4PS BENEFITS 85,395 BICOLANO FAMILIES
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY – The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, the anti poverty reduction program of the national government, has so far benefited 85,395 families in the six provinces of Bicol, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here.

Remia T. Tapispisan, DSWD Bicol regional director, said since it started in August of 2008 the 4Ps now covers 59 municipalities, 571 barangays of Bicol and will expand next year with the expected approval of the P21 billion budget for the program now being one of the center piece programs of the Aquino Administration.

She said that more than 200,000 families will be added next year to the current number of beneficiaries and will cover more poor families in barangays and municipalities.

Tapispisan said that the 4Ps has so far paid out a total of P717,855,762.00 to the beneficiaries as of September 30 of 2010.

She also said that the more than 85,000 beneficiaries in Bicol are distributed as follows: Albay 11,869, Camarines Sur 9,078, Masbate 52,309, Camarines Norte 2,026, Catanduanes 1,387 and Sorsogon 8,726.

Tapispisan said that a beneficiary family receives some P6,000 a year or P500 per month for health and nutrition, P3,000 for one school year or 10 months or P300 per month per child for a maximum of three children or a total of P1,400 per month or P15,000 yearly as long as they comply with the conditionalities set by the program.

She explained that the 4Ps beneficiaries are the poorest families identified through the use of the Eigibility Check (EC), a statistical formula that estimates household income through the use of proxy variables indicated in the household survey forms.

She added that the 4Ps is designed to hit the goals set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in the areas of poverty reduction, achieving universal primary education , reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and promoting gender equality and empowering women.

The program is also known as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the government wherein the beneficiaries have to follow certain conditions to be able to be maintained and receive the monthly allowance.

Tapispisan said that the program’s conditionalities are as follows: 1. Pregnant mother must avail of pre and post natal care and be attended during child birth by a trained health professional; 2. Parents must attend responsible parenthood sessions, mother classes and parent effectiveness seminars; 3. 3 to 5 years old children must attend day care classes or pre-school classes 85 percent of the time; 4. 6-14 years old children must attend elementary and high school classes at least 85 percent of the time and 5. 6-14 years old children must receive de-worming twice a year. (PIA V/mal)

CONCEPTUAL BASE FOR EFFECTIVE AND WIDESPREAD USE OF INFO TECH PUSH

IRIGA CITY — Innovations in communications are not only limited in the four corners of the classroom, neither they are only accessible to offices or digital workplace, but it can also be found even in our own university’s libraries.

This premise supports the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) digitization program, making sure that technological innovations doesn’t only stop in their computer laboratories but also spreads in other departments. This is also in line with their mission to provide the latest innovations in technology and communications to its faculty and students.

In line with this, the university spearheaded a one-day seminar on Information Literacy and Technology held December 3, 2010 at the UNEP Mini Theater, participated in by book buffs, most specifically students, librarians and library users.

Under the theme “Sharing our Future”, the activity shared the importance of providing relevant and current information to the participants.

Hermie H. Salazar, UNEP University librarian, said that an endeavor like this is a welcome opportunity for every participant to have an easy access to information and find ways to easily retrieve information materials using new methods of research.

“This seminar will surely provide us with personal, economic and cultural advancement, while we are also given an opportunity to use it in dealing with our clients and improve the delivery of our services.”

Lecturers who graces the said occasion were Dr. Ellen C. Cutiongco, a retired UP Professor and 2009 MetroBank Awardee for Continuing Excellence and Services (ACES); Edgardo B. Quiros, IT Professor and Head of the National Library of the Philippines and Walditrudes R. Mesias, a retired Associate Professor from Bicol University.

Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, UNEP President believes that this endeavor will help the librarians and other participants in appreciating what modern technology can do to improve their craft, most specifically their service to the library users.

“There is a parallel need to develop a conceptual base for the effective and widespread use of Information Technology. We can make use of this learning to make us as “wise information consumers” and a well-motivated life long learner of information literacy.”

UNEP library is already adopting the On line Public Access (OPAC) which has facilitated library work, making the faculty and students’ access to references now a lot easier. Book collections, including recent editions, were also added to the library. Easy retrieval of information utilizing free library software called LIBRO System is now being use by the library. (LSMacatangay/ PIA CamSur/mal)

ALBAY, DOST-PAGASA TO SET UP AUTOMATIC WEATHER STATION

LEGAZPI CITY — Mainstreaming climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measure are gaining more grounds in the province of Albay following the joint undertaking of the national and local governments to establish an automatic weather station (AWS) in the first district of the province.

Executive Director Manuel Rangasa of the Center for Initiative and Research on Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) in Albay disclosed that a memorandum of agreement has been recently entered into and by the Provincial Government of Albay and the Department of Science and Technology, through the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), for the implementation of the project.

Rangasa said the automatic weather station will be set up at the Bicol University Campus in Tabaco City, adding that the first district is situated at the so-called Pacific Jinx that is very much vulnerable to all climate related disasters.


“Governor Joey Salceda has already signified willingness to provide the necessary assistance and resources for the implementation of this project,” he furthered.

The project, according to him, seeks to mainstream climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures into key national and local development planning and regulatory processes.

“We need to enhance the capabilities of key partners and communities to undertake climate resilient development and testing of integrated adaptation approaches with up scaling potentials,” he stressed.

The project will be funded under the Millennium Development Goals – Fund 1656 project, a joint program partnership by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Spanish Government.

Rangasa also said the establishment of the AWS in the area will primary serve as an early warning and monitoring system for disaster mitigation in the first district of Albay, most especially utilize as means to improve agricultural productivity through a community-based climate information which will be the basis for early warning in areas prone to extreme climate eventualities. (MAloterte, PIA V)

PROJECT CONNECT: LINKING ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY”
LAUNCHED IN CAMSUR

NAGA CITY — Smart Communications, Inc., in cooperation with World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), spearheaded the launching of an advocacy program on environment, dubbed “Project Connect: Linking Environment, Education and Technology”, was held at Camarines Sur National High School Pavillon on Tuesday, December 2.

Marieson Dychinco-Regondola, SMART Communications’ Community Care/area manager for Bicol, said that the event is geared towards raising the awareness of its stakeholders in better understanding of our role as caretakers of our environment.

“With Climate change’s negative effects taking their toll in our environment, there is no opportune time to start saving it but now, and starting it off with the school and our students is one surefire way to keep the ball of change rolling. This is also part of our own environment advocacy for schools in line with our corporate social responsibility thru our community service program, Kabalikat sa Kalikasan.”

The event was also in recognition of Camarines Sur National High School (CSNHS) as one of the lucky recipients of the 2009 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools pursuant to Republic Act 9512 or commonly known as an Act to Promote Environmental Awareness thru Environmental Education.

The law requires all public and private schools to integrate environmental education in their curricula.

CSNHS was among the three (3) pilot sites in the Philippines, where SMART chose to implement Project Connect. The other two schools were the Palawan State University in Puerto Princesa, Palawan where the first leg was held and Peñablanca East Central School in Tuguegarao.

In full support of this endeavor are the Department of Education (DepEd) ,the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) thru the Environment Management Bureau (EMB).

Regondola believes that highlighting the school’s programs will serve as an inspiration for the kids and the students to implement the same in their own homes.

“The teachers, being looked up also by these students as their second parents, could serve as their role model in safeguarding the wealth of our environment. ”

The activity is being observed yearly in the observance of the National Clean Air Month and the National Environment Awareness Month held every month of November. (LSMacatangayy, PIA CamSur/mal)

SEN. PANGILINAN DONATES P1 M TO MT. BULUSAN’S VICTIMS
By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY — Disaster sometimes provides us opportunities to look into our elected officials.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Livelihood Development, recently paid a visit to the municipalities of Juban and Irosin who were greatly affected by the last explosion of Mt. Bulusan.

In a briefing recently at the Police Provincial Headquarters here, Ma. Theresa Destura, assistant provincial agriculturist of Sorsogon, has presented the agricultural scene of the three affected municipalities – Irosin, Juban and Casiguran.

While as to her report no immediate heavy damage was noted by the Municipal Agriculture Offices in these three municipalities, Senator Pangilinan saw the need to provide a 1million-peso assistance to evacuees who were displaced and are not yet able to have produce from their crops, mostly planted within the 4-km area Permanent Danger Zone.

Pangilinan personally conducted an ocular inspection in Barangay Cogon in Irosin town and have had a dialogue with no less than Governor Raul R. Lee, Mayor Eduardo Ong of Irosin and Mayor Jimmy Fragata of Juban, who also presented to him a power-point graphic presentation of the footages/pictures taken of the impact to the agricultural situation of his municipality.

Casiguran Mayor Ester Hamor in like manner gave Pangilinan a report of the situation of the barangays affected by the successive ash ejections of Mt. Bulusan, particularly Barangay Inlagadian.

Pangilinan also visited the proposed relocation site in Barangay Salvacion and promised to provide assistance in the construction of core shelters, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

He also stated to provide Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala the inputs and updates provided to him by the Local Chief Executive of the province and the reports tendered by the three mayors so that immediate intervention will be provided. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)

NAVY FOILS ILLEGAL FISHING OFF LIGAO WATERS

Legazpi City – In a joint maritime law enforcement patrol, operatives of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol) and Albay Provincial Fishery Office (APFO) apprehended F/B Draven Cedrick for illegal fishing activities around 2:40 am on December 5, 2010 at vicinity about four nautical miles off south of Barangay Maonon, Ligao City, a navy officer disclosed to PIA News Service.

Lt. Darwin Nieva, Navforsol spokesperson, bared that the fishing vessel was apprehended for violations of the Fisheries Code of 1998 ot RA 8550, specifically on Section 86 (unauthorized fishing or engaging in other unauthorized fisheries activities), Section 93 (illegal use of superlight) and Section 104 (commercial fishing vessel operators employing unlicensed fisher folk or fishworker or crew).

Nieva said apprehended violators were Wilfredo Roranes, the skipper of F/B Draven Cedrick and three other (3) crew members. The 16 meter long fishing boat is registered to Mr Roderick Apuli of Legazpi City.

APFO, meanwhile, reported that the apprehended vessel, including paraphernalia and fish catch, costs some P1 million.

Nieva furthered that the apprehended fishing vessel and crew were already turned over to APFO for custody and filling of appropriate case.

Commodore Joel E Babas, commander of Navforsol, has commended the crew members of Diesel Fast Craft 338 for the successful apprehension of the illegal fishers and fishing paraphernalia.

Babas said that the significant accomplishment of DF338 bespeaks of the Navy’s commitment and dedication to protect the maritime areas from illegal fishing activities. (DFNieva, PAO NFSL/PIA/mal)

POLICE NETS CACHE OF FIREARMS

CAMP GEN. SIMEON OLA, Legazpi City — Two persons transporting assorted short firearms from Cebu were arrested by joint police operatives of Regional Public Safety Battalion (RSPB) and Sorsogon Police Provincial Office led by PSupt Oscar Reyes Regala in a spot checkpoint, 6:30 a.m. of December 5 in Barangay Putiao, Pilar, Sorsogon.

Reports reaching Police Regional Office (PRO) in Bicol showed that a concerned informant from Cebu alerted Sorsogon PNP that a RORO bus with plate number TXV 911, and body number 701 was transporting assorted firearms, prompting the operatives to set up a checkpoint in Barangay Putiao, where said bus was also flagged down.

The suspects, identified as Jorge Guitones, Jr. and Victor Gonzales, when accosted failed to present any documents relative to their baggage containing firearms.

Recovered from their possession were three caliber 45 pistols, and 14 caliber 38 revolvers, all paltiks or locally-made without serial numbers.

Arrested suspects and confiscated firearms were brought to Sorsogon Police Provincial Office, as case for violation of RA 8294 (illegal possession of firearms and ammunition) is being readied against the suspects.

PCSupt Cecilio B. Calleja, Jr., PRO Bicol regional director, has ordered a thorough investigation of the incident to find out whether suspects belong to an organized criminal group engaged in gun smuggling, and as to where their firearms are supposed to be delivered. (PCInspPUSamson, Jr., PRO V/PIA/mal)