DISASTER COUNCILS IN ALBAY GET P6M EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

LEGAZPI CITY— The acquisition of the P1.5 emergency equipment by the Dlbay Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) would make the province the most functional disaster council in Bicol and maybe the best among other councils nationwide.

Three other local disaster coordinating councils, including Legazpi City, Tabaco City and Oas town also received similar emergency equipment totaling the amount to P6 million for 4 disaster councils in the province.

During the turn-over ceremony here last Wednesday. Gov. Joey Salceda said the P1.5 million worth of emergency equipment would augment the emergency response capability of the recently formed Albay Health and Emergency Management (AHEM) group composed of 147 trained paramedics from various units of the province including local government units.

He added AHEM members have undergone six months of training on various aspects of emergency response and disaster management operations. The group has been created to perform rescue operations and pre-hospitalization care or first aid in times of emergencies and disaster operations.

He said with the new acquired modern emergency equipment, Albay would again increase its visibility in other areas due to an efficient and effective emergency and disaster response capabilities.

It can be recalled Albay province won the most coveted “Galing Pook” award this year for institutionalizing the APSEMO and attaining a “Zero Casualty” objective due to the preemptive evacuation scheme pursued in times of disasters.

Also during the turn-over ceremony, OCD Bicol Regional Director Raffy Alejandro meanwhile related the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) through his Office handed over some P18 million worth of emergency equipment to 12 local government units in Bicol.

These include the six provincial disaster councils and the rest were selected town and city disaster councils.

In a news conference, Salceda bared the funds that bought the equipment came from the Bicol Calamity Assistance and Relief during Emergency (B-CARE) program of President Arroyo.

Salceda said he earmarked P1.3 billion for NDCC when he was chairman of the appropriation committee in the House of Congress in 2006. (MALoterte, PIA V)


DSWD, LGUs INK MOA FOR 4Ps EXPANSION

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional office here and 6 local government units in Sorsogon and Masbate provinces have signed and entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the expansion of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Mayors Jerome Alcantara of Donsol, Sorsogon; Natividad Isavel Magbalon , Emily Hao and Enrico Capinig of Milagros, Mandaon and Aroroy, respectively, all of Masbate province, signed the MOA for the implementation of the government’s cash transfer program for social development and poverty reduction program to cushion the effects of the present global economic crisis.

4Ps provides cash grant amounting to some P1,400 each month to poor households for their needs to improve their health, nutrition and education, particularly of children 0-14 years old provided they comply with the requirements like:

• pregnant women must get pre and post natal care and be attended by a skilled or trained health professionals during childbirth;
• parents or guardians must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mothers’ class, and parent effectiveness seminar;
• children zero to five years old must receive regular preventive health check-ups and immunization;
• children 3 to 5 years old must attend day care or pre-school classes, children 6 to 14 years old must enroll in elementary or high school and attend at least 85 per cent of the school year.

Also present during the MOA signing, held at the Land Bank Auditorium in Malate, Manila last May 28, were Rep. Salvador Escudero III of Sorsogon 1st congressional district, DSWD Bicol Director Remia Tapispisan and the MSWDOs of the different concerned municipalities.

Tapispisan noted that 4Ps has benefited 32,229 households from 9 municipalities in the Bicol region including Libon town in Albay province and 8 others in Masbate province, with total cash grant of P113.353 million. (EEJerusalem, DSWD/PIA)


FUN RUN HIGHLIGHTS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

LEGAZPI CITY — A fun run event, which started and ended at the Peñaranda Park here on June 5, gathered hundreds of environmentalists and advocates alike to celebrate the World Environment Day and Philippine Environment Month celebrations in the Bicol region.

Regional Director Gilbert C. Gonzales of the Environmental Management Bureau Bicol underscored in his message “the solidarity manifested by stakeholders in joining our awareness campaign is a signal that environmental management programs are really in place and being carried out in different parts of the region, especially in Albay province.

He cited the various programs and advocacies spearheaded by the Provincial Government of Albay, through the leadership of Gov. Jose ‘Joey” Salceda.

“As the theme states ‘Your Planet Needs You-United to Combat Climate Change’ let us then work together to conserve and manage our environment,” he added.

Following the fun run was a short program attended by DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada, Mayor Noel E. Rosal, Fr. Roman Santos of Aquinas University Hospital and Executive Director Manuel Rangasa of the Centre for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation.

Special prizes, certificates and freebies were awarded to the participants.

“The Bureau extends its gratitude to all the participants from various government agencies, NGOs, and other sectors alongside with cooperators from industries – the Energy Development Corporation; NPC-BacMan Geothermal Power Field; AP Renewables, Inc.; Filminera Resources, Inc.; Rapu-Rapu Mineral, Inc.; Goodfound Cement Corp.; SAFECO Environmental Services; and the provincial government of Albay,” Gonzales concluded. (EMB V/PIA)



TIGAON TOWN 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)

OPAPP AWARDS P2 M LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE TO FORMER REBELS
By Aida Alcazar-Naz, PIA V

LEGAZPI CITY – Forty kasama sa reporma (KR), as former rebels are now aptly called, received certificates of livelihood equivalent to P50,000 each or a total of P2 million during Friday (June 5) Social Integration Program (SIP) Awarding of Livelihood Certificate at Camarines Sur Agricultural College, Pili, Camarines Sur.

Among the recipients were a couple and a female, who was once a budget officer of the rebel group. Couple Jo and Gil alternately took care of their baby daughter during the awarding program while the former budget officer said she has started working in a government office.

The awarding of certificates was the culmination of a one-week livelihood training at the Department of Agriculture Training Center in Pili town.

The KRs underwent trainings on swine raising, big cattle raising, food processing, tilapia and catfish raising facilitated by DA and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) experts. Staffers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), on the other hand, discussed Basic Entrepreneur Skills Training.

Starting next week, SIP Southern Luzon Regional Officer Charleston Tan will distribute P45,000 worth of goods on the chosen livelihood of each KR. The remaining P5,000 will serve as cash assistance. In each visit to every KR, Tan will be assisted by the local Social Welfare Officer where the former rebel resides.

During Friday’s awarding of certificates, various heads of offices gave their counsel and advise to provide direction to KRs for their return to the fold of the law.

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Asst. Secretary Consuelo P. Cascolan, representative of Secretary Avelino I. Razon, Jr., exhorted the beneficiaries to work hard for the improvement of oneself which will benefit the family and the community as a whole.

BGeneral Tristan Kison, representing Philippine Army’s MGen. Ruperto R. Pabustan, recognized the knowledge and wisdom of these men and women for their efforts in supporting the government’s peace initiative, the key to progress and development.

P/CSupt. Paterno P. Bangui’s message read by P/Sup’t Raul Hebrio “salute(d) (the FRs) for taking the right path, a basic step for a new beginning”.

Meantime, Fred I. Perdon, Office of the Presidential Assistant for Bicol (OPAB) representative, urged them to go into agricultural pursuit like planting high value crops and tilapia raising.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) representative Rolando Gianfranco meantime, said that the move of the KRs is memorable to line agencies as they will become partners in development and expect more (surrenderees) to come.

The 40 KRs composed of 35 males and 5 females came from Camarines Sur (17), Sorsogon (11), Albay (10) and Masbate (2).

Ben from Albay, who surrendered in 2007, gave the response during the awarding program saying that he joined the New People’s Army a year after his elementary graduation. According to him, he was tasked as sniper and eventually joined ambuscades. He also narrated that bus companies and motorized bancas at bagsakan and daungan pay the ‘kilusan’ P15,000 per month.

Ben further disclosed that all of these are things of the past as he has turned a new leaf (bagong buhay) since kawawa ang mandirigma samantalang an lider maganda ang buhay. (The life of a warrior is difficult but leaders live a good life.) He urged his fellow KRs to stand by their decision “panindigan natin ito, dahil ito ang legal”.

Apart from the P50,000 capital assistance, each of the FRs also received last February 12 immediate cash assistance amounting to P20,000 each. In addition additional remunerations were extended based on surrendered firearms, explosives and ammunitions, an M16 or M14 rifle for instance cost P50,000.

Prior to the awarding of livelihood certificates, said KRs underwent orientation on the SIP and spiritual healing through Bible Study conducted by pastors of the Bicol Ministerial Fellowship Committee composed of Evangelical, Baptist, Pentecostal and Independent Christ-centered and scripture-based churches in the region led by Pastor Eduardo Pilapil, Sr., a former Camarines Sur representative.

Government agencies, too, have extended assistance to KRs. DA is set to distribute a pig for each beneficiary, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has enrolled KRs and their family members to the PGMA Scholarship Program, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has allotted scholarships for KRs and their family members while Department of Education (DepEd) has organized literary classes and awaits those who want to be the Accreditation and Equivalency Test. Other agencies have pledged support, too.

The SIP is a process wherein former rebels and their family members are provided intervention assistance to facilitate their integration into the society. The program is guided by the principle of convergence and cooperation among concerned peace partners such as national government agencies, local government units, non-government organization and related organizations in the community.

Through SIP, OPAPP believes that its pursuit of genuine and lasting peace can be achieved through the promotion of peace and unity among all stakeholders towards peace and development. (PIA V Release)


ANTI-PORNOGRAPHY DRIVE LAUNCHED IN CAMNORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Police Provincial Office (PPO) of Camarines Norte launched Monday (June 8) the “Kalaswaan, Dapat I-ban” or campaign against pornography in front of the PPO headquarters here.

PSSupt. Emmanuel M. Talento, police provincial director here, said that the campaign against pornography will be done continuously to put a stop on the proliferation of pornographic materials, especially pirated VCDs and DVDs, in the entire province.

He said that store owners and vendors have so far shown their cooperation by voluntary surrendering pornographic VCDs and DVDs during their (police) inspections in the different stalls in Daet town.

Talento added that he already instructed all municipal chief of police to do the same in their respective jurisdictions.

In the launching activities, the provincial director, along with school officials and some 50 students of the Alawihao National High School, destroyed hundreds of pornographic VCDs and DVDs.

Talento also formally opened the mini zoo located at the compound of their headquarters following the launching activities. (RBManlangit, PIA Cam. Norte)


NAVFORSOL JOINS FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATIONS

LEGAZPI CITY — The Fleet-Marine Team of Naval Forces Southern Luzon has re-affirmed its commitment to the service and loyalty upholding the duly constituted mandate as the nation celebrated its 111th Independence Day last June 12.

In a simple yet auspicious event, the Deputy Commander, Capt Romeo Santiago O Nebres PN (GSC) led NavForSol in the commemoration of the Philippine Independence which included the hoisting of the National Flag in and around the station and conveying the messages of the Secretary of National Defense, Chief of Staff, and Flag Officer-In-Command.

The theme of this year’s celebration of freedom and independence bespeaks of the Navy’s dedication to the nation’s hopeful vision of lasting peace and development.

“Kagitingan at Kasipagan tungo sa Tunay na Kalayaan” is a beat that should reverberate in our hearts the many ideals of freedom and opportunity that our country holds dear,” VADM Ferdinand Golez AFP said in a message sent to the men and women of the navy in Southern Luzon.

NavForSol also commemorated the country’s Independence by participating in the nationwide Mega Jobs and Livelihood Fair at Albay Astrodome here, as the event forms part of the Navy’s contribution to the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of the government.

A total of twenty seven (27) job openings in the command were offered during the said job fair. The hiring program is part of the Navy’s commitment to help displaced OFW’s and workers who were affected by global financial crisis.

A total of eight hundred twenty nine (829) identified positions were offered consistent to the navy’s nationwide hiring program. The forthcoming Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination on August 30, 2009 was also announced.

Fleet-Marine platoon and DRRU contingent also participated in the Wreath Laying Ceremony and Civic-Military parade at Legazpi City business district.

AFP contingent were headed by MGEN Ruperto Pabustan AFP, Commander of 9ID Philippine Army and Commodore Joel Babas AFP, Commander of Naval Forces Southern Luzon. (DFNieva, NavForSol/PIA)