BIR BICOL OVERSHOOTS 2010 COLLECTION GOAL BY 5.55 PERCENT
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Bicol regional office again overshoot its yearly collection goal, now on four consecutive years, when it was able to collect P254,,681,992.53 more than the 2010 goal of P4,588,274,000.00.

BIR Bicol Regional Director Diosdado Mendoza in his report to Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares said that the bureau was able to collect last year a total of P4,842,955,992.53 in various taxes or 5.55 percent more than the goal.

The 2010 collection was also P882,006,247.21 higher than the 2009 collection of only P3,960,949,745.32 or 22.27 percent more according to Mendoza.

Mendoza said that despite the slow down in government projects in the region, and the lack of personnel, the seven revenue district offices (RDOs) and the regional office were able to make good its collection performance because of several innovative approaches it implemented to increase collection from Income tax, Value added tax, Percentage Tax, Excise and other taxes.

He cited among them the intensified tax information campaign, collection of delinquent accounts, the regular tax compliance verification drive , the close monitoring of withholding agents of National and Local Government offices, Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) projects and the voluntary compliance of top tax payers in the region.

Mendoza said that RDO district office in Masbate posted the best collection performance among the seven RDOs in the region when it exceeded its collection of P295,507,000.00 by P75,268,794.90 or 25.47 percent more, while the Daet, Camarines Norte RDO was second which posted a collection of more than P83,218,276.93 over the goal of P410,445,000.00 or 20.28 percent over.

This year Mendoza said that they have lined up several innovations to be able to again overshoot its collection goal for 2011 counting on the strong support and cooperation of Bicolano taxpayers. (PIA V/Albay/mal)

DPWH to implement P3.9 billion worth of projects for 2011
By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here has disclosed the other day that they will be implementing a total of P3,906,607,000.00 worth of infrastructure projects in the six provinces of Bicol this year.

DPWH Regional Director Danilo E. Dequito said that the projects will be implemented in accordance with the 3-Rs criteria formulated by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to be adopted strictly by the department field engineers in the execution of the projects to ensure its durability and at the right cost.

Dequito explained that the 3-Rs refer to first, it should be the right project, second, at the right price and third, it should be constructed with the right quality to ensure its durability.

He said the projects are composed of P3.8 billion worth of locally funded projects and P36 million worth of foreign assisted projects.

Dequito said the province of Camarines Sur has been allocated a total of P1.2 billion worth of projects to be implemented in the five districts of the province — P500 million are for critical road and bridges to address critical bottlenecks,P334.6 million for rehabilitation of damaged national roads,P353.3 million for the upgrading from gravel to paved roads, P55.3 million for preventive maintenance.

Masbate, Dequito said, was earmarked a total of P784.5 million worth for various projects; Catanduanes P682 million; Camarines Norte P195.4 million; Sorsogon P154.3 million; Albay with P142.7 million; and P703 million worth of projects classified as region wide. (PIA V/Albay/mal)


BICOL RECORDS 4.0 % ANNUAL INFLATION RATE IN 2010
…0.6% slower than 2009

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The National Statistics Office (NSO) in Bicol has noted an average annual inflation rate in Bicol Region for the year 2010 was 4.0 percent, slower by 0.6 percentage point than the 4.6 percent average in 2009.

NSO Bicol chief Cynthia Perdiz said that the increment in the annual inflation rate was due to the higher rates recorded in the food, beverages and tobacco (2.5 percent from 2.4 percent); fuel, light and water (11.8 percent from 8.0 percent) and miscellaneous items (2.1 percent from 2.0 percent).

Perdiz said that at the regional level, the year-on-year inflation rate increased to 3.0 percent in December 2010 from 2.7 percent in November 2010, wherein rates were maintained in the indices of clothing (1.3 percent) and housing & repairs (1.7 percent) while the annual price hike was slower in the services index at 2.3 percent from 2.5 percent.

She added that across provinces, annual price movements were slower in Catanduanes at 2.3 percent from 2.8 percent and Masbate at 1.5 percent from 1.9 percent. In contrast, higher annual inflation rates were registered in Albay (3.9 percent from 2.7 percent), Camarines Norte (3.6 percent from 3.4 percent), Camarines Sur (3.1 percent from 2.9 percent) and Sorsogon (3.6 percent from 3.5 percent).

On price situation

NSO Bicol data, meanwhile, show that the consumer price index (CPI) for all income households in the region was registered at 169.3 in December 2010, higher by 1.3 index points from the recorded CPI of 168.0 in November 2010.

“In terms of rate, the all items month-on-month inflation rate was registered at 0.8 percent in December from 0.3 percent growth in November,” Perdiz noted.

The same data also show that the over-all month-on-month rate of food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) index increased to 0.5 percent in December 2010 from 0.1 percent in November 2010.

“This could be attributed to the higher rates observed in the indices of fish (0.2 percent from -0.1 percent), meat (0.1 percent from -0.6 percent), miscellaneous foods (1.5 percent from 0.6 percent), beverages (0.3 percent from 0.0 percent) and tobacco (0.3 percent from 0.1 percent),” she explained.

However, according to the NSO Bicol director, these increases were counterbalanced by the negative rate continuously posted in the cereal and cereal preparations (-0.1 percent from -0.3 percent) due to the enough supply of rice and corn in the markets.

Meanwhile, the data also show that dairy products index and fruits & vegetables index maintained the previous month’s rate of 0.1 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively.

In the same report, zero percent growth was still observed in the housing & repairs index while slower price increment was noted in the miscellaneous items index at 0.1 percent from 0.2 percent.

On the other hand, a notable increase was recorded in fuel, light and water index from 3.1 percent in November 2010 to 5.9 percent in December 2010 due to the upward adjustments in the charges for electricity rates and add-ons in the prices of LPG and kerosene. The general price increments in gasoline and diesel nationwide raised the services index in the region by 0.4 percent from 0.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the clothing index maintained its November rate of 0.1 percent. The overall rate of the non-food index was recorded at 1.2 percent from 0.7 percent.

With such prices of the commodities and services, the Bicol Region’s purchasing power of peso (PPP) declined by one centavo from P0.60 to P0.59.

Likewise, PPP declined by one centavo in the provinces of Albay (P0.57 from P0.58) and Sorsogon (P0.58 from P0.59). On the other hand, the November 2010 PPP was maintained in Camarines Norte (P0.58), Camarines Sur (P0.62), Catanduanes (P0.55) and Masbate (P0.60). (MALoterte, PIA V/Albay)

DFA NOW ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FOR FOREIGN SERVICE EXAM

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is now accepting applications for the 2011 Foreign Service Officer Examination.

DFA Bicol Regional Director Helen Grace Cuisia has announced that the examination is open to all Filipinos aged 34 years old and below who are holders of a bachelor’s degree.

Cuisia sais the FSO exam is composed of five parts that is set on the following dates, Qualifying Test - March 20; Preliminary Interview - June 4 and 5; Written Test - June 8 to 10; Oral Test - October 12 to 14; and, Psychological Test - November 21 to 25.

The Qualifying test covers a) English grammar and correct usage b) reading comprehension c) logical reasoning d) quantitative reasoning/data interpretation e) leadership/knowledge of management concepts.

It will be held simultaneously in the cities of Legazpi, Quezon, Cebu, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Zamboanga and San Fernando, Pampanga.

An applicant must obtain a passing grade of at least 80% in order to qualify for the preliminary interview.
The requirements as well as the application form may be downloaded in the agency’s official website- www.dfa.gov.ph.

For more inquiries, applicants may DFA’s Regional Consular Office here at (52) 4801773 or (52) 8203396.

Application forms should be personally submitted by the applicants not later than February 4 to any RCO or not later than February 11 to the DFA Main Office. (MALoterte/PIA V/Albay)

Feature:

“GO ORGANIC AGRICULTURE FARMING MOVEMENT”: A SUCCESS IN SORSOGON
By: Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY (PIA) – Launched in 2007, the “Go Organic Agriculture Farming Movement”, advocated by the provincial government of Sorsogon, and spearheaded by the Paraalang Sa Masa Program is now a successful venture showcased in a one-hectare lot demo-farm named Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Sorsogon Provincial Organic Farm located along the National Highway in Brgy. Abuyog, Sorsogon city.

In 2008, during the time of then Sorsogon Governor Sally Ante Lee, through her networking initiatives, she submitted a proposal to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to pilot the organic farming in the province. True enough, the KOICA heeded the call to fund the program. The acquisition of the one-hectare lot was funded by the provincial government while the technology transfer of organic farming was provided by the Korean government with the inclusion of building construction, farm equipment, and a consultant, Mr. Kim Sun il, who helps operationalize the project in the span of two years.

Now on its third year of implementation, the Go Organic Agriculture Farming Demo Farm is a hub for educational tours, a visible-accessible one stop-shop where one can readily purchase organically grown vegetables freshly harvested from the garden beds, the right food for advocates of clean living and healthy lifestyle.

“We hold here now in our KOICA Farm regular basic orientation seminars in organic farming where farmers, students, individual cooperators and housewives learn the basic skills of composting using household and farm wastes. We also provide herbal seedlings & cuttings for planting,” Pat Guevarra, the overseer and at the same time coordinator of the Para Sa Masa program, explained.

Intervida Philippines Foundation has partnered also with the provincial government in popularizing organic farming by exposing the Intervida communities in the demo-farm. Last August 19, 2010, it has partnered in the organic fertilizer production through their implementation of a functional Solid Waste Management System and compost production program.

Now, the KOICA organic farming demo farm has been supplying organic fertilizer to home-based organic gardens within the vicinity of Abuyog, to school-based gardens and individual farmer cooperators.

To mainstream the knowledge of organic farming, a radio program at DZRS entitled “Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon, Organikong Pagsasaka Isulong!” is aired every Saturday from 7:00-8:00 AM hosted by Ms. Pat Guevarra

The program is hosted by Pat Guevarra with co-anchor Mr. Romeo Lleona, also providing information in the use of alternative medicine through herbal plants, also organically grown with the assistance of Dr. Ramon Halum, consultant on Alternative Medicine/Herbal Medicine.

“I have tied up the programs of the Sorsogon Provincial Nutrition Council by opening new initiatives to our barangay scholars in-charge of the nutrition program in our municipalities so that clean and organically grown vegetable be used in their feeding program. Exposure to the KOICA farm gave them the experiential learning and actual interfacing to the farm workers doing organic farming,” Sorsogon Provincial Nutrition Council coordinator Grace Jardin also stressed.

Series of tours to the KOICA demo farm from July 2010 to September 2010 were noted. A total of 380 students coming from Abuyog Elementary School, St. Michael Academy of Albay and Zamora Memorial College gained firsthand knowledge and exposure on the importance and benefits of organic farming.

“The continuous assistance and information sharing we provide to farmers on vermin-culture production aside from supplying them vermicast has made them accept organic farming more readily. In fact, last September 2010, we have conducted a theoretical and hands on composting and foliar fertilizer production training to some twenty five (25) rice farmers of Ponong, Casiguran,” Guevarra further stated.

“This 2011, our optimism in this project has been extended to the propagation of endangered species of fruit trees found in the province and the add-on propagation of durian and marang which I believe is adaptable to our climate. I have also instructed Pat to continue our linkage with Nanaywatch, the Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF), Green pearl, Coastal CORE and MASIPAG, a non-government organization advocating traditional palay seeds for planting,” Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee said.

Today, the organic farming in the province of Sorsogon is adapted in almost all local government units establishing organic demo-farm near their dump sites like Irosin, Bulan and the city of Sorsogon. It is also an effective approach for climate change adaptation and mitigation since waste is properly managed productively.

“I am also hopeful that through the KOICA demo-farm in our province, we will be able to share the technology to other provinces and become a resource-province in organic farming sharing,” Lee finally quipped with a chinky smile. (PIA Sorsogon)

CHIZ OPPOSES NFA CLOSE DOWN

LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) —Senator Chiz Escudero disagreed with plans to abolish the National Food Authority (NFA) as a way of addressing anomalies in the agency stemming from the excessive rice importation by the previous administration.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said they were weighing the possibility of shutting down the NFA and transfer three of its key functions after the agency disclosed that it was saddled with P177 billion debt due to the excessive rice importation.

“That the present administrators of the NFA found malfeasance in rice importation from the previous does not deserve a knee-jerk reaction,” Escudero said. “The NFA still serves a purpose and should not be abolished although I agree that its mandate and processes should be reviewed at the very least.”

While the senator believes that the NFA’s system has long been plagued with inefficiency and corruption, he explained that this was not yet the proper time to abolish it.

“The NFA needs a policy overhaul and it must be made more relevant and in tune with the times and its flaws and shortcomings corrected,” Escudero explained.

To address the flaws in the system, Escudero proposed to economic managers to prioritize this, tap resources that could help stabilize market prices and aid the agricultural sector to make it self-sufficient.

“Every people’s need right now is food on their table. The poorest of the Filipino families belong to the agricultural sector. Forty percent of our labor force is directly dependent on agriculture. Boosting agricultural sufficiency will lower the cost of doing business in the country and will create a more stable business climate,” he said. (Office of Sen, Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)

CAMSUR OFFERS SCHOLARSHIP TO I.T. STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS
By Lizel S. Macatangay

PILI, Camarines Sur, (PIA) — The local government of Camarines Sur, after its pioneering effort to establish an information hub in the province and employing its constituents, now opens its door to qualified IT students and professionals for a five-month intensive training in Makati.

The good news was announced by the Camarines Sur Employment Center (CSEC) after successfully getting the nod of the Advance World Systems (AWS) for a scholarship grant to qualified partakers. Fortunate trainees will be selected thru a recruitment activity which will be conducted on January 26 at the Camarines Sur Trade and Investment Center, BMC Road, Panganiban Drive , Naga City .

The said opportunity is open to all graduating IT students or graduates of a 4 or 5 –year related courses such as CS, CoE, MIS, IT and ECE. Engineering graduates and those who were able to complete their science courses like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and related courses are also encouraged to try their luck.

Applicants who have a basic know how on C/C++ or Java Programming, Open Source Technologies, Web Programming, MS Net, Visual Basic, Assembly or TCP/IP programming will have better edge to pass the screening.

All qualified scholars will have their intensive training at AWS Center for Technology Incubation (ACTION) where general IT Concepts will be discussed by experienced IT instructors, including the latest technologies and innovations in information technology, business basic , including Japanese language.

This opportunity was designed by the provincial government of Camarines Sur to enhance the skills of IT students and Professionals and groom them to become AWS engineers. The training will also balance the IT enthusiast’s learning and help them adapt to the current trend in the information industry.

Interested participants may call the CSEC at telephone numbers (054) 477-5858 or (054) 477-7468. They may personally visit the CSEC office located at the 2nd floor of the Capitol Main Building , Capitol Complex, at Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur. (PIA CamSur)

WWA 2011 ULTIMATE WINNERS BARED
By: Lizel S. Macatangay

CADLAN, Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) — After showcasing their best jumps and ramps under the grilling heat of the sun for the past three days, the names of the lucky competitors who edged their opponents during the finals of the World Wake Association World Series’ Ultimate Wake Championship were finally bared.

Wakeboarder Tom Fooshee from the United States of America emerged as the over-all winner of the WWA 2011 dominating the Men’s Pro 2011 WWA World Series Boat category while Reed Hansen, also from the USA, garnered the highest score under the Pro Wakeskate Boat Category.

Under the Professional WakeSkate Category, Andrew Pastura, also from the USA , topped the other contenders with the score of 96.67 while Jennifer Gilanfarr also representing the United States of America bagged the over-all win with a score of 86.67 points in the Women’s Wake Skate final competition.

Samantha Bermudez from the Philippines proudly got her place after topping the Women’s Professional Category, vesting other female contenders from other nations. Other Filipina contenders, Tynna Rosero, Jenette Beltran and Diana De Castro took the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place respectively during the Women’s WakeSkate finals.

The World Wake Association World Series’ Ultimate Wake Championship is one of Governor LRay’s endeavors to keep Camarines Sur’s turf as the ultimate sports destination in the country. For the past years, the Camarines Sur Water Sports Complex (CWC) has been the venue of grand sports activities and international competitions, significantly giving the province the nod of sports enthusiasts from all over the world.

Governor Villafuerte personally witnessed the competition and was awed by the new moves and innovations on stunts showcased by competing individuals from different countries in Asia, Europe and United States of America among others.

The competition was done at the spacious Lago Del Rey and at the Wake Park within the CWC. (PIA Camarines Sur)


Beneficiaries to receive additional capital for enterprising program of TLDC

DAET, Camarines Norte, (PIA) – 11 beneficiaries will receive additional capital for the Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) program of the Technology and Livelihood Development Center (TLDC).

TLDC Manager Lilia P. Avellana said that beneficiaries will receive an additional capital of P5,000- P25,000 for their small business with very minimal interest.

She said that the funds will come from the 20% development fund of the local government of Daet.

She said that beneficiaries were trained on how to make business plan last January 18, 2011 conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here.

Manager Avellana cited that beneficiaries has already started their business based on the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) of their barangay like meat processing and by products of pineapple.

The beneficiaries include: Josephine Aguilar, Nora Lubos, Yolly Mabeza, Mar Luis Briñas, Teresita D’Ortuna, Henry Peñaflor, Malou Lopez, Lerma Magana, Sally Encinas, Evelyn Asis at Arnel Borromeo from the barangays of Daet. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte/mal)