ALBAY JOINS NATIONAL FLAG DAY

ALBAY Province — Officials and employees of the national and local government line organizations rekindled respect for the Philippine Flag, the symbol of Philippine Independence, with the traditional flag-raising ceremony in observance of the National Flag Day on Thursday (May 28) held at the Peñaranda Park in Legazpi City.

DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada, designated chair of this year’s celebration, enjoined everyone who attended the joint flag raising ceremony to practice by heart the Flag Day theme which is "Igalang ang Watawat, sa Isip, Sa Salita at sa Gawa."

He said there is a need to promote public awareness of good citizenship values such as love and respect for the country, for the National Flag and National Anthem, and other national symbols which embody national pride.

He also noted that some people do not give due respect to the flag, reminding everyone then to respect and follow key considerations in displaying the flag.

“During flag-raising, all persons present must stand at attention and place their right palm over the heart. When displayed with other flags, it should always be on the left of the observer,” he said.

Fragada stressed that using it as a costume or as a cover for tables or curtain is a big show of disrespect to the Filipino nation.

He also said DENR Bicol has issued prescribed templates for the relevant event tarpaulins and other materials to celebrate the event and that they have displayed the Philippine flag, event tarpaulins and buntings at government offices.

Another huge flag is displayed at the Provincial Capitol Building with the inscription of this year’s Flag Day theme and 'Pilipinas kong Mahal'

Mayor Noel Rosal here meanwhile shared to the government employees in attendance the history of the flag since it was first used during the proclamation of independence in Kawit, Cavite.

"Today the Philippines is a free and democratic nation and the flag remains as the symbol of the country," said Rosal.

He also stressed that the same Philippine Flag strengthened the Filipinos to defend the republic government from 1899 until 1901 from the hands of the Americans.

"We only know a few of those who died for our independence. Many of them remain unknown and unnamed, this makes the flag and the National Anthem as a lasting valedictory for every drop of blood they shed for the country," he said.

The flag symbolizes thousands of Filipinos who offered their lives just to get the freedom of the Philippines.

On March 6, 1965, President Diosdado Macapagal issued Proclamation No. 374 “Declaring the Twenty-Eighth Day of May Each Year as Flag Day.” The display of the Philippine Flag from May 28 to June 12 of each year was done by virtue of Executive Order No. 179 signed by President Fidel V. Ramos on May 24, 1994, for Filipinos “to collectively reflect on the significance of the National Flag.

On February 12, 1998, Republic Act 8491, otherwise known as Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines was signed into law. (MALoterte, PIA V Release)


PALAY CHECK SYSTEM TO INCREASE FARMERS’ RICE YIELD

SORSOGON Province — A total of 1,341 farmers from Sorsogon City and 12 other municipalities here have completed the five-month training course on Palay Check System, a dynamic rice crop management system that is projected to increase production and profitability by 50 per cent.

The Provincial Agriculture Office, in cooperation with the different local government units (LGUs) here has facilitated the field study, technology transfer and demonstration that form part of the training course.

Provincial Agriculturist David Gillego said through lectures, participatory discussions, field practicum and field tours, farmers learned to understand, apply and adopt technologies embedded in the Palay Check System.

He explained that as an integrated crop management system for rice, Palay Check recognizes that rice growing is a production system consisting of a range of factors that are interdependent and interrelated in their impact on the growth, yield and rice grain quality, and on the sustainability of the environment.

He elaborated that Palay check covers the principal areas of crop management such as seed quality, land preparation, crop establishment, nutrient management, water management, pest management and harvest management.

He added that the technology encourages farmers to manage their rice crop according to targets by measuring crop performance and analyzing results, providers standards in the form of key check that guide farmers on what to achieve, recommend on how to achieve the key checks and guide on how to assess the key checks.

Data from the PAO reveal that palay production in the province is insufficient, meeting only 80 per cent of the total rice requirement.

Governor Sally Lee, meanwhile, stated “the adoption of new technologies, such as the Palay Check System, is crucial in meeting our production shortfall.”

“In light of increasing occurrence of disasters that further affects our agricultural output, we really must encourage farmers to apply these technologies,” she added.

PAO hopes to establish more field schools on Palay Check for more farmers to adopt the technology. There are an estimated 18,500 rice farmers in the master list of the PAO.

In Bicol region, Sorsogon province has the most number of sites devoted to the Palay Check System.

The program is funded by the Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), PhilRice, Provincial Government of Sorsogon and local government units. (MFDeniega, MAIB Sorsogon/PIA)


SORSOGON INTENSIFIES AWARENESS DRIVE AND PREPAREDNESS ON AH1N1

SORSOGON Province — The Provincial Health Office (PHO) here has incessantly intensified its public awareness campaigns on the prevention and control of Influenza A (H1N1) following the growing number of cases recorded in the country.

Dr. Liduvina Dorion, assistant provincial health officer of PHO Sorsogon, said that after the Orientation on Influenza A-H1N1 Preparedness given to local health officials and stakeholders all over the province, the PHO and DOH Provincial Health Team have since conducted orientations among physicians and health workers in the municipal and barangay levels.

“We already met as well with officials of DepEd Division offices, their medical personnel were given orientation on awareness drive and handling situations least they would encounter students, parents and school personnel who manifest symptoms of Influenza A,” she added.

She stressed the Provincial Integrated Disease and Response Unit (PIDRU) of the PHO is now actively conducting a weekly surveillance on influenza-like illnesses in which updated reports is regularly monitored by the PHO.

Joel Babasa, PHO administrative officer, meanwhile, said tents from the Provincial Engineering Office have been readied to serve as triads and a certain area in front of the provincial hospital has been designated as holding area of patients in case the infection would reach the province.

“Some personnel were also identified by PHO to man the holding area,” he added.

Along this line, Dorion advises the public not to panic since there is no community level outbreak and that those found positive are now on their way to recovery.

She, however, also cautioned the public to take extra care by following the Influenza A Advisory released by the DOH.

In a related development, DepEd Sorsogon Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Danilo Despi said that the school opening will push through as scheduled

He assured the parents and students DepEd has been closely coordinating with the PHO in implementing precautionary measures to ensure 100% safety among children as they report to school on June 1. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


CAM NORTE BRACES FOR AH1N1 THREATS

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has conducted an orientation and created a task force for the Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases particularly now the Influenza A (H1N1) virus that scare people all over the world, held Monday at the Provincial Hospital here.

Dr. Arnulfo Salagoste, Camarines Norte provincial health officer, said that the province should be ready at all times from the threat of AH1N1.

“PHO preparations are already underway, setting up the quarantine and isolation areas for suspected Influenza A victims as well as training of health personnel that will respond to reported cases and provide medical attention,” he explained.

Dr. Jocelyn Iraola MD, MPH of the Department of Health (DOH) explained that AH1N1 is caused by a novel strain that resulted from the re-assortment of 4 viruses from pigs, human and birds.

She elaborated the signs and symptoms is similar to regular flu such as fever, headache, fatigue, lack of appetite, runny nose, sore throat, cough, vomiting or nausea and diarrhea.

“Usually, the persons infected by AH1N1 are those who traveled in countries affected by the said virus and locals who had contact with the infected individuals,” she noted.

She said that AH1N1 now is pandemic in progress and in Phase 6 according to the World Health Organizations (WHO).

She also urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to activate the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTS) in the province to monitor persons who came from other countries.

Iraola stressed that they are prepared on what to do in case there will be suspected case here wherein their Provincial Epidemiology Unit will refer the case to the Bicol Medical Center for initial detection and in turn will refer case to the Research for Tropical Medicine (RITM) or to the San Lazaro Hospital for proper actions. (RBManlangit, PIA Cam. Nor.)


POLICE DENIES REBELS KILLED 8 COPS IN MASBATE CLASH

MASBATE CITY—After the gun battle, came the word war.

A ranking aide of PNP Provincial Director Reuben Theodore Sindac has denied a New People’s Army report that communist rebels killed eight policemen during the March 12 gun battle on the highway of Mandaon.

Chief Inspector Rodolfo C. Abella, head of police community relations (PCR) branch of Provincial Police Office, described the NPA report as a “farce” and called the NPA’s Jose Rapsing Command spokesperson, Luz del Mar who released the report, as a “lie.”

“(S)inungaling ang NPA,” Abella said in a press statement.

Del Mar had claimed that the ambush staged by NPA cadres on the barangay Pinamangcaan segment of the highway resulted in the death of eight members of 506th Police Provincial Mobile Group and the wounding of several others.

“Ang katotohanan, walang namatay na kasapi ng 506th PPMG at tatlo lamang ang wounded in action,” Abella said.

Abella laughed off the NPA spokesperson’s allegation that even the news media did not see the lifeless bodies of PPMG troopers because the police provincial command deliberately did a cover up of its battle losses.

“(K)ailanman hindi p’wedeng itago ang pagkamatay ng isang alagad ng batas,” he said said adding that “maghahanap at maglalahad ng katotohanan mismo ang pamilya ng pulis.”

He cited another NPA report which he said did not happen. He said Del Mar reported that a team led by Senior Inspector Eduardo Regalario of Mandaon Police Station lost one trooper in the firefight with another rebel squad on the highway of Barangay Panguiranan in Balud also last March 12.

Claiming victory in those gun battles, Abella said that government troopers and civilian witnesses described seeing NPA rebels flee with two fatally wounded cadres.

“(K)ung saan-saang kagubatan na lang inihukay ang pobreng nasawing mga NPA,” he said.

…name names in illegal fishing payoff

Abella also dared the NPA to name names so that the police leadership could investigate the rebels’ allegation that a former barangay captain, Fernando Aninang of Panguiranan, Balud, had Camp Bonny Serrano and Balud Municipal Police Station on his monthly payroll to protect his illegal fishing activities.

The NPA accused the rebels of sowing fear among the households of Aninang’s fishing workers, including women and children, when the insurgents raided their houses.

“Kung tunay na makamasa ang NPA, bakit hindi siya (Aninang) hinuli at isinuko sa kasalukuyang pamunuan ng Barangay Panguiranan o Bantay Dagat ng Balud upang makasuhan?” (EADelegado, PIA Masbate)


GOVERNMENT, CHURCH UNITE FOR PEACE AND PROGRESS

PILI, Camarines Sur — Some 300 leaders of the different sects and denominations across Bicol attended the formal signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) forging partnership in pursuit for peace and development in the region held Thursday (May 28) at the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College (CSSAC) here.

The MOA manifests the cooperation between the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process-Social Integration Program (OPAPP-SIP) and the Bicol Ministerial Fellowship Committee (BMFC), a regional fellowship of evangelical, Baptist, Pentecostal and Independent Christ-centered and scripture based churches in the region.

Pastor Eduardo P. Pilapil, Sr., chair of the BFMC, and OPAPP Sec. Avelino Razon led the signing of the said MOA.

With the theme “Forging Partnership for Peace”, the MOA signing marked the start of promoting cooperation not only between the OPPAP-SIP and BMFC but also among community leaders and citizenry to work hand in hand in pursuit for genuine and lasting peace and development in Bicol region and in the country as a whole.

Present during the occasion were Asec. Tomasito B. Monson of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Bicol; Maj. Gen. Ruperto R. Pabustan, commander of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army; C/Supt Reynaldo Osia, provincial director of Camarines Sur Police Provincial Office; Bishop Ephraim Tendero of PCEC; Bishop Cesar Punzalan; Atty. Danny Azaña, vice chair of the BMFC; and, other invited guests. (DCAbad, PIA CamSur)


PALACE ASSURES INFLUENZA A INFECTIONS UNDER CONTROL

MANILA — There is nothing worry about the new A/H1N1 infections, ranking palace officials said Thursday (May 28).

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita assured that the prevention and surveillance systems are in place to contain the spread of the new virus.

Ermita said the new cases are not enough reason to postpone the opening of class on Monday.
For his part, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the situation in the Philippines in far from the situation in Mexico where community level outbreaks took place.

The Department of Health reported four more A/H1N1 cases raising the number of infections to 10.

The new cases, a 24-year-old mother, her one-year-old daughter; a 47-year-old male and a 13-year-old male, are the people who attended a wedding in Zambales, the same occasion where the infected Taiwanese nationals were also present.

“Three are Filipinos, and one is a foreign national. All are taking Oseltamivir and only have mild acute respiratory illness,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in a statement.

On how the Taiwanese nationals caught A/H1N1 remains a mystery to health authorities.
DOH is waiting for the results of laboratory tests of some 50 people who also attended the Zambales wedding. (PIA V Release)


PALACE CITES 0.4 % RP ECONOMY GROWTH RATE IN Q1

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday (May 28) cited the expansion of the Philippine economy by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of the year.

”A growth is still a growth as we have heard and seen the report but we should try to reflect the gross national product (GNP) which includes the number of remittances by the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) which contributes greatly to the Philippine economy,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Dr. Anthony Golez in an interview with reporters at the New Executive Building (NEB) in San Miguel, Manila.

Golez, however said, this is not yet a time to celebrate because it’s common knowledge that the global economic situation will improve by the second half of the year.

He said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will continue to focus, among others, in job generation.

Malacañang officials as well as Golez were reacting to earlier reports that the Philippine economy expanded by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of the year from 3.9 percent in the same period last year.

It was the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) which released the report.
Romulo Virola, secretary-general of NSCB attributed the growth in the economy to the positive contributions of construction, agriculture, transportation, communication and storage, mining and quarrying, and private Services.

On the expenditure side, Virola said little growth drivers were construction, import of non factor services, personal consumption expenditure (PCE), export of non factor services, and government consumption expenditure.

For the first three months of the year, Virola said the total OFW compensation amounted to P302.16 billion, up by 38.5 percent from P218.11 billion in the same period last year.
During the period, the total OFW deployment rose 44.7 percent to 367,931 from 254,123 from January to March last year.

The NSCB official said the economy also boosted by the disbursement of government funds for infrastructure projects, which rebounded to 3.8 percent from negative 0.3 percent recorded last year.

He added that private construction rebounded from negative 4.1 percent the previous year to 9.9 percent while infrastructure investments by the government managed to improve public construction to a lower negative 4.4 percent from negative 10.9 percent.

Virola said agriculture, fishery and forestry sector contracted by 1 percent in the first quarter after expanding by 0.9 in the last quarter with the declines of other crops, corn and sugarcane.

Industry registered its lowest growth for the last twenty years as it sank by 6.6 percent from 0.1 percent gain in the last quarter.

The substantial weakening of the manufacturing sector contributed immensely to the contraction of industry. Services sector posted no growth for the first quarter of 2009 compared to 0.2 percent recorded the previous quarter, as trade declined while other sub sectors slowed down.

Virola, however, said a big challenge to the economic managers during the remaining month of the second quarter is the fact that the economy is now teetering into recession as seasonally adjusted GDP sank by 2.3 percent, the lowest for the past 20 years. (PIA V Release)


PGMA CONGRATULATES DIRECTOR MENDOZA

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has extended her heartfelt congratulations to Brillante Mendoza for having won the best Director Award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festivals for his movie “Kinatay.”

“Being the first Filipino to have won such an award obviously makes Director Mendoza one of the best filmmakers of our time,” the President said.

“Director Mendoza’s winning movie depicts social realities and serves as an eye-opener for moral recovery and social transformation which my Administration has been pursuing even early on my Presidency,” she said.

The President stressed that Director Mendoza’s extraordinary feat brings pride to every Filipino and will be an inspiration to our filmmakers to strive harder for global recognition.

“His accomplishment and those of our other artists in the various disciplines who have been raking in honors for the country attest to the our people’s wealth of talents that enable us to withstand and overcome the challenges of our times,” the President added. (PIA V Release)


PGMA, DND CHIEF CITE AFP FOR ITS ACCOMPLISHMENT VS. NPA

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has praised the Armed Forces of the Philippines for its accomplishment during the past five months against the communist New People’s Army (NPA), which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants defeated before the end of her term next year.

Teodoro said that no less than the President, the military’s commander-in-chief, expressed satisfaction over what the military had done in the fight against the NPA rebels from January to May, this year.

Last Monday, the military reported that the strength of the four-decade-old NPA has been reduced to about 4,800 in May from about 5,200 as of the end of last year. The NPA’s current number is the lowest since the group had the peak membership of about 25,000 men in the 1980s.

“No one is more satisfied than the President and me. They (AFP) have done so much with so little. You go and ask every expert in the Armed Forces and they will tell you how amazed they are on how we are accomplishing our mission,” said Teodoro.

He said the military is scoring feats against the communists while addressing the rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Central Mindanao; the Abu Sayyaf Group in Western Mindanao and at the same time engaging in disaster response.

“We are attending four fronts -– the CPP/NPA, rogue MILF and the Abu Sayyaf and natural disasters and calamities. We are addressing these at the same time. The mere fact that the country’s security situation is still stable, this is already a big accomplishment by our military and the police,” said Teodoro.

On whether it is still wise to revive the negotiations with the communists, Teodoro said he is in favor of resuming the talks with them for as long as the issue that would be discussed would be their surrender to government.

Peace talks between the government and the communist rebels bogged down in 2004 after the United States included the CPP and the NPA in its list of foreign terrorist organizations. Efforts by both sides are underway to revive the formal talks.

“To me, let's see what the things that would be discussed are and if it's their surrender to government and laying down their arms, let's see the condition. I am not averse to the talks, but if we are going to be compelled to stop our efforts against criminality in the country, we can't agree to that,” said Teodoro. (PIA V Release)