SALCEDA ORDERS PREEMPTIVE EVACUATION OF 3,000 RESIDENTS IN LANDSLIDE, FLOOD PRONE AREAS

LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Governor Joey Salceda has ordered Tuesday the reactivation of evacuation plans for landslide and flood prone areas and residents in six towns following the continuous and heavy rains almost all throughout the Bicol region, and most heavily Albay for the past five days.

In an interview at Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program of PIA Wednesday (December 29), Salceda reiterated that “Advisory number 1 issued on December 24 remains in effect for landslide prone areas and evacuation, especially in the town of Manito, should be strictly implemented.”

“For flood prone areas, local governments should be on alert and monitor eventualities in their areas. Rubber boats should also be ready,” he added.

Salceda furthered that “local disaster managers in the towns of Oas and Libon as well as Ligao City should monitor river conditions and take precautionary measures. Authorities have also readied rubber boats and six army trucks are also on standby at all times.”

Albay PDRRMC has enforced mandatory evacuation of 568 families or more than 3,000 residents in 12 landslide-prone barangays in six towns to maintain zero casualty amidst threat of disasters.

Evacuated residents who returned to their homes on Sunday and were ordered anews to be taken out of harm’s way were residents from Barangay Salvacion, Sto. Domingo town; Barangays Nagotgot, Malobago, Tinapian and Buyo in Manito town; Barangay Morera, Guinobatan; Barangays Mataas and Mapulang Daga, Bacacay; Barangays Sta. Teresa, Calbayog, San Jose and San Roque in Malilipot.

Added to the landslide prone areas were some parts of the villages in Jovellar town along the Donsol River towards the neighboring province of Sorsogon.

“Families in Jovellar, especially those along Donsol River, were told to be on extra alert and monitor for possible flood.”

Salceda has also directed the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to release some 10 kilos of rice allocation per family evacuated.

He said Manito would not yet decamp its evacuees.

Salceda meanwhile said though the continuous and heavy rains had caused the evacuation of some Albayanos, it should not dampen the spirit of the celebration of the Christmas season and New Year rather “we should be grateful that the province had not encountered any major calamity in 2010.

On the lighter side, the prolonged downpour has also prevented both noise pollution and wastes as these reduced the number of firecrackers being lighted on the eve of Christmas. (MALoterte, PIA V)


BICOL EXPORTS ROSE BY 925 PERCENT IN 2010
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY – Bicol based exporters sold some $696,401,447.44 worth of products to foreign buyers from January to December this year indicating 925 percent increase compared to last year ‘s exports, according to the Bureau of Customs (BoC) district office here.

Salvador Ruivivar, Customs District V officer-in-charge, said that crude coconut oil and copra pellets contributed significantly to the export contributing some $487,855,322.36 to the total exports or 70 percent of the total exports receipts for 2010.

He said the export was generated by Legazpi Oil Company, a Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF) subsidiary based in Barangay Arimbay in this city, and Globe Coco in Barangay Lidong , Sto Domingo, Albay.

Ruivivar added that it was only this year that the coconut industry has started export anew as it started to bounce back from its devastation during the aftermath of super typhoon Milenyo and Reming in 2006.

He said that the mining industry has contributed a total of 28 percent of the total exports with gold ore leading with $113,961,528.99 exported by Fil Gold processing and refining company based in Aroroy, Masbate while the Rapu-Rapu Mining Inc. contributing $82,739,445.06 worth of Zinc and Copper concentrate products.

He said that the gold export was 86 percent more than the $16,467,887.88 exported last year while Zinc and copper exports was 45 percent over the 2009 exports or $36,832,770.87 more than the $$ 45,906,674.19 2009 figure.

The Custom Bicol chief said that other export products that contributed to the total exports were river sand, hair pieces and abaca. (EDL, PIA V/mal))

CUSTOMS BICOL OVERSHOOTS 2010 COLLECTION GOAL BY COLLECTS 11 PERCENT
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY – The Bureau Of Custom (BoC) Bicol regional office here reported a total collection of P86,157,802.50 in customs duties and taxes from various Bicol based importers covering the period January 1 to December 20, 2010.

Salvador D. Ruivivar, officer-in-charge of the BoC Bicol collection district, said that the collection was P8,663,802.50 over the goal of P77,494,000.00 set by the central office or an increase of 11.18 percent.

He also said that this year’s collection was 29 percent over the 2009 collection goal of only
P66,499,005.32.

He said that the bulk of their collection came from the import duties paid by the Good Found Cement Corporation amounting to P72,234,860.00 for the import of their raw materials like gypsum, klinker, iron pyrite and coal and various spared parts.

While the Sr-5 Trading paid P5,557,148.00 for the importation of used replacement parts for cars and trucks.

Ruivivar said that a ship owner from Catanduanes paid P1,387,587.00 in taxes for the importation from Japan of a used a vessel for conversion to a passenger ship. While the Misibis Aviation Development Corporation paid P1.309,315.00 for the importation of a helicopter.

He said the rest of the collections were from various small Bicol based importers. (EDL, PIA V/mal)

ARMY SOLDIERS VISIT CAPTURED NPA REBELS FOR CHRISTMAS

SORSOGON CITY – Army soldiers visited the captured NPA rebels to render Christmas songs and share some gifts to them on Christmas Eve here, a military official said.

LtCol Rodolfo Batang, Civil Military Operations officer of the 9th Infantry Division said that he was directed by Major General Ruperto "Raffy" Pabustan, the Commander of the 9th Infantry Division, to bring some Christmas gifts for the three captured rebels.

Batang and 10 other soldiers trooped to the hospital bed of Elmer Escobido a.k.a. Ka Alvin 24, who is still recuperating from his wounds in a local hospital here.

Escobido can barely talk but smiled when soldiers, together with the local media and hospital personnel sang "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit" for him. He was given a cash gift of P5,000.00 as part of the Army's medical assistance.

"This is our humble way of showing to you the true essence of Christmas which is sharing the blessings from God. As promised, we will help you return to the mainstream society," said Batang.

Minutes later, the soldiers proceeded to the nearby jail where Escobido's comrades are incarcerated.

Initially hesitant to face his soldier visitors, Jason Brul aka Ka Butch, was finally convinced by one of the officers who went inside his prison cell.

As he walked outside with Nelson Punilas, his comrade, soldiers greeted him with their rendition of the Taglish version of the birthday song as he sat in a wooden stool beside Punilas.

"I am very thankful for my friends who took time to visit me here again," said the beaming Brul, who has just turned 34 on the same day.

The three red rebels are facing raps of illegal possession of firearms and explosives before a local court in Bulusan and Gubat town.

He also expressed his Christmas wishes to his comrades who are still in the boondocks.

"I wish you all good health and happiness this Christmas," said Brul.

Though hesitant to fully express his intention to finally cooperate with the peace efforts of the government, he declared that he now wants a peaceful life after spending 7 long years away from his growing family of 4 children.

As soldiers started to bade goodbye, Brul returned to his cell with his goodies and birthday cake, smiling at his cellmates who were all green with envy for his day's blessings from his 'former enemies'. (HMCabunoc, DPAO 9ID PA/PIA)

DOLE BICOL DISTRIBUTES KABUHAYAN (CARPENTRY) STARTER KIT

DAET, Camarines Norte — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has distributed carpentry tools as part of their Kabuhayan Starter Kit program to some 20 beneficiaries in the town of Paracale this province last week.

DOLE Camarines Norte Provincial Field Officer Ruben Romanillos said that this was the second time they distributed the same kit to members of the community that have no permanent jobs.

Said tools worth P130,740 were given to those skilled carpenters chosen by the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of the said town, those who graduated from the TESDA and those who were certified by the barangay.

The Kabuhayan starter kit or carpentry tools include electric plainer, chisel set, saw, hammer, electric grinder and other tools for carpentry.

It will be recalled that last year they also distributed same Kabuhayan Starter Kit to 20 beneficiaries in the town of Labo.

He added that next year on January 2011 they will distribute cosmetology kits, automotive and masonry tolls and auto mechanic tools to selected beneficiaries in the town of Jose Panganiban. (RBManlangit/PIA CamNorte)

DISASTER MANAGERS OF LABO TO UNDERGO DRR TRAINING

DAET, CAMARINES NORTE – The municipal government of Labo will be conducting a Skills Training for Municipal Emergency Volunteers for disaster preparedness.

Dr. Carlos Galvez, Municipal Information Officer and Deputized Coordinator of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) of the said town said that this will be attended by some 40 emergency volunteers.

He said that the volunteers will start to work on January next year to augment the capability of the Bureau of Firec Protection and the Philippine National Police for traffic management.

The volunteers will be given an insurance, free PhilHealth cards, honorarium, free uniform and paraphernalia and other supplies during calamities and disasters.

The said training was spearheaded by the local government of Labo in cooperation with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police and the Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council. (RBManlangit/PIA CamNorte)

NAGA CITY MONITORS STALLS; WARNS VENDORS, REVELERS ILLEGAL FIRECRACKERS

NAGA CITY — With only a few days left before the New Year revelry, the Philippine National Police (PNP) here is monitoring various firecracker stalls in compliance with the directive earlier issued by Naga City Mayor John Bongat.

SPO4 Elmer Petalliano, Naga City PNP spokesman, said in an interview that their men were also given stringent instruction by Naga Police Director Sr. Supt. Vert Chavez to be especially watchful for illegal firecrackers which could proliferate in the market place on the eve of the celebration.

Republic Act (RA) 7183, an act regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices particularly cited firecracker, including pyrotechnic devices which are prohibited by law. These includes baby rocket, bawang, small triangulo,, el Diablo, watusi, Judah’s belt, sky rocket or kwitis, luces, special roman candle, and trompillo.

Aside from their monitoring, Chavez has also issued specific guidelines to one hundred eighty-five (185) stall owners who were given permission to sell their merchandise in designated places in the city.

“For every 10 stalls, there should be a pail of sand, a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher. This is one of the safety measures that we have implemented that the stall owner should also comply with.”

Petalliano added that they have also prohibited firecrackers stalls inside and within the vicinity of the Naga City Public Market. “All of these stalls are located at Plaza Quezon and Plaza Rizal. These are the only designated areas where they can sell their firecrackers and like merchandise.”

Also in support of the campaign dubbed as “Kontra Paputok” launched here in Naga recently, Chavez aimed his appeal to the parents to guide their children and keep a close eye on them during the revelry.

“We oftentimes neglect the fact that we are also responsible for our kids who perhaps doesn’t have a full grasp of the danger they are facing when they lit up a firecracker strand. So we are calling the attention of our parents, to be especially watchful to what our kids are doing. More importantly, let us not allow them to buy firecrackers.” (LSMacatangay, PIA CamSur)