Albayanos, Fil-Chi Communities to offer Holy Mass, Prayers for hostage victims

LEGAZPI CITY— The province of Albay has enjoined all sectors to support and pray for the victims of Monday’s bloody hostage crisis.

“In response to the hostage crisis, the Provincial Government of Albay, local Catholic Church, Filipino-Chinese community, Catholic schools, city government here and other local government units will hold simultaneous Mass Offering with special intentions for the Hong Kong nationals hostage victims, both for those who perished and survived,” Albay Governor Joey Salceda said.

This special mass will be on Sunday, 9:30 am in 54 churches across Albay, including St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Albay district here, Our Lady of the Gate Church in Daraga town, St. Jude Chapel, Our Lady of Fatima in this city and all other parishes in the province.

“Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Director Maria O. Ravanilla started the idea and the provincial government of Albay fully supports it,” Salceda added.

Salceda furthered that the Albay masses will also give special intention to the Filipinos, who are at this moment still at grief because of the tragic event that unfold last Monday where nine Hong Kong nationals died including the Police Capt. Rolando Mendoza the hostage taker,

Salceda said “Albayanos will also pray for Pinoys and PNoy in response to the hostage crisis.”

Filipino and Chinese residents here will also join hands to offer special prayers for the Hong Kong victims who perished and survived during the masses. (MALoterte, PIA V)

BICOL REGION IS FMD FREE -- WOAH

SORSOGON CITY — Three zones in the Philippines including the Bicol region were finally certified by the Organization Mondiale de la Sante Animale (World Organization for Animal Health or WOAH) as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Free Areas.

This was bared by Sorsogon Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Enrique Espiritu following receipt of certification corroborating the declaration of the WOAH that ten areas in the Philippines are finally free of FMD.

These areas include Cordillera, Region I, Region II and Mindoro (Zone 1), Calabarzon, Region III, National Capital Region (NCR) and Pangasinan (Zone 2), and the regions of Bicol and Mimaropa (Zone 3), , all in Luzon.

Espiritu said that the certification states that following a recommendation of the Office International Des Epizootes (OIE) Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases, the World Assembly of Delegates of the OIE approved on May 25, 2010 that three zones designated by the delegates of the Philippines in the documentation submitted to the OIE headquarters on December 4, 2009 are recognized by the OIE as free from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

“In addition, the organization also certified that vaccination in these areas is no longer practiced in accordance with the provisions of Article 8.5.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code,” Espiritu said.

He also bared that the recognition is likewise based on the documentation submitted to the OIE by the Official Veterinary Services of the Philippines.

“Though granted of the certification, the Delegate of Philippines to the OIE has still the obligation to notify the OIE immediately of any significant epidemiological event relating to FMD in Philippines and to confirm annually that the epidemiological situation has remained unchanged, according to the requirements set by the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code,” he added.

In this province, it can be recalled that in December 22, 1999, Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee issued a memorandum banning the selling/shipment of FMD susceptible animals from Irosin town after a case has been recorded here.

However, subsequent to the laboratory findings of the Philippine Animal Health Center and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI-DA) declaring that no new FMD case was recorded from December 31, 1999 in the said town and the rest of the towns across the province, the governor immediately lifted said ban on May 9, 2000. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon)

MASBATE EX-MAYOR’S SON CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING

MASBATE CITY—Police have filed criminal charges against the son of a former mayor of Monreal who was arrested on Tuesday last week (Aug. 16) for allegedly selling methamphetamine hydrochloride or “shabu” to a police informant.

Senior Inspector Lope E. Badillo of Masbate City Police Station identified the suspect as Benigno C. Cantela, said to be a son of former Mayor Sotero Cantela who reportedly operates nightspots in Legazpi City.

Sources who were involved in the operation said operatives of Masbate City Police Station and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency first apprehended a person in front of Pausok Bar & Grills along the coastal road in Barangay Ibingay, Masbate City, at around 5:20 p.m. after he sold a packet of shabu to a secret agent posing as a buyer.

The sources said that under questioning, the suspect (whose name was concealed in the meantime ostensibly because he was collaborating with the authorities in subsequent operations) pointed to the younger Cantela as the alleged owner of the drugs and said that he was waiting for him to remit the money.

The suspect afterward knocked on the hotel room of Benigno for the payoff. Cantela was arrested as he received the money inside Room 3 of Rendezvous Resort and Restaurant along the coastal road in Barangay Nursery.

Badillo said that when frisked, Benigno put up a futile attempt to keep 11 sachets of shabu—weighing around 1.3 grams and worth about P16,500 in the streets—which the lawmen seized from the pockets of his shorts.

Also seized were paraphernalia for sniffing shabu including aluminum foil and totter, in which the residues indicated they were used in the past few minutes, according to a source who was involved in the operation.

The younger Cantela, listed as No. 7 in the top 10 targets of PNP’s anti-drug campaign in Masbate, was under surveillance before his arrest, police said. (EADelgado/PIA Masbate)

DARAGA SETS 2-DAY JOBS FAIR

DARAGA, Albay — More than 10 local and overseas establishments have signified to join the jobs fair to cater to many Daragueños on September 2-3, 2010 from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, as part of the week-long town fiesta celebration here.

The activity will be held at the Daraga Disaster Emergency Center at the 3rd floor of Building 3 of the Daraga Public Market here.

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the local government of Daraga will spearhead the said jobs fair together with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region V and the Rotaract of Legazpi Central.

Allied government services will also be present like the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Statistics Office (NSO).

Mr. Rey Josef R. Lawenko, Municipal PESO Officer said, “this jobs fair is a venue where applicants could decide on jobs suited to their qualifications where they could reduce cost, time and effort.”

Lawenko also said that all applications will be part of the data base for job matching and that all qualified applicants will be informed through call or text messages.

He furthered that there is an on-going pre-registration for applicants who don’t want to wait in line on the day of the jobs fair itself, adding that to pre-register, just go to the PESO Daraga during office hours and fill-up the pre-registration form. (LGU Daraga/PIA)

8th TAYO AWARDS EXTENDED

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Bicol calls on youth organizations to join the extended search for the 8th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) awards.

EMB is in one with the TAYO awards in encouraging pro-active youth organizations to showcase their contributions to the community.

TAYO 2010 is open to all youth organizations with projects conducted between mid 2009 and before the TAYO extended deadline on September 15, 2010.

TAO Awards Foundation stressed that youth groups don’t have to be a school organization or affiliated with a national organization to join the contest. In the past years, TAYO have received entries from various youth groups, student councils, barkadas, religious groups, volunteer groups, cause-oriented groups, etc.

TAYO 2010 mechanics and entry forms can be downloaded from www.taoawards.net and www.youth.net.ph. Also, interested organizations may contact the TAYO Secretariat through telephone no. 781-1406 or send e-mail at tayo.secretariat@gmail.com. (DENR-EMB V /PIA)

CAMNORTE BEEFS UP ANTI CHILD LABOR PROGRAM

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Provincial Sagip Batang Mangagawa-Quick Action Team (SBM-QAT) will intensify its anti-child labor program in this province to transform the lives of child laborers, their families and communities towards their sense of self-worth, empowerment and development.

In a meeting held here Tuesday (August 21), Camarines Norte Provincial Field Officer Ruben Romanillos of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said that they will reactivate the SBM-QAT to fully support the programs and projects of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children (PCWC).

He said that the move is also in line with the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL) strategic framework for 2007-2015 vision to make this country a child labor free.

Romanillos explained that SBM-QAT has started in 2004 and since then a total of 904 minors have been rescued and administrative cases were filed concerning violation of labor standards by requiring the erring employers to restitute the unpaid monetary claims due to the child victims.

He said that most of the rescued child laborers have been reintegrated with their respective families and communities with the help of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and some were provided with educational assistance, skills training and livelihood assistance.

He cited that since the passage of RA 9231 in 2003, 15 establishments mostly KTV bars have been permanently closed by the DOLE for employing minors in lewd or obscene shows and criminal cases have been filed.

Romanillos said that their office project “Angel Tree” launched in 2006 provided food, clothes, shoes, bags, and school supplies and scholarships/educational assistance to child laborers and livelihood assistance to their parents.

The DOLE also has Kabuhayan para sa Magulang ng Batang Manggawa (KaSaMa Project) launched in 2008 which aims to contribute to the prevention and elimination of child laborers access to decent livelihood opportunities for enhanced income.

The KaSaMa Project was able to provide some 4 million livelihood assistance to 296 parents of child laborers for the first semester of 2009, he added

On the other hand, Purita Briñas CAO IV of the CAO, provincial government also discussed the RA 9208, the anti-trafficking in persons act and RA 9231 “An act providing for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and affording stronger protection for the working child amending RA 7610” to stakeholders for their use in implementation of anti-child labor program especially during rescue operations. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

OWWA ANNOUNCES ITS 2010 MOFYA

LEGAZPI CITY — The search is on for the 2010 Model OFW Family of the Year Award (MOFYA).

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Bicol welcomes nominations from various NGOs, POs, religious organizations/associations, community-based organizations/associations, and LGUs for OFW families who meet the following criteria: a) wholesome family; b) civic/community involvement of OFW and family; c) success in OFW and family’s education and/or profession; and d) success in managing family finances.

All seventeen (17) regions of the country shall have 2 MOFYA winners each, one from the land-based category and the other from the sea-based. From these regional MOFYA winners, two (2) will emerged as national winners during the national awarding on December 2010. Two more special awards shall be conferred namely, Outstanding Achievement in Community Projects and in Entrepreneurship, respectively.

For last year’s MOFYA National Search, OFW Emilio Belo and family of Baleno, Masbate emerged as winner in the sea-based category.

MOFYA is an annual search undertaken by OWWA to give due recognition to the outstanding achievements of the OFWs and their families and promote best practices in managing family challenges. Specifically it aims to serve as role models for the whole OFW population, promote success stories about OFW families’ endurance over the challenges on their family relations and uplift the image of OFW families in the community, and highlight the role of OFW family acting as a group/unit in the attainment of socio-civic, educational, professional and material success.

For more inquiries on the 2010 MOFYA nationwide search, kindly visit OWWA Regional Welfare Office No. 5 at the 3rd Floor of ANST Building, Washington Drive, Legazpi City. Or contact the office at (052) 481-4503/4562 or thru email at owwarwo5@yahoo.com and rwo5@owwa.gov.ph. (KTRamirez, OWWA V/PIA)

PROTECTION FOR BICOLANO OFWS IN HONGKONG SOUGHT

LEGAZPI CITY –- The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Family Circles Confederation, Inc. in Bicol has sought the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) here to take the necessary steps to protect OFWs based in Hong Kong from possible harassment and maltreatment as an offshoot of the tragic hostage-taking incident in front of Quirino grandstand last Monday.

Elsie Atienza, president of Bicol OFW Family Circle Confederation, Inc., said that organization and the families of OFWs in Hong Kong have expressed fears because of possible retaliation of some Chinese nationals following the bloody hostage drama.

"Actually some families of our OFWs based in Hong Kong and in mainland China are worried after the incident, that is why we are now coordinating with the OWWA to ensure the safety of our OFWs," Atienza said.

She also urged OWWA regional office in Bicol to put up a free overseas telephone line so that families of OFWs can easily communicate with their families and loved ones.

OWWA Bicol regional director Jocelyn Hapal, on the other hand, said that there are still unconfirmed reports that Bicolano OFWs based in Hong Kong are allegedly bearing the brunt as a consequence of the hostage incident. (MDRama, PNA Bicol)


MINERAL MINING IN MATNOG OPPOSED
By Danny O. Calleja

MATNOG, Sorsogon — Local public officials have joined residents and the Catholic Church here in calls for the stoppage of the operations of a mining project extracting iron ore in a watershed area of this small fourth class town.

The calls are directed to incumbent Sorsogon Gov. Raul Lee whose office issued the small-scale mining permit (SSMP) to the project and the regional office for Bicol of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that provided an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to it.

EMB regional director Gilbert Gonzales issued the ECC to Antonio Ocampo, Jr. of Ligao City on Aug. 19, 2009 while the SSMP was obtained on September 23 of the same year from then Gov. Sally Lee, the incumbent governor’s wife.

The ECC allows Ocampo to extract 50,000 metric tons of iron ore per year for two years from a 19.5-hectare area in Barangay Balocawe here. The SSMP which is binding for the period of one year but renewable for another year affirms the provisions of the ECC.

Ocampo was also able to secure a permit for his mining activities in the same village from the office of then mayor Guillermo So last February 2. A certification issued by the Office of the Municipal Treasurer last July 5 however said Ocampo has not applied for any business permit for mining operations in the municipality.

“From the very beginning, Mr. Ocampo has already been in bad faith in making us believe that he was only a contractor for the construction of a barangay road in the area. He had already gone far with his operations when we found out that what he was doing was actually mining,” town councilor Cristopher

Hadap, the chairman of the committee on agriculture, natural resources and environmental protection of the municipal legislative council on Tuesday said.

The mining operations was formally brought to the attention of the council last July by residents of Barangay Balocawe and neighboring villages who observed ruthless destruction of the environment, Hadap said.

Following a hearing conducted last July 27, Hadap said his committee has “strongly recommended that the DENR-EMB revoke the ECC granted to Ocampo and that in the meantime, a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) be issued to stop further operation”.

The recommendation was based on findings that Ocampo violated his ECC and SSMP that allow him only small-scale mining operations referred to by Republic Act No. 7076 or the People’s Small-scale Mining Act of 1991 as “mining activities which rely heavily on manual labor using simple implement and methods and do not use explosives or heavy mining equipment”, he said.

Upon ocular inspection, Hadap said “it was established that the operation of Mr. Ocampo is no longer small-scale mining considering the use of sophisticated heavy equipment making the same a large-scale mining”.

A team of the EMB that inspected the mining site last May 8 reported a similar finding and noted that the operations involved 11 dump trucks, a bulldozer, two backhoes, a rock breaker and a compactor which was “contrary to the provision of DENR Memorandum Order 2007-07 which restricts the use of sophisticated mining/heavy equipment.”

In a letter-report dated May 12, 2010 to then Gov. Sally Lee, the EMB team said it was observed that Ocampo’s mining activities have been encroaching on vast territories outside the 19.4840-hectare covered by his SSMP and ECC.

The EMB team also sought clarification on discrepancies with the ECC issued to Ocampo that states in the project description to cover “a Small-Scale Iron Mining Project but in the succeeding paragraph, it covers extraction of sand and gravel. Iron ore extraction and sand/ gravel extraction are different activities.”

It was also established according to the report of Hadap’s committee that “the river system of Barangay Balocawe and neighboring areas that is particularly used in irrigation purposes is now depleted or running shallow aside from the fact that it is no longer clear and clean as before”.

All those findings warrant the suspension of the mining operations and yet, both the EMB and the Office of the Governor that have authority to void its permits based on those deliberate violations appear to be playing deaf and blind amidst popular uprising against it, provincial board member Vladimir Frivaldo told the PNA on Tuesday.

“We at the provincial board are now in the process of passing a resolution condemning the mining operations and urging for its termination,” he added.

Fr. Aleander Jeruz, the town’s Parish priest, said the entire municipality particularly farmers and environmentalists have gone restless over this mining operation that they see as very destructive to the environment and threatening the source of irrigation water for the farms.

Chairman Rogelio Gamis of Barangay Gadgaron, a village seven kilometers down the mining site said his people are strongly opposed to Ocampo’s activities that they see would later redound to miseries of their lives in the community.

“The people of Matnog and all Sorsogueños who care for the environment and the future of the next generations have all the reasons to rally against this mining venture but our problem is our governor who had the authority to void the SSMP yet ‘lawyering’ for Ocampo,” Frivaldo said.

During a recent committee hearing of the Matnog municipal legislative council, Gov. Lee openly spoke in favor of Ocampo’s mining activities and downgraded the sectors composed of the local hierarchy of the Catholic Church and villagers opposing it, Frivaldo said.

“Lee’s position is a 10-million question to us as we take a look at the governor’s mandate of protecting the province’s environment, natural resources and constituents,” he added. (PNA Bicol)

P-Noy calls for special Cabinet meeting on Friday -- Coloma

MANILA —- President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will convene this Friday afternoon (August 27) a special Cabinet meeting that will discuss the Monday’s hostage-taking incident.

Presidential Communications for Operations Office Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said in a radio interview, President Aquino called a special Cabinet meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Friday at the Heroes Hall conference room in Malacanang. Main agenda of the meeting, he added is the hostage drama in Quirino Grandstand last Monday.

Among the Cabinet members expected to attend the special Cabinet meeting are Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Coloma added Philippine National Police director-general Jesus Versoza is also expected to attend.

”There will be no other topic, the only topic to be discussed during the special Cabinet meeting will be regarding the hostage incident that took place last Monday,” Coloma told Philippine News Agency (PNA) in a phone interview.

According to Coloma, President Aquino ordered the creation of a 400-man elite strike force that will handle hostage crisis.

The elite force to be composed of police and military officers and personnel who will undergo a special training and will be equipped with modern equipment to counter hostage-takers and terrorists.

Also on Friday, President Aquino is scheduled to receice at 3 p.m. the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung Hwan of the Republic of Korea at the Music room for a courtesy call. (PIA V Release)

Foreign investor confidence in RP remains high – P-Noy

MANILA — Foreign investor confidence in the Philippines remains at an all-time high despite the bungled rescue attempt of Hong Kong nationals held hostage by a disgruntled former Manila policeman, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday (August 26).

In his speech keynoting the groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of the Rizal Technological University’s Teacher Education and Law Center Building in Mandaluyong City, President Aquino said officials of a multi-national bank based in the United States have already signified their intent to invest in the country.

The President said his forthcoming trip to the US would solidify the prospective investor’s plans which he said would generate jobs for the Filipino people.

“By the end of September, we will be going to America and upon our return, I believe that we will be bringing gifts for the Filipino people in the form of additional jobs,” the President said.

He said Deutsche Bank officials met with him in Malacañang after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident to express their collective confidence on the country as an investment venue.

“I met with bank officials in Malacañang a day after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and they told me that what we are going through right now is only temporary,” the President said.

“Our confidence in the Philippines is still complete, in fact we plan to increase our exposure here over three times because we believe that the Philippines is on the path to progress,” the President quoted the bank officials as saying.

The President said that with the increase in investments, the country’s economy would also grow and with a growing economy, the search of funding sources to bankroll various infrastructure projects would become easier.

He cited the RTU’s dream of finishing the construction of its Teacher Education and Law Center Building and other buildings of learning would certainly be within reach because funds would be readily available to finish construction of such.

“The building that we are going to build will help nurture talent that we need to generate jobs and opportunities,” the President said.

“If jobs are generated, our economy will expand, while our economy is expanding, the state will have the capability to address the needs of the people,” he added.

In closing, the President called on all Filipinos: “If we help each other, if we focus on our responsibility to others, nothing can impede the growth of the Filipino people.” (PIA V Release)

Government austerity starts with Malacanang household

MANILA — Malacanang household under President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has set the example for austerity, spending only 40% of what the previous tenant at the Palace, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was spending since he took over.

President Aquino himself revealed the savings of 60% in a press briefing Wednesday last week, August 18, saying the Internal House Affairs Office (IHAO), which handles the upkeep of Malacanang household, had informed him the previous week that its expenses today under the new administration amounted to only 40% of what was spent for the past occupants covering the same period in previous years.

The President made the disclosure when he was asked by a reporter how he was leading by example on government austerity in the light of the move of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to adopt austerity measures to contain the budget deficit this year. The budget deficit is expected to hit P325 this year, up from about P298 billion last year.

Among the austerity measures outlined by the DBM were a freeze on the government purchase of new vehicles and the construction of new buildings, except the building of classrooms.

The government is forced to adopt austerity measures after the new administration of President Aquino found that the government is left with only 10% of the budget to spend for the second half of the year.

Last Friday, President Aquino confirmed government’s move toward austerity even next year by telling an All Leaders’ Forum with volunteer groups during his presidential campaign about a hiring freeze next year in most agencies of the government, except the hiring of teachers by the Department of Education.

The President said DBM Secretary Florencio Abad had advised him against hiring more people in government due to budgetary constraints.

Abad had cited to the President that next year’s national budget has no allocation for salaries if the government hires additional employees.

In line with this move, the government also won’t be hiring many advisers and consultants to keep a lean bureaucracy and save money.

Austerity measures will also be adopted on President Aquino’s travels abroad, including his trip to the United States next month and his visits to Indonesia and Vietnam before that.

President Aquino will be traveling abroad with a small delegation compared with the big groups being brought by President Arroyo when she would travel abroad. (PIA V Release)

Secretary Coloma’s statement clarifying Inquirer story

MANILA — Presidential Communications Operations Chief Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Thursday (August 26) clarified an Inquirer online report headline “Palace Exec Doubts Hongkong Chief called Aquino during (Monday’s) Hostage Crisis.”

“The headline is not correct,” Coloma said.

The transcript of the TV interview reads: “Di kapanipaniwala yan dahil accessible siya (President Aquino) sa lahat ng oras, (That is unbelievable as he was accessible at all time),” Coloma said.

“What I meant by ‘di kapanipaniwala iyan’ is the allegation that the President was inaccessible during the hostage crisis,” Coloma explained.

In his TV interview Thursday over “Umagang Kay Ganda,” Coloma noted:

“Kung lumabas man siya ng panandali ay tiyak naming mare-reach din siya dahil dala dala ng kanyang mga aides iyong mga teleponong maaring magamit para makontak siya,” (If he did leave his office, he could still be reached through the mobile phones held by his aides) Coloma said. (PIA V Release)

P-Noy vows justice to those accountable in the hostage-taking incident

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed that justice will be served to those found accountable for the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and subsequent botched rescue attempt by security forces last Monday that led to the death of eight Hong Kong nationals.

The Chief Executive made this statement in his speech on Thursday (August 26) at the ground breaking and time-capsule laying ceremonies for the construction of the Teacher Education and Law Center Building of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.

The President, however, said that due process will be maintained and the results of the investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation into the case will be the basis for bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“Ginagarantiya ko sa inyo: winawasto na nung gabi pa lang noon yung pagkakamali na nangyari at yan po ay ilalabas natin sa nalalapit na imbestigasyong pangungunahan ng DoJ at ng NBI (I assure you, we started to rectify whatever mistakes had been committed Monday evening, and you will be informed of the outcome of the investigation to be conducted by DOJ and the NBI),” the President said.

“May mga nagkulang, may mga magbabayad (There were shortcomings, but there will be justice),” he declared. (PIA V Release)