UN CITES ALBAY AS DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MODEL

LEGAZPI CITY -- The United Nations (UN) cited Albay province as a role model on good practices on disaster risk reduction (DRR) marking the International Day for Disaster Reduction in Incheon South Korea.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the commemorating rites on Wednesday cited Albay for its disaster risk reduction program that attained for the province a “zero casualty” goal in times of calamities either it be volcanic eruption, typhoons, landslides, floods and storm surges.

Ban hailed Albay for active participating and leading other local governments across the world in the UN campaign to make world’s vulnerable cities more resilient in time of catastrophes .

“Today, on the International Day for Disaster Reduction, we recognize what local Governments and communities are doing to protect themselves while building more sustainable towns and cities” Ban said in an emailed statement.

He said last May, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction launched a global campaign called “Making Cities Resilient”.

More than 100 cities, with nearly 110 million residents, have signed up to the “Ten Essentials” – actions that will make communities safer from disasters.

Albay was among the role models cited with good practices, the citation also include , Hyogo Prefecture in Japan, Bangkok, Bonn, Mexico City and Mumbai.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda in a interview said that Albay was among the signatories in the “Ten Essentials”a checklist that committed to assign a budget to serve everyone – rich and poor alike – and that they invest in risk assessment, training on disaster risk reduction, ecosystem protection, and early warning systems.

He said they also assured that local government planners must also tackle the principal sources of risk in urban areas – poor governance, planning and enforcement.

Decision-making should be inclusive and participatory and the principles of sustainable urbanization must be embraced and upheld, especially for the benefit of people living in slums and informal settlements.

Salceda is the prime mover of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) program where in he initiated two national CCA conventions in Albay that led to the signing of a CCA commitment between national and local government.

To strengthen and step up the CCA campaign Albay is set to hold a National LGU Summit on Climate Change on October 28 to 30 here this will be attended by 80 provincial governors, vice governors, town and city mayors across the country.

Ban at the commemorating rites said reducing disaster risk is everybody’s business, and needs everyone’s participation and investment – civil society, professional networks, as well as municipal and national governments.

Ban said in his closing statement that “On this International Day for Disaster Reduction, I commend those cities that are acting to build resilience to climate, environmental and social risks. And to all others I pose this question: Is your city ready?”(PNA Bicol/PIA/mal)

SALCEDA SEES TRILLANES' POTENTIAL FOR ALBAY, RP DEVELOPMENT

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Governor Joey Salceda, is looking forward to working closely with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV for development policies following President Benigno Aquino’s granting of amnesty to the senators and more than 300 rebel officers and soldiers who took part in three military uprisings against his predecessor.

Salceda said he believes the senator will make the most out of his eagerness to start working for his home province as well as the country.

“While there are four Bicolanos in the Senate, Trillanes solely represents Albay, Joker Arroyo from Camsur and Honasan and Escudero from Sorsogon. Trillanes gives pride to Albay but more than that he will prove to be a big help to P-Noy in leading the country,” Salceda told the Philippines News Agency.

Albayanos are now happy to see their biggest contribution to national leadership and to the task of nation building, he added.

Three weeks ago Trillanes agreed to meet Salceda and Albay Board Members Ramon Alsua and Ireneo Sales, at his detention cell.

He said he noticed that even with access to information constrained by his detention, Trillanes still has robust grasp of national issues and that the latter's policies are quite impressive.

The governor added now that Trillanes is free, he believes the latter would grow in stature and distinguish himself in the Senate and the national scene.

“Surely, his strong views and positions distilled in long contemplation will contribute significantly to the formation of robust consensus on national issues. But what struck me was his filial piety - that eagerness to get out and do his bit for his home province - Albay (being from Ligao City) - he insisted in knowing the priorities of Albay,” Salceda said. (RMNasol, PNA Bicol/PIA/mal)

KASANGGAYAHAN FESTIVAL OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF OCT. 18

PROVINCE OF SORSOGON – This year’s Kasanggayahan Festival will officially kick off October 18 in lieu of the Oct. 17, the original commemoration date of the establishment and founding anniversary of the Province of Sorsogon, which falls on a Sunday.

“In anticipation being that Oct. 17 of this year falls on a Sunday, there is a much expected appeal and request from the different sectors that for the constituents to earnestly and passionately participate in the celebration, aforesaid date be moved on the next working day which is on the 18th of October (Monday),” says Executive Order No. 006 s. 2010 issued by Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee.

The kick off activity will be graced by the Department of Tourism Regional Director Maria Ravanilla.

In the morning, a thanksgiving mass will be celebrated followed by the hoisting of the flag, opening program, blessing of the Kasanggayahan Trade Fair and Exhibit at the Capitol Kiosk and ground-breaking activity of Balay Kasanggayahan.

The afternoon’s affair will highlight the Civic, Historico-Cultural and Float Parade, street dance presentation and fireworks display at night.

Kasanggayahan Festival 2010, under the theme “Continuing Commitment to Sorsogon’s Historical, Cultural and Religious Heritage” marks the 116th founding anniversary of Sorsogon province.

The two-week celebration has lined up various activities that include 15 days agro-industrial fair, parade, wellness activities, nightly shows, fora, pilgrimage mass, heritage lectures, street dances highlighting on October 30 the crowd drawer ‘Pantomina sa Tinampo’ and other exciting events.

”With the theme this year, we will see and feel the unrelenting support and partnership of the local government and the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc. (KFI) to introduce the province of Sorsogon and its attributes especially in the field of tourism to the wider world,” said KFI chair Msgr. Francisco P. Monje.

It can be noted that Donsol town now is included among the top 5 tourist destinations in the Philippines where tourists, local and foreign flock to this small town to see and interact with the largest fish in the world, the whale sharks, locally known as ‘butanding’.

Meanwhile, for a short glimpse of history, Sorsogon became a separate province of Albay on Oct 17, 1894 and 80 years after, the term “Kasanggayahan” coined by the then parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Jose Ofracio, came into existence and was adopted by the province to be the official name for its festival.

Hence, starting in 1974, the succeeding foundation anniversary of Sorsogon province was called “Kasanggayahan” which means a ‘land of happy, peace-loving people with bountiful harvest’.

Kasanggayahan Festival dubbed as ”The Festival of Festivals” is a celebration of the 14 municipalities and 1 city depicting its historical past and developing its rich cultural and economic aspirations.

October 18 is also declared a special local holiday in the entire province. (BARecebido, PIA Sorsogon/mal)

ROSAL, CUA INKED MOA ON ETRACS

LEGAZPI CITY — Mayor Carmen Geraldine B. Rosal of this city and Catanduanes Governor
Joseph Cua formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement for the adoption of Enhanced Tax Revenue Assessment and Collection System (ETRACS) of the local government of Catanduanes last October 1, 2010 here.

The adoption of ETRACS by the island province was requested by Cua to the city government here during the term of former Mayor Noel E. Rosal to strengthen the service delivery standard to the people of Catanduanes.

Engr. Joseph Esplana, city planning officer here, pointed out that ETRACS is an Australian Agency International Development (AUSAID) program, under the Local Governance Development Project, and designed to modernize and speed-up the revenue operations of a local government.

Esplana added that one of the commitments of the city government here as principal ETRACS implementer under the original Land Management Program (LAMP) 2 is to cascade the learning process of system installation, provide hands-on training and continuing technical assistance to other interested LGU’s.

He likewise said that AUSAID has declared the city government here is very receptive to implement development programs on computerization and the institution is willing to grant some P4.5 million for the expansion of selected programs of LGU’s.

On the other hand, Rosal averred that ETRACS would further strengthen and promote sustainability, transparency and advancement in local government programs.

“What we have achieved thru ETRACS can be duplicated in other departments for smoother, better monitored and streamlined system of services,” she furthered.

Rosal cited that her administration is very proud to be a model for the program implementation of the provincial government of Catanduanes, adding that this agreement between the city government and the provincial government would be very significant for an effective and improve tax collection system.

In the meantime, Cua has expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Rosal for giving them the full support in the implementation of the said technology.

He also said that this new technology will upgrade the tax revenue collections and other business transactions of the province to lead for more effective and transparent Government.

Furthermore, the LGU’s implementers of ETRACS now includes the cities of Legazpi, Puerto Princesa, Cadiz, Oroquieta, Tayabas, Iriga, Naga, San Carlos and the municipalities of Maribojoc Bohol, Oton Iloilo, Leganes Iloilo, Bayombong NV and Nabunturan CV. (MPSolis, LGU Legazpi City/PIA/mal)

DENR ENDORSES DRAFT BILL FOR FINAL FOREST BOUNDARY OF CAMARINES NORTE

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol will be submitting the draft bill for the final forest land boundary of Camarines Norte to the National Assessment and Delineation Committee for evaluation and review, according to the agency’s top regional official.

DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada has ordered the Regional Assessment and Delineation Team to submit the draft proclamation to fast track the enactment of the province’s final forest line.

He pointed out the urgency to lay down protection and sustainable development strategies for the forest resources in Camarines Norte, where Bicol National Park is located.

Under the draft bill, the RADT identified a total forestland of 75, 766 hectares and alienable and disposable land consisting of 46 blocks or 3, 236.9 hectares from the province’s total land area of 214, 346 hectares.

The draft bill was the output of the fast-tracked forestland boundary assessment and delineation (FLBAD) project in the region which targeted to complete Camarines Norte and Masbate’s final forest lines.

The project underpins the government’s sustainable reforestation approaches, comprehensive land use program, resolution on political boundaries and establishment of national forestland database.

Based on the FLBAD process, once the NADC reviewed and evaluated the draft proclamation it will be then endorsed to the DENR Secretary. The Secretary shall endorse the draft bill to the Representatives concerned for sponsorship in Congress.

Upon the passage of the law defining the final boundary of the forestlands within a province, the same shall be the basis for the issuance of the certifications of legal status of the land. It shall form part of the control maps and records for all public land applications filed to the Department.

Meanwhile, in a report submitted by the RADT to Fragada, the team assured an on track completion of the assessment and delineation of the forestland in Masbate by October this year and the draft proclamation by first quarter of 2011.

The implementation of the survey was based on DENR Administrative Order 2008-24, which specifically provided for a “comprehensive procedure to facilitate the conduct of assessment and delineation of boundaries between forestlands, national parks and agricultural lands.” (ASAraya, DENR V/PIA/mal)

DOLE, DOJ IN BICOL TEAM UP ON WAR AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING

LEGAZPI CITY— A stronger alliance against human trafficking, illegal recruitment and child-labor was forged between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) through its Regional Prosecution Office late last week for what Bicolanos call as the ‘unified war’ against human trafficking.

The team-up was an offshoot of the apprehension of two suspected illegal recruiters in Bulan, Sorsogon by the DOLE Anti-Illegal Recruitment Investigation Response Team (AIR-IRT) composed of DOLE, OWWA and PESO IN Bulan last September 14 and an NBI intelligence report last September 22 about a suspected large scale illegal recruiter operating in Legazpi for more than 3 years.

“We need more allies if we want to stop these illegalities.” DOLE Bicol Regional Director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor said.

The team-up is said to be the ‘best move’ for Bicol in order to eliminate the three forms of illegal menace that are said to have been playing the region’s populace and economy.

DOLE is the lead agency in Anti-Illegal Recruitment and Anti-Child Labor while the DOJ is the lead agency in Anti-Human Trafficking. The new alliance will roll-into-one the existing Task Forces of DOLE and DOJ for better complementation.

“This alliance is also attributed to with the 22 Point Agenda of President Aquino.” Villamor added.

In a meeting with DOJ Regional Prosecutor Atty. Mary Mae B. De Leoz on October 1 at La Rocca, Restaurant in Gogon, Legazpi City, Villamor disclosed that the new alliance will focus on personnel complementation in surveillance, intelligence gathering and most specifically in prosecuting violators and putting them behind bars.

It can be noted that the DOLE formed task force the Regional Anti-Child Labor Committee or RACLC lacks the power to prosecute offenders while other task forces created by the PNP, DOJ, CIDG and NBI lack personnel & funding thus compromising continuity.

“Teaming up is the only solution and we will be on top of it. Creating the regional alliances first, then the provincial alliances. The DOJ is more than willing to help in this set-up,” Villamor explained.

To fast-track its implementation DOLE-Bicol will conduct the MOA signing for the Sorsogon Provincial Anti-Child Labor Committee (PACLC) on October 28 at Sorsogon, Sorsogon.

“The next move will be integrating the new alliance in the existing task forces. With these moves we will address at least three of the 22 Point Labor Agenda set by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz” Villamor said. (RPEscalante, DOLE V/PIA/mal)

GOV'T STANDS PAT ON REVIEW OF IIRC REPORT

MANILA — The government will stand pat on the results of its review of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report on the Rizal Park hostage tragedy on Aug. 23.

In a press briefing at Malacanang Thursday (October 14), President Benigno S. Aquino III said the government will not amend its previous recommendations on the IIRC report, saying it primarily serves the interest of the Filipino people.

He expressed hope that eventually, the country would win back its close ties with China and put the hostage-taking incident behind.

“The only thing we can do is to explain exactly how the decision was arrived at, what were the limitations we have under our system of government and also our laws,” explained the Chief Executive.

President Aquino said the decision was based on existing laws.

“We had a review of pertinent laws, we tried to find whether said laws were applicable to the people accused of failing to do their duties. This is the collected wisdom of everybody who participated in the review,” explained the Chief Executive. “We believe this is the proper course of action and these will be the ones that will prosper.”

The President was reacting to reports that the Chinese government was not satisfied with the results of the review of the IIRC report. (PIA V/mal)

PALACE REVISING 10-YEAR-OLD CRISIS MANAGEMENT MANUAL, SAYS OCHOA

MANILA — Malacañang is in the final stages of adopting revisions to the 10-year old Crisis Management Manual (CMM) in response to the issues that cropped up during the handling of the Aug. 23 hostage-taking incident.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa said a memorandum order amending the 10-year-old CMM is now being drafted, with the main revisions focusing on Chapter 4, which, among others, identify the composition of the cabinet cluster that will be convened in future crises and national emergencies.

“The President believes in a comprehensive approach to resolving the issues stemming from the incident. We are not just identifying the individuals that need to be held accountable, but also the systems and procedures that need to be revised or updated to allow the government to properly address various kinds of crises in the future,” Ochoa explained.

The amendments will also define the scope and responsibilities of the cabinet cluster, which will include the executive secretary, the secretaries of foreign affairs, justice, national defense, and interior and local government, the national security adviser and the Palace communications group.

Ochoa said that more details will be made available upon release of the memorandum order.
The Executive Secretary reiterated that the Aquino Administration is serious in adopting long-term fixes to the systemic flaws that were uncovered during the probe by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee.

Ochoa had earlier assured the Chinese Government that the administration was already “taking steps to implement the reforms needed” to avoid a repeat of the incident and ensure the safety of locals and foreign guests.

“What should be understood is that we’re not just fixated with fault-finding, we’re focused on flaw-fixing as well,” Ochoa said.

“We have already acknowledged that there were lapses that occurred during the Aug. 23 incident. Now that we’ve identified those we should hold accountable, it’s time to move on and adopt measures to make sure that these lapses do not happen again,” added. (PIA V/mal)

AQUINO CALLS ON SC TO EXERCISE JUDICIAL PRUDENCE

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III called on Thursday (October 14) the Supreme Court to exercise judicial prudence “at a time when the Filipino people deserve confidence-building measures from all our institutions.”

The President was reacting to the status quo ante order on Executive order No. 2 granted by the High Tribunal to Bai Omera Dianalan-Lucman of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, who was among those affected by the EO 2 he issued last July.

The EO recalls and revokes the midnight appointments of the previous administration.

“We had to issue EO 2 because there were people who accepted illegal appointments, knowingly, thereby becoming part of a conspiracy to impede and to thwart our people’s clamor for a return to good governance,” the President stated.

He said he has put in people “who shared our aims. Our appointees allowed us to discover questionable deals, which we immediately stopped. For instance, our appointees uncovered close to a billion pesos worth of anomalous contracts that had been entered into during the past administration. We have cancelled those contracts and saved the government hundreds of millions of pesos.”

He said while the SC order applies only to one of four petitioners “let me be clear about its far-reaching consequences. By focusing on the minutiae of the case, the SC effectively turned back the clock. It dishonors the decency of those who had the courtesy to resign.”

“The potential result of this will be chaos and paralysis in the Executive Branch of government as the legitimacy of officials appointed to replace those already removed will be cast in doubt,” the President stressed.

He said the order will embolden hundreds of similarly-situated appointees of the previous administration, who had already been replaced, resigned or recalled to demand their reinstatement or retention. “And having returned to their previous posts, what can we expect from people who accepted illegal appointments to begin with,” he asked.

The Chief Executive said “the order has the potential to derail or even nullify our efforts to uncover and reverse midnight deals, streamline the bureaucracy and implement reforms to bring back good governance. It will enable those who had participated in midnight deals to at the very least, cover their tracks if not complete acts inimical to public interest.”

Going beyond the Executive branch, he said, “the order comes shortly after the SC issued a similar status quo ante order preventing the House of Representatives from acting on the impeachment complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. The members of the House protested what they believed was an intrusion into their own constitutional powers,” he added.

He said the Executive kept silent when the SC prevented the House from continuing its impeachment proceedings.

“That recent action of the Supreme Court tests the limits of its constitutional authority and this latest order could precipitate a clash with another separate, co-equal branch of government,” the President emphasized.

He stressed that “our democracy was built on the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, hence the three branches of government. We therefore appeal, as a co equal branch of government, for the Supreme Court to consider the implications of its order.”

The President said the order comes at a time when “we had already taken significant steps forward and public confidence in our institutions is being restored. We have saved the Filipino people billions of pesos by rescinding contracts that have been uncovered after the midnight appointees have been removed from office. The economy is on an upturn. This order can set back all of these achievements,” he added.

Asked if he was confident about getting the SC’s cooperation, the President said “we are all at the service of our people. We hope they can broaden their view and see the implications of this singular act.” (PIA V/mal)

PRESIDENT AQUINO CITES PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP IN UPLIFTING LIVES OF FILIPINOS

BARAS, Rizal — President Benigno S. Aquino III cited Thursday (October 14) the invaluable contribution private-public partnerships have in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

In his speech keynoting the turnover of housing units to residents affected by the onslaught of typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” here last year, the President said that through these partnerships, there is no other direction the country’s progress can take but up.

The President led the ceremonial turnover of housing units to an initial 16 residents of the province held at the Ynares gym located at the Southville 9 Housing Project here this afternoon.

The project is a joint undertaking between the Provincial Government of Rizal and the NHA under a Memorandum of Agreement executed in April 2010, to develop a 25-hectare property as a housing relocation site consisting of 2,800 housing units at 40 square meters per lot.

Built at a cost of P175,000 per unit, the housing units will be amortized by the project beneficiaries for a period of 30 years.

As of 12 October 2010, some 2,600 housing units were constructed and 1,018 family-beneficiaries have already been relocated. Full occupancy of the housing units is expected by the end of this year.

The President said that the tie-ups between the national and local governments, the private sector and non-governmental organizations has turned these housing units into livable communities complete with useful amenities such as a school, a barangay hall, a multi-purpose hall, a day care center and livelihood facilities which the residents can use to augment their income.

“Lahat po ng ito ay bunga ng maigting na pakikipag-ugnayan ng lokal na pamahalaan sa mga pribadong sektor at mga NGOs. Maraming salamat po sa inyo. Kayo ang patunay na sa mga ganitong public-private partnerships, walang ibang direksyon ang ating bayan kundi kaunlaran lamang (All of these are the result of the partnerships between the local government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations. Thanks to you, you are proof that through these public-private partnerships, the only direction our country’s progress can take is up.)” the President said.

“And that’s not all. We vow to add 15 more classrooms to the existing school here so that our children do not have to squeeze themselves in during their classes. We will also put up a health center to ensure that the medical and health needs of our children and our families are met,” he added.

“Lahat po ng ito, magagawa lamang kung bawat isa sa atin ay buong-pagkukusang mag-aambag sa katuparan ng ating pinapangarap na maunlad na pamayanan. Lahat po ng ito ay walang-tigil na isinusulong ng ating administrasyon dahil nagtitiwala kaming buhay ang diwa ng People Power, at handa ang bawat Pilipinong magbayanihan upang tapusin na ang kahirapan,” the President said. (PIA V/mal)

BIR EXCEEDS TARGET FOR SEPTEMBER COLLECTION

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Friday it posted a surplus for the month of September 2010.

Taxes collected by BIR amounted to P60.96 billion last month, surpassing the target by P1.06 billion or by 1.8 percent.

The target for September amounts to P 59.89 billion.

Taxes generated for September 2010 also posted a growth rate of about 8.4 percent.

The Bureau’s collections for September 2009 amounted to P56.24 billion.

On a cumulative basis from January to September 2010, the BIR has generated a total of P607.33 billion. Compared to the cumulative goal of P638.07 billion, actual cumulative collections are still short by negative 4.8 percent.

However this shortfall has shrank since the Bureau posted a cumulative shortfall of negative 5.5 percent as of last month or from January to August 2010.

Compared to the same period last year when the BIR collected a total of P557.035 billion from January to September 2009, actual collections from January to September 2010 posted a growth rate amounting to 9 percent year on year.

“Last month the BIR’s collections grew by 17 percent, the highest in about 28 months. This month we exceeded our target, the first time since January. This just shows that the Bureau’s performance continues to improve”, said BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. (PIA V/mal)