BoC to auction P135M worth of smuggled rice

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Customs (BoC) Legazpi will auction next month the seized 94,000 bags of imported rice from Vietnam worth approximately P135 million,

BoC Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Danilo Lim has already directed the BoC office here to start the auction of the seized imported rice now kept in a warehouse in this city.

Lawyer Leovigildo Dayoja, BoC collector here, said the bureau will immediately act on to dispose the seized imported rice through public auction to interested qualified rice traders.

Dayoja said the auction will give additional revenue to the government yet such cannot assure a 100-percent return due to depreciation value of the commodity, while the bureau has also already spent some P3 million to date on expenses for pilotage, wharfage, arrastre service, warehouse lease, fumigation, labor, supplies and trucking services.

Some 79,000 bags are stocked up at the rented warehouse while 15,000 bags are still being unloaded from the vessel at the port of Legazpi.

When asked if the multi-purpose cooperative involved in the rice smuggling importation can be qualified to participate at the auction, Dayoja said their pending case of smuggling automatically disqualifies them to participate in the auction.

BoC seized September last year the 94,000 bags of imported rice worth P135 million loaded in MV Minh Tuan vessel that docked at the Port of Legazpi from Vietnam.

The imported rice was consigned to the National Food Authority (NFA) on behalf of several multi-purpose cooperatives (MPCs) accredited by it, but these MPCs failed to present a memorandum of undertaking and pertinent import documents compelling the bureau to issue a warrant of seizure and detention order.

According to Lim, the consignees of the hot shipment of Vietnamese long grain white rice, the Samahan Ng Magsasakang Kapampangan at Katagalugan, Malipampang Concerned Citizens, Inc., Ugnayang Magbubukid ng San Isidro, Inc. and Kapatirang Takusa were charged for violating the Tariffs and Customs Code of the Philippine and the Department of Agriculture Rules on rice importations after they failed to show proofs of payment for the corresponding duties of their rice importation and other require documents.

"Most, if not all, of the consignees of this illegal rice shipment are either “for hire” cooperatives or non-existing at all, and yet, were given rice importation allocation quota by the NFA," Lim said in a press conference here.

Lim said that upon verification of the cooperatives’ allocation quotas with the NFA, it turned out that they had exceeded their given allocations.

He said the agency is closely checking areas considered as “high risk” countries for smuggling that include Vietnam, India and Thailand.

Lim said the BoC is focusing its attention on agriculture products smuggling, particularly rice and sugar import shipments coming from these so-called “high risk” countries for smuggling. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)


PIPOL POWER opens Philhealth express in Sipocot, CamSur

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, March 27 (PIA) – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) regional office here announced the opening of the PIPOL POWER program that will bring all four core services on membership, collection, accreditation and claims inquiry to the members in Sipocot, Camarines Sur and neighbouring localities.

The PIPOL POWER or PRO V Initiates Philhealth On- Line, Philhealth On Wheels Enrolment and Remittance is a brainchild of Philhealth regional vice- president Orlando D. Iñigo, Jr to bring the services of the corporation closer to the members and the community.

The PIPOL POWER program will serve members and prospective from Sipocot, as well as Libmanan, Ragay, Cabusao, and Del Gallego towns.

A total of 287 Philhealth members were in attendance during the kick-off who were provided instructions and the guidelines in availing the service of the Philhealth express program.

Iñigo has also cited that the important role of the local governments in championing health insurance especially for the financially marginalized.

He cited Sipocot chief executive Rogener “Ogie” Astor, and other local officials for providing the office space, with free electricity and office equipment for the Philhealth Express at the municipal government compound.

Iñigo also underscored the 2013 directions and priorities of Philhealth utilizing the mnemonic or learning technique MUSE, which stands for Maternal and Child Care, Universal Health Care, Synergy among stakeholders, and Equity for all.

Through PIPOL POWER, Philhealth hopes to empower sponsored program members to take advantage of their Primary Care Benefit (PCB) 1 Packages in the Rural Health Units where they are enlisted.

The PCB 1 package includes consultations, regular blood pressure monitoring and health promotion like education and breastfeeding, counselling on lifestyle modification, and smoke cessation. In like manner, members across all sectors were also oriented on PhilHealth’s expanded packages including but not limited to Z Benefits, Animal Bite Treatment Package, among others.

Philhealth has one Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO) in Naga City, as well as three other Philhealth Express offices in Goa, Nabua, and Iriga City. The latest addition, the Philhealth Express- Sipocot, still directly under the supervision of LHIO- Camarines Sur, will cater to some 65,000 primary members in the railroad towns and nearby municipalities.

The Philhealth Express in Sipocot will be open from Tuesdays to Fridays, 8 am to 5 pm, starting March 19, 2013.

Philhealth aims to bring its services closer to the people through the P- Express, where members can request for their Member Data Records (MDRs), contribution records, status of claims, as well as request for revisions in their records. (MAL/CNAlcala-Philhelath5/PIA5/Albay)


NSCB report shows Bicol’s employment rate improved

LEGAZPI CITY, March 27 (PIA) – The recent round of Labor Force Survey of the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed the region’s employment rate improved one percentage point from 93.2 percent the past year to 94.2 percent this year.

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) regional office here observed that less Bicolanos were unemployed in January this year with unemployment rate slipping to 5.8 percent.

Among the regions, the NCSB report said Cagayan Valley (Region II) posted the highest employment rate at 96.7 percent while the National Capital Region (NCR) recorded the lowest employment rate at 90.5 percent.

NSCB report released on Tuesday attributed the increase in the number of jobs for the period possibly due election-related activities.

The labor force participation rate or the proportion of those in the labor force to the population aged 15 years old and over in Bicol was placed at an estimated 3.8 million individuals.

Underemployment rate, or the proportion of employed persons wanting more hours of work to total employed persons, however, inched up to 35.0 percent, 0.2 percentage points higher than that of the same period last year.

The Bicol Region continued to post the highest underemployment rate among regions of the country, according to the NSCB. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)


DENR 5 steps up measures to protect Bicol Natural Park

LEGAZPI CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office in Bicol has come up with a comprehensive strategy to further strengthen the protection and conservation of Bicol Natural Park (BNP) in Camarines provinces.

“These strategies will provide solutions to various issues that are besetting the BNP which is contributing to further degradation of the protected area (PA)” said DENR Bicol regional executive director Gilbert Gonzales.

Gonzales said DENR 5 will strengthen the personnel in protected areas by supplementing manpower support; monitor cases filed against poachers and illegal settlers; implement capacity building workshops for field personnel (paralegal); carry out comprehensive info campaign on the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS); push for the co-management of the protected area with the local governments; empower peoples organizations (POs) and issuance of resource utilization permit (RUP); intensify the implementation of “no charcoal making policy” in the BNP by patrolling and no issuance of permit.

“Only by these strategies will we be ensuring that the BNP is well-protected from instances of encroaching by illegal settlers” Gonzales emphasized by citing the need for the forest occupants to clear out from the protected forest.

Alongside this new development, the regional office also considers implementing management zoning in the protected area, the strict protection zone and the multi-use zone. The former refers to areas with high bio-diversity value which shall be closed to human activity except for scientific studies and/or ceremonial or religious use by indigenous communities while the latter pertains to areas where settlement, traditional or sustainable land use including agriculture, agroforestry, extraction activities and other income generating or livelihood activities, may be allowed to the extent as prescribed by the PAMB.

Meanwhile, RED Gonzales directed Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management Service (PAWCZMS) Regional Technical Director Felix Mendoza to further study the plans for the BNP and for the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENRO) of Camarines Provinces to adopt initial measures on intensifying mobile patrolling and and the conduct of checkpoints along the various entry and exit points straddling the forest.

The Bicol Natural Park is a protected area with an expanse of 5,201 hectares (has) and an elevation of 100-538 meters above sea level. It is located in the Camarines provinces - sprawling along the towns of Basud and San Lorenzo Ruis at the side of Camarines Norte including Lupi and Sipocot at the border of Camarines Sur. (MAL/RLM-RPAO DENR5/PIA5)


DSWD Bicol to intensify anti-epal drive

LEGAZPI CITY, Mar. 27 (PIA) -- With the official start of the campaign period for candidates running for local positions, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-5 intensifies its Anti-“Epal” Campaign to thwart efforts of politicians in taking advantage of the department’s social protection programs and projects to gain popularity and project positive image.

“Bawal Ang Epal Campaign will be launched on April 4 in partnership with the COMELEC and the media,” DSWD Regional Director Arnel Garcia said in an interview during the “Aramon Ta Daw” radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

“DWSD is receiving reports and complaints from their beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps that some incumbent politicians are threatening some recipients that they will be removed from the list of the 4Ps beneficiaries if they will not vote for them,” Garcia said.

There are also incidents that some candidates who report their rivals who are running for the same position that are allegedly using the DSWD programs to their advantage, Garcia added.

“Only the DSWD central office can delist beneficiaries, and such can only be done if they failed to comply with the conditionalities set, from the roster of 4Ps and not the local chief executives,” Garcia said.

The information drive will start in Albay and will move to Camarines provinces, Masbate and the rest of Bicol.

Garcia stressed that the public should not be afraid in reporting these abuses because we treat them with utmost confidentiality.

"The role of the media is vital in informing the public on this campaign so that they will be confident in coming out to report such threats or abuses from erring politicians," Garcia said. (Joseph John Perez/MAL/PIA5)


Army in Sorsogon and Masbate observe “Semana Santa” while on Red Alert Status

By Benilda A. Recebido

CASTILLA, SORSOGON, March 27 (PIA) – Philippine Army’s 903rd Infantry (Fight & Defend) Brigade covering the provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate is also observing the “Semana Santa” with weeklong activities lined up, while on Red alert status.

Colonel Joselito E. Kakilala, 903rd Brigade Commander said that the Army, along with the Philippine National Police (PNP), intensified its security operations especially in destinations expected to be visited by locals and foreign tourists this Holy Week in these two provinces and nearby islands.

“Checkpoints were also put up along main roads in selected areas to ensure the safety of tourists and to have an orderly influx of devotees in churches and pilgrimage sites. The Brigade assigned personnel to assist the DPWH, the commuters and motorists that pass by the highways. There are also Army personnel assigned in main seaports, assisting Philippine Coast Guard in the provinces to ensure that there is no "overloading" of the ship and to prevent tragedy at sea,” he further said.

During the week, the troops will also be active in assisting during processions, Stations of the Cross, Carrying of the Cross, “Pasyon”, and other Holy week traditions which have been observed and vowed by the soldiers as Catholics.

A two-day Medical, Dental, and Civic Action Activities together with the Castilla Residents in Manila (CARESMA) will be conducted on March 31 to April 1, 2013 at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Poblacion, Castilla. CARESMA, is composed of residents from Castilla who are now living in Manila. The activity aims to share their blessings to Castilla folks aside from celebrating their homecoming meeting anew their relatives, friends, colleagues, and to remind them of their roots.

Some of the civic activities to be conducted are “Libreng Tuli”, haircut, and massage, among others.

Meanwhile, Col. Kakilala assured that the Army will assist and support the PNP, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure the safety and security of the public and the tourists as well during the observance of these holy days.

While the troops in Sorsogon were busy in its Semana Santa activities, the Task Unit in Masbate, led by Colonel Samuel Felipe, is still in the conduct of Internal Peace and Security Operations to thwart Private Armed Groups, as part of its election duties’ mandate. (CptMPPanesa, PA/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


LTO-KABALIKAT setup motorists assistance center for Semana Santa

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Mar 27 (PIA)--- Land Transportation Office (LTO) and KABALIKAT-Civic Communicators Association, Inc.-Bicol in a joint effort to ensure the safe travel of the motorists particularly those who will flock in various parts of the region for the upcoming Holy week observance, has placed various Motorist Assistance Center in strategic parts of the region.

Dubbed OPLAN Semana Santa, this endeavor is in line with the expected influx of visitors and pilgrims in the provinces to join the whole Christendom in the observance of Lent. Students who will also enjoy the semestral break are also expected to visit various destinations in the region, thus would add up to the bulk of incoming sight seers.

Archimedes P. Salvino, KABALIKAT-Civicom Bicol Regional Governor said that the booths which will be strategically placed along the Maharlika Highway will be manned by Kabalikat members and organic members of the National Highway Patrol Group (NHPG).

“We have set up various booths in almost all municipalities in the region with existing Kabalikat Centers. It is manned by our competent members who will assist motorists just in case they encounter problems on the road. This will be a 24/7 on-call service to ensure that there will be a round the clock Kabalikat personnel who will look after the welfare of our visiting kababayans.” Salvino said in an interview.

Salvino also assured the public that the motor assistance booth can also serve as a temporary resting area for those who want to take a respite after a long drive.

OPLAN Semana Santa already started on March 20, the day Kabalikat and LTO inked a Memorandum of Agreement and will end until after the students are back in their schools for the opening of classes next semester.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) here will also implement the PNP LOI 13/2011 or the SANG-INGAT-Charlie in concurrence to the directives for safe Summer Vacation 2013. This is also in compliance with the Memorandum issued by Director for Operations Police Director Alex Paul Monteagudo to all Regional Directors of Police Regional Offices and Directors of PNP operational units all over the country.

Various PNP Assistance Desks will also be placed in strategic road locations while Road safety Marshalls will also be assigned in convergence points including but not limited to bus terminals, airports, seaports, train stations, recreational and entertainment areas.

Crime prone areas, highways and main thoroughfares will also be deployed with PNP members to ensure that lawless elements will not take advantage of the situation. (LSMacatangay/ PIA-Camarines Sur)


SCUBAsura marks World Water Day in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, March 27 (PIA) -- Bicolano divers did their share of cleaning the marine environment with SCUBAsura, a seabed clean up in Albay Gulf in the area of Legazpi City that marked the observance of World Water Day on March 22, 2013.

Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Bicol regional director Roberto Sheen said that at least a hundred volunteers, divers and non-divers joined the SCUBAsura held in this city underlining the importance of keeping the marine environment clean.

Sheen said the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL) provided rubber boats ferrying divers from the boulevard to the dive site while the Bicol SCUBA Divers Foundation Inc. supplemented manpower.

According to Sheen, the bureau earlier conducted a simultaneous river and estero clean up last March 16 under the Adopt-a-Estero Program which the local industry adoptors have led.

World Water Day on March 22 has a theme “International Year of Water Cooperation.” The global event is celebrated locally on the theme, “Tubig Para sa Lahat, Lahat Para sa Tubig” (Water for All, All for Water). (MAL/RLM-RPAO DENR5/PIA5)