NSO reports reveal more male deaths than females
LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- There is more registered male deaths compared to females as revealed in the latest data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) here.
Out of the total 8, 272 deaths registered in Albay during 2011, 4, 739 or 57 percent are males and 3, 533 or 43 percent are females.
This city exhibited the highest registered death of 1, 732 comprising of 997 males and 735 females, followed by Daraga and Tabaco City with 1, 504 and 872 deaths respectively. The municipality of Jovellar had the least registered deaths of 85.
NSO noted lesser registered death from ages 0 -14. However as the age increases, the number of deaths likewise increases. At ages 60 and over, the rate abruptly increases with 2, 492 males and 2, 230 females or 57.05 percent of the total registered deaths.
Top 4 causes of the said recorded deaths are Pneumonia, Cardiac Arrest, heart attack and other cerebrovascular diseases like stroke.
Meanwhile, a total number of 26, 240 births were registered in Albay for 2011. Male births with 13, 741 were higher by 1, 242 than that of females with 12, 499 live births.
The top 3 municipalities with the highest number of live births are Legazpi City with 5,311, Daraga with 3, 712 and Ligao City with 2, 906.
For the monthly birth registration, September had the highest number of registered live births with December having the least births at 1, 232. NSO said that the live births for December are registered in the next months and are not yet included in the data.
NSO also noted that births attended by hilots are the most prevalent practice in Albay for 2011 with 8,789 deliveries or 33.49 percent of the total registered live births. Physicians follow with 8,660 or 33.0 percent. Midwives ranked third in preference with 8, 044 or 30.66 percent.
Furthermore, teenage mothers contributed 2, 328 or 33.33 percent births. Five births of which are born from mothers with age younger than 15 years old.
Mothers with ages 20 -24, which NSO noted as the peak age for giving birth, contributed 7,285 live births.(MAL/SAA, PIA V/Albay)
PHL-US Pacific Angel 12-1 humanitarian mission
In Albay, Mar 5-10
LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- More than 10,000 Albayanos are expected to benefit from free medical, health, and psychosocial related services while several schools and public utility structures in the province will be rehabilitated through the joint Phl-US Pacific Angel 12-1 humanitarian mission on March 5 to 10.
In a conference Monday, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said all preparations are in place for the humanitarian mission that will provide health, medical and psychosocial services, engineering civic action projects, lectures, and interfacing on disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA).
Salceda said the US Pacific Command in the Pacific area will lead the teams of medical and dental health practitioners, engineers, and workers, among others, while similar contingents from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), other partner government and private institutions will provide support to the mission.
Albay’s DRRM and CCA authorities, according to the governor, will also be discussing with their counterparts in the US and other cooperating contingents the province’s expertise and experiences that are globally known in pursuit of an effective disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation initiatives.
He said the humanitarian mission is aimed at improving cooperation between national and local governments, military, international organizations, and non-government organizations in responding to disasters.
Albay is one of the most disaster-prone areas in the country yet has so many success stories to share on carrying out DRRM and CCA programs and strategies including the institutionalization of civil-military cooperation in disaster preparedness and response.
Salceda furthered this year’s mission is the third in four years that Albay was selected as a venue for this kind of humanitarian mission, citing that similar events were also already held by the USS Peleliu in 2007 and RP-US Balikatan in 2009.
Meanwhile, US Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Black of the US Pacific Command stressed the event is not a military combat exercise, but purely humanitarian, civic assistance and capacity building efforts.
Black said some 81 US personnel, composed of medical and engineering team, including two doctors from the Republic of Cambodia Armed Forces and two military observers from Tonga on board the US Air Force C-17 military transport aircraft would arrive at the Legazpi Airport on March 1, this year for the six-day humanitarian mission in Albay.
The activities are limited to health services, engineering civic action projects, lectures, and interfacing on DRRM and CCA.
Areas covered by the humanitarian mission include Barangays Tagas and Binitayan in Daraga; Arandurugan social hall in Guinobatan, municipal gymnasium in Sto Domingo; Barangays Bigaa and Lamba in this city.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army (PA) said security measures are in place to safeguard all participants of the humanitarian activities. (MAL-PIA V/Albay)
Albay bans use of plastic bags, styrofoam and synthetic materials in packaging
LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- Starting June this year, commercial establishments across Albay would be prohibited to use plastic bags, styrofoams, and other synthetic materials as packaging materials for goods sold to the public.
The regulation on the use of plastic will be implemented in accordance Provincial Ordinance 2011-3 passed and signed by Albay Governor Joey Salceda on Feb. 21, 2011.
Board Member Arnold Embestro, chairperson of the Committee on Environment of the Sangguninang Panlalawigan of Albay, said the ban on plastics would take effect on June after the local body lifted the one-year moratorium given to commercial establishments in the 15 towns and three cities of the province.
Albay is the first province in Bicol to pass an ordinance banning the use of plastic bags, styrofoams, and other synthetic materials that are harmful to the environment.
Under the ordinance, owners of groceries, department stores, supermarkets, chain retailers including sari-sari stores are directed not to use plastic, styrofoam, and synthetic materials as packaging or bags for goods sold to customers.
Embestro also appealed to the public to instead use or bring during shopping alternative bags made of paper, cloth, abaca, buri, and other recyclable and environment friendly materials.
The ordinance carries a penalty for violators fine ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 including the cancellation of the business permit.
The local sanggunian and other enforcement agencies already met with owners of various commercial establishments discussing the salient features of the ordinance.
Plastic bags end up as litter that find their way into waterways, river channels, parks, beaches, and streets. Once burned, plastics also infuse the air with toxic fumes. These materials are non-biodegradable and can only decompose after about 400 years bringing bad effects to the environment. (MAL-PIA V/Albay)
Catanduanes bats for typhoon-proof, renewable energy-powered housing
LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Catanduanes is putting in place a housing program featuring weather-resistant houses powered by renewable energy.
“We are initiating the implementation of the housing project that would provide affordable and safe homes to government employees and Home Development Mutual Fund (PagIbig) members in the province,” Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua told the Philippines News Agency here over the weekend.
Catanduanes is a third class Bicol province wheresits at the middle of Philippine Sea and serves as the eastern gateway of typhoons developing within the Pacific Ocean.
The province also sits in an earthquake vulnerable area being along the Philippine Trench, a major fault considered as potential earthquake generator. An earthquake and tsunami hazard map prepared by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) listed 10 of the 11 municipalities of the province as prone to these disasters.
The green technology housing project will be in collaboration with the local government of Virac, the provincial capital as the project site is Barangay Sto. Domingo of this first class municipality.
Under this collaboration, employees of the local government of Virac will also be covered by the program and given slots in the four-hectare housing site, the governor said.
The project will introduce replicable strategies in building technology that provides for housing units capable of withstanding strong typhoons and using green designs and engineering techniques, according to Cua, himself a civil engineer.
As typhoon and earthquake-proof structures, the housing units would be single-detached, two-level duplex and low-cost modular studio-type row houses that can withstand wind speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and magnitude 8 earthquakes, Cua said.
In green housing technology, he said the project will apply new approaches in renewable energy applications and waste management initiatives for the achievement of ecological integrity in mass housing projects.
It will also pioneer a sustainable home-owner livelihood programs with low cost energy that would be made available through renewable sources such as hydro plants and solar and wind powered electricity generators.
Electricity in the province is so scarce and expensive as its main suppliers are diesel-driven generator sets being operated by the National Power Corporation (NPC) under its Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) that charges exorbitant rates.
The housing project, Cua said will introduce and feature renewable energy such as solar panel for each household unit and off-grid wind and solar power for its water supply pump.
Solid waste disposable, biogas digester or anaerobic buffered reactor (ABR), composting, collection and processing of non-biodegradable waste in materials recovery facility (MRF) and waste water disposal, storm water and brown eater treatment before disposal will also be put in place, he said.
Qualified to avail the program, he said are permanent government employees with at least P3,000 net take home pay after deducting the probable monthly amortization of the housing loan or with at least 40 percent disposable income.
PagIbig members should satisfy eligibility requirements for housing loan application, the governor added. (MAL/DCA, Legazpi City)
Water firm, BFP steps up drive on water conservation
by Irma A. Guhit
SORSOGON CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) headquarters here, together with Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD), enjoined the public to be aware on conservation of water and show concern to report leaks in their areas especially on the onset of summer season.
SCWD manager Engr. Rolando Borbono requested the public to report water leaks and at the same time illegal water connections as a way to cut down on water losses and pilferage usually being paid by the consuming public and charged in their water bills.
He also disclosed that 25 leakages and an illegal connection was detected at OLV Pangapang and Sea Breeze Homes during the intensified campaign conducted by their office regarding this problem.
According to Borbono their office is now using the newly acquired Log I A Von Roll Hydro Leak Detection Equipment and the detection team is led by Engr. Alejandro L. Alama.
"We need to really be aware on how we have to conserve water as the summer months may pose some water shortage but the SWCD is really trying to provide the needed water supply here in the city'" he said.
Meanwhile as part of the awareness campaign also of the BFP, Fire Marshall Wally B. Marcial reminded the public to take care of the four water fire hydrants located in several identified areas here in the city and should be free from any stalls or any illegal structures that may impede facility of use should there be fire emergencies and these water fire hydrants are needed.
Both heads of the two entities have made some recommendations to the public in terms of awareness and vigilance in taking care of the water sources here in the city and said that this is part of the climate change adaptation and mitigation measures that they have recommended.
"The right use of water and water conservation is a campaign of consciousness and safety and as a mitigation measure to ensure that we have enough water supply to use in case of fire emergency control," Marcial of the BFP also explained. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)
LEGAZPI CITY, March 2 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has commenced accepting applications for this year’s written Career Service Professional and Sub-professional Examination-Paper and Pencil Test (CSE-PPT) set on May 27.
Eunida Jalmanzar, information officer of the CSC regional office here, announced that applications for the examination started last January 17 and should be filed on or before April 12 at any CSC regional or field office.
After examination on May 27, the process of application will start immediately a day after which for the next examination this year 2012 on October 21.
The examination, according to Jalmanzar, does not require a standard for educational attainment since it is open to all Filipinos who are at least 18 years old at the time of filing the application and must not have taken the same level of examination within three months from the exam date.
The actual number of applicants for 2010 was 13,129; in 2011 it had reached 11,036.
As of October 16, 2011, the rate of passers in Camarines Sur was only 14.19 percent while in Legazpi City, there were only 7.36 percent passsers..
Taking the Civil Service exam is greatly encouraged by the CSC especially for the younger generation for it is a gateway for immediate hiring in public agencies. (PIA 5)
DENR to hold meeting on hazard prone areas
VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 2 (PIA) -- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is set to call all municipal chiefs of the 11 towns of Catanduanes to discuss hazard-prone areas in their respective Area of Responsibility (AOR) in the soonest possible time.
According to PENRO Joaquin Ed Guerrero, speakers will come from mainland Bicol. The said meeting aims to prepare and give warning to Local Government Units of each town with regards to any calamities and disasters that might hit the province as well as the things to do during those times.
The official also said that the geohazard map that they already disseminated, it will be much better to tackle it with experts. Strategies regarding proper evacuation procedure of residents in low-lying areas and landslide prone areas will also be taught.
Last February 9, 2012, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) released a Memorandum Circular No. 2012-027 for all Governors, Mayors and Barangay Chairmen on preparation in such situations especially in hazard prone areas.
With the said activity, DENR hopes to contribute to every municipality and lessen unprecedented events in the future. (EAB/ PIA Catanduanes)
P200-M airport to be erected in Masbate town
MASBATE CITY, March 1 (PIA) -- Very soon, the island-province of Masbate will have its second commercial airport.
The expansion and resuscitation of the idle airstrip in Barangay Amoroy, Aroroy may get underway in a few months to pave the way for full-scale flight operations of commercial airlines.
The project, envisioned to be an instrument to the growth of the economy of 62,635 people, is a top priority in the 2012 investment plan of the town, the biggest and richest in gold deposits in Masbate.
Local officials said there were no impediments in the implementation of the project. In fact, Vice Mayor Manuel L. Valera Jr. has already steered the municipal council into passing a resolution authorizing Mayor Enrico Z. Capinig to obtain a P427-million loan from a government-controlled bank.
Of that amount, at least P200 million would be needed to expand the runway and build an airport terminal, according to an item published Sunday.
The remainder will be used to finance the mayor’s other pet projects, including extreme adventure facilities for tourism and the expansion of the town’s fish port, the local tabloid PUBLIKO reported.
The Amoroy airstrip, the second runway on the island, was built by Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. before the firm abandoned its gold project in the adjoining areas in 1995.
Proponents said the airstrip would be expanded to accommodate planes of commercial airlines like ZestAir and Air Philippines, the entry of which would create an opportunity for more investments that would result in job creation.
ZestAir and Air Philippines fly to Masbate City and back to Manila daily. Traveling from Masbate Airport to Aroroy by land takes almost two hours. (MAL/EAD, PIA Masbate)
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