Chiz welcomes appointment of Oban as new AFP chief

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Sen. Francis Escudero welcomes the appointment of Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. as the new Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff.

In a press statement sent via email to PIA Bicol News Service, Escudero said, “I do not personally know Lt. Gen. Oban, but his appointment from among equally deserving list of men is a well needed transfusion to the country's armed troops whose morale dropped given previous allegations and exposes in the military by certain officers.”

“As a Filipino and as chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, I pose this challenge to our new COS: bring back the integrity and respect the Armed Forces of the Philippines deserves but may have been diminished during recent scandals brought about by some of its own men,” Escudero said.

“Lt. Gen. Oban comes at a critical time in the history of our Armed Forces. We want to see our new chief of staff rally the troops and raise their morale and standard once again as the country's guardians of democracy and Constitution,” he stressed.

Escudero is optimistic that the new COS can convey the right message and inspire the men in uniform not to be distracted by the landslide of corruption in the system by officers who took advantage of their positions.

“With all these scandals rocking the Armed Forces, I hope Lt. Gen. Oban would be able to insulate the institution from these few rotten officers who do not represent the entirety of the military,” he said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/MALoterte, PIA Albay)

Bicol celebrates International Women’s Day in Marcha Bikolana
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Bicolanas and women advocates will celebrate International Women’s Day through a women’s march dubbed Marcha Bikolana with Presidential Sister and Women’s Rights Advocate Victoria Eliza “Viel” Aquino-Dee as guest of honor.

The March 8 walk will converge three groups coming in from different points from the city to come together at the Albay Astrodome beside the Albay provincial capitol for the solidarity mass and program.

The first group from the Camp Gen. Simeon Ola will have 15 delegations, the cluster from the grand terminal is expected to be joined by 31 groups while an assemblage of 30 groupings will walk from the airport site.

The airport site group will be joined by Viel Aquino-Dee after she lands from the early morning flight at the Legazpi City airfield.

Said Marcha Bikolana will be participated in by government employees; local government units; academe; banking community; pro-women groups; like the PNP Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE); women’s organizations like the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) and the Catholic Women’s League (CWL); non-government organizations such as the Visayan Forum and the Pinoy Power Bicol Coalition of Volunteers (PPBCV), a gay-lesbian group GAYON.

Ms. Aquino-Dee confirmed her participation in the march, mass and as guest of honor during the program per Wednesday’s phone conversation with PPBCV president Ofelia Samar-Sy, M.D. and Bicol Interior Director Blandino Maceda, Ph.D.

As guest of honor, Ms. Aquino-Dee will deliver a discourse on women and lead the toast to the women of Bikol.

In same program, Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda will give a tribute to Bikolanas, Legazpi City mayor Geraldine Rosal the welcome message while lady city mayors Krisel Lamgna-Luistro of Tabaco, Linda Gonzalez of Ligao and Madeline Alfelor-Gazmen of Iriga will deliver messages as proof of women empowerment.

A presscon will immediately follow after the program with Ms. Aquino-Dee as guest. The media gathering is set at the people’s hall of the Albay capitol.

The celebration of International Women’s Day is among the activities lined-up for the celebration of Women’s Month this March.

The 2011 Women’s Month celebration is commemorated with the theme Magna Carta of Women, Philippine CEDAW: In support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The month-long celebration is led by the Regional Gender and Development Council (RGDC) headed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG0 and the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence of Women and Children (RIACAT-VAWC) led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

VIWAD bares plan for rehab on water transmission and distribution lines
By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) — In fulfilling the mandate of providing potable water to Virac service area, Virac Water District (VIWAD) at present is serving 6, 190 con cessionaires or about 37, 140 individuals in 26 barangays and 6 subdivisions and numerous public utilities and offices.

To sustain water supply, VIWAD is maintaining three water sources: three from surface water, one spring and two pumping stations. Each water source is equipped with electric dosing pump for water treatment.

Some VIWAD transmission and distribution pipeline have been in service for more than 40 years and requires frequent repairs and maintenance. Othe pipeline needs to be replaced including service connection lines which are embedded in concrete roads and sidewalks.

To cope with the growing demand for water, VIWAD has prepared programs to address the present and near future demand for water.

The program includes the Cawayan Parallel Transmission Lines which when completed would double the water production of Cawayan source from 30 to 60 lps. There is also the replacement of Padurog Transmission Line wherein the existing 250mm ACP transmission line will be replaced with a combination of steel and PVC lines. This will aslo allow Padurog to operate in its full capacity of 35 lps. Another one is the Sports Center Pump Station which is a submersible pump and will be built to serve as a back-up in an event that Padurog and Sibanjan source failed caused by typhoons and other calamities and the Replacement of Kawit, Sta. Elena and San Roque distribution line.

The said programs are expected to be impelemented in the coming months. (PIA/Catanduanes/mal)

Think Big 2011: 3rd Pili congress roadmap for development
By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) — The just concluded 3rd Pili Congress, spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in collaboration with the Office of Hon. Edcel C. Lagman of the 1st district of Albay, was indeed a rousing success with more than 800 attendees present coming from the different sectors of the pili industry not only from the Bicol Region but from other parts of the country interested in making the pili industry Bicol's prime export product.

The message by Secretary Proceso J. Alcala of the Department of Agriculture (DA) delivered by Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension DA-RFU 5 Marilyn Sta. Catalina, was an opener for pili industry stakeholders to be bullish in their prospects for a better chance of the pili as the sustainable product with global advange in the world market.

The current 2011 initiative of the DA to make the pili as the launchpad product under the high value crops for the Bicol Region for economic and environmental sustainability paves the raodmap direction for an increased development, enhancement and market potential for the pili.

Dir. Domingo I. Bagaporo Director, supervisor of the Monitoring Department, Board of Investments (BOI/DTI) said that the international potential market for pili and the incentive programs now given through the government funding institutions will create windows for opportunity to those pili business stakeholders needing current capitalization.

Secretary Alcala's message said that pilus being the best indigenous product of the region is just like the coconut that nothing goes to waste and various industrial and ecnomic product can be derived.It is considered as Bicol's tree of life that can propel development in the countryside.

The congress has served as a venue for opening opportunities where one can access capitalization and outsourcing.The inputs provided, concerns and issues raised will also guide the DA in its policy directions in providing incentives to those who are interested to venture and help the pili industry as Bicols export product.

The congress has also identified the potential areas for the pili plantation production in terms of idle lands where pili should be planted massively. Sorsogon alone has a total land area of 104,062 hectares identified that can be used for pili plantation

The congress has also achieved the areas for collaborations so that pili industry could adhere to the Philippine National Standards for Pili and Processed Products which is the basis for quality exports.

Congressman Lagman has now made pili as his locally funded project under his Development Fund Assistance Program (DFAP) from the House of Representatives.

Project proposals submitted for funding in the pili industry development will be coursed through the DA as part of the DA's Bicol Agribusiness undertaking this 2011. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)

Donsol also a breeding ground for Whale Shark-DOT
By Ed De Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Donsol town in Sorsogon province is now being considered not only a feeding ground but also a breeding ground of whale shark, locally known as butanding, after the discovery of a 15-inch-long live whale shark in the coastal waters of the town, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office here.

DOT Bicol Regional Director Maria “Nene” Ravanilla said the nature conservation group World Wide Fund-Philippines is conducting the study after the recent discovery of the baby whale shark accidentally caught in the area off the coast of Donsol.

She said that the smallest ever butanding was said to be a day-old whale shark hence it was given birth to in the area.

Butanding are also thriving in this once sleepy town because of the abundance of krill and other planktons usually in the diet of the diet of the gentle giants of the seas.

Ravanilla said that the whale shark interaction in Donsol, one of the most visited tourist spots in Bicol or perhaps in the whole country, continues to draw tourist to the province of Sorsogon last year which reached 101,799 or 21 percent higher than in 2009 with only 84,354.

She said that out of the total tourist arrivals last year 73,925 were local tourists while 27,874 were foreigners or a ratio of one foreign tourist per three locals.

She said Donsol is now vying to be a first class municipality after its gross receipts from tourism reached more than P66 million. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

Sangguniang Panglungsod of Legazpi approves Hospital Assistance Program

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- The Sangguniang Panglungsod of Legazpi City has approved Tuesday (Mar. 1) the ordinance on called Hospital Assistance Program (AHP) for Legazpi .

After its legislative approval, the ordinance is still waiting for the executive approval from Legazpi city mayor Geraldine Rosal and a review from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan before its implementation in the Legazpi.

According to Sangguniang Panglungsod secretary Irene del Rosario, the HAP will surely be approved since the ordinance was after all a priority program of Rosal herself.

The AHP aims to increase the accessibility of indigent residents of Legazpi to quality health services.

According to resolutions from the Sangguniang Panglungsod, the city government will be tying up with the Albay Doctors Hospital, Inc. (ADHI) to implement the HAP.

Based on committee reports prepared by the Sangguniang Panglungsod, only qualified indigent patients who are Phlihealth Para sa Masa (PPM) cardholders and duly referred by the Mayor or the City Health Officer can avail of the medical services of the HAP.

Under the ordinance, the City Social Welfare Development (CSWD) Officer is atsked to identify who among the 23,000 PPM cardholders can benefit from the HAP.

“Medical services under the HAP do not include Al.l surgical procedures, except in emergency life-threatening situations,” said del Rosario.

Del Rosario furthered that the ADHI will be reserving 10 hospital beds per day to accommodate patients covered by the HAP. (AGGahol, BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)

Conference on language and book launch promote Bicolano culture

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Albay province hosted two different major events last week promoting Bicolano’s culture and language.

The city government here, in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol and Legazpi City Museum and Library (LCML), hosted the Kabikolan Conference on Language and Education and the 6th Annual Book Harvest: Year of the Hare at the La Piazza Convention Center and Legazpi Museum here, respectively.

Dr. Regida N. Vibar, assistant chief of DepEd Bicol, said that Kabikolan Conference on Language and Education was carried out under DepEd Order No. 74 series of 2009 that institutionalizes the use of the mother language in republic schools. This order aims to disseminate the mother language by teaching the children in kindergarten using the Bicol language.

The conference was participated in by at least 500 delegates from the city government, Bicol University, and other delegates from Metro Manila.

Vibar said that this project does not actually deprive one person to learn other languages, rather helping him in organizing his thoughts to be understood by others.

Vibar furthered that this program will be implemented in June, in time for the 2011-2012 school year.

Similarly, LCML also launched the 6th Annual Book Harvest: Year of the Hare to promote Bicol’s culture and authors.

Museum Curator Darlito A. Perez Jr. said that almost 300 books written in Bicol or by Bicolano authors and books about the region were sold in the said event at low prices.

Also, famous authors like Elmer A. Ordonez of The Other View: Notes on Philippine Writing and Culture (1989); Ma. Lilia F. Realubit of the Ibalon: Ethnohistory of the Bikol Region (1983); and Luis Cabalquinto The Ibalon Collection (1991, Kalikasan Press) attended the event.

After launching the Bicol books, a poetry reading and singing of Bicol song were performed by ABKAT and one Arnold Logoc. (CABariso, BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)


Wage board holds convention on productivity

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Bicol held last week the ISTIV Bayanihan Convention to promote productivity awareness program which uses a full cycle training and consulting assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Raymon Escalante, information officer of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol, explained that ISTIV, which stands for I- industries, S- systematic, T- time consciousness, I- innovative and V is for strong value of work, aims to support the growth and enhance the productivity of Barangay Micro Entrepreneurs.

There are three components in this activity which are pre-training, training proper and post training.

Bayanihan strategies involve training consultancy, networking, referral, showcasing and promotion for stakeholders and businessmen.

ISTIV is one of the steps taken by the RTWPB to carry out their Labor Education Program. (JCMatociños, BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)

Bicol Run to build public schools; EDSA spirit rekindled
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Bicol’s celebration of the 25th EDSA I People Power anniversary reached its apex in the Bicol Run that showed the EDSA spirit whose goal is to build classrooms for the education department.

According to Pinoy Power Bicol Coalition of Volunteers (PPBCV) president Ofelia Samar-Sy, M.D., more than 15,000 participants, the highest number outside Metro Manila joined the early morning run.

Such enthusiasm was a positive answer to the call for a new people power, earning some P72,000 funds along the way, Sy disclosed.

Meantime, Sy commented that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has estimated the horde of runners under 20,000 individuals who filled the two-lane Rizal St. abreast infront of the Legazpi City Hall up to the Albay Cathedral winding to the western portion of Peñaranda Park.

This announcement was made during the Monday edition of PIA radio program Aramon Ta Daw.

Mae Paner a.k.a. Juana Change said during the opening program prior to the run, that Bicolanos are really oragon for possessing the EDSA spirit.

Also, National Youth Commissioner Leon Flores III stated that he was delighted to see the young joining the affair although they belong to the post-EDSA generation.

Department of Education (DepEd) Bicol acting regional director Orfelina O. Tuy gave the words of thanks as the education department will be beneficiary of the fund accrued from the run.

The enthusiastic crowd who either ran 5 km or the shorter 3 km converged a big group representing the government sector, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, local government units, academe, transport, banking community, civic organizations, business, young professionals, senior citizens and even “gay” organizations.

Other than that, these groups invited their family members including small children as young as a year-old like Jannir Palaganos who, according to the parents, was able to finish the 3 km jogging and walking and being carried sometimes.

The first placers of the run were gifted with a cell phone plus Bicol Run t-shirt and baller. Rey Añonuevo of Aquinas University of Legazpi was the first finisher for 5 km while Jobert Alcazar of Banquerohan High School was top winner for the 3 km.

Santos Samar, a 75 year-old runner was the first senior citizen to arrive at the finish line. Among the elder set were businessmen couple Ely and Ania Yu. Ely is the former president of the Legazpi Filipino-Chinese Association.

Other top 25 finishers in both courses were awarded certificates plus t-shirt and baller.
All completers of the run received certificates of participation upon arrival at the finish line.

The Bicol Run was also joined by Marian Pastor Roces, director Pinoy Power Institute, Myrna Reblando, spokesperson for the families of Maguindanao massacre victims, and Kay Bunagan Pinoy Power New Media head.

The ‘nationwide’ EDSA Run last February 27 was spearheaded by the Ninoy and Cory Foundation (NCAF) I am Ninoy, I am Cory Runners in observance of the 1986 People Power Revolution.

The pursuit according to NCAF president Rafael Lopa is a new form of people power that will build classrooms to ease the public schools shortage. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

DENR Bicol names key officials in new posts

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced recently the new assignments of key officials in Bicol, as part of DENR’s continuing organizational development in its bid to ensure efficient enforcement of the agency’s mandates.

In a special order dated March 2, 2011, two Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officers (PENRO), three Community Environment and Natural Resources officers (CENRO), and a new official were re-assigned or designated.

DENR regional executive director Joselin Marcus Fragada re-assigned the following PENROs: Luis Loyola from Masbate to Camarines Sur and forester Benjamin Medel from Catanduanes, now designated as officer-in-charge, CENRO Legazpi City.

CENROs Tito Migo former CENRO of Mobo was named OIC, PENRO Masbate. Forester Eduardo Ampongan, former CENRO of Mobo, Masbate was re-assigned CENRO of San Jacinto, Masbate while former Legazpi City CENRO Ricardo Ramos,. was named as the new PENRO of Catanduanes.

Forester Evangeline Arcenas development management officer was designated CENRO of Mobo, Masbate.

Director Fragada said the officials were ordered to immediately fulfill their duties and assume their responsibilities beginning March 15, 2011. (JBasanta, DENR V/PIA Albay/mal))