ALBAY MOURNS AS BICOLANA BEAUTY DIED IN CAMSUR ROAD MISHAP

LEGAZPI CITY — Melody Adelaide Gersbach, Bb. Pilipinas-International 2009, along with two others died Saturday (August 21) in a road mishap in Camarines Sur, a police report said.

“She is so young and full of potentials aside from the oozing beauty, talent and intelligence that serves as role model for this generation and the generations to come, but life is very unpredictable and only God can answer all this mysteries,” Albay governor Joey Salceda who was struck upon knowing the fate of the beloved ‘daughter’ of Albay.

Salceda said Melody has brought Albay tourism at the forefront together with other Bicolanas who reign in their respective beauty titles which collectively contributes to making the region and the province of Albay one of the centers of tourism in the country.

“Melody has done her part and could have done so much more. The entire province deeply feels the loss and shares the sadness of her family. I just hope the tragedy will not affect Venus in Las Vegas and instead use this event as a challenge and to uplift the plight of Bicol,” Salceda said.

Gersbach and three other companions were heading towards Naga City when their red Toyota Innova (with plate number NTQ 364) collided with a passenger bus along the Maharlika highway in Pawili village of Bula town at around 11:45am.

Gersbach, 24, and two other companions identified as Alden “Owen” Orense, her make-up artist, and Santos “Dodong” Ramos, the vehicle driver, were declared ‘dead-on-the-spot’ by responding policemen who rushed to the scene of the accident.

The Innova van was a ‘total wreck’ as described by onlookers. No one was reported injured among the bus passengers.

The lone survivor, identified as a certain Ronald Lita, was immediately brought to Bicol Medical Center in Naga City. He is reported to be in critical condition as of press time.

Gersbach was supposed to attend the Ms Bicolandia Executive Committee meeting held in Avenue Plaza hotel in Naga City.

Her remains was brought to her hometown in Daraga, Albay where she is residing.

The cadavers of Orense and Ramos were initially brought to Funeraria Del Carmen in Naga City.

Wilson Pontillas, the driver of the Guevarra bus (with plate number EVG 121) which figured in the accident, voluntarily surrendered to the municipal police station in Pili town.

Pontillas was said to be trying to avoid a tricycle along the highway when it rammed into the Toyota Innova van from the opposite direction. (PNA Bicol/PIA)

BIR SORSOGON DELIVERS PROMPT SERVICES WITH THE ‘HANDANG MAGLINGKOD PROJECT’

SORSOGON CITY — Clients of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) district office here express relief with the prompt delivery of frontline services of the agency through the Taxpayers Service Area (TSA), the main component of the BIR’s institutionalized ‘Handang Maglingkod Project’ (HMP).

“With the BIR’s Taxpayers Service Area provided for us, we were able to make our transactions faster saving more of our time from waiting just to process our documents,” observed one local BIR client.

According to BIR Sorsogon Revenue District Officer Arturo Abenoja, Jr., just like other BIR offices in the country rendering frontline services to taxpayers, they have provided a specific reception area at their office’s main entrance for taxpayers transacting with the BIR.

“It serves as a one-stop-shop to address taxpayer’s needs without the necessity of a follow-up or referral to other offices,” he added.

Abenoja also said that the TSA is open from eight o’clock in the morning to past 5 o’clock in the afternoon with no break as per compliance with the republic Act 9485 or the Anti-Red tape Act of 2007.

Institutionalized last year, the program aims at promoting fast, efficient and courteous delivery of services to taxpayers as well as institutes a system for measuring the level of taxpayer satisfaction with the bureau’s services.

Abenoja also added that the key feature of the TSA is their administration of a taxpayer service satisfaction survey which will give them an idea of the kind of service they render to their clients.

“Through a logbook which we provide for them, our clients can ventilate their complaints and make their comments and suggestions,” he said.

“And to keep our visiting clients informed and updated, information materials are also made available for them,” he further said.

With the HMP now being strengthened and institutionalized, BIR will no doubt provide better, faster, and more efficient service to their clients thus will promote greater voluntary compliance among the taxpayers. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

REINVESTMENT NEEDED TO BOOST RP’S ECONOMY: SALCEDA

LEGAZPI CITY — More capital investments are needed to stimulate the country’s economic growth, a top economic analyst here said today.

Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda has urged the Aquino administration to draw up a national policy that would persuade local and foreign businesses here to reinvestment in order to stimulate the country’s economic climate.

“The national policy should be: firms must invest! whether here or abroad but preferably here,” Salceda stressed.

Citing economic ratings of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Top 1000 companies, Salceda said these companies have accumulated profits of P3 trillion plus non-cash of P1 trillion dividends over the past ten years but only reinvested P1.1 trillion.

If local firms invest at home, it would have similar effect on the peso since investments in the Philippines require massive importation of capital equipment and raw material and therefore would use up foreign exchange, he said.

With investment rate at only 14% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), way below its neighbors and the required rate of 23% to grow 8-10% GDP, there are enough domestic opportunities in modernization of existing inventory of infrastructure and industrial plant and equipment and in the expansion of capacities in tourism, transportation, housing, IT and IT-enable services, Salceda explained.

The first wave of investments under the Aquino watch is likely to focus on items that reduce costs of doing business or enhance ease of doing business.

He claims that the government is targeting 18% investment rate in 2011 basically from private domestic sector given fiscal constraints capping public infrastructure.

To meet this investment goal it would require a total private investment of P940 billion while the import content would at least account for 50% of investment costs or $10.4 billion, Salceda said..

He said this policy once carried out would expect the government to reduce its own foreign borrowing program, so its capital outlay of 4% of GDP and its import content would likely draw down on the regular forex flows. (PNA Bicol/PIA)

DOLE PUSHES MALLS TO PUT UP A NURSERY

LEGAZPI CITY — Establishments in the Bicol region with 200 or more workers are urged by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to set up in-house programs on health and family welfare.

“The reason why we look for a job is because of our family. Bicol is a family-oriented region. So companies here should have a specific program for family welfare…It is a must!” DOLE Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor said yesterday during the general assembly of the Bicol Federation of Family Welfare Committees, Incorporated (BFFWCI) held here.

DOLE Bicol aims to revive and strengthen the BFFWCI in response to the call of Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz to streamline several advocacy trainings and other activities for implementation of the agency’s Family Welfare Program (FWP).

“Perhaps we’ll start by requiring malls across the region to put-up a breastfeeding area after we re-organize the BFFWCI,” Villamor stressed.

Specifically, DOLE Bicol eyes to tie up with the Department of Health (DOH) in its nutrition campaign for would-be mothers by pressing establishments, more particularly, malls to create a breastfeeding area.

“The idea was welcomed by the participants. In fact they said that it should not only be concentrated to malls,” Villamor said.

Another area that DOLE Bicol wants to pursue in its FWP is to have a massive inter-establishment advocacy on dengue and the sharing of existing family welfare programs. The representatives of the 19 companies present at the affair agreed in unison.

“One reason why we wanted to reorganize the BFFWCI is for the members to interact with each other and share their best practices. I think I saw it happening already in this meeting,” Villamor commented.

Aside from the general assembly, a Technical Learning Session on Department Order (DO) 56-03, Family Health Program Services, and the launching of the Search for the Best Family Welfare Program were conducted during the one-day affair.

“Good family foundation means better workers condition and better workers condition means more work output and less margin of errors. A company with a strong family welfare program would mean high-output and very competitive company,” Villamor ended. (RPEscalante, DOLE V/PIA)

KALAHI-CIDSS PROMOTES COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PROJECTS

LEGAZPI CITY — “We are very proud of this work we are doing on behalf of the community,” Avelino Arcello, one of the community volunteers from Barangay Panan-awan in Cawayan, Masbate enthused during the conduct of KALAHI-CIDSS training on procurement for community volunteers last August 12-13, 2010.

More than 200 community volunteers gathered in Cawayan Sports Complex and participate to the training on procurement for community volunteers, one of the organized capability building activities of the project that will ensure that community projects are designed and developed in an appropriate and responsive manner.

In this regard, the KALAHI-CIDSS invests heavily in building local capacities to engage in effective project design and development.

The activity was facilitated by the members of the DSWD Regional Project Management Team (RPMT) and discussed topics on procurement policy and process, packaging, procedures, filling up of forms and procurement red flags.

Arcello is in-charge of preparing and packaging of materials that they will use for their proposed school building.

“Our participation in this KALAHI-CIDSS training had led to a better understanding of the work that we do and how important the Project can be. I am proud to be a volunteer in providing support to the community,” Arcello said.

Although this is the first time that Arcello is carrying out the procurement work, he said that it has taught them just how much can be achieved when everyone participates in the barangay.

“As a volunteer, I have personally awakened by the needs of our community. We need to work hard to attain our goal of having a school building project,” added Arcello.

The hard work and dedication of the participants from the first day till the end of the training was highly commendable.

Cawayan Mayor Edgar S. Condor praised the efforts of the community volunteers who literally sweated over the various stages of the training workshop.

Condor said that the people will surely feel ownership of the Project since they are involved in project identification and preparation. “KALAHI-CIDSS is the Project that involves the people right from the start,” he added.

The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) project is a revolutionary approach to poverty alleviation being implemented by the DSWD.

Cawayan is the only municipality in Bicol for additional 16 municipalities to implement KALAHI-CIDSS nationwide. (CLMartinez, DSWD V/PIA)

ARMY, MEDIA HOLD HUMANITARIAN MISSION IN CAMARINES SUR

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – At least a hundred members of the Philippine Army donated blood, some provide medical and dental mission , as part of the humanitarian mission in Naga City Saturday (August 21), a military official said.

LtCol Erwin De Asis, Civil-Military Operations officer of the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA), said at least 100 CAFGU personnel from the 22nd Infantry Battalion came to donate blood that will benefit people who need blood transfusion during emergency medical procedures.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, commander of the 9ID PA sent the medical and dental personnel of the Philippine Army to provide services to the target beneficiaries.

More that 200 locals came to the University of Sta Isabel gym and availed of the free medical and dentals services.

Amelia Borres, 50, said that she is very thankful that the Philippine Army has constantly helped the people in Camarines Sur. She said that she came to have her tooth extracted.

“The free dental services provided by the Army are a big help to ordinary Bicolanos like me. I am also thankful to the ABS-CBN for providing free medicines in coordination with the Philippine Army,” said Borres.

Captain Warlito Chee, 9ID PA dental officer, narrated that he had participated in the numerous civic-action missions requested by various agencies and local government units.

“I had practically roamed around Camarines Sur to carry out dental missions even in remote barangays which are categorized as ‘rebel-influenced’,” said Chee.

Amy Villafuerte, manager of ABS-CBN Bicol personally came to supervise the event. She said that her group is very eager to help the people in various capacities.

“I would like to thank the Philippine Army for being our reliable partner in this undertaking. We look forward to having more partnerships in the future,” said Villafuerte. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

HK appreciates RP efforts in hostage aftermath

MANILA — The Hong Kong government has expressed appreciation for the assistance and swift response provided by the Philippine government in addressing their requests including the repatriation of the remains of the victims in the hostage-taking incident on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda said the message of appreciation was personally relayed by Guo Shao Chuen of Hong Kong’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo during their meeting on Tuesday night in Manila.

In a press briefing on Wednesday (August 25), Lacierda said that Chuen asked Robredo to convey to President Benigno S. Aquino III the Hong Kong government’s appreciation of the swift processing of documents and other requirements of the relatives of victims of the tragic incident.

Lacierda said Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman led the send off for the Hong Kong nationals on Wednesday afternoon.

Lacierda welcomed the magnanimous pronouncement of action star Jackie Chan on his Twitter account saying that incidents like the tragic hostage taking in Manila do happen around the world and that “humans should be united and not kill or hate each other.”

“We thank Mr. Jackie Chan for extending his hand of friendship. We hope that our friends in Hong Kong will also extend their hands of friendship again to us. It is an isolated incident, it is an unfortunate incident. We grieved over the tragedy that had happened. We are not taking this lightly. We thank Mr. Jackie Chan and we hope the people of Hong Kong will also understand our situation,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said the President has already called for a full investigation of the incident to be led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and DILG Secretary Robredo.

He said the Philippines will send a high-level delegation to Hong Kong and Beijing to be led by Vice President Jejomar Binay and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo to reiterate the country’s deepest regret and submit an official report on the incident. (PIA V Release)

Aquino sending high level delegation to China

MANILA — President Benigno Aquino III has designated a high level delegation to the People’s Republic of China to officially explain what transpired during Monday’s hostage taking incident which resulted in the death of eight Hongkong nationals.

The delegation is composed of Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo.

In a press briefing Wednesday (August 25) in Malacanang, the President said the delegation is making the necessary arrangements with the Chinese embassy and will proceed to Beijing to officially send a report to President Hu Jintao.

The delegation according to the President, will then proceed to Hong Kong to have a dialogue with the Chief Executive of the Special Administrative Region, Donald Tsang.
In a phone conversation with Tsang Tuesday, the President explained the chronology of events that transpired during the bloody incident.

The President said he understands the anger of the people of Hong Kong because of the incident and asked for their understanding.

He assured that the government is already correcting the deficiencies in the implementation of operating procedures during the hostage taking.

“None of us wanted this outcome and we’d like to emphasize the fact that the primary consideration was to secure all of the hostages” the President said. (PIA V Release)

Gov’t launches nationwide dengue info drive

MANILA — The government has embarked on a nationwide information campaign in the wake of the rising incidence of dengue cases in the country.

In a news briefing, President Benigno S. Aquino III said the drive is focused on cleanliness particularly in the light of a Department of Health report of a 50 percent increase in the incidence of the killer disease this year.

“During our meeting on Monday, Dr. Enrique Ona (DOH Secretary) mentioned there was a 50 percent increase in the incidence of dengue cases. He is now going around for an education campaign dealing with the cleanliness drive,” the President said.

The President said the educational drive involves public awareness and participation in cleaning the common breeding grounds of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes such as unattended old tires, empty cans and bottles, gutters and the like.

“We would rather have the prevention rather than the curing aspect of it. There was also a study being done whether or not there is an effect already of the global climate change that has increased the population of this dengue-bearing mosquitoes,” the President said.

The DOH earlier attributed the increase in dengue cases to the El Niño phenomenon.
From January to July this year alone, the DOH reported 40,648 cases with a total of 328 deaths.

Most of the dengue cases were reported in Central Mindanao, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (Calabarzon) area, Southern Mindanao, Northern Mindanao and Metro Manila.

At present, the DOH is intensifying its dengue fever awareness and prevention program in schools and communities nationwide and advising the public to be aware of the flu-like symptoms of the disease like prolonged fever and rashes. (PIA V Release)

SK, Barangay polls to proceed as scheduled

MANILA — The Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections will go on as scheduled, after all.

This, after Congress has acceded to President Benigno S. Aquino’s request to pursue the conduct of the said polls in October this year.

President Aquino announced the development in a news briefing with Malacanang reporters Wednesday.

The confirmation came after the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms on Wednesday had dismissed and ‘archived’ all bills and resolutions of the minority bloc to suspend the Barangay and SK polls.

“I appealed to members of the ruling coalition in both chambers to support us in our drive to continue with what has already been scheduled by the pertinent law and that is the conduct of Barangay and SK elections by October of this year. And that was again a primary appeal that they have acceded to,” the President said.

During his meeting with members of Congress, the President explained that ‘a renewal of mandate’ and the conduct of Barangay and SK elections this coming October is necessary in governance as being ‘the primary instrumentality in carrying out any and all programs of the state.’

He stressed that “without the renewed mandate the support of the populace essential in attaining success of this objectives will be severely put to the test.” (PIA V Release)

Palace thanks HK actor Jacky Chan for showing gesture of goodwill

MANILA— Malacanang on Wednesday (August 25) thanked Hong Kong's action film star Jacky Chan for showing a gesture of goodwill towards Filipinos in light of the bloody hostage crisis last Monday and hoped that other Hong Kong residents would do the same.

The actor, in his twitter account, said he is "extending a hand of friendship" to the Filipinos amid the bloody hostage incident on Monday that killed seven Hong Kong nationals.

Chan said: "If they killed the guy sooner, they will say, why not negotiate first? If they negotiate first, they ask: why not kill the guy sooner? So sad!"

"HK is a nation built by a lot of different people. Don’t worry! We do not hate!" he said.

"I remember the days before in Korea when we talked about how people should love each other. We already have so many natural disasters... typhoon, tsunami, everything! Humans should be united and not kill or hate each other."

"Thank you Mr. Jacky Chan for extending a hand of friendship. We hope the people in Hong Kong will also extend their hand of friendship to us," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.

Lacierda also appealed to Hong Kong nationals for sobriety and assured them that the government is doing its best to attend to the needs of the victims' families.

"We grieve the tragedy that has happened. We hope the Hong Kong people will also understand our situation," he said.

The Palace made the call amid reports that Filipinos in Hong Kong are feeling the brunt of anger of residents there.

"We ask the people of Hong Kong for some understanding and I hope they won't take it against our Filipino brothers and sisters in Hong Kong," Lacierda said. (PIA V Release)