MAYON LAYS LOW BUT REMAINS RESTIVE

LEGAZPI CITY — Mt. Mayon laid low after billowing ashes into air three times on Wednesday, which enveloped nine villages in the second and third districts of Albay.

But local disaster officials are readying mitigating measures in case a full-blown eruption takes place.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Albay said that the volcano disgorged ash clouds three times on Tuesday. The volcano had its first ash explosion at 1:58 a.m. Wednesday and then followed by two more minor ash puffing at 7:02 a.m. and 12:20 p.m.

Phivolcs volcanologist said the first explosion produced a light brownish steamclouds associated with minimal amount of ash materials that rose to a height of about 300 meters that drifted west-southwest of the province.

Surface manifestation of the second explosion was not clearly visible due to cloud-covered summit. Both events were not reflected on the seismic record, volcanologist said.
Phivolcs detected seven volcanic earthquakes during the past 24 hours.

Steaming activity varied from weak to moderate, with white steam clouds that drifted to west-southwest and west- northwest.

The crater glow Wednesday night was observed at Intensity II (visible to the naked eye).
While sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate yielded an increasing value of 510 ton per day (t/d) compared to the 50 tons recorded on Monday.

Meanwhile, Albay Governor Joey Salceda has instructed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to preposition relief goods for possible preemptive evacuation once the volcano condition worsens and its alert level is raised by Phivolcs.

On Wednesday, some 302 families consisting 1,229 persons from barangay Bañadero and 400 families consisting 2,229 persons from barangay Matnog in Daraga, Albay were evacuated at Anislag resettlement site, also in Daraga town, said Abundio V. Nuñez, Plans and Operations Division chief of the APSEMO,

“These are the families whose relocation houses at said site are under construction, while there were around 89 families consisting of 436 persons relocated to AECID evacuation center in Daraga”, he added.

Under Alert level 3, the PDCC is expected to evacuate some 7,946 families or 40,000 families while under Alert Level 4, some 26,178 families or 130,890 people have to be move out to various evacuation camps across the province.

In a worst case scenario, 26,178 families or 120,143 people living in high risk zone (6-km to 10km danger zone) in 56 villages around the 2,450 meters high volcano have to be evacuated. (MALoterte, PIA V)


SORSOGON OPENS ECOLOGY CENTER

SORSOGON Province — The growing population and fast urbanization have greatly contributed in the increasing amount of solid wastes that has been a worst nightmare to almost all local government units (LGUs).

Engr. Maribeth L. Fruto, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) officer of Sorsogon, confirmed this dilemma has prompted the provincial government here to establish the Provincial Ecology Center (PEC).

Fruto said the center has since opened October 30 and now serves as a hub providing technical assistance and expertise, information, training and networking services for the promotion and effective implementation of Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) in consonance with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law.

The center costs some P12 million derived from the provincial government’s 20% development fund and foreign financing institutions.

The center is now ready to assist LGUs across the province in carrying out measures or strategies to comply with RA 9729 or “The Climate Change Act of 2009” recently signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

She added that the garbage problem is one major concern contributing to the uncontainable global warming that must be looked into by our local leaders.

“It is high time that our local authorities come up with effective measures once and for all and be cautioned against taking a laid back attitude on the garbage problem,” she said.

While every LGU is required to comply with the provisions of the RA 9003, its implementation faces major problems due to lack of political will by some leaders, lack of cooperation by stakeholders and lack of resources.

“We are currently facing a distinct point to rousing our people into taking correct waste management practices as part of their daily good citizenship,” Fruto stressed out during the inauguration of the center, adding that “the establishment of the ecology center will spawn high-level awareness among our local populace on the garbage problem and how these can be reduced, re-used and recycled.”

Sorsogon Gov. Sally Lee, meanwhile, said that the center will also specifically seek to increase the participation and motivate stakeholders, establish a database system on solid waste management and make them accessible to the general public, form a network for the exchange and application of available information and technologies, facilitate training and education, promote the development of a recycling market and provide expert assistance in pilot modeling of solid waste management facilities.

Aside from the establishment of the edifice, the P12-M fund also covers provision of solid waste management equipments in the center such as shredder, pulverizer, molder and melting machine. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)


DTI DESTROYS SUBSTANDARD PRODUCTS

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here destroyed 706 pieces of lighters, 83 pieces of self ballasted lamps and 1,853 pieces of PVC electrical tapes that did not pass the Product Standards Law or RA 4109.

Ernesto Pardo, DTI Camarines Norte provincial director, said the products were found out substandard and confiscated last year from business establishments here and in Labo town
Pardo added that erring firms were correspondingly charged and penalized for selling these products that do not bear the required Product Standards (PS) or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) markings. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)


PCG SETS CADETSHIP PROGRAM EXAM

SORSOGON CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has announced the entrance examinations for the pilot cadetship program is scheduled on November 28, 2009 in all PCG district offices nationwide.

Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG commandant, stated that applicants will vie for the 70 slots that will form the first cadet crops of the command, adding that successful examinees after hurling additional numerous tests, will comprise the PCG Cadet Corps Class of 2014 to be integrated to the cadet corps of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Marcelino, Zambales.

Tamayo said that under a recent Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the PCG, the PMMA will train the coast guard cadets as part of the program.

Cadets will be taught the same merchant marine curriculum particularly on shipboard and navigation training but with subjects on coast guard nuances and peculiarity. On their final year, while the merchant cadets spend their shipboard training on board commercial vessels. Coast Guard cadets will board Coast Guard vessels instead for deployment in various coast guard stations nationwide. They will automatically form part of rescue, maritime law enforcement or marine environmental protection units. After graduation they will be automatically commissioned as Ensigns in the regular force of the Coast Guard.

With both organizations under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) water cluster sector, the cross-training program will benefit both institutions in the mutual use of their equipment and resources. PMMA cadets can avail of the summer training programs of the PCG on board Coast Guard Cutters and air assets. They will also have the opportunity to be oriented on the actual functions of the PCG.

Tamayo added that apart from the PMMA complex training, PCG personnel can also avail of the master’s degree program offered in its Manila satellite campus.

Tamayo also bared that successful applicant for cadetship will enjoy government scholarship leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Merchant Marine, eligible to take professional licensure examinations.

He expressed optimism that the first cadet corps will become a prelude for the eventual establishment of the Coast Guard Academy, patterned after the United States and Japan Coast Guard Academies.

He thanked Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for the fruition of the project and the leadership of the PMMA for allowing Philippine Coast Guard to be part of the partnership.

Tamayo exhorts interested applicants to secure application forms from the nearest Coast Guard units or from the PCG website: www.coastguardgov.ph download.

Applicants must be a natural-born Filipino male or female citizens, who are: physically fit, single with no children out of wedlock; never been accused or convicted of any crime against the law and the State; exactly at least 16 years old or at most 22 years old upon admission by June 2010.

At least 5 feet and 4 inches in height and 55 kgs. in body weight for males and 5 feet and 2 inches in height and 50 kgs. in body weight for females; at least average academic performance, preferably with high school Trigonometry and has never been previously enrolled in PMMA.

Upon completion, they will earn the degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering. But being PCG/government scholar, they shall have the obligation to serve the government for at least eight years.

Examinations on the 28th of November will be held in the following testing venues:

Luzon – Ramon Magsaysay High School, Cubao, Quezon City

Visayas – Cebu City National Science High School, Cebu City

Mindanao – Davao City High School, Davao City

Interested applicants for Bicol Region may also visit Coast Guard District Bicol Naval Base, Rawis, Legazpi City or may call (052) 820-6346 for further inquiries. (PCG Sorsogon/PIA)


DPWH BICOL GEARS UP FOR MAYON IMPENDING ERUPTION

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol has already laid out measures to address eventualities that may be brought about by the impending eruption of Mayon Volcano.

Danilo Manalang, DPWH Bicol regional director, said the agency has already redied its personnel and crafts out measures that can contribute to the objective of the disaster coordinating council here of achieving a “zero casualty” in case the restiveness of the volcano worsens.

Manalang said the agency has readied maintenance equipment and service vehicles in all District Engineering Offices in Albay for dispatch in affected areas or to be utilized during evacuation and relief operations.

Manalang added DPWH Bicol has also identified alternate routes for those probable national roads that might be affected by volcanic debris.

These routes are: for Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco road (L=25 kms.) take Tabaco-Ligao national secondary road (L=26 kms); for Daang Maharlika Highway, Camalig section (L=9 kms), travel from Manila to Sorsogon/Legazpi City will take Camalig-Comun-Gapo (L=14 kms) national secondary road; and, for Daang Maharlika Highway, Guinobatan Road section (L=15 kms), travel from Manila to Sorsogon/Legazpi City will take Ligao-TAbaco road, then Tabaco-Sto. Domingo-Legazpi City road (L=51 kms).

Disaster response team of the agency has since July 10, 2009 been reactivated when Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) hoisted Alert Level 2 for Mayon Volcano.

“Our team is in constant coordination with the Regional and Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC/PDCC),” the director concluded. (LVCastañeda, DPWH V/PIA)


PHILHEALTH BICOL BAGS SECOND PASADA AWARD

LEGAZPI CITY — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Bicol takes pride as one of the awardees in the PASADA program of the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) Public Service Delivery Audit.

Orlando D. Iñigo, Jr., PhilHealth Bicol regional director, said “This is the second time that PhilHealth Bicol received the said prestigious award following its first recognition conferred in 2007.

PASADA is the CSC’s program that systematically checks and evaluates the performance of government frontline services and in the same manner serves as their mechanism to assist agencies towards more responsive frontline services, concentrating on areas where and when help is needed most.

This year, the corporation is chosen anew as one of the top four agencies in Bicol that exhibited exemplary performance in delivering its frontline services to its clients.

CSC cited PhilHealth Bicol an agency exhibiting value for customer care and for prompt, courteous, responsive, facilitative as well as pleasant service to the transacting public.

During the awarding rites on September 30 at the Albay Astrodome here, no less than CSC Chairman Ricardo Saludo graced the occasion in recognizing true heroes fully clad as public servants in Bicol.

Saludo stated “As government employees, we are not only serving the public but we are in service for the master of the government which is the republic. Tugunan natin ang pangangailangan ng bayan, trabaho natin ‘yan. And for these agencies that we commend, let them be our models, since they do not stop, they keep on going until they reach the highest level of service they could provide.”

Dedicated to this integrity of service, PhilHealth Bicol continuously substantiates the meaning of public service, as it puts clients on the fore of its operations, ensuring that their satisfaction on the provided services is granted in harmony with the corporation’s mission.

Iñigo averred the corporation remains as a forerunner in terms of Frontline Services in the region, with a strong commitment to offer the best services.

“With our frontline personnel all equipped with the knowledge of our programs, and with customer-oriented and technical skills, our efficiency and effectiveness is a banner we hold high,” he added.

PhilHealth Bicol undeniably deserves this feat for the second time.

As a continuing goal to excel and to be fulfilled with every service that the corporation provides, Team PhilHealth in Bicol conducts periodic orientation and training to frontline personnel to ensure that the quality of its services remains on its peak and its clients and stakeholders will have an ultimate experience of a genuine public service. (PhilHealth V/PIA)


PGMA thanks Clinton for Filipino vets benefits

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Thursday night thanked US Secretary of State Hillary Rodman-Clinton for casting her vote in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides benefits for Filipino veterans who fought side by side with American soldiers in World War II.

Then a junior senator from New York, Mrs. Clinton took the time out from her campaign to clinch the Democratic Party nomination for president. She lost to another senator, Barack Obama, who went on to become the first black to win the highest office of the land.

She said at the time that “the injustice against the Filipino veterans be corrected.”

Mrs. Clinton was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, which is given to individuals, Filipinos or foreigners, who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Philippines.

The conferment came after a 30-minute meeting between President Arroyo and Clinton at the Bahay Pangarap at Presidential Security Group Compound, Malacanang Complex.

After the conferment, President Arroyo and Clinton had a dinner with the Filipino officials and the US delegation.

President Arroyo and Clinton will both attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on Friday, Nov. 13.

Among the Cabinet members present during the Clinton visit to Malacañang were Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza Jr., Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, Trade and Industry Secretary Peter Favila and Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney accompanied Clinton to Malacañang. (PIA V Release)


PGMA to open Filipino art show in Singapore

SINGAPORE – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will grace the opening tonight of two Filipino art exhibits at the Singapore Arts Museum in this thriving island-state.

Minister Lui Tuck Yew of the Singapore Information, Culture and the Arts and chairman Tommy Kho of the Singapore National Heritage Board will be on hand to welcome her.

The first of the exhibits – Thrice Upon A Time: A Century of Story in the Art of the Philippines – features the early works of Vicente Manasala, H.R. Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Arturo Luz, Ang Kiukok, Fernando Zobel, David Cortez Medalla, Galo Ocampo, Alfonso Ossorio, and J. Elizalde Navarro, among others.

In the Eye of Modernity, the second of the exhibits, will show rarely seen masterpieces from the Ateneo Art Gallery.

The two exhibits are being held to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines 40 years ago.

After opening the exhibit, the President will meet with representatives of the Filipino community at the Fullerton Hotel.

There are 144,312 Filipinos living and working in Singapore, mostly computer programmers and analysts, engineers, nurses, architects/draftsmen, bank executives, aircraft technicians and mechanics.

Last year, their remittances amounted to $524 million.

Mrs. Arroyo will proceed to the museum from the Changi International Airport. She is here to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the historic 1st ASEAN-US Summit on November 14 and 15.

Her official delegation includes Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde. (PIA V Release)


PGMA to address Singapore OFWs

SINGAPORE – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tonight (Nov. 13) will address representatives of the Filipino community at the Fullerton Hotel in this city-state.

Mrs. Arroyo will be among her most ardent supporters. It will be recalled that the Filipino expatriates in the Lion City gave her a resounding victory in the overseas absentee vote count in the 2004 elections. They turned out in force to welcome her in 2007, when she made a state visit here.

It will be the second stop for the president after arriving with her official delegation at the Changi International Airport. The first is the Singapore Arts Museum, where she will grace the opening ceremonies for two Philippine art exhibits.

The exhibits are called Thrice Upon a Time: A century of Story in the Art of the Philippines; and In the Eye of Modernity: Philippine Neo-Realist Masterwoks from the Ateneo Art Gallery.

Scheduled to run until March, the back-to-back exhibits are being mounted to commemorate the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the Philippines 40 years ago.

There is an estimated 144,000 Filipinos overseas workers in Singapore, who distinguish themselves in such fields as banking and finance, medicine, education, information technology, engineering, and entertainment.

Last year, they remitted close to $524 million to the home country. (PIA V Release)


MILF role in Sinnott’s release a step to peace – Malacañang

MANILA — Malacañang ON Tuursda (November 12) expressed gratitude to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for brokering the safe release of Irish priest Father Michael Sinnott.

The MILF turned the priest over to government officials in Barangay Sangali in Zamboanga City early this morning.

In an interview with members of the media, Press Secretary Cerge Remonde described the gesture as a manifestation of the MILF’s sincerity and commitment to the cause of peace.

He added that the palace is now more hopeful than ever that “the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) and the MILF can resume formal peace talks in December.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) made a similar observation, saying “the MILF central leadership played an indispensable role in securing the priest’s release.”

"These circumstances underscore the obligation of both sides to maintain an environment conducive to the conduct of peace talks, which we all hope will bring lasting peace and progress to Mindanao," a DFA statement reads.

The European Union also chimed in, noting that Sinnott's release will make a positive effect on the peace negotiation.

Sinnott was abducted on Oct. 11 in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. He spent 32 days in captivity. (PIA V Release)


Observance of National Government Employees’ Week set

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 this year as National Government Employees’ Week.

The President issued Memorandum Circular No. 185, signed by Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita last Nov. 4, to give recognition to “the invaluable services rendered by deserving government employees and to underscore their contribution to nation building.”

To this end, the President is enjoining all government officials and employees including those in government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions (GFI) and state universities and colleges, as well as local government units and government employees organization to “observe and participate in appropriate activities for a meaningful observance and celebration of NGEW in coordination with other concerned agencies.”

This NGEW, whose theme for this year is Paglingap sa Kalikasan Tungkulin ng Bawa’t Kawani ng Pamahalaan, is encapculated in Proclamation No. 1130, dated November 11, 1997, declaring the first week of December as NGEW. (PIA V Release)