MASBATE CONTINUES TO COOL DOWN AS ELECTION DRAWS NEAR

MASBATE CITY – With barely a week left before the May 2010 polls, another political group in Masbate heeded the call of Joint Task Force (JTF) Masbate for honest, orderly and peaceful elections by voluntarily laying down firearms to police authorities Monday (May 3) further lowerig the possibility of election-related violence from erupting.

In yet another change of heart story political leaders and supporters of incumbent 1st District Representative Narciso Bravo turned-over a total of 20 firearms consisting of 12 high-powered firearms to Commissioner Monina Arevalo Zenarosa, chairperson, Independent Commission Against Private Armies.

Also present during the hand-over of firearms were Commissioners Edilberto Adan and Dante Jimenez, Masbate Governor Elisa T. Kho, PDDG Edgardo E. Acuña, Deputy Chiuef for Operations, PDir. Eric Q. Javier, Commander, DIPO Southern Luzon, Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, Cmdr., SOLCOM, Major Gen. Ruperto Pabustan, Cmdr. 9ID, PA, PCSupt. Cecilio B. Calleja, Jr., ARD, PRO5, PCSup’t. Victor P. Deona, Cmdr. PNP STF Masbate, Col. Alvin M. Tiam Watt, Cmdr. AFP TF Masbate, Mr. Willy Pelino, Pres. Masbate Advocates for Peace.

The high-powered and low-powered firearms presented consisted of one Cal. 5.56 (Ultimax), one Cal. 5.56 (M16), two cal. 5.56 (M16 A1), one cal. 5.56 x 45 (M16), three cal. 7.62 (M14), two cal. 30 (Carbine), one cal. 45 (Thompson) and one cal. 9mm (Uzi); and seven cal. 38 revolver and one 12-gauge Shotgun (S.P.A.S.) collected from various points in Ticao and Burias Islands.

Congresswoman Bravo’s group vowed to support the Joint Task Force Masbate’s Sagip Baril Program aimed at reducing the number of loose firearms in the hands of the political leaders and supporters.

With this latest batch of accounted firearms and the seeming softening stance of the main political players in Masbate, may yet make this election the most peaceful in Masbate’s history.

It is not far-fetched that other political groups in possession of these lethal instruments of violence will follow suit, as a sign of their sincere desire to attain a lasting peace in the province.

Certainly, the hope is much brighter now that after decades of political violence the current leaders have realized that the only way to remove the stigma of being a “wild wild west” province is for them to set the example and lead the way towards a truly peaceful and progressive Masbate. (PRO V/PIA)

PEACEKEEPERS ALL SET FOR MAY 10 POLLS IN BICOL

LEGAZPI CITY — Police and military authorities in Bicol region have assured that preparations are all in place for the May 10 national and local polls, reassuring further the public that the state forces will remain neutral and non-partisan.

In a joint police and military consultative conference here, the police and military field commanders have committed to perform their duties to ensure that the elections would be carried out in an honest orderly and peaceful manner.

Major Harold M. Cabunoc, Army 9th Infantry Division spokesperson, said that the ranking commanders of the seven battalions and three brigades have drew up their respective action scenarios on the Army’s internal security operations and the preparations for the upcoming elections.

Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, commander of the Southern Luzon Command (SolCom), said that he will ensure that the soldiers remain neutral and avoid partisan politics.

“I want every soldier to do their tasks seriously as we prepare ourselves for this historic election,” he said.

The 9th ID has listed 15 towns and 55 barangays in Camarines Sur under the Category 2 of the election watch list of areas (EWAS). Certain places fall under this category when there are reported presence or past incidents of skirmishes with the communist rebels.

Some localities in the other five provinces of Bicol are also being watched by both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Army forces either due to the presence of communist rebels or the past history of election-related violent incidents, especially in Masbate province..

Since the deployment of the 903rd Infantry Brigade to Sorsogon and the 83rd Infantry Battalion to Catanduanes in 2009, the Philippine Army has maintained presence in all of Bicol’s six provinces.

“We have completed the realignment of our forces to address the security requirements. Our soldiers have constantly provided security patrols in areas which are threatened by the NPA rebels,” Major General Ruperto Pabustan, the 9ID commander said.

The attending senior police officers likewise committed to perform their assigned tasks in coordination with the military personnel.

Chief Supt. Salvador Manga, representing the PNP-Southern Luzon, was confident that the soldiers and policemen can accomplish their delicate task of ensuring the conduct of honest and credible elections..

“With the efficient coordination with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), there is no doubt the PNP can perform its job properly. We will protect the votes as mandated,” he said. (PNA Bicol/PIA)

BFP CONDUCTS FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION FOR MAY 10 POLLS

SORSOGON CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) station here has conducted massive inspection of all schools in this city in preparation for the 2010 May election.

The inspection was part of the agency’s “Oplan Halalan” to ensure fire safety in all classrooms which will be utilized during May 2010 elections.

“Prior to the conduct of the inspections, proper coordination with the different school heads was made,” said City Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Renato B. Marcial.

It can be recalled that BFP personnel from the city started their inspection last April 29, this year starting with the Sorsogon Pilot Elementary School, Sorsogon East Central School and Sorsogon National High School.

“Oplan Halalan” task force is composed of the Sorsogon City Central Fire Station fire safety inspectors together with one representative from the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) – Sorsogon Chapter.

“As part of this “Oplan Halalan”, the BFP would like to ensure that the Fire Code of the Philippines is strictly being followed for the safety of everyone during election day,” Marcial said. (BFP Sorsogon City/PIA)

DA TURNS OVER P10-M VEGGIE PRODUCTS TO SORSOGON DIOCESE

SORSOGON CITY— The Department of Agriculture (DA) Bicol regional office has turned over P10- million worth of Greenhouse Vegetable Gardening Project located at the home for the clergy, this city.

The 17 sets of greenhouses project, envisioned to help augment income potential of farmers and employ greenhouse and organic farming technologies, are a partnership of the Department of Agriculture, through its High Value Commercial Crops (DA-HVCC) Program and its attached government-owned National AgriBusiness Corp. (NABCOR) and the Sorsogon Social Action Foundation, Inc. (SSAFI).

The project involves 17 greenhouses at the Home for the Clergy site. They are being managed by the Diocese of Sorsogon through its social apostolate arm, the SSAFI.

According to Bishop of Sorsogon Arturo Bastes, the production and income from the project would be shared with the selected 20 landless farmer-beneficiaries.

“This project is a manifestation of an effective partnership and cooperation between the state and the church”, Bastes said.

Former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who is running unopposed for congressman in the province of Bohol, said that during his term in the DA , he had approved at least 10 similar projects in 10 dioceses in the entire country.

“Through this project, landless farmer-beneficiaries will be trained with appropriate production management practices, integrated pest management, effective use of micro-organisms, vermiculture and greenhouse maintenance”, he said. (PNA Bicol/PIA)

TRAINING COURSE FOR SEED GROWERS CONDUCTED

Pili, Camarines Sur—The Seed Growers/Producers Association of Camarines Sur underwent a three- day training to maintain high quality standards of seed production. The training dubbed ‘Retooling Course on Palay Seed Production, Certification, and Quality Control for Seed Growers Due For Re-accreditation.

Topics discussed during the training included: Morphology of the Rice Plant, Integrated Nutrient Management, Cultural Management Practices on Water and Fertilizer, Land Preparation, Integrated Pest Management, Crop Establishment, and Post Harvest Technology.

According to reports from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), the participants who attended the training came from the municipalities of Lagonoy, Libmanan, Goa, Iriga, Bula, Pili, Calabanga, Baao, Nabua, and Gainza.

The Provincial Government headed by Governor LRay Villafuerte is very supportive to this kind of activity because one of his priority programs is agricultural productivity. Thus, the need for continued support to the Seed Growers and Seed Production Program in order to achieve sustainability of rice production in the province and ultimately to improve economic condition of farmers.

With the past calamities and the recent El Niño phenomenon, our rice production is expected to be a bit lower but the use of certified seeds can help boost production by 15%, according to agricultural experts.

The activity was sponsored by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 5 (DA-RFU5) and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in partnership with the provincial government through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist(OPA). (LAGavino, MMEC/PIA)

NAVY LEADS SEARCHA ND RETRIEVAL OF DROWNED STUDENTS IN INFANTA, QUEZON

LEGAZPI CITY — The Naval Special Operations Unit 3 of Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol), headed by LTJG Jay T. Roxas, was dispatched for the search and retrieval operations on a drowning incident at Barangay Pinalapatan, Infanta, Quezon.

Fourteen (14) incoming fourth year (4th yr) female nursing students of La Concordia College in Pedro Gil, Manila and one (1) child resident of the Barangay were drowned while they are swimming on the beach around 7:30 this morning, 5 May 2010.

Roxas said that the swift rise of tide and strong current on the beach drowned the victim.

Said students were having their summer outing together.

Around 11:00 am , also today, six dead bodies were recovered and rescued eight others while the body of one Jonna Rose Francia, 12,was recovered around 2:40 pm.

Fatalities were identified as Karen Lei Epren, 18 ; Mariz Macabuag, 18; Jonelle Ortiz, 19; Kristelle Regis, 19; Camille Soriano, 19; and Jezelle Mijares, 18 years old. The eight (8) survivors were immediately confined at Claro M Recto Hospital.

Commodore Joel E. Babas of the Navforsol said that, parents as well as the children should be more vigilant and always apply the safety precautions when going to beaches for swimming specially this summer.

“They should be extra careful when going to any outing especially if they are unfamiliar to the place that will be going,” cautioned Babas. (Navforsol/PIA)

PALACE: GIVE COMELEC A CHANCE

MANILA— Malacañang is confident that Monday’s (May 10) election will push through, adding it will come out as an honest, peaceful and fair political exercise.

Several presidential spokespersons said Malacañang harbors no doubt whatsoever on the capability of the Commission on Election to settle the technical problems that surfaced during the test-runs of the automated vote counting machines.

“Let’s give COMELEC a chance. They say they can do it so let’s respect them,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar during a Malacañang press briefing wherein he called on the people to ignore “political noise” like one linking Malacañang to a possible postponement of Monday’s exercise.

Secretary Ricardo Saludo, principal Palace spokesman, added in a brief statement: “Those dragging Malacañang into the problems with the vote-counting machines should remember that the Comelec is the Constitutional body wherein Malacañang cannot interfere and does not interfere in decisions and operations. Those critics should look at their books and study the Constitution before casting their blame on the Palace. We have been consistent in our support and advocacy for fair, free, orderly and credible elections.”

Another Palace spokesman, Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan, also said in a TV interview that the Comelec and Smartmatic, the supplier of the automated election technology, have adequate time before Monday to resolve the glitches experienced in the vote testing exercises.

Meanwhile, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Raul Victorino took lightly the suggestion of election lawyer Romulo Makalintal of a possible postponement of election, saying that Macalintal was just advancing a personal opinion and not that of Malacañang or its officials.

He stressed that all matters and concerns regarding postponement of election “must be addressed to the COMELEC, which is the independent and constitutional body mandated to supervise and control all elections, national or local.”

“Everything must be addressed by the COMELEC. Let’s respect its integrity and independence,” said Victorino, a former Sandiganbayan justice.

He said linking Malacañang to a postponement of election is “purely rhetorical,” as he stressed “the President has not even thought of it.” (PIA V Release)

IT’S STILL ANYBODY’S GUESS ON MAY 10 WINNER – PALACE

MANILA — With only a week before the elections, Malacanang Tuesday (May 4) said it is still anybody’s guess as to who will win in the country’s first automated national elections, especially the presidential race.

Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan said during a Malacanang media briefing that the next president may not necessarily come from the frontrunners in surveys, which he said are limited in scope and “not reflective of the people’s will.”

“Elections give us a lot of surprises,” Peyuan said as he cited the case of administration candidate Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., who has not fared well in the surveys, but who won in a surprising twist of events the other day, the endorsement of the religious group Kingdom of Christ founded by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. The group is said to have five to six million followers nationwide.

Also not to be ignored, Peyuan said, are the heavy turnouts of supporters during the campaign sorties of the other presidential candidates.

Peyuan said he expects others influential groups with substantial following may likely announce their own endorsements of preferred candidates before May 10.

Peyuan said figures from the Commission on Elections showed there are some 50 million registered voters all over the country, out of a population of about 92 to 94 million.

Citing elections trends, Peyuan said he expects a mortality rate of about 11 percent to 12 percent, meaning that those covered in the ratio forecast will not exercise their right of suffrage come May 10. (PIA V Release)

PGMA IN NO HURRY TO NAME NEXT SC CHIEF JUSTICE – PALACE

MANILA — Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Rogelio Peyuan said Tuesday (May 4) that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is in no hurry to appoint the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

“Di ko nakikita na nagmamadali ang pangulo na mag numbra na ng bagong pinakamataas na mahistrado” Peyuan said.

The statement is made as the Judicial Bar Council (JBC) reached a decision to submit the shortlist of candidates to succeed retiring Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Puno to President Arroyo tomorrow (May 5).

The Supreme Court last month affirmed its March 17 decision allowing President Arroyo to name the next chief justice.

However, Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said President Arroyo cannot appoint a new chief justice until after May 17, the retirement date of Puno.

Peyuan said this does not pose a problem for the President who will have more time to vet candidates in the shortlist.

Peyuan said President Arroyo will not compromise her authority to name the next Chief Justice.

“Whatever is best to maintain the integrity of her appointing power definitely will be observed by the President without the intention of bringing embarrassment, as in this case, to the Supreme Court justices,” he said.

Peyuan said the President is properly guided both by the decision of SC and the JBC to decide the right time to name the next chief justice.

The JBC nominated four candidates, namely SC Senior Associate Justice Renato Corona, SC Associate Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Arturo Brion, and Sandiganbayan Acting Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval. (PIA V Release)

1M POOR FAMILIES NOW HAVE HOMES

MANILA — More than one million poor families have been amortizing their own homes instead of renting since 2001, when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed office.

Vice President Noli de Castro, concurrent chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said the President made housing a priority program since 2001 which now provided more decent homes to urban poor communities and the low- and middle income families.

At the Retrospective Seminar on the Housing Sector at the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati City, De Castro said the President has allocated the biggest funding for housing; approved the biggest amount for loans to informal settlers; implemented the lowest interest rates and a more efficient process in the granting of housing loans; and declared more government lands as housing sites.

“For the past nine years, the President has transformed housing into one of the dynamic sectors of our economy,” De Castro said.

For the formal sector, De Castro said the Home Development Mutual (PAG-IBIG) Fund provided higher loanable amounts, lower interest rates, longer repayment terms, and faster processing of loan applications, resulting in the surge in home acquisition among low- and middle-income families since 2001.

For a P400,000 housing loan, De Castro said the affordable monthly amortization is now only six percent or P2,400 per month, more than 50 percent lower that the P5,400 monthly amortization in 2001.

De Castro said amortization for a P600,000 loan for low-income families stood at seven percent, while loans for middle income families worth P3 million stood at 11.5 percent.

For the informal sector, De Castro said the Asset Reform Program has improved security of tenure, particularly for the relocation of 105,000 families under the Rail Relocation and Resettlement Program, the biggest and most successful undertaking of its kind by the national government in recent history.

De Castro said the strengthened Community Mortgage Program (CMP) also released P5.3 billion, which funded 963 projects focused solely on shelter programs for the informal sector.

Another unprecedented achievement, De Castro said, is the President’s issuance of 113 proclamations declaring about 27,000 hectares of government lands all over the country as socialized housing sites, benefiting an estimated 280,000 families.

Expressing their gratitude to the President were housing beneficiaries such as Teodora Santos of San Pedro, Laguna who used to pay P6,000 in rent but now pays a P2,400 monthly amortization on her PAG-IBIG loan.

Adelo Flores, president of the relocation site, NorthVille I in Valenzuela City, also thanked the President for the housing project with enough public facilities, after being a reluctant leader of rail dwellers some five years ago.

CMP beneficiary Carmela Inson, president of the Andrea Paz Homeowners Association in Calamba, Laguna, told the President they have now individual titles and have become true home owners under the government housing program.

Manny Crisostomo, national president of the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, praised the President’s housing program which greatly reduced red tape in the processing of documents, permits, and licenses with the creation of one-stop shops.

Crisostomo added the President’s directive to fully computerize the Land Registration Authority (LRA) will soon provide a faster and less costly land titling system.

Marissa del Mar, president of the National Real Estate Association, said the President’s housing program helped established over 1.1 million housing units since 2001 which contributed trillions of peso to the national economy.

In partnership with the private sector, Taguig City Mayor Sigfrido Tinga said his city garnered the Galing Pook Award last year through the government’s housing program for rail dwellers.

Gawad Kalinga chairman and founder Antonio Meloto, thanked the President for believing in the capability of the “ordinary Filipino” when they met while he was establishing a model community in Dumaguete City in 2002.

To date, Meloto said Gawad Kalinga has established more than 2,000 model communities in partnership with the national government, private donors and the beneficiaries themselves, with their work at the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Corp. (Baseco) Tondo community-cited by Boston’s Massachussetts Institute of Technology as one of the best model community in Asia. (PIA V Release)

PINOY SCIENTISTS CALL ON PGMA

MANILA — Filipino International awardees in science and technology presented to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today (May 5) their awards that brought honor to the country.

The awardees who called on President Arroyo were Dr. Lourdes Cruz, Dr. Virgilio Malang, Yasmin Esperitu Malang and Engineer John Judilla.

“We are proud to present this award to the President,” said Dr. Cruz, the first Filipino winner in the prestigious L’Oreal-Unesco award for her discovery of the marine snail toxin which can serve as powerful tool to study brain function.

Judilla is the lead developer of the mechanical anti-terrorist robot or MAC which won in the first World Cup for Computer-Implemented Inventions held in China in 2008.

The MAC’s capability is to detect, diffuse, retrieve, and dispose explosives. The device is already being utilized by the Makati city police.

Malang, who came with his wife Yasmin, invented a light beer fortified with multi vitamins. His invention paved the way for health conscious individuals to have an alternative to regular beer.

The vitamin beer won the gold medal in the prestigious genius Europe inventions fair in 2004

Malang also won the bronze medal in the 2008 first international inventor’s day convention in Bangkok.

According to Cruz the President vowed to give additional support for the projects of all the award winners. (PIA V Release)