DPWH to implement P3.9 billion worth of projects for 2011
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here has disclosed the other day that they will be implementing a total of P3,906,607,000.00 worth of infrastructure projects in the six provinces of Bicol this year.

DPWH Regional Director Danilo E. Dequito said that the projects will be implemented in accordance with the 3-Rs criteria formulated by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to be adopted strictly by the department field engineers in the execution of the projects to ensure its durability and at the right cost.

Dequito explained that the 3-Rs refer to first, it should be the right project, second, at the right price and third, it should be constructed with the right quality to ensure its durability.

He said the projects are composed of P3.8 billion worth of locally funded projects and P36 million worth of foreign assisted projects.

Dequito said the province of Camarines Sur has been allocated a total of P1.2 billion worth of projects to be implemented in the five districts of the province — P500 million are for critical road and bridges to address critical bottlenecks,P334.6 million for rehabilitation of damaged national roads,P353.3 million for the upgrading from gravel to paved roads, P55.3 million for preventive maintenance.

Masbate, Dequito said, was earmarked a total of P784.5 million worth for various projects; Catanduanes P682 million; Camarines Norte P195.4 million; Sorsogon P154.3 million; Albay with P142.7 million; and P703 million worth of projects classified as region wide. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

Albay Food Security Program to benefit 300 poor families in 3 towns, 2 cities

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Some 300 families from three towns and two cities in Albay province will benefit from a joint project of government and private institutions aimed at improving the lives of locals displaced by calamities brought about by typhoons, floods, landslides, and Mayon volcano eruption.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the project will deploy the strategies developed by National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and Farmers Community Development Foundation International (FCDF), with funding from UNDP.

The project has been initiated by the Provincial Government of Albay, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National anti- Poverty Commission (NAPC).

Salceda explained that the project will focus on agricultural development to ensure food security and improve nutrition among identified displaced families in Sto Domingo, Guinobatan and Daraga towns, Legazpi City and Ligao City.

The project components, according to the governor, include planting of carbohydrate-rich root and tuber crops, corn and vitamin/mineral-rich native vegetables; establishment of a native vegetable garden in every school and day care center to support feeding program; planting of fruit bearing tree in every home; organic fertilizer production; poultry (native chicken) raising in every home; and food security garden in every barangay.

He said that the project also can generate income and employment through a banner vegetable and fruit plantation in every barangay; an organic fertilizer factory in selected barangays; and establishment of 200-head native chicken breeding project.

Meanwhile, Jeresha San Jose, program coordinator of the Albay Millennium Development Goals Office (AMDGO) said the project dubbed “Developing a Model to Promote Food Security and Nutrition in the Province” will cost some P5 million.

San Jose said Albay will develop a climate change preparedness model to promote sustainable food security, nutrition, generate income and employment.

“Such will also provide for other needs and build capacities of food and income deficient people to make the model sustainable,” she added.

San Jose furthered, 100 beneficiaries in every pilot town or city will be selected to participate the project, adding that the number will increase as loan repayments are collected and re-loaned until almost all or all interested residents are served.

“This will also enable economically displaced families to produce their food in the shortest possible time when natural calamities strike,” she also said.

San Jose, however, stressed that the project will not be in the form of dole-outs.

“Nothing will be provided for free, except the trainings and capacity building. Farmers have to pay for all inputs they will use and repayment can be re-loaned to other farmers until all target beneficiaries are served.

San Jose said for beneficiaries to access the capital, a micro-credit in-kind will be established in which it would be easy for participants to borrow and even easier for them. (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)

Bicol youths back realization of MDG 7
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Some 165 youth organizations from different areas in Bicol participated in the BYEEnihan: Every Juan for the Environment through the Lakad at Pedal para sa Kalikasan to contribute in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7.

MDG 7 of the United Nations aims to ensure environmental sustainability.

BYEE, which stands for Bayer Young Environmental Envoy, Communications head Jovic Maurice Yee of Bicol University College of Arts and Letters said that the project is intended to be an on-going activity. It is spearheaded by the alumni of BYEE.

Yee said that the 165 organizations which conducted similar activities last January 15 in separate places in the region brought in a participation of 1,500.

In Legazpi City, the walk and biking activities started 5:30 in the morning followed by a luntiang almusalan (green breakfast) for participants who upon registration presented used plastic bottles.

At the opening program both Bicol University President Fay Lea Patria M. Lauraya and BYEE Program Officer Reynaldo Cutanda commended the efforts of the youth in changing the local environment landscape and mindsets.

The Legazpi City event dubbed the activity as Araw ng BYEEnihan with different endeavors form which the participants chose to join. Among these were the painting competition sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), photo competition, storytelling and the Forum on the Effects of Smoking to Health and the Environment facilitated by the Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN).

Future activities lined up by BYEE alumni include various tree-planting activities as 2011 has been declared International Year of the Forest.

The MDGs is a set of goals set by the United Nations where member-countries like the Philippines is expected to adhere to the implementation and achievement of the targets come 2015.

BYEE Bicol has observed that goal no. 7 has not been met fully if not halfway due to lack of local and individual participation. These young environmentalists also believe that environmental protection is a shared responsibility. Thus, they spearheaded activities towards this end.

Yee, who last year was among the four Bayer Young Environmental Envoys who represented the country in Germany said that interested youth organizations can still join and register by sending in their action plans to fulfill MDG 7. Interested groups can contact Yee via e-mail at iamjovic@gmail.com or CP No. 09279099383. (PIA V/Albay)

ALS confers award to outstanding barangays
By Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, Jan. 25 ---- The barangays of Concepcion Pequena, San Felipe and Sta. Curz, all from this city, were hailed as Outstanding Functional Learning Center in Naga City Division during a simple awarding rites held last January 21, 2011 at the ALS Pilot Center here.

The search was part of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) collaborative project aimed at providing a venue especially for out-of –school youths, children and adults where they can harness their learning and indulge in some discussions geared towards developing their reading and writing skills.

Moreover, these simple edifices are not only for literacy and informal classes but also serve as venue for meetings and conferences.

Mrs. Felomina L. Cecilio , ALS Head cited that the search was also conducted to measure the effectiveness and quality of the implementation of the project in the development of literacy for their target beneficiaries.

“Uplifting an individual’s literacy goes beyond the books that they read. These functional learning centers also provide our out-of-school youths, adults and even these out-of- school children, a venue where they can feel the collaborative efforts from their teachers and from their peers, which we think is a great tool in developing their personality.”

Barangay Concepcion Pequena headed by its Barangay Captain, Elmer Baldemoro was adjudged as first place, Brgy. San Felipe under the stewardship of their Punong Barangay Emerita Castillo ranked second while Barangay Sta. Cruz headed by Barangay Captain Lorenzo Narvaez was named third placer out of the six (6) finalists.

Barangay Concepcion Pequena will represent Naga City Division in the Regional Search for Most Outstanding Functional Learning Center this year.

In an interview, Ms. Adelaida A. Bables, Naga North ALS District Coordinator said that cash prizes were awarded to major winners while the finalists also received consolation prizes courtesy of the Naga City Government thru the School Board Fund.

The Search for Most Outstanding Functional Learning Center will be done every year to encourage stakeholders to partake of this program and help in uplifting literacy rate in their respective communities. All barangays are encourage to join and be adjudged as the next Outstanding barangay with a Functional Learning Center . (PIA Camarines Sur)

Construction of Land Bank ATM booth at CSC underway

VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) — Here’s a good news to Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Automated Teller Machine (ATM) clients from CSC.

Long bank queues will be at least minimized especially during paydays, as ATM transactions will soon be within reach to CSC community.

The construction of one unit LBP ATM booth for CSC has started on January 19, 2011, following the completion of the Memorandum of Agreement between CSC and LBP.

The off-site ATM booth will be conveniently located at the left wing of the CSC main campus main gate's waiting shed.

With this development, ease and accessibility is now within reach of CSC employees. This is one of the projects worked out by CSC President Asuncion V. Asetre.

The CSC Main Campus, which has around 400-strong employees, maintains an ATM payroll account with LBP Virac Branch.

LBP Virac Branch Manager Lorna P. Rojas and President Asetre signed the MOA which paved way for the installation of ATM booth.

While the CSC is the main client of the ATM booth, ‘uptown’ depositors (CSC belt and adjacent communities) will also benefit from this development. (CSC/EAB, PIA Catandunanes/mal)
Barangay heads tapped to check Masbate public buildings
By Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY—Mayor Socrates Tuason has asked barangay chairmen to inspect all buildings in their respective area to determine if these complied with local regulations, including safety standards.

Tuason ordered the inspection as applications of individuals and companies to operate business here await review by his office.

The mayor said he will issue closure order to business establishments that would lack absolute compliance with city government’s safety regulations. (PIA Masbate)