'Visit to Daet 2012' launched to boost tourism

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Jan 6 (PIA) -– The “Visit to Daet” V2D or Balikbayan Year was launched here Monday (January 3) by lining up a host of activities to boost tourism in the town led by Mayor Tito Sarion and the Sangguniang Bayan members.

Mayor Tito Sarion said that different activities lined up for every month for the year 2012 centered on encouraging tourists and former residents to visit Daet especially the Bagasbas Beach which is known for surfing.

A flag raising ceremony was conducted Monday led by Mayor Sarion followed by raising of “Visit to Daet” flags and presentation of “Bisitahin Mo Ang Daet dance interpretation, luncheon meeting, launching of V2D music video, and organization of Daet Press Corps who will lead in the information dissemination for the activities of the V2D.

A consultation meeting with the transport sector and hotel and restaurant establishments owners were conducted Tuesday and a consultation conference with the market stall holders and Daet Public Market Advisory Council was held yesterday regarding the establishment of a mall in the market.

A consultation conference with the non-government organizations, people’s organizations and agricultural sectors was held today.

Tomorrow will be the Three Kings parade and gift giving to the indigents of Daet to be followed by a New Year’s call through a barangay officials assemby, thanksgiving mass, blessing of taxpayers’ lounge, and awarding of top Taxpayers of Daet.

A mid term report of Mayor Sarion to the Sangguniang Bayan will be held on Monday (January 9) together with the distribution of V2D catalogue and a conference with Education sector and academe. (MAL/RBM-PIA Camarines Norte)

CIRCA ends 2011 with a blast

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 6 (PIA) –- The Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) bids goodbye to a fruitful 2011 as they release their Top 25 achievements for the year.

Considered as one of the biggest projects ever launched is the inauguration of the Climate Change Academy last November 25 beside the BU Graduate School which, according to CIRCA director Nong Rangasa, is the prize of unwavering belief to deliver service amidst drawbacks, meager wages, and lots of frustrations especially when they lack the needed logistical support.

“Looking at the academy, we can proudly say that this is the product of the sweat of our brows,” Rangasa added.

Together with the inauguration of the CCA building is the 1st National Media Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, with both events graced by President Benigno Aquino III.

Officials of 100 barangays comprising the municipalities of Manito, Bacacay, and Rapu-Rapu were taught on how to come up with barangay contingency plans. Likewise, the trainers themselves received training from the Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in preparation for the mainstreaming of climate change integration into the school curriculum of Albay and Bicol Region.

Partnership with various government and non-government units in both local and international levels such as the United Nations System and League of provinces, cities, and municipalities of the Philippines were also established through summits, assemblies, and fora conducted in 2011.

Nevertheless, Rangasa said that the challenge now is how to surpass their 2011 achievements. Following this, plans are being laid down for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Motivated by CIRCA’s renewed hope and enthusiasm, Albay can continue to be of service not only to the province but to the entire country as well, Rangasa furthered. (MAL/SAA-PIA V/Albay)

Sorsogon City to implement synchronized barangay patrol system

by Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 6 (PIA) –- Sorsogon City police chief PSupt Edgardo Ardales said that the city police is now in the process of synchronizing the barangay patrol system among barangay tanods and the Philippine National Police (PNP) force to ensure peace, order and security in all barangays here.

“The responsibility of ensuring peace and security in the barangay lies primarily on barangay officials and barangay police (tanod), and men of PNP is at all time available to render service to the general public according to their mandate and ensure that the whole community is secured and free from all forms of harm."

Ardales bared that among his plans and priorities for 2012 is to hold dialogue with all barangay officials across the city to discuss with them some crime mitigation efforts and forge partnership with them in order to make sure that the efforts as planned and implemented will not be put to waste.

“I am planning of entering into an agreement with barangay officials and tanods in terms of a systematic implementation of a patrol system where tanods and policemen assigned in the area will take turns ensuring that no areas will be left unattended to,” the official said.

He also specifically mentioned that electrification in dark areas and the visibility of barangay tanods through the assistance of PNP personnel in the area are a must in all barangays.

He likewise said he wanted to know the difficulties experienced by the barangay police in patrolling or conducting rounds especially that reports have reached his office that some barangays in the city do not really have existing barangay tanods.(MAL/BAR, PIA Sorsogon)

Sorsogon City children’s park and wellness center in the pipeline

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 6 (PIA) -- Sorsogon City will be uplifting the landscape of the area by including a Children’s Park and Wellness Center beside the city hall by 2012.

According to Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic R. Deoneda, the proposed Children’s Park will have a more environmentally sound feature - the existing trees will be retained, more greenery will be provided, and there will be more open space to allow children to play in a safe area.

Deoneda said that the open space in front of the city hall has become a favorite spot for families; it has become one of the best areas most visited.

People who love to brisk walk in the mornings and even in the evenings, those who exercise, or just to stroll have been using the open space near the city hall.

“I have seen that there is still a need to have more open space to allow people within the city enjoy their morning or afternoon walks and I have also seen the park in front the city hall now become a family bonding place especially during Saturdays and Sundays,” he said.

“The need to have additional separate park for the children where they can enjoy and at the same time be safe is now part of the urban planning mechanism to address the need to create safer cities and Sorsogon City is one of the emerging cities now that has heeded this call,” he said.

"The Wellness Center will also allow people of all ages to have physical exercise in an area big enough to accommodate people who would like to flex their muscles for stamina and health development and maintenance,” he said.

The direction of the city is now towards the human development and environmental conservation so that all facilities and structures that will be constructed will conform to address wellness and the effects of climate change.

He also said that there are still other projects in the pipeline for 2012 to include smoother traffic flow, management of solid wastes, creation of safer facilities for work, enjoyment and other activities, and development that conforms to the global needs as a way to implement good governance.

He also said that such infrastructure or development like parks and centers will always be in synch with the climate change adaptation and mitigation mechanism as this is now the in thing in developing cities.

He also underscored the need for the constituency to help him in becoming aware of how to safeguard these facilities being provided by the city government and take good care of them as if its their own.(MAL/IAG-PIA Sorsogon)

Rice sufficient until June in Camarines Norte - NFA

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Jan 6 (PIA) -- The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office here assures that there is sufficient supply of rice that will last until June this year despite typhoons and rainy conditions during the last quarter last year and early days this year.

NFA Camarines Norte provincial manager Jose Danilo Nieves said that there are 102,400 bags of palay and 27,000 bags of rice in their warehouses that will last until the middle of this year.

He said that the target consumption for the first semester is only 77,000 bags of rice and there are farmers who are regularly selling their palay during harvest season.

The NFA bought the palay at P17 per kilo with incentives to farmers who are members of organizations in the province.

NFA rice cost P27 per kilo and available at the bigasang bayan in the markets, tindahan natin, and in some parish churches.

They also continue their monitoring in the price of rice in the all the markets here to ensure that no increase in the price of rice in the province. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)