PGMA EXTENDS LIFE OF BICOL REHAB
BODY UNTIL JUNE 2010

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has extended the life of an inter-agency committee handling the government’s relief and rehabilitation initiatives in typhoon-hit areas in Bicol until June 2010.

The President issued Executive Order No। 779, amending EO 634, citing that the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort Committee (B CARE C) needs more time to complete its mandate after enduring “some setbacks causing inevitable spillover until 2009-2010.

It can be recalled that President Arroyo issued EO. 634 on July 3, 2007 creating the B CARE C and providing its operations for two years.

The committee was tasked to integrate relief, rehabilitation, resettlement, recovery, livelihood, and development efforts in different areas of Bicol, particularly those affected by typhoons “Caloy,” “Milenyo,” and “Reming।”

“The B CARE C shall exercise its powers and functions until June 30, 2010 unless otherwise directed by the President of the Philippines,” EO 779 stated. The order, signed by the President last January 21, took effect immediately.

The committee replaced the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) as the clearing house for all fund requests for calamity victims to ensure judicious spending and close monitoring of projects।

It is headed by the chairman of the NDCC. Its members include the secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), the administrator of the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the general manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA), and the chairman of the Region V Development Council।

The President authorized the group to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on hazard mapping for the Bicol region, to coordinate with the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Office on common or overlapping project activities, to recommend courses of action to improve rehabilitation and reconstruction works in typhoon-affected areas in Bicol, and coordinate with national and local officials and non-government organizations in rehabilitation efforts. (PIA 5 Release)

DOST V TO AWARD YOUTH ACHIEVERS IN SCIENCE

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region V with RD Tomas B. Briñas awarded six Bicolano young achievers in Science last February 6, 2009, took place at the DOST Regional Office here.

Conferred with Youth Excellence (YES) awards were Rene Caesar Operio, Marcial O। Rañola Memorial School (International Mathematics Competition/Singapore-Silver); Danica Mae Berunio, Blessed Light International Christian Academy (International Mathematics Competition/Singapore-Bronze); Yvonne Carle N. Molina, Blessed Light International Christian Academy (2008 China Primary Math Olympiad/Yichang, China-Bronze); Julie Khristin Panganiban, Tabaco National High School (International Mathematics Competition/Singapore-Bronze); Tatyana Marie U. Gonzaga, Universidad de Sta. Isabel (2008 China Primary Math Olympiad/Yichang, China-Bronze); and Aeron Jason Virata, Aquinas University Science High School (2008 Rio TINTO Big Science Competition-Perfect Score).

DOST Bicol regional director Tomas Briñas said the Youth Excellence in Science (YES)
Awards give due recognition to young Filipino students who excelled in DOST-Science Education Institute (SEI) recognized international science and match competitions as gold, silver and bronze medalists/winners.

“DOST through the (SEI) implements the YES awards program annually to motivate and inspire the youth to strive for excellence in the field of science and mathematics,” he added.

The Bicolano youth awardees bestowed with the recognition, according to the Briñas, are considered to be of value to DOST’s quest for excellence and shall be included in the roster of honorable young men and women in Science.

“As such, awardees must demonstrate and exemplify integrity and honesty and practice core scientific values as models to the Filipino youth,” he stressed. (POLucena, DOST/PIA)

BLGF CITED CAMARINES NORTE ON LOCAL REVENUE GENERATION

Province of CAMARINES NORTE — The provincial government here received a Certificate of Achievement for placing second among the second class provinces in the country in terms of revenue generation from locally sourced income in 2006,
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The provincial government was cited by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) in its publication of statement of income and expenditure of the local governments.
Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus O. Typoco, Jr. meanwhile said that the province is now less dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) compared to other provinces in the Bicol region.
He said that the “Certificate of Achievement” is in recognition of the province’s outstanding accomplishment in revenue generation from locally sourced income since 2006.

Typoco noted the increase in the local government income is attributed to the intensified tax collection campaigns being undertaken by the local governments and the growing economic activities in the province.

The Provincial Treasurer Office and Provincial Assessor Office also received their respective Certificate of Achievement during the 1st Quarter Conference of the Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors (REGATA) last February in Sorsogon City. (RBManlangit, PIA Camarines Norte

FOUR LGUs OF SORSGOON ARE NOMINEES TO THE
2009 PHILIPPINE WETLANDS CONSERVATION AWARDS

Province of SORSOGON — Four local government units (LGUs) in this province were nominated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provincial office here to the 2009 Philippine Wetlands Conservation Awards.
Invitation were sent by the DENR-PENRO chief Oscar Dominguez to Sorsogon City mayor Leovic Dioneda, mayors Benito Doma, Helen Rose de Castro and Olivia M. Bermillo of Prieto Diaz, Bulan and Castilla towns, respectively.

Dominguez said LGUs were invited to the said nominations due to its exemplary contributions in the wise use of their wetlands.

Wetlands, as defined during the Ramsar Convention, refer to areas of marsh, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial., permanent or temporary, with water that is static, flowing, fresh, brackish or salty, including areas of marine, which depth at low tide does not exceed six meters.

Included in the criteria, he said, were the significant contributions of LGUs in wetland conservation, education and public awareness, conservation policies, community empowerment, wise use and/or restoration and rehabilitation of their respective wetlands.

“It is also a must that nominated LGUs have sustainable wetland activities, provide conservation linkages and partnership and must have clearly demonstrated efforts toward Integrated Coastal Management,” he said.

Dominguez further said that the Philippine Wetlands Conservation Awards is part of World Wetlands celebration this year, wherein, World Wetlands will give Incentive Awards in recognition of the significant contributions not only of the local government units but also of individuals and people’s organizations on the wise use of the country’s wetlands.

Nominations or entries are to be submitted directly to DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau until February 28, 2009.

Awarding of winners is scheduled in May 2009 during the Biodiversity Day and Ocean Month celebration।


prizes per category for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao for individual category is P25,000 and plaque of recognition, P50,000 and plaque of recognition for PO or local NGO category and P50,000 and plaque of recognition for the LGU category.

Meanwhile, the World Wet Land Day was celebrated on February 2 with this year’s theme “Upstream-Downstream: Wetland Connects Us All,” which focuses on the impact of river basins, its interconnections with its immediate environment, how wetlands benefit from it and how the activities of people throughout the river basins may affect their wetland. (BARecebidoPIA Sorsogon)

SORSOGON PPO GARNERED THREE MAJOR AWARDS DURING THE
18th PNP ANNIVERSARY AT PRO5 FOR A JOB WELL DONE

Province of SORSOGON — The celebration of the 18th PNP Anniversary of the Police Regional Office 5 at Camp General Simeon Ola has been very triumphant and gratifying to all the PNP personnel of the whole region especially those of Sorsogon PPO.

Provincial Director PSSupt. Henry Salvo Rañola, Jr. led the entire command of Sorsogon PPO in accepting the major awards during the said ceremony.

In the entire Bicol region, Sorsogon PPO garnered the Best PPO title, 508th PPMG, as the Best PPMTG and Sorsogon CPS as the Best City Police Station for Calendar Year 2008.
Present during the said occasion, other than PSSupt Rañola, Jr. was the Group Director of 508th PPMG, PC1 Rogelio A. Beraquit and the Chief of Police of Sorsogon CPS, PSupt Florendo A. Abay. In attendance also was the Governor herself, Hon. Governor Sally A. Lee and the City Mayor of Sorsogon City, Hon. Leovic R. Dioneda. Both local chief executives were beaming with pride as PSSupt Rañola and PSupt Abay received the respective plaque of recognition for Sorsogon PPO and Sorsogon CPS.

The occasion was graced with the presence of the Chief PNP, Police Director General Jesus A. Versoza as the Guest of Honor and Speaker who specifically mentioned in his speech the exemplary performance of Sorsogon PPO in administrative and police operations which guided the way in its being the top recipient of three major awards.
The entire Sorsogon PPO is extremely grateful and wishes to convey its sincere thanks to all Sorsogueños for this totally rewarding experience.

As PSSupt Rañola eloquently express, “Sa nagdaang taon, ang buong Sorsogon PPO ay dumanas ng di matatawarang pagsasakripisyo at pagod sa ngalan ng pagbibigay ng tunay na kahulugan ng serbisyo. Subalit ang lahat ng hirap na aming dinanas ay di naming malalampasan kung wala ang suporta at kooperasyon ng mga mamamayan ng Sorsogon.”
“Sa muli, ang taos puso po naming pasasalamat at asahan po ninyo na sa taong ito mas lalo po naming pagbuguthihin at pagiibayuhin ang paglilingkod sainyo, because we your Mamang Pulis are sworn to lead, to be led, to serve and to protect,” he related.
A firm salute and heartfelt congratulations to the entire Sorsogon Police Provincial Office for a job well done! (PPO Sorsogon Release)

CLAY CAN CURB RED TIDE

The adaptable clay can restrict the mess that the dreaded “Red Tide” inflicts when it’s in deadly cycle। These tiny monsters are blooms of certain marine organisms in coastal waters like the dinoflagellate Pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum, which can “intoxify” mussels that filter them from the water.

Dr। Rhodora Azanza and a group of researchers at the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute have tested a technique developed by South Korean counterparts using a ball of clay to control pyrodinium bahamense var. compressum in the laboratory. They found that at 0.5 gram of clay per liter of water, the population of the organism suspended in the water went down from 95 per cent to 51 per cent.

In South Korea, researchers at the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute previously found that application of 8 grams of clay per liter of water in red tide-stricken waters effectively reduces by 80 per cent the populations of the dinoflagellate Cochlodinium Yolykrikoides. This type of red tide can cause fish kills at high densities, PCAMRD reported.

The clay particles flocculate or band the suspended organisms together in the water and settle them at the sea bottom where it becomes inactive. No significant negative effects on water quality and marine life have been reported.

Since 1983, Red Tide episodes have occurred in the country in Maqueda Bay, Samar. The Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic Resource, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), monitors the deadly blooms in 27 sites.

When consumed, red tide can led to death. So far, no mitigating measures have been put into operation in the past, the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology has noted. (S&T Media Service)