DENR IDENTIFIES ILLEGAL
LOGGING ‘HOT SPOTS’ IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY (16 Feb) — DENR Bicol has been closely monitoring at least seventeen areas identified as illegal logging ‘hot spots’ in three provinces in the region as part of the intensified campaign to protect the country’s environment and natural resources।

Echoing DENR Secretary Lito Atienza’s warning, Bicol regional executive director Joselin Marcus Fragada earlier told DENR field officials that they are accountable for whatever environmental violations that may happen in their respective area of jurisdiction।

Fragada also admonished the officials on the ’one-strike’ policy of the agency on elaborating that only one verified report of any environmental violation such as illegal logging or illegal mining happening in their respective areas is enough ground for the officials’ suspension।

Identified ’hot spots’ include Barangays STa। Barbara, San Pedro and San Martin in Jose Panganiban; Colasi, Tarum and Pambuhan in Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Bicol National Park particularly Sitio Nalisan, Tuaca, Basud town in Camarines Norte; Sitio Weber, Malaya, Iriga and Saragawsaw in Barangay Sooc, and Sitios Curamusan and Castilla in Barangay Napolidan, all in Lupi, Camarines Sur.

In Rinconada District, the illegal logging ‘hot spots’ are the timber land in Bula located in Barangay Inoyonan, San Francisco, Itnagon, Bagolagio, Panoypoyan, Casugad, La Victoria and Taisan; Forest Reserve of Balatan located in Barangays Cabanbanan, Mapulang Daga, Maqiron and Camangahan; private lands in Bato situated in Barangays Manga, Lubong, Payak and Cristo Rey; and timber land of Iriga City located in Barangays Sagradam STa। Teresita, Antipolo, and areas surrounding Mt. Asog.

In Catanduanes, the ‘hot spots’ are Sitio Kilometer 80, San Miguel, Panganiban; Sitios Kilometer 13, Carbun, San Miguel, Panganiban; Minaile, Bagamanoc; Tubli, Caramoran; Minabobo, Caramoran; Dugui-Too, Dugui-Wala, Virac; and Paraiso, San Miguel town.
Secretary Atienza has declared 2009 as Law Enforcement Year, saying that “for the rest of the year, we will give more dedication and seriousness in effort to protect the environment, including the land, air, water and forests, against environmental violators whom we will pursue guided by our environmental laws।”

“I will ensure that the full force of the law will be meted out against anyone who will violate the environmental laws because the certainty of punishment is the best deterrent to the commission of a crime,” Atienza सैद।

The DENR chief, however, said that due recognition will also be accorded to DENR officials who properly apply the full force of the law in their respective areas। “Kung mayrong parurusahan ay mayroon ding bibigyan ng parangal,” Atienza said। ]

I am confident that year 2009 can make the difference। Aside from the fact that we have 42 environmental laws that give us more teeth in our fight against environmental violators, the judiciary is also taking a more active role in protecting nature and the country’s environment,” Atienza said। (ASAraya, DENR/PIA)

EMB LAW INTEGRATES
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

LEGAZPI CITY (16 Feb) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is optimistic on the new law on environmental protection that will integrate environmental education in curricula at all levels।

EMB regional director Gilbert C। Gonzales stressed that the inclusion of environmental education in curricula at all levels will boost and further deepens the environmental awareness of the Filipino children with the signing of Republic Act 9512 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He noted that the department has since the 1990’s been engaged in urging schools to incorporate environment-related subjects and activities in the country’s educational system।

The Bureau believes that this environmental law would best suit the growing governmental campaign on climate change mitigation and adaptation aside from the fact that a whole new generation of empowered and environmentally-sound Filipinos would emerge to combat and after solutions to surfacing threats to the ecosystem।

“EMB V and stakeholders are continuously implementing a comprehensive IEC campaign to students to fully understand the need for caring the environment as well as support the government’s advocacies and initiatives,” he added. (EMB/PIA release)

BUHI-MALINAO ROAD COMPLETED

Province of CAMARINES SUR (16 Feb) — Consistent with the SONA commitment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on infrastructure programs and development, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Camarines Sur 4th Engineering District has intensified efforts on opening new roads that would spur progress in the locality।

“Just recently, we have completed the road opening of Camarines Sur-Albay Diversion Road,” said Eng’r। Nestor Gomabao, OIC-Assistant District Engineer of the said district during a broadcast interview.

“Last year, we have also finished the opening of Buhi-Malinao Road or the proposed Gov। Felix O. Alfelor, Sr. Highway,” he added.

This 34।76-kms। road forms part of the 66 kms road network that cuts across three congressional districts and connects the provinces of Camarines Sur (2nd and 4th districts) and Albay (1st district).

The entire road network starts at Hanawan, Ocampo, Camarines Sur passing through barangays Burokbusoc and Sagrada, all of Buhi, Camarines Sur up to the municipality of Malinao in Albay.
The new road will provide an alternate route of Maharlika Highway going to the port City of Tabaco, Albay and will open a new gateway to the island province of Catanduanes further integrating it into the mainstream of development।

“This road will definitely help prolong the preservation of the existing main thoroughfares and will also shorten travel time to and from Manila by more than 30 minutes,” said DPWH Bicol regional director Orlando Roces during one of his random visits in DPWH project sites. (LVCastañeda, DPWH/PIA)

MVUC FUNDED PROJECT WELL IMPLEMENTED

LEGAZPI CITY (16 Feb) — The Road Board Team headed by Eng’r। Vicente Tuazon, Jr. had recently conducted a series of inspection on projects funded by Motor Vehicle Users’ Tax (MVUC) in the 2nd Congressional District of Albay.

It will be recalled that on February 15 to 22 last year, incessant rainfall was experienced in Bicol Region that damaged infrastructure facilities particularly on areas that are prone to flooding and landslides। Legazpi-Manito-Punta de Jesus road in Manito, Albay was not spared from this catastrophe. Huge soil erosion occurred leaving large chunks of damages on the road pavement and on the slope protection, further resulting to road closure for more than a week.

This prompted Eng’r। Arnold Matamorosa, head of Albay 2nd Congressional District Task Force, through the instruction of DPWH Bicol regional director Orlando B. Roces to request funding from MVUC. Congressman Al Francis Bichara favorably endorsed said request.

The necessary funding requirement was allocated by MVUC for the repair of eroded slope protection, re-blocking of damaged concrete pavement and removal of eroded soil from affected road sections।

“Roadside vegetation are well maintained and the carriageway are in good condition,” commented Eng’r. Tuazon. He, however, recommended the procurement of additional guardrails and thermoplastic signs for installation at the stretch of Legazpi-Manito-Punta de Jesus Road. (LVCatañeda, DPWH/PIA)

CSC CLEARS RAT PROGRAM

SORSOGON Province (16 Feb) — For public servants to better understand the rationalization program implemented by the government, Mr। Roy Tobias Mata, Director II of Civil Service Commission (CSC) Sorsogon Field Office, underscored important details regarding the said program.

According to Mata, Executive Order No। 366 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2004, compelled the executive department to implement strategic observation on its operation and organization and establish incentive choices for government employees who will get affected by the rationalization of functions and rationalization of different agencies under the government executive department.

The EO directs agencies to prepare a rationalization plan to positions that are redundant or outdated or no longer relevant to the accomplishment of the major final outputs of the particular agency। “Through this system, it is expected that government services will be enhanced,” he said.

Mata added that services rendered by policemen, teachers, health workers and of the local government units are excluded in the directive।
In this province, government agencies that have already implemented the rationalization program were the Office of the Civil Service Commission, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)।

Mata further stressed that employees with CSC appointment whether temporary or permanent who would opt to remain in government service shall be placed in other agencies by the CSC where additional personnel are required, whereas, personnel who would opt to retire or be separated from the service shall be given the option to avail of retirement schemes or generous separation package।

“But for the meantime, those affected by the reorganization will stay with CSC until they are reassigned to their new posts,” he said।

Meanwhile, some public servants here said that they support this initiative, however, they want also to be assured of the government’s separation and other benefit packages due to them.
“Now that we are facing and dealing with global economic slow down, it would also be better for the government to review its continuous implementation of the rationalization program and not to partake in a nationwide lay-off,” they added. (HAFormento, PIA Sorsogon release)

REGIONAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE SET

LEGAZPI CITY (16 Feb) — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office V, will be spearheading a Regional Consultative Conference on February 19, 2009 at the Divine Word College of Legazpi Audio Visual Room। The conference will be participated in by the different presidents of higher education institutions (HEIs) and has the theme “The Roadmap to New Philippine Education Highway”.

CHED Executive Director Atty। Julito D. Vitriolo, Chairman Emmanuel Y. Angeles, Commissioner Nenalyn Defensor will also be coming to support the activity.

The activity aims to intensify the three main concerns of education which are consultation, orientation, and discussion of the conference theme।

“Angeles will stress the Rationalization of the Regional Association of Higher Education Institutions (RAHEIs)। On the other hand, an organizational meeting of RAHEIs and election of officers for academic year 2009-2011 as well as briefing of the Regional and National HEIs of the Academic and Cultural Activities Schedule Faculty Development headed by Dr. Ricardo O. Pama, president of Angeles University Foundation will follow.

It will also include the election of new set of officers of Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) to be presided by the incumbent president of the Association of Colleges and Universities Atty। Gonzalo T. Duque and another organizational meeting of State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association.

Organizers expect a hundred per cent participation of all HEI presidents. (HBBinaya, BUCAL/PIA)