PNoy’s sis, Assisi Foundation, PPBCV conduct medical mission in Albay town
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – More than 700 residents from the town of Bacacay who were affected by the 20-day torrential rains in Albay were recipients of the medical mission conducted by the Assisi Foundation and the Pinoy Power Bicol Coalition of Volunteers (PPBCV) held last Saturday, Jan. 22.

Dr. Ofelia Samar-Sy, PPBCV president disclosed in a radio interview over PIA Bicol’s Aramon ta Daw, Tuesday that said medical mission was initiated by the Assisi Foundation led by Presidential Sister Viel Aquino-Dee whose purpose is to help persons affected by the calamity that befell the province.

The Assisi Foundation sent medicines while PPBCV and volunteers carried out the medical activity.

Dr. Sy said that Bacacay was selected because until last week, said town and nearby Malilipot have not decamped its evacuation centers. Since party list Ako Bicol was set to visit the latter, PPBCV went to Bacacay.

The medical mission, which, was held at San Pedro Elementary School served the residents of the barangay plus six more villages some of which are coastal areas. As8ide from the more than 700 persons treated by physicians, more than a hundred families were recipients of relief goods distribution.

According to Sy, 20 Bicolano doctors who are members of the Philippine College of Physicians lend a hand during the affair. These doctors composed of cardiologists, surgeons, internits and pediatricians also donated mats and bed sheets (kumot).

Other health practitioners on hand during the medical mission were the Albay Medical Society led by its President Dr. Eric Raburar, Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), the provincial government’s Albay Health Emergency Medical team, Ibalong Medical Center and Estevez Memorial Hospital.

Said medical mission was likewise facilitated by the Akbayan Bacacay, a member of the PPBCV and the municipal government led by Mayor Tobias Betito.

In addition, the Office of Civil Defense assisted in the affair while the Philippine Army ferried the medicines and relief goods.

Sy announced that intravenous medicines which are antibiotics are available for indigents. Such will be given out free to those in need. Already, a poor patient confined at BRTTH was provided with the antibiotics.

The PPBCV president said that the medical mission was held three days before the 78th birth anniversary of President Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino.

Meantime, Sy gave an update on the Aklat, Gabay at Aruga sa Pag-angat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) project whose turn-over of pre-school buildings in Legazpi and Daraga last January 14 with Presidential Sister Pinky Aquino-Abellada at the helm, said that Daraga North Central School will be the next beneficiary of the project.

Finishing touches, particularly painting of the Anislag Resettlement Site pre-school building is almost through. Grade 1 pupils are expected to use one of the two-classrooms since there are only two pre-school classes. Pupils who are enrolled in grades 1-3 can likewise utilize the library services.

Taysan Resettlement Site is being considered as another location for the construction of the AGAPP building program in order to assist relocated evacuees displaced by Mt. Mayon eruption, Sy announced. PPBCV requests the local government of Legazpi City to help in providing electricity and water system so that the school will be constructed.

Another activity which PPBCV is looking forward to is the Nationwide EDSA 1 Fun Run set next month which hopes to raise funds for 25,000 classrooms for the Department of Education. She emphasized that would roughly mean 280 new classrooms for every province in the country. She calls on organizations and groups to join this noble undertaking. (PIA V/Albay)

DSWD screens LGUs for “Makamasang Tugon” expansion

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has developed an innovative process to sustain the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS through Community-Driven and Development (CDD) approach otherwise known as the Makamasang Tugon.

The KALAHI-CIDSS Makamasang Tugon or MT is the integration of CDD principles and processes in the local planning by way of a local government unit-led implementation scheme.

DSWD Assistant Regional Director Evelyn M. Lontok and the Regional Project Management Team (RPMT) are in the process of enrolment and negotiating for the further expansion of KALAHI-CIDSS or the Makamasang Tugon in the next three years.

The DSWD Field Office V initiated screening of additional municipalities, adding more additional areas, which are being assessed by the RPMT.

Makamasang Tugon will be implemented in the municipalities of Aroroy, San Pascual and Claveria in the province of Masbate; Juban and Pilar in Sorsogon.

The municipalities earlier assessed in December 2010 were Caramoran and Bagamanoc in Catanduanes; Sta. Elena and Capalonga in Camarines Norte. The municipalities of Garchitorena, Presentacion, Siruma, Minalabac, Pasacao, Balatan, Sangay and Del Gallego in Camarines Sur.

Design using the KALAHI-CIDSS’ CDD technology, the municipalities are expected to: implement the project through Municipal Steering Committees (MSC) and Municipal Coordinating Team (MCT), engage strategies to encourage citizens’ participation, enhance transparency, promote accountability, establish local governance structures and mobilization of community volunteers.

Considered for inclusion are towns that are “currently covered by the DSWD’s 4Ps program” with “no previous arrangement with KALAHI-CIDSS” and those that have a “poverty incidence of 50 percent and above,” said Lontok.

The percentage of poverty incidence of municipalities is based on the 2003 Small Area Poverty Estimates released by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

KALAHI-CIDSS project in Bicol region has funded a total of 667 community infrastructures. Projects that responded to the people’s prioritized problems from 2003 to 2009 in the amount of P779,668,600.26. Over 160,065 household beneficiaries presently reap benefits from the project.

KALAHI-CIDSS is the largest poverty alleviation portfolio of the World Bank in the Philippines. (CLMartinez, DSWD V/PIA Albay/mal)

Feature:
Local Soya processing firm upgrade thru dost v intervention

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — “Had it not for the assistance of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Bicol with sincere and unselfish effort, I would remain crippled and struggling if not groping in the dark how to go on with my small business,” stated Fae B. Carranza, proprietor, Fabcarr Food Products, Panicuason, Naga City in a letter to DOST Bicol dated January 17, 2011.

DOST’s intervention consisted of technical assistance, equipment design and specifications and the provision of basic cooking equipment such as soya grinder with separator, industrial oven, freezer, chiller, multipurpose mixer/pulverizer, dough roller, tofu molder, heavy duty burner and cooking utensils (kettle/casserole/baking pans) amounting to P157,900 through DOST SETUP-assisted project “Upgrading Soya Processing and Utilization of Soya By-Products through Acquisition of Appropriate Equipment”.

Recently, the City Government of Naga through Mayor John Bongat approved Mrs. Carranza’s proposal to supply soya milk and soya bread to different public elementary schools in Naga City as part of the city’s feeding program. The daily feeding will involve P2,000 schoolchildren for a period of sixty days.

Carranza’s business started in 2004 when she was still a resident of Legazpi City. Prior to the technology intervention and typical of home-based enterprises, Carranza experienced low sales and decided for its temporary stop. Soya products (taho and tokwa) were sold in a stall at the Legazpi City Market in 2007, the family moved to Naga City and continued the business and added soya tea and milk sold in schools and households nearby.

After joining a women’s organization, the Naga City Women’s Council and encouraged by government agencies like DOST, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and others. Fabcarr Food Products was registered with DTI and issued a business permit by LGU-Naga City in March 2009.

With DOST’s assistance, the firm has hired two additional workers to handle grinding and pressing aside from family members engaged in production. Soya products now include chilled taho, tofu, soya milk, soya coffee, soya nutria-meat and soya nutribread. Carranza plans to construct a new production area that is Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) compliant. (POLucena /PNFelizmenio, DOST V/CamSur/PIA Albay/mal)

DTI V applies new fees for business name registration

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bicol now implements a four-tiered registration fee system for business name (BN) registration, original and renewal, based on the geographical scope of their business effective January 2011.

The system is based on Department Administrative Order 10-10 series of 2010; Territorial Scheme of Business Name Registration is established based on the following geographical division: Barangay, City/Municipality, Regional and National. Under this new scheme, Business Name registrants shall indicate whether their business name would be applicable only within a particular barangay, city/municipality, region or nationwide.

The new Business Name (BN) Registration fees are as follows:

• Barangay - P 200.00
• City/Municipality - 500.00
• Regional - 1,000.00
• National - 2,000.00

DTI Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn L.B. Blanco said “the new system allows an enterprise to use
its business name in all the branches or outlets that would be put up within the territory where it is registered without additional cost”.

For instance, if an applicant opts to register a business name that is nationwide in scope, he would not have to pay for the registrations of each branch, thereby helping entrepreneurs cut costs.

For further details about the new BNR fees, feel free to call DTI-5 with telephone numbers 480-5721 / 480-5720. (JRBerango, DTI V/PIA Albay/mal)

Barangay Newly Elected Program 2011 training set

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) — Series of trainings of the second component of the Barangay Newly Elected Program 2011 dubbed as “Laying the Foundation” was scheduled this February, 2011 at the different municipalities of the province.

This serves as the best starting point in preparing the newly elected officials of the barangay to the challenges of administering the smallest political unit of the country.

This component will pave way for a general orientation of barangay officials on barangay governance and administration. As barangay officials, they will be able to situate the state of their barangay governance as an important tool or measurement on crafting their own Barangay Agenda for Governance and Development (Barangay AGAD).

Generally, this component aims to enhance the competence of barangay officials on the basics of Barangay Governance and Administration, specifically, it aims to define their roles and functions as provided for under the Local Government Code of 1991; Discuss the importance of Barangay Planning; Legislation and Finance; Identify Basic Principle on Community Mobilization; Enhance Performance of Barangay through the Barangay Governance Performance Management System and Identify basic elements that will guide them in crafting their aim Barangay Agenda for Governance and Development.

The training is composed of four (4) parts namely; General Orientation on Barangay Governance and Administration; Improving Transparency and Participation; Enhancing Performance through Accountability and the Laying of the Grounds for Development .

Speakers for the training are staff of the Department of Interior and local Government (DILG) Provincial Office and the local counterparts in the eleven municipalities of the province. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)

A birthday bash with the firefighters
By Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, (PIA) — It was a dream come true for a child who visualizes himself as a firefighter when Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Sorsogon City gave him a chance to celebrate his birthday at the BFP office in this city.

Joshua Tyler Gamboa, a nine-year old boy, shows great passion for the works of men in uniform but notably has a greater respect for firefighters that he looks forward to be one with them in the future.

On January 28, 2011 at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, his special birthday was celebrated and held at the firehouse of the BFP Sorsogon City.

Since this was the first time that a kid requested to have a party in a firehouse, the city’s legitimate firefighters, just like the kids, were also very excited to be part of the unique birthday celebration.

Sets of programs were prepared to further promote among the kids and even to the visitors fire safety awareness by introducing to them some fire safety tips.

Sorsogon City Fire Marshal Renato B. Marcial also shared to them the advocacy of the Bureau and imparted to kids the firefighter’s tough job in saving lives and properties.

The treat to one of a kind experience of a firetruck ride within the vicinity of Sorsogon City has added more color, fun and excitement for the kids.

“We in BFP are very happy to know that children as young as Joshua look at us with high respect and even dream of becoming one with us someday,” Chief Inspector Marcial said.

“That’s why I did not have second thoughts approving Joshua’s request that his dream of becoming a firefighter will come true early on his 9th birthday,” he added.

“This is the most memorable birthday I ever had. And I am deeply grateful to Sir Marcial and to the people of BFP Sorsogon City,” says Joshua with a big smile in his face. (PIA Sorsogon)

Masbate City mayor to crack down on inept, corrupt personnel
By Ernie Delgado

MASBATE CITY, (PIA) — Improving the quality of City Hall personnel is a top priority of Mayor Socrates Tuason in 2011 and this entails firing the inept and crooks.

Tuason enjoins the employees of perhaps the second largest local bureaucracy to kick bad practices as the city government pursues transformation similar to what Iloilo and Naga cities had started on the way to their present stature as models of good governance.

At yesterday’s flag raising rites, Tuason said he would make some changes in the City Hall to deliver better services to the public.

Tuason said he would turn the city government into a more efficient service organization by cracking the whip on remiss and corrupt personnel.

Those who had poor understanding of what it means to serve the public should shape up, he added.

Tuason later called his department heads to a conference where he reportedly took to task officials at the accounting office for allowing an in-house retail business there.

Critics within the City Hall described the accounting office as the “usual bottleneck” of transactions after the retail of goods was introduced there.

Sought for comment on who or what triggered the mayor’s crackdown on red tape and corruption in some offices, insiders and observers were one in theorizing that it was the dismal scorecards of the rogues in the City Hall.

The flunks reportedly surfaced when the Institute for Solidarity in Asia conducted the city’s 2010 performance evaluation. A source said those hooked in grease and carrots were the most conspicuous in ISA’s purported roster of flunks. (PIA Masbate)

Rapid seed supply financing project, still on-going

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) — Over 200 farmers from this municipality and San Andres, San Miguel towns were able to avail the cheapest price of certified seeds yesterday (Jan. 30) through the collective support of Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento, National Food Authority (NFA) and municipal governments to the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) under the Rapid Food Production Enhancement Program (RaFPEP).

At present, Cong Sarmiento is persistently working and requesting for an immediate intervention from the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) Administrator to augment the budget for rehabilitation and construction of irrigation facilities in the province. (PIA Catanduanes w/ reports from Joriza Dela Rosa)

Chiz summons MRT, LRT for full audit report on non-rail revenues

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Amid plans to raise metro rail fares, Senator Chiz Escudero wants the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to submit to the Senate the full details and accounting of their revenue sharing from the advertisements and lease operations of the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) and the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA).

Escudero, chairman of the Senate justice and human rights committee, said these non-rail revenues can be tapped to subsidize the fare increases the government was planning to implement.

“If only the government gets its full collectibles from non-rail revenues, pressure to raise fare levels would be unloaded off its shoulder. From the way it looks now, there is a dismal proportion in terms of revenue sharing realized from non-rail revenues between the government and the MRTC,” Escudero said.

The MRTC, which operates the MRT, has been collecting and receiving income from ads and lease operations through its subsidiary, the MRT Development Corporation (MRTDevCo).

The MRTC, however, failed to settle its outstanding debt to the government, which now runs to more than P1 billion.

“While it is true that the government needs to look for viable measures to address the huge subsidy, it continuously shoulders the costs of our rail transport system, and raising fares should not be the first option,” Escudero said. “We have existing options that are just waiting to be explored. In this case, non-rail revenues should be maximized and utilized for fare subsidies.

Based on a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the government at present subsidizes the fare of each commuter at P95.00 per day, or an annual subsidy of P23, 850 per rider.
The senator said the country should already be implementing what all rails in the world are doing: using non-rail revenues to subsidize fares.

A Japan Bank for International Cooperation study conducted in 2007 showed that non-rail revenues of MRT and LRT can still be improved by increasing the advertising rates and the retail tenant leased areas to deflect the fare hikes.

LRT’s non-rail revenue share is only 2.6 percent of the total earnings. Whereas in neighboring countries, their light rail systems get more than 20 percent of the non-rail revenues.

Escudero has been pushing for a congressional inquiry to determine ownership and full operational control of MRT 3 so that proper steps could be taken on how to deal with fare subsidies, among others. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)