ALBAY TOURISM LEAPS BY +109%, THIRD FASTEST GROWING TOURISM HUB IN PHL

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Tourism (DOT) in Bicol said tourist arrivals in Albay posted a remarkable surge by 109 percent with 62,280 local and foreign visitors making the province the third fastest growing tourist hub in the country.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, quoting on Tuesday a DOT report, said tourist arrivals in Albay posted from July to September 62, 280, of whom 27,290 were foreign and 34,990 domestic tourists, a surge that boosts Bicol’s new title as the “third fastest growing tourist destination” of the Philippines .

Salceda said “Albay is finally actualizing its tourism potential both for hosting iconic endowments’ and for its role as gateway to Bicol’s emerging tourist destinations- witness: arrivals leaping to record high of +109% during the last three months. “

Tourism Secretary Albert A. Lim, during a recent visit here, referred to Albay as the third fastest growing tourist destinations in the country second only to Cebu and Boracay with new and diversified tourism come-ons.

Such standing, according to Lim, necessitated recommending the speedy completion of Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA), to make Bicol a top tourist destination as well as support DOT’s target of doubling the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country.

Lim at a with tourist stakeholders forum said “I will strongly recommend SLIA to Department of Transportation and Communication as one of the top priority airports in the country.”

Also a recent come for tourist – among others – was the province of Sorsogon due to Mt. Bulusan’s restive character, according to Governor Salceda. Mount Bulusan spewed ash about three weeks ago, but volcanologists said there's no threat of an explosive eruption.

“There is something truly amazing – and disturbing – in the way danger attracts humans. We saw similar display of predisposition for danger in the Mayon eruption only last year. In 2009, Mayon eruption induced arrivals in the month of December what it would take a majestic yet slumbering volcano a year to attract’, Salceda said.

He added that this gave rise to a perverse mode of tourist movement- disaster tourism. Thus, disaster response strategy had be to significantly reconfigured to secure our zero casualty goal since a dead tourist is al so a violation of zero casualty.

But he said recent developments, such that of Bulusan Volcano eruption, were a bit different; Albay is getting tourists without incurring the risks clearly establishing the geostrategic position of Legazpi as the gateway to Bicol destinations.

He said Albay is more comfortable with tourists due to Donsol encounters than to Bulusan eruption.

Also boosting tourist arrivals in Albay is the six–times a day flight of three big airlines by way of the Legazpi City Domestic airport; PAL, Cebu Pacific, and most recently Air Philippines, which helps establish Albay’s role as gateway to the Bicol Region, Salceda added. (LGU Albay/PIA/mal)

ALBAY LAUNCHES GREEN CHRISTMAS INITIATIVE:CHRISTMAS WITHOUT RISK

LEGAZPI CITY — The provincial government of Albay will launch the Green Christmas Initiative: Christmas without risk, an environmental protection and climate change adaptation measure in the advent of the Yuletide season.

Albay Gov.Joey Salceda said the Green Christmas Initiative: Christmas without risks in line with our overarching provincial governance goal- environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

He said the initiative is to set the tone for the Christmas celebration in the entire province, the scheme must begin in the capitol before we publicly unveil the major components of the project.

Green Christmas Initiative will essentially include: social marketing of “zero casualty” sa paputok, reduced use of plastic bags in shopping, and low-carbon celebration, he said.

He explained that generally the goals are to Celebrate Christmas safely through prevention of use of firecrackers, minimize pollution through proper use of plastic shopping bags and promote low-carbon modes of celebration.

Salceda, setting the phase for the Green Christmas Initiative, has directed provincial government employees to celebrate Christmas by either undertaking activities such as tree planting, beach or river clean-up, holding social activities in resettlement areas and disaster risk reduction (DRR) through games and magic in children’s homes or among children of informal settlers.

He also directed bans all departments from procuring Christmas Trees and other plastic ornaments and decors and are, therefore, encouraged to decorate existing trees at the Park and spruce up ornamental plants inside your offices with recyclable or biodegrable decorative materials.

During parties the serving of food by plastic or Styrofoam plates and cups should be banned and their procurement is prohibited; instead banana leaves, banana bark, coconut shell and/or “bilaos” shall be used.

He said the use of more earth-friendly and, given current trends, more fashionable and “going native”, more patriotic.

Another feature during the Green Christmas Celebration shall be an inter-department contest in the making of a Christmas Tree out of trash. (LGU Albay/PIA/mal)


ARMY SOLDIERS CLASH WITH NPA REBELS IN CAMARINES SUR

TIGAON, Camarines Sur— Patrolling Army soldiers clashed with NPA bandits in a remote village in Camarines Sur, a military official said here today.

LtCol Ernesto Cruz, Commanding Officer of the 42nd Infantry Battalion which has jurisdiction over Camarines Sur said that a 9-man squad of his unit led by 2nd Lieutenant Mariel Bonilla clashed with more or less 10 bandits in San Ramon village, Pamplona town at around 2:30pm yesterday.

"My soldiers were conducting security patrols in the hinterlands of Pamplona town when a'walk-in' informant told them about the presence of a band of NPA rebels. The 5-minute clash erupted when the troops were fired upon by the rebels as they were approaching the said location," said Cruz.

The rebels immediately fled after the brief clash, carrying with them their casualties. The soldiers promptly pursued the rebels following the blood trails along the route of withdrawal.

Bonilla and his men confiscated a 9mm KG9 Submachinegun and a laptop computer in the encounter site.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, has directed Colonel Teodoro Cirilo Torralba, Commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade, to intensify its security operations in CamSur Province.

Small bands of NPA rebels have kept their presence felt in the upland villages but they have lost the support of the local people who are now fed up by their oppressive extortion activities. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA/mal)

RaSSFIP EXTENSION PHASE REELS OFF

PILI,Camarines Sur — The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here in tandem with the National Food Authority (NFA) is now implementing the Extension Phase of the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFIP) under the Rapid Food Production Enhancement Program (RaFPEP) to support the Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan nationwide effort to regain self-sufficiency in rice production and to respond to the rice price crisis in 2008.

Marilyn V. Sta. Catalina, acting regional technical director for Operations and Extension and Regional Rice Program, said that it is an urgent response to prevent an emergency by providing seeds rapidly to increase rice production immediately.

Catalina added that the program funded through a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and grant assistance from the European Commission provides funds for the procurement of certified seeds for distribution to eligible farmers on a subsidized scheme.

Eligible farmers are those who are landowners, farm tenants, leaseholders and administrators who are actually tilling the land and whose farms are located in rainfed areas and lowland irrigated areas with an average yield of less than 3.8 metric tons per hectare.

Catalina explained that eligible farmers will be entitled to one bag (40 kg) of certified inbred rice seeds per hectare. The DA through the NFA will provide seed subsidy of P600, while the other half (P600) shall be borne by the farmers as their equity.

The LGUs through DA, according to her, shall also provide the NFA the volume and variety of palay seeds to be procured and distributed and the latter implements the procurement and distribution based on the masterlist of farmers provided by the Municipal/City Agriculturists’ Office.

She explained that the certified seeds to be procured by the NFA should have passed the testing by the Regional Seed Quality Control Service which requires that the seed should not be more than two months old at the time of purchase and with a germination rate of not less than 85%, free from pests and with tags as proof that the seeds passed the standards.

The RaSSFIP was launched dry season in 2009 to support the government’s Rice Self-Sufficiency Plan but due to some problems in the implementation the guidelines were reviewed and the program is again implemented in its extension phase starting last September 16 till March 15, 2011.

Catalina furthered that icol Region is among the 10 regions included in this special program. She encourages Bicol farmers to seize the opportunity and avail of the certified seed subsidy as there are no more similar scheme under DA’s regular programs. (EBBordado, DA RFU V/PIA/mal)

Aquino's rating performance, trust still high, says Coloma

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino continues to enjoy high trust and performance ratings, according to Presidential Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma in a radio interview Tuesday morning.

In a Pulse Asia survey conducted Oct. 20-29, Coloma said Aquino’s performance rating was recorded at 79 percent, while his trust rating remained at 80 percent.

The President’s performance rating according to Coloma was highest in the Visayas at 86 percent, followed by Mindanao, 79 percent; Metro Manila, 78 percent and Luzon, 65 percent. The President rated highest in Class E (83 percent), followed by Class D (77 percent) and Class ABC (74 percent).

Coloma said 23 percent of those surveyed came from the poorest of the poor which he said will benefit greatly from the Millennium Challenge Development Corp. grant.

The bulk of this grant will be used for the construction of a highway linking Samar to Eastern Samar provinces and the others will fund the Poverty Reduction Program of the Aquino administration to address the needs of the poorest of the poor.

The grant, Coloma said, showed the trust and confidence of the US government in the current administration in terms of good governance and the decisiveness of the President to eradicate poverty.

Even the 2011 General Appropriations Act or the national budget reflects the steadfastness of the Aquino administration to lick poverty by reducing government operations expenditures and channeling the savings to poverty alleviation and social welfare programs, he added.

“Understandably, we encounter a lot of criticisms and many people are dismayed by such moves that displaces them from their usual comfort zones,” said Coloma.

The removal of midnight appointees, according to him had not gone as fast as desired because the midnight appointees refuse to vacate their positions and contest government’s actions in the courts.

Coloma who has served during the terms of President Cory, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada, said the transition of appointees then was smooth and fast because the appointees immediately vacated their posts upon assumption of the new administration. (PIA V)

Aquino welcomes manufacturing plant’s P2.5-B expansion in Cabuyao

MANILA — Having just brought home good news of over $5 billion in fresh investments from his foreign callers during his attendance of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders summit in Japan, President Benigno S. Aquino III was delighted anew last night when Procter & Gamble Philippines announced it would be expanding its Cabuyao plant soon worth P2.5 billion or $60 million.

In his speech marking the 75th anniversary of P & G in the country, the Chief Executive said the company’s Cabuyao plant expansion will not just bring more jobs and improve the lives of Filipinos in the years to come but also demonstrates its continued trust and confidence in the capacities of the Filipino as well as its commitment to improve the quality of its products in the Philippines.

The company’s expansion plan was announced by P & G Global president and chief executive officer Robert McDonald in a report before introducing the President for the latter’s keynote speech.

McDonald, who headed the Philippine operation in 1991 to 1995, said P & G Philippines is the oldest subsidiary in Asia and the second oldest in the world, beginning as the Manila Refining Company in 1908 and incorporated as Philippine Manufacturing Company in 1913.

“Today we distribute 20 leading brands across product categories. From just 10 employees when we started we are now 1,300 strong nationwide,” he said.

P & G Asia head, Deb Henretta said 1/3 of the company’s global revenues of $15 billion come from the Philippines. The total consumer base of P & G in Asia is 2 billion.

“Your P2.5-billion expansion is a testimony of your commitment to the Philippines and in your past 75 years of operations, P & G has had significant contributions to the Filipinos for several generations,” the President said.

In a lighter mode, the President said one of his greatest critics, younger sister Kris, complimented him for his skin, which he said is due to his use of Safeguard (which brought loud laughter from the jampacked Hotel Sofitel function room) and he went on to say that “in 5 or 6 years I might be using your Downy also.”

The manufacturing sector, he said, contributed P83 billion as of the second quarter of 2010, or 12 percent over that in the same period last year.

And, as of July this year, 8 percent of the 3 million of the total labor force came from the manufacturing sector, the President said.

The President noted that P & G has created jobs, nurtured the Filipino families and generated revenues for the government. “We look forward to more increased investments from your company in the years to come,” the President added.

He also invited the P & G and its foreign partners to take a look at the private public partnerships that will be launched tomorrow (Thursday, November 18) initially involving the first 10 infrastructure projects to be rolled out in 2011 and will eventually cover projects in a broader spectrum of the Philippine economy.

The President reiterated his administration’s efforts to curb corruption through transparency (with the Department of Budget and Management posting online its fund disbursements for projects) and running after smugglers and tax evaders (by the Department of Finance).

The President thanked the company for being one of the most responsible corporate citizens of the country by turning over 200 houses to the Gawad Kalinga and its numerous and quick interventions to victims of calamities and natural disasters. All told, he said, P & G gave P20 million of such relief goods to victims of calamities.

He pointed out that his administration’s strategy is to get the private sector to collaborate with the government in its vital programs and projects “so that together we can bring more benefits to the people.” (PIA V)

Aquino inducts 3 new members of U.P. Board of Regents

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III inducted three new members of the 11-man Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines, of which 5 to 6 are appointed by the Office of the President. The term of regents is two years until reappointed.

Inducted at the lobby of the Premier Guest House by the President were former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, Elizabeth Siguion-Reyna and Magdaleno Albaraccin Jr.

The President according to Puno reminded the new UP Board of Regents members of the many things he wanted done in UP given the resources of the government to restore the state university into its premier status.

Siguion-Reyna took her Imaginative Writing Program at the English Department (now called the Creative Writing program) at the UP from 1970 to 1975. She is currently a director of a parenting show at QTV, gag shows and writer for film and television.

Puno, who took his two-year associate in arts course and finished law at UP in 1962, said the President also asked him to go over the UP development plan which would help the university attain its academic and non-academic objectives.

Puno, as the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, became the 2008 Most Distinguished Alumnus of UP in its centennial celebration.

Albaraccin, whose uncle Narciso served as Deputy Minister for Education of the late strongman, President Marcos, finished his engineering course at UP in 1956. He continues to be active in the College of Engineering. (PIA V)

Aquino to launch electronic payments processing center

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III will launch and keynote the country’s first Global Payments Processing Center Inc. (GPPC) at the Robinsons Cybergate Plaza in Mandaluyong on Thursday (Nov. 18).

GPPC is a leading provider of electronic payments transaction processing services with clients in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Asia Pacific region, Czech Republic and Russia.

Aquino will be welcomed at Robinson’s by Lance Gokongwei, chairman of the Robinsons Land Corp. and Claire Ann Yap, senior vice president and head of the Global Service Center.

At the Global Payments’ office, the President will be received by Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo, Paul Garcia, chairman/CEO of the Global Payments; Morgan Schuessler, chief administrative and operations officer of Global Center, Vincent Perrell Jr., credit and operations officer, Global Center and Ian Courtnage, president Global Payments Asia-Pacific.

The President will lead the “torch lighting” ceremony assisted by four Global Payments Inc. officials. He will then unveil the company emblem to signal the formal launching of GPPC. On his way to the program venue, the President will have the chance to tour and inspect the work stations and other facilities of the company.

Yap will deliver the welcome remarks followed by an overview by Garcia of the company’s global operations and the President’s message.

GPPC serves as an intermediary in facilitating payment transactions. Its registered revenues for the fiscal year ending May 2010 was at $1.6 billion.

The company operates in two business segments namely North America and International Merchant Services and employs 3,600 people worldwide. (PIA V)

Aquino optimistic of PPP support

MANILA — President Benigno S. Aquino III today (November 17) expressed confidence in getting support from major stakeholders for the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects that will be launched tomorrow in Pasay City.

In a press briefing the President said various private entities have shown interest on the first 10 projects that will be launched tomorrow.

The President said that the travel advisories previously issued by other countries may not affect the launching and implementation of the PPP projects.

“There really seems to be a lot of interest, hopefully, the travel advisory brouhaha last week will not seriously dampen it. At this point we’re really optimistic that there will be a lot of interest at least the first 10 that will be rolled out by tomorrow”, the Chief Executive said.

The government, in cooperation with the private sector, launched “Infrastructure Philippines”, that will run until Friday, Nov. 19 at the Manila Mariott Hotel.

The event is part of President Aquino’s socio-economic agenda which aims to achieve a high and sustained economic growth needed to generate jobs and to examine investment opportunities, profiles of public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the country, as well as policy, regulatory, and legal concerns in developing the infrastructure sector in the country.

The government has committed to channel the gains from the PPP into essential social services, such as those in education, health, and its centerpiece program on poverty alleviation.

Implementing agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and Department of Transportation and Communications will present their pipeline of infrastructure projects for possible private-public partnership as well as their planned timelines for bidding out such projects. (PIA V)