ALBAY HOSTS 6TH PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CORN CONGRESS

LEGAZPI CITY — All system go for the 6th Philippine National Corn Congress which commences Thursday (April 16) at the Albay Astrodome here with several key issues and concerns on the corn industry that need to be taken up and draw out measures that can give a boost to corn production in the country.

In a press conference Monday (April 13), Roger Navarro, president of the Philippine Maize Federation (Philmaize), said that among the critical concerns of the corn growers in the country are the discrepancy on inadequate consultation, policy recommendation, and financial support to the industry,

“We will be discussing these issues with the Department of Agriculture during the congress, and hopefully we can both come up with a “win-win” compromise that will stimulate development of the corn industry,” he added.

He also said Philmaize would be pushing for additional financial assistance from the government to settle the funding discrepancies between the budget allocation of the DA for rice and corn production.

He pointed out that while the country produces 10.5 million metric tons of rice per year and gets P42 billion funding, the corn production yields 7.5 million metric tons in the same period with a measly P600 million budgetary support from the government.

With a small difference of 3 million metric tons yearly production, Navarro stressed, “what need to be settled would be the gigantic discrepancies on the funding allotted by DA on rice and corn production.”

Philmaize is seeking an increase in the support price for corn from P7 to P13 considering the spiraling cost of farm inputs like fertilizer, also calling on the government to invest more on infrastructure facilities notably mechanical dryers and other post harvest facilities to preserve corn stockpiles.

Philmaize founding president Roderico Bioco also bared during the media conference that that the 2.5 percent downtrend in corn production nationwide, as estimated by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS), may reach 5 percent due to global warming.

He said that Philmaize also supports the use of GMO technology for the country to retain self-sufficiency in corn production, taking into consideration that the country’s population is increasing and agricultural lands are getting smaller.

Meanwhile, Romualdo Elvira Jr., congress executive committee chair, said among other objectives of the congress include updates on the current state of corn industry; identification and evaluation of policies that could contribute to increase productivity and sufficiency, evaluation of the implications of global warming to the industry and formulation of policies, programs, and regulation to mitigate and adapt to its effects.

He added that key issues to be raised include among others: climate changes, production strategies, trade/global trends, business, research and developments, biotechnology, biofuels, transportation and aflatoxin management.

Elvira said over a thousand participants from corn producers, farmers associations, local government officials, national line agencies, academe, seeds companies and private sectors across the region will attend the congress.

Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda, Mayor Noel Rosal of this city, DA Sec. Arthur Yap, Senators Mar Roxas, Francis Escudero, Pia Cayetano, and Loren Legarda, MMDA chair Bayani Fernando are expected to grace the opening rites of the congress.(MALoterte, PIA RO V)


DOLE BICOL INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN ON EMPLOYEES MEDICAL BENEFITS

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Bicol is intensifying its campaign on the promotion of the Employees Compensation Program (ECP), commonly known as the Employees Medical Benefits Program for both private and government employees.

“If an employee meets a work-related accident then instantly they could file a claim under the ECP. It is designed to all Filipino workers who need medical treatment and financial assistance brought about by work-related sickness and accidents,” DOLE Bicol regional director Ernesto C. Bihis said.

The ECP covers all government employees who are duly registered and members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and all private employees who are duly registered and member of the Social Security System (SSS), except for self-employed or voluntary members.

“Employees who are sick can avail the ECP provided that the sickness incurred is listed on the occupational diseases specified by the DOLE Employees Compensation Commission (ECC),” he explained.

“However, if sickness is not listed on the occupational diseases, the employee must submit documents to prove that the sickness is work-related. Proof of hazardous conditions and elements must be presented,” he noted.

This year, DOLE-Bicol will conduct a massive information campaign on the ECP noting that most Bicolano workers are not aware of the program.

DOLE Bicol assistant regional director Irma S. Valiente, an ECP expert, said that Bicolanos, especially those who work in dangerous and accident-prone jobs like construction and mining, must be know the program.

The ECP will pay workers who met an accident provided that the accident occurred at the place of work, the employee was doing his/her duty, employee is following orders of the employer during accident (if accident was outside office premises), accident was met on the way to workstation or going home provided that the employee takes the usual route he takes to and from the office, employee is satisfying biological needs like: relieving himself (pag-ihi, pag-dumi), taking meals/snacks on official break, etc., accident while aboard vehicle or company vehicle, and accident while performing duties in a company sponsored activities.

However, employees who met accidents due to drunkenness, suicide or grave reckless imprudence will not be covered by the ECP.

Valiente said that employees who qualify can claim the monetary and medical benefits, including Loss of Income Benefit (LIB), Temporary total disability (TTD), Permanent total disability (PTD), medical services, appliances and supplies, Death Benefit and Funeral Benefit.

She further stressed that employees who encountered accident or sickness during the course of duty are entitled to claim ECP benefits aside from the benefits claimed from the GSIS/SSS. Application for the EC can be filed at any branch of GSIS/SSS near the locality.

She also related that denied ECP claims can be appealed to the DOLE-Employees Compensation Commission (DOLE-ECC) within 30 days from the receipt of the decision not honoring the claim.

“Every year we are finding ways to bring our services closer to the public thru massive information campaign,” she said. (RPEscalante, DOLE/PIA)


NATIONAL HERITAGE MONTH KICKS-OFF IN NAGA CITY

NAGA CITY — This city will host the opening revelry on April 29 for the annual festival that will usher in the nationwide celebration of the Filipino Heritage Month, in consonance with Presidential Proclamation No. 439 declaring May each year as National Heritage Month.

Mayor Jesse M. Robredo of this city said “Naga City has been chosen by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Filipino Heritage Festival. Inc. (FHFI) to be the kick-off venue of the annual nationwide festival.”

Activities lined-up for the Naga event is the opening to the public of the Museo Seminario Conciliar for the Historico-Clerico Exhibits starting at 9:00 o’clock in the morning.

A huge production of Bicol student performing artists from the cities of Naga and Iriga will also highlight the opening activities of the Filipino Heritage festivities.

Dubbed “Bikol Cultural Night” and with the theme “Awit at Sayaw sa Maogmang Lugar”, the performing arts presentation will take center stage at the storied Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, providing as additional backdrop the brick-columned Iberian-Moorish façade of the ancient Holy Rosary Minor Seminary on one side and the colonial-type Archbishop’s Palace just across the street on the other.

“The Bikol Cultural Night will be lavished with performances by leading critically-acclaimed and award winning cultural and performing arts groups from the top universities and colleges in and out of Naga City,” Robredo said.

“The city government has also commissioned the Naga City Visitors Center headed by Joe Perez to set the stage for the two-day festivity that will showcase the splendor and distinct character of Bicol cultural heritage through its festivals, dance and music,” he added.

The song and dance extravaganza will be capped by a magical fireworks display, courtesy of the Department of Tourism. A special late night dinner of sumptuous Filipino and Bicolano dishes will be tendered for the guests at a local restaurant along the vibrant strip of Magsaysay Avenue.

On the second night, the Naga audience will be dazzled and pampered with a fashion show entitled “Gubing Guibong Naga”.

The dresses will be paraded by pretty Bicolana models with designs executed by well-known local couturiers Ariel Alvarez and Junn Roa. With stage design by Russel Sinfuego, the fashion gala will interpret into haute couture the colorful weave and tapestry of people, art, culture and nature.

Musical scoring of the two-hour show will be rendered by Tambol Sorsogon and Pangkat Kawayan of FEU Manila amidst the green lawn of the white colonial Almeda mansion in Abella Street. Pangkat Kawayan, an ensemble of 27 young musicians uses instruments such as: Lira Gabang, Tonic Gabang (Alto & Tenor), Bamboo Marimba (Talunggati), Alugtog and Angklung (Tipangklung) for its repertoire of Filipino music, including as finale piece the Bicolano song, “Sarung Banggi”.

Other events include wreath-laying at Plaza Quince Martires, groundbreaking for the proposed Plaza Ciudad de Caceres at Padian Street, historico-clerico exhibits, lectures by Prof. Jun de Leon of UP and the NCCA and Bicolano historiographer Jose V. Barrameda. There will also be heritage tours and a Carera de Sintas at Plaza Quezon.

Award-winning choreographer Boboy Pesimo will take charge in the overall direction of the two-day extravaganza.

Meanwhile, Robredo, Armita B. Rufino of the FHFI and Ana Maria ‘Bambi’ Harper of the NCCA are the main presenters during the formal launch and press conference of the 2009 Filipino Heritage Festival today (April 15) at Almacenas Reales in Fort Santiago, Manila.

During the month-long festivities, various events will also held on specific dates in the month of May in different parts of the country including Legazpi, Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Bulacan, Ilocos, and Metro Manila. (DCAbad, PIA Cam. Sur)


DAET ROB SERIES SUSPECTS, CHARGED

LEGAZPI CITY — Arrested robbery suspect Fernando Buag, 39 years old, resident of Bgy. Cabusay, Labo, Camarines Norte, assisted by his lawyer, executed a written extrajudicial confession pointing to PSInsp Pio Villagracia Rafer and SPO4 Domingo Mariano Baay, both members of Daet Municipal Police Station, as the alleged masterminds behind the series of robbery hold up incidents in the town of Daet, Camarines Norte.

The duo were criminally charged with robbery with violence/intimidation of person before a local court, with Docket Nr. NPS-V-09INQ-09-D-0046, after Fernando Buag, one of the five arrested robber suspects implicated and tagged them as the masterminds behind the series of robbery hold up incidents in the said town.

Buag was arrested in an intensified follow-up police operation, following the involvement of his criminal group in the robbery hold-up of a certain Noel Teodoro y Argote, manager of a local branch Western Union, Daet Branch last March 19, 2009.

His other cohorts, identified as Nestor Buenavente, Marcelo Maravilla, a certain Errol and Bremar, who are reportedly armed with cal. 45 and 9mm pistols, are now the subject of manhunt operations.

Buag further positively identified the two PNP members as the alleged masterminds in a police line-up conducted by PSSupt’t. Emmanuel M. Talento, provincial director, Camarines Norte PPO.

PCSupt Paterno P. Bangui, regional director of the Bicol Police Regional Office, has already directed the Chief, Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD) to find out the administrative culpability of the two implicated PNP members, and to file the appropriate charges if warranted based on the outcome of the investigation that will be conducted.

Bangui expressed his dismay that the image of the PNP was dragged by these unscrupulous criminal elements.

Provincial Prosecutor Oscar J. Villafuerte has ordered the filing of information before the RTC against all the accused after undergoing inquest proceedings, and recommended P100,000 bailbond for their provisional liberty.

PSI Rafer and SPO4 Baay are presently detained at Daet MPS, while Fernando Buag was committed to BJMP District Jail pursuant to a commitment order of the court against him for Multiple Attempted Murder charges. (ELBron, PRO V/PIA)


CSC ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF THE WOMEN’S MONTH ESSAY WRITING CONTEST

LEGAZPI CITY — The Civil Service Commission congratulates thee winners of the Regional Essay Writing Contest in line with the celebration of the Women’s Month 2009 in March.

Adjudged top placer was Dr. Juditch B. Salamat, Associate Professor I of the Camarines Sur State Agricultural College in Pili, Camarines Sur, followed by Ms. Mary Janice B. Ceneta, Special Investigator I of the Commission on Human Rights Bicol Regional Office, and Ms. Antonia P. Ramores, Executive Assistant of the Camarines Norte Water District in Daet, Camarines Norte was declared third placer..

The winners received cash prizes amounting to P5,000; P3,000; and P2,000 for the first, second and third place, respectively, and a certificate of commendation each in an awarding ceremony held on April 3, 2009 at the Civil Service Commission Regional Office No. 5 training hall.

This year’s theme focused on “The Role of the Bicolana Civil Servant of the Contemporary Time in Regional Development”.

The Board of Judges was composed of Atty. Salvador C. Villarosa, Jr., Director III, CSC RO5 as chair; Ms. Annie V. Lledo, Assistant Professor, Divine Word College of Legazpi; and Ms. Gina Borromeo, Aquinas University of Legazpi, as members. (CSC release/PIA)


PRESS UNDERSECRETARY CAPADOCIA LAID TO REST

MANILA — The late Press Undersecretary Jose “Joecap” Capadocia, 69, was laid to rest today (April 15, Wednesday) at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City amid an outpouring of grief and heartwarming memories.

En route to the Loyola Memorial Park, the funeral cortege passed by the Capadocia’s family residence along Paraiso St. in Sta. Mesa, Manila and then Santolan Road along Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

The Camp Aguinaldo route to his final resting place was deliberately chosen in memory of Joecap’s years as a beat reporter covering the Department of National Defense in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Joecap served three terms as president of the Defense Press Corps.

Joecap died with seven other top aides of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in a helicopter crash in the Cordilleras on Holy Tuesday (April 7) while on an ocular inspection for a scheduled presidential event in Ifugao.

In her Holy Thursday (April 9) vigil tribute at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang for her eight aides, President Arroyo said of the late press undersecretary: “Joecap was one of my media supporters from way back, when I was still a senator…”

“Joe is a loss not only to wife Maret and to (sister) Celia and to their children but, I believe, also to the Malacanang Press Corps who are grieving very much for him as I can perceive – because I could observe he had great camaraderie with them.”

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who led the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) family at the interment rites, described his deputy as “irreplaceable.”

Joecap’s remains stayed overnight last night for the vigil at the Press Briefing Room in the New Executive Building (NEB), headquarters of the OPS within the Malacanang Complex, with Presidential son Dato Arroyo and his wife coming over to pay their last respects.

The seven grandchildren of “Lolo Joecap” – Justin, AJ, Jomari, Jolina, Miguel, Paolo and Diego -- joined their grandmother, Asst. Secretary Maret Capadocia of the Office of the President and the long line of guests from the media community and the government.

Remonde and former Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye led yesterday (April 14) media and government personalities in paying tribute to the late “Joecap” who was also honored by OPS personnel and members of the Malacanang Press Corps (MPC).

A group from the Baguio media also came down to Manila to pay their last respects to the press undersecretary who was an ubiquitous presence in presidential events in the summer capital and elsewhere in the country.

The Baguio delegation informed Mrs. Maret Capadocia that they had planted a pine sapling at the Busol watershed in honor of “Tata Joecap.”

The group was composed of Baguio City Public Info Officer Ramon Dacawi; Inquirer correspondent Delmar Carino; NBN Baguio’s Jonathan Llanes; Malaya’s Malen Catajan; and PIA-CAR regional director Helen Tibaldo and personnel Joseph & Hiyasmin Zambrano, Regie Cawis, Francis Martin, Ariel Arcayna and Jonalyn Ponciano. (PIA V Release)


PGMA TO LAUNCH EASTERN SEABORD ROUTE OF SRNH

MANILA — Just back from her successful job-hunting trip to Dubai, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is set to traverse the Philippine archipelago once again for two days starting today to launch the Eastern Seaboard Route of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH).

The President will check on the roll-on, roll-off (RORO) operations in three ports, starting in Mindanao where she will be inaugurating the Surigao City RORO Port Expansion Project.

After the project briefing, President Arroyo shall board a RORO vessel bound for San Ricardo Port in Liloan, Southern Leyte in the Visayas.

With the media delegation on board during the two-hour sea travel, the President shall be interviewed on the government’s job-providing infrastructure projects which are now in full swing.

Expected to arrive by noon at the San Ricardo Port which she will also inaugurate, the President will unveil the marker of the San Ricardo Port Development Project.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza shall brief the President on the project.

As she has been doing in her provincial visits, the President will listen to the local folks about their situation and the benefits that the government’s latest infrastructure project has brought to their community.

After lunch, the President will travel by land to Tacloban City, leading the inaugural drive-through of the road link – the Sogod-Mahaplag-Abuyog Road – aside from inspecting the Agas-Agas Viaduct Project.

By 5:30 p.m., the President shall have reached Leyte’s provincial capitol which will be bedecked in a summer fiesta atmosphere to inaugurate various projects including the unveiling of the marker for the newly-completed Naval Port Development Project and the Passengers Terminal Building in Biliran. (PIA V Release)


PGMA ORDERS BIDDING OF 60% OF ALL INFRA PROJECTS IN FIRST HALF OF 2009

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the Cabinet Tuesday (April 14) to make sure that 60 percent of all programmed infrastructure projects are bid out during the first semester of 2009 and the implementation of most projects must be carried out around-the-clock or in three eight-hour shifts.

The President issued the directive during the Cabinet and National Economic and Development Authority-Cabinet Group meeting in Taguig before she enplaned for Mindanao where she will inspect vital infrastructure projects in the South.

The directive was relayed by Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III to Malacanang reporters, saying that the President ordered the fast-tracking of each agencys’ economic resiliency program (ERP).

Bello said Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. was also ordered to double check if the flyover from Luzon Avenue to C5 road is being constructed in a 24/7 mode. Once completed, this project will improve traffic flow in Metro Manila and help solve the problem of unemployment.

Bello added that the President also ordered the completion of farm-to market roads (FMRs) and the completion rate of irrigation projects must be at least 60 percent of the annual targets. An annual budget of P2 billion is allotted for FMRs and irrigation projects for 2007 to 2010.

Similarly, the President also called for the strict implementation of the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) which to-date has employed 75,000 workers as shown by the figures from the National Anti- Poverty Commission (NAPC). (PIA V Release)


GOVT. CONSIDERS EXTENDING ZERO TARIFF FOR FLOUR

MANILA — To control bread prices from increasing, the government is considering extending the zero tariff duties on flour as its way of helping low income consumers continue buying bread and other bakery products.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita told Malacanang reporters that he is awaiting the recommendations of Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap regarding flour prices.

“If that is the best way to keep the prices of bread and bakery products at their current levels and to ensure that consumers can continue buying these products, then we will extend the zero duties on flour,” Ermita said.

Some companies are asking the government to extend the zero tariff on flour to keep the prices of bread and bakery products within the reach of consumers as global economic recession continues to intensify.

Ermita said he is awaiting the recommendations of the DTI and the DA but that he is also in contact with the bakers association. “As I said we can do this as long as extending zero tariff can be good for the greater number of people,” Ermita said. (PIA V Release)


DOE HAS UNIT MONITORING THE OILD PRICES -- ERMITA

MANILA — Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita today said he has been informed by Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes of a specific unit in the department “that does nothing but monitor the movement and fluctuations of oil prices here and abroad.”

“It’s not to say that government is not doing something about the continuous oil price increases or that Secretary Reyes is helpless in stopping the oil companies from increasing fuel prices,” Ermita told Malacanang reporters during his weekly briefing at the New Executive Building in Malacanang.

“We will await the recommendations of Secretary Reyes on the monitoring being done by this unit in the department so we could act on them,” Ermita said.

On the need to repeal the 10-year old Oil Industry Deregulation Law, Ermita said he is not aware of any proposed measure pending in Congress.

“But we will support this measure because we have seen that under this law government can do nothing to interfere with oil prices under a free market regime,” Ermita said.

“In anticipation of such a measure by Congress, the executive branch should be preparing itself for such action. We should now study very closely the current situation in the oil industry and if we will support the repeal of the oil deregulation law,” Ermita said.

What we are certain now is that a study is already being done by the government, particularly the unit in the DoE that is closely monitoring the price fluctuations here and abroad, Ermita noted. (PIA V Release)