High School education elusive to Bicol youths
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY - Education among Bicolano youths has become more elusive not only for college but also in the High School level especially at public schools, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) report said.
Engineer Gil Arce, regional director of the NSCB-Bicol said in a separate interview that only half (52.01 percent) of the first year enrollees finish High School in school year 2006 - 2007 while the rest give up on their dreamed education as early as they reach midway of their studies.
"This was revealed by the data we received from a study of the Department of Education (DepEd) during the past two years. The figure is 13.3 percent even lower than the rate recorded for high school before 2007," Arce revealed.
Aside from that, those that manage to survive schooling at secondary level showed an alarming deterioration of quality of secondary schools systems as reflected in the National Achievement Tests.
This condition which affects both private and public institutions is feared to affect the region as well as the country's Human Resources that enter the labor force both here and abroad who bring home the bacon. "However, the rates indicated here refer to public schools only," Arce explained adding that most of the students at private schools are from the well to do families.
Performance indicators showed a general deterioration of the region's secondary school system between school year 2002-2003 and 2006-2007.
"The period saw a 10.6 percentage point decline in participation rate in the secondary level, an indication that more children who should be in high school were not," Arce said.
The study also revealed that the participation rate of 55.3 percent during School Year 2006 - 2007 also means that only a little over half of school-going age children who are supposed to be in high school were enrolled in the same school year.
Notably, the enrollment in private high schools between the 2002-2003 and 2006-2007 school years dropped by 2.7 percent and public schools enrollment increased by 4 percent. The overall enrollment for both private and public secondary institutions, however increased by 3 percent.
Within the same period, retention rate in the secondary level dropped by 7.6 percent points. "This means that the percentage of enrollees in the secondary level who continued to be in high school the following year declined," Arce said.
Transition rate in the secondary level reached 88 percent during school year 2006-2007, an improvement of 5.8 percentage points from school year 2002-2003. transition rate is the percentage of students who graduated from one level of education and moved on to the next higher level such as from high school to college. "While this means that there was a higher percentage of high school graduates who made it to college or technical-vocational courses in school year 2006 -2007 than in school year 2002-2003, there was also lower percentage of students who reached the final year of the secondary level in School Year 2006-2007 as indicated by the 7.1 percentage points decline in the survival rate.
Repetition rate, or the ratio of the number of students who enrolled in the same year level in the current School Year to the total enrollment in the previous school year, significantly increased from 2.7 percent in SY 2002-2003 to 3.4 percent in SY 2006-2007.
Similarly, dropout rate, or the ration of the number of students who left the school for any reason during the school year to total enrollment, rose from 5.8 percent in SY 2002-2003 to 6.1 percent in SY 2006-2007.
Aside from the above indicators, results of the National Achievement Tests (NAT) for secondary schools indicate, and more alarmingly, the deterioration of quality in the secondary schools system. The NAT result covers both public and private schools.
On the average, not once in the three years of record, had the secondary schools in the region surpassed the cut-off (75 percent) for the said evaluation. The underperformance is apparent in all the five subject areas of the achievement tests.
Results in four of the five subject areas of the NAT generally worsened between SY 2004-2005 and 2006-2007. these subject areas were English (by 1.4 percentage points), Mathematics (by 1.7 percentage points), Science and Health (by 5.7 percentage points) and HEKASI or Heograpiya, Kasaysayan at Sibika (by 2.4 percentage points).
Only the Filipino subject area showed a measly 1.2 percentage point improvement during the SY 2004 -2005 to SY 2006-2007. On the average, the results of the NAT in the Bicol region weakened by 2 percentage points within the period.
"Human resource is the most important resource of the country's economy. The quality of human resource that enters the labor force bears heavily on the economy's productive capacity. Education and other human capital are important in promoting economic growth and a strong position in international markets," Arce said adding a warning that deterioration in an educational system can result to an inferior labor force affecting employability and productivity.
Education, according to experts can be viewed as an investment that equips individuals with the necessary skills for their optimum contribution to the country's economic and social well-being. "Government and households therefore should invest in education with the expectation that higher benefits would accrue over time," Arce explained.
Bicolanos told to build calamity-proof homes and insure crops
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY -- Lives of people are safe due to zero casualty plan of the Albay public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) but a very vital factor that engages residents particularly farmers at areas supposed to be no-man's-lands because of the livelihood and their crops and properties go to naught in times of calamities.
This is the reason why the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has recommended measures to attain not only zero casualties but also zero property damage to infrastructure as well as home and crop investments.
With the institutionalization of the APSEMO zero casualties during calamities is almost perfectly attainable "but it is very difficult for the properties because calamities bring down economies to square one," Engineer Luis G. Banua, Assistant Regional director of NEDA-Bicol said on Wednesday.
Banua said households, government buildings and farms must be assisted with their respective insurance in order to recover and quickly rehabilitate from damages incurred in calamities. "Households are best designed with stronger foundation and with concrete roofing to make them calamity proof because based on experiences the roofs are normally the first part of homes and buildings that are affected during typhoons," Banua explained adding that a good design for calamity-prone areas are those whose roofs are made of concrete materials.
To lead the advocacy "we started this with the projects assisted by the Spanish government on putting up of day care centers. We also started the same types of construction for other projects of Agriculture Social Support and Environment Facilities Projects funded by the Spanish government in several municipalities of Bicol region," Banua said.
He explained that homes and building that would still use galvanized iron sheets (GI sheets) must provide protective concrete panels around the roof areas to prevent strong winds from destroying them. "So if that is the case, there will be not so much problems on expenses for repairs after typhoons and now it is apt for the people to adapt these strategy and we would gladly help provide them designs if they like," he said.
Banua said that the NEDA has already existing models in various local government units such as the day care centers in the towns of San Jacinto, Masbate, Bato Catanduanes, Canaman, Camarines Sur and other ongoing projects in Albay and other areas of Bicol.
Insurance of infrastructures are being espoused by the Regional Development Council (RDC) to see to it that all government buildings are covered with insurance for its budgets and the RDC is pushing for the insurance budget in the National budget act so that in times of calamities, government agencies would no longer have problems on rehabilitation of their edifices because insurance companies shall immediately take their responsibilities after calamities. The government buildings include school, offices and even infrastructure facilities but Banua did not mention whether the RDC already included dams, roads and irrigation facilities.
The NEDA official said that the DepEd has already adopted this system because of huge losses in terms of school buildings in previous typhoons and other calamities. "Government agencies such as Commission on Audit (COA), the Regional Trial Court are taking so long (one or two years because it has to wait for the inclusion of repair budget to the National Appropriation Act) before they are fully refurbished but with the proper insurance they could have been fully restored nowadays."
The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), although existing for quite sometime is not yet fully availed of by farmers particularly the small time farmers.
"If only farmers are insuring their crops, they would no longer have problems of possible losses in case of typhoons, volcanic eruptions and even landslides and floods," Banua explained.
He also said that health insurance of poor Bicolanos including farmers are already starting to become wider in coverage as some local government units are already sponsoring for the PhilHealth enrollment of their poor residents such as Albay with Target of some 200,000 beneficiaries.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Authorities securing Mayon danger zones
By Mar S. Arguelles
LEGAZPI CITY -- Disaster authorities heightened security measures by setting up police and military check points in designated danger zones around Mayon volcano to ensure the safety of residents in case the volcano erupts.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chairman at Sunday's council meeting, said the measure would prevent people to trek the volcano's surrounding, the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the 7-km extended danger zone at the southeast quadrant of the volcano.
Salceda said “we have to enforce the off limits rule to prevent any untoward incidence that might occur once the volcano goes at an eruptive stage.”
“The rule will apply to all residents and visitors including media reporters covering the Mayon eruption event, reinforcing the long standing policy of a 'Zero Casualty' objective of the province in times of disasters," Salceda said.
Army Col. Marlou Salazar, commanding officer of the 901st Army Brigade here, said he has set up checkpoints in 12 villages surrounding the PDZs around the volcano covering Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Polangui towns and the cities of Ligao and Legazpi.
Salazar said the brigade has deployed a battalion of soldiers to man the checkpoints and maintain security in times of evacuation.
He also reported that 15 (6X6) Army trucks and several light vehicles are on stand by for dispatch when disaster authorities declares mass evacuation procedures. The trucks can load 30 people, Salazar said.
Aside from the check points, soldiers are also holding dialogues with village officials and residents concerning rescue and evacuation procedures in times of eruptions, he said.
Salceda said under Alert Level 3 disaster authorities will have to evacuate over 8,000 people or 1,785 families living near the 6-km PDZ and under Alert level 4 around 75,144 people or 15,243 families in 39 villages around the volcano have to be move to safer grounds.
As this developed, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon's alert status remains at level 2, meaning the volcano is on a moderate stage of unrest.
Bicol tourism up despite GFC
By Bennie A. Recebido
PIA-Sorsogon
Despite the economic slowdown felt around the world today, this province is still doing well in tourism industry.
Data from the Department of Tourism (DoT) during the last quarter of 2008 has revealed a total number of 83,541 tourists, with a gross rate of 39 percent, visited the province, out of whom 71,570 are foreign and 11,971 are local tourists.
The DoT is still currently working out for statistics of tourists coming in to the province for the past two quarters of 2009 which they have initially assessed as still increasing.
Kinatawan Francisco Ravanilla, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Tourism chair, said the global financial crisis can be a challenge toward creative ways of marketing Sorsogon's tourism industry.
Citing the whaleshark in Donsol, the prime tourist attraction in the province, Ravanilla said that it has consistently attracting local and foreign tourists since the town was officially declared as "The Whaleshark Capital of the World" in 1998.
"Aside from Donsol's whaleshark, other eco-tourism destinations in the province also promise better opportunities for investment and economic development as well as job generation among the locals," he said.
Among the other attractions he enumerated were the mangrove forest in Pto. Diaz town, Bulusan Lake in Bulusan, also situated at the foot of Bulusan Volcano, the natural hot springs in Irosin and the white-sand beaches in Gubat town and in Bacon District in Sorsogon City.
It can be noted that the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAs) has identified Sorsogon as a "major hit" among the foreign tourists and has mapped out plans for the tourism industry of the province and the current economic crunch.
NAITAs is the largest group of travel agencies working together to come up with attractive tourism package. (PIA Sorsogon)
Farm, fishery sector RPs top job creator
LEGAZPI CITY - Almost half a million jobs were generated from the farm and fishery sector this year, making it the top job generator for the first quarter of 2009, according to Presidential Economic Adviser and Albay Governor Joey Salceda.
Salceda on Tuesday said that based on data of the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, employment in the farm and fisheries sector as of April 2009 was estimated at 12.318 million, which is higher by 3.47 percent compared to 11.905 million for the same period last year.
"Philippine agriculture created more jobs than the trade sector, which only ranked second with 345,000 jobs," he added.
He said "this proves that the Arroyo government's decision to reverse 30 years of official neglect of the agriculture sector through sustained, higher public investments is now reaping positive results."
The government has also increased spending for agriculture, focusing on irrigation and other rural infrastructure which already yielded positive results with the increased of palay rice production by 5.1 percent or double its average growth a year ago.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has also fast tracked rehabilitation and restoration work of irrigation system that has allowed farmers to plant an additional 69,000 hectares of farmland or 5.7 percent more than last year.
The administration of President Arroyo has increased spending on agriculture, P25.36 billion in 2007, P35.39 billion in 2008 and P46.86 billion this year.
Salceda further recommended to the government to pour more "stimulus funds" into the country's agriculture, particularly into irrigation, to sustain the sector's resilience and its status as a primary growth driver even in the midst of a global financial contagion.
"Without the agriculture growth contribution, GDP [gross domestic product] would have been sub-zero. Despite the obvious odds, its 2.1-percent increase in gross value added may not be stellar but it was the highest among the sectors which best proves the logic of government budgetary stimulus, specifically to the Department of Agriculture,'' he said.
He added that the Department of Agriculture's policies in the last two years have enabled the agriculture sector, which accounts for 20 percent of the economy, to remain resilient while every other sector had gone into a slump.
From 2001, the start of the Arroyo presidency, to the present, the government was able to generate a total of 8.95 million jobs in the private sector and at least 12 million jobs were created through government projects, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). (PIA V Release)
Funds out to speed up land acquisition for new Airport
LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has transferred to the Albay Provincial Government P85 million to pay for the 140-hectare prime land straddling the areas of Daraga and Camalig town to be developed for the Bicol International Airport .
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza recently turned-over to Albay Governor Joey Salceda the funds for the purchase of the new airport site.
DOTC officials and Albay local officials, including Camalig mayor Irwin Baldo and Daraga mayor Cicero Triumfante, and officials of the five barangays on the actual site of the proposed airport witnessed the turn-over ceremony.
Mendoza said construction works on the proposed airport are expected to start shortly and set its completion within 30 months or two and a half years.
Salceda conceptualized the idea of the Bicol International Airport and has since pursuing the construction of the new airport in Albay province to fast track and catapult the region's economic development.
He said the proposed airport and its facilities will answer the need for a modern airport in Southern Luzon that will cater to more business activities in the area and conveniently links Bicol to the rest of the country and the world.
He added the air transport facility would further improve the performance of the region in tourism arrivals, employment generation and business investment.
The Bicol International Airport easily qualifies as among the biggest and most ambitious government projects in the Bicol Region to date, with prospects of even greater returns on investment. (MALoterte, PIA V)
PhilHealth targets universal coverage in Bicol by October
LEGAZPI CITY— The remaining months in office of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo will be devoted to education, peace talks and call for civic duty, according to Albay Governor Joey Salceda.
Salceda, who is also a senior economic adviser of the President, said the Arroyo administration will focus on upgrading the educational system in the country, including the hiring of additional teachers, construction of more classrooms and other school facilities.
“We can expect the administration to pour in more money on education and pursue the establishment of regional universities based on the recommendation for Philippine Main Education Highway,” he noted.
He said the administration is also determined to reopen and pursue peace negotiations with the National Democratic Fronts (NDF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts (MILF).
“Talk is cheap… but in the peace process, talk is very critical. So, this is the only instance where talk is not cheap. At least in talking, it will put us back in the peace process,” he stressed.
Salceda further said the President will encourage more involvement from the civic society to share the burden of nationhood, especially a call for civic duty among the youth.
“Such may be the main theme of the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President on July 27,” he averred.
As to the achievements of the President in 2008 alone, Salceda said he gave President Arroyo a passing grade of 92 percent for handling very well the national economy, adding that she was able to overcome all crises, especially the economic slowdown.
“We are one of only nine countries that did not contract, we were still able to produce a lot more jobs,” he stressed.
“Also in 2008, the Arroyo administration devoted more on social welfare programs and services in response to fuel crisis, food, crisis, financial crisis, and then later the global economic crisis,” he added.
Salceda further stated “as far as her performance from 2001 to 2009 is concerned I will give her 82 percent and my basis was the target goal set by the President herself.”
He said President Arroyo had set her own goal for the country, wherein she was somehow able to achieve a balanced budget, automated election, and developing Subic and Clark into a world class and revenue generating economic zones.
“On education, decentralization, peace process, healing the wounds of EDSA, water and electricity, job generation, and decongestion of Manila, “all these are conditional, which means the administration needs more efforts to achieve these goals,” he averred.
He, however, noted that the administration has achieved 70 percent of the 1 million jobs target per year, wherein each year at least 700,000 jobs were generated; much has also been done to keep the prices of water and electricity stable; more infrastructure projects were completed and some are underway for Metro Manila.
In President Arroyo’s almost nine years in office, she has accomplished the much needed fiscal reforms of the government, including the P300 million additional revenues from the R-VAT, the EPIRA Law which opens the power sector from monopoly and oligarchy, and strengthening of the Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) especially in Subic and Clark economic zones.
Salceda stressed the present administration has solid achievement in terms of pursuing its goal in setting the thrust “BEAT THE ODDS” in consonance with the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010,
“The President wants to leave a legacy of a strong economy that works for the poor, secures peace, invest in the future—basically on education, and a lot more about on education reforms,” he concluded. (With reports from Marlon A. Loterte, PIA V)
Nutricomnet-DOST holds cookfest on malunggay recipes
LEGAZPI CITY - The Nutrition Communication Network (NUTRICOMNET), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), spearheads the Malunggay Recipes Regional Cookfest on Thursday (July 23) at the LCC Event Center here.
The cooking contest highlights the celebrations of the National Nutrition Month this July and the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on this third week of the same month.
Elementary pupils, who qualified from 13 school divisions-six provinces and seven cities in the region, are expected to participate in this regional competition.
Malunggay recipes featured in this competition will be developed and printed into pamphlets and brochures to be distributed to nutritionally-depressed barangays in the region.
Winning entries could also have potentials for technology adoption either for home or school use or enterprise development.
Based on the guidelines of the contest, all contestants are required to submit a certification of enrolment for the present school year from the school principal. There will only be one contestant per division.
Contestants are required to bring their own contest supplies, materials, ingredients, tools and equipment. They should be at the venue 20 minutes before the contest in their official school uniform with ID. Only the contestants, board of judges and contest administrators are allowed inside the cookfest area.
The recipe to be prepared either original or an innovation of an existing recipe is for a snack - easy to prepare, low cost, nutritious and can be sold in school canteens. It should yield 10 servings with nutrition contribution of 200 calories for the snack and two tablespoons powder for the drink.
The name of the recipe, its general description and process flow should be printed in a whole cartolina with black print to be displayed in a designated area. A copy of the entire recipe is required to be submitted at 1:00 p.m., July 23, 2009 before the contest proper to the NUTRICOMNET Secretariat.
This must consist of the ingredients, procedure, estimated total nutrient content, number of servings, total preparation/cooking time, estimated total cost based on prevailing supermarket price in Legazpi City , and estimated cost per serving. Props are not allowed during the presentation of the finished product.
Criteria in the selection of the regional winners consist of the following: Nutritive Value - 30%; Cost of Recipe per serving - 20%; Time of Preparation - 10%; Neatness and Orderliness - 10%; Proper Use of Utensils/Tools/Implements - 10%; Appearance of Food - 10%; and Palatability - 10%, a total of 100%. Major cash and consolation prizes, and plaques/certificates await the winners and non-winners, and their coaches. Judging in this contest is final and irrevocable.
NUTRICOMNET's full support and participation in this regional endeavor will go a long way in its efforts to improve the nutritional status of schoolchildren in the region.
Contestants are advised to contact NUTRICOMNET through Ms. Shirley B. Borja, Chair, Core Group at DepEd Region V (821-1143) or Dr. Pilita O. Lucena, DOST V at (052) 821-7930 for any other details regarding this contest. (POLucena, DOST V/PIA)
Pagasa calls for year round disaster preparedness
LEGAZPI CITY - The country might be visited by 15 more typhoons in the remaining months of this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said here Sunday.
But Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa acting deputy administrator for operation and services, said in a lecture-forum here that "it is not only typhoons that call for preparedness but also other hydro-meteorological hazards such as heavy and continuous rains, thunderstorms, cold fronts, easterly waves, intertropical convergent zones, and tropical cyclones."
"The Bicol region, particularly Albay province which is very prone to these weather disasters, including Mayon volcano's lahar, has put all preparedness measures in place, especially during floods and landslides that also occur amid mere heavy and continuous rains," Governor Joey Salceda told reporters during the open forum.
Warnings
Bicol, which is closely similar to Batanes Islands when it comes to typhoons, needs to prepare not only during the typhoon season but also on a 365-day-a-year basis, according to Cruz.
"When there is typhoon, however, the people of Albay are no longer afraid because they have been trained to prepare themselves on the basis of the preemptive measures."
Although Mayon volcano is not posing any possible eruptive threat, Landrico Dalida Jr., assistant weather services chief of the Pagasa central office, warned Albayanos that the province is host to cloud formations that bring rains even without warnings.
"Warnings are there in the events of typhoons but during rains, it is the built-in initiative of the people of Albay that guide them against these hazards," Dalida said.
Salceda said the installation of the modern Doppler Radar System was on the way. The Doppler Radar to be installed in Catanduanes and Camarines Norte will form part of the upgrading of the Legazpi Weather Station into the Southern Luzon Weather Bureau.
The Doppler Radar System is financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, said Salceda.
By Mar S. Arguelles
LEGAZPI CITY -- Disaster authorities heightened security measures by setting up police and military check points in designated danger zones around Mayon volcano to ensure the safety of residents in case the volcano erupts.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) chairman at Sunday's council meeting, said the measure would prevent people to trek the volcano's surrounding, the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) and the 7-km extended danger zone at the southeast quadrant of the volcano.
Salceda said “we have to enforce the off limits rule to prevent any untoward incidence that might occur once the volcano goes at an eruptive stage.”
“The rule will apply to all residents and visitors including media reporters covering the Mayon eruption event, reinforcing the long standing policy of a 'Zero Casualty' objective of the province in times of disasters," Salceda said.
Army Col. Marlou Salazar, commanding officer of the 901st Army Brigade here, said he has set up checkpoints in 12 villages surrounding the PDZs around the volcano covering Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan, Polangui towns and the cities of Ligao and Legazpi.
Salazar said the brigade has deployed a battalion of soldiers to man the checkpoints and maintain security in times of evacuation.
He also reported that 15 (6X6) Army trucks and several light vehicles are on stand by for dispatch when disaster authorities declares mass evacuation procedures. The trucks can load 30 people, Salazar said.
Aside from the check points, soldiers are also holding dialogues with village officials and residents concerning rescue and evacuation procedures in times of eruptions, he said.
Salceda said under Alert Level 3 disaster authorities will have to evacuate over 8,000 people or 1,785 families living near the 6-km PDZ and under Alert level 4 around 75,144 people or 15,243 families in 39 villages around the volcano have to be move to safer grounds.
As this developed, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Mayon's alert status remains at level 2, meaning the volcano is on a moderate stage of unrest.
Bicol tourism up despite GFC
By Bennie A. Recebido
PIA-Sorsogon
Despite the economic slowdown felt around the world today, this province is still doing well in tourism industry.
Data from the Department of Tourism (DoT) during the last quarter of 2008 has revealed a total number of 83,541 tourists, with a gross rate of 39 percent, visited the province, out of whom 71,570 are foreign and 11,971 are local tourists.
The DoT is still currently working out for statistics of tourists coming in to the province for the past two quarters of 2009 which they have initially assessed as still increasing.
Kinatawan Francisco Ravanilla, Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Tourism chair, said the global financial crisis can be a challenge toward creative ways of marketing Sorsogon's tourism industry.
Citing the whaleshark in Donsol, the prime tourist attraction in the province, Ravanilla said that it has consistently attracting local and foreign tourists since the town was officially declared as "The Whaleshark Capital of the World" in 1998.
"Aside from Donsol's whaleshark, other eco-tourism destinations in the province also promise better opportunities for investment and economic development as well as job generation among the locals," he said.
Among the other attractions he enumerated were the mangrove forest in Pto. Diaz town, Bulusan Lake in Bulusan, also situated at the foot of Bulusan Volcano, the natural hot springs in Irosin and the white-sand beaches in Gubat town and in Bacon District in Sorsogon City.
It can be noted that the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAs) has identified Sorsogon as a "major hit" among the foreign tourists and has mapped out plans for the tourism industry of the province and the current economic crunch.
NAITAs is the largest group of travel agencies working together to come up with attractive tourism package. (PIA Sorsogon)
Farm, fishery sector RPs top job creator
LEGAZPI CITY - Almost half a million jobs were generated from the farm and fishery sector this year, making it the top job generator for the first quarter of 2009, according to Presidential Economic Adviser and Albay Governor Joey Salceda.
Salceda on Tuesday said that based on data of the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, employment in the farm and fisheries sector as of April 2009 was estimated at 12.318 million, which is higher by 3.47 percent compared to 11.905 million for the same period last year.
"Philippine agriculture created more jobs than the trade sector, which only ranked second with 345,000 jobs," he added.
He said "this proves that the Arroyo government's decision to reverse 30 years of official neglect of the agriculture sector through sustained, higher public investments is now reaping positive results."
The government has also increased spending for agriculture, focusing on irrigation and other rural infrastructure which already yielded positive results with the increased of palay rice production by 5.1 percent or double its average growth a year ago.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has also fast tracked rehabilitation and restoration work of irrigation system that has allowed farmers to plant an additional 69,000 hectares of farmland or 5.7 percent more than last year.
The administration of President Arroyo has increased spending on agriculture, P25.36 billion in 2007, P35.39 billion in 2008 and P46.86 billion this year.
Salceda further recommended to the government to pour more "stimulus funds" into the country's agriculture, particularly into irrigation, to sustain the sector's resilience and its status as a primary growth driver even in the midst of a global financial contagion.
"Without the agriculture growth contribution, GDP [gross domestic product] would have been sub-zero. Despite the obvious odds, its 2.1-percent increase in gross value added may not be stellar but it was the highest among the sectors which best proves the logic of government budgetary stimulus, specifically to the Department of Agriculture,'' he said.
He added that the Department of Agriculture's policies in the last two years have enabled the agriculture sector, which accounts for 20 percent of the economy, to remain resilient while every other sector had gone into a slump.
From 2001, the start of the Arroyo presidency, to the present, the government was able to generate a total of 8.95 million jobs in the private sector and at least 12 million jobs were created through government projects, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). (PIA V Release)
Funds out to speed up land acquisition for new Airport
LEGAZPI CITY - The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has transferred to the Albay Provincial Government P85 million to pay for the 140-hectare prime land straddling the areas of Daraga and Camalig town to be developed for the Bicol International Airport .
DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza recently turned-over to Albay Governor Joey Salceda the funds for the purchase of the new airport site.
DOTC officials and Albay local officials, including Camalig mayor Irwin Baldo and Daraga mayor Cicero Triumfante, and officials of the five barangays on the actual site of the proposed airport witnessed the turn-over ceremony.
Mendoza said construction works on the proposed airport are expected to start shortly and set its completion within 30 months or two and a half years.
Salceda conceptualized the idea of the Bicol International Airport and has since pursuing the construction of the new airport in Albay province to fast track and catapult the region's economic development.
He said the proposed airport and its facilities will answer the need for a modern airport in Southern Luzon that will cater to more business activities in the area and conveniently links Bicol to the rest of the country and the world.
He added the air transport facility would further improve the performance of the region in tourism arrivals, employment generation and business investment.
The Bicol International Airport easily qualifies as among the biggest and most ambitious government projects in the Bicol Region to date, with prospects of even greater returns on investment. (MALoterte, PIA V)
PhilHealth targets universal coverage in Bicol by October
LEGAZPI CITY— The remaining months in office of President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo will be devoted to education, peace talks and call for civic duty, according to Albay Governor Joey Salceda.
Salceda, who is also a senior economic adviser of the President, said the Arroyo administration will focus on upgrading the educational system in the country, including the hiring of additional teachers, construction of more classrooms and other school facilities.
“We can expect the administration to pour in more money on education and pursue the establishment of regional universities based on the recommendation for Philippine Main Education Highway,” he noted.
He said the administration is also determined to reopen and pursue peace negotiations with the National Democratic Fronts (NDF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Fronts (MILF).
“Talk is cheap… but in the peace process, talk is very critical. So, this is the only instance where talk is not cheap. At least in talking, it will put us back in the peace process,” he stressed.
Salceda further said the President will encourage more involvement from the civic society to share the burden of nationhood, especially a call for civic duty among the youth.
“Such may be the main theme of the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA) of the President on July 27,” he averred.
As to the achievements of the President in 2008 alone, Salceda said he gave President Arroyo a passing grade of 92 percent for handling very well the national economy, adding that she was able to overcome all crises, especially the economic slowdown.
“We are one of only nine countries that did not contract, we were still able to produce a lot more jobs,” he stressed.
“Also in 2008, the Arroyo administration devoted more on social welfare programs and services in response to fuel crisis, food, crisis, financial crisis, and then later the global economic crisis,” he added.
Salceda further stated “as far as her performance from 2001 to 2009 is concerned I will give her 82 percent and my basis was the target goal set by the President herself.”
He said President Arroyo had set her own goal for the country, wherein she was somehow able to achieve a balanced budget, automated election, and developing Subic and Clark into a world class and revenue generating economic zones.
“On education, decentralization, peace process, healing the wounds of EDSA, water and electricity, job generation, and decongestion of Manila, “all these are conditional, which means the administration needs more efforts to achieve these goals,” he averred.
He, however, noted that the administration has achieved 70 percent of the 1 million jobs target per year, wherein each year at least 700,000 jobs were generated; much has also been done to keep the prices of water and electricity stable; more infrastructure projects were completed and some are underway for Metro Manila.
In President Arroyo’s almost nine years in office, she has accomplished the much needed fiscal reforms of the government, including the P300 million additional revenues from the R-VAT, the EPIRA Law which opens the power sector from monopoly and oligarchy, and strengthening of the Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) especially in Subic and Clark economic zones.
Salceda stressed the present administration has solid achievement in terms of pursuing its goal in setting the thrust “BEAT THE ODDS” in consonance with the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2004-2010,
“The President wants to leave a legacy of a strong economy that works for the poor, secures peace, invest in the future—basically on education, and a lot more about on education reforms,” he concluded. (With reports from Marlon A. Loterte, PIA V)
Nutricomnet-DOST holds cookfest on malunggay recipes
LEGAZPI CITY - The Nutrition Communication Network (NUTRICOMNET), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC), spearheads the Malunggay Recipes Regional Cookfest on Thursday (July 23) at the LCC Event Center here.
The cooking contest highlights the celebrations of the National Nutrition Month this July and the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on this third week of the same month.
Elementary pupils, who qualified from 13 school divisions-six provinces and seven cities in the region, are expected to participate in this regional competition.
Malunggay recipes featured in this competition will be developed and printed into pamphlets and brochures to be distributed to nutritionally-depressed barangays in the region.
Winning entries could also have potentials for technology adoption either for home or school use or enterprise development.
Based on the guidelines of the contest, all contestants are required to submit a certification of enrolment for the present school year from the school principal. There will only be one contestant per division.
Contestants are required to bring their own contest supplies, materials, ingredients, tools and equipment. They should be at the venue 20 minutes before the contest in their official school uniform with ID. Only the contestants, board of judges and contest administrators are allowed inside the cookfest area.
The recipe to be prepared either original or an innovation of an existing recipe is for a snack - easy to prepare, low cost, nutritious and can be sold in school canteens. It should yield 10 servings with nutrition contribution of 200 calories for the snack and two tablespoons powder for the drink.
The name of the recipe, its general description and process flow should be printed in a whole cartolina with black print to be displayed in a designated area. A copy of the entire recipe is required to be submitted at 1:00 p.m., July 23, 2009 before the contest proper to the NUTRICOMNET Secretariat.
This must consist of the ingredients, procedure, estimated total nutrient content, number of servings, total preparation/cooking time, estimated total cost based on prevailing supermarket price in Legazpi City , and estimated cost per serving. Props are not allowed during the presentation of the finished product.
Criteria in the selection of the regional winners consist of the following: Nutritive Value - 30%; Cost of Recipe per serving - 20%; Time of Preparation - 10%; Neatness and Orderliness - 10%; Proper Use of Utensils/Tools/Implements - 10%; Appearance of Food - 10%; and Palatability - 10%, a total of 100%. Major cash and consolation prizes, and plaques/certificates await the winners and non-winners, and their coaches. Judging in this contest is final and irrevocable.
NUTRICOMNET's full support and participation in this regional endeavor will go a long way in its efforts to improve the nutritional status of schoolchildren in the region.
Contestants are advised to contact NUTRICOMNET through Ms. Shirley B. Borja, Chair, Core Group at DepEd Region V (821-1143) or Dr. Pilita O. Lucena, DOST V at (052) 821-7930 for any other details regarding this contest. (POLucena, DOST V/PIA)
Pagasa calls for year round disaster preparedness
LEGAZPI CITY - The country might be visited by 15 more typhoons in the remaining months of this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said here Sunday.
But Nathaniel Cruz, Pagasa acting deputy administrator for operation and services, said in a lecture-forum here that "it is not only typhoons that call for preparedness but also other hydro-meteorological hazards such as heavy and continuous rains, thunderstorms, cold fronts, easterly waves, intertropical convergent zones, and tropical cyclones."
"The Bicol region, particularly Albay province which is very prone to these weather disasters, including Mayon volcano's lahar, has put all preparedness measures in place, especially during floods and landslides that also occur amid mere heavy and continuous rains," Governor Joey Salceda told reporters during the open forum.
Warnings
Bicol, which is closely similar to Batanes Islands when it comes to typhoons, needs to prepare not only during the typhoon season but also on a 365-day-a-year basis, according to Cruz.
"When there is typhoon, however, the people of Albay are no longer afraid because they have been trained to prepare themselves on the basis of the preemptive measures."
Although Mayon volcano is not posing any possible eruptive threat, Landrico Dalida Jr., assistant weather services chief of the Pagasa central office, warned Albayanos that the province is host to cloud formations that bring rains even without warnings.
"Warnings are there in the events of typhoons but during rains, it is the built-in initiative of the people of Albay that guide them against these hazards," Dalida said.
Salceda said the installation of the modern Doppler Radar System was on the way. The Doppler Radar to be installed in Catanduanes and Camarines Norte will form part of the upgrading of the Legazpi Weather Station into the Southern Luzon Weather Bureau.
The Doppler Radar System is financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, said Salceda.
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