Legazpi City vows to pursue Robredo’s transparency, good housekeeping legacies

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- The incumbent administration of this city has vowed to live on the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP) and good local government housekeeping that are two of the most important legacies of the late Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“We will operate as if Secretary Robredo is still around because he remains the inspiration of the economic growth and fast pacing urban development that we are now attaining. These, in one way or another are products of his policies toward good local governance that we were able to abide by religiously,” City Mayor Geraldine Rosal declared during her “Ulat sa Bayan” over the weekend.

Because of the implementation of the full disclosure policy through MC 2010-83, entitled “Full Disclosure of Local Finances, and Bids and Public Offering” which the city government followed, “we were able to instill honesty among our workers and officials, promote transparency, and orderly managed our funds thus, preventing corruption and misuse of public funds,” Rosal said.

Full Disclosure requires local government units (LGUs) to fully disclose particular financial transactions involving public funds to keep the public informed on how LGU budget is being managed, disbursed, and used.

Its implementation by the DILG which Robredo started is in line with the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991, Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, RA 10147 or the General Appropriation Act and Commission on Audit (COA) Internal Memorandum dated Oct 8, 2010.

Section 352 of the LGC requires “Posting within 30 days from end of each fiscal year in at least three publicly accessible and conspicuous places in the local government unit a summary of all revenues collected and funds received, including the appropriations and disbursements of such funds during the preceding fiscal year.”

RA 9184 on the other hand, requires the “posting of the Invitation to Bid, Notice to Proceed and Approved Contract in procuring entity’s premises, in newspapers of general circulation, the Philippine Government Electric Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the procuring entity.”

RA 10147 provides for the “strict compliance” of the DILG’s FDP and disciplinary actions on responsible officials who would fail to comply with the requirements while the COA memorandum enjoins concerned auditors to monitor management’s compliance.

“Everything that you want to know about the financial transactions of the city government are posted and updated regularly on its website www.legazpicity.gov.ph and it is open to public scrutiny,” she said.

The website, she said contains the city’s procurement list, self income and expenditure estimates, statement of debt service, gender and development (GAD) accomplishment report, statement of receipts and expenditures, statement of cash flow, Special Education Fund (SEF) utilization, Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) utilization, annual budget, 20 percent component of Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) utilization, items for bidding and bid results.

Besides, the lady mayor said “this yearly Ulat sa Bayan we are doing now let every Legazpeño find out what the city government has achieved last year, what it is currently achieving and what are coming up next as we continue to work on local development, economic growth and effective delivery of basic social services based on the framework of good governance that Sec. Robredo left to us.”

On Good Housekeeping, Rosal said the Seal that Robredo has awarded the city government last year would serve as a living reminder of the late DILG secretary’s local good governance initiatives.

The SGH is in recognition of local governments that perform exceptionally well in planning, budgeting, revenue mobilization, financial management, budget execution, procurement and resource mobilization.

LGUs which pass the test and qualify for the Award scored high in these areas wherein good planning requires updated and approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), Comprehensive Development Plan, Annual Investment Plan and Executive-Legislative Agenda.

“We just hope that other LGUs like us will do the same way as we wanted to continue Robredo’s legacies so that his intention of guiding us towards ‘tuwid na daan’ continue to live upon us,” Rosal added.

A special report recently published by the Official Gazette of the Philippines in honor of Robredo says that 99 percent of the LGUs in the country have complied with the DILG’s FDP as of June 2012.

Number of LGUs on the other hand that have qualified for the SGH as of June 2012 was 1,357. The SGH was a major initiative of Robredo for local governments that have practiced transparency and have engaged their constituents in governance, the report said. (MAL/DOC-LGU Legazpi City/PIA5)

Naga City ready for Penafrancia feast

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Sept 5 (PIA) –- The Naga City government has laid down plans and measures to ensure safety of devotees and visitors, expected to join the annual celebration of the feast of the Our Lady of Penafrancia.

Mayor John Bongat has issued Executive Order 2012-012 or the Inter-Agency Task Group and the Unified Command Joint Operations Center to oversee significant tasks of giving out commands, control, coordination, collaboration and the management of an effective communication system that would speedily respond to any emergency calls or incidents during the duration of the celebration.

Closely coordinating with this endeavor are officers and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which will deploy more than 500 police in strategic sites in the city, particularly at terminals, hotels and in downtown Naga.

The augmentation force will also man three command posts, which will specifically oversee the peace and order situation during the busy days of the celebration.

The Archdiocese of Caceres will be spearheading the religious activities starting off with the Traslacion procession on Friday, where the image of Our Lady of Penafrancia will be brought from the Penafrancia Shrine to the Naga City Metropolitan Cathedral.

Ina’s pilgrim image, after visiting parishes and corporate offices in Manila will be brought back in Naga City via the Philippine National Railways (PNR) special pilgrim train today.

To ensure the easy flow of traffic, the city’s Public Safety Office led by executive director Lito Del Rosario, will work closely with the PNP for the implementation of the re-routing scheme.

On Friday, portion of the Padre Garcia street in Barangay Balatas will be close to the public at 5 a.m. in preparation for the dawn procession.

Portions leading to Magsaysay Avenue, including sections of Blumentritt leading to the Colgante Bridge, towards Penafrancia Avenue will also be closed to the motorists.

To avoid heavy congestion, visitors and devotees who wish to join the Traslacion procession are advised to come early and avoid bringing their vehicles in the downtown area.

Highlights of this year's Penafrancia Fiesta celebration include the Search and Coronation of Miss Bicolandia 2012 tonight at the Jesse Robredo Coliseum; BSP/GSP marching competition on September 12; civic parade and float competition and Voyadores Festival on September 13; Regional Military Street Parade Competition on September 14 and the Grand Fluvial Procession on Saturday, September 15. (MAL/LSM-PIA5, Camarines Sur)


Camarines Sur declared a malaria-free province – DOH

By Analiza S. Macatangay

CADLAN, Pili, Camarines Sur, Sept 5 (PIA) -- The province has been declared free from malaria during today’s launch of the Byaheng Kulambo Campaign at Villa Del Rey here.

Under the Medium Term Development Plan 2011-2016, the target year for total elimination of malaria in the country is 2025.

The official statement was announced by Camilo Aquino, Department of Health – Regional Mosquito Borne Diseases coordinator, during the highlights of the “Travelling long lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN)” campaign yesterday.

Aquino said Camarines Sur was able to keep malaria-carrying mosquitoes from inhabiting areas in the province by implementing various health initiatives to combat the occurrence of the infectious disease.

Camarines Sur OIC Provincial Health Officer Dr. Wilfredo Baniqued said the 2010-2011 annual malaria report showed a dramatic reduction of malaria incidence in the country, thus the shift of their campaign from control to elimination took its full course this year.

With the help of local government units, the DOH, together with the World Health Organization and the Global-Fund Malaria through the Filipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. will be embarking on a new advocacy campaign for malaria under the theme: “Saving lives, preventing deaths and sustaining investments for malaria.”

This would be the principle that will support malaria control programs with the objective of totally eliminating malaria in the country.

In spite of its malaria –free status, Aquino reminded the constituents of Camarines Sur never to become complacent of the non existence of the mosquitoes carrying the said disease.

“We should exert more effort to ensure that there is no way that this contagious disease will find its way in our homes and in our community. Let us all continue, with renewed efforts, what we have started to make our neighborhood free from malaria,” he said.

The travelling LLIN will serve as a reminder to every malaria endemic areas up tom malaria- free provinces that the government is serious in its campaign to totally eradicate the occurrence of the fatal disease in the Philippines.

A manifesto was also signed by attending local chief executives as their declaration of support to the said campaign. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

Albay scouts represent youths in Senate hearing on sin tax bill

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA)— Scouts from Albay province caught the attention of those in attendance at the third plenary session of the Senate hearing on sin tax bill last Thursday.

Ricardo de Castro, a high school student of Ligao National High school who acted as spokesperson of the 55 strong delegation from the province expounded on the merits of the approval of the sin tax bill.

De Castro declared that the youth wants a smoke-free community.  That among themselves they value the benefits of non-smoking, that they hope their elders will stop smoking because its ill-effects affect non-smokers.        

Scout de Castro was among the 52 boy and girl scouts who participated in the hearing and join the pro group.  These scouts are high school students from the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao and the towns of Daraga and Guinobatan.

Albay province has an existing no smoking ordinance and so with the five local government units.

Albay Board Member Herbert Borja, chairman of the health and social services committee who led the youths at the hearing said in today’s PIA radio program Aramon ta Daw that in said gathering, Senator Ralph Recto, chairman ways and means committee; Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, along with other Senators Pia Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Aquilino Pimentel III listened to the arguments of the pros and cons on the sin tax bill.

The youths of Albay joined the pro sin tax bill group of among others Dr. Tony Dans, Dr. Maricar Limpin, and Philippine Cancer Society.

Dans is a practitioner of internal medicine at the Philippine General Hospital where he supervises management of an outpatient charity service that cares for indigent patients.   Limpin on the other hand is the executive director of Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance-Philippines.  The worldwide alliance is composed of 300 organizations from 100 countries.

Representatives from the tobacco and liquor industries also attended said hearing. 

Borja said that the passage of the bill when approved means a big win for health.

“It will be a big reduction of the number of persons contracting illnesses due to smoking, lung cancer among others.”

Borja whose father had emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to smoking also explained that the illness was a drain to the family’s coffers including mental and psychological anguish of the relatives.

People who think that smoking help them think well, Borja said is a myth.  He stated that Albay Governor Joey Salceda has stopped smoking and is healthier, his intellectual and discerning mind never diminished.

Governor Salceda in a meeting last Friday commented that he is on his 206^th day of not smoking.

Borja emphasized that the approval of the bill is a win for the economy.  He said that non tobacco producing provinces will benefit from the revenues accrued from the taxes.

“In Albay alone, 23 per cent of the IRA is appropriated for health services.  The local government will have more funds if the sin tax bill is approved, more indigents will benefit, health infrastructure will be improved and constructed,” he added.

The province of Albay expended P45 million for 138,000 Philhealth members this year.

The board member authored an ordinance and unanimously approved by the sangguniang panlalawigan two months ago which encourages the passage of the sin tax bill by both Houses of Philippine Congress.  (MAL/AAN/PIA-5)

LGUs, tourism stakeholders signed The Legazpi Declaration on 1^st PTCCCA

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- Provincial and city government tourism offices and private stakeholders have affirmed commitment to pursue and implement plans and strategies to mainstream climate change adaptation to sustain development for the tourism industry in the country.

The 1^st Philippine Tourism Conference on Climate Change Adaptation forms part of the unrelenting pursuit and strengthen commitment to mainstream CCA to address climate variability and extremes, moreover, direct adaptation measures among tourism stakeholders, especially among local government units, in the country.

Earlier on, the leagues of provinces, cities and municipalities had already affirmed similar commitments which evidently manifested that the implementation of direct adaptation measures remains local or lies on the hands of LGUs and residents.

Representatives of the national government agencies, local government units, policy makers, academe, religious groups, private and public communities, non-governmental organizations, civil society and the tri-media practitioners, on the occasion of the 1ST PTCCCA recently held here recognized the exigent need to pursue the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Republic Act No. 9729, or the “Climate Change Act”, and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2011-2028 as the core mechanism for climate change mitigation and adaptation at the local level.

Participants also affirmed to promote private public partnership initiatives (PPPI) with scientific communities and academic institutions to enhance science-based policies for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; and to further encourage cost-effective and widely accessible technologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk management;

Recognizing the importance of achieving greater synergy between local actions and national strategies and programs and the importance of strengthening cooperation among local government units for attaining and achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), tourism stakeholders appealed, through the Legazpi City Declaration on 1^st PTCCCA, President Benigno S. Aquino III to enjoin national government agencies dealing with tourism development and promotions to integrate climate change adaptation in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP);

Stakeholders also appealed for the full implementation and monitoring of local development plans and programs anchored with NTDP with corresponding budget; to acknowledge that climate change adaptation is a critical issue that local government units in the country must recognize and address to institutionalize the eco-cultural tourism strategies; mobilize financial support to build capacity for the local government units and stakeholders to address climate change; support innovative Eco-Cultural Tourism policies and adaptation measures to promote progressive sustainable patterns of consumption and production;

Also, to enhance capacity of the Tourism sectors in vulnerability assessment, socio-economic impacts, and anticipatory adaptation and mitigation measures, option and activities in the respective regions, provinces, cities and municipalities; conduct local inventory of cultural heritage and property and impact assessment in their respective provinces, cities and municipalities; promote „climate-proofing‟ development through genuine multi-sectoral participation; promote social dialogue between tourism and cultural workers, and employers to realize potential for eco-cultural tourism and green jobs; and request the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to showcase the Legazpi City Declaration on 1^st PTCCCA.  (MAL/LCCAD/PIA5)

No damage reported as Intensity 5 quake jolts Bicol Friday

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 3 (PIA) -- The minute-long magnitude 7.6 earthquake that shook the provinces of Samar, Leyte, and Surigao at about 8:47 p.m. of August 31 was also felt in the Bicol region with lesser magnitude - Intensity 5.

Ed Laguerta, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Philvolcs) Legazpi resident volcanologist said that their instruments located the quake’s epicenter at 10.83 degrees north and 126.71 degrees east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with depth of 10 kilometers.

There were no reports of casualties or damage to property.

In Masbate, the tsunami alert 3 declared by Philvolcs in threatened coastal areas prompted disaster managers to keep watch the whole night.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) in Catanduanes advised the public to remain alert and be observant especially those living in coastal areas in the eastern seaboard despite the absence of tsunami alert warning.

Camarines Norte PDRRMO Officer Carlos Galvez also alerted people living in coastal areas for possible evacuation.

The local tsunami warning has been lifted by Philvolcs at about 12:10 a.m. of September 1.

Office of the Civil Defense regional director Raffy ALejandro meanwhile reported that the earthquake caused no damage to Bicol area, also noting that the series of regular earthquake drills among Bicolano bolstered preparedness of the residents. (MAL/SAA-PIA5, ALbay)


Albay, 6 other LGUs cited for anti-TB program

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Sept 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol and TB Linc, in cooperation with USAID, cited Albay provincial government, two cities, and four towns for their top performance and exemplary achievements in pursuing campaigns and programs to prevent infection and control spread of tuberculosis (TB) in the province.

The citation, in accordance with the National TB Program (NTP), was conferred during the program implementation assessment and awarding rites on Wednesday, August 29 at the Pepperland Hotel here.

The NTP is being carried out by the DOH, in collaboration with other government agencies and private sectors to harmonize and unify the TB control efforts in the Philippines and has already made significant advances in improving the quality and extent of its control efforts.

Bacacay town has qualified as the local government most improved Case Detection Rate (CDR), with 92 percent in 2007 and 2008, 100 in 2009, 85 in 2010 and 102 in 2011; while in Cure Rate (CR) with 15 percent in 2006, 76 in 2007, 91 in 2008, 94 in 2009 and 99 in 2010.

Legazpi City has qualified with its strong and robust public-private mixed DOTS (PPMD) carrying out numerous referrals of patients from private physicians; engaging private laboratories, hospitals providing TB services, pharmacy DOTS initiatives; providing treatment to patients with TB inside the city jail.

Tabaco City, on the other hand, has qualified with its innovations in the implementation of anti-TB programs the likes of the first LGU to set up PPMD since 2005 with PhilHealth accreditation on the same year; organization of TB task force in barangays, workplace, and schools; sustained support in terms of medicines and supplies allocating P75,000 annually for the program; and provision of financial support to multi-drug resistant TB patients.

For LGUs with high CDR in all forms and high CR in new sputum positive for two consecutive years, Malinao had 94 percent in 2010 and 129 percent in 2011, Daraga achieved 93 in 2010 and 129 in 2011, and Polangui carried out 98 in 2010 while 114 in 2011.

Albay, meanwhile, has received recognition for the provincial government’s strong support in the NTP.

NTP aims to reduce local variations in TB control program performance; scale-up and sustain coverage of DOTS implementation; ensure provision of quality TB services; reduce out-of-pocket expenses related to TB care. (MAL-PIA5 Albay)