Sabo dams to be built around Mayon Volcano
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Regional Development Council (RDC) has endorsed last week the budget proposed for funding next year by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office for the construction of additional Sabo structures around critical areas down slopes of Mayon volcano to mitigate the destructive flow of lahar in times of heavy rains.

DPWH Regional Director Danilo Dequito said during the RDC full council meeting that the proposed Sabo dams will be constructed along the volcano gullies flowing down streams the rivers of Yawa in this city, Basud in Sto. Domingo and Quirangay in Camalig, all in Albay.

It may be recalled that during typhoons Milenyo and Reming in 2006 wherein more than 2,000 persons perished when they were buried alive in due to the destructive lahar flows that cascaded downstream of Mayon Volcano.

Dequito said that the project will involve the construction of 1,100 linear meters of Sabo Dam structures, 7,000 linear meters of spur dike and 600 linear meters embankment.

He said that the project will be implemented based on the study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which completed in the year 2000.

The project, according to Dequito, will cost P643 million pesos which also include the Legazpi City Urban Drainage Project that will set up two pumping stations, eight floodgates facilities, channel excavation, embankment and rip rapping in the low lying areas of this city.

The full council meeting was presided over by Gov. Joey Salceda, RDC chair, and attended by congressmen, Fernando Gonzales of the 3rd district of Albay, Bong Bravo of the 1st district of Masbate, Ding Ramos of the 2nd district of Sorsogon, Rene Sarmiento of Catanduanes, Elmer Panotes and Renato Unico of the 1st and 2nd district of Camarines Norte. (PIA V/Albay/mal)


Bicol tourism generates P1.9 billion in 2010
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Bicol tourism industry continues to grow as it generated some P1.9 billion in gross receipt last year from some 3.1 million local and foreign tourists that visited the region’s various tourist facilities in 2010, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office here.

DOT Bicol Regional Director Maria Ravanilla said that tourist arrival grew by 36.49 percent last year compared to 2009 which only reached 2,287,365 or 834,391 over the 2009 figure.

The province of Camarines Sur continues to dominate the tourism industry in Bicol which attracted 1,869,063 local and 461,053 foreign tourists to CamSur Water Sports Complex, famous for its world-class extreme water sports, and the pristine Gota beach in Caramoan town registering a 48.75 percent increase from the 2009 figure.

Ravanilla said that the tourism industry generated an estimated 3,809,030 jobs for Bicolanos working in hotels, resorts, food and beverage industry, tour and travel, handicraft and other pasalubongs.

She said that of the total tourist arrival last year, 2,441,022 were locals while 681,134 were foreign or a ratio of one foreigner for every five tourists who visited Bicol.

Foreign tourists arrival grew by 66 percent to 681,134 last year from 447,641 in 2009.

The DOT regional director remains optimistic that this year’s tourist arrival will continue to surpass last year’s record because of the aggressive promotions being undertaken by both private tourist operators, the local governments, the DOT.

Added to this, according to Ravanilla is the expected increase in flights to Bicol by the four major airlines and their promo rates that makes air travel more affordable to would be tourist. (PIA V/Albay/mal)


Chiz tells gov’t: bring home all pinoys in Libya

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – No single Filipino should be left behind in Libya as the government steps up efforts to pluck out all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) trapped in the political and social turmoil in the North African country, Senator Chiz Escudero said.

Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said in an e-mail to PIA Bicol News Service the evacuation program adopted by the government should be a one-size-fits-all design to ensure that every single Filipino in the troubled Libya has been reached and assigned a place for pick-up and evacuation.

"This should be the policy we ought to be adopting. The situation in Libya is a powder keg waiting to explode full blown. The political tension there will be exacerbated by the social and ethnic problems among almost 81 tribes vying for domination. Blended together, this unrest will blow in the face of everyone in the Libyan territory,"
Escudero said.

Records from the Department of Foreign Affairs shows there are 26,000 Filipinos currently working and living in Libya. Of these, only 13,000 may be likely evacuated by the government. The 13,000 were reached through the efforts of the Philippine embassy there and others found ways to contact the personnel of the foreign mission on their own.

A big number of Filipinos remains trapped in areas near the Libyan capital of Tripoli. In Al Kufrah alone, 100 OFWs have been abandoned by their Korean employers and have been pleading for help in light of the sporadic shots and explosions being heard from surrounding areas.

The Philippine government has chartered planes from the Philippine Airlines and Qatar Airways. Each flight to Manila costs P13 million and can accommodate 200 to 300 people per flight. The government is allocating P100 million contingency fund for the Libya situation.

Escudero called on key agencies concerned to cut all bureaucratic red tapes in the release of the OFW standby fund which is meant for situations such as this in Libya.

"All mechanisms, legal, financial, physical to afford protection for our people should be interfaced with all efforts from all fronts. These are our modern heroes who keep our economy afloat. We should protect them from threats and dangers anywhere. No stone should be left unturned in terms of getting them out of harm's way, if our OFWs get the perception of being neglected, they might become ambassadors of ill-will rather than goodwill in foreign lands," Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)


Drug abuse victims find solace in LIFE Counselling Center
By Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY (PIA) -- As he takes the lead in bringing to the fore primary services for his people, this city's chief executive John Bongat embarks on a more compassionate way of providing assistance to the less fortunate victims of drug abuse by establishing the LIFE Counseling Center .

This endeavor, launched a few months back, has already gained positive remarks from the city’s constituents having served as a refuge for those who are trying to find their way back and return to their normal lives.

Here, clients are assured of confidentiality while they are undergoing free counseling treatment by competent counselors.

A continuing realization of Mayor Bongat’s resolution when he was still a city councillor, the act also known as City Ordinance No. 2001-065 also wishes to help drug users who have not yet reached the stage of drug dependence to mend their ways. They will be referred to the appropriate government agencies for rehabilitation.

Other clients can also be referred to the Naga City Dangerous Drug Board (NCDDB) thru its Early Intervention and Rehabilitation Committee for other appropriate treatments. NCDDB takes the task of managing the Life Counselling Center and was constituted to coordinate and implement the various projects and activities under the city’s comprehensive drug abuse program.

NCDBB is composed of a policy-making, monitoring and coordinating body whose main task is to create recommendations to prevent and control drug abuse in the city. They are also mandated to enforce programs and put into effect solutions to the problems of drug abuse.

Mayor John Bongat serves as the Board’s chairman while City Councilor Raoul Rosales, sits as NCDBB’s presiding officer. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal )

Libmanan son bags second place on Physician Licensure Examination
By Lizel S. Macatangay

LIBMANAN, Camarines Sur (PIA) -- Jovith Tasarra Royales Jr., a native of this town will be reciting his oath on March 14 along with other 655 examinees who have successfully hurdle the licensure examination administered by the Board of Medicine and the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) last February.

Royales is the son of Mr. Jovith Royales Sr, a farmer and one Emma Royales, a teacher at Libmanan South Elementary School . He was among the 1,230 examinees who have high hopes that they will be hailed as this generation’s new doctors. Royales was able to pull off , landing second with the score of 86.25, shy of 8 points from the topnotcher who garnered a score of 86.33.

Jovit took his his elementary years at Isidro Elementary School in Libmanan, Camarines Sur and was on top of his class when he graduated from High School. He took his BS Biology Course at the Ateneo de Naga University and later pursued his medicine proper at Our Lady of Fatima as a full scholar.

Third from the siblings of eight, Jovit worked his way up to become a successful physician. His efforts obviously paid off, making his parents and loved ones so proud of him.

The local government of Libmanan, thru the headship of their Chief Executive Hon. Marilyn Jimenez and members of the Sangguniang Bayan are now drafting a resolution in acknowledgment of Jovit’s exemplary deeds that has brought honor not just to the townsfolk of Libmanan but to the whole Bicol Region as well.

Jovit will also be given honors during the town’s foundation anniversary happening this April 2011.

All the successful examinees will take their oath on March 14, 2011 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Roxas Boulevard , Manila . (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)

Sorsogon hosts USAID public-private partnership mobilization for family health projects
By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) -- Sorsogon is set to host the Private Sector Mobilization for Family Health Project Phase 2 (PRISM 2) under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) assisted programs.

In a consultative meeting was held here Monday (Feb 28), Dr. Edgar Garcia, chief odf the Provincial Health Office. Sorsogon is one of the pilot province-beneficiaries of PRISM1 and PRISM2 here in the Bicol Region,

Garcia said that PRISM 2 is part of the USAID's continuing initiative to build enduring public-private partnership that would assure Filipinos the availability of and access to quality modern family planning (FP) and maternal and child health (MCH) products and services.

He added that PRISM2 is a follow-up on the PRISM1 project implemented in 2004-2009 which initiated the participation of private sector with government as partner in meeting the demand of Filipino families for FP and MCH products and services.

Under the PRISM1 models were developed for engaging the private sector to inform public policies and develop a sector-wide approach for FP and MCH provision.

According to Garcia, PRISM2 works on the gains of PRISM1 and intends to scale up its reach to achieve critical mass.It supports cross-cutting efforts such as alliance building, advocacy and institutional development in 77 provinces/ independent cities nationwide from 2009 to 2014.

The end goal of the program is to assist Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the local governments to engage and mobilize private sector resources in the delivery of FP and MHC services and products.

It also hopes to achieve an improved private sector providers' effectiveness in communicating and encouraging clients to seek FP and MCH services from trained providers and deliver in birthing facilities.

Sorsogon market opportunities for FP and MCH in a demographic presentation gven by Dr. Maricel Fajardo , head of the Technical Services of the SPHO under the Safe Motherhood services in Bicol Region reported that Sorsogon with a total population of 735,040 based on the 2010 National Statistics Office Survey has a 97,483 total of married women of reproductive age (MWRA) status.

The focus of the program is to provide these women under the MWRA needs for information, practices, products and services essential for healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries and births, according to Fajardo.

Sorsogon still has a high recorded incidence of maternal and neonatal mortality, according to Fajardo, adding that this is an issue to be addressed.

Some women still adhere to the risk of being attended by non-skilled birth attendants and have not been provided adequate care during the course of pregnancy and usually have not secured proper postpartum and post natal care after child delivery.

In the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 5 the target is to achieve maternal and neonatal zero morality by 2020.

Dr. Fajardo requested the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) through Board Member Rebecca DL Aquino to pass an ordinance prohibiting mothers to seek fon non-skilled birth persons to do birthing deliveries which recorded a high incidence of mother and neonatal mortality.

The Department of Health according to her is implementing the Formula One for Health (F1) an approach for an integrated maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition strategy.

Meanwhile at the close of the consultation Garcia provincial department head of the SPHO said that there are only six government and three private accredited facilities for new born screening in the province. He enjoined the private sectors present offering services as such to forge partnership with government in the implementation of family health care services.

Health workers comprising of doctors, nurses, midwives,health providers and representatives from the business sector and non-governmental organizations were in attendance to formulate policies and plan strategies in the implementation of a public-private partnership to enhance delivery of family health programs here in the province. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)

Lee of Sorsogon City named vice president of Vice Mayors' League
By Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – Robert Lee Rodrigueza, Sorsogon City’s vice mayor is now the vice president for Luzon following the recently concluded National Vice Mayor’s League election at the Waterfront Hotel in Davao City.

Rodrigueza’s chief of staff and spokesperson Mandy Lucila said that the city vice mayor was unanimously voted by his colleague giving him the seat for the National Vice-Mayor’s League.

In a message, Rordigueza said the trust given to him is a big honor not only for him but also for the people of Sorsogon City. “Although this would mean a new and bigger responsibility, their confidence is more than enough to give me the inspiration to do the hard work to the best that I can,” he said.

Meanwhile, Manila vice mayor Isko Moreno is now the national president of the Vice Mayor’s League, Ronald Allan Nalupta of Batac, Ilocos Norte is the executive vice president, Francis Frederick Palanan of Victoria City, Negros Occidental was elected as vice president for administration, Ronnie Dadivas of Roxas City, Capiz as vice president for operation and Gustavo Tambunting of Parañaque City as vice president for finance.

Leni Pantuja of Batangas City holds now the seat as the national treasurer while Roy Macanlalay as the national auditor. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)


DENR suspends acceptance of all types of mining application

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — To ensure that the ongoing cleansing of all pending, idle mining projects is successfully implemented in the regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Bicol, regional director Reynulfo A. Juan recently announced that the acceptance and processing of all types of mining applications is temporarily suspended.

Juan explained the suspension came after Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje issued on January 18 Memorandum Order No.2011–01 suspending the acceptance of all types of mining application by the regional offices of the MGB nationwide.

Juan pointed out, “By all types of mining applications, the Secretary is referring to applications for Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA), Exploration Permit (EP), Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA), and Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit application (ISAG) covering an area of more than five hectares”.

It will be recalled that two months ago, Paje also ordered all regional directors of the MGB to cleanse their files of all pending and inactive mining applications, setting two deadlines on February 20 for the first 50 percent and on December 2011 for the remaining 50 percent. “The Secretary ordered the cleansing to institute reforms in the mining sector and as part of the DENR anti-corruption program,” Juan said.

Juan also cited in part Memorandum Circular No. 2011-2 on denial of mining applications issued on February 4, 2011 by the MGB Bureau Director pursuant to Department Memorandum Order No. 2010-04 on cleansing of all pending, idle mining applications saying “the circular clarifies the deadlines in connection with the applicant’s compliance with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Sanggunian and the posting, publication, and radio announcement requirements.”

“The deadlines for those requirements are fixed and non-extendible and non-compliance therewith would mean outright denial and any order giving the applicants any extension would be void and the regional office issuing such extension will be held liable,” Juan said.

Circular 2011-2 also clarified that the mining applications barred areas with previous mining applications that were denied in connection with the ongoing cleansing involved both large-scale and small scale mining applications which shall not be accepted in areas previously covered by denied large-scale mining applications.(DENR-EMB V/PIA Albay/mal)