SALCEDA IMPRESSED WITH EAST TIMOR BAILING OUT PORTUGUESE DEBT AMIDST GLOBAL DIFFICULTIES

LEGAZPI CITY — The country’s top economist expressed astonishment with East Timor one of the world’s poorest country rescued its former colonizer Portugal from its debt ridden financial situation.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, presidential economic adviser of former President and now House Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said he was impressed on how East Timor financially rescued Portugal by buying $700 million of Portuguese debt.

He said “the former colony - East Timor, still one of the world's poorest - now financially rescuing its troubled imperial master – Portugal, certainly, Timor Leste government fund managers must have calculated it to be a good investment.”

Salceda a known economist said financial markets and investment analysts worldwide have expressed admiration for Timor Leste.

"In this global stage, no other news can beat the release of Aung San Suu Kyi than this. And it should probably set the tone for the climate talks in Cancun,” he pointed out.

PHL, also a former colony of the United States, has some $48.4 billion of the country’s $56.8 billion government international reserve (GIR) already invested in US treasuries for the longest time.

Salceda however said the PH still have not earned any positive economic impact simply because the US may be less cash-strapped than Portugal but its stature as reserve currency and investment grade remains strong so there is no such appreciation of our gesture.

Salceda claims that while Filipinos even if most feel poor have per capita income of $2,000 versus Timorese $600- so it must have been either bravery or genuine goodwill for Timorese government to gamble their sovereign wealth fund on risky Portuguese debt. (PNA/PIA/mal)

DENR CHECKS AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN MT. BULUSAN

LEGAZPI CITY — After a cycle of phreatic explosions of Mt. Bulusan in Sorsogon, resulting to heavy ash falls in adjacent areas, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has conducted a series of ambient air samplings to assess if air quality conforms with the agency’s standards.

EMB Bicol Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales has dispatched a technical team on last Monday (November 22) to evaluate the current status of air quality in affected areas of the province.

The team headed by Rommel Gapayao, officer-in-charge of the EMB Air Quality Management Section, has tested ambient air quality based on the parameters of total suspended particulates (TSP) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). TSP refers to the estimated level of dust, while SO2 indicates the total amount of sulfuric compounds in the air.

Sampling stations were set up at Inlagadian, Casiguran; Añog, Juban and Gulang-gulang, Irosin.

“Laboratory result of the ambient air sampling is expected to be released the soonest possible time,” Gapayao said.

For several weeks, Mt. Bulusan showed signs of restiveness and spewed on several occasions columns of volcanic ashes that resulted to heavy ash fall. Locales fear adverse environment and health effects that the continuing eruption will wrought. (ASAraya, RPAO DENR/PIA/mal)


PEP MILK FEEDING TO BENEFIT SCHOOL CHILDREN

NAGA CITY — Thirty (30) malnourished children in Grades I and II coming from selected schools from the North, South and West Districts of the City Division will be the recipients and beneficiaries of PEP –Feeding Hope Milk Program for the next six months.

PEP, which stands for “Pasiglahin ang Estudyanteng Pinoy” is a supplemental feeding program for school children under the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), Kabisig ng Kalahi and the Department of Education (DepEd). Working closely with this endeavor is the local government of Naga City under the headship of Mayor John Bongat.

NCC will serve as the over-all coordinator of the program and will be the central receiving station for the reports coming from the school.

According to Dr.Agnes Rubio, NCC Nutrition Coordinator, a student’s health condition can be crucial to his performance in school. “Poverty and its many related issues, lack of knowledge about nutrition and inadequate parenting skills can result in sickness, malnutrition and often times drop out from school.”

In order to avoid high incidence of drop out cases, NCC designed PEP Feeding Hope Milk Program to raise the health awareness and nutritional level of pre selected school children enrolled on the First and Second Grades, particularly those who are nutritionally deprived.

“This will also provide opportunity and venue to various sectors of the society, corporate or private to build a bridge of understanding, solve poverty issue in our little way, and work together as our contribution in nation-building,” Rubio added.

The program will conduct pre-implementation activities like health and nutrition assessment and deworming. DepEd Health and Nutrition personnel in coordination with LGU Naga will also conduct social preparation to the beneficiaries for them to better appreciate the importance of good nutrition.

Regular weighing and monitoring of each beneficiary’s progress will be done by the school officials or assigned mothers and will be supervised by the school nutrition coordinators. The school principal is in charge of supervision, monitoring and documentation of the program.

Pasiglahin ang Estudyanteng Pinoy (PEP) Feeding HOPE Milk Program is the brainchild of the Kabisig ng Kalahi. They sourced the milk sponsors and interagency clearance for the program. (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur/mal)

DTI BEEFS UP MONITORING OF QUALITY AND PRICES OF PRODUCTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

DAET, Camarines Norte- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office here has apprehended various sorts of sub standards products, especially electronic products, to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders in time for the holiday season.

Beth Parro, senior specialist of the Consumer Welfare Division of DTI, warned that these products should have an ICC mark with control number the same with the ICC certificate of an establishment located near the shelves where the products were displayed.

Parro bared that the agency has already inspected some 11 establishments, and fortunately, none seems selling sub standards products like Christmas lights.

Parro explained that products with factory defects can be returned to the establishments, repaired and can be replaced.

Another enforcement activity will be conducted on December also to check said products being sold in the market.

Meanwhile the DTI also started this week the monitoring of noche buena products based on the price updates.

The monitoring of said products is their regular work during holiday season. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte/mal)

PCA DISTRIBUTES FERTILIZERS FOR COCONUT IN CAM NORTE

DAET, Camarines Norte — A total of 6,000 bags of salt used as fertilizer for coconut tree were distributed to farmers for the period May – October this year by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Bicol.

Provincial Development Manager Matias E. Clacio said that this is a salt fertilization project of the the PCA and the Department of Agriculture (DA).

He noted that a total of 14, 400 were already distributed since 2008 to October this year.

The salts were distributed to coconut farmer beneficiaries in the province and they will continue distribution for those who did not availed of the project.

Clacio explained that they are conducting weekly monitoring for those who were given the said salt.

He explained that salt is a cheaper fertilizer and very easy to apply in coconut trees.

Salt helps a coconut tree to produce more fruits and help repels pests both during dry season and onset of rainy season.

It can only be used for the coconut tree and not in other trees, he added. (RBManlangit, PIA Cam Norte)