BICOL TO UNVEIL MOA FOR PEACE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

LEGAZPI CITY — Representatives of the different state universities and colleges, private higher education institutions, regional offices of government line agencies and civil society organizations will sign tomorrow (October 22) a consortium agreement in pursuit for peace and development in the Bicol region.

Dr. Herbert Rosana of the Bicol University said the agreement is a local multi-sectoral initiative that seeks to pursue the objectives of Executive Order 570 and with the end in view of responding to the goals of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) and the Bicol Medium Term Regional Development Plan (BMTRDP).

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has issued EO 570 for the mainstreaming of peace education in the basic education and teacher education across the country.

“Cognizant to the peace and security situation of Bicol Region as outlined in the MTPDP and BMTRDP, there is the need to promote peace and development in the region addressing the most pressing concerns,” Rosana stressed.

Rosana added the technical working group, comprised of the personnel from the different government agencies and private organizations, has already completed the final copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), on the other hand, the Office of the Solicitor General has reviewed and already found the document in order.

The consortium agreement will also pave the way for the creation of the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development (BCPED), governed by the Regional Peace and Development Committee (RPDC).

BCPED envisions a strong society of Bicolanos working for peace and sustainable development.

The consortium will lead in developing competent and committed individuals and institutions promoting peace and development in the region through advocacy, capacity building, education, networking and research.

The major tasks of BCPED include providing appropriate support system in advocating peace and development issues; developing and enhancing the knowledge, attitude, and skills of educators, civil societies, government workers, and other peace stakeholders or players for peace building; establishing network with the academe, the government agencies, civil society groups in the local, national, and international levels for information and resource sharing; setting the peace and research agenda and coordinate researches relevant to program development and policy recommendations for the region.

Undersecretary Nabil A. Tan, officer-in-charge of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), has been invited to keynote the signing and unveiling of the MOA at the Arcilla Hall of Bicol University Daraga Campus.
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Albay Governor and Bicol Regional Development Council chair Joey Sarte Salceda is also expected to deliver his message during the launching activities.

Meanwhile, Rosana stated that BCPED targets two basic education institutions in Bicol namely San Isidro Elementary School in barangay San Isidro, Castilla, Sorsogon and Lupi High School in Lupi town, Camarines Sur to pilot test the peace education program. (MALoterte, PIA V)

GUBAT BAGS 2009 CROWN AWARD IN NUTRITION

GUBAT, Sorsogon — The municipal government here has notched this year’s Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner for Nutrition (CROWN) for its outstanding achievements in the implementation of nutrition programs for three successive years.

Gubat Mayor Deogracias Ramos personally received the P100,000 cash prize and a trophy from the National Nutrition Council (NNC) conferred by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself during the awarding ceremony on October 15 held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila.

Ramos said Gubat has been chosen by the evaluation team from the NNC as the local government unit (LGU) with the most effective nutrition program being implemented in the region resulting to a remarkable decrease of malnutrition cases in the municipality.

He said the municipal government annually allocates P400, 000 for nutrition programs, and ensures to carry out and intensify measures in line with the hunger mitigation program.

“Likewise, each barangay allocates a minimum of P10,000 as seed money for their nutrition program,” he added.

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) here has also done its share staging the Children Summer Camp and spearheaded a 20-day feeding program, health and nutrition-related lectures to identified malnourished elementary school children.

“We also maintain community gardens in various areas of the town and the produce is used for the community feeding program. We also see to it that our documents are in tact and well-organized. That’s probably our edge over our contenders,” the mayor related.

He said CROWN award is a clear manifestation of the town’s strong commitment to provide adequate nutrition programs for the underprivileged sector of the community.

Gubat is a Consistent Banner Awardee, since early of 1996 up to present in the provincial and regional levels, qualifying them for this year’s CROWN Award.

“I owe this to my staff who have painstakingly exerted efforts to improve our nutrition program and to Gubatnons who keep supporting our programs,” Ramos also said.

The Green Banner Award for Nutrition is conferred to a province, city or municipality judged to have an exemplary performance in managing its nutrition action plan within the province and region.

The Nutrition Green Banner Awardees at the city, provincial and regional levels were evaluated by the City/Province/Regional Evaluation Teams during the MELLPI evaluation.

LGUS who garnered three Nutrition Green Banner Awards for three consecutive years will be recommended for the CROWN Award by the Regional Evaluation Team.

The CROWN award, on the other hand, is given to Green Banner Awardees that were able to maintain good performance in managing nutrition plans for three consecutive years.

CROWN awardees are monitored by an inter-agency National Evaluation Team for a period of three years to check whether their efforts in maintaining a downward trend of malnutrition are sustained through a well coordinated plan implementation. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

BICOL ENTREPRENEUR IN APEC SME MEET

LEGAZPI CITY-- A Bicol entrepreneur will represent country to the workshop on Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) global market network under the auspices of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Indonesia, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bicol said on Tuesday.
Ma. Lydia Perez-Lomibao, owner of J. Emmanuel Pastries in Naga City, was chosen as the only Philippine representative to the SME’s global workshop in Indonesia.

The gathering of entrepreneurs from all over the Asia- Pacific region, dubbed “Workshop and Training on Developing Trade House for Strengthening SME’s Global Market Network, is being held at the Phoenix Hotel in Yogykarta, Indonesia from October 20 until 22.

J. Emmanuel Pastries exports quality pili nut products to developed countries like Japan, China, Australia, USA, and Canada.

DTI said the workshop is especially designed to examine the roles of trading houses and SME’s direct exporters to local economic development.

Experts from selected APEC member economies are expected to present at the forum and share their experiences in trading house development across the APEC economies.

The workshop is a direct follow up activity similar to items in the 2008 SME’s ministerial meeting in Chiclayo, Peru, that sought for the establishment, growth and development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to increase their competitiveness in the global trading system.

The workshop is also intended to benefit women business owners to enable their larger proportion on involvement and increase their entrepreneurial skills.

The workshop is also expected to work for the reduction of regulatory burdens and more effective regulatory practices in order to increase competitiveness of SME’s products in the global market.

Some 60 participants will come from APEC member countries such as China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam, and 20 more from other countries that are not APEC members. (MSArguelles, PNA/PIA)

LEGAZPI CITY HOSTS INFOTEK EXHIBIT

LEGAZPI CITY — The Albay Information and Communication Technology Association, (AICTA) has slated the Information Technology (INFOTEK) Exhibit on October 28-30, this year at the Embarcadero Business and IT Park here.

Rosemarie Rey, AICTA president, said the exhibit cum conference will congregate ICT stakeholders to promote the development of the ICT industry in the province as part of the 6th Biennial IT event in Albay.

Rey averred the three-day INFOTEK exhibit is expected to be draw hundreds of ICT enthusiasts not only from Albay but also across the country.

With the theme “The World Needs IT, Albay has IT”, the event aims to promote and present the IT capability and readiness of the province, especially this city as a promising destination for Offshoring and Outsourcing (O&O) investments projects.

She said the city has already been recognized as one of the “Next Wave Cities” for ICT business in the country by the Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT). (MALoterte, PIA V)

BICOL JOINS CELEBRATION OF ‘’LINGGO NG NAKATATANDANG PILIPINO”

LEGAZPI CITY — With much enthusiasm and vigor, more than a thousand 1,000 elderly from 41 barangays of Tinambac, Camarines Sur gathered at the town’s sports complex to celebrate the 16th foundation anniversary of the Municipal Senior Citizen’s Association (MSCA) last October 6.

Remia T. Tapispisan, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional director, assisted by Tinambac Mayor Ruel Velarde, vice mayor Jun Barrion and MSWD officer Nilda Avalla, led the distribution of the cash grant to the first 225 qualified recipients.

Aside from the cash grant, the local government unit also sponsored the meals and distributed groceries, kitchen utensils and other goodies.
Highlight of the day’s event was the distribution of the P500 cash grant under the “Katas ng VAT, Tulong kay Lolo at Lola”. About 995 elderly from Tinambac town benefited from the program.

Velarde related that the municipal elderly organization was first organized in October 1993 coinciding with the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week then.

In this city, the weeklong celebration kicked-off with the “Walk for Life” and a fashion show held at the Landco Plaza here participated in by the different Barangay Senior Citizens Association (BASCA).

Meanwhile, Tapispisan has awarded the Certificate of Accreditation to the Office of Senior Citizen’s Affair (OSCA) of Irosin, Sorsogon, through Mayor Lilia Gonzales and OSCA chair Helen Baldenoro; and in Nabua, Camarines Sur, through Mayor Fernando Simbulan, OSCA head Narciso Florin

She explained that the annual celebration of the Elderly Filipino Week or “Linggo ng Nakatatandang Pilipino” held every October 1-7 of every year is in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 470 issued by former President Fidel V. Ramos. It aims to pay tribute to the older person in the country. (EEJerusalem, DSWD/PIA)

BFAR HOISTS SHELLFISH BAN IN STILL UNSAFE WATERS

PILI, Camarines Sur — Latest laboratory results of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and local government units (LGUs), has revealed that shellfish collected at Sorsogon Bay and Juag Lagoon in Matnog, Sorsogon remain positive of the red tide toxin or unsafe for human consumption.

Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Bislig Bay in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur and Cancabato Bay in Tacloban City, Leyte are also still found out positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the regulatory limit.

Furthermore, Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte is now positive for red tide toxin.

BFAR warned that all types of shellfish and Acetes sp. or alamang gathered from the abovementioned areas are NOT SAFE for human consumption.

BFAR added that fish, squids, shrimps, and crabs are safe for human consumption provided that they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and internal organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.

The following areas continue to be FREE from toxic red tides: coastal waters of Cavite, las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, Bulacan and Bataan in Manila Bay; coastal waters of Alaminos, Anda, Bolinao and Wawa; Bahi in Pangasinan; Masinloc Bay in Zambales; coastal waters of Milagros and Mandaon in Masbate; Inner Malampaya Sound in Taytay and Honda Bay in Palawan; coastal waters of Pilar, President Roxas, Pontevedra, Panay, Roxas City, Ivisan and Sapian in Capiz; coastal waters of Pontevedra in Negros Occidental; Irong-irong, Maqueda and Villareal Bays in Samar; Ormoc, San Pedro and Carigara Bays in Leyte; Biliran Waters in Biliran Province; Hinatuan and Lianga Bays in Surigao del Sur; Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental; and coastal waters of Kabasalan in Sibuguey Bay, Zamboanga Sibugay. (BFAR V/PIA)

PGMA leaves Friday for 15th ASEAN Summit

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will leave on Friday to attend the 15th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits at the seaside resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin in Thailand on Oct. 23 to 25.

Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo, in a press briefing in Malacanang today, said the President will join her ASEAN counterparts in announcing the establishment of an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.

She said the ten countries that make up AICHR will appoint a commissioner each to serve for three years.

Fajardo added that other issues on the agenda include the recommendation to establish a free trade agreement between South East Asia and East Asia.

The ASEAN member countries include Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ASEAN leaders will likewise meet with the six dialogue partners: China, India, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.

The President together with the other ASEAN leaders are also expected to sign the Cha-am-Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community, the ASEAN Declaration on Climate Change, to reaffirm ASEAN position on the negotiations under the United Nations Frameworks Convention on Climate
Change.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers will also sign The Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of ASEAN.

Apart from the 15th ASEAN Summit, related meetings at the summit level include the 12th ASEAN-China Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Japan Summit, the 12th ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit, the 7th ASEAN-India Summit, the 12th ASEAN Plus Three Summit (with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), and the 4th East Asia Summit (with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, and New Zealand).

Fajardo said the President will fly back to Manila on Sunday, October 25. (PIA V Release)

Palace assures gov’t doing its best to rescue Fr. Sinnott

MANILA — Malacanang assured Tuesday (October 20) the public that the government is doing its best to rescue 79-year old Irish priest Father Michael Sinnott from his abductors.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the Philippine government is as much concerned as the international community over the abduction.

“I understand the military has cordoned off the area, where Fr. Sinnot’s abductors are staying,” Fajardo said.

The United States and the European Community have expressed concern over the abduction.

Fr. Sinnot, the Founder of Hangop Kabataan Foundation that caters to the needs of disabled children, was abducted by still unidentified armed men at the Diocese of Pagadian on Oct.11.

Fr. Sinnott is a member of the Missionaries of St. Columban and has been working in the Philippines since the early 1980s. (PIA V Release)

Include veteran families in emergency employment program – PGMA

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Tuesday (October 20) the inclusion of family members of Filipino veterans, especially those veterans whose eligibilities for payment are still being determined, in government’s emergency employment program.

US President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on Feb. 17, 2009, authorizing the release of a one-time, lump-sum payment to eligible World War II (WWII) Philippine veterans.

These payments are to be made through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from a $198 million appropriation established for this purpose. Applying for this benefit will not affect other existing veterans’ benefits.

President Arroyo gave the directive to Cabinet members present in the 65th Commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing IN Palo, Leyte , including Presidential Adviser Gabby Claudio, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.

The government’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) is a nationwide effort intended to protect the country's most vulnerable sectors --- such as the poor, returning expatriates, workers in the export industry, and out-of-school youths -- by providing emergency employment and by funding and supervising livelihood projects.

She added that since she assumed office, she has been fighting for more veterans’ benefits that would be given by the United States government.

In Leyte alone, there are 2,000 applicants for the US government’s veterans’ benefits program. (PIA V Release)

PGMA introduces ‘Balik Probinsya’ program in Leyte

PALO, Tacloban, Leyte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Tuesday (October 20) told residents here that their relatives in Manila who want to return to the province for good can take advantage of the government’s “Balik-Probinsya” program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The “Balik Probinsya” project, the Chief Executive said, is open to victims of typhoon “Ondoy” in Metro Manila should they decide to go back to their respective provinces for good.

Through the program, the DSWD will provide the interested parties with transportation, food, and other needs. They will also be assisted upon arrival in their own province to seek employment or avail of a microfinance loan so they can start a new life.

DSWD’s “Balik Probinsya” is a long-time project of the agency which aimed to provide assistance to squatter families seeking to return back to their respective rural areas.

The program also aims to decongest Metro Manila of squatter families residing in the riverbanks and other flood-prone areas.

Over 200,000 families were displaced when “Ondoy” hit the country last September 26. (PIA V Release)