NEW COMELEC BUILDING IN BICOL COMPLETED
…A first for Comelec in the country
by Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – State of the art facilities for officials and employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bicol, and more efficient service await clientele of the commission following the blessing and inauguration of its new office building at the Regional Government Site in Barangay Rawis here.

Atty. Zacarias Zaragosa, Comelec Bicol regional director, said that the new regional office edifice is the first in the country owned by the commission, while others in the different parts of the country are being rented or leased.

Comelec chair Atty. Sixto Brillantes, who was also in this city last Feb. 10 gracing the national conference and election of officers of Comelec regional directors in the country, led the opening rites for the building.

Zaragosa said the new office building was beautifully planned and skillfully constructed that may even soon become one of the landmarks in this city or in the province.

“It was constructed in accordance with the modern construction engineering standards that it can last and serve up to 100 years. It is typhoon proof and an earthquake-resilient building,” he remarked.

The two story building covers an area of 1,986 square meters, including the concrete roof top, and costs some P29 million.

Zaragosa furthered that the completion of the new office edifice was achieved through the collaboration of the commission, DPWH District II in Albay, and assistance of office of Rep. Rolando Andaya of Camarines Sur I District, who since 2002 has helped the commission in pursuing a Comelec-owned regional office.

The regional director also said the same office building will now house the offices of the regional director, assistant regional director, Albay provincial election supervisor and city election supervisor of the commission.

Zaragosa also noted that with the automation of the elections in the country, the commission is looking forward of equipping the regional office here with modern communication facilities, including satellite antenna to link with the national headquarters for the easy transmission and reception of data and information. (PIA V/Albay)

DENR TO PRODUCE BIGGER GEOHAZARD MAPS FOR FLOOD- AND LANDSLIDE-PRONE AREAS

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) —The densification of geohazard and climate change maps is among the major projects to be implemented this year by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Environment Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said the densification project is aimed to produce geohazard maps with scale of 1:10,000 covering critical areas to show more details of the area covered by the map.

“The production of a 1:10,000-scale geohazard map is like zooming in the 1:50,000 map until we see the details of the area which cannot be represented in the 1:50,000-scale geohazard maps,” Paje said.

Among the details that can be found in a 1:10,000-scale geohazard map include parameters or features in the area that may affect ground stability and the type of landslides that can possibly occur in the area.
“With the 1:10,000 map, the relocation sites can also be plotted, which we cannot be done in the 1:50,000-scale maps,” Paje said.

Priority in the densification project will be maps of provinces located in the eastern seaboard, according to him. These include the provinces of Quirino, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Cagayan in Region 2; Aurora, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Zambales and Bataan in Region 3; Quezon, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and Cavite in Region 4A; Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate in Region 5; Southern Leyte, Northern Leyte, Biliran and Samar Island in Region 8; Compostela Valley in Region 11; and Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur in CARAGA region.

Paje also said that under the project, the MGB will also conduct coastal geohazard assessment and the mapping of 97 priority coastal municipalities and cities at a scale 1:10,000 in Iloilo, Aklan, La Union, Northern Samar, Cebu and Negros Oriental.

The geohazard maps will then be distributed to concerned local government units, said Paje, with intensive information and education support and training of not only local officials but also local leaders and members of affected communities. (DENR-MGB V/PIA Albay/mal)

DENR-EMB AND EDC-BACMAN LAUNCH 2011 “PATARAMISAN SAGKUD PADARAKULAAN”

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA)—The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Energy Development Corporation (EDC)-Bacon-Manito (BacMan) Geothermal Power Plant Project open the first “Pataramisan sagkud Padarakulaan”, a competition for the sweetest and largest gumihan and baligang fruits in Bicol.

The contest proper will be held on June 1, 2011 at the Pacific Mall Atrium here and is open to government and private agencies as well as plantation and nursery owners of the said trees within the Bicol.

Interested individuals and groups may submit their fruit entries with the Entry Form to the contest secretariat on the day of the contest proper, from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Half-ripe and fully ripe gumihan fruit entries will be accepted, on the other hand, baligang entries must be fully ripened. The fruit entries will be selected based on factors such as smell, color, size of seeds with pulp, taste (sweetness), and physical condition. Each fruit entry will be purchased by the contest committee at P50.00 per piece for gumihan and P300 for 5 kilos of baligang.

Winners will receive cash prizes as follows: first prize, P15,000, second prize, P10,000, third prize, P5,000. Ten consolation prizes will also be given at P1,000 each.

The seeds of the fruits consumed on the contest proper will be turned over to EDC-BacMan to have the seedlings propagated at the watershed of BacMan Geothermal Power Plant Complex. This is to ensure the reproduction of the said fruits and sustain the food chain of fruit bats and other faunas in the area.

With gumihan and baligang enlisted as endangered fruit trees, “Pataramisan sagkud Padarakulaan” aims to call for the preservation of the said trees. Moreover, the contest purports to address environmental and health issues such as deforestation, climate change and malnutrition, to name a few.

Gumihan and baligang are endemic fruit-bearing trees in the region. These trees bear fruit annually and ripen during May and June. Gumihan is similar to marang, a relative fruit found in Mindanao. Likewise, baligang is similar to its relative fruit duhat; however, the two vary in taste as baligang is sour and sweet while duhat tastes bitter.

Several Bicolanos know and have tasted the baligang fruit but most are still unfamiliar with gumihan. In Visayas, Mindanao and even in the northernmost part of Luzon, the fruits are seldom found and are not known to be edible.

EMB Bicol Regional Director and Chairman of the BacMan Geothermal Multi-Partite Monitoring Team Fernando Quililan hopes that the contest will generate interest among Bicolanos in the preservation, protection and propagation of the fruits.

“With their extensive presence in our region, we can adopt gumihan and baligang as our [regional] landmark fruits,” Director Quililan said. “We can even rival the Durian and Lanzones Festivals of Davao and Camiguin provinces with our very own Gumihan and Baligang Festival.”

DENR, EMB and EDC-BacMan collaborated with the Provincial Governments of Albay and Sorsogon as well as with Albay Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) to implement said contest. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA Albay/mal)

PEACE BID IN MASBATE GET USAID BACKING
by Ernie Delgado

MASBATE CITY, (PIA) — Efforts of a group calling itself Masbate Advocates for Peace (MAP) appear to have borne fruit with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) committing to assist MAP in breaking the cycle of violence involving political groups that have been trying to control Masbate.

MAP’s leading members include municipal trial court judge Igmedio Emilio F. Camposano and Catholic priest Leo Casas on Wednesday met with USAID chief for elections and political processes Michael Henning; Gerry Porteza, senior USAID domestic manager; and Cleo Calimbahin of La Salle University’s political science department.

During the meeting, Camposano and Casas received word that the American donor agency would be “ready to forge a strong partnership with MAP for achieving peace and development.”

Henning said the last two electoral exercises were “undeniable” proofs of what MAP could accomplish, and USAID recognizes that by throwing its support to the peace and development advocacy of the group.
Henning said that from USAID’s own assessment, the two elections were largely peaceful and a repeat of the bloodshed that characterized the previous elections was averted.

MAP groups professionals, businessmen, journalists and church workers who amplify the clamor for cessation of murders in the province.

Local newspaper archives show MAP drummed up support to its campaign for peaceful election in May through various projects, including candidates’ forums and covenants for clean elections.

Another MAP project, a walk for peace, apparently strengthened cooperation between the police and military on one hand, and civilian population on the other, in the fight against the terror campaign by some political groups.

With MAP on its side, a special task force manned by police commandos and soldiers did a lot of saber-rattling and succeeded in putting most of the armed goons out of action.

Nearly all of the rogues in the police and military—men in uniform who used moonlight as goon commanders—were also immobilized.

Listed as among the country’s poorest provinces, Masbate has witnessed the deadly feud between two feuding families to control the provincial government.

Henning also doffed his hat to MAP members for risking their lives and expecting nothing in return, citing the case of Casas who news reports said was unfazed by death threats he received after leading the walk for peace.

On the other hand, MAP members assured Henning’s group that MAP would neither retreat nor stop until the warring political groups buried the hatchet and started working together for the good of the province. (PIA Masbate)

PDEA, POLICE NAB SUSPECTED SHABU PUSHER
by Ernie a. Delgado

MASBATE CITY (PIA)—Anti-narcotics operatives arrested a 38-year-old man who drives a passenger van for allegedly selling and keeping several sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in his house.

The team leader, Police Inspector Reynulfo Glodovista, identified the suspect as Orlando B. Alvarez, owner-driver of a passenger van that plies the Masbate city—Mandaon town route.

Glodovista said Alvarez was arrested in a raid on his home on Bagong Sirang st. last Wednesday by virtue of a search warrant issued by Masbate Executive Judge Maximino R. Ables. Teams from the Masbate City Police, Provincial Police Office and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency confiscated from the suspect five sachets of shabu and various paraphernalia said to be used in selling and taking shabu.

Intelligence sources said the raid was undertaken after information relayed to their office by a tipster who claimed Alvarez was the source of shabu sold in the area.

Glodovista said his unit conducted surveillance on the van driver before they carried out the operation.

Alvarez denied involvement in the trafficking of shabu. (PIA Masbate)

CSC EXEC: DRUG TEST A MUST FOR APPLICANTS

MASBATE CITY (PIA)—A drug test has been made part of the requirements for applicants to a job in government, according to the office here of Civil Service Commission.

CSC Provincial Director Andronico D. Lanuza said the drug testing of applicants was decreed as mandatory by the guidelines for the prevention and control of drugs in the workplace.

Lanuza said the guidelines also require all agencies to support the “Drug-free Workplace Program” and provide education and training to their officials and employees on combating the drug menace.

In addition, agencies are also directed to conduct various activities that would induce their employees to lead a healthy lifestyle, he said.

Officials and employees who are into drugs are unfit in the civil service and they would be fired once their drug habit was established in an administrative hearing, Lanuza added. (EADelgado, PIA Masbate)

MGB EMBARKS ON MORE DETAILED HAZARD MAPPING
FOR DISASTER-PRONE AREAS
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Even if the Bicol Mines and Geosciences Bureau has finished the geohazard mapping of all municipalities and cities in Bicol, it has now embarked on a more detailed mapping or densification set at 1:10,000 scale.

Engr. Arlene Dayao, head of Geology Division explained in last week’s broadcast of PIA’s Aramon Ta Daw two-hour radio program that the new geohazard maps when finished will give a detailed picture than the 1:50,000 or medium scale hazard map that MGB has completed for the 7 cities and 104 towns of Bicol.

These hazard maps show the geological threats such as landslide, sink hole, flooding based on survey conducted.

MGB has been distributing these maps to barangays along with capacity building activities for its officials to provide awareness on the dangers in their village and what to do when such risk is most likely to occur.

Meantime, the new hazard mapping will cover nine areas in the region except Naga City which has undergone such project under the P2.5 million United Nations Development Programme grant, a couple of years back.

According to Dayao this new geological risk mapping is a commitment made by MGB to President Benigno S. Aquino III during his January 14 Legazpi visit.

Likewise, per the office commitment to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Ramon Paje, the hazard mapping will initially cover at least eight areas in Bicol.

These are the cities of Legazpi, Iriga and Sorsogon and the towns of Caramoran, Gigmoto, San Miguel and Virac in the province of Catanduanes; and Daet, Camarines Norte.

Other areas in the country will also undergo such mapping, added Dayao. MGB has prioritized 29 provinces located in the eastern seaboard for densification. These places are prone to flooding and landslides induced by rains.

The 1:10,000 scale geo-hazard map resembles the zooming in of the existing 1:50,000 map where details like ground stability, type of landslide that can possibly occur, or relocation sites can be plotted are represented

Meantime Dayao said that MGB has recommended the relocation of residents of Malobago and Manumbalay in Manito, Albay and in some areas of Barangays Calaguimit, Casinagan, Camagong and Badian in Oas town.

She also advised inhabitants of high risk areas to watch out for cracks on mountain side or those which have experienced landslides in the past to be on guard especially if rains go on continuously for three days. Mentioned areas were Sibaguan, Sagñay, Camarines Sur; Inalmasinan, Guiamlong, in Caramoran, Catanduanes; Burabod, Libon, Albay; Nagas, Cagmanaba, Maramba, Tapel, Bogtong, and Moroponros in Oas, Albay.

In another update, Engr. Ben Dayao, chief of Mining Environment and Safety Division said that based on their investigation, the cause of death of a Chinese National who died in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur mining site last month was due to accident not landslide. (PIA V/Albay)

SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY SCHOOLS ON

Legazpi City—The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has invited schools and universities in the region to join as the 2011 Regional Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools continues.

The contest is open to academic institutions in the elementary, secondary and tertiary levels and aims to encourage academic institutions to become more actively involved in environmental issues at practical and local levels.

Furthermore, the contest aims to develop skills and understanding in initiating active responses and increasing community awareness and participation on environmental concerns among students, faculty and school administrators. With the search, environmental initiatives and other multi-faceted programs of the schools are also recognized.

The participating schools will be selected based on the following criteria: Environment-related aspects of the school’s policy (20 points), Environmental dimensions of school operations (30 points), Environmental-related features of the school curriculum (30 points), Presence of vibrant eco-organizations in campus (10 points), and Presence of environmental partners and linkages in various programs/projects (10 points).

Interested schools may submit their official contest entry forms and supporting documents in both printed and digital copies on or before April 29, 2011. Schools in the elementary and high school categories must submit their entries to the Department of Education (DepEd) Division Office while schools in the college category may submit their entries directly to the EMB Regional Office.

One school will be selected as regional finalist. Each finalist will be awarded a Certificate of Recognition as well as a prize of P10,000 in cheque. The finalists will also compete in the National Search which will be held in Manila.

The Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools is a partnership program among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and SMART Communications Inc. The said agencies will also handle the screening and actual assessment of the participating schools.

For inquiries, kindly visit the EMB V Regional Office at the Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City, or call (052) 482-0197 or visit our website www.sustainableschools.ph. (DENR V/PIA Albay/mal)

NAGA CITY A RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL GAPAS AWARD
OF THE DSWD

LEGAZPI CITY — The Naga City Government was vested as Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) Award for the Best LGU Implementing Day Care Service last January 26, 2011 during the DSWD 60th Anniversary Foundation held at the DSWD Central Office.

A trophy and a cash prize of P50,000 was awarded by Sec. Corazon Juliano Soliman to Naga City Mayor John Bongat. With Mayor Bongat were CSWDO Jim Reblando, Elsie Romano, EduCare Supervisor and Director Remia Tapispisan. Secretary Soliman was assisted by Undersecretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco and Asst. Secretary Vilma Cabrera.

The implementation of the Day Care Service through the Naga City’s EduCare Program came about in the early 90’s when the city government recognized the need for the provision of daily care as a substitute for mothering children ages 3 to 6 years old. The program which was initiated by then Mayor Jesse Robredo, now the DILE Secretary was actually designed for working mother who has difficulty to attend to their job while being mom to their young children.

Mr. Jim Reblando bared that the EduCare Service aims to provide pre-school quality education for the poor. It also provides for the greater involvement of parents and other family members by giving them opportunity to know and appreciate their children’s need and how to satisfy them.

The EduCare Program is now a pride and a best practice in Naga City. It is now known locally and internationally through its dedicated and committed teachers who are highly trained using the Montessori and the ECCD Approach.

Through the effective implementation of the program, Naga City has received prestigious awards and recognition as follows:

• Naga Early Education and Development (NEED) Program
“Galing Pook” Trailblazing Award, 1996
• Runner-up, Most Child-Friendly Component Cities, 2003
• Naga Early Education and Development (NEED) Program
“Continuing Excellence Award, 2003
• National Winner, Most Child-Friendly Highly Urbanized Cities, 2006
• National Winner and Hall of Famer, Most Child-Friendly Independent Chartered Cities, 2008.
(EEJerusalem, DSWD/PIA Albay/mal))


DOST-ITDI ANNOUNCES TRAINING COURSE OFFERINGS FOR CY 2011

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Science and Technology-Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) would like to announce its Training Course Offerings for CY 2011 to be held at ITDI, DOST Compound, Bicutan, Taguig City.

Hereunder are the schedules and fees:

First Quarter

1) Formulation of Liquid Detergent ad Fabric Conditioner (P2,750) - February 23-24, 2011
2) Calibration of Volumetric Wares (P3,600) – March 16-17, 2011
3) Introduction to Pressure Measurements and Calibration of Pressure Gauge (P2,900)
March 28-29, 2011

Second Quarter

1) Introduction to Mass Metrology (P1,600) – April 5, 2011
2) Calibration of Analytical/Precision Balances (P3,600) – April 6-7, 2011
3) Mango Processing (P3,700) – April 12-15, 2011
4) Mushroom Culture and Spawn Production (P3,400) – May 4-6, 2011
5) Specialty Soap (P3,000) – May 18-20, 2011
6) Business Plan for Starting Entrepreneurs (P4,000) – June 1-3, 2011
7) Integrated Root Crops Processing (P2,700) – June 22-23, 2011

Third Quarter

1) Calibration of Volumetric Wares (P3,600) – July 7-8, 2011
2) Fish Processing (P2,800) – July 27-28, 2011
3) Introduction to Mass Metrology (P1,600) – August 3, 2011
4) Calibration of Analytical/Precision Balances (P3,600) – August 4-5, 2011
5) Integrated Vegetable Processing (P2,800) – August 23-24, 2011
6) Determining the Shelf-Life of Foods (P1,600) – September 14, 2011
7) Calibration of Digital Multimeters (P2,200) – September 28, 2011

Fourth Quarter

1) Seminar on Food Additives (P1,600) – October 12, 2011
2) Herbal Processing (P2,900) – October 26-27, 2011
3) Introduction to Mass Metrology (P1,600) – November 9, 2011
4) Calibration of Analytical/Precision Balances (P3,600) – November 10-11, 2011
5) Production of Alternative Sugar (Fee to be announced)
November 23-24, 2011

Other Training Courses Offered Upon Request:

1) Accelerated Vinegar Production
2) Calibrating of Vemeir.Micrometer Calipers
3) Cleaner Production Assessment
4) Coconut Mini-Oil Milling and Refining
5) Energy Audit: An Effective Energy Management Tool for SMEs
6) Food Packaging and Package Design
7) GMP-HHCP Food Manufacturing
8) Plastic Waste Recycling and Processing
9) Thermal Processing of Food Production in Glass Jars
10) Production of Essential Oil
11) VCO-Based Personal Care Products
12) Verification of Fuel Dispenses (Diesel/Gasoline/LPG)
13) Verification of Price Computing Scales (digital balance)
14) Verification of Weighing Scales (Spring Scales)

DOST-ITDI invites participants who are entrepreneurs/would-be entrepreneurs and program
planners/implementers of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), local government units (LGUs), academe, national government agencies (NGAs), non-government/private organizations (NGOs/Pos) to attend the said training in line with business establishment and expansion in the region. For further details please visit or call DOST V, Rawis, Legazpi City at tel. nos. (052) 820-5385/5388 or ITDI, Bicutan, Taguig City at tel. nos. (02) 837-6156. (DOST-ITDI/POLucena, DOST V/PIA V/mal)