Paje vows to purge mining industry in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, July 1 (PAI/DENR) -- Mining speculators will be stamped out for good to safeguard the legitimate mining industry players in Bicol region.

Environment Sec. Ramon Paje has assured the Bikolanos that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has made its move against unscrupulous mining speculators by strict implementation of the “use it or lose it” policy.

“President Aquino’s order is to cleanse the mining industry with all non-compliant projects, we will never compromise environmental protection, and we are mining to progress not to ruin our communities or our environment” Sec. Paje emphasized during a recently concluded Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) Forum aired at Radyo ng Bayan nationwide.

Secretary Paje confirmed that 1,148 mining applications were already cancelled by DENR since the implementation of the “use it or lose it” policy.

Paje criticized scheming speculators that made claims over mining tenements which they hardly managed properly or put an investment to, instead used it as an opportunistic tool in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to raise their stock prizes. “The government’s focus is to help real miners, and get rid of speculators in this industry,” he added.

The environment chief however warned “if a company will venture into mining, it should be compliant to environmental laws, clean and pollution-free, since the president requires us to cleanse this industry.”

Engr. Ricardo P. Nacional, chief, Mine Management Division of MGB Bicol disclosed that 153 aging/pending mining applications were stricken out while 11 others were endorsed to the central office for further action. “MGB Bicol has 85 per cent compliance of the “use it or lose it” policy,” he averred.

Nacional said by end of the second quarter at least 194 mining speculators will be weeded out from 2,180 mining tenement applications in the region.

Mining tenements include mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA), exploration permit (EP) and financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA).

Under the “use it or lose it” policy, exploration contracts that have already expired for five years or more and mining contracts that have not implemented the three-year work program for two consecutive years are also subject of final action by the DENR. (MAL/JSBasanta, DENR V)

Sorsogon campaigns for Puerto Princesa underground river to the 7 Wonders of Nature

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- Presidential Proclamation No. 182 (PP No 182), declaring a National and International Promotion Campaign for Puerto Princesa Underground River as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature is now a a provincial campaign here in the province of Sorsogon through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) supported by all media outlets.

To awaken the sense of national pride of Filipinos to be cognizant of their own natural resources and given one of the best natural ecotourism sites in our country, PIA Sorsogon has spearheaded the information dissemination campaign through a radio interview this morning at PBN- DZMS in Bangerahan with Reline Defeo-Arallano as anchor for the PPUR text voting and by sending it to 6852 which will automatically vote for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The Proclamation also underscored that it intends to awaken the sense of patriotism and national pride of the 30 million Filipino internet users and 77 million Filipino mobile subscribers.

To those who have done the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Cruise, it is one of the most awesome eye- strucking experience to find out and see how nature has made a very amazing brush strokes of colors , shapes and forms naturally etched out of the stalactites and stalagmites. How million of birds inside the cave can make beautiful blended squeaking sounds. The river cruise significantly is one memory of God's great grandeur.

PIA Sorsogon will also gather email addresses and mobile phone numbers that will be forwarded to PIA Regional Operation Department as a support to gather votes and drumbeat the campaign here.

It has been stressed out that the PNoy administration hopes to engage local communities to really be aware of the best natural tourism destinations in the country that will propel economic returns and highlight interesting local activities

Simple procedure was disseminated by PIA to all local media outlets, local government units, non-governmental organizations, schools and almost all agencies and entities so that the PPUR voting launch for the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park be one tourism voice here in the province.

PIA will coordinate with the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council (SPTC), City and Municipal Tourism Councils and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee chair on Tourism, Hon. Eric Ravanilla to really make a statement of solidarity in this national campaign.

This PPUR text voting starts this June and results of the New 7 Wonders of Nature will be known this November 11, 2011. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

DTI conducts gift giving, Pili tree planting

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 2 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) conducted an early gift-giving activity in time for the opening of classes late last month in Barangay Sto. Cristo, this municipality.

60 students of Santo Cristo Elementary School were given a gift of caragumoy bags complete with school supplies and 12 teachers were also given caragumoy bags.

Meanwhile, Pili tree planting activity was done inside the school campus as part of the “Plant a Tree Program” of DTI-CARP.

Launched last year, the program focused on Pili tree distribution giving out 1,670 trees so far to its conduit groups and enterprises. This activity is meant to address the concern on supply sufficiency to support the growing pilinut processing industry.

In her visit to the province on June 10, DTI 5 Regional Director Jocelyn LB Blanco, assisted by PD Ireneo B. Panti Jr. of DTI Catanduanes distributed the gift packages in Santo Cristo Elementary School.

Among those that came along to witness the gift giving and join the pili tree planting activity afterwards, were PBM Neil Asansa, Virac Councilor Rene Abella and the barangay officials of Santo Cristo headed by Barangay Captain Simeon Poniado.

Santo Cristo Elementary School was selected as beneficiary when it came to the attention of DTI that pupils in said school were using common plastic grocery bags as their school bags due to plain neediness. Santo Cristo is one of the conduit communities of DTI-CARP.

Among those who have taken part in planting the pili trees in the 1st quarter of 2011 were: Buyo Caragumoy Products Producers Association (800), Calabnigan Farmers Association (100), Manambrag Abaca Hammock Makers Association (100), San Andres Slippers Association (200), Patagan Abaca Craft Makers Association (100), Biong Farmers Multi-Purpose Coop. (100), Burac Central Weavers Association (170) and Buenavista Crafts Makers (100). The activity was coordinated in the respective barangay councils. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Feature:

More working moms, number of male workers stand still in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, July 1 (PIA) -- Female workers in Bicol is on the rise while the number of male workers is on a stand still.

This came out after employment experts from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here recently studied the ‘employment trending’ in the region from 2009 up to the early quarter of this year.

Generally, more and more females are up for a job or employment, a trend that in a deeply cultured region, has yet experienced in the early years.

The rise of female workers was actually first seen by DOLE Bicol in the later part of 2009, during the onset of the Global Financial Crisis, wherein female household members and mostly “moms” are going ‘out of the shelves’ to look for a job in pursuit to help their husbands.

DOLE Bicol, in its series of sponsored jobs fairs, has recorded 11,591 female applicants in 2009, 11,093 in 2010 and consequently 5,489 applicants from January to May this year.

Combined this would yield a total of 28,173 female applicants which is only about 0.77% less than the total male applicants of 36,373 -- just a little few to be almost at par with the macho genes. A data never before seen in Bicol.

Records also show that in the formal sector workplace, female applicants are more favored than male applicants. Establishments in Bicol region, especially those in the category of services like restaurants and malls or those that require front line services, whether big or small, would prefer female than male workers. A phenomenon that stirs Bicolana women to take advantage of the job opportunities being made readily available for them.

In fact, from 2009 up to press time, there were 10,329 females hired.

Gina Bermas Echaluce, 38-years old , married with 3 kids and manager of Globalink Co., a local chain of internet café here, with a total workforce of 5 males and 10 females, said that she prefers to hire the latter.

“Hahaha! Of course I prefer females specially when it comes to paper works. But there are tasks, like the technical stuff that only males can do, so I still hire them (chuckles)” she added.

An HR manager of a large company in Albay, known for its female front liners, outlines the reason why they prefer female workers like the females patience, ability to adopt, most of the time giving and sheepish not arrogant, easily trained, attention to details and most importantly being ‘easy to handle’.

Meanwhile, services establishments like to hire female employees due to its additional ‘ads’ value. Owners claim that their business is ‘better’ if they have a female employees specially the cute ones.

“Before I had more guys here then I tried hiring a female then whala! Suddenly my business booms. I duno perhaps its (female employees) a natural advertising” A local shop owner who does not want to be named blurted.

POEA and OWWA Bicol also recorded an increase in the number of females and ‘moms’ going abroad to work.

OWWA Bicol’s data dated 27 June recorded, a remarkable 27,284 females, mostly ‘moms’, working as land based OFWs abroad which is 0.56% higher than the 15,529 recorded male land based OFWs. In 2010, female OFWs are also higher than male which OWWA recorded at 26,029 land based female OFWs compared to only 14,921 land based male OFWs. The female OFWs work either as domestic helpers (DH), nurses, caregivers etc. DH however is still the highest OFW placement for Bicolanos. The 2nd is nurses which is also a female led work environment. This, DOLE said, can be attributed to the need to earn money to support their families.

While DOLE Bicol is quite ‘happy’ about this workforce trend, the office is also somewhat ‘disturbed’ of the underlying circumstances that may come into the so-called parenting issue vis-à-vis the slow death of the old Bicolano tradition and notion that the husbands work and the wives stay home to care for children.

“This trend can be both good and bad. Good, because if both parents are earning then there is more financial freedom for the family. Bad, because children will be left to nanny’s or other family members earlier without the supervision of parents.” DOLE Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor said.

Rodrigo Alcoy, 47-years old, DOLE Bicol’s messenger, a father of four and a husband to a Hongkong OFW wife, said that if only he had more income he would not have permitted his wife to leave home. “Lalo na sa mga bata, iba pa din pag may nanay sa bahay…kung di lang talaga kailangan, nungka!” he shared.

Bicolano critics however are wary of this trend. They said that while a family may be financially stable, the upbringing of the children will be compromised. They said that this trend may bring more evil than good and that they prefer to keep the old notion that women, specially moms, must stay home to care for the children.

Some concerned groups are even pointing to working parents as the main culprit in teenage juvenile delinquency. But this, DOLE said, is not verified. “There might be a truth regarding this accusation but it should be supported by studies and researches. Parents want the best for their children and the best can be given if it is backed up financially. Working means having more financial freedom for the family. What working parents need is quality time for their kids” DOLE Bicol assistant regional director Irma S. Valiente, a working mom herself said.

John Ariate, 18-years old, a student of STI College taking up Diploma in IT, said that he prefers his mom to be around to ‘raise’ him and his 3 siblings rather than to work. He said that the time of his ‘mom’ with them is priceless and can never be replaced by money.

He also said that when he was small, he misses his mom every time she would leave for work. “Iba po syempre pag nandiyan ang nanay. Syempre na ga-guide talaga yung mga bata kaya hindi magiging pasaway.” He added.

DOLE Bicol alone is a living proof of this female phenomenon with males being outnumbered at a ratio of 2:1. Currently, the office has a total of 66 workforce with 44 females and only 22 males.

Malls and drugstores in the region share almost the same ratio of men and women workers while service establishments like restaurants and food chains have a higher women workforce.

“The issue here is not about women or men power, but the relevance of employment in the lives of the Bicolanos. More and more Bicolanos are now open in finding jobs and this is the challenge to us, DOLE, to provide decent jobs to these new breed of workers.” Villamor added. (MAL/RPE, DOLE V)