NATIONAL MARITIME WEEK CELEBRATION ON

LEGAZPI CITY — The National Maritime Week celebration has commenced Monday (September 20) promoting the contribution of the maritime sector and a fitting tribute to the country’s seafarers who enliven the domestic and foreign commerce.

This year’s celebration evolves on the theme, the “Philippine Maritime Industry: Onward to Global Competitiveness”
Atty, Francisquiel Mancile, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Legazpi City port manager, said the observance serves as an excellent avenue to raise the level of people’s consciousness on issues and concerns prevalent in the maritime front like the seafarers’ welfare, marine habitats and coastal activities, prevention and disaster response protocol and dimensions, among others, as well as highlight the role of maritime sector in nation-building.

Now on its 15th year, this year’s celebration started off with the National Seafarer’s Day Thanksgiving Mass September 20 at the Modular passenger shed at the Port of Legazpi, followed by a Tribute to Fallen Sailors/Memorial at the Sea, Blowing of Ship’s Horn, Floral Offering to Lost and Dead Seafarers and Motorcade within selected city thoroughfares.

On Tuesday (September 21), the Static Display/Video Show will be launched to feature the agencies under the Department of Transportation and Communication’s Water Sector, namely the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), & Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Also featured will be the Philippine Navy, PNP-Maritime Group, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) and Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Foundation. The exhibit will last up to September 26, 2010.

The subsequent days will have the Maritime Seminar on Career Path (Sept. 22); Search for Outstanding Merchant Marine Cadet 2010 (Sept. 23); Search and Rescue Drill; boodle fight; and, launching of the Philippine Marine Environment Protection Associate (PHILMERA) will all be held on Sept. 24; the Coastal Clean-Up, and Maritime Quiz Bee (General Maritime Information) is set on Sept. 25.

The week-long events may also serve as avenue for both the public and private sectors to engage in dynamic interaction and information sharing with the end-view of unifying efforts and consciousness to be able to meet the many challenges besetting our maritime front. (PPA V/PIA/mal)

MARITIME GROUP LEADS DRILL ON WATER, AIR AND LAND
SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

LEGAZPI CITY — Disaster managers in Bicol region are in full force to test disaster response capabilities as a Water Search and Rescue Drill (WASAR) is set on Friday at the coastal waters of this city, an officer of the Philippine Navy (PN) in Bicol said.

Ensign Denver Ramon, Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol) spokesman, said the disaster preparedness and response drill would put to test various maritime groups in land, sea, and air disaster search and rescue operation.

The activity aims to gauge the preparedness of rescuers of different agencies in the advent of sea disasters as well as develop their interoperability to carry out an efficient and successful search and rescue operations. Rescuers will also display to Bicolanos their capability in responding sea mishaps.

Ramon averred the exercise will train participants on rescue at sea, and provide opportunity to train Naval Special Operations Unit personnel on some aspect of special rescue operations such as Helo-cast.

“The drill will involve the use of two Cessna planes, two Huey helicopters, six rubber boats, a Navy Patrol gun boat, an ambulance and a fire truck,” added Ramon.

Ramon furthered the search and rescue drill would involve 68 personnel from the PN, Philippine Air Force Tactical Operations Group (PAF-TOG), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), PNP Maritime, Albay Health Emergency Management (AHEM), and the Bureau Fire Protection (BFP), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Maritime Polytechnic College Foundation, and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

The drill highlights the observance of the National Maritime Week Celebration on September 20-26 and pre-anniversary activities of Navforsol’s 8th Foundation Day on October 4 2010.

Navforsol’s, in partnership with maritime agencies, will spearhead the joint capability demonstration on WASAR along Embarcadero waters here. (MALoterte, PIA V)

DTI, SORCASS LEADS RETOOLING OF TIMBANGAN NG BAYAN

SORSOGON Province — The Sorsogon Consumers Association, Inc. (SORCASS), an active partner of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the implementation of consumer welfare programs, has commenced with the retooling of the “Timbangan ng Bayan” (public weighing scales) in several towns in the province .

Initially, two new weighing scales were turned-over to municipal public market in Casiguran town and Abuyog satellite market in Sorsogon City just recently through their respective custodians, market administrator Luisito Mendoza, Jr. and Isagani Hubilla, respectively.

The turn-over was witnessed by Casiguran town Mayor Ester Hamor and Abuyog OIC Punong Barangay Augusto Laguna.

DTI Sorsogon Consumer Welfare Division Head Evelyn G. Paguio said that the project is a collaborative effort of its volunteer-members to help protect consumers against deceptive sales acts and practices.

SORCASS volunteers who joined the significant event were, Ted and Elsa Malecki, Renerio Hubilla, Mark Grajo, Teresita Go and Salvacion Destura. DTI, on the other hand, was represented by two personnel from the Consumer Welfare Division.

Divina M. Diaz, SORCASS President, meanwhile announced that a similar timbangan will also be given to the municipality of Donsol where the association has a chapter.

Besides being a strong advocate for consumer welfare, the association also assists the DTI in its price monitoring and enforcement activities. (Rod Doctor & SCMalaya, DTI Sor/PIA/mal)

Feature:
GROWING BY LEAPS, REAPING BY HEAPS
…award after award for ANALOBEL

by Jacque G. Mance, Maynardo E. Doluntap, Jr. & SCMalaya

Sorsogon Province — The backyard enterprise in the coastal barangay of Poropandan in Matnog, province of Sorsogon has grown by leaps. It has become one of the leading handicraft exporters of the province and the company's impact to the community and the local economy has been reaping for Analobel Enterprises awards and recognitions from various institutions.

During the "Halyao Award" for Outstanding Bicolano Businessperson of the Year (Manufacturing Sector) given by the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) in partnership with the City Government of Naga and the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, Ana G. Gotladera, the proprietor of Analobel Enterprises, proudly received the award.

The event was held on July 3, 2010 at the Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City. Halyao, is the pre-hispanic word for merchant, it is presented to entrepreneurs who are Bicolano by birth or by affinity, who maintain Management Excellence over a sustained period of time (not shorter than 5 years), resulting to successful enterprise within the region and in the Philippines and that it manifest deliberate and sustainable practices of corporate social responsibility.

It can also be noted that during the OTOP (One Town One Product) National Congress held at the PTTC in Pasay City on March 12, 2010 the company was named as an ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY OTOP MSME.

The citation is an acknowledgement of the company's active effort in utilizing local resources and indigenous materials in creating livelihood among the people. As an entrepreneur and advocate of environment-friendly and biodegradable products, Ms. Gotladera, has committed to produce bayong (bags) and packaging materials that help preserve and conserve our environment. "Bayong" has been identified as a good alternative packaging for plastics.

Analobel was also the recipient of 2009's OUTSTANDING OTOP MSME during the 2nd Provincial OTOP Congress in Sorsogon, held on October 2009. The enterprise brought significant impact to the community, starting as organic soap producer in 2002, the company expanded to handicraft the following year to earn better income as well as provide employment opportunities to the marginal folks of Matnog and its neighboring municipalities.

Utilizing the available raw materials in the area and armed with her innate talent in designing, Ms. Gotladera made the company's handicraft business very promising. The number of workers/subcontractors soared from 5 to its present 620. The product lines now include: bags, placemats, hampers, packaging bags and boxes, novelty items and decorative products. Its market also spread extensively within and outside the country. It found a niche in the USA for the packaging bags and boxes, home decors and accessories made from "sinamay" (woven abaca fiber) and buri.

After only eight years, the backyard enterprise has grown to sustain approximately 150 families. An exemplary transformation from micro to small level enterprise, It operates with the strong ideals of, "making business and preserving the environment". (DTI Sorsogon/PIA/mal)

POEA BEEFS UP DRIVE AGAINST ANTI-ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT IN BICOL

Legazpi City- “We cannot do this alone. Everyone must help, especially the media, if we want illegal recruiters to stop we must expose their modus operandi,” thus stated Administrator Jennifer Jardine Manalili of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) in response to DOLE - Bicol’s call for a massive Anti-Illegal Recruitment (AIR), Anti-Human Trafficking, and Anti-Child Labor campaign in the region.

Manalili’s visit in Bicol early this month signified the start of coordinated moves against illegal recruiters, human traffickers and child labor perpetuators, who are terrorizing the region. The moves, including organization, orientation, training of personnel and MOA signing among DOLE, PESO Officers, OWWA, PNP, DOJ and members of the regional tri-media, on RA 8042 (Anti-Illegal Recruitment Law), RA 9208 (Anti-Human Trafficking Law) and RA 7610 (Anti-Child Labor Law) is the first step in the quest to rid Bicol of these illegal menaces.

“For the past 10-years or so, Bicol was never visited by the POEA until now. Actually we planned this earlier but the administrator’s schedule was too tight. Illegal recruitment is present and happening in Bicol but most Bicolanos are not aware of it, so they fall as easy preys.” DOLE Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor explained.

The 2-day training was held last August 31 to September 1 in a three (3) separate-public venues as a strategy to tickle the curiosity of Bicolanos. The first venue, on August 1, was at Embarcadero Legazpi on the set of “Kapihan Sa Embarcadero” a weekly gathering and open discussion with recent issues and concerns with Legazpi based tri-media.

The second was at People’s Hall Albay Capitol Building with the Regional PESO Managers and members of the regional tri-media and the third venue, on September 1, was at Coastal View Resort Sto. Domingo, Albay.

Also, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the first ever Regional Anti-Illegal Recruitment, Anti-Human Trafficking, and Anti-Child Labor Alliance codenamed “Rehas Bicol” was signed with POEA Administrator Manalili as the lead signatory on the first day.

“This MOA will strengthen our alliance and it is only the first step. Our next step will be creating an Inter-Regional Alliance with Regions VI, VII, VIII and IX. We need the cooperation of these other regions because Bicol Region serves as a transit point for trafficked persons coming from them.” Villamor stressed.

DOLE and OWWA Bicol took the initiative of inviting POEA Manila to conduct the training after the operation of POEA Bicol and its personnel were suspended due to initial findings of illegalities. (RBEscalante, DOLE Bicol/PIA/mal)