LGUs, gov’t. agencies to craft climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction framework
by Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, April 18 (PIA) --- Local governments’ senior officials across the Bicol region will convene next week to be trained on capacity development which is envisioned to pave the way in formulating the Bicol regional framework and action plan (BRFAP) on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Manuel “Nong Rangasa, executive director of the Climate Change Academy (CCA) - Center for Initiatives on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), said that this is an opportune time for senior technical staff to enhance their capabilities through localized knowledge management of climate change, integration of disaster risk reduction and adaptation strategies.

Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Senior Global Champion on Disaster Risk Reduction and Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the negative impacts of climate change will hit the vulnerable sectors and especially the poor people in the communities causing loss of lives, food shortage, increase in water-borne diseases, damage to critical key assets and degradation of natural resources upon which livelihood activities of Bicol are largely dependent.

Salceda expressed fears of these threats that could hinder the attainment of the millennium development goals (MDGs) and the improvement of the human development index (HDI) in the provinces of Camarines Sur and Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, Sorsogon and Albay.

The training will make LGUs further understand climate change impacts in their localities and find their best adaptation strategies such as contingency plan with disaster risk reduction and climate change considerations.

The training is a partnership among the Office of Civil Defense, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) R5, the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA), CCA-CIRCA, Joint Program United Nations MDG Achievement Fund:1656 Albay Demo, and the Spanish Government.

On the training and action planning, Rangasa pointed out that the inclusion of anticipatory adaptation plans in the provincial level strategic planning will mitigate, if not minimize, potential impacts and prevent casualty during disasters.

Participants include provincial officers of planning and development office, agriculture services office, engineering office, environment and natural resources offices , health offices, disaster risk reduction and management council (DRRMCs), and the Philippine National Police provincial offices, regional agencies like the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Science and Technology (PAGASA, PHIVOLCS), Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission on Civil Service (CSC), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Commission on Audit, HLURB, Philippine Army, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard.

The trainees are also expected to appreciate provincial considerations for disaster risk reduction and climate decision-making aspects. To this end, trainees should also be able to come up with hazard and risk mapping and contingency planning integration with disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation considerations.

CCA-CIRCA sets the training and action planning on April 26-28, 2011. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Bicol tax collection surpasses 1st quarter target
by Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, Apr. 18 (PIA) - Despite the slowdown in the implementation of government projects during the first quarter and the transfer of some large taxpayers to the central office, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Bicol regional office was still able to surpass its higher collection target for the period January to March 2011 by P58,616,398.87.

Atty Diosdado Mendoza, BIR Bicol regional director, said the collection was 5.63 percent more than the collection goal of P1,040,254,000 when the seven revenue district offices collected a total of P1,098,870,398.87 during the period under review.
Mendoza said that although their collection was 5.63 percent over the goal it was, however, P6,884,462.22 lower than their 2010 collection for the same period.

He explained that the slight decline in their collection was due to the slowdown in the implementation of government projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and some local governments. These resulted in a big drop in collection from these agencies from P26.4 million for the same period in 2010 to only P7.22 million this year.

Mendoza added that the drop in collection this year was also due to the transfer of some large taxpayers to the large taxpayers unit in the central office like the Good Found Cement in Camalig Albay, Filminera mining in Masbate, South Star in Naga City, and the Motortrade in Daet, Camarines Norte. Thus, there was a decline in collection of the value added tax from P414.58 million for the same period last year to only P293.23 million this year, a decline by P121.35 million.

The BIR director said that despite these odds, he is confident they will be able to surpass the collection goal of P4.99 billion this year as they have done during the past four years under his leadership through the implementation of more innovative approaches. These include automation of all the seven Revenue District Offices (RDOs), the coming out of BIR Bicol’s own website, and the harnessing of the potentials of BIR Bicol’s Facebook and Twitter accounts to be able to reach out to the Bicolano taxpayers and widen tax base.(MAL/EDL, PIA V)

Iriga to speed up pension program for senior citizens
by Lizel S. Macatangay

Iriga City, April 18 (PIA) --- Pursuant to the provisions of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, the local government of this city, under the leadership of Mayor Madelaine Alfelor-Gazmen, has already started the registration process to check out qualified senior citizens who would benefit from the social pension for indigent senior citizen’s program, an endeavor also being pursued by the national government.

Gazmen said that among other sectors, the senior citizens should really be given priority in terms of the social benefits that they are entitled to. Under the amended Republic Act 9994, a monthly stipend will be allotted to the indigent senior citizens along with other assistance.

Meant to institutionalize social protection to older persons, the law also orders the provision of care and protection to sick and disabled elders. This provision also covers the impoverished senior citizens with no pension and no family support. They are also among the identified members of the society who belong to the master list of the national household targeting system for poverty reduction.

In line with this, Gazmen has ordered the office of senior citizens affairs, led by Mr. Simplicio P. Nueva, and directed acting city social welfare and development officer Teresita I. Talaguit to help possible pensioners in filling out the social pension intake form to fast track the processing of their documents.

Mr. Frank Penones, LGU Iriga information officer explained that not all senior citizens will be covered by the said program.

“Qualified beneficiaries shall be indigent senior citizens who are aged 77 years above, and not receiving any other pension from State or private insurance companies, or have permanent source of income or regular support from their relatives. As beneficiaries, they will be entitled to a monthly stipend of Five Hundred Pesos (PhP500.) starting January this year.”

Iriga City is eyeing more or less 100 beneficiaries out of the total 145,166 indigent senior citizens being targeted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development National Office nationwide. Total program allocation is pegged at PhP870,996,000.00. (PIA Camarines Sur)


Ordinance prevents jobs seekers falling prey to illegal recruiters
by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Apr. 18 (PIA)--- No longer locals here can be easy prey to illegal recruiters following the enactment of the ordinance regulating the recruitment of manpower services by authorized, accredited and licensed recruitment agencies intended for local or foreign-based workers.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here has enacted the ordinance citing that the Constitution declaring labor as a primary social economic force and mandates the protection of the rights of workers and the promotion of their welfare.

Board Member Jose Romeo Franciso, author of the approved ordinance, recalled that it has been noted that numerous Filipino workers were victimized by malpractices of recruitment agencies which prey on people’s ignorance, poverty and lack of access to information.

In which case, Francisco observed, that even without valid license or authority as stipulated under the Labor Code of the Philippines, some recruitment agencies have engaged in various acts, such as canvassing, enlisting, contracting, transporting, utilizing, hiring or procuring workers and includes referring, contract services, promising or advertising for employment, locally or abroad, whether for profit or not.

Concerned International Labor Union meanwhile has also observed the Philippines having a high rate of violation of human trafficking and illegal recruitment activities, of which, many Filipinos ended up in the hands of international drug syndicates, sex tourism or slavery and child prostitution.

"There is a dire need for the provincial government to take appropriate and stringent measures to protect its constituents against unscrupulous recruiters by way of regulating manpower recruitment activities in the locality through a vibrant, dynamic and meaningful role of the local government," also noted Joice Atutubo, provincial employment services office.

The ordinance passed is titled “An ordinance regulating the recruitment of manpower services by authorized and licensed recruitment agencies for local or abroad based workers in the province of Catanduanes.” (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)