RDC endorses P25.8 billion worth of projects for Bicol
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Bicol has endorsed a total of P25.8 billion worth of programs, projects and activities (PPAs) of 21 line agencies, eight state universities and colleges (SUCs) and three hospitals for inclusion in the 2012 budgets.

In the RDC first full council meeting this year, Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda, RDC chair, said that the proposal of the PPAs of each line agencies will be presented by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the next budget hearing of the Congress.

Salceda said that the recently endorsed 2012 Annual Investment Program (AIP) for Bicol will further spur the economic growth of the region taking into consideration the climate change scenario affecting Bicol in particular and the world in general.

He said that the 11 economic sector agencies proposed some P8.574 billion worth of PPAs intended to increase the income of farmers and fishermen, draw more investments in mining, quarrying, manufacturing, wholesale, retail and tourism.

The six social sector agencies and nine SUCs also proposed some P6.579 billion worth of PPAs intended to broaden the access to quality education, health and nutrition services and affordable and decent housing to the poor and other low income groups.

While the infrastructure sector agencies, composed of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), proposed a total of P10.248 billion worth of projects that would improve the intermodal transport network, reduce transport cost and connect Bicol to other regions.

Two agencies under the development administration sector, composed of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Jail Management (BJMP) submitted a total of P400.68 million worth of PPAs to upgrade the capabilities of the police in ensuring peace, order and security and improve the effectiveness of the five pillars of the justice system.

In the same full council meeting, present were Reps. Elmer Panotes and Renato Unico of the first and second districts, respectively, of Camarines Norte; Rene Sarmiento of the lone district of Catanduanes; Narciso Bravo, Jr. of the first district of Masbate; and Deogracias Ramos of the second district of Sorsogon actively participating in the deliberation and vowed to lobby the inclusion to the national budget and pursue implementation of the AIP for Bicol. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

National Convergence Initiative poises to draw stakeholders support

PILI, Camarines Sur, (PIA)— All systems go for the launching of the National Convergence Initiative (NCI), an advocacy which seeks to get active support from various stakeholders in setting up sustainable forest management models, on March 11, 2011 in this town.

Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the initiative will be implemented by the agency, Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to further strengthen community development through sustainable forest management.
Fragada said this same initiative is geared toward reducing poverty, promoting security and arresting the impacts of climate change.

He emphasized the need to pursue a paradigm shift to ensure sustainable development and livelihood in the countryside specifically in upland areas as further stipulated under the joint Memorandum Circular on policy implementation framework for the enhanced national convergence initiative among DENR, DA and DAR.

Fragada said the strategy focuses on interventions for small fisher folks and marginalized upland dwellers, mostly covered by tenurial instruments of DENR and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

“The signing of the memorandum of agreement by the DENR, DA, DAR, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local governments will signal the start of NCI in the Bicol Region” he added.

Naga City Community Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) Officer Imelda Baltazar confirmed that Environment Sec. Ramon Paje, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala and Agrarian Reform Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes are the signatories of the MOA, with other local chief executives, led by Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr.


“DENR Sec. Paje will also be distributing three hundred thousand seedlings, free patents, and geohazard maps to the recipients from nine model sites namely Pili, Ocampo, Bula, Tigaon, Baao, Presentacion, Caramoan, Lagonoy and Garchitorena towns,” Baltazar revealed.


Aside from the Camarines Sur NCI launching, Sorsoson will be holding a similar endeavor on March 23 at three priority areas, in Sorsogon City, Castilla and Casiguran. (JSBasanta, DENR/PIA Albay/mal)

Access to water remains a top priority of the government
… Bicol joins observance of the World Water Day
By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Sustainable delivery of water services remains one of the top priorities of the government to ensure safe water supply, healthy community and reduce poverty incidence as several agencies has relentlessly pushed for the program “Enhancing Access to and Provision of Water Supply Services with the Active Participation of the Poor.”

Bicol Regional Director Blandino Maceda of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said his agency, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and UNDP-Joint Programme (JP) MDGF 1919 will carry out the program implementation to highlight the observance of the World Water Day on March 22, this year.

Maceda said the program aims to enhance the sustainable delivery of water in 36 still waterless towns in 12 provinces in five regions in the country.

He bared that Bicol is included among the recipients of the project, with Basud and Capalonga towns in Camarines Norte, while Siruma and Garchitorena towns in Camarines Sur as pilot areas.

Other municipalities will be covered as expansion areas.

Other components of the program include an information education communication (IEC) drives, wherein beneficiaries are expected to come up with IEC collaterals to promote the program. These also include the Local Water Governance Forum; “Water is Life to Me” postcard campaign and “Water Stories: Films for Progress” video advocacy campaign.

These activities will culminate on the observance of the World Water Day on March 22, highlighted by the 1) National Executive-Legislative Dialogue spearheaded by University of the Philippines (UP)-National College of Public Administration and Governance (CPAG); 2) Postcard Reading Session with the President to be simultaneously done thru satellite in SM Naga and SM CDO and Manila; 3) Screening of Water Stories: Films for Progress to be done after the postcard reading session. The lead organizer for the celebration is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-River Basin Coordination Office.

“DILG and NEDA have already undertaken initial coordination and planning, while local stakeholders are encouraged to show support and participation for the World Water Day celebration,” Maceda said. (PIA Albay)


DA Bicol organizes bantay peste brigade
… new palay varieties that can withstand flood, saline water soon available
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Bicol’s agriculture department has organized bantay peste teams to perform monitoring and surveillance in the field.

These brigades will be on the watch for the occurrence of tungro, army worms, black bug and other farm pests.

This information was announced by DA Regional Public Information Officer Emily Bordado during PIA radio program Aramon Ta Daw last week.

According to Bordado, these teams are being trained by the regional crop protection center headed by Dr. Ed de la Torre.

As for golden kuhol, Bordado said that DA is confident that farmers are already aware on how to handle the pest.

DA advocates and highly recommends the use of biological control measures like madre de cacao as part of the agency’s integrated pest management. The indiscriminate use of chemicals kill beneficial insects including spiders.

Meantime, DA has tested in Bicol new palay varieties that can survive la niña weather changes. Said palay types include the submergence variety like PSBR 68 and IR64 that are recommended for planting during rainy days. (PIA V/Albay/mal)


Illegal poachers, small fishers urged to shift to fish farming to offset climate change
By Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, (PIA) —The fisheries office of the local government is urging illegal poachers and small fishermen alike to shift from fish hunting to fish farming in order to adapt to the effects of climate change.

Tito R. Velza, fisheries officer of the city government, said that climate change affects migratory patterns and spawning processes in the wild, making it hard for fisher folks to hunt.

On the other hand, hatcheries where the weather can be controlled and adjusted, will bring forth continuous breeding and more fruitful yield.

“We are thus encouraging the most vulnerable sector – the marginal fishermen – as well as those engaged in destructive forms of fishing, how to adapt to changing weather conditions. We are also teaching the marginalized fishers new trades because scientists say that climate change will mostly affect wildlife and its impact will hit food security on four fronts – availability, stability, access and utilization,” Velza said.

As part of fish farming, fisher folk can also culture certain marine species like abalone, sea cucumber, sea urchins and other varieties of shells and fin fishes. According to studies, these marine species can adapt well to extreme shifts in weather patterns resulting to the rise of sea levels still brought by climate change.

Velsa said that the city government in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has set up a mariculture park in the city.

Velza explained that mariculture park is patterned after industrial parks in the country.

He said the mariculture park has a mooring system and other facilities and located in a typhoon-protected coastal area where investor could locate their fish cages.

“This is one of the environment-friendly technologies in fish farming and fish capture,” Velza said. (PIA Masbate/mal)

40 units of shelters given in Barangay Guisican, Labo
By Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, (PIA) — Forty (40) houses were awarded to indigent families in Barangay Guisican in Labo town under Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP).

Bicol Regional Director Remia T. Tapispisan of the Deprtment of Social Welfare and Development said the CSAP was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the local government of Labo and the provincial government of Camarines Norte.

The blessing and turn-over ceremony was led by DSWD Undersecretary Cecilia Capadocia-Yangco and UNDP Country Director Mr. Renaud Meyer, assisted by Tapispisan and Camarines Norte Governor Edgardo Tallado.

A ceremonial switching on of light and water facilities of the said project were also conducted during the turn over rites.

Also present were Barangay Captain Winifredo Endionela, Engr. Lorenzo Canlas Jr. of the Camarines Norte Electric Cooperative and PSWDO Lorna de Claro.

The UNDP is a global development network of the United Nation (UN) in 166 countries focusing on helping other countries to find solution in problems like democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, environment and energy and HIV/AIDS. (PIA Camarines Norte/mal)

LGU Legazpi, Mercury Drugs hold medical mission
By Manny P. Solis

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — Almost 2,000 patients from different villages across this city were assisted by volunteer doctors, nursing studes from Bicol University and Aquinas University during the joint medical mission of the City Government of Legazpi and Mercury Drug Corporation, along with Pfizer Manufacturer, on Tuesday (Mar. I) held at the Albay Astrodome here.

Mayor Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal said that one of the foremost agenda of her administration is to focus on the effective delivery of health programs for her constituents, especially the needs of the indigent patients who deserve services from the local government to maintain a healthy living.

Rosal thanked the management of Mercury Drug Corporation and all the medical practitioners and supporters who rendered their free medical services to all the patients.

The mayor also said that Albay Doctors Hospital has a medical assistance program proposal to the local government as partner in providing a continues medical assistance to the indigent patients of the City.

Jaymar Angelo Samson, Mercury Drug district manager, said that the medical mission “Operation Bigay Lunas” is a simultaneous activity of Mercury Drug in the entire Philippines in connection with the 66th founding anniversary celebration of the said drug firm. (LGU Legazpi/PIA Albay/mal)

Cultural dimension to promote pili highlighted in 3rd Bicol Pili Congress
By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) — The Sorsogon Pili Festival Street Dance will highlight this year's Bicol Pili Congress on March 3-4, 2011 at the Concourse Convention Center, Legaspi City, now on its third year, to provide the cultural dimension of promoting the pili (Canarium ovatum) and its by-products to the local and international market.

Benita Tanyag, coordinator of the event said that this 3rd Pili congress will be very different since the pili as the high value product of the Bicol Region will be more showcased not only in its marketability component but also in its tourism value.

The Bukawel Theater Group Performing Arts in this city that will provide the participants another dimension of Bicol's high value product more on its cultural and tourism aspect.

The Sorsogon Pili Festival which used to be the festival of Sorsogon City will be incorporated in the opening ceremony of the congress through the performance of the Pili Festival Dancers -Bukawel Theater Group.

It can be recalled that the Philippine Information Agency- Sorsogon Information Center has been tapped last 2010 to provide the cultural dimension of the pili to provide the congress the aesthetic value of the product as a festival.

Exhibits of pili products and the diversified use of the pili fruit will also be showcased .

The Department of Agriculture (DA), in collaboration with Hon. Edcel C. Lagman of the 1st District of Albay, hosts this year’s congress with the theme: Bicol Region Taking the Lead for a Sustainable and Globally Competitive Pili Industry.

Secretary Proceso J. Alcala of the Department of Agriculture will keynote the launch pad activity for the Bicol Region's pili industry.

Governor Joey Salceda of the province of Albay will deliver the opening message to welcome the participants comprising of industry and business experts,foreign market representtives.technical experts,capital and investment specialists.

This two-day congress will provide policy directions for the pili industry through the different topics to be discussed that will set the Pili Roadmap for Economic Industry Development for Bicol.It will define the competitive edge of the pili in the global markets and provide directions for a sustainable industry.

Participants in the said congress include municipal agricultural officers, high value crop council coordinators, pili farmers, pili producers, pili traders and pili processors and to include pili business enthusiasts.
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The Bionet Commerce Philippines Advocacy Inc. is the co-organizer of the event. (PIA Sorsogon/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)

RTWP Bicol holds ISTIV Bayanihan

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 photo contest on
By Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Other than drawing more than 15,000 runners in the recently concluded successful Bicol’s celebration of the 25th EDSA I People Bicol Run, the activity has spawned various different photos from professional and building photographers, aside from photojournalists.

As part of the documentation of the feat, the Pinoy Power Coalition of Bicol Volunteers (PPBCV) announced during the closing program that prizes await the best pictures taken during the February 27 event.

PPBCV President Ofelia Samar-Sy, M.D. reiterated the announcement, during Monday’s edition of PIA radio program Aramon Ta Daw.

Deadline for submission of entries is March 7 at the Pinoy Power Media, said Sy.

Awarding of winners will be made during the opening program of the Marcha Bikolana (Women’s march) in connection with the celebration of the International Women Day.

Guest of honor during the women’s day activity is Presidential Sister Victoria Eliza “Viel” Aquino-Dee who will award the prize to winners, said Sy.

The enthusiastic crowd of the Bicol Run either joined the 5 kilometers or the shorter 3 kilometers route which 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” organization.

The fund raising run was joined by guests from Metro Manila who joined the jog. Said guests were Ms. Mae Paner a.k.a. Juana Change; National Youth Commissioner Leon Flores III; 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.

Other runs outside Metro Manila were held same time and same date. Aside from Legazpi City similar undertaking were held in Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Clark, Pampanga; the cities of Cebu, Davao, Dipolog, Zamboanga; and the provinces of Zambales, Sultan Kudarat and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Sy disclosed that Legazpi has the highest number of runners in comparison to the other provincial runs.

The fund raising jog was able to raise P72,000 from donations. T-shirts sales amounted to P320,000.

The minimal profit from the shirt sales will go to management costs expended during pre and actual run, Sy explained. (PIA V/Albay/mal)