SEA PORT IN CAMARINES NORTE BACK IN BUSINESS,
SEEN TO SPUR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

PANGANIBAN, Camarines Norte — Operations resume anew with bright prospects for business here as mining firm Pan Century Surfactants Inc. (PCSI) lead starts utilizing the sea port in Barangay Osmeña, this municipality since last month.

Sonny V. Usana, PCSI spokeman, bared that the mining firm has been utilizing the pier as a Chinese vessel, MV Jng Gang Shan, docked at the port since last month loading up Iron ore from various mining sites across the province for transport to China for processing.
Usana averred that loading up the ship with Iron ore required some and provided employment to at least 200 locals, providing services, hauling and transporting the ore from source and loading the same to the ship, with a DWT capacity of 4,700 metric ton.

“For the past two weeks that the ship was docked at the pier, local trucking companies were also contracted to haul ore mineral from source to the ship,” he added.

In the long run, Usana noted, the local government here sees is optimistic that the local port will open more business opportunities and revenues for the local coffers as other companies expressed interest to utilize the port for their operations.

The port can accommodate or dock three or more ships at the same time, while facilities include spacious storage area ideally for ore and mined minerals, accessible and wide road networks, safe and secured facilities, among others.

Usana further stated that the resumption of the operation of the commercial port here will in no doubt spur the local economy and contribute to the development of this town for the benefit and in improving the quality of life of the residents.

He added that the reopening of the port will open the door for other companies to use this port for their business activities that is advantageous for them because using this facility will be more economical and easier than taking the land route from Camarines Norte to Manila or other places.

At present, several ventures have already shown interest on using the said port for their need in bulk shipment and movement of big equipment to and from this town, on the other hand, will be beneficial not only to this municipality but also to the entire Camarines Norte province. (MALoterte, PIA V)

DENR ENJOINS BICOLANOS TO SUPPORT BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CONSERVATION

LEGAZPI CITY — Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol has urged Bicolanos to conserve and protect biodiversity resources across the region where these abound in time for the International Year of Biodiversity this 2010.


Fragada said that DENR has already lined-up various activities in support to the observance, evolving on the theme- “Biodiversity is Life, Biodiversity is our Life.”

He bared that activities include World Water Day Celebration, with the theme “Tubig ay Buhay: Wastong Paggamit Kailangang Tunay’; Philippine Water Week on March 22-26; Earth Hour, a worldwide campaign enjoining everyone to “Switch Off the Lights” from 8:30 PM to 9:30 pm on March 27; and, Cave Assessment of Luyang Cave in San Andres Catanduanes on April 6-10

Other events are Orientation Seminar on Biodiversity Monitoring System and Mangrove Rehabilitation in Masbate on March 22-26; 10th National Caving Congress in Davao del Norte evolving on the theme “Philippine Speleogical Society: A Decade of Pursuit Towards Responsible Caving” on April 6-10; and, 19th Annual Philippine Biodiversity Symposium with the theme “Changing Biodiversity in a Changing World, Changing Philippines” on April 12-15.

The observance of the International Year of Biodiversity in 2010 is based on the declaration of the United Nations General Assembly aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of biodiversity and the consequences of its loss.

“It is also an opportunity to celebrate successes in achieving a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity losses by 2010, the target set by countries that are signatories to the Convention on Biodiversity,” Fragada explained.

Rodrigo U. Fuentes, executive director of ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, said that “Biodiversity encompasses all life on Earth from the smallest insects to the biggest whale, adding that biodiversity is the web of life that includes the full range of ecosystems, species living within such ecosystems, and the genetic variety of those species produced by Nature or shape by humans.”

Biodiversity is our support systems that sustain our life and provide the material and economic resources for our daily needs. It constitute an ecological mechanism from which we derive from Nature that which makes life possible such as supply of fresh water, presence of oxygen and other substances, fertile soil that makes production for crops possible, a wholesome climate that makes living comfortable, among others.

Director Fuentes puts it in other words, “The natural world is not just the collection of magnificent and wonderful species. We depend on the vast biodiversity around us to supply our daily needs. We depend on basic products provided by Nature such as water, food, medicine, shelter, clothing, products of business and industries, and a host of ecosystem services that protect us from climate change and other harsh environmental conditions.”

The loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest threats that humans face today. In Southeast Asia, over 1000 out of the 64,800 known species of plants, mammals and marine life forms are endangered. The world is losing its biodiversity at unprecedented rates due to deforestation, large-scale mining, massive wildlife hunting, pollution, other irresponsible human activities and global warming. Climate experts projected that global warming alone could vanish one million species of life forms in our planet in the near future.

It is the area of food security; perhaps more than any other, that biodiversity’s value is most clear. Nature provides the plant and animal resources for production and agricultural productivity. When biodiversity is destroyed, the source of food is likewise destroyed. The Food and Agriculture Organization reported that out of more than 10,000 different plant species used for food by humans over the millennia, barely 150 species remain under cultivation. Of these, only 12 species provide 80 percent of the world food needs and only four-rice, wheat, corn and potatoes- provide more than half of human’s energy requirements.

Health is another area where the natural benefits of a healthy biodiversity are most obvious. The natural world holds the key to many medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs. If the world continues to lose around 13 million hectares of its forest cover every year, it would be difficult to develop better kinds of medicine to cure both existing and emerging illnesses. About 80 percent of the world’s known diversity, many of which have medicinal value, could be found in forests.

Apart from providing people with medicine, Nature also offers a wide range of ecosystem services such as contribution to climate stability, maintenance of ecosystems, soil formation and protection, and pollution breakdown and absorption. Biodiversity is also a source of livelihood to millions as the economy of many communities is driven by the use of species in industries such as biotechnology, forestry, agriculture and fisheries. Moreover, biodiversity provides social benefits including recreation and tourism, as well as cultural and aesthetic values.

Biodiversity provides clean water, fertile soil, flood protection, food and medicines and livelihoods for people around the world.

The loss of biodiversity is beyond losing plants and animals. It is clearly an issue of human survival. There is an urgent need to conserve biodiversity globally and in the ASEAN region where 500 million Asians, and 90 million Filipinos depend on biodiversity for food, medicines, clothing, livelihood and shelter. (AMContreras, DENR V/PIA)

EMB URGES BICOLANOS TO SIGN UP FOR 10 MILLION MOVEMENT

LEGAZPI CITY — The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol enjoins anew Bicolanos for solidarity and commit to “green acts” to ensure recovery and continued protection of the environment by signing up for the 10 million movement (10MM).

EMB Bicol Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales has emphasized that the 10MM is part of the campaign to gather 10 million commitments for the environment from all over the country. Under the movement, every Filipinos is encouraged to commit to an environment-friendly act, which can be as simple as turning off the lights and all electrical appliances when not in use.

Last March 15, 2010 Environment Sec. Horacio Ramos led the DENR, Earth Day Network Philippines, Inc. (EDNPI) and SMART Communications, Inc. in launching the “10 Million Movement” website as part of the run-up activities for Earth Day 2010.

Those interested to be part of the “10 MM” can sign up via the website and choose from a list in the “I commit to…” dropdown menu. Email address, mobile number, city and province will be requested so that the signee can be contacted for future pro-environment activities in the area.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared April 22 as the “Philippines’ Earth Day” through Presidential Proclamation No. 1481, amending Presidential Proclamation Nos. 553 and 1276, making Earth Day a permanent environment holiday in the Philippines.

Earth Day 2010’s national theme is “Hamon ng Panahon Climate Change: 10 Milyung Solusyon (Kilos Na! Ngayon Na!), “Climate Change is the most pressing issue for our country especially given the vulnerability of our country to its consequences as proven by our recent experiences with typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng,” said EDNPI chair and former DENR Secretary Elisea Gozun during the launch held at the DENR Social Hall in Quezon City. (EMB V/PIA)

DEPED ALS PROGRAM, EASY ACCESS FOR EDUCATION FOR THE POOR

NAGA CITY -- “If there’s a will, there’s a way” – so the old adage goes.

And so it goes to all the educators who believe that education can be accessible, even to the poorest of the poor and even to those who thought that time and age have grabbed their opportunity to learn and acquire new knowledge.

The Department of Education (DepEd), under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) program, responded and acted on the problem of the increasing number of out-of-school-youth (OSY) thru a free education program intended for those who cannot afford formal schooling.

Encompassing both the non-formal and informal sources of knowledge and skills, ALS became a viable alternative to the existing formal education.

In Naga City , 21 ALS learning groups were organized wherein 62 per cent of the completers were qualified to take the Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test.

The groups also exceeded the target barangays where they organized learning groups for literacy cum livelihood. Twelve (12) barangays have mobile classes where 80 per cent of the learners were raised to the next literacy level.

A&E test aims to offer learners two learning achievements, both on the elementary and secondary level, furthermore, a certification of learning to OSY and adults whose age range from 15 and up and are unable to avail of the formal school system. This is also applicable to those who have dropped out of formal elementary or secondary education.

Felomina L. Cecilio, Education Program Specialist 1 from the Naga City Division, one of the implementers of the ALS here, has attributed the program’s success to the harmonious relationship between the educators and their students.

“The willingness on both parties to help each other and the dedication on the part of the ALS implementers, have greatly aided in the success of this program,” observed Cecilio.

Cecilio, was cited as ALS Most Outstanding Education Supervisor1 for 2010, an annual search for the most outstanding alternative learning system (ALS) implementers, most functional community learning system (CLC) and most outstanding education supervisor (in line with DepEd Regional Memorandum No. 116, s 2009).

Recolito C. Cantre, also from DepEd Naga City Division, was awarded as 1st runner up.

Included in the list of awardees as 2009 Outstanding District ALS Coordinators were Leticia Avengoza (Most Outstanding District ALS Coordinator for Camarines Sur, Rita Aquino, 1st runner up ( Tabaco City ); Melita Carranceja, 2nd runner up (Camarines Norte); and Ma. Fina Pastor, 3rd runner up (Albay).

Other recipients of the 2009 awards were Esmeralda Bautista ( Sorsogon City ), Most Outstanding Mobile Teacher; Nelmie C. Potot (Masbate Province), Most Outstanding Basic Literacy Facilitator ; Charito Dometita ( Sorsogon Province ), Most Outstanding Instructional Manager and the Hall of Fame Awardee as Most Functional Community Learning Center (CLC) goes to Barangay Gumaus, Paracale, Camarines Norte.

The sky-rocketing cost of education in the country has severely caused the displacement of many aspiring students and has resulted to an increase of OSY. Made worst by poverty, the number kept on adding up. Yet with the implementation of the alternative learning system, there is certainly no reason why others cannot afford learning. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)

CAMARINES NORTE BANTAYOG FEST 2010 ON

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte has lined-up activities in connection with the 6th Bantayog Festival 2010 in time for the 90th Foundation of the province.

The Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) here has already commenced several pre-fest activities early this month including Kaogmahan sa Bagasbas on April 3-4, Jobs Fair on April 7-8, Photo Shoot for the Bantayog Exhibit last April 7-12 and Bagasbas Summer Surf, April 9-11.

PTO also announced that the photo exhibit opens today (April 14) until the 30th; Tribute to Local Revolutionary Heroes on April 14; civic military parade, Thanksgiving Mass, NSTP/CAT competition, DBC/DLC competition, fireworks display, and concert at the park is set April 15.

The Bantayog cycling competition happens on April 21, Little League Baseball/Softball tournament is set on April 20-27, Bantayog Tourism and Trade Fair on April 23-30; and Bantayog Fun Run on April 23.

The Search for Miss Camarines Norte 2010 will be on April 23, while the grand festival parade and street dancing competition; and Kapamilya Caravan will conclude the month long activities on April 30. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

JUDICIARY REMAINS INDEPENDENT DESPITE PGMA APPOINTMENTS – PALACE

MAILA — Malacañang underscored Tuesday (April 13) the independence of the judiciary in spite of President Arroyo having appointed all of the 14 Supreme Court (SC) associate justices, except Chief Justice Reynato Puno who is set to bow out of government service on May 17 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Gary Olivar, in a media briefing, pointed out that the High Tribunal on several occasions has ruled against the Arroyo administration.

“The President or her allies have frequently been overruled by the (SC) justices, regardless of her having appointed them. These are men and women of integrity,” Olivar stressed.

At the same time, the Malacañang official took to task an Opposition presidential candidate for prematurely declaring that he would not honor President Arroyo’s appointment of the next SC chief justice.

“There is nothing constructive to be gained by insulting the justices as having ‘vacant minds’ or by threatening to impeach whoever the President ends up appointing. Neither insults nor threats have a place in civil discourse, let alone a campaign,” Olivar said.

He said that the SC chief justice and associate justices will not be beholden to whoever wins in the May 10 presidential election. “It will be helpful that none of the justices will owe his or her appointment to any of the presidentiables.”

Olivar explained that in light of the forthcoming presidential polls, the SC will constitute an electoral tribunal that will proclaim the next president and vice president, apart from being the final arbiter in electoral disputes.

He also said the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is presently interviewing the incumbent justices who may be included in the shortlist of nominees for the chief justice post to be vacated by Puno’s retirement.

“This is part of a six-stage process starting with the publication of the vacancy and ending with the submission of the shortlist to the President,” Olivar said.

Meantime, Olivar said the JBC awaits the SC’s final ruling on the various motions for reconsideration of its previous decision upholding the President’s legal right to appoint the next chief justice despite the 60-day ban on appointments to executive positions.

“It is still mandatory for the JBC to prepare the shortlist and submit this to the President,” Olivar said. (PIA V Release)

PGMA ARRIVES IN MADRID WEDNESDAY FOR TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT

MADRID, Spain — A full schedule awaits President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she arrives in this Spanish capital city at 1:15 p.m.(7:15 p.m. Manila time) Wednesday for a two-day official visit.

A few hours upon her arrival at Madrid’s Barajas Airport, the President, who always finds time to meet Filipinos in any country she visits, will meet Filipino leaders, permanent residents and workers belonging to the 50,000-strong Filipino community in Spain .

On Thursday (April 15), the President’s day starts with a bilateral meeting with Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero at the Palacio de Mancloa, the President’s official residence.

Afterwards, the President will also have a bilateral meeting with King Juan Carlos I at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, the principal residence of the King and Queen of Spain, where they are expected to discuss the dynamic and special relationship between the Philippines and Spain.

The President will also receive the International Don Quijote de la Mancha Award in the category of Institutional Contribution for her efforts to bring back Spanish language training in public schools in the country.

The Spanish King will host lunch for the President before she meets with Leche Pascual President Tomas Pascual Gomez Cuetara at the Ritz Hotel.

Leche Pascual is a Spanish dairy company that has plans to invest some six million euros in the Philippines to build a yoghurt and soya drink plant.

This is the President’s third and last visit to Spain as President of the Republic. She first embarked on a working visit in 2006 and a state visit in December 2007. (PIA V Release)

TAXPAYERS REMINDED ON APRIL 15 DEADLINE; CONTINGENCY MEASURES VS. ROTATING BROWNOUTS READY, SAYS BIR CHIEF

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has reminded the country's more than 870,000 individual and corporate taxpayers that Thursday, April 15, is the deadline for the filing of the income tax returns (ITRs) for taxable year 2009.

There will be no extension even if there are rotating power interruptions, especially in Mindanao, according to BIR officials. They said that all Revenue District Offices (RDOs) nationwide will be open as early as 7 a.m.

BIR Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres also said during a press conference at the BIR main office in Quezon City Wednesday that all income taxpayers who have zero taxes due should also file their returns with the BIR.

Included in this category are government employees who are now filing their tax returns under the substituted system of filing income tax returns.

“We are expecting a huge number of taxpayers tomorrow, Thursday, in the RDOs of Quezon City, Makati City and Manila. We also anticipate the occurrence of rotating brownouts, especially in Mindanao,” Tan-Torres said.

He went on to say that they talked to the National Power Corporation (Napocor) about possible rescheduling of the power interruptions, but the state-run energy firm said it has to go on with the power outages.

The BIR chief said those who still have tax obligations to settle should file their returns with any of the Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) of the Bureau.

Tan-Torres said they also have established tax-filing desks in selected malls nationwide to accept income tax returns until the April 15 deadline.

He also asked all AABs to extend their banking hours and to assign additional personnel during the income tax filing season to ensure that all taxpayers will be served.

In particular, the BIR chief has advised concerned banks to extend their banking hours up to 5 p.m. for the period April 5 to 15, 2010 in response to the need of the taxpaying public.

"We are confident that with our concerted efforts in raising revenues and with the cooperation of all taxpayers to pay taxes, the bureau will be able to reach its revenue target goal for this year," Tan-Torres said. (PIA V Release)

ADB RAISES RP'S GDP GROWTH FORECAST TO 3.8% IN 2010

MANILA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday upgraded its economic growth forecasts for the Philippines this year and next.

In its Asian Development Outlook 2010, the Manila-based lender said the Philippine economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), was expected to grow 3.8 percent in 2010 from an earlier forecast of 3.3 percent.

GDP is the amount of final goods and services produced in a country in a given period.

The World Bank had projected that the country's GDP may grow 3.5 percent this year.

The government, on the other hand, expects GDP to grow 2.6 percent to 3.6 percent for 2010.

For next year, ADB said, "growth is seen accelerating to 4.6% in 2011, when a stronger global recovery is expected to give impetus to exports and remittances."

The ADB said that was well up from 0.9 percent in 2009, but remained below the potential and average growth of 5.5 percent during 2004 to 2008.

The Philippine GDP outlook for 2010 was lower than Indonesia's 5.5 percent; Malaysia's 5.3 percent; Singapore's, 6.3 percent; Thailand's, 4 percent; and Vietnam's 6. 5 percent.

"Private consumption will remain the main driver of the economy, underpinned by robust remittances, a firmer labor market, and stronger consumer confidence. Spending ahead of the presidential and local elections in May will also boost consumption in the first half of 2010," ADB said.

But ADB remains cautious about the quality of the recovery.

"The new administration's economic and fiscal policies will have an important bearing on the momentum and the quality of growth," said Neeraj Jain, country director for ADB's Philippines Country Office.

"The global financial crisis and adverse weather conditions have increased the risks to attaining the Millennium Development Goals in the Philippines exacerbating challenges facing the policy makers," he said.

The ADB also warned that the Philippines has been investing less in social sectors and infrastructure than most of its neighbors, partly due to the tight fiscal situation, high public debt, and poor business climate.

It also said that fiscal resources were severely constrained by weak revenue generation. Tax revenue, as a share of GDP, is lower than most of its neighbors, and declined to 12.8 percent in 2009 due to the economic slowdown and the erosion of the tax base due to tax exemptions.

"Reversing the structural erosion of the tax base and reducing the size of the government deficit to increase budgetary resources for development expenditure will require renewed efforts at tax reforms by the new administration," Jong-Wha Lee, ADB chief economist said.

The lender urged for the rationalization of fiscal and investment incentives, as well as the indexing of excise taxes to inflation as part of the measures needed to strengthen its fiscal situation.

It also calls for enhanced tax administration, including a crackdown on tax evaders and enforcement of anticorruption programs in tax and customs agencies.

"Higher private investment is also needed to upgrade infrastructure and more generally, the productive capacity of the economy. Sluggish private investment reflects infrastructure deficiencies, particularly in power and transport, and weaknesses in governance and the policy climate," the report said.

ADB also said that inflation was forecast to rise to 4.7 percent this year, owing to the impact of the drought, which is putting some upward pressure on food prices, and higher prices for imported oil and commodities.

Inflation averaged 4.2 percent in the first 2 months of 2010.
While, exports will grow in line with the global recovery and, on a net basis, they are expected to contribute modestly to GDP growth. (PIA V Release)

PGMA OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO POLAND

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has offered her sincerest condolences to the Republic of Poland, following the tragic death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash.
In a letter to Poland’s Acting President Bronislaw Komorowski dated April 11, President Arroyo said she was “deeply shocked and saddened” by the untimely death of Kaczynski, who Arroyo hailed as a “major force in modern Polish history”.

She also extended prayers and sympathies to the bereaved family of Kaczynski and expressed hope that this tragedy will strengthen the spirit and unity of the people of Poland.

Another letter of condolences with same date was also given to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

(Copies of the following letter of condolences were given to Philippine media in Washington DC, U.S.A. by Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr.)

April 11, 2010

Excellency Bronislaw Komorowski Acting President Republic of Poland

Excellency,

I am deeply shocked and saddened by the untimely deaths of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria, and many other Polish officials and citizens yesterday in a plane crash in Smolensk, Russia.

It is doubly tragic that this happened as they were on their way to commemorate the martyrdom of Polish soldiers during World War II.

On behalf of the Philippine Government and People, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to the Polish Government and People over this tragedy. President Kaczynski was a major force in modern Polish history, a leader in the Solidarity Movement that led to the overthrow of communism in Poland. His keen sense of nationalism was known and respected all over the world.

I also extend our prayers and sympathies to his twin brother, former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and to their whole family during this very difficult time.

I remain confident that this tragedy will serve to strengthen your people’s spirit and unity as your people and nation work together to overcome this tragedy.

Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO