Cam Norte violence against women cases decrease

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Mar. 21 (PIA) -- A total of 56 cases were filed in court last year against perpetrators for violations of Republic Act 9262 or Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act, a decreased of five cases compared to the 61 cases recorded in 2011.

This was disclosed by P/Inspector Ana Rose A. Domingo, chief of Women’s and Children’s Desk (WCPD) of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office (CNPPO) during the “Talakayan sa PIA” featuring “Women’s Month Celebration.”

Domingo said the decreased was attributed to their social awareness activity through symposium in school wherein students and teachers were given lectures regarding RA 9262 or anti-violence against women and children.

She said most of the cases filed were on rape, attempted rape, rape in relation to RA 9262, acts of lasciviousness, physical injuries, RA 9262, threats, concubinage, qualified trespass to dwelling, and unjust vexation.

She said that on the violence against children, they recorded 106 cases in 2012 compared to 81 in 2011, an increase of 20 cases. This is because children are very vulnerable and are not aware that they are being abused, she explained.

She clarified that they observe confidentiality of the victim of abused within their office by not revealing the name of a victim and a perpetrator to avoid psychological distress on the part of the victim.

Dolores Tresmonte, GAD focal person said they counsel abused women and children especially those in the barangay.

She said that the provincial government is also maintaining a Halfway Home, a center for abused women and children, where they do the counseling and training of livelihood for women for alternative source of income to become independent.

She said the province has already incorporated gender and development in their programs, and on March 25, they will be conducting GAD orientation for provincial government employees in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Tresmonte said the province has a Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCWC), an inter-agency collaboration to address issues on minors especially those who are working in videoke bars in the province. Last year they conducted "dikit paalala (sticker reminder)" stating that minors are banned from working in the videoke bars, she added.

The Talakayan sa PIA was facilitated by Rose Manlangit of the PIA and attended by media from Hello Bicol and Dateline Camarines Norte of STV6, Pipol Event News (PEN), Nation News, Bicolandia Updates, DWYD-FM Bay Radio, DWLB-FM Labo, DWSL-FM, DWCN-FM-Radyo ng Bayan and DWSR-FM-Power Radio. (MAL/RBM-PIA 5


PNoy leads groundbreaking of Robredo Museum

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, March 21 (PIA) --- President Benigno Aquino III will lead on March 21, the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Jesse M. Robredo (JMR) Museum in the heart of the Civic Center located at Barangay Balatas here.

Aquino will also lead the lowering of time capsule at the JMR monument and museum right after his visit at the tomb of the late DILG Secretary at Eternal Gardens here. He will be joined by Robredo’s widow, Atty. Leni M. Robredo, and her daughters. The late Secretary’s brothers and sisters will also be joining the President.

At the site of the JMR museum and monument, the President will be welcomed by Naga City Mayor John Bongat and local city officials together with the local leaders of the community, whom the President will be meeting right after the occasion.

After his meeting with the local leaders, the President will join the Team PNoy for photo opportunity with the 32 local LP slate.

Meanwhile, senatorial candidates under the Team PNoy have already started their regional sorties, starting off their trail in Camarines Norte.

At around 4 p.m., Thursday, the slate will have a motorcade which will end at Avenue Hotel, in Magsaysay, Naga City.

On March 22, the group will move to the Rinconada area where they will have a pocket rally. The team then will convoy with Polangui LGU where they will proceed to Ligao City. A pocket rally will also be held at Ligao City Town Plaza.

After the rally, the team will pass through Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, and Legazpi areas bound to Legaspi Astrodome for the continuation of their sorties. The team will depart for Manila on March 23. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)


32 CSU agri students complete rice production training course

By Edna A. Bagadiong

LEGAZPI CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA) -- Thirty-two agriculture students of Catanduanes State University (CSU) finished their 16-week Students Field School on Integrated Pest Management and Palay Check System on March 16.

The field school, the first of its kind at the Catanduanes State University, was conducted from November 2012 to March 13 at the College of Agriculture and Fisheries with the fourth year agriculture students taking up their practicum.

Angie A. Villanueva of Calabnigan, Virac, Catanduanes, was awarded with a plaque of commendation as topnotcher of the training course. She obtained excellent ratings both in theoretical and field research activities.

Other awardees were Jerryme Paul Tolentino of Cabcab, San Andres; second Best Performer. Rose Lyn T. Solaybar of Yocti, San Andres; third Best Performer. Special awardees were Jenelyn A. Tebelin of San Miguel, Baras, Best in Attendance; Arlyn L. Aquino of Lupi, Camarines Sur, Best Manuscript Writer; Jerryme Paul Tolentino, Best Field Researcher; and Angie A. Villanueva, Best Group Leader.

SFS was crafted by the Rice Sector of the Municipal Agriculture Office – LGU Virac as an academe version of the Farmers Field School, a group-based learning process and extension program for the local farmers where the farmer’s class are held in farmer’s field.

The training arms agriculture students on new trends in rice production technologies, develops their interest on rice research, and transforms them into future rice extension experts and farm managers.

Students were immersed in more than 40 special topics on rice production using Palay Check principles, which includes land preparation, nutrient management, weed management, pest and diseases, irrigation management, and harvest management.

They were also taught actual rice production (from land preparation to post-harvest operations.) A weekly Agro Ecosystem Analysis (AESA) also helped the students in understanding the various factors which directly and indirectly affect plant growth.

The AESA monitored the weekly increase in plant height, number of leaves, tiller number, stage of the crop, and the population dynamics of the natural enemies and insect pests.

The students were required to analyze the AESA data and its relation to the environmental factors such as rainfall, weather condition and day length, and nutrient availability.

They were also guided in making sound decisions as part of effective management strategy.

Eleven study trials were established at the Participatory Technology Demonstration field of the SFS. These are Pure Organic Fertilization, Nutrient Management using Microbial Inoculant, Balanced Fertilization, KeyCheck 1-8 Demonstration Field, Unlevelled Fields, Leveled Fields, Varietal Trial for Four Rice Cultivars, Drought Stress Field, Water Stress Field, Defoliators Simulation Study, and Stem Borer Simulation Study.

Six student researches which are related to the learning gained from the said PTD trials were also completed at the end of the 16-weeklong intervention.

The Field School, which is a joint project of the Catanduanes State University and the Local Government Unit of Virac, was conceptualized as a re-entry plan of its proponent and lead facilitator Alex A. Asuncion, Agricultural Technologist-Rice Program of the Virac LGU.

He established the project before completing his season-long Training of Trainers on IPM and Palay Check at the Agricultural Training Institute on May-September 2012.

The project immediately got the nod of the Institute’s rice specialist and training officer Roje Rebancos who had also conducted the same project at the Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry.

The proposal to conduct the field school at the University was approved by Municipal Agriculturist Jessie A. Urbano and Virac Mayor Jose U. Alberto. Consequently, a memorandum of agreement, which stipulates the collaborative implementation of the project, was signed by Mayor Alberto and CSU Office In-Charge Dr. Minerva I. Morales.

The training team of this year’s SFS are: Dr. Ruben P. Tablizo, CAF Dean (Practicum Professor), Alex A. Asuncion, Agricultural Technologist (SFS Trainer and lead facilitator), Salvacion Z. Noble, Agricultural Technologist (Documenter), Jimma V. Tadoy, Agricultural Technologist (Facilitator) and Hermogenes Sebastian, Provincial PalayCheck Coordinator (Overall Supervisor and Monitoring Officer).

They were assisted by Farmer Technicians Rogelio Panti and Gerry Marquez. The project was funded by the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Unit V, and was likewise co-implemented together with the Provincial Agricultural Services Office- Catanduanes, Agricultural Training Institute Regional Training Center V and the Municipal Agriculture and Fishery Council. (MAL/AAAsuncion-LGU Virac/MAO/PIA5)


DPWH 24/7 service during Lenten holidays

By Lucy V. Castañeda

LEGAZPI CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA) -- In anticipation of influx of motorists this Lenten holidays, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 5 Director Danilo E. Dequito directed the reactivation of District Motorist Assistance Teams to start at 6 a.m. of March 24 until 12 noon of April 1.

This program, dubbed as “Lakbay Alalay” is in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the local government executives.

Twelve Motorists’ Assistance Centers will be installed in conspicuous places in Bicol’s arterial roads: In Camarines Norte – a) Tabugon Section, K0248, Junction Andaya Highway; in Camarines Sur – a) Gaongan, Sipocot (K0340+950), b) GAD Building, Pamplona (K0418+100), c) Concepcion Grande, Naga City (K0439+820) or in front of the Traffic Management Group (TMG) Headquarters, d) Sta. Teresita, Baao (K0503+800) in front of DPWH Camarines Sur 4th District Engineering Office (DEO),

e) Lourdes Young, Nabua (K0472+350) in front of Nabua Cemetery, f) Caraycayon, Tigaon in front of DPWH Camarines Sur 3rd DEO; in Albay – a) Paulog, Ligao in front of DPWH 3rd DEO, b) Busay, Daraga (K0522+050), c) Basud, Sto. Domingo (K0541+010); and in Sorsogon – a) Dona Pepita Park, Brgy. Bucalbucalan, and San Pedro Multi-Purpose Brgy. Hall, Irosin (K0621+800).

“Assistance centers will not only be installed in the mainland provinces but also in the island provinces,” Dequito said during a radio interview, recently. “Four in Catanduanes and 12 assistance centers in Masbate,” the director added.

These centers will be manned by engineers, car mechanics, equipment operators, and other service crews who will give free roadside emergency repair assistance to motorists during the long holidays.

At the DPWH, Rawis, Legazpi City, a skeletal workforce from Maintenance Division (Tel. #482-0429) will man the office to receive reports from field offices and to render emergency services required during the holidays.

Also, for the safety and convenience of the riding public, all district engineers in the region are under instruction to expedite necessary road maintenance activities, including the installation of legible informational and directional signs along Bicol’s national road network. (MAL/LVC-DPWH5/PIA5)


Catanduanes town now uses e-copy of DSWD’s NHTS-PR data

By CRBarrameda-DSWD5

LEGAZPI CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 5 (DSWD-5) has turned-over the data on National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) to the local government of Baras in Catanduanes last March 15.

Ciriaco B. Abejuro, focal person on NHTS-PR of DSWD, said the system serves as database of poor households as reference in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs of the government.

Abejuro explained that the system aims to establish an objective targeting system and reduce the leakage of social services to non-poor and minimize exclusion of the poor.

NHTS-PR is an information management system identifying poor families in the country.

Baras Mayor Chito S. Chi and Municipal Social Welfare & Development Officer Jean Triumfante received the electronic copy of NHTS-PR data based on its first assessment in 2009.

The National Household Targeting Unit (NHTU) meanwhile has identified 461,242 poor households in the six provinces of Bicol region.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 867 issued in March 2010 has directed all national government agencies (NGAs) to adopt the results of NHTS-PR in identifying prospective beneficiaries for their social protection programs nationwide.

In the same occasion, DSWD 5 and Baras municipal government inked a memorandum of agreement, the first in Catanduanes province, for the use of NHTS-PR data of poor households.

Abejuro furthered that a moratorium on MOA signing was imposed relative to data sharing that already started from February 12 until May 13 in connection with the upcoming midterm elections.

Abejuro said that such is being done to protect the integrity of the NHTS-PR database and to ensure its data utilization. (MAL-PIA 5/CRBarrameda-DSWD5)


Naga council fortifying local democracy through People's Council

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA) -- The Naga City People's Council (NCPC) is pushing for the program, “Expanding and Fortifying Local Democracy through People’s Council in the Philippines,” before the city officials of this city, members of various people's organization and other stakeholders recently in pursuit of empowering members of the community by encouraging their participation in various programs of the government.

NCPC program director Johann P. Dela Rosa said the project aims to rouse the spirit of cooperation among members of the community and encourage them to come up with a unified stand in pursuing development by starting it from the local level.

"We want to consolidate and mobilize civil society organizations (CSOs) in the target areas to engage their respective LGUs in all levels of governance though organizing, capacitating, strengthening, and establishing of people’s councils,” Dela Rosa added.

The concept was taken from the experience and gains of NCPC and was among the almost 3,000 proposals submitted to the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDF). Of those submitted, only 73 were approved, including that of NCPC, for funding and signed by the UN Secretary himself. It was the only concept approved in the country.

Naga City Mayor John Bongat also gave his insights on the importance of People’s Council in the executive branch of the city while Vice Mayor Gabriel Bordado shared testimonies on the role and contribution of NCPC in the legislative branch of Naga.

Political Democracy and Reform (PODER) Program Director Joy Aceron talked on the social accountability and people participation initiatives in the country. Aceron is program director of the Government Watch Project of the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG) based in Ateneo de Manila University (ADeMU).

Atty. James Jacob, chairman, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and former Naga City councilor also graced the occasion to explain the enactment of City Ordinance No. 95-092 which was jointly and collectively approved by members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Also known as the Empowerment Ordinance of Naga City, the ordinance gave legitimacy to the organization of the NGO/PO community in Naga City.

The project is expected to advance the tenet of partnership in local governance and push for deeper level of pursuing development and spur growth in the community. The partnership is also being encouraged by the government to concretize the spirit of participation amongst the members of the society. (MAL/LSM-PIA5)




MGB lifts moratorium on the acceptance of mining applications

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Mar. 21 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has lifted the moratorium on the acceptance of applications for Exploration Permit and Financial or Technical Assistance Agreement, according to the agency’s top regional official here.

Engr. Theodore Rommel E. Pestaño, regional director of MGB regional office in Bicol, said the bureau has issued a directive for the lifting of the more than two-year mining application moratorium that has something to do with the implementation this month of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order (AO) numbered 2013-11.

Pestaño explained that the DAO provides for the procedural guidelines in the filing and processing of application for Exploration Permit (EP) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 79.

“EO 79 was signed by his Excellency President Benigno C. Aquino III on July 6, 2012 to implement reforms in the Philippine mining sector and ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of mineral resources,” he recalled.

Pestaño furthered that DENR suspended the acceptance of all types of mining applications starting January 2011 through DMO No. 2011-01 dated January 18, 2011 and the new Memorandum Order, which was dated March 7,2013, has recommended the lifting of the former order on March 18, 2013.

“With the lifting of the moratorium we are expecting investors to start filing their applications with vigor and they will be processed accordingly,” Pestaño said. (MGB-LDVMAL-PIA5)


MGB increases fees, minimum capital requirements for exploration permit

By LDValdez-MGB5

LEGAZPI CITY, March 21 (PIA) -- The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has increased fees for mining applications, minimum capital requirements for mining applicants, and also issued procedural guidelines in the filing and processing of applications for exploration permit

Theodore Rommel E. Pestaño, engineer and regional director of MGB regional office in Bicol, said Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2013-10 increases the filing and processing fees for exploration permit (EP), mineral agreement (MA) and financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) including renewal of EPs and exploration period of MAs and FTAAs.

“DAO No. 2013-10 increases the filing and processing fee for EP, from P60 per hectare but not less than P50,000 per application to P300 per hectare but not less than P200,000 per application; MA, from P60 per hectare but not less than P50,000 per application to P300 per hectare but not less than P300,000 per application; and FTAA, from P60 per hectare but not less than P100,000 per application to P300 per hectare but not less than P500,000 per application,” Pestaño explained.

“On the other hand, DAO No. 2013-01 increases the minimum capital requirements for applicants for EP, MA and FTAA from the P10 million authorized capital to P100 million and from the paid-up capital of P2.5 million to P6.25 million,” Pestaño furthered.

He added that in case of an applicant for FTAA, he is required to have a minimum paid-up capital of P500 million upon the grant of the FTAA by the President prior to its registration with the MGB.

“All mining applicants with pending applications for EP, MA and FTAA are required to comply with DAO 2013-01 within 60 days from its effectivity otherwise their mining applications will be denied,” Pestaño pointed out.

Pestaño also cited DAO No. 2013-11 which provides for the procedural guidelines in the filing and processing of applications for EP. “An EP application, together with the complete mandatory acceptance requirements required by the MGB is filed at the MGB Central Office,” he said.

Pestaño said after ensuring that the EP application does not encroach on areas closed to mining and upon verification of the mandatory acceptance requirements the MGB central office will issue the order of payment for the EP applicant to pay the required filing and processing fees.

“An EP application encroaching on areas closed to mining and or with incomplete mandatory acceptance requirements is automatically denied,” Pestaño pointed out.

“Upon payment of the required fees, MGB central office will forward the EP application and all the pertinent documents to the MGB regional office concerned for evaluation through the Mining One-Stop Shop,” he added.

“The filing of application for exploration under the FTAA follows the same procedures prescribed for EP application,” Pestaño said.

Pestaño clarified that the three new memorandum orders were all dated February 21 and are expected to become effective by March after their publication for 15 days in a newspaper of general circulation and 15 days after their registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register. (MAL/LDValdez-MGB5/PIA)