THE NEWS DATELINER

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.