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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Monday, October 29, 2012


23rd Stats Month highlights BSP role in economy, inclusive growth

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) -- The Regional Statistics Coordination Committee spearheaded the closing program of the 23rd National Statistics Month in the Bicol region last October 23 at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) here.

It highlighted the BSPs role on the economy and inclusive growth advocacy of the Aquino administration.

“The BSP’s function is not only to generate statistics on financial concerns but also to make use of statistics to perform our mandate,” said Angelica Villena, bank officer of the BSP Manila Department of Economic Statistics.

Villena said BSP’s mandate focus on maintaining price stability for a balance and sustainable economic growth.

It also aims to promote and preserve financial stability and efficient payment and settlement system to benefit not only the financial institutions but the whole country in general.

To attain its advocacy of inclusive finance, Villenas added that various projects and activities to alleviate poverty have been conducted.

Among these initiatives are the microfinance programs which help sustain the microfinance in the country, consumer education program to increase publlic awareness on financial concerns and various bank-related programs to improve and channel remittances to productive undertakings,

Also discussed are the recent economic developments in the Philippines such as the accelerated Gross Domestic Product due to steady economic growth, well-managed inflation, ample reserve as buffer against external economic shocks and sound and stable banking system in the country.

Moreover, Villenas said the BSP together with the Aquino government is continuously monitoring external factors to ensure that the economy can move forward amidst current global challenges.

“The global economy is still fragile and it is bad for our exports. There is greater uncertainty over the economic state of advanced countries which affects us due to our financial linkage but our government is continuously implementing reforms and policies to sustain our current economic growth," said Villenas.

Also presented are the statistics conducted in the Bicol region such as the survey on Top Corporations in the country wherein out of 7,000 corporations, 70 are from this region. (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)


CSC high school dominates division presscon competition in Catanduanes

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Oct 29 (PIA) -- The Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) Laboratory High School was declared overall champion during the 2012 Division Secondary Schools Press Conference in Catanduanes last October 19-21 at Twin Rock Beach Resort.

CSCLHS bagged the first place in four individual events and sent a total of 19 student writers and journalists to the Regional Secondary Schools Press Conference.

Gina Pantino, campus journalism coordinator for DepEd Catanduanes, said that CSC earned a total of 110 points from all individual events, including radio broadcasting followed by Catanduanes National High School (CNHS) with 88 points.

Other schools who made it to the top five among the 28 competing secondary schools were Bato Rural Development High School with 66 points, Viga Rural Development High School with 44 points and Immaculate Conception Seminary Academy with 28 points.

Individual winners in the different events included Feature Writing (English): 1st - Kristine Marinelle Sy (CSCLHS); 2nd - Mary Margaret Tapel (Bato RDHS); 3rd - Yvonne Clarisse Estacion (Viga RDHS); 4th - Joy Pelagio (Bagamanoc RDHS); and, 5th - Claudine Yvette Talaran (CNHS).

Feature Writing (Filipino): 1st - Cyl Gellaine Tablada (CSCLHS); 2nd - Danrex Velasco (Viga RDHS); 3rd – Christine Rojas (Bato RDHS); 4th - Juvy Baltazar (Pandan School of Arts & Trades); and, 5th – Rodulfo Tomagan (Palta NHS).

News Writing (English): 1st – Rochelle Ann Molina (CSC Lab HS); 2nd – Ricster TraqueƱa (Bato RDHS); 3rd – Anrea Reodique (Palta NHS); 4th – Cris Eugene Gianan (CNHS); and, 5th – Aimee Soquerata (San Andres Vocational School).

News Writing (Filipino): 1st – Shenaren Soneja (SAVS); 2nd - Stephanie Oclarit (CNHS); 3rd – Lianiriz Rodulfo (Bato RDHS); 4th – Lany dela Cruz (ICSA); and, 5th – Gladie Cervantes (Viga RDHS).

Sports Writing (English): 1st – Anne Marie Socito (CSCLHS); 2nd – Nikko Franco Templonuevo (San Miguel RDHS); 3rd – Shilley Babe Sta. Rosa (CNHS); 4th – Jeazel Alcantara (Bagamanoc RDHS); and, 5th – Clarice del Rosario (SAVS).

Sports Writing (Filipino): 1st – Jeff Alser Teocson (CNHS); 2nd – Jason Eusebio (CSCLHS); 3rd – Hersel Teope (Bato RDHS); 4th – Julius John Dayawon (Gigmoto RDHS); and, 5th – John Anthony Bilono (Cabugao Integrated School).

Editorial Cartooning (English): 1st – Bon Justin Villarey (ICSA); 2nd – Jad Ezekiel Triunfo (Bato RDHS); 3rd – Ronie Aquino (Tubli NHS); 4th – Godfrey Avasco (CSCLHS); and, 5th – Roydon Jude Samudio (SAVS).

Editorial Cartooning (Filipino): 1st – Alexia Therese Bihag (CNHS); 2nd - Darwin Bola (Caramoran RDHS); 3rd – Tifany Bonifacio (Bagamanoc RDHS); 4th – Zekiel Emmanuel Urgel (CSCLHS); and, 5th – Jethro Benitez (Baras RDHS).

Photojournalism (English) : 1st - Jay Tebelin (Baras RDHS); 2nd - Mikko Isorena (PSAT); 3rd – Philip Teoxon (Tubli NHS); 4th - Alyssa Joy Bagadiong (CSCLHS); and, 5th – Lewelyn Manoguid (Buyo Integrated School).

Photojournalism (Filipino): 1st – Neil Bruce Isorena (PSAT); 2nd – Mark Louie Garcia (Viga RDHS); 3rd – Lilibeth Acacio (San Vicente NHS); 4th – Christian Joy Ogalesco (Gigmoto RDHS); and, 5th – Joyce Anne Suarez (CNHS).

Editorial Writing (English): 1st – Ace John Tabuzo (CNHS); 2nd – John Michael Torres (Bato RDHS); 3rd – Jude Krisson Tolledo (CSCLHS); 4th – Raymond Francis Ham (ICSA); and, 5th – Alyra Jaye delos Reyes (SAVS).

Editorial Writing (Filipino): 1st – Lea Grace Arcilla (Caramoran RDHS); 2nd – Marko Rey Tapel (CSCLHS); 3rd – Elizabeth Marino (CNHS); 4th – Jenesis Grace Valeza (ICSA); and, 5th – Rushyl Bianca Soriano (Viga RDHS).

Copy Reading & Headline Writing (English): 1st – Ma. Nena Vital (CSCLHS); 2nd – Marianne Claire Ogalesco (Viga RDHS); 3rd – Keecee Panti (CNHS); 4th – Marianne Chavez (Bato RDHS); and, 5th – Emmelyn Posada (PSAT).

Copy Reading & Headline Writing (Filipino): 1st – Queen Ellaine Osila (Viga RDHS); 2nd – Rene Constantine Avila (CSCLHS); 3rd – Abbygale Beo (CNHS); 4th – Romeo Lumabi (SAVS); and, 5th – Mary Ann Cabrera (Panganiban NHS).

On the other hands, the winners for the radio broadcasting and school paper category were:

Broadcasting (English): 1st – CSCLHS; 2nd – CNHS; 3rd – Bato RDHS; 4th – ICSA; and, 5th – Baras RDHS.

Broadcasting (Filipino): 1st – CNHS; 2nd – CSCLHS; 3rd – Bato RDHS; 4th – Baras RDHS; and, 5th – ICSA.

Best in Editorial Page: 1st – The Laboratorian (CSCLHS); 2nd – The Synchronizer (CNHS); and, 3rd – Angelus Domini (ICSA).

Best in News Page: 1st – The Laboratorian (CSCLHS); 2nd – The Vigor (Viga RDHS); and, 3rd – The Synchronizer (CNHS).

Best in Feature Page: 1st – The Laboratorian (CSCLHS); 2nd – The Synchronizer (CNHS); and, 3rd – The Dawn (Bagamanoc RDHS).

Best in Sports Page: 1st – The Synchronizer (CNHS); 2nd – The Laboratorian (CSCLHS); and, 3rd – Courier (Caramoran RDHS).

Best in Lay-Out/Design: 1st – The Laboratorian (CSCLHS); 2nd – The Dawn (Bagamanoc RDHS); and, 3rd – The Synchronizer (CNHS).

Meanwhile, Liza Bonafe of Bato RDHS was adjudged as the 2012 Outstanding School Paper Adviser while Rochelle Molina of CSCLHS was chosen as 2012 Most Outstanding Campus Journalist.

Top four winners of the individual events and the 1st place in radio broadcasting (Filipino/English) will represent the province in the 2012 RSSPC to be held at Camarines Sur. (EAB-PIA5/Catanduanes)


Cenro-Camarines Sur gears up for more projects

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) -- The Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) has revealed activities for the last quarter to promote the National Greening Program.

Cenro Chief Pio T. Bernal said three People’s Organization (PO) are scheduled to reforest 300 hectares of open and denuded lands inside Mount Isarog National Park, a haven for a wide range of endemic animals and species, before the month ends.

Representatives from civil society organizations, national government agencies and from the academe also pledged to plant another 100 hectares here.

Bernal also said that in line with its campaign to preserve and conserve protected areas like Mount Isarog, the office will push for the declaration of the said sanctuary as Man and Biosphere Site through the United Nations Development Programme.

The delineation of the actual boundaries of Mount Isarog Natural Park is also being pushed to further protect its existing resources from man’s abuse.

Still under its Forest Management Services, Bernal said that his office will push for the urban greening of 10-kilometer area covering the Naga City-Cararayan Road and rehabilitation of a 100-hectare mangrove sites in Magarao, Calabanga and Bombon here in Camarines Sur.

Cenro-Naga has also tied up with the local government here to award 800 titles to residential lot owners in Queborac, Bagumbayan, Naga City before the year ends.

This is under Republic Act 10023 or the residential free patent law, which states that lot owners who had been occupying their lots for 10 years, are already qualified to have their lots titled.

“As part of our aggressive campaign to award titles to residential lots and agricultural land owners in line with our land management services, we also push for the titling of 10 Gawad Kalinga sites and urban poor areas within this city. We will also spearhead activities leading to the awarding of housing lots to DENR Employees in Dalipay, Camarines Sur before the year ends,” Bernal added.

This is equated to about 70 lots for the lucky recipients. Outside the city, 100 hectares of agricultural lands located within the 3rd District of Camarines Sur are also being eyed for titling.

For its campaign against illegal logging, Bernal also lauded members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army and the Prosecutor’s Office for facilitating the immediate conviction of illegal loggers.

Out of 10 cases filed against the suspects, nine led to conviction.

Bernal said that he will continue to push for similar efforts pursuant to his mandate as a public servant. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)


‘Ofel’ wrecks boats, knocks down power system in Masbate

By Ernesto A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, Oct 29 (PIA) -- State agencies and local governments have mounted a relief and rehabilitation operations in Masbate in the wake of tropical depression “Ofel,” which made landfall in the southwestern part of the province Wednesday night.

Local civil defense officials had not received reports of fatalities and injured people as of Thursday afternoon.

But in its wake, Ofel left damages to power system, houses, crops, infrastructures and passenger and fishing vessels.

The electric company cut off power supply early Wednesday night after Ofel’s strong winds and intense rains knocked down more than two dozens of electric poles.

The power blackout closed down schools and many business houses. Power was restored in the provincial capital in the afternoon.

Ofel dumped heavy rains in the towns of Milagros and Balud, inundating the low lying communities there.

Tens of hectares of rice and corn lands in the towns of Baleno, Mandaon, Uson, Masbate City and several other localities were also flooded.

A storm surge of as high as eight feet dismantled seven motorized boats in Masbate City and another six pump boats in Placer, two in Balud and one in San Fernando, which were moored when Ofel pounded the coasts.

Three families in Dimasalang reported that strong winds demolished their homes.

Ofel’s strong winds grounded sea transport, disrupting the travel plans of hundreds of passengers. The city government of Masbate provided meals to at least 348 passengers who had been stranded in Masbate City Port.

Ofel also forced the cancellation of flights between Manila and Masbate City.

By afternoon, relief workers of local government units were set to distribute packs of rice to families that lost their income from fishing due to stormy weather.

Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete also mobilized the provincial government’s engineering unit to rebuild a bridge that connects tow barangays to the highway in Balud town. The bridge collapsed when pummeled by flash floods and strong winds. (MAL/EAD-PIA5/Masbate)


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