SALCEDA PROPOSES CREATION OF RECONSTRUCTION COMMISSION
…to handle aid to overcome impacts versus global financial and calamity crisis

LEGAZPI CITY ---Albay Gov. Joey S. Salceda yesterday proposed the creation of a Special Public-Private Reconstruction Commission to handle fresh financial aid given by external sources to fund reconstruction efforts on the magnitude of calamity that recently wrought havoc in Metro Manila and neighboring regions in Luzon.

The country needs to seek $1 billion fresh aid from international communities, to overcome the impact of global crisis and the magnitude of tropical storms Ondoy and Pepeng that recently wrought havoc leaving the country with hundreds of people dead and millions of families homeless and billions of pesos in damages to public, private infrastructures, agriculture and livelihoods, in Metro Manila and 27 regions in Luzon, Salceda, a top economic analyst said.

Salceda said the government has to ask for fresh aid to parry the impacts of global financial and calamity driven crisis affecting the country’s fiscal capacity.

Salceda, senior economic adviser of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said the $1-billion financial aid would finance reconstruction of various social and infrastructure programs destroyed by tropical storm Ondoy and Pepeng.

The fresh aid would be used to finance relocation of thousands of families displaced by the calamities at P20-billion; infrastructure rehabilitation at P21-billion; and, livelihood and agriculture at P5-billion.

This totals P46-billion of which P27-billion funding to rehabilitate projects destroyed by Ondoy, P12-billion for Pepeng and P7-billion for Frank.

To safeguard the financial assistance given by external sources, Salceda said that a special public-private reconstruction commission be created by President Arroyo to be headed by dominant business leaders with Manny V. Pangilinan as Chairman with the Social Welfare Secretary Nerissa Cabral and Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales as Co-chairs and with department heads and business groups, NGO representatives and international NGO representatives as members.

He said, to spearhead this effort, the reconstruction commission composed by government, church, big business and civil society should be constituted by the government.

“It will operate like the original CCPAP (Coordinating Council for the Philippine Assistance Plan) headed by businessman Roberto Villanueva of AGPI. The CCPAP has since evolved into the CCPSP which operates the BOT Center under DTI,” Salceda said.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to form the secretariat, with key tasks to raise funds especially grants, prioritize programs and oversee implementation.

They will also serve as clearing house for international assistance implemented by the donors themselves using cluster approach.

The reconstruction commission should request United Nation and World Bank to coordinate an international pledging session either in Spain or Japan possibly in November.

“It is our duty to rebuild lives. To do this, it is also time to admit that we need help in a big way beyond the exigency of disaster response the two other alternatives are to raise taxes or slash other priorities,” he said.

“We are neither feasible nor desirable since they just shift pesos from the left to the right hand. What are needed are new external resources,” he said. (MSArguelles, PNA/PIA)


13th OK BIKOL OPENS OCT. 22 AT SM MEGAMALL
‘Bicol’s Best Products Featured’

LEGAZPI CITY – The 13th Orgullo kan Bikol regional trade fair will showcase anew Bicol’s best products on October 22-25 at the SM Mega Mall in Mandaluyong City.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional offices will also bring “Gayon Bikol sa OK Bikol” featuring the best tourist destinations in the region, giving the event an appealing socio-cultural touch.

“Featured products for this year’s Orgullo kan Bikol include wearables, home furnishings, gifts and holiday decors, and food with special setting on “bayong”, creative handicrafts, and OTOP”, Jocelyn L.B. Blanco, DTI Bicol regional director said.

Blanco said amidst the many challenges that we are facing right now, we are still confident to generate sales of P10 million for the four-day trade fair.

A total of 134 Bicolano entrepreneurs will be selling their products to institutional buyers and the general public as well.

Among the six provinces Albay has the biggest number of exhibitors with 33 MSMEs, followed by Camarines Sur with 24, Sorsogon with 14, Catanduanes 9, Camarines Norte 6, and Masbate 5.

Aside from the regular MSMEs assisted by DTI, 43 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries/entrepreneurs will be joining OKB. All these beneficiaries are assisted by DTI through the livelihood program under CARP.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, also the Bicol Regional Development Council chair, is expected to keynote the opening program at 10:00 a.m. on October 22, 1009 at SM Mega Mall.

OK Bikol is a project of the DTI-Region V, Department of Tourism (DOT)-Region V, OK Bikol Association, PhilExport Bicol and local government units (LGUs). (ACBelleza, DT/PIA)


HIGH YIELD CORN SEEDS FOR CAMSUR FARMERS

PILI, Camarines Sur — Some 350 sacks of open pollinated variety (OPV) yellow corn seeds will be allocated to 12 clustered municipalities and two cities of Camarines Sur in line with the provincial government’s thrust to establish new corn production areas in the province.

According to the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) here, the allocation of the OPV corn seeds is carried out under the GMA corn program.

“Corn seeds of the high-yield variety from Isabela province will be distributed for free to local corn farmers of the clustered municipalities and cities,” he said.

Recipient-localities of the OPV yellow corn seeds distribution include Calabanga, Pili, Ocampo, Sagnay, Tigaon, Goa, Lagonoy, Baao, Bula, Buhi, Sipocot, Nabua, Naga City, and Iriga City.

The project is a segment of a comprehensive program launched by Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte underscoring agricultural productivity that will ensure sufficient food supply, especially among residents in far flung areas.

Corn is also extensively used in feed preparations for livestock in the province.

PAO has also stressed that support to corn farmers is being augmented to encourage them to work hard to attain higher yields. A master list of corn farmers is being prepared to identify the recipients of the corn seeds. (LAGavino, MMEC/PIA)


CAMARINES NORTE HOSTS 2nd BICOL SANITARIANS CONFAB

DAET, Camarines Norte — Sanitary inspectors from all over the Bicol region met here recently for the 2nd Regional Sanitarian Convention cum Environmental and Occupational Health Seminar and Planning Workshop

Milave Schneider, Camarines Norte Health Office supervising sanitation inspector and regional president of the League of Sanitation Inspectors of the Philippines Inc. Bicol chapter, said the theme “Sanitarians, Working in Unison in Facing the Challenge of Climate Change” has been aptly chosen for this year’s assembly to accentuate the role of sanitary workers in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
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Topics discussed include the effects of meteorological hazards like climate change, zero waste management, earthquake, landslide, typhoon and flood.

Schneider said that emergency sanitation was also discussed including sanitary toilet, waste management, safe drinking water, and clean and safe food in the evacuation centers during calamities.

She added that they also tackled liquid waste in order to avoid insects that may bring diseases like malaria, dengue, typhoid diarrhea and others.

Also a visit in the fishing port of Mercedes and in the Bagasbas Beach in Daet was conducted during the activity.

Present during the activity were Engr. William G. Sabater, DOH Bicol regional sanitary engineer, Dr. Arnulfo Salagoste, Camarines Norte provincial health officer, and chairs of committee on health in every local sanggunian across Bicol. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


4,130 ENLIST FOR NOV. 15 CAREER SERVICE EXAMS

LEGAZPI CITY — A total of 4,130 examinees have enlisted for the November 15, 2009 Professional and Sub-Professional written examinations, according to the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Bicol regional office here.

The commission noted that the deadline of application for the last career examination for this was last September 30, this year.

In the Bicol region, designated testing centers are in this city and Naga City.

A total of 2,624 for professional and 286 for sub-professional examinations registered in this city; while some 1,506 for professional and 298 for sub-professional signed up in Naga City.


Career service examinations, CSC Bicol said, can be taken once every three months and up to four times only.

Examinees who fail on the fourth attempt can apply for the same level of examination only after two years from the date the fourth failed examination was taken. (CSC V/PIA)


HUNGER INCIDENCE ROSE IN 2ND QUARTER OF 2009

LEGAZPI CITY — The proportion of families who experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months rose to 20.3% or an estimated 3.7 million families, from 15.5 per cent or an estimated 2.9 million families in the first three months of the year, according to the second quarter 2009 Social Weather Stations Hunger Survey, fielded June 19 to 22, 2009,

In a media forum on health and nutrition held here recently, Asst. Secretary Maria Bernardita Flores, National Nutrition Council (NNC) executive director, said the SWS survey on the increasing rate of hunger was due to the increase in moderate hunger, from 11.1 per cent to 16 per cent, while severe hunger remained stable.

Flores explained that moderate hunger, refers to hunger experienced ‘only once’ or ‘a few times’ in the last three months while severe hunger refers to hunger experienced ‘often’ or ‘alwas’ in the last three months.

The SWS survey showed that hunger soared 18 points in Mindanao, from 11.7 per cent (estimated 490,000 families) in February to 30.0 per cent (estimated 1.3 million families) in June 2009.

Meanwhile in Metro Manila, hunger increased by five points, from 17.3 per cent (estimated 430,000 families) to 22.3 per cent (estimated 550,000 families), and by 1 point in the Visayas, from 19.7 per cent (estimated 730,000 families) to 21.0 per cent (estimated 775,000 families).

Hunger incidence slightly dropped in balance Luzon, from 15.0 per cent to 14.3 per cent (estimated 1.2 million families). (CPBabaran, NNC/PIA)


PROTECT YOURSELF FROM CATCHING INFLUENZA A H1N1

Mitigating the influenza A H1N1, which has caused scare and panic to millions of Filipinos, is one of the priorities of the Department of Health (DOH). According to Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, more than 2,000 Filipinos have become ill of Influenza A H1N1 to date.

The following are simple measures recommended by the DOH to protect yourself from the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

• Avoid close contact with people who show influenza-like symptoms (trying to maintain a distance of about 1 meter if possible);
• Avoid touching your mouth and nose;
• Clean hands thoroughly with soap and water, or cleanse them with an alcohol-based hand rub on a regular basis (especially if touching the mouth and nose, or surfaces that are potentially contaminated);
• Reduce the time spent in crowded setting if possible;
• Improve airflow in your living space by opening windows;
• Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active;
• For mothers, continue to breastfeed your babies, studies on other influenza infections show that breastfeeding is most likely protective for babies – it passes on helpful maternal immunities and lowers the risk of respiratory disease. Breastfeeding provides the best overall nutrition for babies and increases their defense factors to fight illness.

“Prevention is better than cure.” Flu is not lethal, unless your immune system is compromised or weak. Improve one’s immune system by:

• Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables since these are good sources of different kinds of vitamins and minerals that boost the immune system;
• Exercise regularly, move! Eating healthy good is not enough. You should move your body and pump those toxins out of your body;
• Have a positive outlook in life, if you feel good, usually you will look good. A healthy mind always means a healthy body.
• Avoid anything that is too much. Remember too much is always a poison.
(CPBabaran, NNC/PIA)


UN official meets PGMA on extent of damages of typhoon Ondoy

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo this afternoon conferred with United Nations (UN) Undersecretary General John Holmes on the the UNs Flash Appeal for the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

The UN Flash Appeal was launched in New York and Geneva, on Oct. 6. It was followed by a similar launch in Manila on Oct. 7.

The Malacanang meeting was attended by Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, Climate Change Adviser Secretary Heherson Alvarez and UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Jacqueline Badcock.

In an interview, Holmes said that UN had already received nearly $20 million for the Flash Appeal and more pledges are coming for the Filipino victims.

I admire the efforts of the Philippine government. We are trying to support the relief efforts of the government as much as we can, he said.

During the meeting, held at the Bahay Pangarap, President Arroyo expressed her gratitude to the international help. She talked with the UN representatives on how the organization and the Philippines can work together in the future.

In a press briefing earlier, Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez thanked the UN for the appeal, which aims to generate $74 million for flood victims in Metro Manila and surrounding areas. It is the largest ever UN humanitarian assistance to the Philippines and is intended to address the needs of the more than one million victims in the next six months.

In New York, Holmes gave a briefing on the series of disasters in the Asia-Pacific region, giving prominence to the Philippines for having been the first to request a Flash Appeal launch.

Holmes said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has allocated $7 million for the Philippines from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), set up to finance sudden-onset or under-funded crises.

Delegates of UN member countries who attended the launch in Geneva and New York reiterated their sympathies and condolences for the victims and mentioned the assistance their countries have extended to the Philippines.

At the Manila launch, Dr. Badcock, praised the quick and efficient response of the Philippines to the disaster.

Dr. Badcock noted that “extensive search and rescue operations were launched immediately, involving the Armed Forces of the Philippines, [other] representatives of the government, the Red Cross, Filipino non-government organizations (NGOs), and local volunteers.

“Humanitarian assistance was also quick to arrive, from government departments and agencies, NGOs and private individuals,” she added. “All this has been underpinned with a remarkable sense of volunteerism and solidarity.”


“Yet despite the determination of the people of the Philippines to help themselves, the unanticipated scale of the floods understandably overwhelmed local capabilities,” she also said.

Thus, she explained, the urgent call for assistance was issued, but not after the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team had made a rapid assessment of the flooding wrought by the typhoon in Metro Manila on Sept. 26.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has already sent his thanks to UN for its swift response and the assistance it has extended to the Philippines.

According to the UN, of the $74 million being requested, the UN World Food Program (WFP) is requesting $26 million to fund its three-month emergency operation, already underway, to support the Philippine Governments efforts by providing rice, beans and other food in the worst-hit areas of Manila and surrounding areas.

The agency is also giving logistical support, including helicopters and inflatable boats, to allow humanitarian agencies to access remote areas and assist flood victims.

Seven boats, the first of 30 requested by the Government, have arrived in Manila, while two of three helicopters, also asked for by authorities, are set to land in the country soon. (PIA V Release)


PGMA to convene Cabinet in Dagupan City tomorrow

MANILA — The government will make a comprehensive assessment of its overall response to the havoc wreaked by typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” during the cabinet meeting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will convene tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct.13) in Dagupan City.

Press Undersecretary Anthony Golez said an assessment on the response of all government agencies to the recent disasters that hit Metro Manila and Northern Luzon will be made to further improve on the government’s risk disaster management and climate change adaptation efforts.

Golez said the recent disasters--Ondoy and Pepeng -- were abnormal weather conditions and unexpected, -- with the former bringing in so much precipitation while the latter taking three landfalls.

“They were first times,” he said.

At the same time, the President will also distribute relief goods to the victims of typhoon “Pepeng” in Dagupan City.

Pangasinan was among the provinces hardest hit by typhoon “Pepeng,” with 23 municipalities and three cities still inundated. (PIA V Release)


Palace condemns priest kidnapping in Pagadian

MANILA — Malacańang has condemned the abduction of 78-year old Irish priest Fr. Michael Sinnott, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Columban in Pagadian City.

In a press briefing, Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez said the Palace “abhors that kind of crime against our people, especially against the clergy.”

He added the abduction should not be tolerated and the perpetrators should be brought to justice.

Golez said Filipinos should now stand together and cooperate to rise above the effects of natural calamities that shook the country instead of abducting innocent people.

The government, Golez said, is appealing to the abductors for his safe and immediate release given his advance age and health condition. He noted, however, that government will stand on its no-ransom policy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has been in touch with the Irish Government, through the Irish Embassy in Singapore. It is also working with various government agencies, as well as the Missionary Society of St. Columban, to exhaust all means to ensure the early and safe release of Fr. Sinnott.

The priest is a long-time missionary in the Philippines, who serves children with special needs.

Reports said that at least six armed men abducted Sinot from the Columban House in Gatas District in Pagadian City yesterday.

Government authorities reported that assailants forcibly entered the Columban House and took the priest at gunpoint. They fled with Sinot on board a mini-van.

The abductors burned the mini-van when they reached Sta. Lucia Village, took a boat and sailed away with the victim. (PIA V Release)


Gov't tells LGUs to adapt to climate change

MANILA — The government stressed today the need for local government units (LGU) to come up with their own policy on climate change on top of the national government’s efforts on disaster risk management.

In a press briefing at Malacanang today, Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, Jr., said adapting to climate change must be on a “case to case basis as it is the people on the ground who should be facing this kind of (weather) uncertainty.”

Dr. Yumul said that climate uncertainty is now the rule rather than the exception. He cited predictions by experts that the Philippines would be experiencing El Nino now, but “we are very, very wet.”

He pointed out that typhoons are more frequent and more intense, in the country and in the rest of the world, and he attributed the fact to global warming.

He stressed that typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” exemplify as evidence related to global warming thus the need for people to understand what is climate change and its effect for them to better prepare for any disaster.

“Ondoy’s” rainfall was highest in 42 years while “Pepeng’s” taking landfall three times are indeed extreme conditions.

Yumul called on everyone to be prepared as he underscored the need for people to help in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Press Undersecretary for Operations Anthony Golez said the people must start talking--- from the barangay to the municipal level then to the provincial level, to identify vulnerabilities of their areas of responsibility and how they could be protected, identify their lack of response to any disaster.

“This way, there will be faster response (to any disaster) as the national government is doing its best on a macro level,” Golez said. (PIA V Release)


Palace urges Filipinos to prepare for future calamities

MANILA — Malacańang today urged Filipinos to make disaster-risk management a part of their consciousness to prevent loss of lives and property damage.

Deputy Spokesperson Anthony Golez said barangay officials should disseminate information on impending disasters. But ordinary citizens should learn to look after themselves during typhoons, earthquakes, and other natural calamities.

Golez noted that when a family is well-informed and prepared against a calamity, they are not likely to panic, thereby preventing loss of lives and damage to property.

In a press briefing, Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, Jr. said that weather abnormalities are now the norm, citing that Philippines, despite El Nińo prediction, is experiencing extreme wet condition.

Yumul underscored the importance of disaster risk management, pointing out government money being spent for relief and rehabilitation could have been spent in health and food. He attributed the abnormal weather conditions to climate change.

In the model forecasts for October-December 200 of the APEC Climate Center APCC), it noted that Philippines is expected to have below normal rainfall. However, due to the effects of climate change, the international forecast was proven wrong as two typhoons wrought havoc in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Northern Luzon.

Yumul noted that Filipinos should now expect heavier rains and more typhoons as the weather abnormality continues to affect not only the Philippines but the whole world. (PIA V Release)