84 INMATES ORDERED RELEASE IN EJOW HEARINGS

LEGAZPI CITY — At least 84 inmates were ordered released after hearings were conducted during the visit of the Enhanced Justice on Wheels (EJOW) mobile court to this city last Saturday.

This was disclosed by Supreme Court Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, EJOW project chairman, after the close of the mobile court hearings at the Albay Provincial Jail compound.

Ynares added that 10 cases were terminated after undergoing mediation proceedings while more than 100 inmates benefited from the medical, dental, and legal aid provided by EJOW.

No less than Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno led officials of the Supreme Court and the Philippine Judicial Academy in bringing the mobile court program to this city.

The Chief Justice witnessed the first hearing conducted by Executive Judge Edgar L. Armes of the Regional Trial Court Branch 4 on board the mobile court together with Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda after the opening program.

During the dialogue with barangay officials of Legazpi City at the Ibalong Conference Room, City Hall compound, the Chief Justice reported that a total of 1,477 inmates have so far been released, 4,514 cases terminated and 7,016 inmates benefited from the medical, dental, and legal aid in less than a year since EJOQ was re-launched.

While her Puno also held a dialogue with the local judges, prosecutors, lawyers and other court officials at the People’s Hall at the Albay Capitol building.

He also visited the Hall of Justice which is currently undergoing repairs after it was damaged by a super typhoon in 2006. (EAdeLeon, PIA)


656 JOB SEEKERS HIRED ON THE SPOT ON FREEDOM DAY JOBS FAIR

LEGAZPI CITY – Some 656 job applicants during the June 12 Independence Day Mega Job and Livelihood Fair were hired on the spot, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOL) regional office here yesterday.

Ernesto Bihis, DOLE Bicol regional director, said a total of 295 applicants were hired by government agencies, 258 by local employers while 103 were hired for overseas jobs.

Bihis said a total 8,267 job applicants participated in the one-day jobs fair held at the Albay Astrodome here which was jam-packed with job applicants who came from the six provinces of Bicol.

He added that a total of 12 government agencies, 32 local companies and 18 overseas employers participated in the job fair.

He also said that some P11 million worth of livelihood packages from DTI, DENR, DSWD, DOT, DOH and DOLE were distributed to recipients of livelihood projects in different provinces of Bicol .

TESDA meanwhile distributed a total of 900 Pangulong Arroyo Scholarship vouchers to qualified scholars.

Department of Budget (DBM) Secretary Rolando Andaya was the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the jobs fair which was also graced by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. (EAdeLeon, PIA)


STRENGTHEN LPRAT IN LGUs TO ACHIEVE PROGRESS – PA MONZON

SORSOGON CITY – Presidential Assistant for Bicol Tomasito B. Monzon vowed to support the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team (LPRAT) of the six provinces in the Bicol region to reduce poverty incidence and improve the quality of life of Bicolanos.

Monzon told the participants of a consultation-dialogue held here recently that the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Bicol (OPAB) has been doing rounds in every province holding interfacing with local officials and stakeholders to strengthen the LPRAT and consolidate poverty reduction efforts.

In the same interfacing, Monzon said that the past development and experiences shared in poverty reduction effort are necessary in coming up with a better and stronger LPRAT that will work together in propelling Bicol on top among the provinces in the country.

LPRAT is an institutional arrangement needed by a municipality or province in the realization of its goal of poverty alleviation.

At the same time, Monzon urged Interior and Local Government Regional Director Blandino A. Maceda to work hand and hand with his office as well as with the RKCG in ensuring that LPRAT is established in every municipality in the region.

“DILG should guarantee that LPRAT is convened and functional in every municipality for the attainment of one goal: MAKING BICOL THE BEST,” he said.

He also asked RKCG cluster head, particularly the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor (DOLE) and the DILG, to convene regularly and discuss measures and strategies to fast track progress and development.

“Member agencies should also have synchronized and focused delivery of basic services,” he added.

Aside from Sorsogon, OPAB and RKCG had already conducted the same consultation-dialogue with LPRAT in Masbate last April 14, 2009. (MBQuiñones, OPAB/PIA Sorsogon)


TIGAON FAST TRACKS MEASURES TO PROPEL PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT

TIGAON, Camarines Sur – Mayor Arnie B. Fuentebella is heading towards propelling this town’s economic progress through the implementation of programs and projects on agriculture, health, environment, livelihood, employment, infrastructure and efficient delivery of basic services to the populace here.

Fuentebella bared the local government here is pursuing several development programs and projects in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and other government frontline agencies.

“The municipal government has recently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with DA Bicol for the construction of a farm-to-market road traversing the barangays Tinawagan and Libod in the upland and eastern slopes of Mount Isarog,” he said.

He added that other projects to boost agricultural development and productivity include the construction of the Municipal Infirmary in barangay Caraycayon, BIO-N Center for the production of organic fertilizer and charcoal briquette, and proposed Grains Drying Station for agri-business center in Partido areas.

Fuentebella also bared another MOA with the DOLE was signed for the construction of 2 units school buildings in Panagan and Abo barangay elementary schools

Tigaon is a recipient of various DOLE-PESO programs like hollow blocks making, Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES), Nurses Assigned in Rural Service (NARS), and livelihood program for Corn Husks Association of Tigaon (CHAT).


He said there are also on-going technical skills training program facilitated by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), butchering, Shiatsu massage and reflexology, HRM, automotive and computer servicing.

Fuentebella believes and is optimistic that these development measures under his administration, in collaboration with the different government line agencies, non government organizations, and the private sector fast track progress in Tigaon town. (RSLuna, MPDC-PESO/DCAbad, PIA CamSur)


PCSO CELEBRATES 75TH YEAR OF “SPREADING THE CHARITY VIRUS”

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Philippine Charity and Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) has commenced yesterday (June 16) its Charity Caravan here marking the start of its celebration of the Diamond Jubilee Year.

PCSO will celebrate its “75th years of spreading the charity virus” on September 8,

Conrado C. Zabella, PCSO OIC general manager, said that as they enter into the Diamond Jubilee Year the stakeholders should become more aware and appreciative of the different charity programs and projects of the institution.

Today, PCSO officials spearheaded of television interview, radio hopping, press conference and an orientation on “Kaibigan ng PCSO” at Villa Mila Hotel here highlighting the series of activities of the Charity Caravan.

Zabella said that during the orientation, PCSO will also be recruiting volunteers for the “Kaibigan ng PCSO”, a program designed to firm up the commitment of all partners and friends to share PCSO’s dream of alleviating the living condition of the underprivileged sectors.

He said that volunteers will be coming from the local government units—municipal mayors, councilors, medical practitioners, social workers, barangay health workers, government agencies, non-government organizations and hospital administrators.

The “Kaibigan ng PCSO” seeks to mobilize an army of volunteers and donors in time for the Nationwide Medical Mission that provide free services and medicines to the country’s 42,000 barangays before the 75th Anniversary Celebration of PCSO.

On, June 18, a motorcade around the towns of Daet, Talisay, Labo and Basud will be held to drumbeat the holding of medical mission and other new projects of the PCSO.

The free medical and dental mission will be held from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at the Agro-Sports Center, while the mini-concert featuring Callalily band will be staged around 7:00 p.m. on the same venue.

Estrella Abasolo, PCSO provincial manager here, said that only Camarines Norte was chosen among the 6 province of Bicol for the charity caravan and one of the 20 areas nationwide.

She said that the simultaneous medical and dental mission for the 42,000 barangays nationwide will be held on September 6. (RBManlangit/PIA Cam. Norte)

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR ALL INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN BICOL REGION: MAY 2009

By: NSO Bicol, Legazpi City

PRICE SITUATION: YEAR-ON-YEAR

The year-on-year inflation rate of Bicol region continued to move at a slower pace of 4.9 per cent in May 2009 from 6.1 per cent in April 2009 or a decline of 1.2 percentage points. Compared to the 8.9 per cent inflation rate in the same period last year, this month’s inflation rate was way below by 4.0 percentage points.

The decline in the annual inflation rate of Bicol region was due primarily to the negative annual rate posted in fuel, light and water (-3.5 per cent from -2.9 per cent) due to the price rollback in LPG and kerosene. The slower annual inflation rate for food, beverages and tobacco (5.8 per cent from 7.7 per cent), housing and repairs (4.2 per cent from 4.3 per cent), services (6.9 per cent from 7.8 per cent) and miscellaneous items (3.5 per cent from 3.6 per cent) also contributed to the downtrend in the all items index. On the other hand, annual rate of clothing index remained at its last month’s rate (2.2 per cent).

Province-wise, all Bicol provinces recorded lower annual inflation rates in May 2009 as follows – Albay, 3.5 per cent from 4.3 per cent; Camarines Norte, 5.0 per cent from 6.3 per cent; Camarines Sur, 5.5 per cent from 6.1 per cent; Catanduanes, 8.9 per cent from 10.8 per cent; Masbate, 5.4 per cent from 7.2 per cent and Sorsogon, 3.8 per cent from 5.7 per cent.

PRICE SITUATION: MONTH-ON-MONTH

On a monthly basis, consumer prices in Bicol region slightly increased by 0.1 per cent in May 2009 from -0.1 per cent in April 2009 or a Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 159.0 from 158.9.

Across commodity groups, month-on-month price movement of food, beverages and tobacco group was still negative but at a faster pace of -0.1 per cent from -0.3 per cent. Among its commodities, cereal and cereal preparations also posted a negative rate of 0.9 per cent in May 2009 from negative 1.0 per cent in April 2009 mainly due to the negative 1.4 per cent increment in rice index because of its sufficient supply in the market. Meanwhile, the price of corn in Bicol appeared stable as the corn index in the area recorded a zero growth from 1.2 per cent a month ago. Slower rates were noted in the indices of miscellaneous foods (0.3 per cent from 0.4 per cent), beverages (0.2 per cent from 0.3 per cent) and tobacco (0.2 per cent from 0.3 per cent). However, higher prices were observed in dairy products (0.4 per cent from 0.1 per cent), eggs (0.4 per cent from -0.9 per cent), fish (0.9 per cent from 0.8 per cent) and fruits and vegetables (0.9 per cent from -1.9 per cent). Factors that contributed to the price hike of fruits and vegetables were the two typhoons that hit the country in early May which affected the major agricultural production areas in Luzon thereby triggering price mark ups particularly for vegetables and price hikes in off-season fruits were also observed in selected areas in the region. Meanwhile, the price of meat in the region appeared stable as the group’s index in the area recorded a zero growth.

Under the non-food group, slower monthly price increases were posted in clothing items (0.1 per cent from 0.2 per cent), services (0.1 per cent from 0.5 per cent) and miscellaneous items (0.1 per cent from 0.2 per cent). Price gain in fuel, light and water items was however higher at 0.6 per cent from -0.5 per cent despite of reduction in the prices of LPG and kerosene during the month because of the higher electricity charges noted in Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur. Meanwhile, a slight increase was registered in housing and repairs at 0.1 per cent in May 2009 from zero growth in April 2009. Overall, the regional non-food index increased 0.2 per cent from 0.1 per cent.

With such rate in the price change of commodities in the region, the Bicol region’s purchasing power of the peso (PPP) in May 2009 remained at P0.63. Similarly, previous month’s PPP was maintained in Albay (P0.61), Camarines Sur (0.66), Catanduanes (P0.58) and Sorsogon (P0.63). On the other hand, worth of peso in Camarines Norte declined by one centavo (P0.61 from P0.62) while it increased by one centavo in Masbate (P0.63 from P0.62). (NSO V/PIA)