Pagasa eyes automated weather trackers for Masbate

by Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- Old folks’ practice of gazing at the heavens to guesstimate the rain and wind may soon be a thing of the past after the government weather bureau unveiled a plan to put up several automatic weather stations(AWS) here.

If the plan does not miscarry, farmers, fishermen, businessmen, disaster risk reduction managers and practically anybody may soon be able to obtain from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) quality meteorological data, Regional Director Landrico U. Dalida Jr. of Pagasa in Southern Luzon said.

The new infrastructure is on top of the lone Pagasa station at Barangay Nursery, Masbate City, which is manned by its officer in-charge Rizza Bartolata and two assistants.

“Nag-iisa ang (Pagasa) station dito, so we’re trying our best na ma-install ang automatic weather stations,” Dalida told participants of a forum on climate change held recently at Baywalk Garden Hotel in Masbate City.

Dalida disclosed the plan in reply to a question posed by National Irrigation Administration Provincial Manager Salvador Ciudadano, who said his agency lacked facts and figures that matter in water collection and allocation, such as rainfall distribution and the level of evaporation in the province.

Information gathered by the equipment is automatically received and interpreted by software located at Pagasa’s weather forecasting center.

The AWS is unattended and should be secured from destructive elements, Dalida said.

Venus Valdemoro of Pagasa said with the weather bureau’s partnership with telecommunications firms, government can text data from AWS at no cost to subscribers.

Pagasa Acting Administrator Nathaniel Servando missed the forum but he sent a statement in which he stressed the importance of knowing the risks and impact of climate change.

“After we have assessed our local situation we can incorporate climate change adaptation into our government policies,” he said in the statement.

Provincial Administrator Agerico Aguilar said Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete was “very supportive of any activity that will enhance climate change adaptation in Masbate.”

As to the AWS, Aguilar said the provincial government was keen on doing its part to ensure the project’s implementation. (MAL/EAD, PIA Masbate)

33 new pre-school buildings, 6 under PPP, await pre-schoolers in public schools

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, June 06 (PIA)—As school opens today and commencing the K+12 program, at least 33 new school buildings wherein six of which built through private sector initiative await pre-schoolers in the Bicol region.

The Department of Education (DepEd) in the region in recent interview by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) said that 27 newly constructed classrooms were completed in time for school opening.

These school buildings are spread out in the 13 divisions equivalent to six provinces and seven cities.

DepEd’s architect Deo Moreno disclosed that each classroom is fully furnished, including a comfort room, and costs P800,000. The resource for the construction was taken from the basic education physical fund.

Meantime, the private sector organization, Pinoy Power Bicol Coalition of Volunteers Inc. (PPBCV) told PIA in recent interview it has caused the completion of three more Aklat, Gabay, Aruga Tungo sa Pag-angat at Pag-sa (AGAPP) pre-school buildings in Camarines Sur.

PPBCV President Ofelia Samar-Sy, M.D. said the brand new school buildings are located in Bato Central School, Nabua Pilot Central School and Romero Elementary School in Bula town.

AGPP is a foundation led by Presidential Sister Pinky Aquino Abellada who graced the inauguration of the first two AGAPP school building project in Barangay Tayzan, this city and Anislag in Daraga town early this year.

Another school building located at Daraga North Central School was inaugurated March 8 with another Presidential Sister Viel Aquino-Dee as guest of honor.

Dr Sy also announced that four more buildings are nearing completion. These are located in four towns in Sorsogon province, namely, Matnog, Bulan, Pilar and Donsol West districts.

Each AGAPP school costs P260,000. Though every AGAPP school has definite design by the private foundation, those constructed in Bicol was altered to typhoon-proof school buildings.

AGAPP schoolbuildings called silid-pangarap, are fully furnished classrooms cum libraries with comfort rooms.

In DepEd Memo No. 488, Education Secretary Armin Luistro urged public school officials to participate in said classroom project of AGAPP foundation. Luistro said the resources needed to achieve DepEd’s goal can be attained with help from the private sector and the civil society.

The AGAPP foundation, according to Luistro, has taken the lead to respond to DepEd’s call by designing a project that actively promotes the mobilization of the private sector resources and talents. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

Feature:

BFAR’s “Mangingisdang Direktor” program empowers fisherfolks

LEGAZPI CITY, June 6 (PIA/BFAR) -- Jesus Sumayang of Barangay Asgad, San Andres, Catanduanes has served as the fisherfolk regional director (FRD) or mangingisdang direktor of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)–Bicol for the whole month of May 2011.

For the first time since its implementation in 2005, the installation of the mangingisdang direktor was held at the home province of the elected fisherfolk leader to further promote the program to the community. All of the previous installations of the regional fisherfolk directors were held at BFAR regional office in Pili, Camarines Sur.

This fisherfolk empowerment program of BFAR is based on Department of Agriculture Special Order No. 88, series of 2005, dubbed as “Mangingisdang Direktor Para sa Mas Matatag na Balikatan” where national and regional fisherfolk leaders who have been chosen by their fellow fisherfolk leaders shall act as BFAR director at the national and regional levels for the whole month of May to highlight the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month Celebration.

FRD Sumayang is the provincial fisherfolk representative of Catanduanes and concurrently the chairperson of the Municipal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Council (MFARMC) of San Andres, Catanduanes and also the chairperson of Asgad Small Fishermen Association.

The installation activities in Virac was highlighted by a motorcade along the major streets of the capital town, release of hot-air balloons and an opening program in Capitol Dome on May 3, 2011 which were participated by the Provincial and Municipal Local Government Unit personnel of Catanduanes, fisherfolk leaders in Bicol and BFAR-5 employees.The ceremonial turn-over of the BFAR key to FRD Jesus Sumayang was officiated by BFAR-5 Assistant Regional Director Marjurie Grutas on behalf of Regional Director Dennis del Socorro. This was witnessed by Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua and San Andres Mayor Antonio Romano.

Likewise, a ceremonial turn-over of an office space for the BFAR provincial fisheries office in Catanduanes by Governor Cua followed. In the afternoon, the provincial tilapia hatchery & nursery was launched in Simamla, Virac.

Aside from the installation, the week-long celebration in the province was filled with other activities that included a provincial MFARMC conference with the MPDO’s, MPDC’s, SB chairs on agriculture and fisheries and mayors and the different national government agencies (NGA’s) involved in the formation of FARMCs and a techno-fora on fisheries attended by municipal agriculture officers, agriculture technicians, MFARMC chairpersons, students and other sectors of the community.

Topics discussed were: the status of coral reef in the Philippines, coral reef rehabilitation using coral reef transplantation with grouper &seaweed cultivation, BFAR-5 food safety &quality assurance for fishery and aquaculture products, and aquaculture technologies on mudcrab culture, mudcrab fattening, and seaweed farming (kappaphycus).Moreover, coastal clean-up was held at Salvacion, San Andres, Catanduanes with participants from the LGU and BFAR-5.

“I was surprised when I was chosen as the Mangingisdang Direktor for this year. Maybe, my love of fishing put me in the position. If I am not a fisherman, I will not be here. I will not forget this experience,” Sumayang humbly said in the local dialect.

Annually, BFAR is providing the fisherfolk director with sets of office uniforms, travelling allowance, service vehicle, an office staff and documenter.

Sumayang revealed that his life has changed when he started his stint as Mangingisdang Direktor. He now wears office attire and meets regularly with officials and employees of the government and media personnel. As a mere fisherman, he takes on the role of a BFAR director in the implementation and dissemination of key programs of the agency.

“With my experience here in the office, I can explain now to my fellow fisherfolk that their request for assistance regarding fisheries cannot be easily granted to them because there are procedures to be followed so they just have to wait because the office is also doing its best to help them,” Sumayang explained.

He hopes that his plan of granting banca and gillnets to the marginalized fisherfolk will soon materialize even if his term comes to an end.

On the other hand, Regional Director Dennis del Socorro engages in community immersion in different parts of Bicol Region while he vacates his office for the fisherfolk director’s one month tenure.

The culminating activity will be conducted in Masbate City this June with other activities such as Techno-Caravan and Management Conference of BFAR-5. (MAL/ KHilotin, BFAR V)