BFP Bicol reminds boarding houses to observe fire safety

By Julius Embile

LEGAZPI CITY, June 7 (PIA) – With the start of the 2016-2017 school year only a few days away, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bicol regional office has reminded owners of boarding houses and student residences to abide by fire safety regulations.

On his radio interview with PIA-5 last June 7, SFO4 Aramis Balde of BFP-5 conveyed the bureau’s stern reminder to owners of boarding houses to have their buildings and facilities inspected for fire safety compliance and earn their ‘Fire Safety Inspection Certificate’ (FSIC) before operating.

To be issued a FSIC, the boarding house should first have a business permit and legally registered. They must pass the fire safety requirements, like having ample fire extinguishers, hallways of the right width, and separate entrances and exits.        

If the boarding house or building is found to be in violation of the fire safety rules, they will be given 15 days to comply. If after the 15 period the facility still did not comply, they will be fined. If 45 days expired since the initial inspection and the business is still non-compliant, BFP will issue a ‘closure order’ and warn the public.

BFP-5 is also urging the public to report any business facility that is not complying with the fire safety regulations for the sake of public safety. Before settling in any boarding house, the general public, especially the students, are advised to check if the place have been issued an FSIC.

“We (BFP) need the cooperation of the people in ensuring compliance of fire safety rules. We ask everyone to be vigilant.” said Balde.

According to BFP-5, the bureau has already begun conducting rigorous inspections of student residences and boarding houses as early as the second week of May, in anticipation of the incoming school year. Their efforts are expected to continue throughout the month of June, as it is celebrated as the country’s “School Fire Safety Month”. (MAL/JBE-PIA5)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3301465347708/bfp-bicol-reminds-boarding-houses-to-observe-fire-safety#sthash.3sHxUXtJ.dpuf

DOST trains SMSEs on safe and sanitary food processing

By Julius Embile

LEGAZPI CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- To ensure safety and sanitation practices are followed, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) of the Bicol region conducted a “Technology Training on Food Safety and Good Manufacturing Practices” last May 18,  for micro, small and medium enterprises (SMSE) in the food manufacturing industry.

Originally intended for co-operators and applicants of DOST’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrade Program (SETUP), the training was conducted through the department’s Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Albay.

The training was held in Legazpi City, with representatives from 30 SMSE firms in attendance. They learned from DOST’s Bicol Food Safety Team about safety and manufacturing standards in the food industry.

Republic Act number 10611, also known as the “Food Act of 2013”, stipulates pubic protection against food-borne and water-borne illnesses due to unsanitary, unwholesome, misbranded and adulterated foods. In line with this, the training included food safety programs and discussions about the food safety principles and mechanics.

According to DOST, the Food Safety Standard prevent hazards to consumers when adopted. The SMSEs in attendance were advised to have quality raw materials and be equipped with proper preparation, cooking, and storage techniques.

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) were also discussed, giving focus on organization, design and layout of the workplace, inspection of raw materials, sanitation and hygiene in the food industry.  Stressing the GMPs importance, DOST also shared food manufacturing processes such as packaging, storage, transport, and pest management.

As a result of the training, DOST observed better adherence to proper sanitation practices like hand-washing, versus un-ideal doings, whose results were seen and compared under UV light revealing the presence of microbes.

The trainees were also introduced to the OneStore E-Commerce Web Application, to assist as a new selling platform in increasing and expanding their product’s competitiveness and reach. (MAL/JBE-PIA5)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3301465269822/dost-trains-smses-on-safe-and-sanitary-food-processing#sthash.V7HcvfBj.dpuf

DOLE holds talks between MASELCO’s labor and management

By Julius Embile

LEGAZPI CITY, June 6 (PIA) – In order to eliminate possible employer-employee issues before they arise, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the Bicol region held a Labor Relations, Human Relations and Productivity (LHP) Seminar for Masbate’s sole servicing electric cooperative; Masbate Electric Cooperative Incorporated (MASELCO).

“Fired-up yet fruitful” was the description given by DOLE Masbate head Arturo Corbe, in reference to the heated  arguments thrown by both the labor and the management of MASELCO during the seminar last May 18 at Mobo, Masbate.

With the aspect of mutual understanding and cooperation, the LHP is aimed in promoting the more subtle and discreet approach, rather than taking drastic measures like lawsuits, in dealing with issues specially labor-management relationships.

“In LHP orientations like this, the open forum usually becomes the venue for parties to vent out their concerns which is good so they can thresh-out issues right there and then thus preventing future misunderstandings,” said DOLE Bicol regional director Atty. Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla.

One critical concern discussed during the seminar was the issue of ‘equal distribution of tasks’ to the employees. With DOLE’s mediation, this issue was resolved by the suggestion of having an understudy or in-house trainee in avoidance of task overloading.

With this, Trayvilla commended the efforts of DOLE-Masbate and those in attendance representing those in the management and labor force of MASELCO. “As you can see, they themselves are talking on how to positively address the issue”, she stated.

According to MASELCO, the LHP is the final solution they have been looking for in the past. Through proper arbitration by DOLE, it provided a venue for the parties to “open-up” and freely express their insight operations and management of MASELCO.

“Their openness in the discussions is an indication that the management crisis that happened before is part of the past and everybody wanted to move forward positively,” Corbe said.

As a result of the activity, MASELCO stated that their employees and the management’s overall relationship will improve, resulting to better productivity of their organization.

For DOLE-Bicol, a harmonious relationship in any group, on the workplace or in a simple school team, is vital to the result of the organization’s undertakings. This mindset is the mantra which is being followed by the LHP, which also tackles family welfare that is believed to be the silent factor in the general mood of an employee which affects productivity. (MAL/JBE-PIA5)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3301465197904/dole-holds-talks-between-maselco-s-labor-and-management#sthash.wuxkK5Ht.dpuf

Government firm in Camarines Sur embraces solar power, showcased as model in renewable energy use

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

TIGAON, Camarines Sur, June 3 (PIA) –The Partido Development Administration (PDA), a corporate entity mandated by Republic Act 7820 to oversee the economic development of the Partido area ventures into another pioneering act by being the first government body in the country to utilize solar power to run its operation.

Fourth District Congressman Felix William “Wimpy” Fuentebella put into realization what could be one of his main legacies—the use of solar power, one of the energy sources that are continually replenished.

The project was realized through a memorandum of agreement inked between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Camarines Sur 3rd District Engineering Office and PDA.

Fuentebella pushed for the installation of 30 kilowatt solar photo volcaic system which consists of 100 pieces of solar PV modules, four units Inverter and four pieces DC isolators at the PDA building. On top of this is the use of net metering system which will benefit both CASURECO IV and the PDA.

All those equipment will be installed at the PDA office through its Local Improvement for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Program. Part of the condition is the retrofitting of the said office with energy efficient air-conditioning units with inverters and solar energy systems.

Worth P4 million, the project is expected to generate a conservative savings of P40,000 to P50,000 a month, or roughly P480,000 at the end of the year.

The building which consumes 63kw/per hour only utilizes 30 to 50 percent of the energy derived from the installed solar panels.

The congressman also invited the local chief executives in the Partido area to check on the benefits that solar panels will bring in terms of giving more savings to the local government unit.

“Power cost spikes up due to the utilization of expensive power plant generators. It happens when the demand for electricity is high. That is why we are encouraging big companies that when demand for power is high, do not get it from distribution utility, use a generator instead. On a bigger picture, it is the community that will greatly benefit from it.”

As part of its mandate, PDA will continue to undertake measures to invite investors and source out funds for the over-all development of the office in order to better promote investment in the area, he said.

Contemplating on the global scale, Fuentebella said that while millennials or the MTV babies can’t seem to imagine the world without internet, he wished that his generation can’t also imagine a world without renewables. (EAD/LSMacatangay/PIA5 Camarines Sur)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861464940500/government-firm-in-camarines-sur-embraces-solar-power-showcased-as-model-in-renewable-energy-use#sthash.FXbm9Ujq.dpuf

Salceda eyes Daraga cityhood

By Julius Embile

LEGAZPI CITY, June 2 (PIA)–With his seat as congressman of Albay’s second legislative district being secured by the May 2016 elections, Joey Sarte-Salceda now sets his sights in prioritizing the cityhood of Daraga during his term in congress.

Daraga, a town popularly known as the home of the Cagsawa Ruins, is a first-class municipality with a population of 126, 595 according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). With a total land area of 29,300 acres, it is a land-locked municipality bounded to Albay’s capital city of Legazpi in the north and east.

During recent years, Daraga has exhibited great development economically. Being part of the main roadway between Albay and Sorsogon, the town rapidly evolved from being agriculturally-oriented to becoming a commercially-centered location.

The population, as well, has grown large as Daraga also serves as a melting-pot for its neighboring towns, giving Daraga considerably strong economic buying-power. According to the Permits and Licensing Office, Daraga has over 2,300 business establishments as of 2011, making it the largest amongst the towns of Albay.

According to Salceda, the Daraga has outgrown its status as a municipality resulting to a considerable increase in the needs of the residents. He states strongly that cityhood is the right way to sustain this fast growth as it would provide Daraga with greater resources to cope up with the increasing demands.

In terms of ‘per capita’, Daraga has an Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) per capita of Php. 1,542.73, the lowest in Albay.

The incoming congressman envisions this Albay town as the next big economic center-force with its function as a major commercial crossroad. With projects like the extension of the South Luzon Railway System and the Bicol International Airport hosted in Daraga, Salceda sees the realization of this plan.

Salceda also justifies that Daraga as met the income requirement for conversion from town to city, as mandated in RA 9009. As per the Department of Budget and Management, the municipality of Daraga has an IRA of 195,002,236 pesos for fiscal year 2016, the fourth largest in Albay. (EAD/JE/PIA5 Albay)

- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3301464855979/salceda-eyes-daraga-cityhood#sthash.ZYF8LGo6.dpuf