2 NEW BRIDGES NOW OPEN TO TRAFFIC

LIGAO CITY – Two newly constructed bridges were opened to traffic, linking this city to Tabaco City and other villages in the province, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Albay 2nd District Engineering Office under the leadership of District Engineer Efren C. Manalo, said.

The newly constructed bridges are the Basag Bridge at barangay Basag and Tobgon Bridge at barangay Batang, both in Ligao City.

Albay 3rd District Representative Reno G. Lim inaugurated the Basag Bridge last August 28, 2009, to be followed by another inaugural ceremony on September 18, 2009 for the Tobgon Bridge.

DPWH District Engineer Manalo said some P38.4 million from the President’s Bicol Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Efforts (B-CARE) funds were spent to reconstruct the two bridges destroyed by super typhoon ‘Reming’ in November 2006.

Manalo said the total collapse of the two vital bridges isolated several villages and Tabaco City bringing difficulties in transporting farm products to the this city and other municipalities of Albay.

He said the completion of Basag and Tobgon Bridges would hasten the transportation of farm products to the market, thereby improving the livelihood of the farmers in the rural villages of this city.

Basag Bridge is 30.60 linear meters RCDG Bridge type with 159 linear meters of guard rails at both approaches and project cost of P23.7 million sourced by Congressman Reno G. Lim from B-CARE funds.

Tobgon Bridge is 60.00 linear meters Steel Truss Type (Type CH5D) and 75.00 linear meter span RCDG both Reinforced Concrete Deck Slab Superstructure, one Abutment and Pier Substructure supported by Steel H-Pile Abutment. Slope protection is rested on steel sheet.

Project cost is P14.7 million; it’s a foreign-assisted project from the United Kingdom (UK) with funding counterpart from the Government of the Philippines (GOP).

The two bridges were awarded to and constructed by NFH Construction and Supply.

Manalo said the construction of the two bridges brings to completion the rehabilitation of various infrastructure facilities such as roads, bridges, and flood control structures destroyed by two super typhoons that hit the Albay province in 2006. (DPWH V/PIA)


PURSUE AN S&T CAREER THRU DOST SCHOLARSHIPS
(Be part of S&T Team Philippines)

LEGAZPI CITY — Graduating high school students belonging to the upper 5% of the graduating class; natural-born Filipino citizens; in good health and of good moral character await rare opportunity to be part of S&T Team Philippines under the auspices of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Tomas B. Briñas, DILG Bicol regional director, said that qualified students can pursue Science and Technology (S&T) baccalaureate degree programs and post-secondary courses through the 2010 Science and Technology Undergraduate Scholarships program.

He added that the fields of study include Basic and Applied Sciences, Science Teaching and Technician Courses.

The Science Education Institute (SEI-DOST) offers two scholarship programs namely:

1) DOST-SEI Merit Scholarships – open to talented and deserving students whose family gross income exceeds P156,000/year; requires a non-refundable test fee of P200;
2) S&T Scholarships (RA 7687) – open to poor, talented and deserving students whose family income does not exceed P156,000/year; does not require a test fee.

Items to be submitted:
a) DOST-SEI Information Sheet (Form A)
b) Certification of good moral character from the guidance counselor/principal (Form C)
c) Certification from the high school principal on the following: (Form D) – that the applicant belongs to the upper 5% of the graduating class and total number of candidates for graduation
d) Statement of applicant that he/she has not taken any post secondary/undergraduate course (Form E)
e) Statement of parent that applicant has no pending application as immigrant in any foreign country (Form F)
f) Two recent photographs (1”x1”) taken within the application period (one to be attached to the DOST-SEI Information Sheet and the other to the Test Permit
g) Photocopy of Birth Certificate

Additional requirements for RA 7687:
h) Household Profile Questionnaire (Form B)
i) Certification of Residency from barangay chairman (Form G)

All certifications to be accomplished are found in the application form.

Scholarship Privileges:
a) Tuition and other school fees not to exceed P6,000/semester/term
b) Allowance for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies at P5,000/academic year
c) Outright grant for prescribed Military Science/Physical Education uniform of P500 for the first semester of the first year only
d) Free transportation for one economy class round trip fare between permanent residence and place of study on reimbursement basis (for those who will study outside of home province)
e) Monthly living allowance for a 10-11 month duration depending on the awardee’s scholarship category as full, partial or special

Monthly living allowance for Merit Scholarship:
· P4,000 for BS Physics, Applied Physics, Physics Teaching, BS
Geology, Mining Engineering
· P3,000 for other S&T priority courses

Monthly living allowance for RA 7687:
· P4,000/P2,150/P1,825 for full, partial and special scholarship,
respectively for BS Geology, Mining Engineering, Physics, Applied
Physics and Physics Teaching Courses
· P3,000/P1,400/P1,200 for full, partial and special scholarship,
respectively for other S&T priority courses

f) Group health and accident insurance
g) Additional privileges during summer as required in the curriculum such as:
- Monthly living allowance during the period
- Tuition and other school fees not to exceed P1,500
- Actual purchase of textbooks and essential school supplies not to exceed P500 (requires an official receipt)
h) Post-graduation clothing allowance of P1,000

Application forms are available and can be filed at SEI-DOST, 3/F PTRI Building, Bicutan, Tqguig City; DOST Region V, Regional Center Site, Rawis, Legazpi City or at the Provincial Science and Technology Office (PSTO) nearest to the applicant’s school or home.

Deadline for filing of scholarship application is September 30, 2009 (Wednesday). Application forms can be downloaded at www.science-scholarships.ph.

Schedule of examination is November 15, 2009 (Sunday) in two batches – 1st batch (7:00a.m. – 12:00noon) and 2nd batch (1:00-6:00 p.m.) at a designated testing center to be announced or indicated in the test permit.

Briñas has encouraged fourth year high school students to submit their applications and take the scholarship examination as this could usher the start of a successful S&T career.

“Do not miss this opportunity if you are qualified in any of the DOST undergraduate scholarship program,” he concluded. (POLucena/CLGillego, DOST V/PIA)


SSC IN-HOUSE REVIEW INTERFACES RESEARCH, EXTENSION

SORSOGON CITY — Sorsogon State College (SSC) Research and Development Services and Extension Services held recently its annual in-house review assessing research outputs and providing venue for researchers to discuss the results of numerous researches works and studies carried out by the institutions.

Professor Susan Janer, SSC Research and Development director, said the research outputs would be the bases for the college’s formulation of policies, program enhancement, curriculum enrichment and improvement of deliverables.


Janer said that “for on-going projects and proposals, the review aims to guide or provide directions for the conduct of our research through an extensive scrutiny and evaluation of works by invited experts.”

She added that some projects then can be pursued further and technologies that can be transferred are identified through research and enhanced through extension and production works.

The activity also provided a venue to screen entries for various symposia or fora at different levels--regional, zonal, national or international levels-- which are sponsored by Bicol Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (BCCARD), Philippine CARRD, Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and development (PCIERD) and other sponsoring agencies.

Panel of evaluators was composed of Dr. Milagros S. Esparrago, Dr. Teresita N. Borromeo, Dr. Amparo D. Binamira, Mr. Nestor A. Nava, and Prof. Lester M. Narvaez.

Researchers, extensionists, coordinators and staff, faculty, student researchers from SSC and interested individuals participated in the said interfacing activity.

Janer further related that by strengthening research in SSC, interventions significant to the promotion and development of the institution’s production works can be realized effectively. (SSC/BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


DOT TO STEP UP PROMOTION OF CAMSUR, BICOL’S TOURIST HUBS

PILI, CamSur—Camarines Sur has earned its niche as world class tourism destination.

The recent visit of Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” H. Durano, along with officials of Department of Tourism (DOT) and tourism stakeholders has reaffirmed the province’s top spot in the country’s most visited tourist destination with the reputation as an extreme sports hub and eco-tourism showcase.

Durano and tourism officials were in this province to look over top tourist destinations in the country in preparation for DOT’s marketing package and intensive promotion abroad to increase tourist arrivals.

Tourism attaché’s assigned in tourist-rich countries like the United States, China, Rome, London, Frankfurt and other European countries were with the DOT chief during the CamSur sorties to give them a first-hand view of local conditions that will be essential in marketing local destinations abroad.

“CamSur was the last place visited, a sort of saving the best for the last,” a DoT official said.

Next step of the country’s tourism marketing strategy will be selling local destinations to ranking tourism operators in their countries of assignment.

In a series of interviews, Durano disclosed that the promotion of CamSur is only part of a tourism tactical support package for the province.

Durano pledged to continue providing financial support to major tourism-related activities in CamSur like international wakeboarding, dragon boat and Ironman competitions.

He also assured DOT will prioritize the recommendation of Governor LRay Villafuerte to upgrade the Naga Airport, a vital component to beef up the industry, through extending the length of the runway to accommodate bigger planes and installation of modern lighting to allow night flights and interconnecting flights to and from other major international airports.

Earlier, the tourism execs led the inauguration of the newly-installed lighting and other facilities in Ligñon Hill Park, a prominent landform in the Legazpi City, Albay located behind the Legazpi Airport Tower and beside the Albay Wildlife Park.

Aside from the Mayon Volcano standing serenely behind it, Ligñon Hill Park is one of the first landmarks that greet visitors upon stepping down from an airplane. The hill’s summit offers a breathtaking 360 degree view of the city scape and the deep blue Albay Gulf, nearby towns and islands, and of course the majestic Mayon Volcano. It is becoming one of the most popular destinations for locals and visitors alike.

The tourism secretaty also made a side trip to Embarcadero Philippines, a major waterfront development also in Legazpi City that is becoming a destination for both local and international tourists alike, and spent the night at Misibis Bay Resorts, a prime commercial and residential estates nestled in the Pacific that boast of a wide stretch of pristine white sand and a scenic route along the Sula Channel putting it firmly on the International tourist map

Durano capped his city sorties speaking at the International Academic Colloquium, sponsored by Bicol University, expounding on “Tourism Challenges to Higher Education Institutions”. (MALoterte, PIA V)


UPLAND-BASED PALAYAMANAN PROJECT IN ALBAY

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional office has launched the upland-based Palayamanan project in barangay Intarana, Polangui town to help seed growers’ cooperative produce rain fed/upland palay varieties.

Dr. Francisco Malabanan, chief operating officer of the GMA Rice Program, said all upland varieties available in the country will now be tested for their adaptability in this upland barangay.

He said that the implementation of the upland-based rice farming systems project adopting the “Palayamanan” approach will help improve the production of palay in the area--integrating rice production with other commodities like peanut, corn, sweet potato and mongo, including livestock.”

According to Malabanan, so far, this project is the first to be undertaken in the expanded domain in the country. Over 200 farmers including the 10 farmer partners of the project, barangay officials, personnel of government agencies and some local media attended the event held in this barangay on September 4, 2009.

He commended the cooperation shown by the farmer partners and the all-out support given by the provincial government through Gov. Salceda and the municipal government through Mayor Jesus S. Salceda, Sr., the governor’s father.

Moreover, he also commended the Bicolano rice farmers and rice program implementers for obtaining the highest growth rate of 17.3 percent in rice production among all regions during the first semester of 2009. Eleven percent of this growth rate was attained by Albay province.

During the launching, Albay Governor Joey S. Salceda who hails from this barangay announced that he supports the implementation of Palayamanan projects and urges the expansion of the project specifically in the 17 more upland barangays of Polangui in addition to the six barangays currently participating in the project.

Salceda said that to engage in other palay varieties is part of the climate proofing strategy of the government to ensure sufficient rice supply after calamities.

He attributes this significant increase to: 200 percent utilization of certified seeds which were given for free; increase in area harvested; strong LGU support to the fertilizer discount coupon scheme specially by the provincial government of Albay which released P14 million as its counterpart to the program.

He said that Palayamanan has been adopted by the provincial government of Albay as its platform of Agri-Rehab program of the provincial government of Albay. (MDRama, PNA/PIA)


Palace welcomes SC junking of petition vs poll automation

MANILA-- Malacanang on Thursday (September 10) hailed the Supreme Court decision junking a petition to stop poll automation of the 2010 national elections. The petition was filed by the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) led by UP professor and lawyer Harry Roque Jr.

Earlier, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) likewise welcomed the decision after having been informed the majority of the High Court justices voted in favor of poll automation.Based on reports, the Supreme Court voted 11-3 in favor of the P7.2-billion automation contract which Comelec awarded to the Smartmatic Corp., a joint venture of a Netherlands- based company and Total Information Management, Inc. (TIM), a Filipino owned firm.

In a media briefing, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson for Economic Affairs Gary Olivar said: “Poll automation is one of the 10-point agenda of the President under the BEAT The ODDS. So I imagine this is a welcome development.”

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Golez added: “This is one obstacle on the road to automation”. He said the SC decision should be respected even as some quarters are said to be planning to file a motion for reconsideration. (PIA V Release)


Palace dares presidential aspirants to surpass PGMA's economic performance

MANILA — Malacanang dares presidential aspirants to equal or even surpass the performance of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, particularly in the economic side.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman for economic affairs Gary Olivar dared this amid criticisms hurled by opposition groups against President Arroyo concerning the decline of the Philippine ranking in the global competitiveness as surveyed by World Economic Forum.

Olivar said that President Arroyo should be praised instead of being criticized for making a strong economy under her administration from 2001 up to 2009 based on the economic surveys conducted.

Olivar said that President Arroyo would leave a legacy wherein the country experienced under her term an interrupted 34 quarters of economic growth.

Olivar said this happened because of Mrs. Arroyo’s economic and educational reforms, climate change programs and strong governance.

He also said that because of the reforms initiated by the President, the global recession experienced by 2/3 of the world did not hurt the Philippines but instead recorded a positive growth.

“This is the gold standard by which we should judge the candidates aspiring to replace the President. Will that candidate build upon her record, maybe even do better than he or will the candidate turn back the clock?” Olivar said. (PIA V Release)


Emulate PGMA’s action in land reform, Palace execs tell critics

MANILA — Malacañang today advised critics of the government to emulate President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who placed her husband’s vast estate under the land reform program, instead of using her as a “punching bag” to advance their agenda in next year’s polls.

In a press briefing, Presidential Economic Spokesperson Gary Olivar said the land reform program is part of the 10-point agenda of the President and her administration.

According to Olivar, the President, by distributing the land owned by her husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo, demonstrates that she is serious about implementing the law and doesn’t matter if her family gets hurt in the process.

Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the President’s critics continue to throw baseless accusations against her but none of them ever reach the Court.

Olivar reminded the public that it was President Arroyo who signed into law the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Extension with Reforms or CARPER.

He said President Arroyo did so in August this year as a tribute to the Father of Land Reform, former President Diosdado P. Macapagal, who, 46 years ago, signed Republic Act 3844 or The Agricultural Land Reform Code.

Along with the CARPER signing, the President sent a strong signal that she meant business when she distributed 10,853 hectares of agricultural lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries throughout the country.

The land reform law, the consolidated version of House Bill 4077 and Senate Bill 2666, extends CARP for five more years and takes effect retroactively on July 1 this year. (PIA V Release)


Palace respects Ombudsman decision on SALN releases

MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday (September 10) said the Ombudsman, an independent Constitutional body, had decided to tighten the release of statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) after a long and thorough study.

Deputy Spokespersons Anthony Golez and Gary Olivar told Palace reporters that the First Family have been dutifully complying with the Constitutional body’s SALN reporting requirements.

“I’m sure the Ombudsman made the decision to protect people in government from harassment, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, along with her family, who has been harassed notjust recently but ever since she assumed office,” Golez said.

Olivar, on the other hand, said people must also look at how the three branches of government comply with the requirements and “how open they are about the SALNs submitted to them.”

He said it might be a good idea to find out how fast the judiciary releases the SALNs of the justices, the Congress of its members, and the executive branch of its officials.

It will surprise people to know that the executive branch is the fastest in requiring submission and in giving out SALNs to concerned institutions like media, all for the sake of transparency,” he added.

Asked whether the executive branch will ask the Ombudsman to soften its ruling, Golez replied, “the Ombudsman is an independent institution and we respect that.”

“Besides, if there is nothing to hide, we would rather maintain the status quo—where SALN is released without much documentation requirement,” he added. (PIA V Release)


PGMA seeks global participation to fight climate change

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday appealed to developed countries to render financial and technological assistance to poor nations in its the global fight against climate change.

President Arroyo said in her message during the closing ceremonies of the three-day United Nations Industrial Development Organization’s International Conference on Green Industry in Asia held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, developed countries should show examples in the United Nation’s target of 25 to 40 percent reduction of gas emission by the year 2020.

The conference is organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

“We call on all developed countries, referred as annex 1 countries in climate change, to table their firm, post Kyoto greenhouse gas targets, taking into account ideals set by the international scientific community, and do this without conditionalities," the President said.

She added: "We also call on them to assist developing countries to mitigate and adapt to worsening changes in climate by fulfilling treaty obligations to provide technological and financial support, including support for green industry,” President Macapagal-Arroyo stressed.

She also reiterated the Philippines’ commitment to fight climate change and the country will not compromise the environment for development.

The President also asserted that the Green Philippines Agenda wherein the sustainable economic model has proven that economic development and environmental protection can be achieved simultaneously.

The chief executive also stressed that the country’s contribution in its fight against climate change is the passage of the Renewable Energy Law to conserve energy and to become independent in energy sources.

The government will also distribute five million fluorescent bulbs to the urban areas as part of the SWITCH program or energy conservation.

President Arroyo also urged all sectors to cooperate in fighting global climate change before it becomes too late. (PIA V Release)