By Ed de Leon
LEGAZPI CITY- Three mining companies operating in Bicol produced a total of P11.4 billion worth of metallic and non metallic products last year thereby contributing to the upswing of the Bicol economy, according to the Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office here.
Reynulfo A. Juan, MBG regional director for Bicol, said that aside from the good volume of production of these mining companies, they also paid a total of P782.61 million in taxes in 2010.
Of these three mining companies, Masbate Gold Project, operating in Aroroy town in Masbate province under Australian and Filipino management, produced a total of 4,000 kilograms of gold, 3,200 kilograms of silver with a total value of P6.9 billion, Juan said.
While the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), operating in Rapu-Rapu town in Albay under Korean -Malaysian-Filipino management, has produced a total of 34,200 metric tons of copper concentrate, 34,800 metric tons of zinc concentrates with gold as by-product with a total value of P3.79 billion, Juan added.
He said the Palanog Cement Plant project (PCLP), operating in Camalig town also in Albay, produced a toal of 6.89 million bags of cement valued at P872 million pesos.
Juan said that because of the steady rise in the prices of metals and non metals in the world market, he is optimistic that the outlook for mining industry this year is healthy pointing to more investors wanting to invest in the mining.
He said that the MGB welcomes only new mining ventures who will operate in a responsible manner like the three currently operating firms which has committed a total of P310.32 million pesos in environmental protection enhancement projects.
These projects form part of their operations which include reforestation activities, maintenance of tailings and impounding systems, slope stabilization measures and other environmental mitigation structures
Juan added that the three companies also implemented a total of 268 projects under the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP)amounting to P41.71 million pesos in host communities which includes the construction and repair farm to market roads, bridges ,water system, post harvest facilities, school buildings, , electric power,, health facilities and funding for scholarship and livelihood programs. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
Plebiscite needed to postpone ARMM polls – Chiz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Any amendment resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections can only be made effective and valid through a plebiscite duly called for that purpose, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on justice and human rights, bucked the plan and legislative moves postponing the ARMM elections, including the appointment of officers-in-charge (OIC) in the regional government to serve in the interim period.
“It is my opinion that the bill postponing the ARMM election, including appointing OICs, is an amendment of the ARMM Organic Law, which requires two-thirds vote of Congress, with both chambers voting separately. In a plebiscite, the people directly participate. It is considered sacred as it defines or makes a social contract such as ARMM,” Escudero explained.
Any revision or amendment to Republic Act 9054, or the ARMM Organic Law, explicitly requires a vote of two-thirds of Congress voting separately. A majority vote in a plebiscite automatically gives the hands down result, as mandated under Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII of RA 9054.
The Palace has certified as urgent a legislation seeking to postpone the ARMM elections to put in place reforms and synchronize it with the 2013 political exercise.
According to Escudero, continuity in the ARMM administration is crucial in the peace and economic development programs as it means pursuing these without interruptions.
“The only way to achieve lasting peace is by following the basic rudiments of democracy and due process. “Let the people of ARMM decide for themselves who they want to choose as their leaders. They know who is good for them,” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
National greening program convergence project launched in Camarines Sur
By Aida Alcazar-Naz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Parallel to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III to reduce poverty in the countryside while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation and address climate change, the countrywide national greening program (NGP) convergence project took off in Camarines Sur last March 11.
The cabinet secretaries of departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Agrarian Reform led the launching of the said convergence project in Bula town in Camarines Sur, said DENR Regional Information Officer Ruby Mendones at PIA’s radio program Aramon Ta Daw last Monday.
DENR Sec. Ramon Paje, DA Sec. Proceso Alcala and DAR Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes signed a memorandum of agreement signaling the union of these departments to implement the country’s greening program.
In Executive Order No. 26 issued February 24, 2011, President Aquino tasked the DENR to lead the implementation of NGP, with DA and DAR to constitute the program’s oversight committee.
The national greening program’s goal is to plant 1.5 billion trees in some 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016, which is more than twice the government’s accomplishment of 730,000 hectares for the past 25 years.
Among the areas targeted for planting under the program are forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban area under the greening plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable lands.
In Bicol, 60 per cent of the effort goes to agroforestry where the implementation will help arrest erosion. Some suggested specie are narra, molave, coconut for its 100 uses, including ipil-ipil and kakawate.
Thirty per cent of the greening effort is to plant forest trees with focus on endemic specie like lauan, bigtikan apitong, almacige and kamagong and exotic trees like mahogany, gmelina.
Meantime, 10 per cent of the greening effort will go to urban greening. DENR Bicol recommends banaba, which according to studies filters the air aside from its herbal benefits.
NGP will mobilize people’s participation through social mobilization harnessing participation of national government agencies, LGUs, government owned and controlled corporations, including state colleges and universities.
Likewise, some 14 million students across the country will be tapped to participate in the program, as well as the 20 million residents in upland communities in an effort to provide them additional livelihood opportunities and reduce poverty. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
I-Rice re-launch kicks off in Camarines Sur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
PALESTINA, Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) ---- To combat the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency among schoolchildren, the National Food Authority (NFA) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) re-launched the I-fortified rice in a simple yet momentous ceremony held at the LRV Multi Purpose Building at Palestina Elementary School here.
The activity, which is also being simultaneously introduced in various parts of the country, was attended by stakeholders coming from various government institutions and private organizations. All have sealed their commitment to help the government in its campaign to fight malnutrition, particularly among the undernourished schoolchildren.
I-Rice or Iron Fortified Rice is a mixture of white milled rice and I-Mix or iron rice premix which was processed thru fortification. Fortified rice is advisable for those children with severe calorie and protein deficiency since it replaces nutrients lost during the milling process. It is also in compliance with the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 otherwise known as Republic Act 8976.
NFA Provincial Manager Eliseo B. Caliwag said that their agency is giving its all out support for the government’s fortification program citing among others its important role in promoting the health condition of the children in the province.
“Actually, the use of fortified rice was already launched a few years back, but it experienced a setback due to some reasons so now we are re-launching its use, promoting its importance and recognizing this program as an effective and sustainable means to fight micronutrient deficiency.”
Caliwag also assured the public that I-rice is safe to eat since its fortification is a result of careful and extensive studies involving its partner agencies, like the Department of Health (DOH), Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The Food and Development Center (FDC) of the National Food Authority is also involved in the said process.
Some of the nutritional benefits of I-rice include anemia prevention and prevents child birth defects and mortality during pregnancy. It also boosts healthy red blood cells, enhance body system against infection, improves mental and physical development, helps maintain alertness and endurance and improves productivity. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
LGU, DepEd and PRC ink MOA on disaster preparedness
By Lizel S. Macatangay
Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) – In strengthening their resolve to lessen if not eradicate casualties and damage to properties caused by natural disasters, the local government of Camarines Sur, thru Governor LRay Villafuerte recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Red Cross- (PRC) Camarines Sur Chapter to formalize another convergence of forces, this time in equipping the community with disaster preparedness.
In this campaign, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government and barangay units will be working hand in hand in implementing the principles of the Community Health Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Program aimed at improving the community’s vigilance during the occurrence of natural disasters and the constituent’s health condition as well.
PRC’s main responsibility will be to closely coordinate with other partners/stakeholders to ensure that the project will be properly and efficiently implemented. It is also the task of PRC to maintain the partnership with project partners even beyond the project period to ensure its sustainability.
The provincial government unit on their part is also tasked to ensure coordination effort and provide assistance, technical support and services as its counterpart component. It is also their obligation to guarantee its sustained promotion and support to community health and disaster risk reduction program by providing manpower support.
The local government units of Lagonoy, Siruma,Garchitorena , Buhi and the city of Iriga will each provide a cash equity of 10% for the construction of facilities in line with health and disaster program.
Selected barangay recipients should also assist the project staff in the identification and recruitment of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and Barangay Disaster Action Teams (BDATS). They should also see to it that the staff and Red Cross workers are safe and protected in the course of implementing the project. A cash equity equivalent to 5% for construction and rehabilitation of health and water facilities shall also be shouldered by the barangay.
Added to the project component is the participation of DepEd who is also responsible for the creation of school disaster management plan and its similar replication in other schools.
The project’s recipients includes barangays Tambo, Salvacion, Iraya, Ipil, San Ramon, Antipolo, Igbac, Cabatuan and Ibayugan, all from the town of Buhi and barangays Santiago, Cristo Del Rey, Sta. Teresita, San Pedro, Perpetual Help, Santo Nino and Sta. Maria from the city of Iriga. These barangays are mostly inhabited by Indigenous People or IPs.
Other barangays include Himanag, Bocogan, Sta.Cruz,Del Carmen,Olas, Guibahoy, San Isidro, Sipaco, Mangogon and Mapid , all from Lagonoy; Barangays Butawanan, San Ramon, Malaconini, Sulpa, San Andres, Vito, Cabugao, Tandoc, Mabuhay, Fundado, Penitan and Nalayahan; and barangays Danrica, Tamiawon, Burabod, Dangca, Cagamutan and Sagrada from the town of Garchitorena. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Agrarian reform community's Bagsakan Center gets .5M aid
By Edna A Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) - The Provincial Government of Catanduanes, through the Provincial Agricultural Support Office (PASO), granted Php 500, 000 worth of equipment to a DAR-assisted Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), for the operation of their Bagsakan Center.
The K-4 (Kapatiran Kaunlaran at Kilusan ng mga kababaihan sa Mislagan-Capilihan), a 36-member People's Organization organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office in 2007.
Senior Agriculturist Ligaya San Roque designated bagsakan center coordinator of the PASO said that the equipment is being released into two batches, the first release worth Php 300, 000 was on January 4, 2011 while the final batch will follow anytime.
Delfin Advincula , ARC's K-4 cooperative chairperson personally received the aid from Governor Joseph C. Cua.
Members of the cooperative were thankful that the aid will help boost the center's capacity and services that was launched in April 2010.
Provincial Agriculture Reform Officer of DAR here, Alexander Teves expressed his appreciation for the assistance given to ARC, citing its usefulness to the center in sustaining the operations.
He also said that this is a good indication of governments continuing effort to converge various services from the different agencies in promoting economic development of their common client.
Government Cua handed over its first batch of release to K-4 officials the following equipments manual and electric meat grinder, electric rice grinder, digital price computer scale, powered coconut grater, 24 plastic crates, 1000-kg capacity vascular scale, four (4) chest freezers, showcase chillers for 300 L and 620 L capacity, two (2) hanging weighing scales (100 kg capacity), and two (2) 20-kilo stand weighing scale. (PIA Catanduanes/mal)
High Risks barangays to undergo community based disaster risk reduction contingency planning
By Irma A. Guhit
SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – To start today, March 21, until March 24 is the four-day training on community-based disaster risk reduction contingency planning of leaders, and members of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (BDRRMCs) of two identified high risks barangays in the Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes, Sta Magdalena towns and Sorsogon City.
The four-day training is spearheaded by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the Sorsogon Povincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council(PDRRMC) in cooperation with the Green Valley Development Program / World Vision (GVDP/WV)
According to Governor Raul R. Lee, this training is a jumpstart of successive trainings to identified high risks and vulnerable barangays in the province so as to come up with a more comprehensive community- based disaster risk reduction contingency plan and actualize it.
It can be recalled that the province of Sorsogon has been reported and nationally focused most of the times due to the calamities they are exposed to specially the Mt. Bulusan's unrest and the lahar flow experienced by high risks barangays in the municipalities of Irosin, Juban and Casiguran..
The provincial government has been cognizant in making the people of Sorsogon be more aware and ready to respond correctly to lessen the impacts and effects of calamities significantly the risks which they are exposed to by providing them the knowledge, capabilities, skills and attitude to intelligently respond collectively to such natural occurrence.
Sorsogon as a province is exposed to several natural calamities, from typhoons, volcanic unrest, flooding, soil erosion, storm surge and a lot more that the need to capacitate leaders and key players will be mainstreamed to the basic communities, according to Manro Jayco, action officer of the SPDRRMC.
It is now considered too, a best practice of the province to partner with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as an effort for collaboration and convergence to address, mitigate and respond to such natural occurences., he said.
Based on RA 10121, all DRMMCs are required to train, teach, guide and capacitate local communities especially those considerered high risks and vulnerable to be empowered.and reselient.
The Japan experience has taught the world simply to be more resilient and calm by having contingency plans although this heartbreaking calamity has been so devastating, according to Jayco."We have not been spared too when the announcement of impending tsunami to hit the Philippines within four hours was nerve-wrecking that everyone was scared."
The end goal of this training is to provide the necessary basic knowledge to community leaders and the like in communities to understand their risks, plan to adapt and mitigate, plan a comprehensive functional contingency plan, have drill sessions and diseminate the right information for people's collegial action.
The contingency plan will focus more on warning, communication, process of evacuation, the need to positively respond and be forewarned. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)
DepEd launches Int'l Mother Language day
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) this year as proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This year’s IMLD theme is “Making Every Child a Reader Through Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education.”
UNESCO aims to uplift the linguistic and cultural diversity of our society.
IMLD seeks to heighten awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.
Public and private elementary and secondary schools are encouraged to participate in these activities.
All of the programs will be based on the IMLD theme.
The regional directors, school divisions or city superintendents, and school heads are encouraged to lead on the said activities. (MEACamu, BUCAL/pia Albay/mal)
Plebiscite needed to postpone ARMM polls – Chiz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Any amendment resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections can only be made effective and valid through a plebiscite duly called for that purpose, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on justice and human rights, bucked the plan and legislative moves postponing the ARMM elections, including the appointment of officers-in-charge (OIC) in the regional government to serve in the interim period.
“It is my opinion that the bill postponing the ARMM election, including appointing OICs, is an amendment of the ARMM Organic Law, which requires two-thirds vote of Congress, with both chambers voting separately. In a plebiscite, the people directly participate. It is considered sacred as it defines or makes a social contract such as ARMM,” Escudero explained.
Any revision or amendment to Republic Act 9054, or the ARMM Organic Law, explicitly requires a vote of two-thirds of Congress voting separately. A majority vote in a plebiscite automatically gives the hands down result, as mandated under Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII of RA 9054.
The Palace has certified as urgent a legislation seeking to postpone the ARMM elections to put in place reforms and synchronize it with the 2013 political exercise.
According to Escudero, continuity in the ARMM administration is crucial in the peace and economic development programs as it means pursuing these without interruptions.
“The only way to achieve lasting peace is by following the basic rudiments of democracy and due process. “Let the people of ARMM decide for themselves who they want to choose as their leaders. They know who is good for them,” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
DTI holds seminar for dealers on product standardization
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) -- In compliance with its mandate to protect the consumers and empower responsible businessmen and industrial allies, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Camarines Sur conducted over the weekend a product standards update attended by hardware and electrical dealers, private individuals and members of the local media here.
DTI provincial head Edna Tejada cited the importance of ensuring that the materials, processes and services that the customers are availing of, is also commensurate to their expectations and payments as well.
“Comes summer time, a lot of our households would embark on improving their homes and their business so we think that this is the most opportune time to talk about the product standard of construction materials, electrical and electronic home products and why do we really need to ensure that all the materials that we will use should follow the quality of product standardization.”
The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) is the national Standards body of the Philippines pursuant to Republic Act No. 4109.Otherwise known as the Philippine Standardization Law, BPS is also the sole government authority of the Philippines to certify products that affect health, life and safety of consumers.
Mr. Jay Ablan, DTI Spokesperson reiterated the need to inspect the PS or ICC mark in every product that the consumers wish to purchase.
“A manufacturer or importer whose product is under mandatory product certification cannot sell or distribute without the license and clearance from BPS, which authorizes the use of Product Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance or ICC Mark.
Products under mandatory certification includes electrical and wiring devices, electrical and household appliances, building and construction materials, mechanical/ building and construction materials and consumer and chemical products. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Biomass Power Plant soon to rise in Camarines Sur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
SIPOCOT, Camarines Sur (PIA) ---- Joining the call for a more efficient energy production and cost-effective renewable energy, Eco Enerhiya Development Corporation (EEDC) is set to utilize the rich local agricultural wastes specifically located here and in its adjoining municipalities.
The waste which will be used as fuel for the Bio Mass Power Plant Project is found to be in abundance especially in the towns of Ragay, Sipocot and Lupi located in the first district of Camarines Sur and Libmanan in the 2nd district of the province.
Among the said municipalities, Sipocot proved to be the most ideal site due to its strategic position, having large quantities of agri wastes in their area of jurisdcition. In a study, it was found out that the standing net volume of 406,656.33 metric tons (MT) for biomass, 18.6 times the annual requirement is more than sufficient to operate the bio mass power plant.
Coconut farms can already supply 195,778.45 MT or 48 percent of the total prospective wastes.
EEDC have thought of embarking on the said endeavor basically to displace as much conventional energy as possible, dislodge 200MW worth of conventional energy with renewables, shift 100MW worth of conventional energy through efficiencies and alleviate poverty through fair trading practices with farmers.
Mr. Noriel Z. Cabanela, EEDC Project Coordinator in Camarines Sur said that the 2-megawatt output would only require about 60 metric tons of agri-waste daily.
“Given the standing net supply of 649.9 MT of biomass in the contiguous municipalities of Ragay, Sipocot, Lupi and Libmanan, the supply is already 10.8 times the requirement. Sipocot alone already accounts for a daily net volume of 169.04 MT which can supply 2.8 times the requirement needed to run the power plant,” Cabanela added.
EEDC also assured the public that the project will not in any way harm the harmonious relationship of the environment and its elements by strictly complying with their Corporate Social Responsibility. Once the plant becomes operational, the company will allocate a certain portion from its sales and allot it to the development of programs that will promote productivity and help the farmers to optimize the use of marginal lands.
Currently, EEDC is conducting the necessary steps and requirements to gain the nod and social approval of the community. Meetings and continuing dialogues have already been scheduled to assess and gauge the social acceptability of the said project. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
POPCOM and BUCAL join forces pursuing RH and sexuality education
LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Populations (Popcom) remains upbeat in pursuit of informing and educating the development on the issues pertaining to reproductive health and sexuality.
Popcom Public Information Officer Miracle Bolanos said the commission has recently forged a partnership with Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) to pursue an advocacy among the young on RH and sexuality issues.
Dubbed “Preparing Responsible Individuals as Movers and Enablers of Development (PRIMED)”, Popcom and BU intend to educate particularly the students on matters like pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy.
Bolanos said that the duo organizations held art exhibit last February 14 portraying issues on reproductive health, followed by a live concert from the Audio Visual Communications students at the in CAL Amphitheater.
The activity was participated in by students from all tertiary levels where most cases of PMS occasionally happen.
Bolanos observed that BU offered courses like Speech and Theatre Arts (STA), Audio Visual Communications (AVC), AB-English, Broadcasting and Journalism which are very helpful to the Popcom portraying our goals such as the dangers in engaging in this topic.
The said partnership started September last year, where Popcom and BUCAL signed the agreement on pursuing the advocacy and the former granting the latter the P100,000 funding for the program. (BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)
PNRC to hold annual summer safety instructions
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine National Red Cross, Legazpi City Chapter will be celebrating the “Annual Summer Safety Instructions,” that will begin on the 25th of April 2011.
This month-long celebration will have various activities on safety measures, like executing first-aid, basic life support, as well as swimming.
The said event into two parts: one part will include professionals and the other one will be non-professionals. Chapter volunteers, chapter staff, instructors, and non-instructors, will evaluate the participants of the event.
The registration fee for professionals is P1,500 while P1,200 will be the fee for non-professionals.
Everyone above 13 years old are welcome to participate.
They are anticipating that the celebration will be successful. (SLDimapilis, BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)
Chiz urges gov’t to craft comprehensive labor policy for OFWs
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Senator Francis Escudero underscored the need for the government to forge an agreement with countries employing Filipino workers to protect them against labor malpractice and abuses.
In an email to PIA Bicol News Service, Escudero said that since taking on overseas jobs remain a personal choice of millions of Filipinos, the government should put in place a comprehensive labor migration policy for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to ensure that they are safe and protected.
According to the senator, the government should address the common complaints of OFWs against health and safety, labor malpractice, non-payment of overtime pay, absence of pay slips, poor accommodation, discrepancies in wages and repatriation in case of crisis, among others.
“It is high time that our government start to acknowledge that we have a labor-export policy and rid the industry of unscrupulous labor recruiters and protect our migrant workers,” Escudero said.
“We already have enough, ripe reasons to initiate a government- to-government arrangement for labor migration since we have long seen the reality of labor exodus of Filipinos to other countries. The Philippine government can no longer deny this,” he added.
“OFWs are our modern-day heroes and the remittances they send to their families propel our economy. I think the best way to repay them is to ensure that they would be safe and properly compensated in the countries where they would be deployed,” Escudero furthered.
The senator also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to look into the conditions of OFWs working in Madagascar, many of whom have contracted malaria in their work place.
Reports reaching Escudero’s office said OFWs working in the Ambatovy project in the town of Toamasina had been asking the government that they wanted to be repatriated after their company, Kentz Engineers and Constructors, failed to pay them salaries and overtime pay.
Aside from labor malpractices, OFWs in Madagascar have also complained that they were not given any anti-malaria medication as the place in known to be infested with malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Escudero also asked the DFA and the DOLE to look into reports that a Filipino supervisor had succumbed to malaria last month in the area.
Kentz currently employs around 2,000 OFWs working in the Ambatovy project, a large-tonnage mining project that integrates many facilities to process and refine nickel into pure nickel briquettes. (PIA V/Albay)
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