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



Monday, January 21, 2013

Training on 3D-mapping for DRR conducted in Mercedes, Camarines Norte

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Jan. 21 (PIA) -- A three-day training on Participatory 3 Dimensional Mapping (P3DM) for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was conducted in Palm Resort, Barangay Cayucyucan of Mercedes town headed by The University of Auckland, New Zealand from January 15-17.

Dr. JC Gaillard, Associate Professor of the School of Environment of the university said the training was in partnership with the DRR Net Philippines, local government units of Camarines Norte and Mercedes through their Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices.

He explained that the P3DM consists of building stand-alone large-scale relief maps made of locally available and cheap materials over people overlap thematic layers of geographic information.

During the training, the participants plotted land use and other geo-referenced features threatened by natural hazards and climate change and differentiate them according to their vulnerability.

He said that the P3DM training will empower organizations involved in DRR with the required knowledge and skills to develop P3DM activities with their partner communities in the different contexts all over the Philippines.

The P3DM fosters the participation of a large range of stakeholders, especially the collaboration among scientists, government officials, and local communities in the integration of bottom-up and top-down DRR measures.

Dr. Gaillard said that earlier, they have conducted a research on, “Sustainable Livelihood in the Pacific in a Changing and Hazardous Environment” in Caringo Island, also in the said town.

He said that aside from the research, the community in Caringo was trained and able to produced three 3D maps. One of these maps locate Caringo within the municipality of Mercedes. The second map covers the whole island while the third one covers the area where most of the households reside.

He explained that 260 families in Caringo will benefit from the 3D maps because this indicate information that are needed in planning DRR in the area.

Dr. Gaillard also said that the community in Caringo Island who made the 3D maps in the said area were those who trained the participants in the P3D mapping training in Palm Resort wherein the latter have produced a large 3D map for the whole town Mercedes.

PDRRMO Carlos Galvez, on the other hand, said that the Mercedes town was lucky that the project was conducted here that in turn will be of great help in planning DRR in the area.

He added that he will replicate P3DM in the province and in the remaining 11 towns.

The resource person during the training was Lorna Victoria of the Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc.

The participants were representatives from Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA); Damayan ng Maralitang Pilipinong Api (DAMPA); Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MaCEC); Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP); Coastal CORE; Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP); World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. (WVDFI); Ateneo School of Government (ASoG); Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM); Citizen Disaster Response Center (CDRC) ; De La Salle University (DLSU) Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance ;UP College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) ; and Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF). (RBM-PIA 5, Camarines Norte).


Army, UNTV medical mission benefit 1,900 residents
CASTILLA, Sorsogon, Jan 21 (PIA) –--The 903rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, in partnership with the UNTV Network, conducted its first medical mission benefiting 1,986 residents of 10 barangays of Irosin town in Sorsogon on January 15.

“With the opportunity extended to the Philippine Army to recommend areas for medical missions, the 31st Infantry Battalion, under the Brigade’s operational control, designated Barangay Gabao in Irosin as the first beneficiary for CY 2013,” said 903rd Brigade Commanding Officer Col. Joselito E. Kakilala.

Supporting UNTV in this laudable undertaking is the Kamangagawa Foundation Clinic ni Kuya Daniel Razon and Bro. Ely Soriano. The local government led by Mayor Eduardo Ong Jr. sent their municipal doctors and nurses to join said activity.

The Sangguniang Barangays including barangay captains of the 10 adjacent barangays, were also present and brought their constituents to avail of the free medical services offered.

Col Kakilala said the medical mission included medical and dental services, x-ray services, and optical check-up with free eyeglasses distribution. Soldiers from the 31IB also provided free haircut and therapeutic massage.

“The activity benefited 1,986 clienteles of 10 barangays of Irosin town. Of the total number, 315 adults and 366 pedia were given medical check-ups, 145 for dental, 260 for optical, 35 on reflexology, 95 haircut services and 745 recipients of free medicines. The UNTV’s X-ray van which traveled all the way from Manila also served 25 local residents,” he added.

Col Joselito E Kakilala further said that UNTV’s medical missions have made a huge difference in the lives of the people of Sorsogon, especially to the indigents. “This endeavor is in line with the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan- Bayanihan,” he said.

Meanwhile, barangay chairperson Teresa Pontalan of Barangay Gabao said it was the first time, that they experienced a medical mission with plenty of medicines and with many doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners congregated in their place.

Irosin Municipal Mayor Eduardo Ong Jr, on the other hand, said that the medical mission boosted the health services program of the municipality providing prompt treatment and adequate medicines to their people. (MAL/BAR/Cpt MPanesa-PA/PIA5)


PNP strengthens campaign towards a peaceful May 2013 Elections

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Jan 21 (PIA) -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial office in Camarines Sur will strictly implement its campaign to ensure clean, fair and peaceful election 2013 pursuant to its “Cam Sur Safe 2013” headed by its Provincial Director.

Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) personnel have been instructed to intensify the conduct of focused police operation for the upcoming elections this year under Cam Sur Safe 2013, Psupt. Jerry F. Bearis, Camarines Sur PNP deputy provincial director for operation, said.

This also will involve the creation of Provincial Task Group Safe 2013 and establishment of Joint Security Assistance Desks (JSADs) in all polling places.

Part of the operation is its campaign against Private Armed Groups (PAGS) by strict accounting of wanted persons and intensified search warrant operations, strengthened operation against gun-for-hire, conduct of chokepoints and checkpoints and increased effort on the conduct of operations against notorious motorcyle riding in tandem criminals.

Based on their records, PNP Camarines Sur was able to attain 63.66 per cent province-wide Crime Clearance Efficiency (CCE) having cleared 1,179 cases out of 1,852 crime incidents.

Members of the PNP will also firmly pursue OPLAN Sita and Operation Bakal pursuant to their campaign against loose firearms. Along with this, they will also carry out operations geared towards the curtailment of the insurgent’s extortion activities.

In 2012, PNP Camarines Sur recovered a total of 40 loose firearms, 11 magazine and 165 pieces of ammunition. Along with this campaign, police authorities arrested 35 persons , all charged with violation of Republic Act No. 8294.

The provincial police’s intensified campaign against dangerous and illegal drugs resulted in 41 successful anti illegal drug operations in various parts of the province. It also resulted to the arrest of 47 personalities and confiscation of 8.78 grams of suspected shabu, 27.196 grams of suspected marijuana dried leaves and 3 pieces of full blown Marijuana plants. Cases have been filed against the suspects before the court.

To sustain these positive developments, the PNP management will continue its operations against illegal drugs, intensify search warrant operations geared towards the eradication of Shabu and marijuana and pursue barangay clearing operations to ensure that the community is free of the said illegal substance.

Bearis said all of these activities and related campaigns are not just geared towards the attainment of their mission to keep the community safe, but more so to ensure that the upcoming elections will not mar the peace and order situation of the province.

In addition, PNP Camarines Sur has already activated the operation of its e-blotter, e-rouge and e-warrant program in every police station both at the city and municipal levels. (LSMacatangay/ PIA-Camarines Sur)


1, 528 families benefit from government’s core shelter project

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Jan. 21 (PIA) -- A total of 1, 528 families from eight villages in Daraga, Albay formally received their certificates of completion and occupancy for core shelters from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Corazon Pitero, head of the Social Protection Unit of DSWD, said the beneficiaries of the core shelter project include typhoon victims and displaced families in Albay and Bicol, now provided with permanent and decent houses.

The families came from the villages of Alcala, Binitayan, Bañag, Busay, Bañadero, Cullat, Tagas and Malabog, all in Daraga town.

Pitero was joined by Daraga Vice Mayor Carlito Baylon, Albay Provincial Social Welfare Officer Yolanda Guanzon and municipal officials in the turnover ceremonies.

“These families were left homeless during the series of strong typhoons that devastated the areas for the past years, and this time each family beneficiary was given materials and utilized to build the houses of their own with vigour and dedication,” Pitero said.

She added that one of the factors in the successful implementation of a project is when the beneficiaries themselves collaborate and unite in the project implementation.

Core shelter is a structurally strong and environment-friendly shelter unit which can withstand up to 180 to 220 kph wind velocity, intensified four earthquakes, flooding and other similar hazards.

The project is a restoration and rehabilitation strategy that uses work teams to provide labor for the construction.

DSWD has already turned over 8,268 units regionwide.

While DSWD was responsible for the shelter units for their counterpart, the Daraga municipal government augmented the needed construction materials and the provincial government provided the relocation site.
Meanwhile, an additional 135 core shelter units will also be turned over to beneficiaries in Polangui town. (MAL-PIA5/DSWD5/Albay)
 

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