engr. Nathaniel Mendoza, DepEd; municipal councilor Mariano San Felipe Jr. (DCAbad, PIA Cam. Sur)
BFP push safety drive in schools, dorms
SORSOGON CITY - The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) city station here has slated inspection of all boarding houses and schools in this city in preparation for the opening of classes on June 1.
C/Ins. Renato Marcial, Sorsogon City fire marshal said this is part of the BFP's mandate to ensure the safety of our students especially that we are expecting a great number of them who will troop to the said place this school year 2009-2010.
Marcial has directed his fire safety inspectors to inspect all the schools and dormitories in order to abate hazards.
"There are at least four schools that were inspected and have been issued notice to correct violations, most of these have nor or insufficient firefighting apparatus, such as fire extinguisher, no evacuation plan, padlocked fire exits and no emergency lights," he bared.
"Administrators or owners of these schools as well as boarding houses should comply with the fire safety standards being required to them, since this is for their own as well as for the students' safety," he added, as he appealed to those operators of dormitories to secure necessary permits before they should operate their own business.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Ronaldo Puno earlier ordered all fire bureau offices in the country to intensify fire safety inspection of all schools and dormitories frequented by the students.
He also reminded the BFP officials to be serious in the implementation of the Fire Code of the Philippines.
Since fire safety can not be compromised, Puno issued an order directing all City and Municipal Fire Marshals to issue notice to correct violations to those who are negligent or blatantly violating the provisions of the law. (BFP Sorsogon/PIA)
Aboitiz invests US$150M more to upgrade, rehab Tiwi, Mak-Ban plants
Aboitiz Power Corp. will invest US$ 150 million to rehabilitate and upgrade the two geothermal power plants it acquired from the government. Aboitiz senior vice president Luis Miguel Aboitiz said the amount would upgrade the 289-megawatt (MW) Tiwi geothermal power plant in Tiwi, Albay and the 458.53-MW Makban (Makiling-Banahaw) geothermal plant in Laguna and Batangas province.
Aboitiz Power Renewables, Inc., Aboitiz's subsidiary, acquired the two plants during an auction conducted by the state-owned Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) last July for an offered price of US$ 446.89 million.
"The plants are more than 20 years old so we plan to increase [its capacity] from 462MW to 517MW in the next four years," Aboitiz told reporters shortly after the turnover ceremony of the Tiwi-Makban plant Monday.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the turn over of the keys to Tiwi-Makban and the payment of the 40 percent down payment by Aboitiz amounting to P8.2 billion.
AP Renewables also paid PSALM another P492 million for land lease.
PSALM, through the National Power Corp. (Napocor), has attached a 400-MW supply contract to the geothermal facilities to attract investors.
Aboitiz said the firm was also looking at more possible acquisitions this year, particularly the contracts for the independent power producers administrators (IPPAs).
He said the company was interested in Casecnan and the San Roque hydroelectric power plants in Luzon.
The company is also interested to bid for the 600-MW Calaca and Limay coal plants.
Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said the successful bidding and turnover of Tiwi-Makban "boosts government's campaign on renewable energy sources."
PSALM president and chief executive officer Jose C. Ibazeta said the privatization of Napocor assets had contributed US$ 1.3 billion to government coffers so far.(PIA-5)
Automate elections in Mindanao and critical areas of concern: Biazon
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - In case the automation would not fully push through in the entire country, it is Mindanao and other hot spot areas of concerns that need to be prioritized in a partial implementation of the automated elections this coming 2010.
The original plan of the Commission on Elections (comelec) is the full automation of national and local elections but in case of its failure, and a partial automation would be considered as plan B, the agency should prioritize the perennial areas for previous election frauds particularly the touted 'dagdag bawas' shemes.
Muntinlupa lone district representative Ruffy Biazon said that Comelec still has ample time to implement the automation of the coming 2010 elections "But they must also be ready to go back to the traditional methods in case the automation does not materialized," he said explaining further that there should be no reason for the cancellation of the 2010 national and local elections as the so called 'No-El' and I don't think they (referring to orchestrators of the No-El) can pull off the scenario as they would just be inviting a political upheaval in this country," Biazon said adding his caution that the orchestrators behind the preservation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's seat are adjusting to other plans as manifested by an apparent abandonement of the Charter Change (Chacha) which he believes is just scripted to make people believe that Arroyo is no longer interested to continue in power.
In case of partial automations, Biazon said the Comelec should prioritize for implementation within Mindanao where even though less election related violence were reported, was touted for massive the dagdag-bawas.
Other identified areas of concern for violences in other parts of the country also need to benefit from any partial implementation of the automation in order to avert election cheating activities.
"I am anti Chacha and am against any amendment to the constitution before 2010 because it is not yet the right time," Biazon said.
Although Biazon admitted he sees some need for a charter change but those things need to be done after 2010 elections "I belive there is a need for amendments but it must be done beyond 2010 elections and we can't blame people from having doubts on sicerity of those who pushed chacha and eventually claimed there is no more chance for it this time."
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Retained OFWs work overtime yet underpaid
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - Due to the global economic challenges, Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) who were either laid-off or retain face difficulties of overworks. Job losers obviously stopped earning but job retainers double or even treble their duties for same salaries. Not spared from this report is a son of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Ernesto Bihis.
Retained workers at various countries have been complaining to the Dateliner through the modern communication such as social networks and the Yahoo Messenger (YM).
Bihis, said an example of this is his son who is working in Dubai but sought not to give company's name for the sake of his son who wanted to go back to the Philippines but was eventually convinced that he was still lucky to have the job and can manage to continue working as the Philippine consulate would closely monitor and look after their situation.
Among them is Richard Guivara, a supervisor of a coffee shop in Bahrain who has been experiencing hectic work loads after absorbing the work of those whose contracts were terminated by his company (which he sought not to be named) for cost-cutting measures due to the economic crisis.
Guivara said through the previous live online conversations that he had to splice his sleep times and work and "There have been no permanent shifting schedules since our company started to reduce the number of workers. The sad thing is that those of us who retained the job have to absorb all the works that were left by the laid-off workers."
Raymond P. Escalante, regional information officer of the DOLE-Bicol based here confirmed similar experiences have started to come to their offices both here and abroad. "The experience of overworks is being reported both by locally employed workers who were retained and the one coming from you for the sentiments of the OFWs," Escalante said adding that their Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in different countries particularly the middle east, are checking the contracts of the workers to protect them from abuses.
Escalante revealed that they are investigating through the intervention of the Overseas Workers welfare Administration (OWWA) the reported slashes in salaries of retained OFWs which aggravates their difficulties after in fact, having been absorbing duties of laid-off co-workers.
Director Bihis said the retained workers would really have to absorb some of the abandoned duties of the terminated workers "Some even reported having been left with no overtime pay opportunities. This is called management prerogative in order for companies to survive and the retained workers would really have to sacrifice a bit more. Bihis explained adding the situation is temporary and would be back to normal as the US economy is seeing brighter prospects within this year and onwards."
Escalante said the DOLE is encouraging the workers to be patient and love their job because it would be much more difficult to find a new job because companies even in the localities are also exercising austerity measures. "I myself had to reduce the number of workers in my franchise business and work loads have automatically been absorbed by those who were retained," Escalante said.
Bunkol promotes Dinorado Rice at Kawa-Kawa Hill
By Rey M. Nasol
LIGAO CITY - Going up on foot hasten's your blood you would almost give up because of the stiff slope. You seek short rest in one of the stations of the cross and continue your trek. But ah!!! You see an emergency resting shed equipped with first aid devices and a standby rescue team to serve you for free.
If you are young, you manage to skip this amenity for sure. And upon reaching halfway, the cool wind starts to blow your sweat away as you start enjoying the panoramic view of Mayon Volcano from the east, the city from the north and the green mountains to the west. And finally, several cottages provide you with refuge and enable you to view the Dinorado planting festival with all-star-cast of the experienced upland farmers.
A hill called Kawa-Kawa in this city is showcasing nature and a beautiful tradition that will eventually enable people's food self-sufficiency.
On top of this hill rice farmers use "Bunkol" tools in planting Dinorado seedlings, a world-class rice variety of aromatic grains favored by wealthy families in Bicol.
Former Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez told the Dateliner "We hope to continue this program in the succeeding years to encourage farmers to plant Dinurado, an upland rice variety which is very good in texture, aromatic and of world-class quality. By this we also help people become self-sufficient in food especially now that we are experiencing the global financial crisis."
Bunkol (tool) is approximately 10 ft bamboo tube with knife-shaped metal on its tip to perforate the dregs, having a slot running its length. It is equipped with a wooden hammer, usually carvings of birds, or animals that create a 'tik-tok' sound as it touches the attached bigger bamboo tube.
As the farmer tills the ground, the reverberating hammer device produces far-reaching 'cow'shorn'-like sound combined with several others performing the work. Farmers, by tradition believe the sound they make, drive away bad spirits and encourage other farmers to join the planting through the 'bayanihan' system.
The Kawa-Kawa Hill, which now showcases the 'Bunkol' festival since its birth last year provides a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountain ranges from an elevation of about 236-meter elevation from the ground city proper.
What is interesting is that on top of the hill is what looks like a giant frying pan overlooking the city. Downhill is the Carmelite monastery and a resettlement area for the typhoon victims and those displaced by the most recent flashfloods from Mayon Volcano.
Around 40 upland farmers, with their women and children carrying Dinorado seedlings were sowing Dinorado seedlings in the 'bunkol' or 'hasok' manner which is a primitive way of farming still being practiced by here despite the modern technologies being employed by most farmers in the lowland areas.
The upland farmers work faster with their "bunkol tools" creating a humming sound while the women do the "budbod" (planting the grains) of the Dinorado on the small holes on the ground created by the Bunkol.
Former Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez said the bunkol type of farming is Dinorado rice planting introduced by the upland farmers' ancestors.
He said 'bunkol' is traditionally used as an instrument to communicate with fellow settlers who are situated in distant villages, especially those in hazard prone areas.
The planting which started last weekend and to continue this week is performed by 'experienced' upland farmers who among themselves are Bunkol practitioners that are earning extra income here for the enrollment of their children this coming June.
Gonzalez said that because of the introduction of modern varieties of rice, corn and other low-land crops, some farmers even in the upland areas have started to do away with dinorado, aside from their discouragement from unscrupulous traders who adulterated the seedlings of dinurado in the past years. "So we produce this pure dinorado here and give the seedlings to the farmers to help them revive the abundant supply of this very promising farming tradition which has a very good market potential," he said.
Last year's first planting of dinorado out of the 'Bunkol' method of planting produced 270 cavans. The selected grains became the seedlings for this season's planting and the remaining produce were sold to the market at 2 kilos to 5 kilos at most per customer in order to spread the product and reach more consumers through the Women's group newly organized in the downhill area of barangay Bonga, this city, where Kawa-Kawa is located.
Sonny Reantorco, 37 of Barangay Tastas, this city and one of the farmers participating in the bunkol planting of Dinorado said that this very tall variety of rice takes around four months before it can be manually harvested. "We heve our own upland farms but participating here has an additional benefit aside from the Bayanihan system because Mr. Gonzalez pay as much as P120 per day for each of us with free meals and even transportation to and from our homes," The jolly Reantorco explained.
Leticia Billy, 64 of barangay Pinamanikihan, also of this city said the farming is called 'Asok' with Bunkol as its main tool. "With this tradition which we were a part since our births, we are very happy and would continue to plant dinorado for the rest of our lives," Billy said.
Segundino Barbacena, 63 years old of Bonga, serves as the cook for the farmers, while Winny Billy, an inlaw of Leticia said they (the farmers) will continue to look after the rice when they start to grow until the next harvest time sometime in October this year.
Aside from Dinorado farming, the Kawa-kawa also includes the Eagle-Scout encampment for Boy Scouts of the Philippines, local chapter where they can conduct jamborees, and related exercises.
The Carmelite nuns also installed the 14 way of the cross where the stations of the cross (via cruces) is celebrated every holy week. "Last Holy week some 15 thousand people participated here and the crowd capped the Kawa-Kawa hill," Joel Balajadia, a resident of Guinobatan, Albay said
A total of 18 hectares of the upland portion of Kawa-kawa is dedicated to farming that also includes for pineapple's Hawaiian variety, corn, eggplants, and other vegetables.
"But aside from the dinorado, we are also propagating tree planting along the slopes to reforest the area to encourage the people to plant trees and reap the fresh air as they grow here and they can come here anytime without fear of paying any amount to the maintenance group because we never have a plan to commercialize this area," Gonzalez assured.
"Children, their friends, family members, relatives and visitors can come here and enjoy nature because nature is for free after all. You see, if you collect entrance fee, people will start to inhibit themselves especially those who can't afford. So without any pay they are free to come everyday and enjoy the playground for them away from the 'concrete jungle' down there.
Group backs call for papal hand vs mining
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY – The different environment advocates here have supported a call to seek the intervention of Pope Benedict XVI in order to urge President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to give up on its permission to a foreign conducting open-pit mining in Rapu-Rapu island which scientists believe is not applicable in the area. This is their way of joining the worldwide celebration of the Earth Day, the organizers told the Dateliner.
The PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) and the Social Action Center of this city have started their new campaign in order to dramatize their sentiments against the mining activities in Rapu-Rapu, thus, a round table discussion over the weekend also became the venue for the public reading of the Bicol bishops' anti-mining letter to the pope
As read by his Most Rev. Lucilo Quiambao, D.D., Administrator of Legazpi the letter goes: “Your Holiness: We are writing you on a problem that may very well be beyond your immediate and urgent concerns, perhaps even too parochial as to reach your most august office. But our sense of hopelessness, after having tried our best to no effect, to deal with this problem within our means through proper channels, has pushed us to come to you for consolation,”
According to Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, the external vice-president of PANGATAMAN-Bikol Board of Trustees, “we welcome and support this letter to the Pope by the Bishops because it is a way to highlight the environmental degradation being experienced by the island of Rapu-rapu but the whole region as well. It is also good now that the different provinces of Bicol are represented here to know the updates on the destructive mining activities in their areas and to formulate a way to stop these,”
The letter further said “We are referring to the intransigence of the Philippine Government in allowing a multi-national company to continue an open pit mining operation on a small island (Rapu-rapu, Albay, Philippines) in the Diocese of Legazpi, within our ecclesiastical province, in spite of our appeals to have it stopped because of its destructive consequences on the island and its surroundings.”
“Even prior to the commencement of operations, various environmental groups have already opposed the project based on findings of many scientific investigations that declared the island unsuitable for mining because of the potential ecological damage it can bring into the island. Indeed, the island is geographically situated in such a way that is constantly vulnerable to typhoons and heavy rain. Considering further that the island is made up of such hilly terrain of steep slopes, scientists warned that the mine could have direct and long term environmental impact on the island through acid rock drainage and toxic discharges,”
“Opposition to the project grew all the more after two mining tailings spillage of October 11, 2005 and October 31, 2005, causing massive fish kills in and around the island...... All of these, however, Your Holiness, have fallen on deaf ears. We dare not seek your intercession for obvious reasons, particularly the sensitive political protocol it would involve. We are aware that we should be guided by your words that “Building a just social and civil order... as a political task... cannot be the Church's immediate responsibility.” (Deus caritas est, #28) “The Church ,' as you further said, “cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible.” (ibid.) Yet again, “... since it is also a most important human responsibility, the Church is duty-bound to offer, through the purification of reason and through ethical formation, her own specific contribution towards understanding the requirements of justice and achieving them politically,”
“In writing this letter to Your Holiness, we your brother Bishops of this far-away land, simply wish to share our pains with our Father, in the conviction that in this we would somehow find a sure source of hope, seeing this pain as a one rich variety of ways by which God makes His presence known to us,”
The letter was signed by Most Rev. Leonardo Legaspi, O.P., D.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres, Most Rev. Arturo Bastes, SVD, D.D., Bishop of Sorsogon, Most Rev. Lucilo Quiambao, D.D., Administrator of Legazpi, Most Rev. Manolo de los Santos, D.D., Bishop of Virac, Most Rev. Joel Baylon, D.D., Bishop of Masbate, Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, D.D., Bishop of Daet, Most Rev. Jose Rojas Jr., D.D. Bishop of Libmanan.
“We just hope now that the Philippine and local governments would act positively on our plea and not just pay lip service to the protection of our environment,” Perdigon said.
Inventors’ center now in Legazpi
LEGAZPI CITY - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) has opened its fourth satellite office in this city as part of its continued effort to extend public outreach nationwide.
IP Philippines targets to open a total of five IPSOs until the end of 2009. Three IPSOs, including Cebu, Davao, and Angeles, have been established since the project kicked off in 2008.
IP Philippines Director General, Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. said that the intention for opening the satellite offices is to "encourage inventors, and entrepreneurs in the countryside to protect intellectual property (IP) creations by having them registered with IP Philippines".
He added that by making its services accessible in the regions, IP Philippines can effectively harness the creative talents and innovative skills of IP generators.
He underscored that provincial businesses possess the capacity to become commercial successes and bring financial benefits to the country.
Provincial operations from August to December 2008 were positive, with 139 IP applications filed directly through the IPSOs.
IP Philippines also created a build-up of interest among small and medium enterprises and academic groups through the satellite offices' intensive and business-focused programs and activities such as basic orientation seminars, consultative meetings, partnership and networking collaborations, and commercialization assistance programs.
Cristobal noted that in fact, a number of priority SMEs and industry groups have already forged partnerships with IP Philippines.
The establishment of satellite offices is aligned with IP Philippines' three-year strategic plan which aims to accomplish the following goals: deliver quality and timely patents, deliver quality and timely trademarks, improve results-oriented technology transfer interventions, provide speedy and effective legal remedies, institutionalize copyright development and support services, and sustain dynamic leadership in the IP system.
IP Philippines promotes creativity and innovation through the country's intellectual property system and grants patents and trademarks, supports the creative industries and advocates a vibrant IP culture.
RDCC-Bicol on massive campaign vs. A (H1N1)
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - The Regional Disaster Coordination Council (RDCC) in Bicol has enlisted the support of concerned government agencies and the Media for its massive information campaign and preparedness efforts against the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1) virus after the country has been counted as 41st in the world watch against the contagious disease.
The RDCC's crisis management team is now headed by the regional office of the Department of Health's Regional epidemiological Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol regional director Raffy Alejandro announced during this afternoon's emergency meeting at the regional disaster management center.
Although Bicol had reported two cases (one from Tabaco City, Albay and in Naga City, in Camarines Sur) the region is still free from the virus strain as the suspected carriers were confirmed negative to A (h1N1) by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in metro Manila where they were immediately subjected for quarantine last month.
"The report was good for Bicol but the one confirmed case of A (H1N1) from Canada is not good for the country that is why we need to strengthen our preparedness at the local levels," Alejandro told the members of the crisis management team composed of the members of the RDCC.
Plans were laid down during the meeting which includes distribution of information materials, conduct of radio and school hopping, streamers, concert, advocacy broadcasts and the simultaneous (simulcast) airing of a 15-minute advocacy campaign among the local radio stations at a particular time of the day that would be determined by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
"This will enhance the impact of the information among the people and correct misconceptions and start to alert all the people down the barangay levels to take the necessary precautionary measures before the virus reaches Bicol in case it would," Lt. Darwin Nieva of the Philippine Navy here said during the meeting.
Guidelines on dealing with patients and the contacts on and before the suspected case is reported are in place and would be relayed to the public as soon as the advertisement advocacy is releases.
Dr. Aurora Daloro head of the RESU said "the provincial health offices of Camarines provinces, Albay and Sorsogon have promised to bring suspected carriers of the virus to the designated referral hospitals and the RITM just like what Albay did for one case the was reported in Tabaco City and the one in Naga City. The respective ambulances, whose crew wore personal protective equipment (PPEs) transported the patients directly to the RITM where they were subjected to examination and treatment."
Daloro said that the health department is now capable of determining the suspected case if it is negative or positive to the A (H1N1) infection within a span of eight hours.
Likewise a designated hotline at the DOH-Bicol regional office based in Daraga, Albay was released for public who would relay information on suspected A (H1N1) carrier in the different levels. They are: (052) 483-0934-35, 483-0372, 483-5656 and local 509 where a team of shifting duty personnel are on standby 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
For active cases, Daloro said the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in Legazpi City have designated their respective quarantine rooms and the persons who had contact with patients such as relatives and friends are advised to practice self-quarantine within their homes.
"District and municipal hospitals would also be utilized in worse case scenarios and even private hospitals would also be sought for support in case of intensifying spread of the virus occurs," Daloro explained.
Dr. Alan Lucanas of the DOH-RESU also said that they might recommend suspension of classes in case cases would put children into jeopardy.
At this point Lucanas has advised the public to minimize crowd gathering particularly those joined in by people from the earlier reported countries affected by the A (H1N1) virus.
Lucanas also advised people to properly cook meat products particularly pork. "It will help us prevent A (H1N1) and also tape worm which is also prevalent in Bicol region."
A (H1N1) which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) website, first discovered somewhere in La Gloria Mexico last April 17 to 23, this year has affected 41 countries and killed 85 people and infected some 11,035 persons worldwide including one in the Philippines which was confirmed by the health authorities.
Dti Bicol CLEEP now on stream
LEGAZPI CITY (18 May) - The global financial crisis that has gripped most of the big economies in the world last year is now being felt in the country as indicated by massive lay offs of workers by companies which are either temporary or permanently closed.
Accordingly, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bicol regional director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco responded to the call of DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila to implement the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in the Bicol region.
Blanco said that as of April 2009, DTI-V has conducted 109 capability building trainings that benefited 5,273 clients/beneficiaries in the region, provided 50 business consultancy services that benefited 2,226 beneficiaries regionwide, and facilitated loans/grants in the amount of P25.34 million thru the loan windows of DTI, LGUs, DOLE, RuMEPP, and SB Corp. that benefited 2,819 clients across the region.
She added that about 10 per cent of the displaced workers in Bicol or 44 persons affected by the global financial crisis in the region, were provided emergency employment by DTI as follows: 31 price monitors; 4 CLEEP personnel augmentation, 7 financial analyst, and 2 CARP personnel.
She also said that with the launching of DTI's Enhanced Price Monitoring Project to ensure safe, better quality and reasonably-priced products we also provide emergency employment to 31 workers as price monitors to conduct monitoring for six months from April 16 to October 16, 2009 region wide.
The hired workers will receive an average allowance of P1,019.00 per month for six months.
DTI Bicol also hired 7 workers for the financial analyst (FA) position as FAs.
Blanco explained that the workers will assist DTI regular staff and division/province where he/she will be assigned to and will focus on project identification and consultancy work, adding that each will receive P12,000/month plus P1,700/month as TEV for three months from May to July 2009.
For the personnel augmentation position, according to Blanco, DTI Bicol hired 4 workers who will prepare, evaluate and analyze project proposals, plans and programs under the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), noting that the hired workers will receive P9,000/month for three months from May to July 2009.
And finally, two positions for the DTI V Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), regional coordinator and DTI-CARP Provincial Officer were filled up.
She explained that the Senior CARP Staff will be in charge with the over-all supervision of the Department's Small and Medium Industrial Technology Transfer Development Program (SMITTDP) under DTI-CARP, covering the six provinces of the Bicol region.
The Junior CARP Staff will prepare the provincial plans, targets and budget for programs, projects activities of the SMITTDP under DTI-CARP in the province where he/she is assigned and will receive P16,093/month plus P1,700 as TEV for two months from May to June 2009.
The total fund/budget allocated for the CLEEP in the Bicol region is P2.9 million. (ACBelleza, DTI-V/PIA-V)
Teodoro tells Bicolanos to witness vs illegal loggersBy Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. posed a challenge against all forms of illegal logging in Bicol to minimize the effect of climate change and global warming.
Teodoro has enticed witnesses against known personalities, even local or national leaders behind any existing massive tree cutting that have not been allowed by government regulations.
Residents have been blaming massive tree cutting activities in every corner of Bicol region as one of the causes of landslides in Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon areas.
This came after Teodoro together with Social Welfare Secretary Teresita Cabral and Civil Defense regional director Raffy Alejandro, conducted an aerial survey of the landslide site in Barangay Hubo, Magallanes, Sorsogon.
Although not all landslides are caused by forest denudations, Teodoro said landslide incidents could have been very minimal if the vegetation is preserved particularly in Bicol's provinces of Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate, and the Camarines areas.
He said that witnesses must not be distracted by the situation of Rodolfo Lozada Jr who is facing perjury charges.
"Secretary Atienza would take charge of this issue with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the NDCC will help arrest those illegal loggers because when it comes to the lives of the people we should prosecute those responsible," Teodoro said.
The Defense secretary said he would appreciate all informations with enough evidences that would put in jail anybody whether they are local government officials and other well-known personalities. "If there are civic-minded individuals they must not hesitate and rather push through with witnessing against illegal loggers, if there are, so that we have basis to prosecute illegal loggers," Teodoro explained.
Teodoro cited the case of Umbra Kato, a Muslim extremist who is now facing criminal charges because of the support of residents to authorities who are going after his alleged atrocities in Mindanao. "Many witnesses, even if they are left in their barangays have emerged to witness against Kato. You see, we did not start the investigation without basis. We had the statements of the active witnesses and secured warrant of arrest supported with evidences," Teodoro dared Bicol's possible witnesses against illegal loggers during a press conference this morning.
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - Due to the global economic challenges, Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) who were either laid-off or retain face difficulties of overworks. Job losers obviously stopped earning but job retainers double or even treble their duties for same salaries. Not spared from this report is a son of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Director Ernesto Bihis.
Retained workers at various countries have been complaining to the Dateliner through the modern communication such as social networks and the Yahoo Messenger (YM).
Bihis, said an example of this is his son who is working in Dubai but sought not to give company's name for the sake of his son who wanted to go back to the Philippines but was eventually convinced that he was still lucky to have the job and can manage to continue working as the Philippine consulate would closely monitor and look after their situation.
Among them is Richard Guivara, a supervisor of a coffee shop in Bahrain who has been experiencing hectic work loads after absorbing the work of those whose contracts were terminated by his company (which he sought not to be named) for cost-cutting measures due to the economic crisis.
Guivara said through the previous live online conversations that he had to splice his sleep times and work and "There have been no permanent shifting schedules since our company started to reduce the number of workers. The sad thing is that those of us who retained the job have to absorb all the works that were left by the laid-off workers."
Raymond P. Escalante, regional information officer of the DOLE-Bicol based here confirmed similar experiences have started to come to their offices both here and abroad. "The experience of overworks is being reported both by locally employed workers who were retained and the one coming from you for the sentiments of the OFWs," Escalante said adding that their Philippine Overseas Labor Offices (POLOs) in different countries particularly the middle east, are checking the contracts of the workers to protect them from abuses.
Escalante revealed that they are investigating through the intervention of the Overseas Workers welfare Administration (OWWA) the reported slashes in salaries of retained OFWs which aggravates their difficulties after in fact, having been absorbing duties of laid-off co-workers.
Director Bihis said the retained workers would really have to absorb some of the abandoned duties of the terminated workers "Some even reported having been left with no overtime pay opportunities. This is called management prerogative in order for companies to survive and the retained workers would really have to sacrifice a bit more. Bihis explained adding the situation is temporary and would be back to normal as the US economy is seeing brighter prospects within this year and onwards."
Escalante said the DOLE is encouraging the workers to be patient and love their job because it would be much more difficult to find a new job because companies even in the localities are also exercising austerity measures. "I myself had to reduce the number of workers in my franchise business and work loads have automatically been absorbed by those who were retained," Escalante said.
Bunkol promotes Dinorado Rice at Kawa-Kawa Hill
By Rey M. Nasol
LIGAO CITY - Going up on foot hasten's your blood you would almost give up because of the stiff slope. You seek short rest in one of the stations of the cross and continue your trek. But ah!!! You see an emergency resting shed equipped with first aid devices and a standby rescue team to serve you for free.
If you are young, you manage to skip this amenity for sure. And upon reaching halfway, the cool wind starts to blow your sweat away as you start enjoying the panoramic view of Mayon Volcano from the east, the city from the north and the green mountains to the west. And finally, several cottages provide you with refuge and enable you to view the Dinorado planting festival with all-star-cast of the experienced upland farmers.
A hill called Kawa-Kawa in this city is showcasing nature and a beautiful tradition that will eventually enable people's food self-sufficiency.
On top of this hill rice farmers use "Bunkol" tools in planting Dinorado seedlings, a world-class rice variety of aromatic grains favored by wealthy families in Bicol.
Former Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez told the Dateliner "We hope to continue this program in the succeeding years to encourage farmers to plant Dinurado, an upland rice variety which is very good in texture, aromatic and of world-class quality. By this we also help people become self-sufficient in food especially now that we are experiencing the global financial crisis."
Bunkol (tool) is approximately 10 ft bamboo tube with knife-shaped metal on its tip to perforate the dregs, having a slot running its length. It is equipped with a wooden hammer, usually carvings of birds, or animals that create a 'tik-tok' sound as it touches the attached bigger bamboo tube.
As the farmer tills the ground, the reverberating hammer device produces far-reaching 'cow'shorn'-like sound combined with several others performing the work. Farmers, by tradition believe the sound they make, drive away bad spirits and encourage other farmers to join the planting through the 'bayanihan' system.
The Kawa-Kawa Hill, which now showcases the 'Bunkol' festival since its birth last year provides a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountain ranges from an elevation of about 236-meter elevation from the ground city proper.
What is interesting is that on top of the hill is what looks like a giant frying pan overlooking the city. Downhill is the Carmelite monastery and a resettlement area for the typhoon victims and those displaced by the most recent flashfloods from Mayon Volcano.
Around 40 upland farmers, with their women and children carrying Dinorado seedlings were sowing Dinorado seedlings in the 'bunkol' or 'hasok' manner which is a primitive way of farming still being practiced by here despite the modern technologies being employed by most farmers in the lowland areas.
The upland farmers work faster with their "bunkol tools" creating a humming sound while the women do the "budbod" (planting the grains) of the Dinorado on the small holes on the ground created by the Bunkol.
Former Albay Gov. Fernando Gonzalez said the bunkol type of farming is Dinorado rice planting introduced by the upland farmers' ancestors.
He said 'bunkol' is traditionally used as an instrument to communicate with fellow settlers who are situated in distant villages, especially those in hazard prone areas.
The planting which started last weekend and to continue this week is performed by 'experienced' upland farmers who among themselves are Bunkol practitioners that are earning extra income here for the enrollment of their children this coming June.
Gonzalez said that because of the introduction of modern varieties of rice, corn and other low-land crops, some farmers even in the upland areas have started to do away with dinorado, aside from their discouragement from unscrupulous traders who adulterated the seedlings of dinurado in the past years. "So we produce this pure dinorado here and give the seedlings to the farmers to help them revive the abundant supply of this very promising farming tradition which has a very good market potential," he said.
Last year's first planting of dinorado out of the 'Bunkol' method of planting produced 270 cavans. The selected grains became the seedlings for this season's planting and the remaining produce were sold to the market at 2 kilos to 5 kilos at most per customer in order to spread the product and reach more consumers through the Women's group newly organized in the downhill area of barangay Bonga, this city, where Kawa-Kawa is located.
Sonny Reantorco, 37 of Barangay Tastas, this city and one of the farmers participating in the bunkol planting of Dinorado said that this very tall variety of rice takes around four months before it can be manually harvested. "We heve our own upland farms but participating here has an additional benefit aside from the Bayanihan system because Mr. Gonzalez pay as much as P120 per day for each of us with free meals and even transportation to and from our homes," The jolly Reantorco explained.
Leticia Billy, 64 of barangay Pinamanikihan, also of this city said the farming is called 'Asok' with Bunkol as its main tool. "With this tradition which we were a part since our births, we are very happy and would continue to plant dinorado for the rest of our lives," Billy said.
Segundino Barbacena, 63 years old of Bonga, serves as the cook for the farmers, while Winny Billy, an inlaw of Leticia said they (the farmers) will continue to look after the rice when they start to grow until the next harvest time sometime in October this year.
Aside from Dinorado farming, the Kawa-kawa also includes the Eagle-Scout encampment for Boy Scouts of the Philippines, local chapter where they can conduct jamborees, and related exercises.
The Carmelite nuns also installed the 14 way of the cross where the stations of the cross (via cruces) is celebrated every holy week. "Last Holy week some 15 thousand people participated here and the crowd capped the Kawa-Kawa hill," Joel Balajadia, a resident of Guinobatan, Albay said
A total of 18 hectares of the upland portion of Kawa-kawa is dedicated to farming that also includes for pineapple's Hawaiian variety, corn, eggplants, and other vegetables.
"But aside from the dinorado, we are also propagating tree planting along the slopes to reforest the area to encourage the people to plant trees and reap the fresh air as they grow here and they can come here anytime without fear of paying any amount to the maintenance group because we never have a plan to commercialize this area," Gonzalez assured.
"Children, their friends, family members, relatives and visitors can come here and enjoy nature because nature is for free after all. You see, if you collect entrance fee, people will start to inhibit themselves especially those who can't afford. So without any pay they are free to come everyday and enjoy the playground for them away from the 'concrete jungle' down there.
Group backs call for papal hand vs mining
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY – The different environment advocates here have supported a call to seek the intervention of Pope Benedict XVI in order to urge President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to give up on its permission to a foreign conducting open-pit mining in Rapu-Rapu island which scientists believe is not applicable in the area. This is their way of joining the worldwide celebration of the Earth Day, the organizers told the Dateliner.
The PANGATAMAN-Bikol (Bicol Center for Environmental Protection) and the Social Action Center of this city have started their new campaign in order to dramatize their sentiments against the mining activities in Rapu-Rapu, thus, a round table discussion over the weekend also became the venue for the public reading of the Bicol bishops' anti-mining letter to the pope
As read by his Most Rev. Lucilo Quiambao, D.D., Administrator of Legazpi the letter goes: “Your Holiness: We are writing you on a problem that may very well be beyond your immediate and urgent concerns, perhaps even too parochial as to reach your most august office. But our sense of hopelessness, after having tried our best to no effect, to deal with this problem within our means through proper channels, has pushed us to come to you for consolation,”
According to Engr. Virgilio Perdigon, the external vice-president of PANGATAMAN-Bikol Board of Trustees, “we welcome and support this letter to the Pope by the Bishops because it is a way to highlight the environmental degradation being experienced by the island of Rapu-rapu but the whole region as well. It is also good now that the different provinces of Bicol are represented here to know the updates on the destructive mining activities in their areas and to formulate a way to stop these,”
The letter further said “We are referring to the intransigence of the Philippine Government in allowing a multi-national company to continue an open pit mining operation on a small island (Rapu-rapu, Albay, Philippines) in the Diocese of Legazpi, within our ecclesiastical province, in spite of our appeals to have it stopped because of its destructive consequences on the island and its surroundings.”
“Even prior to the commencement of operations, various environmental groups have already opposed the project based on findings of many scientific investigations that declared the island unsuitable for mining because of the potential ecological damage it can bring into the island. Indeed, the island is geographically situated in such a way that is constantly vulnerable to typhoons and heavy rain. Considering further that the island is made up of such hilly terrain of steep slopes, scientists warned that the mine could have direct and long term environmental impact on the island through acid rock drainage and toxic discharges,”
“Opposition to the project grew all the more after two mining tailings spillage of October 11, 2005 and October 31, 2005, causing massive fish kills in and around the island...... All of these, however, Your Holiness, have fallen on deaf ears. We dare not seek your intercession for obvious reasons, particularly the sensitive political protocol it would involve. We are aware that we should be guided by your words that “Building a just social and civil order... as a political task... cannot be the Church's immediate responsibility.” (Deus caritas est, #28) “The Church ,' as you further said, “cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible.” (ibid.) Yet again, “... since it is also a most important human responsibility, the Church is duty-bound to offer, through the purification of reason and through ethical formation, her own specific contribution towards understanding the requirements of justice and achieving them politically,”
“In writing this letter to Your Holiness, we your brother Bishops of this far-away land, simply wish to share our pains with our Father, in the conviction that in this we would somehow find a sure source of hope, seeing this pain as a one rich variety of ways by which God makes His presence known to us,”
The letter was signed by Most Rev. Leonardo Legaspi, O.P., D.D., Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres, Most Rev. Arturo Bastes, SVD, D.D., Bishop of Sorsogon, Most Rev. Lucilo Quiambao, D.D., Administrator of Legazpi, Most Rev. Manolo de los Santos, D.D., Bishop of Virac, Most Rev. Joel Baylon, D.D., Bishop of Masbate, Most Rev. Gilbert Garcera, D.D., Bishop of Daet, Most Rev. Jose Rojas Jr., D.D. Bishop of Libmanan.
“We just hope now that the Philippine and local governments would act positively on our plea and not just pay lip service to the protection of our environment,” Perdigon said.
Inventors’ center now in Legazpi
LEGAZPI CITY - The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IP Philippines) has opened its fourth satellite office in this city as part of its continued effort to extend public outreach nationwide.
IP Philippines targets to open a total of five IPSOs until the end of 2009. Three IPSOs, including Cebu, Davao, and Angeles, have been established since the project kicked off in 2008.
IP Philippines Director General, Atty. Adrian S. Cristobal, Jr. said that the intention for opening the satellite offices is to "encourage inventors, and entrepreneurs in the countryside to protect intellectual property (IP) creations by having them registered with IP Philippines".
He added that by making its services accessible in the regions, IP Philippines can effectively harness the creative talents and innovative skills of IP generators.
He underscored that provincial businesses possess the capacity to become commercial successes and bring financial benefits to the country.
Provincial operations from August to December 2008 were positive, with 139 IP applications filed directly through the IPSOs.
IP Philippines also created a build-up of interest among small and medium enterprises and academic groups through the satellite offices' intensive and business-focused programs and activities such as basic orientation seminars, consultative meetings, partnership and networking collaborations, and commercialization assistance programs.
Cristobal noted that in fact, a number of priority SMEs and industry groups have already forged partnerships with IP Philippines.
The establishment of satellite offices is aligned with IP Philippines' three-year strategic plan which aims to accomplish the following goals: deliver quality and timely patents, deliver quality and timely trademarks, improve results-oriented technology transfer interventions, provide speedy and effective legal remedies, institutionalize copyright development and support services, and sustain dynamic leadership in the IP system.
IP Philippines promotes creativity and innovation through the country's intellectual property system and grants patents and trademarks, supports the creative industries and advocates a vibrant IP culture.
RDCC-Bicol on massive campaign vs. A (H1N1)
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - The Regional Disaster Coordination Council (RDCC) in Bicol has enlisted the support of concerned government agencies and the Media for its massive information campaign and preparedness efforts against the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1) virus after the country has been counted as 41st in the world watch against the contagious disease.
The RDCC's crisis management team is now headed by the regional office of the Department of Health's Regional epidemiological Surveillance Unit (DOH-RESU), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Bicol regional director Raffy Alejandro announced during this afternoon's emergency meeting at the regional disaster management center.
Although Bicol had reported two cases (one from Tabaco City, Albay and in Naga City, in Camarines Sur) the region is still free from the virus strain as the suspected carriers were confirmed negative to A (h1N1) by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in metro Manila where they were immediately subjected for quarantine last month.
"The report was good for Bicol but the one confirmed case of A (H1N1) from Canada is not good for the country that is why we need to strengthen our preparedness at the local levels," Alejandro told the members of the crisis management team composed of the members of the RDCC.
Plans were laid down during the meeting which includes distribution of information materials, conduct of radio and school hopping, streamers, concert, advocacy broadcasts and the simultaneous (simulcast) airing of a 15-minute advocacy campaign among the local radio stations at a particular time of the day that would be determined by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
"This will enhance the impact of the information among the people and correct misconceptions and start to alert all the people down the barangay levels to take the necessary precautionary measures before the virus reaches Bicol in case it would," Lt. Darwin Nieva of the Philippine Navy here said during the meeting.
Guidelines on dealing with patients and the contacts on and before the suspected case is reported are in place and would be relayed to the public as soon as the advertisement advocacy is releases.
Dr. Aurora Daloro head of the RESU said "the provincial health offices of Camarines provinces, Albay and Sorsogon have promised to bring suspected carriers of the virus to the designated referral hospitals and the RITM just like what Albay did for one case the was reported in Tabaco City and the one in Naga City. The respective ambulances, whose crew wore personal protective equipment (PPEs) transported the patients directly to the RITM where they were subjected to examination and treatment."
Daloro said that the health department is now capable of determining the suspected case if it is negative or positive to the A (H1N1) infection within a span of eight hours.
Likewise a designated hotline at the DOH-Bicol regional office based in Daraga, Albay was released for public who would relay information on suspected A (H1N1) carrier in the different levels. They are: (052) 483-0934-35, 483-0372, 483-5656 and local 509 where a team of shifting duty personnel are on standby 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
For active cases, Daloro said the Bicol Medical Center in Naga City and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in Legazpi City have designated their respective quarantine rooms and the persons who had contact with patients such as relatives and friends are advised to practice self-quarantine within their homes.
"District and municipal hospitals would also be utilized in worse case scenarios and even private hospitals would also be sought for support in case of intensifying spread of the virus occurs," Daloro explained.
Dr. Alan Lucanas of the DOH-RESU also said that they might recommend suspension of classes in case cases would put children into jeopardy.
At this point Lucanas has advised the public to minimize crowd gathering particularly those joined in by people from the earlier reported countries affected by the A (H1N1) virus.
Lucanas also advised people to properly cook meat products particularly pork. "It will help us prevent A (H1N1) and also tape worm which is also prevalent in Bicol region."
A (H1N1) which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) website, first discovered somewhere in La Gloria Mexico last April 17 to 23, this year has affected 41 countries and killed 85 people and infected some 11,035 persons worldwide including one in the Philippines which was confirmed by the health authorities.
Dti Bicol CLEEP now on stream
LEGAZPI CITY (18 May) - The global financial crisis that has gripped most of the big economies in the world last year is now being felt in the country as indicated by massive lay offs of workers by companies which are either temporary or permanently closed.
Accordingly, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bicol regional director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco responded to the call of DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila to implement the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) in the Bicol region.
Blanco said that as of April 2009, DTI-V has conducted 109 capability building trainings that benefited 5,273 clients/beneficiaries in the region, provided 50 business consultancy services that benefited 2,226 beneficiaries regionwide, and facilitated loans/grants in the amount of P25.34 million thru the loan windows of DTI, LGUs, DOLE, RuMEPP, and SB Corp. that benefited 2,819 clients across the region.
She added that about 10 per cent of the displaced workers in Bicol or 44 persons affected by the global financial crisis in the region, were provided emergency employment by DTI as follows: 31 price monitors; 4 CLEEP personnel augmentation, 7 financial analyst, and 2 CARP personnel.
She also said that with the launching of DTI's Enhanced Price Monitoring Project to ensure safe, better quality and reasonably-priced products we also provide emergency employment to 31 workers as price monitors to conduct monitoring for six months from April 16 to October 16, 2009 region wide.
The hired workers will receive an average allowance of P1,019.00 per month for six months.
DTI Bicol also hired 7 workers for the financial analyst (FA) position as FAs.
Blanco explained that the workers will assist DTI regular staff and division/province where he/she will be assigned to and will focus on project identification and consultancy work, adding that each will receive P12,000/month plus P1,700/month as TEV for three months from May to July 2009.
For the personnel augmentation position, according to Blanco, DTI Bicol hired 4 workers who will prepare, evaluate and analyze project proposals, plans and programs under the Comprehensive Livelihood Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP), noting that the hired workers will receive P9,000/month for three months from May to July 2009.
And finally, two positions for the DTI V Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), regional coordinator and DTI-CARP Provincial Officer were filled up.
She explained that the Senior CARP Staff will be in charge with the over-all supervision of the Department's Small and Medium Industrial Technology Transfer Development Program (SMITTDP) under DTI-CARP, covering the six provinces of the Bicol region.
The Junior CARP Staff will prepare the provincial plans, targets and budget for programs, projects activities of the SMITTDP under DTI-CARP in the province where he/she is assigned and will receive P16,093/month plus P1,700 as TEV for two months from May to June 2009.
The total fund/budget allocated for the CLEEP in the Bicol region is P2.9 million. (ACBelleza, DTI-V/PIA-V)
Teodoro tells Bicolanos to witness vs illegal loggersBy Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. posed a challenge against all forms of illegal logging in Bicol to minimize the effect of climate change and global warming.
Teodoro has enticed witnesses against known personalities, even local or national leaders behind any existing massive tree cutting that have not been allowed by government regulations.
Residents have been blaming massive tree cutting activities in every corner of Bicol region as one of the causes of landslides in Catanduanes, Albay and Sorsogon areas.
This came after Teodoro together with Social Welfare Secretary Teresita Cabral and Civil Defense regional director Raffy Alejandro, conducted an aerial survey of the landslide site in Barangay Hubo, Magallanes, Sorsogon.
Although not all landslides are caused by forest denudations, Teodoro said landslide incidents could have been very minimal if the vegetation is preserved particularly in Bicol's provinces of Sorsogon, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate, and the Camarines areas.
He said that witnesses must not be distracted by the situation of Rodolfo Lozada Jr who is facing perjury charges.
"Secretary Atienza would take charge of this issue with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the NDCC will help arrest those illegal loggers because when it comes to the lives of the people we should prosecute those responsible," Teodoro said.
The Defense secretary said he would appreciate all informations with enough evidences that would put in jail anybody whether they are local government officials and other well-known personalities. "If there are civic-minded individuals they must not hesitate and rather push through with witnessing against illegal loggers, if there are, so that we have basis to prosecute illegal loggers," Teodoro explained.
Teodoro cited the case of Umbra Kato, a Muslim extremist who is now facing criminal charges because of the support of residents to authorities who are going after his alleged atrocities in Mindanao. "Many witnesses, even if they are left in their barangays have emerged to witness against Kato. You see, we did not start the investigation without basis. We had the statements of the active witnesses and secured warrant of arrest supported with evidences," Teodoro dared Bicol's possible witnesses against illegal loggers during a press conference this morning.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
OFW kins need better unlimited broadband lines
OFW kins need better unlimited broadband lines
LEGAZPI CITY – Broadband users in the countryside are awaiting for full democratization of the internet especially the wireless and the Digital Subscriber's Line or DSL. Most families of Overseas Filipino workers, regardless of the location of their homes badly need internet for communicating with their loved ones in the comfort of their homes without the need to go to the downtowns to avail of internet service from cafés.
Various sources, some of whom did not want to be named, said they have felt the need and helplessly went out of their way during the Holy Week when the public internet shops closed for several days in the observance of the holidays.
"It is now very important for us to be connected on an unlimited basis but it is still very hard to get a fast connection outside the rural areas here in Legazpi and other parts of Albay," Rommel Moral of Camalig, Albay said.
Moral eagerly reacted on Rep. Joseph Santiago of Catanduanes, chairman of the House of information and communications technology committee, who said that the House of Representatives may have to concede financial incentives in order to spur broadband service providers to invest in high-speed Internet access infrastructure in the countryside.
In a statement, Santiagio former chief of the National Telecommunications Commission, said that three out of four Filipinos live in the rural areas. Connecting them to the world via broadband is absolutely imperative to build up the whole economy.
"The current setup, although massively advertised, shows that only those living in the main thoroughfares have access to good quality of internet while even those in between towns particularly the people living near town boundaries have no other choice but to resort to prepaid wireless broadband services which costs P20 per hour," Moral lamented adding that the unlimited internet service costs only around P1.39 per hour but most have no access to the unlimited services because of the backlog.
Reliable broadband access offers a lot of fresh opportunities to rural communities for small enterprises to grow and create jobs, for homes and schools to boost learning, for farmers to reach all potential markets and share new methods, even for ordinary people to simply communicate or obtain helpful information, he said.
For instance, Santiago said a migrant worker would not have any incentives to invest in a personal computer at home if his small town still does not have dependable broadband access.
With broadband access, the worker would be motivated to get a PC for his family here, since this would enable them to communicate cost-effectively via chat, e-mail, or calls over the Internet on Skype, check the crediting of a remittance to a local bank account, pay bills online, and so on, he said.
Santiago said Congress might have to find ways to drive service providers to expand vital broadband infrastructure in rural zones that still do not have any access at all.
One option is to offer tax credits to new investments. Another is to grant extra subsidies to local governments that support private broadband infrastructure deployment in their areas, he pointed out.
In the US, Santiago noted that investments in current-generation broadband infrastructure in areas with zero existing access are entitled to a 20-percent tax credit. They also have a 10-percent tax credit for similar investments in underserved areas, he said.
The total number of Filipinos subscribing to broadband services soared by 67 percent in 2008, reaching more than 1.3 million.
However, Santiago said subscribers are still concentrated in highly urbanized cities. He said telecommunication service providers that offer current-generation broadband connections have been disinclined to invest in potentially less profitable rural areas
Quake jolt, cracks Church edifice
GUINOBATAN, Albay - Confessors of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish here were astonished while lining up for their turn to ask for forgiveness of their sins.
"A quick rumbling sound from beneath the ground was followed by a jolt which reached intensity 5 to 6 in Guinobatan which might have originated from a local fault line that is why only intensity 2 was recorded at the Liñgon Hill Observatory in Legazpi City some 25 kilometers away.
Rev. Father David R. Ramoso (Fr. Dave), the Parish Priest here said that he would seek the help of the municipal engineer to determine the stability of the structure to prevent any accident that might result from the cracks that were created by the earthquake. "In my observation, the cracks were on the cement finishes of the stone blocks that consisted the building and there is really no cause for alarm," Fr. Dave said this morning.
However, some debris fell from the upper portions of the altar, from the belfry and at the entrance area.
On the other hand, Volcanologist Ed Laguerta and his team of scientists from the Liñgon Hill observatory center in Legazpi fielded to Barangay Masarawag and other areas along the slopes of Mayon Volcano to inspect further signs of abnormalities. "The quake might be local fault line in origin, something that is not delineated to the major fault lines that is why there is discrepancy in the intensity in Legazpi and Guinobatan area," Laguerta said adding that they have to really check it out with Mayon Volcano as it manifests crater glows visible to the naked eye during past few days.
"Based on our initial data the direction of the origin is pointing to the third district of Albay where Guinobatan is situated," Laguerta explained.
"What is unusual with this earthquake is the vertical movement of the ground accompanied by rumbling sounds which occurred at around 6:37 and followed by another one at around 8.pm and then at 1:38 early this morning," Jovito Osorio said.
Laguerta admitted that there are indeed local fault lines that are not delineated to the major fault lines but can cause similar events and he calls for more vigilance among the residents particularly those living near the landslide hazard areas and near the cliffs.
Balikatan docs to treat 1,500 pinoys daily
LEGAZPI CITY -- 24,000 indigent Bicolano villagers are expected to be cured of their illnesses as the RP-US Balikatan Humanitarian Mission 2009 doctors arrived this morning at Camp Gen. Simeon A. Ola here, Col. Romeo Ayson of the Philippine Army Civil Military Operations for Joint RP-US Balikatan Humanitarian Exercises said this morning.
"The respective local government units' health officers of the selected beneficiaries shall determine the priority illnesses based on their data base so that the Medical Civic Action Program (Medcap) of the balikatan would reach out to the needy at designated dates.
Major Marlon Bayhon, a pharmacist by profession and also an aeronautics mechanic who is the Medcap team leader, the US purchased the medicines from local suppliers after carefully selecting them upon approval of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
"A 2-day Medcap is allocated for Irosin Patag, and 3-days at Barangay Alindogan, Juban Sorsogon. In Masbate we shall also extend medical assistance to the towns Bagacay, Marcella, Uzon, and Mobo is Catanduanes. In Albay, we will conduct medical missions at Libon, Cotmon, Camalig, Guinobatan and the city of Ligao," Bayhon said.
Major Anne B. Roberts, US Navy Lt. Commander who is the Media Relations Coordinator for Medcapsaid "We will cure skin diseases, Gastro-intestinal problems, circumcisions, optometric services and even veterinary medical assistance such as deworming, minor wound treatments and anti-rabies vaccination of pets.
Roberts added that their target beneficiaries are 1,000 to 1,5000 per day at any given area to be served by two simultaneous teams composed of 18 representatives from the US side and 19 personel from the Philippine counterpart. "Each patient may avail of several hundreds of dollar cost for his or her medication while special cases such as major surgeries would be referred to designated major government hospitals.
The RP-US Balikatan Humanitarian Exercises will formally be launched on April 17, this year but the engineering teams came ahead to meet their deadlines. "Due to our experiences out of previous balikatan, we decided to start the engineering works as early as April 1 to see to it that all constructions of roads and school buildings would be fully finished once they are turned over to the respective local government units at the end of the Balikatan Exercises," Maj. Bayhon told the said in an interview.
Earlier, apart from infrastructure development, Guinobatan residents, in Albay and its leader have manifested a unique view of the RP-US activities. They want to avail of medical services and the free medicines to cure their illnesses and avail of dental as well as medical checkups.
Mayor Juan Garcia expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian exercises and said earlier that his people want the Medcap on top of the other Balikatan Humanitarian Missions.
"Although we still need more infrastructure developments, we would go for their medicines because they are very potent and the free services save us from the spiraling cost of medications from private institutions, Jovel Ortiola of Barangay Travesia here said Tuesday.
Guinobatan, which was severely devastated by Reming recovered from infrastructure damages after the Bicol Calamity Assistance for Rehabilitation Efforts (BCARE) completed its P10 billion implementation in the region, whose chunks was allocated here.
Col. Ayson added that aside from the doctors, pharmacists and nurses from balikatan, the respective local health officials and their Barangay Health Workers will also assist the group.
USON, Masbate -- Potable water will come out of this deep well being drilled by machines to help the resident of Sawang, Uson, Masbate do away with traditional open-wells that are often contaminated with bacteria during heavy downpours The contuously flowing water shall be impounded into a concrete reservoir and for distribution to the whole Sawang residents and nearby communities for free.
RP, US to probe prostitution allegations
LEGAZPI CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has denied reports that the American servicemen here in Bicol for the month-long RP-US Balikatan exercises, have been provided prostitutes.
Lt. Col. Neneveigh L. Alcovindas, public information officer of the Balikatan mission, said on Monday he was saddened by the report alleging that eight to 10 women were being "delivered" every night to hotels to have sex with the servicemen.
Even if he had issued a denial on behalf of the AFP, Alcovindas said he and his US counterparts have been discussing the matter after the story came out on page one of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
"We have an ongoing joint investigation on this allegation and I have coordinated with US Balikatan public information officer Shane Montgomery," Alcovindas said.
He said Montgomery had assured him that the servicemen were maintaining the highest standard of professionalism and giving due respect to the Filipinos' sensibilities.
"It is true that there were some tourists billeted in various hotels in Legazpi City due to the ongoing Magayon Festival but it could be a case of mistaken identity and the Balikatan servicemen were instead pinpointed," he added.
Tourists rather than the US servicemen might be the targets of the flesh trade but the Balikatan teams were not involved in the 'mess,' the official assured.
555 nurses under ‘NARS’ prgram deployed in Bicol
LEGAZPI CITY -- Some 555 registered nurses have already been dispatched since April 3 to 80 localities across the Bicol region under the Nurses Assigned to Rural Service (NARS) program, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here.
In a radio interview at the Ugnayan sa Bikol of PIA, Technical Service and Support Division chief Jose Banda of DOLE Bicol said the newly-hired nurses already underwent orientation on the training modules conducted by DOLE field offices in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon which commenced last April 1.
"The Provincial Training Teams (PTTs) composed of representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), academe, the Provincial Health Officer, and Head of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) have conducted the orientation activities," he added.
The NARS Program is one of the job generation programs of the government, that prioritize registered nurses who remain unemployed and whose family member was displaced by the present global economic meltdown.
The newly-hired nurses are deployed at an average of 5 per town or city in the identified 3rd and 6th class municipalities and cities for a six-month tour of duty.
"While on training, hired nurses would be given a stipend of P8,000 per month, while DOLE Bicol has been lobbying to the local chief executives encouraging LGUs to provide additional incentives to the nurses assigned in their areas," Banda related.
"The NARS program will be implemented in two batches, the first batch started April 3 while the second batch will be dispatched in October this year," he added.
"Upon finishing the six-month contract, the hired nurses will be given a certificate of completion which can add to their qualifications if they intend to apply for work here or abroad, " he bared.
He said that some P5.3 million have been allocated for the Bicol region for the NARS program.
The NARS program was launched by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last February as part of the government's efforts to generate jobs for the unemployed workers in line with the pump priming strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of the global financial crisis on the Filipino workforce. (MALoterte, PIA V)
USON, Masbate -- US soldiers are halfway with their construction of a 3-room building at Barangay Dapdap, Uson Msbate as part of the Humanitarian assistance of the US to the Philippine's far-flung communities.
USON, Masbate -- US soldiers are rushing for the deadlines to put up foundation of a water reservoir in Barangay Dapdap, Uson Msbate as part of the Humanitarian assistance of the US to the Philippine's far-flung communities.
USON, Masbate -- Two US soldiers load sand into a mixer for the construction of the 3-classroom school building in Dapdap, Uson Masbate.
USON, Masbate -- US soldiers erest the foundation of the water tank in Barangay Dapdap of Uson, Masbate to serve as water reservoir of one of the deep wells being drilled in two separate villages of this town, the other is in Barangay Sawang.
LEGAZPI CITY – Broadband users in the countryside are awaiting for full democratization of the internet especially the wireless and the Digital Subscriber's Line or DSL. Most families of Overseas Filipino workers, regardless of the location of their homes badly need internet for communicating with their loved ones in the comfort of their homes without the need to go to the downtowns to avail of internet service from cafés.
Various sources, some of whom did not want to be named, said they have felt the need and helplessly went out of their way during the Holy Week when the public internet shops closed for several days in the observance of the holidays.
"It is now very important for us to be connected on an unlimited basis but it is still very hard to get a fast connection outside the rural areas here in Legazpi and other parts of Albay," Rommel Moral of Camalig, Albay said.
Moral eagerly reacted on Rep. Joseph Santiago of Catanduanes, chairman of the House of information and communications technology committee, who said that the House of Representatives may have to concede financial incentives in order to spur broadband service providers to invest in high-speed Internet access infrastructure in the countryside.
In a statement, Santiagio former chief of the National Telecommunications Commission, said that three out of four Filipinos live in the rural areas. Connecting them to the world via broadband is absolutely imperative to build up the whole economy.
"The current setup, although massively advertised, shows that only those living in the main thoroughfares have access to good quality of internet while even those in between towns particularly the people living near town boundaries have no other choice but to resort to prepaid wireless broadband services which costs P20 per hour," Moral lamented adding that the unlimited internet service costs only around P1.39 per hour but most have no access to the unlimited services because of the backlog.
Reliable broadband access offers a lot of fresh opportunities to rural communities for small enterprises to grow and create jobs, for homes and schools to boost learning, for farmers to reach all potential markets and share new methods, even for ordinary people to simply communicate or obtain helpful information, he said.
For instance, Santiago said a migrant worker would not have any incentives to invest in a personal computer at home if his small town still does not have dependable broadband access.
With broadband access, the worker would be motivated to get a PC for his family here, since this would enable them to communicate cost-effectively via chat, e-mail, or calls over the Internet on Skype, check the crediting of a remittance to a local bank account, pay bills online, and so on, he said.
Santiago said Congress might have to find ways to drive service providers to expand vital broadband infrastructure in rural zones that still do not have any access at all.
One option is to offer tax credits to new investments. Another is to grant extra subsidies to local governments that support private broadband infrastructure deployment in their areas, he pointed out.
In the US, Santiago noted that investments in current-generation broadband infrastructure in areas with zero existing access are entitled to a 20-percent tax credit. They also have a 10-percent tax credit for similar investments in underserved areas, he said.
The total number of Filipinos subscribing to broadband services soared by 67 percent in 2008, reaching more than 1.3 million.
However, Santiago said subscribers are still concentrated in highly urbanized cities. He said telecommunication service providers that offer current-generation broadband connections have been disinclined to invest in potentially less profitable rural areas
Quake jolt, cracks Church edifice
GUINOBATAN, Albay - Confessors of the Our Lady of Assumption Parish here were astonished while lining up for their turn to ask for forgiveness of their sins.
"A quick rumbling sound from beneath the ground was followed by a jolt which reached intensity 5 to 6 in Guinobatan which might have originated from a local fault line that is why only intensity 2 was recorded at the Liñgon Hill Observatory in Legazpi City some 25 kilometers away.
Rev. Father David R. Ramoso (Fr. Dave), the Parish Priest here said that he would seek the help of the municipal engineer to determine the stability of the structure to prevent any accident that might result from the cracks that were created by the earthquake. "In my observation, the cracks were on the cement finishes of the stone blocks that consisted the building and there is really no cause for alarm," Fr. Dave said this morning.
However, some debris fell from the upper portions of the altar, from the belfry and at the entrance area.
On the other hand, Volcanologist Ed Laguerta and his team of scientists from the Liñgon Hill observatory center in Legazpi fielded to Barangay Masarawag and other areas along the slopes of Mayon Volcano to inspect further signs of abnormalities. "The quake might be local fault line in origin, something that is not delineated to the major fault lines that is why there is discrepancy in the intensity in Legazpi and Guinobatan area," Laguerta said adding that they have to really check it out with Mayon Volcano as it manifests crater glows visible to the naked eye during past few days.
"Based on our initial data the direction of the origin is pointing to the third district of Albay where Guinobatan is situated," Laguerta explained.
"What is unusual with this earthquake is the vertical movement of the ground accompanied by rumbling sounds which occurred at around 6:37 and followed by another one at around 8.pm and then at 1:38 early this morning," Jovito Osorio said.
Laguerta admitted that there are indeed local fault lines that are not delineated to the major fault lines but can cause similar events and he calls for more vigilance among the residents particularly those living near the landslide hazard areas and near the cliffs.
Balikatan docs to treat 1,500 pinoys daily
LEGAZPI CITY -- 24,000 indigent Bicolano villagers are expected to be cured of their illnesses as the RP-US Balikatan Humanitarian Mission 2009 doctors arrived this morning at Camp Gen. Simeon A. Ola here, Col. Romeo Ayson of the Philippine Army Civil Military Operations for Joint RP-US Balikatan Humanitarian Exercises said this morning.
"The respective local government units' health officers of the selected beneficiaries shall determine the priority illnesses based on their data base so that the Medical Civic Action Program (Medcap) of the balikatan would reach out to the needy at designated dates.
Major Marlon Bayhon, a pharmacist by profession and also an aeronautics mechanic who is the Medcap team leader, the US purchased the medicines from local suppliers after carefully selecting them upon approval of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
"A 2-day Medcap is allocated for Irosin Patag, and 3-days at Barangay Alindogan, Juban Sorsogon. In Masbate we shall also extend medical assistance to the towns Bagacay, Marcella, Uzon, and Mobo is Catanduanes. In Albay, we will conduct medical missions at Libon, Cotmon, Camalig, Guinobatan and the city of Ligao," Bayhon said.
Major Anne B. Roberts, US Navy Lt. Commander who is the Media Relations Coordinator for Medcapsaid "We will cure skin diseases, Gastro-intestinal problems, circumcisions, optometric services and even veterinary medical assistance such as deworming, minor wound treatments and anti-rabies vaccination of pets.
Roberts added that their target beneficiaries are 1,000 to 1,5000 per day at any given area to be served by two simultaneous teams composed of 18 representatives from the US side and 19 personel from the Philippine counterpart. "Each patient may avail of several hundreds of dollar cost for his or her medication while special cases such as major surgeries would be referred to designated major government hospitals.
The RP-US Balikatan Humanitarian Exercises will formally be launched on April 17, this year but the engineering teams came ahead to meet their deadlines. "Due to our experiences out of previous balikatan, we decided to start the engineering works as early as April 1 to see to it that all constructions of roads and school buildings would be fully finished once they are turned over to the respective local government units at the end of the Balikatan Exercises," Maj. Bayhon told the said in an interview.
Earlier, apart from infrastructure development, Guinobatan residents, in Albay and its leader have manifested a unique view of the RP-US activities. They want to avail of medical services and the free medicines to cure their illnesses and avail of dental as well as medical checkups.
Mayor Juan Garcia expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian exercises and said earlier that his people want the Medcap on top of the other Balikatan Humanitarian Missions.
"Although we still need more infrastructure developments, we would go for their medicines because they are very potent and the free services save us from the spiraling cost of medications from private institutions, Jovel Ortiola of Barangay Travesia here said Tuesday.
Guinobatan, which was severely devastated by Reming recovered from infrastructure damages after the Bicol Calamity Assistance for Rehabilitation Efforts (BCARE) completed its P10 billion implementation in the region, whose chunks was allocated here.
Col. Ayson added that aside from the doctors, pharmacists and nurses from balikatan, the respective local health officials and their Barangay Health Workers will also assist the group.
USON, Masbate -- Potable water will come out of this deep well being drilled by machines to help the resident of Sawang, Uson, Masbate do away with traditional open-wells that are often contaminated with bacteria during heavy downpours The contuously flowing water shall be impounded into a concrete reservoir and for distribution to the whole Sawang residents and nearby communities for free.
RP, US to probe prostitution allegations
LEGAZPI CITY – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has denied reports that the American servicemen here in Bicol for the month-long RP-US Balikatan exercises, have been provided prostitutes.
Lt. Col. Neneveigh L. Alcovindas, public information officer of the Balikatan mission, said on Monday he was saddened by the report alleging that eight to 10 women were being "delivered" every night to hotels to have sex with the servicemen.
Even if he had issued a denial on behalf of the AFP, Alcovindas said he and his US counterparts have been discussing the matter after the story came out on page one of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
"We have an ongoing joint investigation on this allegation and I have coordinated with US Balikatan public information officer Shane Montgomery," Alcovindas said.
He said Montgomery had assured him that the servicemen were maintaining the highest standard of professionalism and giving due respect to the Filipinos' sensibilities.
"It is true that there were some tourists billeted in various hotels in Legazpi City due to the ongoing Magayon Festival but it could be a case of mistaken identity and the Balikatan servicemen were instead pinpointed," he added.
Tourists rather than the US servicemen might be the targets of the flesh trade but the Balikatan teams were not involved in the 'mess,' the official assured.
555 nurses under ‘NARS’ prgram deployed in Bicol
LEGAZPI CITY -- Some 555 registered nurses have already been dispatched since April 3 to 80 localities across the Bicol region under the Nurses Assigned to Rural Service (NARS) program, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here.
In a radio interview at the Ugnayan sa Bikol of PIA, Technical Service and Support Division chief Jose Banda of DOLE Bicol said the newly-hired nurses already underwent orientation on the training modules conducted by DOLE field offices in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon which commenced last April 1.
"The Provincial Training Teams (PTTs) composed of representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), academe, the Provincial Health Officer, and Head of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) have conducted the orientation activities," he added.
The NARS Program is one of the job generation programs of the government, that prioritize registered nurses who remain unemployed and whose family member was displaced by the present global economic meltdown.
The newly-hired nurses are deployed at an average of 5 per town or city in the identified 3rd and 6th class municipalities and cities for a six-month tour of duty.
"While on training, hired nurses would be given a stipend of P8,000 per month, while DOLE Bicol has been lobbying to the local chief executives encouraging LGUs to provide additional incentives to the nurses assigned in their areas," Banda related.
"The NARS program will be implemented in two batches, the first batch started April 3 while the second batch will be dispatched in October this year," he added.
"Upon finishing the six-month contract, the hired nurses will be given a certificate of completion which can add to their qualifications if they intend to apply for work here or abroad, " he bared.
He said that some P5.3 million have been allocated for the Bicol region for the NARS program.
The NARS program was launched by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last February as part of the government's efforts to generate jobs for the unemployed workers in line with the pump priming strategies aimed at mitigating the impact of the global financial crisis on the Filipino workforce. (MALoterte, PIA V)
USON, Masbate -- US soldiers are halfway with their construction of a 3-room building at Barangay Dapdap, Uson Msbate as part of the Humanitarian assistance of the US to the Philippine's far-flung communities.
USON, Masbate -- US soldiers are rushing for the deadlines to put up foundation of a water reservoir in Barangay Dapdap, Uson Msbate as part of the Humanitarian assistance of the US to the Philippine's far-flung communities.
USON, Masbate -- Two US soldiers load sand into a mixer for the construction of the 3-classroom school building in Dapdap, Uson Masbate.
USON, Masbate -- US soldiers erest the foundation of the water tank in Barangay Dapdap of Uson, Masbate to serve as water reservoir of one of the deep wells being drilled in two separate villages of this town, the other is in Barangay Sawang.
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