PINUKPOK FASHION SHOW -- Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda posed for the "Pinukpok Fashion Show for aCause", " staged at Albay Astrodome last June 24, 2010, showcasing locally woven and crafted for wears with globally competitive designs, including Filipinianas made of abaca fibers. (Alex Cal/PIA)

TOLLWAY FEE HIKE TO GRAVELY AFFECT MSEs IN BICOL, SALCEDA

LEGAZPI CITY --- Bicol is making a big noise over the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) toll fee increase issue because most of the travelers are the lynchpins of the regions Micro and Small Enterprises (MSE) which account to almost all businesses in Bicol, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said.

Salceda, explaining his strong opposition to the proposed SLEx toll fee increase said , “viajeros and compradors” (travelers and traders) are the key players or the binding forces in rural markets, representing 99 percent of businesses in the region.

Bicol travelers and traders using vehicles account for only 15 percent of the total vehicular traffic at SLEx and Albay is estimated at 4 percent.

Asked why he became the prime mover against SLEx toll fee hike, Salceda admitted that it should be Batnagas and Quezon provinces that should be at the forefront of this cause but Bicol would be economically affected.

He said the 4 percent actually translates to P400 million per annum and this becomes big when compared to the province nominal aggregate household income of P18 billion using 2006 Family Income and Expenditures Survey (FIES).

Using only the incremental impact of the approved toll hike (4% of P9,8bn less 4% of P2.7bn), this represents a net resource transfer from our provincial economy of P280m, although small it represents a third of the provincial budget of P920 million a year.

“Being a governor, I have the mandate to manage local economic development effort to reduce poverty, the revenue lost due to the toll fee hikes is a huge resource outflow that could be saved and retained in our local economy,” Salceda said.

The money could be used by our households for their basic needs and by small businesses to invest. It is quite an effort to raise revenues or to attract new investments, he said.

We are all for infrastructure modernization. But for whom? And at whose expense?

Reports have it that once a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is issued by the Supreme Court (SC) against SLEx this would send negative signals on the country's policy predictability and undermine its attraction as an investment destination.

Salceda, said it is optimistic that his petition for a TRO would be granted because: the STOA joint venture was not subjected to procurement procedures- it was neither bided out or even Swiss-challenged; and the toll fee was not subjected to notice and hearing.

The former Arroyo economic adviser said “It is the judgment call of the investor to take the intrinsic risks as a consequence of such utter lack of transparency behind such shocking quadrupling of rates. Common sense would easily tell you that such lethal combination would trigger a public outcry.”

Salceda said in the six cases pending at the SC, the TRB is represented by DOJ and PNCC by OGCC.

TRB is the first party to the STOA that stipulated the toll fee per km with formula for inflationary adjustment, who then represents the people, the consumers, the motorists, the rural viajeros, the farmers in all of this, he asked. (PNA Bicol)


DENR LAUNCHES CADASTRAL SURVEY PROJECT IN CAMARINES SUR

LEGAZPI CITY – A cadastral survey project is now ongoing in Pasacao,Camarines Sur, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here said.

Engr. Pedro Noble, DENR Regional Technical Director for Land Management Service said the project launching of Cad-480-D, Pasacao Cadastre was held last week at the Pasacao Livelihood Center, with local government officials and barangay chairmen and other officials in attendance.

At the launching program Noble appealed for support and asked all the barangay chairmen, and officials present to inform their respective constituents about the importance of the cadastral project.

“We need the support and cooperation of all, especially the landowners and claimants so that the project can be completed successfully,“ Noble said.

Cadastral survey refers to survey made to determine the metes and bounds of all parcels within an entire municipality or city for land registration and other purposes. (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA)

NPA REBELS TORCHED DOWN MINING FACILITY IN CAMARINES NORTE

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – Suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) torched down a building owned by a mining company in Camarines Norte early Wednesday morning, a military official said.

Major Harold Cabunoc, spokesperson 9ID of Philippine Army, said that at least five heavily armed rebels burned down a building owned by El Dore Mining Corporation in Barangay Dumagmang in Labo town.

Cabunoc said that no one was injured in the burning incident while the amount of damages is yet to be determined.

“This could be another attack against business firms that refuse to give extortion money to the terrorist rebels. The 902nd Military Brigade is already conducting a thorough investigation regarding this matter,” said Cabunoc.

Barely a month ago, motor graders owned by a construction firm were also burned down by NPA rebels in Camarines Sur followed by a bombing attempt against a Globe cell site in Masbate Province.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, 9ID commanding general, has direct all line units to remain vigilant and implement countermeasures to preempt the attacks against ‘soft targets’ such as government facilities, civilian-owned business establishments and unarmed soldiers. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

500 ARMY SOLDIERS HELP CLEAN THE BINASAGAN RIVER IN CAMARINES SUR

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – 500 Army soldiers stockpiled their service firearms and flocked to a river in CamSur for de-clogging operations today, a military report said.

Major Harold Cabunoc, Division Spokesperson said that the Binasagan River over-flowed during heavy rains last year, leaving hundreds of soldiers stranded inside the camp.

“If we are stranded due to heavy flooding, we might end up unable to send our Disaster Response teams to save the victims of natural disasters. Likewise, the protection of this river is the responsibility of the community and the soldiers who are assigned here,” said Cabunoc.

Colonel Arthur Ang, the Chief of Staff of the 9th Infantry Division led the soldiers during the clean-up drive which kicked-off at 6:00am.

“It is part of our sworn duty to protect the environment. In our Oath of a Filipino soldier, we commit ourselves to be ‘maka-kalikasan’ (pro-environment),” Ang proudly declared in a TV interview.

A week ago, the Disaster Response Operations Platoon has completed its training activities in preparation to the foreseen natural disasters which plague the Bicol Region every year.

Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and gadgetry, the DRO platoon will be deployed to conduct search and rescue operations ‘anytime and anywhere’.

Presently, the DRO platoon is re-echoing their skills and techniques to all disaster response teams assigned to the brigades and battalions.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed the subordinate units to activate their own teams to be deployed for disaster response operations in their respective area of responsibility. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

KALAHI-CIDDS INTEGRATES CCA, DRR
ON POVERTY REDUCTION MEASURES

LEGAZPI CITY — The world’s climate is changing--higher temperature, rising sea levels, and more frequent weather-related disasters that pose risks for agriculture, food and water supplies--scenes like these play out in developing countries like the Philippines.

Developing countries are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because of high dependence on natural resources and the limited capacity to cope with these impacts. They will have to ensure their development policies and strategies are resilient to a changing climate. International donors like the World Bank (WB) have a critical role to play in supporting such efforts.

The World Bank representatives from the Philippines are currently coming up with a framework for “integrating Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA)” in KALAHI-CIDSS project in Bicol.

The conduct of the research aims to develop a framework and enhance awareness on practical integrated CCA and DRM approaches at the community level that will reduce the risk of disaster by identifying activities on the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS: KKB.

WB representatives visited the municipalities of Juban, Sorsogon and Presentacion, Camarines Sur.

The group conducted a focused group discussion with the community volunteers in Barangays Taboc, Tinago and Sablayan in Sorsogon, Cagnipa and Maangas in Camarines Sur.

The conduct of the WB study indicates that most of the community doesn’t have institutions, policy and budget for DRM preparedness and response and early warning system is dependent on general announcements from television and radio which are at times not accurate.

The expert team also came up with a positive response on KALAHI-CIDSS from the community people. “Clearly, KALAHI-CIDSS is a good project because it recognizes the role of the communities as key players in implementing community projects. We need to work with the KALAHI-CIDSS approach to address issues on CCA and DRM. Our efforts must be “bottom-up approach.” We must start creating awareness at the community level,” said WB consultant Maya Villaluz.

“We must also remember that all of us are victims of climate change,” Villaluz added.

As reported by the WB during their exit conference, the communities agreed that more activities must be added in KALAHI-CIDSS to ensure that their projects will be “climate proof”.

DSWD Bicol Assistant Regional Director Evelyn M. Lontok during the conference said “the manner in which CCA and DRM is addressed will determine our actions on the ground for the implementation of KALAHI-CIDSS. I am positive that it will not be difficult for us to convince the local government units to support CCA and DRM.”

With the findings from the WB, the DSWD Regional Project Management Team (RPMT) hopes that the framework will get the approval from the National Project Management Team (NPMT).

KALAHI-CIDSS: KKB or the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services: Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Baragay is the largest poverty alleviation project of the government and has been conferred with a Presidential Citation by Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for its provision of “capacity-building, implementation support and community grants to 4,583 barangays in 200 of the poorest municipalities across the country thereby improving the lives of Filipinos by empowering them to chart the directions of their local development.” (CLMartinez, DSWD V/PIA)

PGMA streamlining saves government P2.234 billion

MANILA — A total of P2.234 billion has been saved as a result of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s order of streamlining the bureaucracy to make it lean but efficient.

In a press briefing, Budget Undersecretary Laura Pascua said the approval of the rationalization plan of 76 government agencies resulted in the abolition of 11,256 positions of which 5,930 were funded positions.

Ninety-four more rationalization plans of departments, agencies or government-owned and controlled corporations are still being evaluated by the Department of Budget and Management, according to Pascua.

The government, she added, has paid P1.2 billion in benefits and incentives but stressed that the benefits paid were “recouped within the year.”
Pascua expressed hopes that the Aquino Administration would continue implementing the rationalization program.

EO 366, entitled "Directing a Strategic Review of the Operations and Organizations of Executive Branch and Providing Options and Incentives for Government Employees Who May Be Affected by the Rationalization of the Functions and Agencies of the Executive Branch," aims to promote effectiveness, efficiency, affordability and transparency in government service.

Under the plan, government agencies are required to submit their own rationalization plans to weed out redundant positions and avoid duplication of functions.

The government will allocate funds to pay state employees who opt to voluntarily retire from service under the rationalization program.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will provide "seed funds" to agencies upon submission of the separation and retirement package.

The EO is based on the mandate of Republic Act 9206, as reenacted, authorizing the President to direct changes in the organizational units or key positions in any agency; require the executive branch to conduct comprehensive review of its mandates, missions and operations; and implement structural and functional adjustments to improve the delivery of government services.

It is also grounded on the Administrative Code of 1987, which vests the President the authority to reorganize the executive branch. (PIA V Release)

PGMA's budget reforms, lower debt payments freed more funds for eco and social services

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s reforms instituted at the Department of Budget and Management, have substantially improved the national budget process and efficiency, allowing government to pour in more funds to economic and social services.

“These reforms have helped us strengthen fiscal consolidation. From 2001 to 2009, there is a downward trend in the budget deficit,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary Laura Pascual in a news conference in Malacañang Thursday (June 24).

She said the reforms have made the budget strategy-based and result-oriented and improved the efficiency of budget execution.

“Allocation of budget is now focused on actual outputs. If the project is not implemented, there will be an impact in the release of funds and on the budget for the following year. So, there is more pressure on agencies to deliver,” Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo explained.

Pascual said the DBM has pushed the implementation of public expenditure management that resulted to a decrease in government disbursements, from 19.9 percent to 17.1 percent in 2008

Pascual credited this achievement to the decline of personnel services and debt interest payments due to improved deficit control.

“With the decline in the amount allocated to debt payments, resources were allocated more and more to economic services, which includes infrastructure projects, particularly in transportation,” Pascual said.

From 2000 to 2009, budget allocation for economic services increased by 128 percent (or 14 percent a year), from 167 billion in 2000 to 382 billion in 2009.

Allocation for social services grew by 112 percent (or 12 percent a year), from 213 billion in 2000 and 452 billion in 2009.

On improving the efficiency of budget execution, Pascual said the DBM has exercised the early release of budget and faster funds utilization by agencies.

She said the government has implemented the semestral release of Notice of Cash Allocations (NCAs) which lapses monthly.

She added the DBM has also examined books and advise agencies on the proper use of funds.

“This improves fund utilization and enables agencies to save funds,” she said. (PIA V Release)

PGMA fiscal program puts RP in stronger position

MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s adroit fiscal management has been cited for the nation’s stronger fiscal position today compared to nine years ago when she inherited an economy on the brink of bankruptcy.

In a news briefing in Malacañang, Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran stressed that major tax reforms have boosted revenue collections. These reforms include the imposition of excise tax on liquor, cigarettes, and tobacco, the attrition law and the reformed value added tax law.

These reforms Beltran said resulted in increased revenues for social programs such as vital infrastructures that created more jobs and regained the international financial communities’ confidence that resulted in major investments.

Another milestone of the Arroyo administration in fiscal management, he said, was the implementation of administrative reforms such as the RATE (Run After Tax Evaders) program, RATS (Run After Smugglers) program and the RIPS or Program Rest in Peace aimed at running after estate tax evaders.

Other reforms included computerized filing of taxes and computerized tax audit, third part information and Oplan Kandado.

Beltran pointed out that the nation’s fiscal position was stronger during the Arroyo administration because of the proactive debt management where the national government debt rate dropped to a manageable level by cutting deficit, debt exchange, debt pre-payment and debt conversion.

Thus, he recommended that it is but prudent for the new administration to raise more taxes to continue with the improvement in infrastructure efforts. (PIA V Release)

Educators honor PGMA

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was honored Thursday (June 24) by the country’s biggest organization of private schools with a testimonial event in Malacanang during which her support to the country’s private education sector was highlighted.

The umbrella-group Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAPSCU) also thanked the outgoing Chief Executive for including the private education in her priority programs.

“When you made the pronouncement that the Filipino nation should take advantage of the flatness of the world and move into the first world in 20 years and created the Presidential Task Force for Education (PTFE) to assess, plan and monitor the entire educational system, making a firm commitment to truly improve the educational system towards producing a globally-competitive workforce, nurturing the future leaders of our nation and thereafter adopting the recommendations and action plan for the implementation of the Philippine Main Education Highway, Your Excellency reminded us that the human mind is the nation’s fundamental resource and that our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education,” the PAPSCU said in a certificate of recognition given to the President.

The certificate was signed jointly by Jose Paulo E. Campos, PAPSCU president; Alejandro Escano, vice president of the Technical Vocational Schools Associations of the Philippines (TEVSAPHIL); Vicente Fabella, president of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU) and; Daniel Dial, president of the Association of Christian Schools Colleges and Universities (ACSCU).

Summing up its role in the country’s education sector, PAPSCU officials said that private education helps enrich democracy. And they added they were gratified by the President’s support to private education.

“Unlike its public counterpart, private education rarely developed according to a national plan where there is a dominant blueprint for forms, structures, pursuits and policies. Nobody can safely predict the total shape of private education in the future, or its size. And variation not only enhances the public-private partnership in education, it also enriches democracy,” the manifesto said.

The President was then handed the plaque of recognition for the “education legacy you left the Filipino people. Thank you for this and we hope you continue to support private education and consider it a priority of your legislative agenda,” the manifesto said. (PIA V Release)
Foreign trips boost investor’s confidence in RP
MANILA — Malacañang spokesman Secretary Ricardo Saludo said the foreign travels of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo have raised international investors’ confidence in the country for the past nine years.

He said foreign trips were government’s confidence-building efforts aimed at foreign investors so they would bring their businesses in, thus creating job opportunities to many Filipinos and add vibrancy into Philippine economy.

“If we would calculate, we have gained billions of dollars in investments, along with financial aids and bilateral agreements that enhance our relationship with other countries and protect the welfare of our Filipino Overseas Workers (OFWs) in the countries they are working,’ Saludo said during an interview aired over Radyo ng Bayan.

To cite an example, Saludo cited the benefits of Arroyo’s first foreign trip to the United States in 2001, saying the President had actually brought home with her some $2 billion-worth of investments.

“And that is one trip alone,” Saludo said.

Compared to the P2.8 billion which the government reportedly spent on foreign travels in nine years, the expenses are all worth it, he added.

Aside from foreign travels, Saludo credited the fiscal reforms initiated by the President for low budget deficit enjoyed for years which almost reached zero, until the global economic crisis in 2008 forced government to deficit spending to cushion the impact of the crisis.

Meanwhile in the same radio interview, Presidential Management Staff chief Maria Elena Bautista-Horn said the Arroyo administration is leaving behind intact and active the “Pro-Performance System” a public-private scheme of monitoring government projects.

Bautista-Horn said there are more than government 100 projects that are still pending and in the pipeline.

President Arroyo issued Executive Order 789 in 2009 to enhance project performance, monitoring and evaluation system and reinforcing public-private partnership and collaboration on the monitoring of government projects to ensure the timely and efficient delivery of public services to the people.

EO 789 provides, among others, a “private sector representative” as the chair of the steering committee (Fr. Anton C.F. Pascual) of the Pro-Performance System and the head of the Presidential Management Staff (Bautista-Horn) as co-chair.

The committee is composed of representatives from the business sector, civil society sector, academe, youth sector, mass media, religious sector, local government sector, international development organizations, and a national government advocacy group. (PIA V Release)

SALCEDA SAYS SLEX TOLL FEE HIKE ILLEGAL,
PETITIONS SC TO STOP ITS IMPOSITION

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Governor Joey Salceda declared that the toll fee hike imposed by the South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC) is illegal because the franchise given to them by Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) has expired and has not been renewed.

Salceda said the concession agreement between SLTC and PNCC commenced in May 2006 while the franchise given to PNCC expired in May 2007, without being renewed by Congress.

He said without a franchise granted to PNCC, the ongoing toll collection, grant concession to SLTC to increase toll fee are illegal.

Salceda said he has filed with the Supreme Court (SC) a petition asking for a restraining order implementing the 290-percent toll fee increase.

He said that he requested for a full review of the SLEX project.

Construction of TR-1,2 and 3 was supposed to be completed in August 2009. And this was supposedly triggered the turnover of operations. At least one year of cash flows from SLEX have been available to the concessionaire.

In June 2009, RTC Judge Tongco ruled that the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) does not have the authority to grant "administrative franchise" stripping PNCC of any legal camouflage for its toll fee collections, much more for its grant of concession.

Salceda, citing a SC ruling in November 2009 ruled on the Radstock case, that PNCC can not use its corporate assets or cash flows to settle with Radstock/Marubeni as the SC established that these now belong to the national government since its franchise expired.

Thus, he said, toll fee collections should be remitted to the Bureau of Treasury and thereafter any settlement with Radstock would have to be appropriated by Congress through the regular budget process - initiated through the budget submission of the executive, originated by the House of Representatives, approved by Senate and finally by ratified Bicam report.

This SC ruling has vast consequences on the SLTC concession and the TRB toll fee hike approval.

Salceda said in effect, those toll fees were illegally collected by PNCC since it does not have the legislative franchise and the remedy of TRB administrative franchise was struck down by the judiciary as non-existent.

PNCC becomes at best a collector of these toll fees for the national government and not for its own account.

Salceda said, "The cash flows at least from the expiry of franchise up to the actual turnover to SLTC or three years amounting to about P7.5 billion should: have been returned to the motorists, have been remitted to the national treasury in escrow for the paying public but apparently from reports - none have been received by the national government or, as our position on 'ginisa sa sariling mantika' should have been applied to the construction costs and, as far as TRB is concerned, these should have been deducted from the rate based upon which it computed toll fees."

If PNCC does not have a legislative franchise and an administrative franchise does not exist, then the STOA has no legs to stand on. Consequently the TRB approval of toll fee hikes becomes an ignominy, the governor pointed out.

He added that as a Latin statement said “Nemo dat quod non habet - You can not give what you do not have.” Thus, PNCC has no legislative franchise to grant a concession. Thus, its toll fee impositions are effectively illegal, Salceda stressed.

The SLEX project is not covered by a BOT agreement unlike the Skyway and NLEX, he added. Nonetheless, as a national priority project listed in the NEDA IPP, this could not been the subject of an unsolicited BOT proposal, thus, subject only to a Swiss challenge after publication in international and national media. (PNA Bicol)

THREE BICOL RIVERS NOT BIOLOGICALLY DEAD -- EMB

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Bicol has maintained that three rivers in the region reported earlier as biologically dead are actually not dead at all, according to the agency’s regional official.

Engr. Gilbert Gonzales, DENR-EMB Bicol regional director, recalled that Anayan (Camarines Sur), Malaguit (Camarines Norte) and Panique (Masbate) rivers were earlier reported as biologically dead by media outlets here that prompted uncalled alarm among the residents directly gleaning resources from the rivers.

Gonzales averred the bureau has been conducting surveillance, sampling and monitoring of the rivers to verify their status and environmental quality, consequently found out that these rivers remain in fact being utilized by communities along them.

Paracale and Malaguit rivers are classified as Class C waters while Anayan river is listed in Class D waters as stated in the 2009 annual assessment report pursuant to DAO 34 series of 1990.

“This means that these Class C inland waters could be utilized as fishery water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources, recreational water (boating etc.) and industrial water supply for manufacturing processes after treatment, meanwhile Class D waters could be utilized for irrigation, agriculture, livestock watering and industrial water supply for cooling, etc.”, Gonzales explained.

Though the average dissolve oxygen (DO) level for Anayan River was 6.3 mg/L, Malaguit River – 7.4 mg/L and Panique River – 7.4 mg/L concentration level respectively, however, pH (basicity and acidity of water), temperature (T) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) were also considered in the classification and assessment. Results concluded that it passed minimum requirement.

The term biologically dead which likely mean lifeless (anaerobic environment) or zero dissolved oxygen is not applicable in these rivers since as per assessment by the EMB, there are various aquatic livelihood undertakings such as fish cages, aquaculture and crab fattening that are predominant in the area.

Moreover, the bureau assured the public that a more intensive and pro-active program of action is underway to maintain and hopefully elevate these rivers’ environmental quality. (EMB V/PIA)

ADB INTRODUCES BIO-ENGINEERING TECHNIQUE
TO SORSOGON ARCP2 BENEFICIARIES

SORSOGON CITY — Asian Development Bank (ADB) team member Charles David Salter introduces to the Castilla town's Agrarian Reform Communities Project 2 (ARCP2) beneficiaries, the so-called "bio-engineering" strategy in preserving their upcoming constructed farm-to-market roads.
Salter along with two other ADB representatives and two head officers from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) national and regional office visited recently the municipality of Castilla, Sorsogon, for its Review of Castilla ARCP2.
In a gathering, Salter introduces an approach on how to preserve a road by protecting the soil through "bio-engineering". Bio-engineering is the method used to prevent soil erosion such as planting grass, shrubs, and trees to the road's shoulder.
Agriculture and Enterprise Development Specialist David T. Santos said that with the presentation of Salter, both the community and the Local Government Unit (LGU) appreciated the idea of bio-engineering. "We, in DAR Sorsogon, likewise, support the strategy being introduced," Santos added.
Santos further proposed the use of geo-textiles being produced in Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) here to be utilized for bio-engineering rather than just exporting them.
Likewise, Santos suggested the planting of Vetiver on the road's shoulder like in other countries rather than grasses of little usage.
Vetiver is a tropical grass with heavy, fibrous roots native to India and is used as an excellent erosion control plant especially in countries with warmer climates.
However, Salter suggested instead, the use of plants native in the area to cut expenses on the part of LGUs.
The idea of introducing the bio-engineering emerged during the community's Focus Group Discussion (FGD) where community proposed provisions of four projects such as Concrete Farm-to-Market Road, Irrigation Facilities, Potable Water Supply and Alternative Livelihood that are beneficial to the economic development of Mayon ARC and San Rafael ARC both in Castilla town.
Castilla is among the six fortunate municipalities in the province benefiting from the ARCP2. In the Philippines, ARCP 2 has only six recipient-regions which include Bicol.

In related development, following the ADB review of Castilla town's ARCP2 which highlighted the ADB's observation on how Local Government Units (LGUs) and the community perform an FGD, a site validation of the proposed San Isidro ? Nalup-an farm-to-market road and consultation meeting with non-government units were conducted.

"We are looking for partnership in development as far as our agrarian reform beneficiaries are concerned," said Roseller R. Olayres, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II.

Olayres said that the active representation from NGOs and other private sectors such as LIKAS, Aquinas University Foundation, Sorsogon Provincial Coop Bank, Sorsogon Integrated Development Cooperative, People's Alternative Livelihood Foundation of Sorsogon, Inc. and other stakeholders undoubtedly promises successful partnerships in the implementation of the 5-yr ARCP2 in the province.
(BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon/DFR Mallanta, DAR Sorsogon)

MSFPC, CENRO INTENSIFY CAMPAIGN ON ILLEGAL LOGGING,
MEASURES ON FOREST PROTECTION

DAET, Camarines Norte — Some 15,313.07 board feet of illegal logs were confiscated by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) covering the period January to June this year.

In a meeting of the Multi-Sectoral Forest Protection Committee (MSFPC) yesterday at the PIA provincial Office, Forester II Alejandro Maranan, Forest Protection and Law Enforcemnt/Utilization chief, said that included in the confiscated logs were lumbers, fire woods, white and red lauans and finished products like cabinets and tables.

Maranan further said that the same office apprehended illegal logs thru the help of the members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in various checkpoints.

He added that they had filed four cases, of these 2 cases in the Provincial Prosecution Office (PPO) and 2 cases in the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

MSFPC, chaired by Rosalita Manlangit, provincial head of the PIA here, also discussed the initial plans for this year including the continuation of information dissemination campaign (IEC) , Lakbay Tubig and monitoring of the Eco-lege program where some students planted trees for them to cut and sell these for their college tuition fees. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

EAGLE QUIZ’s 20TH YEAR CONTINUE TO CHARM STUDES

LEGAZPI CITY— The premier environmental quiz challenge, the Eagle Quiz, in the country continues to charm elementary and high school students evident of the significant increase in the number of participants since the project’s inception in 1990.

Now on its 20th year, the Eagle Quiz, will be spearheaded anew by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) regional office here for the provincial and regional finals this June in line with the Environment Month celebration, DENR-EMB Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales said.

“The EQC continues to draw support from participants and cooperators region wide, as only environmental quiz challenge in the country every year it draws an increasing number of contestants from the six provinces,” Gonzales revealed.

DENR Bicol is optimistic of a continuing success in the coming years through the support and cooperation of all the field offices, the major sponsors, the Energy Development Corporation, UNOCAL Philippines, Inc. (formerly known as Philippine Geothermal Inc.) co-sponsored by the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines-Bicol chapter (PCAPI-V), all the participating schools and students, and parents.

The provincial eliminations of the EQC was held June 22, 2010, while the regional finals or the “Battle of the Eagles” that will be heralding new breed of champions as 12 contenders from the elementary and secondary levels outwit each other at the Bicol University, Legazpi City on June 29, 2010. (EMB V/PIA)

SUSPECTED NPA REBELS HURT MILITIAMAN IN MASBATE

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur — An off-duty CAFGU personnel was seriously hurt in a drive-by shooting perpetrated by suspected NPA rebels in Masbate Province last Monday, June 21, 2010.

Lt. Col. Anthony Purugganan, 9th Infantry Battalion commander, has identified the casualty as Ronaldo Mesa, member of the 1st Masbate CAFGU Active Auxiliary based in Puro village in Aroroy town.

Purugganan said that Mesa was standing in front of his residence in Cabangalan village, Aroroy when he was shot by three suspected NPA rebels, hitting him three times in his body. The perpetrators immediately fled towards the direction of Malubi village following the incident.

“Mesa is on vacation when he was shot by the NPA terrorists. This is a clear indication that they continue to target unarmed soldiers and CAFGU personnel who are spending their vacation with their families,” said Purugganan.

Mesa was immediately brought to a hospital in Masbate City for treatment. He is declared to be ‘in good condition’ by attending physicians.

Major Harold Cabunoc, 9ID spokesman, said that seven CAFGU personnel had been killed by NPA rebels since January 2010.

Two soldiers were also among the victims of extra-judicial killings, the latest of whom was Private First Class Francisco Nodado gunned down in Camarines Sur on June 11, 2010.

Cabunoc added that civilians were not also spared in the killings perpetrated by the CPP-NPA. On May 24, 2010, Imelda Madrilejos, the sister of Private First Class Gene Velasco was also shot and killed by NPA rebels in Aroroy, Masbate.

“NPA rebels are becoming very desperate because of the series of tactical losses they suffered from the government forces. They are now intensifying their efforts to kill unarmed military personnel by murdering them while on vacation. We have lodged a complaint before the Commission of Human Rights regarding these violations which they arrogantly owned-up,” said Cabunoc.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed all units under his command to be vigilant against the NPA’s attacks on unarmed soldiers and other ‘soft targets’ such as telecom facilities. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

MAYON REMAINS UNSAFE FOR CLIMBERS
AS ALERT LEVEL 1 STILL HOISTED

LEGAZPI CITY — Volcanologists here warned anew local and foreign tourists from climbing the slopes of Mayon Volcano due to the resurging rock fall events recorded in the past days as the crater also glowed intensely for several days now.

Alex Baloloy, resident volcanologist here of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said that aside from the intense crate glow, the institute’s instruments detected tremors of at least up to five times a day on the volcano’s edifice due to molten rocks that cascaded down the volcano’s slopes, a dangerous condition for climbers who are confirmed to be trekking the volcano's upper slopes.

Phivolcs also advised various disaster councils not to allow their residents and tourists to trek the slopes of the volcano since sudden rock falls may occur endangering their lives.

"We would like to reiterate our warning to those climbers as well as tourist guides not to get near the upper slopes because falling rocks could just hit them at great force and velocity unexpectedly," Baloloy said.

Mayon's foothill residents confirmed that hundreds of local and foreign tourists are trekking the volcano after authorities removed the earlier set up checkpoints and lowered the cone-shaped mountain's five-scale alert level to the lowest 1.

Phivolcs reiterated the warning at least five months after Mayon's alert level was lowered to 1 in January, preceded by a month-long restiveness in December that forced over 10,000 families to take refuge into safer grounds.

Baloloy said the safest and nearest viewing sites of Mayon's glowing crater is at the Mayon Resthouse in Barangay Buang, Tabaco City.

Tourists continue to have a close watch of the old lava deposit in Barangay Mabinit in Legazpi City, and the new lava deposit in Barangay Padang in Legazpi CIty and Barangay Lidong in Sto. Domingo.

Phivolcs further recommended that the public should not enter the six-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone and the seven-km Extended Danger Zone on the southeast of the volcano due to continuing threat from sudden explosions, rock falls from the upper slopes and pyroclastic flows due to sudden collapse of unstable lava deposits.

Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone in the southern sector should also be avoided, especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall. (MALoterte, PIA V)

PGMA’s farewell message

Below is the full text of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s speech aired over television and radio stations tonight:

My fellow Filipinos,

We come together tonight as we approach a hallmark of democracy for our great nation – the smooth transition of power to a new leader.

We have just come through a historic election. It was open and it was modern.

As a result, we were able to declare winners in hours and days rather than weeks and months. The face of politics in our nation has changed forever.

Tonight, I once again congratulate president-elect Aquino and vice president-elect Binay.

Nine years ago, I came to the presidency at a time of great turmoil in our nation. I accepted the challenge of the office when it was thrust upon me.

At that time, our country was reeling from political intrigue and a distressed economy.

We set to work to reform our economy and invest in our people. Along the way, we had to make unpopular choices such as raising taxes but we did so against the odds for a very simple reason: we had to have new money for more and better healthcare, education, and job creation.

We needed new and better roads, bridges, ports and a technology backbone to attract new businesses and investors to create new jobs.

Through hard work, determination and a clear plan of action, we helped achieve many of these objectives.

As a result, we have had 37 quarters of uninterrupted economic growth even against the headwinds of a major global recession.

Look around you in our cities as you drive by the office towers that have changed the skyline.

Look around you in our provinces as you drive along the roads, bridges and Ro-Ro ports where we have made massive investments.

This is the face of change.

Eighty-five percent of our people now have access to Philhealth insurance, over a hundred thousand classrooms have been built and nine-million jobs have been created.

We developed the call-center industry almost from scratch. Today there are 500,000 call-center and BPO jobs when only 5,000 existed when I took office.

Yet, these accomplishments are merely part of the continuum of history.

The gains I made were built on the efforts of previous leaders. Each successive government must build on the successes and progress of the previous one.

Advance the programs that work and leave behind those that don’t.

I feel confident that we are leaving this nation much stronger than I came to office but I leave that for history to judge.

Tonight, I call on everyone to unite behind our new leaders. I am optimistic and I am hopeful about our future yet until every Filipino child is born to a family free of poverty, we cannot rest.

We must always set our sights on the future and keep an eye on improving our economy, investing in people and building bridges, not just bridges of iron and steel but bridges between people, generations and governments.

The bridges we must build to the future rest on the hard work, grace and compassion of our people.

The people of our nation are our greatest asset.

You are the backbone that drives our nation forward everyday.

From the fisherman to the farmer, to the taxi driver and the teacher, we are a nation of industrious, hardworking people.

I thank each and everyone for your contribution to help the Philippines achieve our potential.

This time next week I will be moving into new phase of life leading a quieter public role.

We’re all on a journey together. As our nation moves forward let us all join hands in unity and walk confidently towards a better tomorrow.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving you.

Malaking karangalan ang makapag-lingkod sa sambayanan bilang Pangulo.

Sa inyong lahat na napag-silbihan ko sa mahirap ngunit makasaysayang landas, maraming maraming salamat. (PIA V Release)

Seaports, airports, highways were drivers of growth -- DOTC execs say

MANILA — The Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH) and airport projects under the “super regions” strategy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been cited by officials as major contributory factors to the development of the country’s transport and tourism industries and inter-regional trade.

At the last Malacanang news briefing of Executive Secretary and former Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza, he reported that the 919 kilometers of nautical highway established in the western, central and eastern seaboard since 2001 have impacted positively to the country in terms of movements of people, tourists and commodities.

SRNH was opened to the public in 2003, connecting the provinces and cities of Oriental Mindoro, Tagaytay City (Cavite), Marinduque, Romblon, and Batangas City in Luzon; Aklan, Antique, Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, and Siquijor, in the Visayas; and Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Dapitan City in Mindanao.

Mendoza’s successor at DOTC, Secretary Anneli Lontok, added during the briefing that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has invested at least P16 billion to complete port projects nationwide, which are presently being serviced in 12 routes by 25 roll-on roll-off (RORO) ferry operators.

With the completion of these port projects, Lontok said passenger traffic reached three million passengers while cargo traffic increased by 65 percent in the western nautical highway alone.

Lontok said the port and road network projects in the nautical highway spread economic growth and increased regional trade among the islands, boosted tourism, increased agricultural productivity, and enhanced logistics operations and strategies of the business sector.

“The nautical highways has impacted positively on the socio-economic development of the country and has achieved its objectives of reducing transport cost by 10 to 60 percent while offering several options for our farmers and agri-businessmen,” Lontok said.

With the government investment in ports and maritime safety, Lontok said the World Bank study showed the country’s logistics performance index increased from 2.69 in 2007 to 3.3 in early 2010.

Another major accomplishment of the Arroyo administration, Lontok said, was boosting the tourism industry through the upgrading and establishment of new tourism airports.

Lontok said these include the completion of the Davao International Airport, Bacolod-Silay International Airport and Iloilo International Airport; and the upgrading of other airports in tourism areas such as the Kalibo airport in Aklan; and Puerto Princesa City Airport and Busuanga Airport both in Palawan.

Lontok reported that yearly average growth rate in domestic air passenger traffic was recorded at 9.8 percent while international arrivals stood at 7.7 percent.

“Overall, domestic traffic almost doubled while international passenger traffic grew by 65 percent since 2001,” Lontok said.

Aside from growth in investments, Lontok said dramatic increase in passenger traffic were recorded in Busuanga, 500 percent; Ozamis City, 4,000 percent; Butuan, 300 percent; and Kalibo 400 percent.

To date, Lontok said the Philippines has also signed several air services agreement with other countries, contributing to the increase in international traffic.

Lontok said the country has signed the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) memorandum of understanding on air linkages, and the ASEAN multilateral agreement on air services and full liberalization of air freight services.

Lontok added major road networks completed include the closing of the loop from LRT-1 to MRT-3, which made travel around Metro Manila much easier.

Lontok said the Northrail linkage project which became operational last week will open rail network all the way to Bicol with the inauguration of the 50-meter San Cristobal bridge which was destroyed by Typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” in 2006.

“On June 25, we will have the first rail travel from Manila to Bicol,” Lontok announced.

Lontok said enhanced connectivity between growth centers came with the establishment of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX); completion of the Alabang-Calamba Road; the finishing touches on the Calamba-Sto. Tomas, Batangas expressway route which will connect to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway leading to the Batangas International Port.

Other important ongoing projects, Lontok said, are the South Metro Manila Skyway Stage 2 and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway. (PIA V Release)

PGMA opens, declares renovated MET as National Cultural Treasure

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo officially opened today (June 23) the newly-renovated Manila Metropolitan Theater, also popularly known as MET and one of Manila’s important cultural and architectural landmarks.

The Chief Executive led the unveiling of a marker from the National Museum, declaring MET as a National Cultural Treasure.

The President prompted the renovation of MET when she directed the National Commission on Culture and Arts (NCCA) to release P50 million in 2004 and authorized the release of another P50 million in 2009 to revive the glory of MET that promotes Filipino art forms and culture.

She was welcomed by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Presidential Assistant on Culture Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, NCCA Chairman Vilma Labrador, Manila Historical and Heritage Commission Vice-Chairperson Gemma Cruz-Araneta and MET Council co-chair German Moreno

Also greeting the President were various cultural performances by the Cardona Musical Ensemble, St. Dominic Salvio College Dancers, PUP Banda Kawayan, DepEd Drum and Lyre and the beneficiaries of the Kalahi Cultural Caregiving program, a poverty alleviation project of the government which offers arts workshops to marginalized groups and the differently-abled.

In his brief speech, Mayor Lim thanked the President for the release of P100-million for MET’s renovation.

For her part, Alvarez lauded the President for the “special concern” she had shown to revive the MET.

“This has happened because of the special concern of the President that a National Treasure like the MET should not remain sleeping, but should be opened as a haven for the diversity of cultures of our country and the artistic genius of our people to be reflected,” she said.

“MET was an empty shell. And now, it is slowly being revived,” she added.

After the unveiling, the President made a tour and inspection of the renovated MET. Inside the theater, the President and the guests were given a taste of a Las Vegas-entertainment with a brief performance of dancers dressed in elaborate costumes, singing and performing aerobatic dance.

MET, also called the “grand dame” of theaters, is owned by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) with the City of Manila as the usufructuary and the NCCA as the general cultural oversight.

According to historical accounts, the theater was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in February 1945. Fortunately the building retained most of its structural integrity.

In the following decades, it was meticulously restored and it was declared as a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute upon its complete restoration in 1978.

In 1996, MET was closed down due to foreclosure.

The MET is an art deco building constructed in 1931 by Juan M. Arellano. Arcadio Arellano also an architect and brother of Juan complemented the work with adapted Philippine stylized ornamentation.

The front façade is of colored glass, colored tiles similar to transitional Malay cloth. Its grand foyer with elegant marble finish, graced two mural paintings done by Fernando Amorsolo and two figures of Francisco Riccardo Monti sculpture pieces. The highly stylized relief carvings of Philippine plants by the artist Isabelo Tampingco decorate the lobby walls and interior surfaces of the building. (PIA V Release)

PGMA lauds success of Bangit’s short stint in AFP

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo lauded the achievements of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, whose early retirement took effect Tuesday (June 22), 13 months ahead of his mandatory retirement.

The outgoing Chief Executive said though Gen. Bangit’s retirement came 13 months ahead of his 56th birthday which is on July 31, 2011, “he chose the early exit as the more honorable option for the sake of the country and for the harmony and continued professionalism” of the uniformed service.

At the testimonial parade and review in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City in honor of Bangit and the assumption of Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as Acting Chief of Staff, the President also lauded the whole military for its invaluable contribution to the country’s continued peace and security and for the successful holding of the first-ever automated elections in the country.”

“We close another chapter of our storied nine years of service to the country which had been marked by heroism of our men and women in the armed forces, and Gen. Bangit was one of them,” the President said.

President Arroyo said that even when she was vice president, “I saw Gen. Bangit’s dedication and readiness in ensuring the fight against terrorism, which has been recognized by the Legion of Honor award by the President of the United States.”

“And during typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, we saw how the military under Gen. Bangit’s direct supervision, got deeply involved in the relief, rescue and rehabilitation efforts for our typhoon victims,” the President said.

The President said Bangit enhanced the successes of his predecessors especially in professionalizing the service.

The President also credited Bangit for the AFP’s role in the May 2010 elections saying “he reached out to all sectors to ensure the successful conduct of honest, orderly, peaceful and the most credible automated elections.”

She added that even the previously known election hotspots were no longer placed under Comelec’s control in the last elections because the Armed Forces made extra effort in ensuring the dismantling of private armed groups.

She thanked Gen. Bangit for all the sacrifices he made to push the agenda of a professional military service and for touching the lives of so many soldiers and civilians.

The President then cited some of the achievements of her administration in creating 9 million jobs, many of them in the Armed Forces of the Philippines for new soldiers; in the construction of 100,000 new classrooms many of them helped by the Armed Forces and the roads, rail and nautical highway infrastructures, including ports and seaports, also with the involvement of AFP engineers.

The President then asked the newly-installed Ochoa to continue what Gen. Bangit had done and to ensure professionalism in the uniformed service. (PIA V Release)

General Bangit: No regrets, no tears

MANILA — Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit bade farewell Tuesday (June 22) to the military saying said he had “no regrets” leaving the uniformed service earlier than expected.

“Nor regrets, no tears because for so many years I had looked forward to this day when I would leave,” he said in a speech during the military exit honors for him and the installation ceremony for his successor Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who picked Bangit last March 8 to head the AFP was the guest during the change-of-command ceremony and retirement honors.

Bangit said he was leaving behind a professional AFP. “You stand strong that way because you are professional,” Bangit stressed to the troops.

Others who attended the Camp Aguinaldo rites were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile; Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales; Military Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak; commanders of the major AFP services and unified commands and foreign armed forces attaches

At a light moment in his farewell speech, Bangit gave the following reminders to his successor, Gen. Ochoa: 1] Don’t expect to gain anything without hard work; 2] stay professional no matter what your next leader tells you and 3] nourish to the fullest every friendship you develop in the armed forces even as you try to obey what your commander tells you.

Finally, he said, when you leave the service you will find out that more than your position, the friendships are more important in your life.

“Don’t get tired of standing up for what is good. Protect the Armed Forces Philippines and fight as one Armed Forces. We are unbeatable when we are one,” Bangit said. (PIA V Release)

PGMA presented with 2 legacy books

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally received the first two copies of books chronicling the achievements of her administration from 2001 to 2010, during a simple book-launching ceremony held Tuesday (June 22) in Malacañang.

Deemed a fitting and timely tribute to the Chief Executive’s achievements in her nine years as President, the books “Beating the Odds” and “Beat the Odds: Another Stone for the Edifice” were launched by their respective editors through the ceremonial presentation to the President.

The first book was "Beating the Odds," co-authored by former Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Chief Renato Velasco and Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo, which recounts major issues and challenges the President faced early in her administration.

It is an analytical close-up of policy-making, decision-making and action-taking by a Philippine President under the most challenging circumstances, the authors said.

The book portrays President Arroyo’s leadership around six issues that stalked the Philippines at the turn of the century – terrorism, the Mindanao peace process, the drug threat, the global emergence of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), an attempted coup d’etat against the government and a hounding budget deficit.

According to Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Andy Cui who also served as the program’s master of ceremonies “the book is heavy with statecraft and highlights of presidential decision-making.”

The second book, “Beat the Odds: Another Stone for the Edifice” which was published by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), was edited by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar and University of the Philippines Professor Gonzalo Jurado.

It contains “a collection of essays on the key achievements of my administration,” the President wrote in her foreword for the book.

“The strategy at the center of my administration’s overall economic and social plan was encapsulated by the program I called “Beat the Odds”, a title that enumerates many of the major themes we pursued in key areas of fiscal policy, educated reform, infrastructure, employment creation, political governance and social and cultural modernization,” the President said.

Beat the Odds stand for:

B – Budget Reform;
E – Ensuring education for everyone of school age, establishing conditions conducive to learning, providing necessary facilities and equipment;
A – Automating elections for clean, honest, accurate exercise of suffrage;

T – Transportation and digital infrastructure development;
T – Terminating hostilities with armed rebel groups;
H – Healing the wounds of EDSA;
E – Electricity and water provision to every barangay in the archipelago;
O – Opening opportunities for employment to some six to 10 milion members of the workforce;
D – Decongesting Metro Manila, including decentralizing governance, in order to spread the positive effects of government to the various regions; and
DS – Developing Subic-Clark corridor into the most competitive international service and logistics center in Southeast Asia.

Jurado, a senior faculty member at the UP School of Economics and a former mentor of the President and Olivar, rated the book with a Grade of “1,” the same grade he gave to the President when she was still his student.

He said the book gives concreteness to words already spoken on the President’s achievements and gave the “1” rating particularly on the President’s direct cash assistance program for the poor including the unprecedented budgetary allocations to human and physical infrastructure “which can be seen all over the country.”

Olivar said the book also contains technical notes and vigorous points of view of experts not connected or influenced by the government. (PIA V Release)

ALBAY, LANDBANK SIGN P700M LOAN FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

LEGAZPI CITY— Albay province has signed Wednesday (June 16) a P700 million loan package with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to finance a first–in–the-country education strategy that aims to produce “a college graduate for every family” through an encompassing yet simplified study now-pay later scheme.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, who authored the program, referred to it as an “Education Driven Development” (see presentation below); a development approach for his province anchored on a vigorous, well-planned, financed and executed college and vocational education, a system that practically invites more scholars, ups enrollment and produce more graduates.

Salceda signed the loan agreement with LBP President and Chief Executive Officer Gilda Pico Wednesday, June 16, in the presence of LBP ranking officers and Albay Provincial officials, among them, members of the provincial board and members of the media at Land Bank main office in Malate, Manila.

The loan will be used to finance government scholars in the tertiary level, under the Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), enrolled at the Bicol University and other community colleges in Albay which, this year alone will pay for over 12,000 college freshmen until they graduate. This is estimated to trigger a growth in college enrolment in Albay by 40%.

“I would have placed this amount in infrastructures. But I believe diplomas give better economic returns than roads and bridges,” Salceda said.

“A well-educated constituency has a lot of social payback and economic benefits. It expands their labor mobility. They will seek better jobs. The difference in economic return between an elementary graduate and a secondary graduate is about 7%. But the differential between a college graduate and a high school graduate is about 21%.

With diplomas, they can seek jobs elsewhere and not cramp the limited jobs market of Albay. Diplomas are like visas”, he added.

Salceda further stated that at a certain stage, Albay will gain the reputation as the natural source of well-educated labor force. The availability of trainable workforce will serve as a come-on for investors.

Considered a first of its kind in the country, Albay’s education program in all levels, has lately been gaining grounds, among others, raising students’ learning standard as was proven in the 2009 National Achievement Test (NAT) where the province garnered the 106th place out of 202 divisions, a distant leaped of 69 places from a poor 175th in 2007.

Salceda said the province’s present goal is to get to the top 40 schools in NAT within the next three years, and the top 10 within the next six years; there is no room for complacency, simply no space for mediocrity. The education agenda, though, is backed up by a portfolio of interventions, among others, an institutional capacity-building program.

Albay is presently the only province in the country with a Provincial Education Department (PED) – best known earlier as Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) – created by an ordinance, with plantilla staff approved by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management, overseen by a special advisory group – the Albay Council of Educators.

Salceda said Albay has committed over 17% of its annual budget now to education subsidy, under the PED, specifically EQUAL, which this year costs over P178 million – now the biggest item in its expenditure.

The province’s Special Education Fund (SEF), separated from the regular PED budget, which is used in, among others, sports program and maintenance of schools and classrooms in schools divisions, grew from only about P5 million in 2007 to P18 million in 2010, according to Salceda.

“Albay’s education program is producing the social impact; the number of college population has grown by 15% in three years from 34,000 to 38,000 due to provincial scholarships; and college graduates grew by 31% per year from 6,300 to 8,300, more or less,” Salceda concluded. (LGU Albay)

RDRRMC PREPARES BICOL FOR EARTHQUAKE

LEGAZPI CITY — The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC), formerly, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC), staged Friday (June 18) a highly visible display of local responders’ capabilities on earthquake disaster response in a drill based on a scenario set by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOLCS) and Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO).

Civil Defense Bicol Regional Director Rafy Aljandro cited the earthquake drill, held at the Ago Medical ad Educational Center (AMEC) grounds here has showcased the critical emergency response operations within the “golden hour” (read: the first 72 hours following the earthquake) including fire suppression, collapsed structure search and rescue, high angle rescue, helicopter hoist/rescue, mass casualty incident management, and evacuation, among others.

Alejandro IV furthered that the drill is set to determine the capability of AFP and other agencies tasked to respond in this kind disaster.

“We will also evaluate the capacity of the local disaster response teams in the local government unit level in dealing with this kind of eventuality, as early as now we can easily determine what aspects are we going to develop to exemplary perform the disaster response,” he added.

Some 500 individuals, including disaster managers and responders, school officials and students of AMEC high school and college, hospital personnel, paramedics and actors participated in the drill that turned dramatic and almost real, successful, and considered to be one of the best drills staged in the region.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NAVFORSOL), and other member-agencies of the RDRRMC crafted the design and execution of the Earthquake Rescue Response for the Bicol Region

The Navy has dispatched its disaster response and rescue teams compose of fifteen (15) personnel who are trained on extricating and life saving participated to the said drill.

Similar drill was also conducted in all public and private schools, and selected public-government buildings, private business/commercial establishments, public and private hospitals, and other establishments in compliance to the memorandum of National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), formerly, National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in line with the 2nd Quarter 2010 Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill with a theme “One Nation, One People, One Response”.

The nationwide drill is part of the continuing efforts of the government’s Four Point Plan of Action for Disaster Preparedness.

Commodore Joel E Babas NAVFORSOL commander and one of the drill’s team leader, said that this kind of exercise will make us aware and prepare of initial actions in case that an earthquake may occur.

“For rescuers, this will develop our capability and efficient working relationship among disaster response teams with an interoperability that is very essential in accomplishing the rescue mission,” Babas said. (DPRamon PAO NAVFORSOL/PIA)

ARMY ENGINEERS COMPLETE P175 MILLION INFRA PROJECTS IN CAMARINES SUR

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur — Army engineers have completed P175 million worth of infrastructure projects under the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program (KBP) in Camarines Sur province, a military officer said over the weekend.

Major Harold M Cabunoc, 9ID Philippine Army spokesperson, said that some 138 completed infrastructure projects were turned-over to the local government officials of Camarines Sur in a simple turn-over rites held at the provincial capitol Friday (June 18).

“Arm’s 51st Engineering Brigade has completed the projects under KBP, including 28 school buildings, 31 water systems, 20 health centers and 41 farm-to-market roads, benefiting 8 municipalities in the province,” Cabunoc bared.

Punong Barangay Jinet Delgado of Palsong Village in Bula town, who came to witness the turn-over ceremony, gladly remarked the residents of here village were very happy with the soldiers came to help to construct additional classrooms.

“I could not contain my happiness for the help extended to us by the Philippine Army. In the past, some of our school children were having classes under the shades of the trees, due to over crowding in the public schools,” said Delgado.

In her speech, Mayor Jeanette Bernaldez of Bato town recalled her experience about the lack of roads in her hometown, noting that then “When I visited my constituents, it was very difficult for me to travel due to inaccessibility of the remote villages, but now, we are blessed to have these new roads constructed by the Army engineers,” she said.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, 9ID commander, said that the implementation of the Army’s peace and development programs is his top priority.

“We cannot defeat the communist insurgency with mere use of guns. To address the various root causes of the problem, we are helping communities to have access to the basic social services that they need and the KBP projects are among the assistance that we can extend to our people in remote areas,” Pabustan said.

KBP projects are part of PGMA’s flagship programs aimed at achieving sustainable peace and development in conflict-affected communities through the accelerated, barangay-focused rehabilitation and development.

Unlike any other development projects of the government, KBP projects are carried out by Army engineers under the over-all supervision of the National Development Support Command (NADESCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

SORSOGON POLICE PROMOTES PILI PRODUCTS FROM ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD

Sorsogon City — Pili nut (Canarium Ovatum), a native product abundant and wild in Bicol region particularly in Sorsogon is now highlighted in Sorsogon Police Provincial Office's (SPPO) Alternative Livelihood Development Program for their police force.

Just recently, SPPO has successfully conducted its livelihood development program activity held at the Camp Salvador Escudero, Sr. here wherein police personnel, along with their wives and other civilians, went through a training demonstration on cooking various pili products.

Pili food expert Melinda Yee spearheaded the cooking demonstration and has commended the SPPO efforts in promoting products made from pili utilizing its various parts for their alternative livelihood development program.

Dubbed as "Benepisyo Ko, Benepisyo Mo" (My Profit, Your Profit), PNP Provincial Director Police Senior Supt. Heriberto Olitoquit, said that the livelihood program aims at helping the family of Sorsogon policemen to augment their income by introducing them to alternative sources of livelihood.

Participants went through actual pili cooking where each one's cooking ability was tested. Products made include crispy pili, salted pili, chocolate-coated pili, sugar-coated pili, molido, pili tart and pili chips, among others.

Meanwhile, the participants conveyed their 'sweet' gratitude to their trainer and to the Police Provincial Office as well, headed by PD Olitoquit, for its continuing effort to help and expose his men and their family to other livelihood opportunities. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

RIZAL ROAD PROJECT SOON TO OPEN IN LEGAZPI CITY

LEGAZPI CITY — Construction of Rizal (Barangay 24) road in is underway that would pave the way for more developments, boost economic activities, tourism, among others in his already budding business center in Bicol Region.

Mayor Noel E. Rosal averred that the road network is one of the priority road expansion projects of the city government here not only in the business zones but also in far-flung barangays in this city.

Barangay 24 chief Abunda said that this site where the road is built was once an old silted and squatter area, but through the effort of the administration of Rosal this is now one of the idyllic places in the city with prospects of providing opportunities to residents improve their quality of life.

An exultant Abunda likewise said that this is a big stroke of luck for the barangay residents first and foremost because all the affected residents by the construction of the road are now provided with their respective residences which can claim their own in relocation sites.

Rosal said that the road network traverses the city’s investment areas and several surrounding barangays thus seen to bring in investors, improve tourism industry and sustain a robust economy and progress to the city.

The mayor likewise noted that another road network passing through Barangays Victory, Imperial Court, Dap-Dap, Taysan roads are also almost completed.

He also expressed optimism that infrastructure projects carried out by his administration will bring in more business activities, generate more jobs and other opportunities on livelihood for the locals.

Rosal furthered that incoming Mayor Geraldine “Gie” Rosal has also a plan to create more livelihood programs particularly to the Senior Citizens and Women’s Organization. (MPSolis, LGU Legazpi City/PIA)

ALERT GUARDS THWARTED REBEL ATTACK ON CELL SITE IN MASBATE

LEGAZPI CITY — Alert security guards manning the Globe cell site foiled an attempt by communist rebels to set on fire the transmitter facility in Esperanza town in Masbate, military report said Monday.

Colonel Lope Dagoy, commander of the 85th Infantry Battalion, said that about five suspected New People’s People’s Army (NPA) rebels attacked the Globe cell site in Poblacion, Esperanza town at around 11:30 p.m. over the weekend.

Dagoy said that the rebels lobbed at least four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the power generator but alert security guards fought-off by firing their shotguns at the attackers who were positioned outside the fence.

“The rebels ran away when the ‘blue guards’ started firing their weapons to defend the facility. The generator set suffered minor dents and the transmitter is still fully operational,” Dagoy said.

These civilian guards must be commended for their heroic actions because this acts of bravery must be the fine example to all other personnel in the security industry, said Dagoy.

Since January 2009, a total of six Globe cell sites had been attacked in the Bicol, Sorsogon tops the list with two attacked cell sites while the provinces of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay and Masbate recorded one NPA attack each.

“The rebels are only capable of attacking ‘soft targets’ such as lightly-defended telecommunications facilities and heavy equipment used in the construction of infrastructure projects. Normally, they are attacking the facilities owned by businessmen who refuse to pay the extortion money to the rebels,” said Dagoy said.

The attack on the Globe cell site coincided with the harassment by five rebels at about 10 p.m. on the same day at the 85th Infantry Battalion’s company base in Uson town.

No one was reported injured in the five-minute firefight which ensued. Pursuit operations are ongoing to hunt the fleeing rebels.

In Albay, troops of the 2nd Infantry Battalion under Lt. Col. John Oberio chanced upon three rebels while in the act of looking for food in Agpay village, Guinobatan, Albay at around 8:30 a.m. on Friday.

The rebels immediately fled towards the bushes leaving behind one bandolier with five steel magazines and at least 100 rounds of live ammunition. (HMCabunoc. DPA 9ID PA/PIA)

NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVES TO UNDERGO TRAINING ON LOCAL GOVERNANCE

DAET, Camarines Norte — Newly elected chief executives in the province of Camarines Norte will undergo Training on Local Governance to be conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at the Local Government Academy in Tagaytay City.

DILG Provincial Director Robin Mercado stated that the training for the newly elected town and city mayors has commenced Monday (June 21) until June 23, while for governor is set on June 24-25.

Mercado said that the training will not only be for Camarines Norte chief executives, but also for other newly elected officials in the other parts of the country.

He cited that among the topics to be discussed include the State of Local Governance Report in order to measure the performance of the LGUs; identify the issues, gaps and needed areas of improvement and the result of the Executive Agenda formulation.

Other topics will be the first 100 days report to be given by old timer politicians, alliance building and others.

He also said that a separate training will be conducted for the re-elected officials of the country.

He cited that in this province a transition team has been organized for the proper transfer of documents and obligations to the new elected officials.

Director Mercado added that these include the comprehensive plan, investment plan, land use plan, annual budget, annual audit report, list of employees and its classification, inventory of equipments properties and other related documents. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

PNR TO RESUME ‘BICOL EXPRESS’ JUNE 25, PGMA TOLD

CALAMBA CITY — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to resume regular trips to the Bicol Region by Friday next week, PNR officials told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo today.

The PNR halted its daily train trips to the Bicol province after the San Cristobal bridge here was destroyed when typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” battered Southern Luzon one after the other in 2006.

Now, with a newly constructed 50-meter bridge taking the place of the devastated San Cristobal bridge, the Bicol Train service, from Manila to Ligao, Albay will soon resume.

In a briefing in one of PNR’s newly acquired train coaches that took the Chief Executive, PNR and local government officials and members of media to its Bicutan station in Parañaque, PNR General Manager Ower Andal said the “Bicol Express” trip would be available to commuters by June 25, 2010.

Andal added that operational works, which include replacing the wooden tresses with concrete and the addition of compacting materials to improve the stability of the tracks, is being undertaken from now until the 25th to ensure the safety of railroad tracks for its trips to Bicol.

Andal said the resumption of the Bicol trips of the PNR “closes the loop” by linking the North and South Rail project, part of the President’s 10-point agenda to decongest Metro Manila.

In the same briefing, Andal told the President the PNR expects its passenger base to increase from the 400,000 a month to 600,000.

He said that if the trend continues, the PNR will have to increase the departure of trains from its usual 30-minute interval to 15 minutes to cope with the demand. (PIA V Release)

Advisories:

PHILHEALTH ENHANCES BENEFIT CLAIM FORMS

To avail benefits from Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) easier and claims filing more convenient for health care providers, a new set of simplified claim forms has been introduced to replace the existing claim forms 1, 2 and 3 for use in all admissions effective starting September 1, 2010.

The enhanced forms are also expected to cut administrative costs and shall be used in claiming for hospitalization benefits and for special benefit packages and outpatient services covered by PhilHealth.

However, the National Tuberculosis Program card is still required for all TB-DOTS package claims while Maternity Care Package providers must fill out Part II of Claim Form 3 for MCP claims.

The enhanced claim forms ma be downloaded from www.philhealth.gov.ph and will be available at the billing sections of accredited hospitals nationwide.

This advisor is based on Circular No. 12, series 2010. (PhilHealth release/PIA)

NEW PHILHEALTH NUMBER CARD

Starting his month, PhilHealth will begin issuing PhilHealth Number Cards bearing the new design to its employed and individually paying members nationwide.

It now comes in full color with the image of the PhilHealth logo serving as backdrop for the card which prominently shows the member’s permanent PhilHealth Identification Number and requires their latest 1 ½ x 1 ½ inch photo and signature for better identification.

The new card is considered a valid ID especially when claiming PhilHealth checks for benefit payment as provided for in PhilHealth Circular No. 11, series of 2010. Previously issued number cards are still good as proof of PhilHealth membership. (PhilHealth release/PIA)

PGMA LEGACY AGENDA BOOKS TO BE LAUNCHED TOMORROW
MANILA — Two books on the administration and achievements of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be launched Tuesday (June 22), a week before she ends her nine-year term on June 30.

In a media briefing this afternoon in Malacanang, Presidential Deputy Spokesperson Prof. Gary Olivar said the books are entitled "Beat the Odds: Another Stone for the Edifice," and “Beating the Odds.” Both books, he said, detail the accomplishments of the President’s BEAT THE ODDS legacy agenda.

“Beat the Odds: Another Stone for the Edifice” which was published by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), was edited by Olivar and University of the Philippines Professor Gonzalo Jurado.

Jurado, a senior faculty member at the UP School of Economics and a former mentor of Olivar and the President, rated the book with a Grade of “1,” the grade he gave to the President when she was still his student.

Jurado said the book gives concreteness to words already spoken on the President’s achievements and gave the “1” rating particularly on the President’s direct cash assistance program for the poor including the unprecedented budgetary allocations to human and physical infrastructure “which can be seen all over the country.”

Olivar said the book also contains technical notes and vigorous points of view of experts not connected or influenced by the government.

The second book, "Beating the Odds," is co-authored by former Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Chief Renato Velasco and Presidential Spokesperson Ricardo Saludo. It recounts major issues and challenges the President faced early in her administration.

During the briefing, Agriculture Assistant Secretary Romeo Recide said the Department of Agriculture (DA) also launched last Friday the book “FIELDS of Glory.”

The book chronicled the President’s commitment and achievements on increasing the country’s food security and productivity program for farmers and fishermen through her flagship program FIELDS.

During the National Food Summit in Pampanga in April 2008, the President launched the FIELDS, which stands for Fertilizer; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; Extension and education services for farmers; Loans; Dryers and other postharvest facilities; and Seeds and other genetic materials. (PIA V Release)

"A VERY GOOD PRESIDENT" SAYS DANDING SON OF PGMA

MANILA — Northern Luzon leaders came in full force to the inauguration site of the reconstructed Bued Bridge here Monday (June 21) in Sison, Pangasinan to personally express their thanks to outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the attention she gave to the development of Pangasinan and Region I.

Led by Rep. Marc Cojuangco of the province’s 5th district, the local leaders gave glowing messages of gratitude for the President as she re-opened the bridge to regular traffic with a brief presidential drive-thru aboard an open jeepney and a short ceremony.

Cojuangco, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and son of politician-industrialist Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. could not hide his feelings of gratitude to the President over the Pangasinan projects as he described her “a very good President.”

“ We owe the President a lot,” Cojuangco told many constituents who trooped to the inaugural site to bid farewell to the outgoing Chief Executive and take a last close glimpse of her as their President.

“Today we see why the President Arroyo is a very good President,” Cojuangco stressed not exactly to flatter the President but to remind Pangasinenses of the numerous administration projects that in recent years have helped maintain Pangasinan’s standing as one of the biggest and most progressive provinces in the country.

Rebuilt at a cost of P120 million, the bridge is a vital link that sustains movement of people to and from Northern Luzon and one of Pangasinan’s busiest bridges.

Cojuangco pointed to Bued Bridge as example of the major infrastructure projects given to the province by the President. The bridge was reconstructed shortly after it was damaged by Typhoon Pepeng late last year.

Joined by Region 1 officials and leaders among them Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, La Union Gov. Manuel Ortega and the two La Union congressmen —Thomas Dumpit Jr. and Victor Ortega, Cojuangco said the timely reopening of the Bued Bridge at a time when the rainy season is starting was a blessing to Northern Luzon. (PIA V Release)

PGMA OKAYS BANGIT RETIREMENT, PICKS OCHOA AS ACTING AFP CHIEF

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo approved Monday (June 21) the early retirement of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit.

Upon recommendation of the AFP Board of Generals, the President has designated AFP Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as acting AFP chief effective tomorrow.

The President will preside over the change of command ceremony inside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City tomorrow afternoon where the outgoing Bangit will be accorded a testimonial parade and honors.

Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo announced the change in the AFP command in a brief statement issued today from Malacanang.

A member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1977, Ochoa will serve in acting capacity until incoming President Benigno Aquino III has appointed a new AFP chief right after the June 30 presidential oath-taking. But being in the short list of candidates for the top military post, Ochoa has a chance to become AFP chief.

Bangit was appointed military chief by President Arroyo last March 8. But he opted to quit the service more than a year ahead of his mandatory retirement on July 31, 2011 after failing to secure confirmation by the Commission on Appointments of his promotion to four-star rank (full general) and following public statements by President-elect Aquino that he was not considering Bangit for the top AFP post.

Bangit is member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1978 and has held many sensitive and significant postings before he became Army commanding general and then AFP chief. (PIA V Release)

PGMA GIVES FAREWELL MESSAGE TO THE NATION

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo may be in the middle of preparations to ensure a smooth transition of governance to usher in her successor, being near her husband in the hospital, attending to inauguration of her projects, at the same time, but she will still have time to give her farewell message to the nation this week.

Presidential Spokesman Ricardo Saludo, in a radio interview over the weekend, hinted that President Arroyo's final message to the nation may come in the form of a speech.

Perhaps this coming week, the President will deliver a speech that will contain her final message as President.

To the very end of her term, President Arroyo continues to visit ongoing government projects as well as communities.

Over the weekend, she stayed with the First Gentleman who underwent a surgery on his spine.

In fact on Monday, President Arroyo is set to administer the oath of office of at least 356 reelected and newly-elected local officials in Ilocos Sur.

The mass oath taking coincides with the 69th birthday celebration of returning Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson.

Elected local officials from Ilocos Sur's nearby provinces like Abra, Ilocos Norte, La Union and Pangasinan are also expected to attend the birthday bash.

Before proceeding to Vigan City, the President will formally open the newly-constructed foot bridge across the Bued River between Rosario, La Union and Sison, Pangasinan.

Expected to join her entourage in her last visit to Ilocos region as the Chief Executive are Region 1 Presidential Assistant Enrie Mendoza and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Victor Domingo. (PIA V Release)
PGMA DELIVERS ON FIELDS AGENDA

MANILA — The Arroyo administration has delivered on its commitment to increase the country's food security and sufficiency levels through its flagship program for the agriculture and fisheries sector dubbed FIELDS, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

FIELDS stands for the six areas of agriculture where the government has been channeling its support to on the Arroyo watch - Fertilizer; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; Extension and education services for farmers; Loans; Dryers and other post-harvest facilities; and Seeds and other genetic materials.

Agriculture Secretary Bernie G. Fondevilla said the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration with regard to this flagship program is chronicled in a book titled “FIELDS OF GLORY” which was launched in June 18 at the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management Convention Hall in Quezon City.

This FIELDS book project was tackled by Secretary Bernie Fondevilla during a recent Management Committee or ManCom meeting at the DA central office in Quezon City.

FIELDS was unveiled by the President during the DA-sponsored National Food Summit at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga in April 2008.

Fondevilla said that among the accomplishments of the Arroyo administration under FIELDS and its various farm programs are the following:

For the Fertilizer component, the DA provided 1,380 technology packages on environment- friendly, community-based composting facilities under the Support System for the Tipod Abono Fertilization Program. Out of the 1,380 packages, 428 or 31 percent were distributed in the Mindanao Agribusiness Super Region, 315 in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, 430 in Central Philippines, 204 in the Urban Luzon Beltway and 3 in the National Capital Region (NCR).

For Irrigation and other rural infrastructure, about P79.7 billion has been released for the restoration and rehabilitation of national and communal irrigation systems nationwide, generating 140,042 hectares of new areas. A total of 1,480,826 hectares located in the four super regions were also restored and rehabilitated.

The government also constructed since 2001, a total of 18,929 kilometers of farm-to-market roads worth P26.77 billion, and established 50 mariculture parks covering a total of 49,073 hectares.

For Extension, the DA provided a total of 22,941 various agricultural technology trainings and orientations from 2001 to 2009 to 977,713 farmers, agricultural extension workers, and farmer entrepreneurs.

For the Loans component, from 2001 to 2009, a total of P28.8 billion was released under the Agro-Industry Modernization and Credit Financing Program and Quedancor to farmer-beneficiaries. If palay production loans from the Land Bank and releases from other financial institutions and agencies are included, the total would amount to P465 billion.

For Dryers and other post-harvest facilities, a total of 2,016 units of flatbed dryers were delivered, installed and completed. Through the mechanical drying system, an estimated 25,724 metric tons of palay valued at P437 million was saved in 2008.

Moreover, a total of 39 cold chain facilities were completed and currently operational nationwide.

For the Seeds component, the DA provided 1.68 million bags of hybrid and 12.5 million bags of certified palay seeds from 2001 to 2009 to farmers nationwide. The DA also established the development of climate-ready seeds including saline-, drought-, and flood-resistant varieties.

Fondevilla noted that Malacañang put FIELDS on the fast lane starting 2009 as several of its intervention programs had been incorporated into the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) component of the President's economic stimulus package, which was meant to help Filipinos ride out last year's global economic crisis. (PIA V Release)

ALBAY, LANDBANK SIGN P700M LOAN FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Albay province has signed Wednesday (June 16) a P700 million loan package with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) to finance a first–in–the-country education strategy that aims to produce “a college graduate for every family” through an encompassing yet simplified study now-pay later scheme.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, who authored the program, referred to it as an “Education Driven Development” (see presentation below); a development approach for his province anchored on a vigorous, well-planned, financed and executed college and vocational education, a system that practically invites more scholars, ups enrollment and produce more graduates.

Salceda signed the loan agreement with LBP President and Chief Executive Officer Gilda Pico at 10 am this morning, June 16 in the presence of LBP ranking officers and Albay Provincial officials, among them, members of the provincial board and members of the media at Land Bank main office in Malate, Manila.

The loan will be used to finance government scholars in the tertiary level, under the Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), enrolled at the Bicol University and other community colleges in Albay which, this year alone will pay for over 12,000 college freshmen until they graduate. This is estimated to trigger a growth in college enrolment in Albay by 40%.

“I would have placed this amount in infrastructures. But I believe diplomas give better economic returns than roads and bridges,” Salceda said.

“A well-educated constituency has a lot of social payback and economic benefits. It expands their labor mobility. They will seek better jobs. The difference in economic return between an elementary graduate and a secondary graduate is about 7%. But the differential between a college graduate and a high school graduate is about 21%.

With diplomas, they can seek jobs elsewhere and not cramp the limited jobs market of Albay. Diplomas are like visas”, he added.

Salceda further stated that at a certain stage, Albay will gain the reputation as the natural source of well-educated labor force. The availability of trainable workforce will serve as a come-on for investors.

Considered a first of its kind in the country, Albay’s education program in all levels, has lately been gaining grounds, among others, raising students’ learning standard as was proven in the 2009 National Achievement Test (NAT) where the province garnered the 106th place out of 202 divisions, a distant leaped of 69 places from a poor 175th in 2007.

Salceda said the province’s present goal is to get to the top 40 schools in NAT within the next three years, and the top 10 within the next six years; there is no room for complacency, simply no space for mediocrity. The education agenda, though, is backed up by a portfolio of interventions, among others, an institutional capacity-building program.

Albay is presently the only province in the country with a Provincial Education Department (PED) – best known earlier as Education Quality for Albayanos (EQUAL) – created by an ordinance, with plantilla staff approved by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Budget and Management, overseen by a special advisory group – the Albay Council of Educators.

Salceda said Albay has committed over 17% of its annual budget now to education subsidy, under the PED, specifically EQUAL, which this year costs over P178 million – now the biggest item in its expenditure.

The province’s Special Education Fund (SEF), separated from the regular PED budget, which is used in, among others, sports program and maintenance of schools and classrooms in schools divisions, grew from only about P5 million in 2007 to P18 million in 2010, according to Salceda.

“Albay’s education program is producing the social impact; the number of college population has grown by 15% in three years from 34,000 to 38,000 due to provincial scholarships; and college graduates grew by 31% per year from 6,300 to 8,300, more or less,” Salceda concluded.(LGU Albay)

DOH-NKTI, PIA HOLD LAY FORUM ON RENAL DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAM

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Health (DOH), through the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Bicol, spearheaded a Lay Forum on the Renal Disease Control Program (REDCOP) Thursday afternoon (June 17) at the Casablanca Social Hall here.

Dr. Antonio Paraiso, REDCOP national program manager, told PIA News Service that the interfacing with local chief executives, health officials, workers and service providers, academic institutions with medical courses is one way of the institute to popularize the program on kidney care, prevention and treatment of diseases, organ donation, as well as lifestyles to keep the kidneys healthy.

Medical specialists from the NKTI, led by Paraiso, along with Dr. Susan Jorge, Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca, Dr. Lourde Petobello, Dr. Claire Angelie Imbisan, Evelyn O. Pretencio, served as panelists for the half-day lay forum.

Paraiso stressed that the REDCOP forms part of the continuing efforts of the government to promote wellness and better health among the populace, especially on kidney care and organ donation.

REDCOP is the office in-charge of implementing the NKTI’s public health projects on the prevention and control of renal and other related diseases.

The institute plans, implements and monitors projects for research, advocacy, training, service and quality assurance, and its activities are done mostly on a national scale through its network of DOH regional coordinators throughout the country.

REDCOP also administers and manages the Philippine Renal Disease Registry (PRDR), which include data on End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Registry composed of the Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis & Transplant Registries, and the Chronic Kidney Disease Registry composed of Biopsy.

The same office has also been tasked to operate the Philippine Organ Donation Program (PODP) of DOH, set up to craft policies, guidelines and ethical principles whereby the act of organ donation and conduct of transplantation from living non-related organ donors (LNRDs) shall be managed and regulated

POPD supports a rational, equitable, ethical, and accessible renal health care program in the country.

Meanwhile, the REDCOP team visiting this city starting June 15 also conducted free medical check up, laboratory services, such as free urinalysis and FBS (fasting blood sugar) testing, to the local residents at the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) here.

All but these advocacy activities highlight this year’s celebration of the National Kidney Month this June.

This year’s Kidney Month theme evolves on “Healthy Kidneys, Health Family”. (MALoterte, PIA V)

P’NOY MUST FIND SOLUTIONS NOT ALIBIS
IN DEALING WITH COUNTRY’S PROBLEM – LAGMAN

TABACO CITY— President-elect Noynoy Aquino must find solutions and not look for alibis in confronting the remaining economic and social problems of the nation.

In doubting with mere sweeping ambiguity the economic report card of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, incoming President Aquino appears overwhelmed by current problems that he resorts to faulting his predecessor’s administration.

It was reported that Aquino said he doubted the “integrity of some economic data released by the Arroyo administration”, but he failed to specify the figures he doubted.

A leader with a fresh mandate must look forward rather than pontificate on the perceived ills of the past as if to cover-up an absent or deficient positive agenda for action.

The supposed “failures” of the past are pitfalls to avoid but not “cadavers” for repeated exhumation.

A President must succeed or fail based on his own merit and performance. (Office of Rep, Edcel C. Lagman, Albay I/PIA)

NAGA CITY ALL SET FOR THE 21ST PHIL TRAVEL MART SHOW IN BICOL

NAGA CITY — As tourism industry in Bicol continues to soar high by posting positive growth, much as the fervor and spirit of tourism stakeholders as they gear up for the 21st Philippine Travel Mart Road Show set June 19 at the Avenue Plaza Hotel here.

Dubbed one of the biggest and most anticipated travel and tourism trade shows in the Philippines, Travel mart will not only showcase enticing travel and tour packages in the region but will also provide a wide array of opportunities for travel operators to closely work with other industry partners.

Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA), Inc., in partnership with the Bicol Regional Tourism Council (BRTC) and the Bicol Association of Travel and Tour Operators (BATTO), envisions a strong alliance with tourism-related associations that will work actively to promote domestic and inbound Philippine tourism.

PHILTOA, which led the one-day tourism expo, is an organization of tour operators and allied members actively involved in the advocacy of responsible tourism. Founded on 12 June 1986, non-stock and non-profit organization.

Danny De Leon, BRTC’s dynamic Regional Chairman, stated that the event is open to all tourism industry players whose aim runs synonymous with their vision. “We are so privileged that the Philippine Travel Mart Road Show will be done here in Camarines Sur. This will give us a wider edge to showcase how rich Bicol Region is, in terms of resources and tourist destinations.”

De Leon also pointed out that there are still a lot of unexplored and hidden destinations here in the Bicol Region waiting to be discovered. “These unseen resources are just behind the lush forests and green mountains, waiting to be unearthed. All we need are responsible caretakers who would develop it, without harming our Mother Nature.”

The upcoming tourism event is expected to be flocked by tourism industry players, particularly travel agencies, hotel, resorts, transportation companies, handicraft stores, and other tourism-oriented establishments and associations. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)

REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM HELD

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol hosted the first Social Welfare and Development (SWD) Forum for the year 2010 held recently at Kanzo Restaurant here.
The one-day activity was participated in by the provincial, municipal and city social welfare officers and representatives from the academe, the non-government organizations, people’s organizations, other government organizations and partner agencies.

In her message, DSWD Bicol Director Remia Tapispisan explained that the agency’s priority thrust for 2010, the agency’s reform agenda, fosters the department’s role of providing leadership in the Social Protection Sector.

Tapispisan said that the passage of the department’s memorandum no. 11, series of 2008 provides that SWD Forum has to be maximized as a venue to create a common understanding on topics that nee concerted effort of the social protection sector.

She also bared that the forum is focused on the promotion of the utilization and maximization of data generated from the household assessment done under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction.

Ms. Rhodora Garces, Albay NHTS-PR Project Coordinator from DSWD Central Office, gave the orientation on the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, noting that programs is in response to a finding that reveals that poverty alleviation programs have not been so effective in bringing about the much-needed improvement in the quality if life of the poor, because not all the poor receive or enjoy the benefits of the social protection program.

Meanwhile, Ma. Corazon Pitero, OIC of the Operations Division of DSWD Bicol, presented and discussed the Priority Legislative Agenda for Children for the 15th Congress. According to Pitero there are seven proposed legislative agenda as follows:

1. Strengthening of family and alternative parental care arrangement through foster care;
2. Amending the law on statutory rape;
3. Removing the distinction/discrimination against illegitimate children;
4. Amendment to RA 7610 particularly on the children affected by armed conflict;
5. Allocation of budget for children;
6. Policy guidelines on the Access of minors to HIV-testing and other RH concerns; and
7. Proposed Magna Carta for Children

The Social Welfare and Development Forum is conducted twice a year. (EEJerusalem, DSWD/PIA)

BFP SORSOGON CITY WARNS PUBLIC NOT TO BLOCK FIRE HYDRANTS

LEGAZPI CITY —Fire Marshal C/Insp Renato Badong Marcial of this city’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has ordered his men to put up a warning sign informing the public not to block fire hydrants constituting an offense violating RA 9514 or newly amended Fire Code of the Philippines.

Marcial bared that during the recent inspection of fire hydrants in this city, the bureau found out that some of the hydrants were blocked by vendors, tricycles, or garbage dump along the main thoroughfares downtown.

Marcial gave the standing order last June 8, 2010 to S/Insp. Prospero Deona, BFP Sorsogon City deputy officer, to implement said order immediately coordinating with traffic enforcers, police authorities, and the community as well.

BFP personnel then put up signage beside fire hydrants particularly in front of Chowking restaurant, along Rizal St.; Southstar Drug along Magsaysay Street; and near Sorsogon National High School.

Marcial stressed that pursuant to Rule II: Section 11.0.0.1D of RA 9514, “Any person who caused an obstruction to a designated to the hydrants shall be penalized of a fine amounting to P12,500 up to P25,000.

The city fire marshal has appealed to the public their support and cooperation to the bureau in the enforcement of the new law. In case of violation of this law the public can report or call the Office of the Bureau of Fire Protection at 421-6320 or hotline 160. (BFP Sorsogon City/PIA)

47 EMPLOYERS FOUND VIOLATING LABOR CODE JAN-JUN 2010

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial ofice here has recorded some 47 cases of violation against labor code for the period January to May this year.

Ruben L. Romanillos, Chief Labor and Employment Officer said that of the 47 cases 30 were resolved resulting to the payment of employers to their employees a total of P139,507, while the 17 other cases are subject for hearing.

Romanillos said that majority of cases were none payment of separation pay, 13th month pay and holiday pay; refund of cash bond; underpayment of wages; and illegal deductions.

He explained that they have their wages bracket to follow by the employers for their employees’ salaries.

He cited that the office also conduct routine inspection once a year and special inspection for those establishments with employees’ complaints especially for those who do not give proper wages.

It can be recalled that last year DOLE Camarines Norte has recorded some 62 cases for violation against labor code as compared to 60 cases in 2008. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

USAID-FUNDED SURVEY AFFIRMS GAINS OF PGMA’S TOURISM STRATEGY

MANILA — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s tourism development programs in her nine-year term have brought about P62-billion worth of investments into the country and generated three million jobs for Filipinos.

This is the conclusion of an independent study conducted by the Philippine-based Center for Research and Communication (CRC) and funded by the Asia Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a presentation during the Retrospective Seminar of the Department of Tourism (DOT) held Wednesday (June 16) in Intramuros, CRC representative Cherry Rodolfo said that from 2000 to 2009, the tourism industry generated some P62-billion worth of investments from enterprises registered with the National Economic Development Agency (NEDA) and Board of investments (BOI).

Rodolfo cited a DOT survey that in May this year alone, the Central Philippines Super Region, one of the five themed growth corridors mapped out in President Arroyo’s 2004 strategic development program, has generated 28,629 employment from 2002 establishments.

“With a lot of activity going on, Central Philippines will have another 147 new establishments plus additional room expansion by existing establishments that will generate 14,376 new employment,” the CRC official added.

She said these achievements in tourism have made a significant impact on local area development in creating more jobs, generating more income and strengthening community partnerships.

The CRC credited these accomplishments to the various tourism investments that the Arroyo administration has made to provide greater mobility and accessibility.

Rodolfo cited Arroyo’s airport development projects, the nautical highway project (RoRo project) and road networks, such as NLEX and SLEX, as among the infrastructure projects that contributed in no small amount to stimulating domestic tourism.

She also noted an improvement in inbound tourism, citing the 311.84 percent growth in flight arrivals in Clark Airport, from 27,452 international flights in 2000 to 106,016 flight in 2008.

The DOT Retrospective Seminar was attended by DOT officials led by Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and representatives of The Asia Foundation, and USAID.

In his speech, Durano cited the important role of private sector in tourism development, saying their aggressive marketing strategies and constructive feedback on tourism have helped place the country among the major tourist destinations in Asia. (PIA V Release)

JOBLESS RATE SEEN TO DROP THIS YEAR – DOLE

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sees the unemployment rate to go down in the coming months with the expected rebound in agriculture due to the onset of the rainy season.

In a media briefing in Malacañang, Labor Undersecretary Romeo Lagman said the dry spell brought by the El Nino phenomenon resulted to the loss of some 810,000 jobs in the sector in the first four months of 2010.

The latest Labor Force Survey released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) placed unemployment rate at eight percent as of April, compared to the 7.3 percent recorded from the previous quarter and the 7.5 percent in April last year.

The NSO placed the number of unemployed at 3.1 million last April compared to the 2.8 million recorded in the same period last year.

Lagman said the jobs loss, which mainly affected the agriculture sector, tapered the 822,000 jobs generated by the services sector.

Despite the loss of jobs in agriculture, Lagman said the employment level grew by 1.2 percent in 2010 as the number of persons entering the labor force increased from 34.9 million to 35.4 million.

“So this translates to an employment generation of over 400,000,” Lagman said.

Lagman said the services sector increased by 4.7 percent with an absolute figure of 822,000 employed, while the industry sector gained 7.8 percent or an absolute figure of 396,000 employments.

Lagman said the gains in the industry and services sectors despite the global financial crisis in the last quarter of 2009 were offset by the loss in the agriculture sector which was caused by the El Nino for several months.

“Perhaps in the next survey, we will picture a better perspective of the employment situation,” Lagman said.

At present, Lagman said the DOLE’s Jobs Fit Program is addressing the mismatch in jobs requirement for local and overseas employment up to year 2020.

The project guides students and new entrants to the labor force in identifying college and technical-vocational courses that they may pursue to land available industry jobs or to engage in self-employment undertakings required by the economy after graduation.

The Job Fit road map also serves as a basis of the education sector and other concerned stakeholders in providing training and educational scholarships and in developing appropriate curricula and career materials for job seekers. (PIA V Release)

PNR TO RESUME ‘BICOL EXPRESS’ JUNE 25, PGMA TOLD

CALAMBA CITY, Laguna — The Philippine National Railways (PNR) is set to resume regular trips to the Bicol Region by Friday next week, PNR officials told President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The PNR halted its daily train trips to the Bicol province after the San Cristobal bridge here was destroyed when typhoons “Milenyo” and “Reming” battered Southern Luzon one after the other in 2006.

Now, with a newly constructed 50-meter bridge taking the place of the devastated San Cristobal bridge, the Bicol Train service, from Manila to Ligao, Albay will soon resume.

In a briefing in one of PNR’s newly acquired train coaches that took the Chief Executive, PNR and local government officials and members of media to its Bicutan station in Parañaque, PNR General Manager Ower Andal said the “Bicol Express” trip would be available to commuters by June 25, 2010.

Andal added that operational works, which include replacing the wooden tresses with concrete and the addition of compacting materials to improve the stability of the tracks, is being undertaken from now until the 25th to ensure the safety of railroad tracks for its trips to Bicol.

Andal said the resumption of the Bicol trips of the PNR “closes the loop” by linking the North and South Rail project, part of the President’s 10-point agenda to decongest Metro Manila.

In the same briefing, Andal told the President the PNR expects its passenger base to increase from the 400,000 a month to 600,000.

He said that if the trend continues, the PNR will have to increase the departure of trains from its usual 30-minute interval to 15 minutes to cope with the demand. (PIA V Release)

AGRI STAKEHOLDERS CITE GAINS IN FIELDS PROGRAM

MANILA — Various stakeholders of the agriculture sector today expressed their gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the vigorous implementation of the FIELDS program, saying it has significantly increased agricultural production and raised their income.

FIELDS stands for the six areas of agriculture which the President has focused on to ensure national food sufficiency - Fertilizer, Irrigation and other rural infrastructure, Extension and education services for farmers, Loans, Dryers and other post-harvest facilities, and Seeds.

In the Retrospective Forum attended by President Arroyo with Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla, farmer Ronelio Barsatan of the CBCP-NASSA-National Farm Center in General Natividad, Nueva Ecija said the creation of national and diocesan farm centers across the country promoted organic farming that cut down the cost of fertilizer.

The Agriculture department provided 1,380 technology packages on community-based composting facilities which resulted in a net income of P5,761 for Compost Tea (Foliar Fertilizer), P154,448 for Trichoderma-based compost and P229,349 for vermi-compost per 100-hectare cluster model.

It also granted 68 Bio-N mixing plants to farmers, farmer cooperatives, private sector, and LGUs. Five packets of Bio-N, an organic fertilizer, per hectare proved to be a good replacement for two bags of Urea, giving the farmers big savings of P2,100 per hectare.

On irrigation and infrastructure component, about P79.7 billion has been released for the restoration of national and communal irrigation systems nationwide, generating 140,042 hectares of new areas. A total of 1,480,826 hectares located in the four super regions were also restored and rehabilitated.

The government also constructed since 2001 a total of 18,929 kilometers of farm-to-market roads worth P26.77 billion, and established 50 mariculture parks covering a total of 49,073 hectares.

These improvements resulted in an increased rice yield averaging 3.53 metric tons per hectare for the period 2001-2009, as compared to an average of 2.86 metric tons per hectare in 1990-2000.

On extension and education, DA provided a total of 22, 941 various agricultural technology trainings and orientations that benefited some 977,713 farmers, agricultural extension workers (AEWs), and farmer entrepreneurs.

Efraim Acacio of Sta. Ana Cagayan said the free technical assistance provided by the government – from selecting the right seeds to harvesting palay - had helped him in increasing his income.

“I am proud to say that our dream will soon be fulfilled. We will soon complete the construction of a small concrete house for our family beside our farms,” he said.

For the dryers and other postharvest facilities component, the DA distributed 2,016 units of flat bed dryers in various provinces. Through the mechanical drying system, an estimated 25,724 MT of palay valued at P437 million was saved in 2008.

DA also constructed 13 tramlines – 7 in Benguet, 3 in Mt. Province, 2 in Nueva Ecija, and 1 in Dalaguet, Cebu – to transport commodities from highlands to the market.

On seeds, DA provided some 1.68 million bags of hybrid and 12.5 million bags of certified palay seeds. It also developed and distributed climate-ready seeds which are drought and submergence – tolerant to help farmers cope with the adverse effects of climate change.

After the forum, the President led the formal launching of DA’s coffee table book chronicling the major achievements of her administration in its centerpiece agenda of food security and sufficiency.

Titled “Fields of Glory,” the book illustrates how President Arroyo has delivered on her commitments to the agricultural and fisheries sector by way of her flagship project FIELDS, according to Fondevilla. (PIA V Release)

DA SAYS AGRO-INDUSTRY LOANS TOTALED P465-B IN 2001-2009

MANILA — Agricultural loans from various government lending facilities and other financial institutions and agencies reached the P465-billion mark over the nine-year period ending in 2009, the Department of Agriculture (DA) revealed.

The disclosure was made in conjunction with yesterday’s (Thursday (June 17)launch of the DA’s coffee table book titled “Fields of Glory” graced by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

“From 2001 to 2009, a total of P28.8 billion was released under the Agro-Industry Modernization and Credit Financing Program and Quedancor to farmer-beneficiaries,” the DA said, adding that the borrowings would total P465 billion if palay production loans from the Land Bank and releases from other financial institutions and agencies are included.

Incidentally, loans to the agro-industry sector is just one component of a six-point FIELDS package of government support services designed to increase farm outputs and enable the farmers to maximize their incomes.

FIELDS stands for Fertilizer, Irrigation and other Infrastructures, Extension and Education, Loans, Dryers and other post-harvest facilities, and Seeds and other genetic materials.

Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said the book “best illustrates that President Arroyo has delivered on her commitments to the agriculture and fisheries sector by way of her flagship project dubbed FIELDS and other farm-related intervention programs.”

Fondevilla pointed out that the government under the Arroyo administration registered record public spending in agriculture and fisheries, and stepped up construction of irrigation, farm-to-market roads and post-harvest facilities.

Other milestone achievements, the Secretary said, included creation of millions of jobs and livelihood opportunities in the countryside, massive training program for farmers on such concerns as productivity enhancement, cost-reduction, and environment-friendly technologies, as well as the availability of more loans, guarantee and insurance coverage.

“The government also constructed a total of 18,929 kilometers of farm-to-market roads worth P26.77 billion, and established 50 mariculture parks covering a total of 39,073 hectares,” Fondevilla said.

Among the millions of FIELDS beneficiaries was Gelises Ladores of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija who said results of new farming technologies he learned surpassed his expectations.

He recalled that during the rainy season in 2008, he was still able to harvest 100 cavans of palay from his 1.5-hectare farm using “submergence-tolerant” seeds from the Philippine Rice Institute made available by the DA through the FIELDS program. “My only wish at that time was to be able to harvest despite the strong rains,” he said.

Ariel Flores from Guimba, Nueva Ecija said he was able to substantially reduce the cost of farm inputs because of irrigation and the use of organic fertilizer. “The soil we till has become rich with natural fertilizer from the clean water we get from the irrigation,” he said.

Judy Aruta, a loan beneficiary of the Bukidnon Cooperative Bank, said the soft credit he acquired enabled him to expand his rice farm. (PIA V Release)

JUNE 30, A NON-WORKING HOLIDAY

MANILA — Malacanang issued Thursday (June 17) Proclamation No. 2085 declaring June 30, 2010 a special non-working holiday to enable Filipinos to witness the inaugural ceremonies for President-elect Benigno Aquino III.

The Proclamation states thus:

“PROCLAMATION NO. 2085, declaring Wednesday, June 30, 2010 as special non-working holiday throughout the Philippines.

Whereas the presidential inaugural ceremonies for the incoming President of the Republic of the Philippines will be held on June 30, 2010.

Whereas it is fitting and proper that all citizens of our country be given full opportunity to witness and welcome this historic event in the life of the nation.

Now therefore I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by the virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby declare Wednesday, June 30, 2010, a special non- working holiday throughout the Philippines.” (PIA V Release)