UN launches 'Protect My School' Campaign
by Joyce M. Mejillano

LEGAZPI CITY, May 23 (PIA) --- In an effort to protect schools and hospitals against violence, especially during armed conflicts, the German Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) has recently launched "Protect My School" campaign.

The campaign aims to deter violence committed against educational and health facilities especially in war-torn areas around the world.

The UN, in cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), calls for submission of photographs, drawings or audio files that state why these facilities, especially schools deserve protection.

Contributed materials will become part of the position paper of Germany who intends to submit a draft resolution to UN Security Council during the German Presidency in July.

According to the institutions' website, www.protectmyschool.diplo.de, the resolution aimed "to establish an additional trigger to name and shame those who disregard the human rights of children in armed conflicts."

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) earlier noted that in war-torn countries, attacks on educational institutions can be devastating and 40% of 77 million children in the world who are not attending schools came from conflict laden countries.

Submissions should be emailed to protectmyschool@newy.diplo.de on or before June 10, 2011. UN will also conduct a preparatory meeting on June 27, 2011, where a slideshow of submissions will be also presented. (MAL/JMM, PIA V)

Bac-Man power plant pushes for Clean Development Mechanism registration
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, May 23 (PIA) --- The Bac-Man Geothermal Inc. (BGI) has presented in a stakeholders’ interfacing its power plant complex rehabilitation acquisition project and compliance measures to register for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Eduardo Jimenez, supervisor of Energy Development Corporation -Community Partnerships Department (EDC-CPD), said that BGI as its subsidiary, hopes to register the company with the CDM-UNFCCC which serves as the governing rule observed under the Kyoto Protocols for the operation of geothermal power plants.

The consultation meeting will also provide the various stakeholders within the 9 hosts barangays the current situation and the improvements made within the power plant complex to ensure that the current protocols of UNFCCC are complied with.

It can be recalled that the BGI, formerly known as the National Power Corporation (NPC), power plant complex has been out of operation for almost 3 years after having been heavily damaged by two succeeding typhoons in 2007, Milenyo and Reming, and the usual wear and tear conditions incurred due to the length of its existence since its commissioning way back in 1995.

Jimenez said that part of the BGI's and EDC's thrust under the new administration is to provide the various stakeholders the current situation and rehabilitations implemented under the administration of the FirstGen.

The plant after its full rehabilitation will be considered now on its best tip-top condition following the state of the art conditions implemented in other countries using geothermal power.

The rehabilitation of the power plant is also in conformity with the new global trends particularly giving more emphasis on environmental sustainability conditionalities and based on the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR.

"With the hiring of highly skilled and knowledgeable consultants coming from various countries implementing geothermal power plants focusing on high - technology advancement and more environmentally updated mitigating measures installed as to the processes of its operations, it is best to provide the various stakeholders of the province of Albay and Sorsogon how conscious we are at EDC and BGI to make this project compliant to the policies of the UNFCCC," according to Jimenez.

The project aims to produce renewable energy using indigenous geothermal steam thereby reducing the use of non-renewable fossil fuels for power generation.

"The newly rehabilitated BGI power plant complex is an assurance to contribute towards the Philippine sustainable development policy on clean environment and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. This consultation meeting will also validate the project's purpose for CDM registration ", Jimenez disclosed.

More than a hundred participants attended the consultation meeting comprising of local government officials from the host communities, national government line agencies, non-governmental organizations and representatives from the city and provincial governments of Albay and Sorsogon.

Marie Emerose M. Devilles of the EDC/BGI said the registration of the BGI rehabilitation project to the CDM is an agreement among industrialized nations calling for worldwide reduction of emission of greenhouse gases by an average of 5.2 percent below 1990 levels from year 2008 to 2012 resulting approximately 20 percent below what they would have the if the protocol had not been in place.

In the stakeholders meeting, BGI has presented their rehabilitation activities conducted and their registration to the CMD will help offset their acquisition rehabilitation cost incurred.

According to Davilles the CMD under the Kyoto protocol will give Certified Emission Reduction (CER) Certificates which is equivalent to the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that is reduced by the project.

She further explained that the CER can be sold to countries that ratified the Kyoto Protocol to improve the project economics of capital intensive projects like Bac-Man Power Plant Rehabilitation. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


Magallanes shares best practices on solid waste mgm't program implementation
by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, May 23 (PIA) --- Engr. Regino Carrascal of the local government of Magallanes, during the just concluded meeting of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board here, shared how their municipality has implemented the Solid Waste Management Program and its current milestones.

In his presentation, he underscored the conversion of the municipal waste disposal area into an Eco Park now being enjoyed by some of the locals who frequents the area and now being programmed by the local government to become a forested area to be continuously planted by students with fruit bearing trees and other shade trees.

Vice Mayor Augusto Ragrario said that the Sanggunian Bayan of Magallanes has a pending Municipal Ordinance regarding the banning of the use of plastics and other non-biodegradable materials now forwarded to the Sanggunian Panlalawigan for review and a committee hearing has been conducted way back 2010.

He further stressed that it was hold in abeyance since specification of what plastics should be banned be specifically identified.

Engr. Maribeth Fruto, provincial government head of the provincial Environment and Natural Resources said that in the same manner the PSWMB has submitted to the provincial SP a resolution regulating the use of plastics and that they were also advised to categorically identify the plastics to be banned or regulated.

The LGU of Magallanes reported that in their implementation of the SWM program, a regular monitoring and evaluation is conducted focusing on the establishments of more material recovery facilities to help those who are engaging in the gathering of recyclables and reusables as a form of livelihood.

Carrascal said that they have also established a chamber for the non-biodegradable materials recovered and this waste will be processed to come up with residual wastes.

A Waste Analysis and Characterization System (WACS) was also included in their Action Plan for 2011 according to Carrascal. This will help the municipal solid waste management board draw policies on how to manage their waste in a more realistic manner and that the municipality is more on the implementation of waste reduction.

With the report provided by Carrascal, the Department of Public Highways 2nd Engineering District through Engr. Edgar M. curativo said that the non-biodegradable will be experimented to combine with asphalt as an admixture materials for the repair and maintenance of roads specially in asphalt overlay. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


Councilors League, DILG conduct training on local legislation and administrative investigation
by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 23 (PIA) --- The Philippine Councillors League-Catanduanes chapter in coordination with the Department of the Interior & Local Government (DILG) conducted the training on Local Legislation and Administrative Investigation and Procedures for the new sets of sangguniang bayan members in the province of Catanduanes last May 18-20, 2011 at Twin Rock Beach Resort at Igang Virac, Catanduanes.

The sanggunian under the 1991 local government code enjoys administrative and operational independence. It has the exclusive mandate to legislate and at the same time conduct an investigation whenever an administrative complaint is filed against elective officials.

As a legislative body, the Sanggunian must possess the necessary legislative skills and knowledge to ensure the implementation of meaningful local autonomy and good governance.

In the exercise of its quasi-judicial functions, the sanggunian plays the role of a judge and juror who should know the rudiments of due process and fair play in determining the guilt or innocence of the respondent.

Specifically the participants were able to learn the salient features of the local government code, local legislation and administrative investigation.

Topics discussed include the basic principle and policies of decentralization; basic services and facilities; local government finance; development planning; concepts of local legislation; parliamentary rules and procedures; local legislative process/review; legislative agenda for development; concepts of administrative investigation; process of disciplinary action; jurisdiction/ disciplinary authority/ penalties/ decision/execution and appeal.

The activity was attended by a total of 146 participants (mayors, sangguniang bayan members, sanggunian secretaries and staff. (PIA Catanduanes)


Camarines Sur organizes AIDS council, intensifies measures to prevent infection
by Lizel S. Macatangay

CADLAN, Pili, Camarines Sur, May 23 (PIA) -- Camarines Sur provincial government has recently created the Provincial AIDS Awareness, Prevention and Control Council to address the threat of AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) at the same time envisions an AIDS-free and any form of sexually-transmitted diseases province.

Gov. LRay Villafuerte and the provincial legislative body fully support the program by approving a provincial ordinance adopting the creation of the council and measures in pursuit of the goals of the program.

Said undertaking is also in concurrence to the provision from the Philippine Constitution emphasizing the protection and promotion of the right to health of the people.

Republic Act 8504 or the “Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998” also mandates that “all Local Government Units shall conduct an educational and information campaign on HIV/AIDS: and in coordination and in cooperation with concerned government agencies, non-government organizations, persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS and groups most at risk of HIV infections, shall provide community-based HIV/AIDS prevention and care services.”

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) meanwhile also jointly issued a memorandum circular to provide guidelines in the formation of regional AIDS assistance teams or RAATS and strengthening the interface and coordination among their offices in the complementation of their campaign against HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Alan Lucañas, regional STI/ HIV AIDS coordinator of the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol, revealed during the AIDS council meeting held here on May 17, that 48 cases of HIV/AIDS were recorded in the Bicol Region, 21 of them came from Camarines Sur.

The data from the National Epidemiology Center also bared that out of the 48 cases, seven has full blown AIDS - six of them already died, while the remaining one is still battling the disease.

The Provincial AIDS Council which will be composed of various government agencies to head various committees, with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Camarines Sur and Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas or KBP leading the Information and Education Committee, while DOH will lead the Health Care and Support Service Committee.

DILG will lead the Coordination and Networking Committee and the Provincial Health Office for the Monitoring and Surveillance.

The council intends to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS and raise the awareness of the populace on how to prevent the occurrence of new HIV infections by ensuring access to HIV Treatment and accurate information. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)


Senior citizens get P500 yearly assistance, own ward
by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 23 (PIA)--- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has asked for the approval of an ordinance from Governor Joseph C. Cua P500 yearly cash assistance to medically sick senior citizens in the province.

The Ordinance No. which 002-2011 was authored by PBM Rafael Zuniega provides for the grant of the cash assistance to senior citizens duly registered with their respective Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

They may avail of the cash assistance once every year, starting from the effectivity of the said ordinance, irrespective of the frequency of their hospitalization or medical check-ups. The assistance shall be given each registered member up to three times, provided that 12 months have already elapsed after the availment of the last grant.

The assistance shall be taken from the annual lump sum appropriation for senior citizens equivalent to one (1%) percent of the Annual Budget of the province of Catanduanes upon authorization of the SP, acting on the endorsement of the OSCA, the provincial government and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

The provincial board also passed a resolution sponsored by PBM Wilfredo Santelices encouraging all chiefs of hospitals of Catanduanes to establish a senior citizens’ ward as mandated by the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010. (PIA Catanduanes)