SORSOGON REMAINS INFLUENZA AH1N1--FREE

SORSOGON Province — This province remains free of the Influenza AH1N1 virus, amidst the first recorded death of a 49-year old woman caused by the dreaded virus.

Dr. Edgar Garcia, provincial health officer here, assures the general public that the province remains AH1N1 free following rumors that a patient here turned out positive of Influenza A.

Garcia, however, admitted they referred a patient to the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) in Albay but it is because they would like to make sure of other illnesses of said patient, and he can assure that the patient has only experience mild symptoms due to the changing climate and is negative of the virus.

“PHO closely monitors situations related and that the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU), along with MHO/RHU and BHERT, continues to make rounds to disseminate correct information related to AH1N1 flu including how to handle patients,” he said.

Meanwhile, Influenza AH1N1 Flu Disaster Coordinating Council Crisis Managers for Sorsogon have already been organized, with Dr. Edgar Garcia as the Provincial DCC chief.

Garcia said the move was in consonance with the directives of Dr. Nestor F. Santiago, Director of Center for Health Development Region V and Regional Crisis Manager for Influenza AH1N1, by virtue of the National DCC Memorandum No. 27 s. 2009 dated June 5, 2009.

“The coordinating council shall ensure the implementation of our respective plan of action and shall manage all matters relating to the effects of Influenza AH1N1 flu in our respective areas of concerns,” he added.

With the efforts jointly exerted, Garcia appeals to the public that there is no cause to panic, adding that increasing number of AH1N1 diagnosis in the country is expected since our health workers all over the country have been doing aggressive surveillance, good reporting and intensive contact tracing.

However, he also said that the public should never be too complacent.

“We should continue to be vigilant as we, in the government, continue to monitor if there are any changes in its trends and patterns,” he stressed. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


PNP LATERAL ENTRY PROGRAM 2009 COMMENCES

SORSOGON Province — Sorsogon Police Provincial Office (SPPO) announces that the Philippine National Police (PNP) Lateral Entry Program for calendar year 2009 has already started and that they encourage qualified PNP personnel with PO3 rank to submit the following requirements:

a.) Unit Endorsement
b.) Duly Accomplished CSC PDS (Revised 2005)
c.) NSO Birth Certificate
d.) Training Certificate/Final Order of Merit/Declaration of Graduate
e.) Transcript of Records and Diploma
f.) Certificate of Eligibility/Board rating
g.) Clearances (Barangay, police, NBI, PLEB, RIAS, Legal ervice, Mayor, Prosecutor, MTC and RTC)

”Interested civilians particularly lawyers, doctors and clergies are also encouraged to join the PNP forces,” said PCI Alfredo A. Nierva, Public Information Officer, SPPO.

For further details, interested civilians and qualified PNP members may visit Sorsogon Police Provincial Office, Administrative Section, Camp Salvador C. Escudero, Sorsogon City. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon with report from PNP-SPPO)


CAMNORTE RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM CLEEP

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here has conducted Basic Skills Training on Pineapple Juice Wine and Vinegar Making in San Lorenzo Ruiz town.

DTI Provincial Director Ernesto Pardo said the training program supports the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He said some 40 participants from the Women’s Matacong Empowement Now and Women’s Incorporated of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Caayunan Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Basud, Labo Multi-Purpose Cooperative of Labo and 3 starting entrepreneurs of Daet town participated to the training.

Resource speakers and training specialists were provided by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Bicol.

Pardo said DTI has since January 2009 conducted at least 41 trainings on different livelihood programs and technology transfer benefiting some 271 locals who are now engaged in small enterprise.

Seven displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) also underwent training on Basic Business Planning,” he said. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


RDCC BICOL ALL SET FOR NDCM 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, June 18, 2009 – Regional Director Bernardo Alejandro IV of Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol has urged members of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) to pool manpower and resource in carrying out the plans and activities for the National Disaster Consciousness Month this July.

This year’s National Disaster Consciousness Month evolves on the theme “Pag Alerto, Malayo sa Peligro”.

The month-long observance will commence on July 1 with the launching program at PNP Bicol Regional Office at Camp Simeon Ola here, followed by a parade from the police headquarters to Peñaranda Park in Albay district, and static display of new state of the art equipment for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, disaster response and emergency drills.

RDCC’s IEC committee has slated series of awareness campaigns on disaster preparedness and response in various hospitals, schools, business establishments, government offices, among others, across the region.

The Philippine Navy Team, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Air Force will jointly conduct on July 15 a Maritime Disaster Response Drill off the coast of barangay Rawis, this city, which intends to enhance interoperability and response to maritime disaster of the trio emergency response team.

NavForSol Commodore Joel E Babas, meanwhile, said the naval command strongly supports a multi-sectoral approach on disaster awareness, prevention, response and mitigation.

In a command briefing at the navy’s station, Babas stressed that “those with the capacity and wherewithal to help themselves must do so in advance, so that in the event of an emergency, responders can first assist those who are unable to tend to themselves.”

From typhoons and flashfloods to volcanic eruption and landslide, recent events remind us more than ever that we must prepare ourselves and our families for a disaster. This is the time, each year, when every Bicolanos should ask the question, ‘Am I ready?’”

NavForSol also reiterates the need for a year round preparation on disaster response and mitigation.

“We encourage every individual to take important preparedness steps that will greatly improve his or her ability to survive and recover from all types of emergencies, whether natural or man-made,” Babas said.

He added that these steps include getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, becoming informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, and getting involved in community preparedness and response efforts.
(DFNieva, NAVFORSOL/PIA)


1,440 HAS. BICOL UPLANDS PLANTED WITH TREES

LEGAZPI CITY – Some 1,440 hectares of uplands within the Bicol River Basin area are now planted with trees.

This was gleaned from a report (as of June 12, 2009) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Bicol regional office, a copy of which was sent to Presidential Assistant Tomasito B. Monzon, Project Manager of the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project (BRBWMP) based in Naga City.

The upland reforestation projects were carried out in 13 different areas in Camarines Sur, including barangays Tible, San Rafael Norte, Buenasuerte, Sooc and Napolidan in Lupi town; Panoytayan, Cabadisan and Samay in Ragay; Tigman in Sipocot; Del Socorro in Minalabac; Tanag and Bagamelon in Libmanan; Pamplona; and Minalabac.

Seven of these projects will be implemented within a year, while the rest will be carried out for a period of three years.

According to the same report, the 1,440 hectares planted comprised 90 percent of the target 1,608 hectares.

The upland reforestation project has a total allocation amounting to P37,679,730.90. Some P20,401,886.80 or 54 percent of the total fund has already been utilized.

DENR handles the watershed management and development component (WMD) of the BRBWMP. Other components, like irrigation modernization, flood and hazard mitigation and institutional development, are being implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Project Management Office.

Under the WMD component, there are also two components, such as plantation and infrastructure. Under plantation, there are six activities, namely, upland reforestation, agro-forestry, bamboo riverbank stabilization, mangrove rehabilitation, assisted natural regeneration (ANR), and protection and maintenance. Under infrastructure, the activities are gabion check dams, SWIS or (small water impounding system), and eco-blocks construction.

For agro-forestry areas, 186 hectares have already been planted with forest trees, fruit bearing trees and other agricultural crops, the DENR report said.

It entails 77 percent of the target area of 243 hectares has already been accomplished. The project cost some P3,288,200.00 wherein 74 percent of the total fund, amounting to P2,429,691.00, were already utilized.

The five agro-forestry projects are located in barangays Tible in Sipocot; San Ramon in Pamplona; Del Socorro in Minalabac; Sigamot in Libmanan; and San Ramon in Pamplona, all in Camarines Sur.

Other activities included riverbank stabilization covering a 32 kilometer stretch in Lupi, Sipocot and Libmanan towns, mangrove forest rehabilitation covering 45 hectares in barangays Biong, Pandan and Barcelonita in Cabusao.

DENR Bicol also assisted natural regeneration activities within the 50 hectares area in barangay Alana, Lupi; protection and maintenance of the 250 hectares of forests in Napolidan, Lupi; and Tanag, Libmanan.

Under infrastructure component, the report states the following accomplishments:

1. Setting up of gabion check dams with a total of 382 cubic meters in Pag-oring, Libmanan; Bulawan Sr., Kabutagan and Tapi in Lupi; Lubigan in Sipocot; Del Socorro, Minalabac; and another area in Minalabac.
2. Construction of seven (7) units of SWIS in Tible, Sipocot; San Ramon, Pamplona; Bagong Sikat, Lupi; Pag-oring, Libmanan; Irayang Sulong, Minalabac; and two other areas in San Ramon, Pamplona.
3. Construction of 500 linear meters of ecoblocks in Barangays San Felipe, Santiago and Del Carmen in Minalabac, Camarines Sur.

All activities under the watershed component of the BRBWMP are intended to restore, sustain and enhance the productive potentials of Alienable and Disposable (A&D) and timber lands, and to enhance the protection functions of the watershed of the Bicol River Basin towards the ultimate goal of reducing poverty. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA)


POLICE NABS NOTORIOUS BONNET GANG

San Andres, Catanduanes—Elements of the Municipal Police Office here, led by PInsp. Darwin A. Asejo, apprehended three members of the notorious Bonnet Gang while trying to evade a police checkpoint along barangay Belmonte, this municipality, around 8:45 p.m. Thursday (June 18).

Asejo bared arrested were gang leader Leo Bagadiong y Gino, 26, married; Vincent Tario y Lerios, 23, single; Jomar Magtangob y De la Cruz, 23, single, all residents of barangay Antipolo in Virac town.

Police recovered from Bagadiong one (1) cal. 38 revolver trademark ARMSCOR SN# 822180 loaded with 6 live ammos, 13 live ammos for shotgun, 1 short magazine of M16 rifle loaded with 6 live ammos, 1 Nokia Cp Model 1112, 1 brown wallet containing P 160.00 and several receipts and personal identifications, 1military flashlight, 1 black leather wallet containing several receipts and personal identifications, 1white pouch with markings Mercury Drugs, 1military snipers veil, 1duplicate key for Yamaha Motorcycle, and 1 Motorstar motorcycle with Plate # 6591 NJ.

Lerios was in possession of 1 Cal. 45 pistol Model COLT 1911, w/o serial nos. inserted with 1magazine containing four 4 live ammo with black holster, 1 Nokia Cp Model 6600, 1brown wallet with Prof. Driver’s License, and 1 black wig.

Police also recovered from De la Cruz 1 Cal. 22 revolver Model Sentinel loaded with eight live ammos with Serial #. P-6875, 1Nokia Cp Model 3310, 1 baseball cap (black), and 1 black bonnet.

All apprehended suspects were involved in various robbery hold up within Virac and San Andres of this province at present subject persons were now detained in this station and a case for PD 1866 Sec. 1 for Illegal Possession of FAS and Ammunition is being prepared for inquest filing. (EABagadiong, PIA Catanduanes)


PGMA, Brazil’s Lula de Silva share one thing in common

RECIFE CITY, Brazil — When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meets Brazilian counterpart Luis Inacio Lula de Silva at the highlight of her three-day State Visit in Brazil today (Wednesday, June 24) she will have one thing in common with the Latin American head of state. They are the first two recipients of the prestigious Don Quixote de la Mancha International Award.

The award, which recognizes the work of institutional and individual personalities who contribute the most to the promotion and knowledge of Spanish culture and language, was won by Lula de Silva (institutional category) in its initial edition last year.

This year, it was the turn of President Arroyo to be given the honors for her initiative of promoting the teaching and learning of the Spanish language in the Philippines.

It will be recalled that in November 2007, President Arroyo signed Memorandum Order No. 276 directing the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to encourage the teaching and learning of the Spanish language.

The initiative was warmly welcomed by the Spanish government during the President’s State Visit to Spain in December of the same year.

The president of the Castilla-La Mancha province and president of the jury, Jose Maria Barreda, said the award is in recognition of President Arroyo’s “educational initiative in introducing the Spanish language in national study plans, which amplify areas of political, institutional and economic cooperation in developing the Spanish language.”

Peruvian-Spanish writer Mario Vargas Llosa is this year’s recipient for the individual category. Last year’s winner was Mexican novelist and essayist Carlos Fuentes.

The announcement of President Arroyo’s award is auspicious as the Philippines is re-introducing Spanish into the curriculum in selected schools beginning this month.

The awarding ceremony is tentatively scheduled to take place during the celebration of Dia de la Hispanidad, or Spanish National Day, on Oct. 12 in Toledo. His Majesty King Juan Carlos will confer the awards in the presence of Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. (PIA V Release)


PGMA must be supported and commended instead of being condemned for her trips overseas

RECIFE CITY, Brazil — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo deserves commendation instead of condemnation for embarking on trips overseas that have brought untold benefits to the Filipino people especially in these times of global economic uncertainties.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde today (Wednesday, June 24) stressed the President’s trips abroad are “not vacations nor fun” but hard work aimed at finding solutions to the problems of the Filipino people.

“We are today living in a global village. We cannot be insular in our attitude and in our thinking that is why we have to appreciate the fact that we have a president who is actively promoting and protecting the interests of the Filipinos and Philippines abroad,” Remonde said.

“It is important and necessary for our president to be active in the international scene in order to open job markets abroad for Filipinos, to promote international trade, to secure more development assistance for the Philippines,” the Press Secretary added.

He pointed out that the President’s trips abroad are “worth every penny” as these trips have helped the Philippines breeze through the global economic crunch.

At the same time, the Press Secretary stressed that the President’s trips overseas are “not one of things that we are defensive about” as he expressed Malacanang’s readiness to face any Senate investigation. (PIA V Release)


PGMA reiterates order to Health Dep’t on flu virus

RECIFE CITY, Brazil — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today (Wednesday, June 24) reiterated her order to the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned agencies to do everything possible to protect the people from the influenza AH1N1 virus.
In a radio interview over RMN-DZXL, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was informed about the AH1N1-related death of a 49-year-old woman in Metro Manila.
The DOH said the woman died of “congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction” and other complications, including the A H1N1 virus.
Remonde is with the President who is now in Brazil on a state visit upon the invitation of Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula de Silva.
He said the virus reported in the country is not the virulent type. He added that the President is calling on the public and private health sectors to team up in the fight against the virus. (PIA V Release)


Remonde cites benefits to RP of PGMA's travels abroad

RECIFE CITY, Brazil — While welcoming the planned investigation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's travels abroad, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde today expressed confidence that the senators will discover that the presidential trips are necessary and beneficial to the country.

In a press conference in Brazil monitored by a local radio station, Remonde said, "Malacanang welcomes the Senate's plan to investigate the travels of the President abroad even as we want to remind the people that these are all public records, being audited by the Commission on Audit."

"I assure the Filipino people that her travels are all hectic, working travels. They are not vacations. She brings home so many benefits to the country in terms of more trade, investments, jobs for overseas-based Filipinos, loans and better diplomatic relations," Remonde said.

The President’s foreign trips also enable her to get in touch and dialogue with the OFWs, find out first-hand what their problems are and decide on them on the spot, he added.

"What else is new,” Remonde said, referring to the proposed Senate investigation. “That is the job of the Senate. So let the Senators do their job. But I assure them that they will find out that the travels are necessary and bring home more bounties for the country that would not otherwise be realized if she stayed home," he added. (PIA V Release)