All systems go for Palarong Bikol 2011 on Feb 13-19
by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Albay province led by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda with Department of Education (DepEd) Albay are ready to host this year’s annual Palarong Bikol 2011 scheduled February 13 -19 as some 6,000 athletes and their delegations from 13 provinces and cities are ready for the friendly competition.

In a radio interview over PIA Bicol’s Aramon Ta Daw, last Tuesday, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Maria Luisa Samaniego said that DepEd Albay is all set with the preparation for the sports meet.

Despite the announcement, Samaniego stated that they are still following up the ciritcal aspects of preparations like billeting, water supply and electricity especially in the quarters of the delegations.

So far, five days before the meet or starting February 8, some participants from Masbate have arrived. Today almost all of the delegations are now in their quarters, except for Iriga and Legazpi Cities groups who are expected tomorrow, Saturday.

Albay has the biggest group with 819 while Tabaco City has the least number with 200.

The number of delegations per province is, Albay, 819; Camarines Norte, 652; Camarines Sur, 655; Catanduanes, 509; Masbate, 500; Sorsogon, 419.

Among the cities Naga has the highest number of participants with 500, Iriga, 335; Legazpi, 450; Ligao, 284; Masbate, 400; Sorsogon, 247; and Tabaco 200.

Each of the delegation has their quarters in different schools located in four municipalities. Albay is billeted in Marcial O. Rañola Memorial School (MORMS) in Guinobatan; Camarines Norte in Daraga North Central School; Camarines Sur in Daraga National High School, Catanduanes at Guinobatan West Central School; Masbate Province at Camalig South Central School and nearby Ilawod High School while Sorsogon Province’s quarters is Camalig North Central School.

Iriga City is in Cabangan Elementary School, Camalig; Legazpi at Binogsacan Elementary School, Ligao City; Ligao City in Ligao; Masbate City in Malabog National High School, Daraga; Naga City in Guinobatan East Central School; Sorsogon City at Project Impact in Malabog, Daraga; and Tabaco City at Ligao East Central School.

The five-day actual sports competition to start February 14 until 18 will be held in 18 different venues.

Athletics, Baseball, Basketball, Volleyball, and Swimming will be played at Albay Provincial Sports Center, Travesia, Guinobatan; Arnis and Sepak Takraw at MORMS, Guinobatan; Archery and Table Tennis at Camalig South Central School; Football and Softball at Bicol University, Legazpi City;

Badminton at Albay Astrodome, Legazpi City; Boxing in Daraga Covered Court; Chess at People’s Hall, Albay Provincial Capitol, Legazpi City; Gymnastics, Ligao City Gym; Sipa at Republic Colleges, Guinobatan; Taekwando at Arandurugan Hall near the Guinobatan Municipal Building; and Tennis at Camalig Tennis Court.

The grand opening is on Sunday February 13 at 1 in the afternoon. Prior to the opening, a solidarity meeting will take place 9 in the morning at the Albay Astrodome.

The parade of delegation on opening day will have the marshall, colors, and Embaracdero’s E-jeepney at the forefront followed by DepEd officials and guests.

The order of the parade per delegation is Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Iriga City, Tabaco City, Ligao City, Sorsogon Province, Sorsogon City, Catanduanes, Masbate Province, Masbate City and last is Albay followed by officiating officials and the Mr. and Ms. Palaro Albay.

To accompany each delegation are different school drum and lyre corps of MORMS, Travesia Elementary School, Guinobatan West Central School, Libod Elementary School, Camalig North Central School, Camalig South Central School, Pioduran East Central School and Don Jose Pavia Central School of Pioduran; plus the Clusters A, B and C Teachers Drum and Lyre Corps.

Preceding the closing ceremony on February 19 is the selection of athletes who will represent the Bicol region in the national Palarong Pambansa.

Meantime, Governor Salceda is planning to bid towards the hosting of Palarong Pambansa 2012. (PIA V/Albay)

PDEA aims a drug free Bicol in 2 years
by Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Bicol regional office here is eyeing to clear the region of the illegal drug menace in two years by implementing a no nonsense anti drug abuse campaign in the region.

Brig. Gen. Retired Pedrito Magsino, PDEA Bicol regional director, said that in the next two years they will intensify their campaign against the illegal drug trade with the active participation of the five pillars of the justice system which includes foremost the community, the police, the prosecution, the Judiciary, the penology and with other stakeholders.

Magsino pointed out that the campaign was further strengthened when local government officials were task under memorandum circular of No. 2009 dated January 29,2009 issued by then Department of interior and Local Government (GILG) Ronaldo V. Puno, to undertake a unified action against illegal drugs by directing mandatorily all local government units to provide in their annual budget of substantial appropriation that can adequately assist in or enhance the enforcement of RA 9165 otherwise known as an Act Instituting the comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act .

Failure to include such budget according to Magsino is a ground for the disapproval of said budget and shall subject the responsible local government officials to possible administrative charge of dereliction of duty.

It also directs all local government units from the provincial, city, municipal and barangays to activate their respective Anti drug abuse councils and initiate dialogues and symposia with school authorities and students, owners and employees of business establishments, government officials and employees and the general public.

He said PDEAs partnership with the local government officials is crucial to the attainment of a drug free Bicol in the next two year he cited as an example that in Naga City the City government headed by Mayor John Bongat has initiated the creation of a local drug abuse council as a first step towards licking the illegal drug trade in city. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

NPA members in Catanduanes down by 42% - 83rd IB
by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The 83rd Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army detailed in the island province of Catanduanes reported that the number of New People’s Army (NPA) members has decrease.

The account was made by the battalion’s commanding officer Lt. Col. Danilo Aquino in last week’s PIA radio program Aramon Ta Daw.

According to Aquino, from the 45 armed regulars there are now 26 NPA members in the province.
The decrease according to Aquino was due to the combat operations and civil military operation (CMO) actions conducted during the past year.

These combat operations, CMO activities and community development efforts also earned for the two-year old battalion the best battalion award not only in the division level but the national competition as well.

Likewise, Aquino was named as the best battalion commander in Bicol and the entire Philippine Army.
The awarding for the division level was done last January at the 9th Infantry Division headquarters in Camp Elias Angeles, Pili, Camarines Sur.

Meantime, the national awards will take place next month during the anniversary of the Philippine Army. (PIA V/Albay)

Sorsogon banners tourism this 2011
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – “Tourism has never been this good in the province of Sorsogon. Donsol has indeed opened a very wide avenue for our province. The whaleshark interaction activity in Donsol is a phenomenon. That as we have seen, Donsol, from a fourth class local government unit has zoomed into a first class municipality in terms of its economy, now it is globally known as one of the best eco-tourism destinations.”, Cris Racelis, the newly appointed Provincial Tourism Officer, designate, explained during the tree-day Conference on Community Based Rural Tourism (CCBRT) held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center, Subic Bay Freeport last January 12-14, 2011.

“It is too heartwarming that during the three-day CCBRT activity, I was given the chance to present the tourism destinations of our province. I have also interfaced with almost all of the tourism personalities from several countries whose prime economic come on is tourism. I have listened to all the experts on tourism development, have known the current tourism trends, the prevailing issues, challenges and opportunities. I was awed by the different tourism destinations of the different countries shown through video presentation but also felt proud that Sorsogon province and the video document I have presented was well received and appreciated,” Racelis beamingly explained.

The three-day conference was conducted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) attended by six hundred forty nine (649) participants composed of tourism officers, elected officials, government department heads, academe, private sectors and civil society organizations, where thirty nine (39 participants are from the Bicol region and three (3) from Sorsogon – Cristina J. Racelis, Manro Jayco of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and management Council (PDRRMC) and Philip Bartilet, president of Aggrupation of Advocates for Environment Protection (AGAP) Bulusan, Inc.

DOT Secretary Alberto Lim served as the keynote speaker expounding on the topic: “The Role of DOT in Developing Rural Tourism”.

In the conference, Mr. Joselito Bernardo, the director of Agriculture Department of APO Japan, presented the Framework for the Development of Community-Based Rural Tourism and Successful Models of CBRT in Asia. Mr. Rajenda Narsingh Suwal from Nepal shared on the Sustainable Development and Management of Natural Resource Endowments in Rural Areas for Recreational and Adventure Tourism.

“My being the Provincial Tourism Officer Designate now is a very challenging role that I accept wholeheartedly and I hope to do my bestaccording to what is expected of me. Governor Raul R. Lee, in our dialog after I presented to him the excerpts from the three-day conference I attended has instructed me to submit the one-year development plan for our province and series of consultations will be done as he has commissioned tourism consultants and experts who will conduct research, help the province lay-out the provincial tourism master plan to include marketing and advertisement. In our initial talks, Gov. Lee expressed that tourism will be his banner program this 2011 and onwards,” Racelis further explained.

“I am sending several personnel to attend meetings, conferences and undergo capability enhancement on tourism development. In fact, we have now the Sorsogon Ecotourism Code that will serve as our guide in our province. Sharing our attractions, destinations and focusing on Community-Based Rural Tourism will provide our people in the grassroots communities an awareness to take pride on what nature has provided them and see it as a marketable potential for livelihood,” Lee said..

“In fact, I have produced through “Himig Kapitolyo”, our local singing group composed of employees from the provincial government, singing selected songs from pop, ballad and love songs with video clips of the different tourism destinations of every municipality. This will be distributed on waiting areas in airports, seaports and other places where tourists can view what we offer. After all, Sorsogon is still unexplored. To tourists, this is our best offer, a well-spring of natural resource,” Gov. Lee stressed. (PIA Sorsogon)

Two Cat’nes towns to benefit from Norwegian Mission

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA)- Two towns in the province of Catanduanes has been selected by the Norwegian Mission Alliance Philippines as pilot project for children and youth.

The municipality of San Andres and Caramoran picked by the said alliance under the Child-Youth Centered Community Development Program (3CYDP) is the flagship program of the alliance in the Philippines. It focuses on holistic Development of the Children and the Youth based on its understanding of the ‘whole child’.

The program has five components and strategies namely: Community Organization, Health, Education, Livelihood and Church Partnership. The NMA also aims to help the poor, disabled and neglected groups and those who are discriminated against and those who do not receive community care.

They want to give these sectors the opportunity to develop their abilities and resources both spiritually and socially so that they can take responsibility for their own and their family’s lives and demonstrate care for their fellow human being. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)

Virac peace and order council to convene on Feb 14

VIRAC, Catanduanes- The municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) of Virac is set to assemble on February 14, 2011 at 01:00 p.m. at the Office of the Municipal Mayor.

The agenda of the assembly is to discuss and arrive at a common ground on the following agenda: Presentation and Approval of the Integrated Area Community Public Safety Plan for 2011; Proposed Construction of the Philippine National Police Sub Station at the Catanduanes State Colleges Compound, Virac, Catanduanes.

Expected to attend are the members of the MPOC chaired by Virac Mayor Jose U. Alberto II; Vice Mayor Roy V. Laynes; SB member, Higino Sorra; Provincial Prosecutor, Atty. Eugene L. Anion; Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, Josefina T. Ramirez; Virac PNP Chief P/Insp., Alvin L. Gruba; Diocese of Virac Bishop, Manolo A. De los Santos;

Arlene O. Bagadiong of Radyo ng Bayan Virac; representative of the Business Sector, Antonio Kiong; Municipal Planning and Development Officer, Urgel A. Santelices; Municipal Accountant, Lilian T. Baloloy; Municipal Budget Officer, Henry Quinones; Municipal Treasurer, Felipe C. Guerrero; and Rural Health Unit of Virac Representative, Merly M. Ygusguiza. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)

NSO Catanduanes, now offers BREQS

VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA)- The National Statistics Office (NSO) Catanduanes Provincial Office is now offering to the public a new system in granting request for copies of civil registry documents through Batch Request System (BREQS) with lesser cost and shorter processing time.

Under this scheme clients may now secure their copies of civil registry documents at NSO Provincial Office effective February 01, 2011 without the usual requirement of first securing postal money order, mailing stamps and other requirements before one could accomplish an application form.

A valid ID of the client should be presented to the officer of the day for screening and accomplish the application form. The office on its part upon completing a batch of 30 requests, transmits the transaction to CRS-Legaspi outlet through internet, deposit the corresponding fees to a designated NSO account with the local Land Bank branch after which NSO central office upon receipt of the notice of payment, advises the Legaspi CRS-outlet for the printing of the requested documents/ and transmits the same to NSO provincial office via fastest means where clients could pick-up the same.

The whole process could take only five (5) working days.

Documents available under this scheme are copies of birth, death, marriage, certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR) records, with the following fees rate: two hundred thirty (P235.00) pesos for CENOMAR; one hundred eighty (P180) pesos for the other documents.

Purpose of this system is for the office to find ways of serving the constituents in a more convenient way in a more affordable manner and continues to look for innovations in offering better service to people. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)

PNP Bicol intel operatives nab syndicate members
by Lizel S. Macatangay

GOA, Camarines Sur, (PIA) — After thorough investigation and monitoring, the composite team lead by operatives of the PNP RO5 Intelligence Division and PNP Camarines Sur in coordination with PNP Goa successfully captured Ferdinand Borromeo and Jose Tijanes, suspected members of the fake paper bill syndicate operating in the province.

The suspects, ages 31 and 48 respectively and residents of Catagbacan, Goa, Camarines Sur were immediately brought to Goa PNP for further questioning after operatives was able to seize more than 50 pieces of counterfeit paper bills in their possession.

The paper bills with a Php20 and Php500 denomination were ready for distribution when the authorities, upon receiving a tip from a reliable informant, rushed to the scene and arrested the suspects.

Police investigators said that Borromeo is a computer science teacher at the Phillipine Science High School located at Brgy. Catabgacan, Goa, Camarines Sur.

In an interview, P/Supt. Jess Martirez, Deputy Provincial Director of PNP Camarines Sur said that the suspects had been the subject of their surveillance for the past years, having received tips from informants that the latter are manufacturing fake paper bills. The entrapment operation was immediately enforced after they found enough evidence to arrest the suspects.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Branch Manager Danny Calumag commended the authorities for their accomplishment in putting the suspects behind bars. He said that this could also serve as a deterrent for other elements who are thinking of tampering our paper bills.

Charges of illegal possession of counterfeit bills and use of fraud treasury now await the suspects. (PIA Camarines Sur)

DENR 5 vows strict implementation of moratorium on logging

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has assured the public of strict imposition of the Executive Order (EO) 23 issued by President Aquino that upheld the moratorium on tree cutting in natural and residual forest.

“We will see to it that every field office will abide by the EO and monitor rigorously activities in identified natural forest in the region,” assured DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada.

Fragada said that in Bicol Region illegal logging/tree cutting operation is insignificant since there are no Industrial Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) holders.

The last known logging contract in Bicol was cancelled during the seventies.

On the issue of unscrupulous illegal tree cutters, Fragada stressed that these violators will be meted with fines and penalty as provided by the law.

He warned local tree cutters and “mag-uuling” to steer clear of these illegal activities specifically cutting down mangroves and using it for their charcoal selling business.

“The DENR believes that EO 23 will provide a good balance of forest for perpetuity by shifting timber harvesting in tree plantations only” the director added.

Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje earlier explained that with the EO, timber extraction has now become a purely “what-you-plant-is-what-you-cut enterprise” especially for the 145 holders of the 25-year IFMA, which cover 1.02 million hectares of forestlands.

Paje also downplayed the impact which EO 23 might have on the local wood supply, noting that by expanding the harvesting operations in tree plantations can very well fill up for wood sourced from natural forests, which account for some 108,000 cubic meters annually.

According to Paje EO 23 has elevated forest protection as major activity of the state’s armed apparatus, namely the Armed forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), citing section 3 of the order which specifically orders the two to play a major roles in the creation of anti-illegal logging task force. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA Albay/mal)

Comelec preparing for ARMM polls- Brillantes
by Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Commission on Election (Comelec) Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. said today during a press conference that the Commission will continue to prepare for the scheduled August, 2011 ARMM elections until such time that congress pass the necessary legislation to delay it to 2013.

Brillantes said that they are aware of the call of President Benigo S. Aquino III for the rescheduling of the ARRM elections to 2013 but since there is still no new law postponing the elections we have to proceed on the preparations.

The Comelec Chair also said that the ARRM polls will be automated and it is possible that they might use the Smartmatic PCOS machines unless a new company wins the bid to provide the automated poll machines.

He also said that the 2013 elections will also be automated.

Brillantes arrived in Legazpi today for the blessing and inauguration of the P29 million new Comelec regional office here located at the regional center cite in Barangay Rawis this city.

The Comelec Bicol regional office building is the only Comelec owned building in the country. It is a two story building with a floor area of 1,986 square meters including the concrete roof top, according Zacarias Zaragoza, the Comelec Bicol director.

The chairman was accompanied by the Comelec regional directors from the different regions of the country and other high officials of Comelec Central office.

Zaragoza said the chairman will hold a conference with the regional directors and the regional, provincial and municipal employees of Comelec in Bicol.

Zaragoza disclosed that election of the new set of officers of Comelec Regional Election Directors Organization (CREDO), where he is currently the president, will also be held today . (EdLeon, PIA V/Albay)

Sorsogon to institute protocols on marine mammals stranding response
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) — It is now time that the public should be informed on the right protocols to be observed by local government officials in the proper handling of stranded marine mammals and how fast emergency stranding response can be instituted.

This was declared by Dr. Enrique Espiritu, Sorsogon veterinary officer in an interview after providing emergency first response assistance to the 300 kg Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)found last week at the municipal waters of Matnog.

The dolphin,now considered as rare species,was also released upon the recommendation of Dr. Espiritu.
The composite team who handled the release were Mayor Emilio Ubaldo of Matnog, Noni Enolba of the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources RO5, Gil Ramos of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) Fishery Section, Elvira Pantone, municipal agriculture officer of Matnog and Dr. Espirirtu.

Sorsogon, situated at the southern most tip of Luzon is surrounded by two big bodies of water from the western side the Pacific Ocean and from the eastern side the China Sea. It has now a series of marine mammals stranding reports and records from whalesharks, dolphins and tortoise according to Espiritu.

Dr. Espiritu has been trained in October 2010 on the medical aspects of the marine mammal stranding emergency response protocols and now is part of the Philippine Marine Mammal Stranding Network who can respond immediately to such kind of calls and provide immediate assessment of the situation of the marine mammal.

"With the frequent cases of marine mammals stranding recorded here in the province, a training for marine mammals stranding emergency response should be conducted specially to local officials, municipal agriculture officers and personnel from the ofice of the provincial agriculture fishery sector.Through this awareness by key persons responsible on how to handle such cases will observe the right protocols and can assure continuous conservation and preservation of our marine biodiersity.", Espiritu said.

The Philippines accoding to the scientific data recorded by the Philippine Marine Mammal Network is home to 26 species of whales and dolphins.

Sorsogon stands out as a province in the conduct of the study since it is home to the famous whaleshark (Rhincodon typus) locally known as "Butanding' and is now considered one of the best ecotourism attractions globally.

"It is high time that our public officials and agencies involved in the protection and conservation of our marine mammals and the public as well be well-aware on their roles and functions in saving our rich marine resource.Institutionalizing the right protocols on how we can immediately respond and address cases of marine mammals stranded in our province is an answer too, to mitigation and adaptation since marine mammals are great indicators on the effect of climate change.", Espiritu stressed. (PIA Sorsogon)

Senator says don't drag PMA to corruption controversy

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) --There is no basis to drag the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) into the corruption scandal hounding the former top brass of the Armed Forces and abolish the country’s premier military school.

In an email to PIA Bicol News Service, Sen. Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Defense and Security, has defended the PMA amid proposals to close down the academy, whose products include former generals who now are being accused of pocketing hundreds of millions in military funds while in office.

“That there are few rotten eggs is no reason to abolish the institution that produced them. No institution is perfect. Otherwise, the same argument can be raised against other educational institutions that produced some bad eggs”, Escudero said.

The senator, however, acknowledged the need to review PMA’s policies and programs not only to strengthen ethical training but to make its academic standards comparable with the military schools overseas.

“The reforms should not only focus on moral and ethical training but should also include academic performance that would enable the academy’s graduates to be at par with the world’s best given that it is primarily an educational institution. It shouldn’t be called Asia’s premier military academy for nothing,” Escudero explained. (MALoterte/PIA Albay)