QTA SYSTEM TO HELP FARMERS DEAL WITH EL NIÑO, ABNORMAL WEATHER

SORSOGON Province — The Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) here encourages local farmers to intensify the use of Quick Turn-Around (QTA) technology pursued by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to sustain agricultural productivity in the wake of the dry spell brought about by El Niño phenomenon.

Provincial Agriculturist David Gillego said that though the province is not directly hit by the effects of El Niño and has maintained a sufficient supply of agricultural products, local farmers growing palay and corn to venture on the QTA, a high productivity program to respond with the impacts of abnormal weather.

“By this system, farmers will be able to harvest three times per year increasing rice and corn production with low irrigation requirement, lower production cost, but a higher yield in less time,” said Gillego.

Gillego added that El Niño is a recurring phenomenon to be prepared upon particularly that Sorsogon belongs to the so-called “moderately vulnerable” province to be hit by El Niño this year.

“Though we have to be thankful that our province was not sternly hit by this phenomenon, we should not stay unruffled, but instead be more prepared for the coming years to avert the situation from actually occurring,” he bared.

“Aside from El Niño, the effect of climate change is now also felt here with some agricultural areas particularly that Brgys. Abuyog and Gimaloto in Sorsogon City are already subjugated by sea water,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DA’s Regional Field Unit, continuously provide alternative agricultural strategies to help farmers adapt or cope with the abnormal weather condition.

“The Agriculture Office keeps its partnership with other government agencies like the National Irrigation Administration, Bureau of Soils and Bureau of Plant Industry through a massive conduct of trainings, orientation/briefings, techno-demo on water saving technology and other information drive to enhance the farmer’s technical competence,” he also said.

“The government is doing its best to help our farmers, what we expect in return is the all-out cooperation from our farmers,” Gillego further said. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

2,000 SOLDIERS TO VOTE IN LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING IN BICOL

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur — At least 2,000 soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army are expected to cast their votes during the three-day local absentee voting which started Wednesday (April 28) in various designated camps across Bicol Region, a military officer said.

Major Harold M. Cabunoc, division spokesperson, said that the soldiers are expected to avail of this rare opportunity to vote for their choice or preferred national candidates.

Soldiers from various infantry brigades started casting their votes at round 8 a.m. yesterday in a makeshift "polling center" located in designated voting center inside the camp.

“There are also several other designated polling places around Bicol where soldiers can cast their votes in the next three days, our soldiers are given the opportunity to exercise their right to vote,” said Cabunoc.

Some of the soldiers who cast their votes are first-time voters, among them 2nd Lt. Marie Christine Samson, 23, a military nurse and a registered voter of San Mateo, Rizal.

“I availed of the local absentee voting because I want to help elect my preferred presidential candidate. My father is a retired soldier so we are united in supporting our trusted candidate,” she said.

Military personnel who are detailed for election duties outside their polling registration center are covered by the local absentee voting. Under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) guidelines, local absentee voters will use manual ballots and they are only allowed to vote for national elective positions.

The local absentee voting in the 9th ID camp is being supervised by lawyer Fatima Gados, a representative from Comelec. (PIA V Release)

MAGARAO TOWN TOPS ZERO BASURA OLYMPICS

CAMARINES SUR Province — Magarao town in this province has won the first-ever National Zero Basura Olympics cited among the fourth to sixth class municipalities with most innovative and effective approaches managing solid waste.

Mayor Nelson Julia, along with the municipal government officials, received the award from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in an awarding ceremonies held in Malacañang Palace last April 23.

The winners represent a diverse mix of topography and fiscal standings ranging from top to the least revenue earners led by the country’s financial capital, Makati City and San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, a second class component city, both winning in the “Highly Urbanized and Component Cities” category.

Other winners include San Mateo in Isabela, a first class municipality, and the coastal town of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur, a 3rd class municipality, notching the top 2 spots in the first to third class municipalities category.

Magarao, a 4th class municipality and Bicol lone entry to the awards program, was declared as the lone winner in the fourth and sixth class municipalities category.

Environment Secretary Horacio Ramos said the winning three towns and two cities, “collectively send a strong message that geography and fiscal standing are not obstacle for local governments to find viable means in soling their solid waste management problems.”

The nationwide contests for best eco-waste management practices started in 2003 to generate greater multi-sectoral interest and partnership in addressing the solid waste management problem in the country and spur compliance by local government units to RA 9003.

Zero Basura Olympics is the upgrading of the nationwide search to municipal and city level. A total of 62 LGUs took part in the contest with 11 cities and 51 municipalities. (EMB V/PIA)

EMB STOPS OPERATION OF SALT PLANT

LEGAZPI CITY— The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has ordered the stoppage of operation of the Artemis Salt Corporation in Tabaco City for failure to secure Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and other permits.

“Dai magpapadagos an operasyon kan Artemis Salt Corp. sagkod dai sinda nagkaka-igwa nin ECC (There’ll be no operation of Artemis Salt Corp. until they’ve secured an ECC)”, EMB V regional director Gilbert Gonzales underscored in an interview.

Gonzales emphasized that alongside the ECC application the salt plant is required to implement mitigating measures to ensure the public health and further assuage fears of a possible seepage to the ground water.

Earlier, the bureau conducted a technical conference to address the complaint against Artemis Salt Corp. wherein the management of the facility committed to stop their operation and secure business and health permits from the local government of Tabaco City and apply for an ECC.

Gonzales also assured the bureau’s continuous monitoring and evaluation of the issue to protect public health and the nearby environs.

The complaint against the company arose from protests from local residents of Barangay Cormidal due to alleged toxicity run off, seepage to ground water, corrosion, noise pollution and adverse health effects. (EMB V/PIA)

CAMARINES NORTE RDO OVERSHOOTS TAX COLLECTION TARGET FOR Q1 IN 2010

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) district office here has increased their collection for the first quarter of this year to P100 million as vis-a-vis the agency’s collection target of P75 million.

Marcelino M. Quito, BIR chief here, said that the increase was attributed to the intensified tax campaigns in the municipalities, dialogues with tax payers and appeal to the tax practitioners.

Quito averred that the filing of income tax returns (ITRs) before and during the deadline last April 15, 2010 was very smooth due to the assignments of some BIR personnel in the different towns five days prior to the deadline.

He said that they also conducted briefing last April 14 for the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) of the Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) that in turn assisted them during the filing of ITRs.

He also cited discussions on the Cooperative Taxation and its implementing rules and regulation during the forum conducted by the Cooperative Development Authority last April 21 held at the provincial capitol.

He added that they will focus now on the “Project Mo Iboto Mo” for candidates for the 5% withholding tax for the services and materials they used during the campaign period. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

PROVET, PHO STEPS UP ANTI-RABIES DRIVE IN CAMARINES NORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Provincial Veterinarian Office (ProVet) and Provincial Health Office (PHO) has jointly spearheaded series of information dissemination drives on anti-rabies program in the wake of spate of cases recorded in two municipalities recently.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Edgardo Gonzales said the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte has since intensified the campaign following the death of two residents due to rabies from January to March this year

He bared that among the 282 barangays in the province, two barangays namely Mabilo in Labo town and Gubat, in this capital town were found with positive cases of rabies in canine and human.

He added that some 72 dogs with rabies were already killed from January to March to avoid the spread of rabies.

On the other hand, Dr. Arnulfo Salagoste of the PHO also confirmed the fatalities from said barangays, adding that one suspected case of rabies was also reported in the town of Basud.

Provet has also been doing rounds to vaccinate dogs and warns owners to keep their pet on leash, while advising those bitten by dogs or cats to immediately consult the doctor for proper action and medication.

He cited that Rabies Awareness Month falls on March but due to the summer season and El Niño phenomenon, more dogs might be infected by rabies. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)