PGMA UNDERSCORES IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AMONG YOUTH

SAN VICENTE, Camarines Norte (March 17) -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo underscored the importance of education among the youth, who, she said “serves as the bridge from our past to our future.”

In a speech before students, teachers, and officials of the Froilan D. Lopez Technical and Vocational High School here Monday morning (March 15), the President pointed out that education is the foundation of opportunities and the key to a better life.

“Kayong mga kabataan ang kumakatawan sa mga pangarap ng ating bansa. Sa inyo natin iniaalay ang lahat ng ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan upang maiangat ang Pilipinas. (The youth represents the country’s future that is why we are investing in them to uplift the nation),” she said.

In this connection, the President spelled out her administration’s three-pronged development objectives anchored on the following:
• to spur regional development by enhancing empowerment in each region;
• to continue and develop further the 3 Es of the administration’s governance thrust: Education, Economy and the Environment to ensure sustainable and equitable development in the areas; and
• to focus on the youth and assure their welfare and development through education into molding them as the next generation of leaders for the country’s better and brighter future.
The President said that while the country has accomplished much in the field of education and technology, a lot still needs to be done to achieve her goals.

She noted that she created the Presidential Task Force on Education headed by Fr. Bienvenido Nebres primarily to review the country’s educational system.

In conclusion, the President expressed hope that the youth of today will come into their own, give priority to education and modernity and use it as a tool for the development of the country.

The Chief Executive was welcomed here by Camarines Norte Gov. Jesus Typoco. San Vicente Mayor Joseph Stanley Alegre and DepEd officials led by Regional Director Celedonio Layon Jr.

Before delivering her speech, the President toured the school’s training and demonstration classrooms, computer literacy laboratory, garments technology and dressmaking class, food trades technology, the school’s ICT building for the PC Hardware servicing course, computer internet lab and the electricity training shop.

According to Alegre, the President’s visit to this fifth class town of 8,000 residents “is only the second by a Philippine President in almost 60 years since President Ramon Magsaysay.

San Vicente is the smallest municipality with nine barangays in the Bicol Region’s northernmost province of Camarines Norte. (PIA V Release)

QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL, MAJOR LEGACY OF THE ADMINISTRATION -- PGMA

DAET, Camarines Norte (March 17) — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was elated with the information and communication facilities and internet connections now available at Froilan D. Lopez Technical and Vocational High School (FDLTVHS) in San Vicente town, Camarines Norte benefitting thousands of students and school personnel.

The President inspected the ICT lab, established under the Department Education (DepEd) Computer Literacy Program (CLP) and one of her administration’s flagship programs for education.

FDLTVHS has 40 computers with internet connections at present..

In her statement, President Arroyo said that there are a lot more to do for the future of the next generation where the youth served as hope and inspiration of the government thus will continue to pursue programs and projects that will ensure their better and brighter future.

She explained that as country we have to focus on our future, to do what is good and to work hard in order to face challenges.

She said that youth is the bridge of the past and future because they represent the dream of our country where government offered all efforts to uplift the country.

“Edukasyon ang pundasyon ng oportunidad. Ito ang susi sa mas maginhawang buhay. Binubuksan nito ang isipan at pintuan nga pag-unlad. At mundo ngayon, ang malakas na edukasyon ay dapat sinasamahan ng malakas na backbone ng tekonolohiya.” She said.

The President stressed that she has allocated some P2 billion for the training of teachers in English, Math or Science wherein 750 teachers in Camarines Norte will be given similar trainings this coming summer months.

She also cited that under her administration, the salaries of teachers were increased from P9,000 for Teacher I to more than P14,000 and another increase is will soon be implemented as part of Salary Standardization Law (SSL) together with other government employees.

She also said that she organized a Presidential Task Force on Education to review the system in Philippine education.

“Nawa’y kayong mga kasalukuyang kabataan will come into your own, pahalagahan ang edukasyon at modernity, at gamitin itong mga sandata para sa ikinabubuti ninyong sarili at bansa” she added.

San Vicente Mayor Joseph Stanley Alegre meanwhile said that the visit of President Arroyo in this town is only the second by a Philippine President after 53 years, since President Ramon Magsaysay.

He was thankful that the town, though a small one, was given priority of the President for her visit.

Other national and local government officials present were Camarines Norte Governor Jesus O. Typoco Jr., Congresswoman Liwayway Vinzons Chato, Daet Mayor Tito Sarion, DepEd USec. Vilma Salvador, Bicol Regional Director Celedonio Layon Jr. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)
DOH STEPS UP IMMUNIZATION DRIVE VS. MEASLES IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 17) —The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol has urged all local government units (LGUs) in the region to conduct Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) in their respective areas to avoid possible measles cases among their constituents.

Dr. Nestor F. Santiago, Jr., DOH Bicol regional director, stressed that LGUs should instruct the health workers to trace children, aged nine months to 59 months old, whom they missed vaccinating during their routine immunization schedules and have them immunized at once.

The appeal was made as a result of the measles outbreak in the municipality of Mobo and Masbate City totaling to 57.

Santiago explained that as early as the first week of February, this year, the Provincial Government of Masbate was advised to conduct outbreak response immunization after detecting clinically-confirmed cases of measles in 2010.

A team from Community Health Development (CHD) of DOH Bicol was already dispatched to assist local health authorities combat an on-going measles outbreak in identified areas in Masbate localities.

The said office has dispatched some 3,000 vials of anti-measles vaccines, Vitamin A capsules ad syringes as initial logistics assistance for the province.

Nancy Pastrana, DOH Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) coordinator, meanwhile related that SIAs will be undertaken even in those areas without cases yet.

“Health workers are advised to review the immunization status of their target clients and if necessary to do a house-to-house operation to identify those children who missed the vaccination,” she noted.

Pastrana added that children should have at least two anti-measles vaccines before they reach the age of 24 months to have a higher immunity against the disease. (AMAmador, BUCAL/PIA)

DENR SAYS WILDLIFE HUNTERS ARE OFF-LIMITS TO RP

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 17) — All forms of wildlife hunting are prohibited in the Philippines. the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) warned.

Reiterating DENR Secretary Horacio Ramos’s advisory issued recently, Bicol Director Jocelyn Marcus Fragada has sternly warned the public that the agency does not allow hunting of wildlife in any place of the Bicol region, noting several wildlife species also abound in this part of the country.

DENR’s move to reiterate the entire Philippines being “off limits” to wildlife hunters came following reports that a US-based website www.adventures41.com offers a jungle safari on Mindoro island to kill “some native species you simply cannot hunt anywhere else in the world today.”

In its 14-day hunting package, the website offers a “guaranteed 100 per cent of killing major trophy animals” that includes some of the Philippines’ endangered animals like the Asian Sambar deer, Philippine mouse deer, saltwater crocodile, and the Philippine wart pig.

Fragada has reiterated that hunting or unauthorized collection of endangered and vulnerable species (meaning their number is nearing extinction) is a criminal offense under Republic Act 9147, otherwise known as the Philippine Wildlife Conservation Act of 2001, and carries penalties of imprisonment from two to 12 years, including fines ranging from P30,000 to P1 million.

He likewise cautioned foreigners that they may still be caught for breaking Philippine wildlife laws even if they are on their native soil citing the reported conviction of a German national, named Gunther Wenzek, last January 14 on the strength of an American law that recognizes Philippine Law on wildlife conservation ad protection.

Wenzek was arrested in 2007 by US customs officials for violation of the Lacey Act and RA 9147 which strictly prohibits the harvesting and trading of Philippine corals.

The Lacey Act, on the other hand, prohibits possession, transport or trade of wildlife species that have been illegally collected, transported or sold in violation of wildlife laws existing in their countries of origin.

Wenzek was sentended to serve three years on probation and pay a fine amounting to at least $35,000 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon for shipping into the Port of Portland, Oregon some 40 tons of corals belonging to the scientific order Scleractinia, genera Porites, Acropora, and Pocillopora, common to Philippine reefs.

The web-based hunting package cited the provinces of Palawan, Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Romblon and Marinduque as the places where this “Philippine safari” as showcased in the www.adventures411.com were to be held, prompting DENR to urge “anybody who has knowledge of these hunting groups” to get in touch with local DENR offices either via telephone at (02) 4050323, short message service at 0917-302-9257 or email at pawb_4b@yahoo.com/ph.

Fragada cited that DENR has warned that local and foreign nationals alike are equally liable under the act even by mere publication of the activity, saying “any published or posted information in the internet or in any publication, inviting prospective tourists or individuals for action adventure in the Philippines by way of game hunting, must be treated with utmost caution as these activities may be illegal”. (DENR V/PIA)

PCA TO COCONUT FARMERS, PLANT BANANAS

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 17) — The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) provincial office here has advised coconut farmers to plant bananas to mitigate and prevent the spread of coconut leaf beetle (Brontispa Longissima) in coconut plantations across the province.

Edmundo R. Bailon, officer-in-charge of the PCA Albay, said that planting bananas could help the coconut farmers.

“The agency encourages coconut farmers to plant bananas because earwigs are found in them. Earwigs are friendly insects which feed on the larva and eggs of Brontispa,” Bailon added.

PCA stopped the use of trunk injection because the people are afraid to be poisoned.

“In planting bananas, the farmers could save the Brontispa-infested coconut tree and at the same time they could also harvest and make money out of the bananas,” Bailon furthered.

As of press time, at least six municipalities in the province are affected by the coconut leaf beetle.

PCA classified the affected municipalities into slightly, moderately and severely affected.

The municipalities of Malinao, Tabaco, Polangui, Libon and Pio Duran are classified under slight with about 300-500 trees affected while Manito is classified under moderate with more or less 1,000 coconut trees infested by Brontispa.

Brontispa Longissima is an imported fest that feeds on young leaves and damages seedling and mature coconut palms. (GBLatigay, BUCAL/PIA)

PENRO INTENSIFIES CAMPAIGN VS. ILLEGAL LOGGERS IN CAMARINES NORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte (March 17) – The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) here has recorded some 33 apprehensions of illegally cut and transported logs or lumbers from December 2009 to January 2010.

Camarines Norte PENR Officer Elpidio Orata bared that of the 33 apprehensions, 17 was recorded in December last year with 492 board feet of logs confiscated amounting to P19,680 while 16 apprehensions in January with 106.66 board feet amounting to P4,266.40.

He also cited that last year the agency confiscated some 7,903.33 board feet of logs with no case filed in court while 1,106.36 board feet confiscated logs with 3 cases filed in court.

Orata also said that in 2008 they have also confiscated some 12,486.8 board feet logs with no case filed in court while 7,390 board feet confiscated logs with 3 cases filed in court.

He added that vehicles used by the illegal loggers were in the office of the Community Environment and Nautral Resource (CENRO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

430 BICOLANOS PASS CAREER SERVICE EXAMS

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (March 17) — A total of 430 Bicolano examinees passed the Career Service Examinations conducted last November 15, 2009 by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Said number comprises 23.28 per cent of the 4,555 hopefuls who took the examination in Region 5 (Bicol). Of the said figure, 348 passed the Professional while 82 passed the Sub-Professional test.

Passers of the Professional examination shall be conferred Career Service Professional Eligibility needed for appointment to professional, technical and scientific positions in government. On the other hand, those who hurdled the Sub-professional test shall be conferred the corresponding eligibility for clerical, trades, crafts and custodial service positions in government.

Eligibility is one of the four qualification standards (QS) for permanent appointment to a career service position in government. The three others are education, experience, and training.

Mr. Jules Cezar P. Garcia led the new Professional eligible with a rating of 86.46. Completing the Top Ten Passers for the Career Service Professionals are Eden R. Arcos, 86.28, Arabelle V. Morillo, 85.72, Daila R. Aragon, 85.55, Sarah Jane E. Velasco, 85.47, Catherine L. Huit, 85.36, Edrian M. Apaya, 85.33, Janine B. Martinez, 85.23, Kathryn B. Felices, 85.19, and Maria Concetta L. Claveria, 84.98.

Topping the Sub-Professional level was Margarita G. Ferreras with a rating of 90.80 followed by Bryan O. Ricafort, 90.16, Brenda C. Nicolas, 88.89, Joan Isabel Z. Morales, 87.66, Jeffrey Domingo B. Baluyot, 87.35, Kristel C. Malañana, 87.21, Ornell O. Ricafort, 86.76, Sharla Jean C. Del Agua, 86.51, Richard A. Dionela, Jr., 86.06, and Vevian V. Javier, 86.04.
(CSC V/PIA)

MASBATE VILLAGE LEADER ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur (March 17) — The Joint Special Task Force Masbate has arrested Wednesday (March 17) a village leader who possessed high-powered firearms inside his home, a military report said.

Lt. Col. Anthony Purugganan, commander of the 9th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army, said that a team from his unit, in a joint operation with police personnel, led by P/SInsp. Dennis Balla, raided the house of Punong Barangay Geronimo Remulta of Tan-awan in Placer town, Masbate around 5:00 am that resulted to the confiscation of two (2) M16 Armalite Rifle with Serial Nrs RR207305 and RR732070 and one (1) Cal.45 Pistol with Serial Nr C02669.

Purugganan averred that a case for violation of PD 1866 as amended by RA 8294 (Illegal Possession of Firearms) and violation of COMELEC Resolution 8714 (COMELEC Gun Ban) are now being prepared for filing in court.

He noted that the raid was conducted by virtue of a Search Warrant issued by Judge Maximino Ables of Sorsogon RTC.

Remulta is the third politician to be charged with a criminal case for illegal possession of firearms in Masbate Province and the second to be arrested from the town of Placer.

On February 14, Punong Branagay Antonio De Ocampo of Daraga, also of Placer town, was collared for possessing three unlicensed high-powered firearms.

On March 12, a certain Richeliu Tamayo, village chief of Barangay Nipa in Palanas, Masbate was also arrested for keeping an unlicensed Cal .45 pistol.

Government troops had made several arrests around Masbate province in its bid to dismantle the various partisan armed groups (PAGs) who are involved in various election-related violent incidents in the area.

JSTF Masbate has already netted 11 PAGs members as of today. Seven of the suspects were alleged members of the Gerry Solasco PAGs members based in Pio V. Corpuz while the three are all incumbent village leaders. (Maj. HMCabunoc, PAO 9ID PA/PIA)

Redeem true meaning of respective faiths, PGMA challenges NAM

MANILA (March 17) — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today challenged delegates attending a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the country to redeem the true meaning of their respective faiths to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world.

In a speech at the Special NAM Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development at the Philippine International Convention Center, the President said the draft Manila Declaration that the delegates would adopt should contain an action plan of practical action-oriented policies culled from numerous local, regional and multilateral interfaith and intercultural dialogues.

“All great religions advocate love; hold life to be sacred; profess peace and promote understanding,” she said. “Our challenge in promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation is to redeem the true meaning of our respective faiths if we are to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the world.”

The Philippines is hosting the special ministerial meeting originally scheduled last December but deferred when parts of the country were devastated by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

Majority of the 118 NAM member countries represented in the meeting will tackle issues such as the financial crisis, climate change, nuclear non-proliferation and other pressing global concerns.

It is the first time that NAM, an international organization of states not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc, will harness the great potentials of interfaith dialogue and cooperation to advance concerns for durable and lasting peace and sustainable development.

The President said the Philippines is honored to host the special ministerial meeting, saying the country is a living witness to the importance of intercultural and interfaith tolerance.

“The promotion of intercultural and interfaith dialogue and cooperation, rooted in tolerance, mutual understanding, trust, and respect is a primary strategy to achieve peace as well as a key element in the country’s peace process as embodied in our country’s Medium Term Development Plan,” she said.

Interfaith dialogue, according to the President, is a major contributor to peace and stability in Mindanao.

“While lasting peace has yet to be achieved, we have taken heavy political risks to broker a peace. We have reached within the affected communities to change the peace paradigm,” she explained.

Through the steady promotion of interfaith dialogue, and respect for diverse cultures, traditions and practices in Mindanao, the President said the government was able to build roads that opened up remote areas into the mainstream of economic activities and to construct irrigation systems in farmlands that used to be impenetrable to construction companies because of conflict.

“We have brought together an international consensus to aid the process from the outside. Japan, Australia, the United States, England, the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), Malaysia, and so many others now have a vested interest in peace in Mindanao,” she said.

The President pointed out the Philippines and Pakistan, with the full support of NAM member countries, have actively pursued in the United Nations (UN) the promotion of interfaith and intercultural dialogue, understanding, and cooperation for peace since 2004.

The UN General Assembly, she said, has adopted by consensus the country’s annual resolution on promoting of inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace.
“This is new proof that we are all united by our common humanity and by our common quest for peace and prosperity,” she said. (PIA V Release)

Gov’t opens door to $300M new Japanese investments

MANILA (April 17) — Government has welcomed a decision by Japanese electronic giant NIDEC to infuse US $300 million (about P13 billion) in fresh investments in the electronics industry in the Philippines, thereby expanding the firm’s current exposure in the country to about $800 million.

NIDEC’s decision was disclosed during a call Tuesday on President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacanang by Shigenobu Nagamori, chairman and chief executive officer of NIDEC Philippines, a subsidiary of NIDEC Japan. Nagamori was accompanied during the call by new Trade and Industry Secretary Jesli Lapus and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) director-general Lilia B. De Lima.

Nagamori said the new investment will boost the production capacity of NIDEC’s four existing plants in the country engaged in the manufacture of electronics and computer parts and will provide employment to l0,000 additional Filipino workers. NIDEC‘s current exposure consists of three plants in Laguna and one in Subic.

Nagamori also informed the President NIDEC intends to set up a research and development (RD) facility, said to be a global trade strategy of the Japanese firm.

The Japanese businessman said the firm’s good relations with Philippine leaders is behind the decision to divert the firm’s investible resources to the Philippines rather than to another Asian site.

“It’s definitely too risky to invest about $1 billion were it not for the good relationships we have with your government leaders,” Nagamori said through interpreters. He said he recognizes the Philippines lags behind its neighbors in investments attraction but said “it can get bigger.”

Lapus called NIDEC’s decision a significant move by the company and a very beneficial one for the Philippines. “This is my first day in office and it’s a good buena mano,” said Lapus who took over last week at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from Peter Favila.

Lapus said NIDEC’s officials are aware of the improved infrastructures in the country especially travel infrastructures which have cut travel time by about half. Today, visiting NIDEC officials are slated to visit Subic, using the new Subic- Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX). (PIA V Release)

PGMA highlights role of science and technology in nat’l dev’t

MANILA (March 17) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo highlighted today the leading role of science and technology (S&T) in national development, including adaptation to the impact of climate change.

The President specifically cited the invaluable role of the Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research Development (PCIERD), an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in bridging private and public sector cooperation to fuel technology-backed economic development.

The President said S&T is also crucial in adaptation to climate change, even if the Philippines is a “good world citizen” having a low carbon footprint of 1.6 tons per capita compared to the carbon footprint of many industrialized countries of six tons per capita.

“I have an unshakeable faith in science and technology as the main driver of modern-day growth and now as the main protector against the onslaught of climatic changes,” the President said.

The President was the guest of honor and speaker during PCIERD’s 28th anniversary celebration at the Hyatt Hotel in Manila this afternoon.

The President said she served as a member of PCIERD's Governing Council when she was an undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The group provided policy and management decisions on the implementation of plans and programs in the industry and energy sectors.

In her very first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) in 2001, the President said she underscored the importance of technology as a means to spur economic growth and the foundation of future economic development.

To date, the President said her administration has reformed the educational system by strengthening the teaching of mathematics and science in basic education and has reviewed policies to forge broader coordination among public and private institutions, including the increase of budget allocations especially with the implementation of the expanded value-added tax in 2007.

Included, the President said, are the investment of P3 billion for R&D technology, the opening of 100,000 DOST masteral and doctorate scholarships to 27,000 beneficiaries, the allocation of P1 billion for the establishment of the Science and Technology Complex at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, the retention of at least 100,000 teachers in Math, Science and English, and the provision of Internet connection to 5,000 public high schools in the country.

Under the 2004-2010 Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP), the President said human capital has been enhanced to develop a critical mass of engineers and scientists; increase productivity through S&T; and promote technology-based entrepreneurship.

For climate change adaptation, the President said 10 Doppler radars has been earmarked to modernize the weather reporting of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) with five radars fully operational in the next two years.

To help the environment, the President added PCIERD’s researches on energy such as on geothermal, solar and wind power are now proven to be commercially viable.

To sustain national growth, the President said she hopes the next administration will also provide the necessary support and funding to S&T and R&D, including PCIERD’s invaluable contribution in helping develop an ASEAN S&T Roadmap towards a Climate Change-Resilient ASEAN Region by 2015. (PIA V Release)