PDEA reports gains in Anti illegal drug campaign in Bicol

by Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, July 19 (PIA) -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Bicol regional office has reported a total of 141 persons, including four minors, were arrested and confiscated a total of 139.125 grams of shabu and 277.563 grams of marijuana with the combined estimated value of P2,134,446.76 during the first six months of 2011.

Archie Grande, PDEA Bicol regional director, said that the arrests were made during the conduct of more than 105 operations, 24 of which were made by PDEA, while 81 others were joint operations with other law enforcement agencies.

Among those arrested were 62 pushers,74 possessors, six users , five maintainers of drug den, two cohorts, a courier, and a cultivator of marijuana .

He said that a total of 146 barangays are in watch list of PDEA, 90 of which is classified as moderately affected, while 56 is considered slightly affected barangays.

Grande said that for the second semester of the 2011they will further intensify their campaign against the illegal drug trade in the identified 146 barangays affected by the illegal drug trade.

These include 34 barangays are in Albay, 24 in Camarines Norte, 41 in Camarines Sur, 14 in Catanduanes , 31 in Masbate and two in Sorsogon.

He said that through a more coordinated efforts with other all law enforcement agencies and strong partnership with local government executives, "we believe that we will be able to further reduce the number of barangays still affected by the illegal drug trade.

Grande also said that a drug summit will be organized and convened during the second semester of this year to bring together all stake holders and map out an integrated and more effective anti drug abuse campaign in the region.

The proposed activity was discussed during the recent Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting held in this city presided by Governor Edgardo Tallado RPOC chairman. (MAL/EDL, PIA V)

Sanggunian to conduct interfacing on banning shipment of live grouper in Catanduanes

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 19 (PIA)-- The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Catanduanes will conduct a public hearing on Provincial Ordinance No. 99-03, an ordinance banning the shipment of live groupers (Lapu-lapu), crab fries and aquarium fishes except harlequin tusk species and similar species from the province for a period of six years this July 26, 2011 at 8:00 a.m at the Provincial Capitol Dome.

Official records available shows that the catching of liuve fishes and more specifically groupers otherwise called as Lapu-lapu, crab fries and aquarium or oriental fishes is adversely affecting the marine resources of the province.

Unscrupulous fishermen tempted by the high prices offered by Chinese, Japanese and other buyters who usually supply the prohibited sodium cyanide used in catching said species resort cyanate and other illegal means of fishing and these contributyr in the massive destruction of coral reefs in the coastal waters around the province.

The provincial administration since the past has been waging war against all forms of illegal fishing particularly the use of dynamite and sodium cyanide that fast deplete the main resources of the province's coastal waters at the same time causing damage to coral reefs.

Hence, there is a dire need to reenact and pass an ordinance banning the same purposely to prevent and conserve what remains of the rich marine resources of the province from senseless depredation of marine life and live corals.

According to the resolution draft, any firm or individual who continuously engage or practice said activities in open defiance to the said ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of Php 2,500.00 and an imprisonment of one day to thirty days or both upon the discretion of the court.

The said draft resolution was sponsored by Provincial Board Member Hon. Nel B. Asanza. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Agriculture, private industry jobs trigger drop in unemployment

LEGAZPI CITY, July 19 -- Jobs generated by the agriculture and private industry sectors pushed the country’s unemployment rate to drop to 7.2 percent in April this year, an eight percentage point from 8 percent in April 2010.

The Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES) said that employment level grew year-on-year in April to 36.8 million, up four percent from 35.4 million last year.

At the same time unemployment rate went down by 228,000 from three million in April last year to 2.8 million in April 2011.

BLES report said the country’s labor market regained momentum in April 2011 as employment grew, driven by the marked recovery in agriculture, fishery and forestry sector and the continued expansion, though at slower pace, in industry sector and services sector.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, in interpreting the BLES study, said the creation of 951,000 jobs in wage/salary workers was most auspicious when compared to previous jobs creations composed mostly of self-employed.

Private establishments accounted for 1.008 million new jobs, offsetting or substituting jobs in other sectors, he said.

“While services and agriculture created more jobs, the 145,000 better-value jobs in industry, of which 84,000 in manufacturing, should be seen as a good signal,” Salceda said.

Salceda said that the private establishments - wage/salary employment underpinned a 789,000 increase in workers who worked for over 40-hours (5 days x 8 hours) clearly established better quality of jobs creation.

“This is the initial positive consequence of the average 32.4% growth in GDCF (gross domestic capital formation) from 3rd Quarter of 2010 to 1st Quarter of 2011.”

The government sector created 302,000 jobs out of the 1.4 million jobs. (MSA/LGU Albay)

Korea workshop on disaster risk reduction, climate change big help to Catanduanes

VIRAC, Catanduanes, July 19 (PIA) -- Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento of the Lone District of Catanduanes participated in the Legislative Workshop of Philippine Parliamentarians on Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Philippines held in Incheon, Korea from July 14-17, 2011.

The activity has provided participants knowledge on how to give recognition and importance to changing ones mindset towards disaster and climate hazards.

It can be noted that Catanduanes is widely known to be a typhoon-prone island, according to Sarmiento, hence the province will benefit in the initiatives to be adopted by the government.

Sarmiento furthered that he consider himself fortunate to have participated in the activity, stressing that "we must consider redefining development as sensitive to disaster and climate risks."

At the end of the workshop, participants adopted a position calling for the concerned bodies to take (aggressive) action to address concerns relating to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

Those who attended the workshop from the House of Representatives were Congressmen Biazon (Muntinlupa), Evardone (Eastern Samar), Mel Sarmiento (Western Samar), Jose Cari (Leyte), Lucy Torres with spouse Richard Gomez (Leyte), Bernos (Abra), Go (Isabela), Garbin (Ako Bicol), Marcolete (Alagad), Dan Fernandez (Laguna), Rene Relampagaos (Bohol), Jesus Sacdalan (Cotabato), Roger Mercado (Southern Leyte), Apsay (Compostella Valley) and Cong. Sarmiento. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Albay’s dengue cases decline by 83%

by Joyce M. Mejillano

LEGAZPI CITY, July 19 (PIA) — Despite the onset of rainy season, Albay has noted a dramatic decline in the number of dengue cases from the month of January to July this year, as compared to the same period last year.

In a data released by the provincial government, Albay registered an 83% decline wherein from January to July this year, there are a total of 114 cases, compared to 685 of same period last year.

Among the municipalities with zero dengue prevalence this year are Malilipot, Malinao, rapu-Rapu and Tiwi. Last year they have 1, 3, 6 and 15 cases respectively.

Tabaco City’s dengue case plunged from 101 last year to 2 cases this year, Ligao has 18 cases in 2010 and 1 this year, Daraga also has a significant drop in the number of cases from 180 to 22. Legazpi likewise registered a huge decline from 287 to 39 cases.

In Manito, 5 cases were registered last year and 1 this year. Pioduran has 14 cases in 2010 and 1 this year, Camalig’s dengue occurrence also drop from 24 to 7, Bacacay from 8 to 4 and Polangui from 7 to 5.

Oas and Guinobatan registered same number of cases in 2010 and 2011, with 2 and 13 respectively.

Meanwhile, Santo Domingo’s dengue cases increase from 9 last year to 10 this year, Jovellar from 1 last year to 2 this year and Libon has five cases this year compare to 1 last 2010.

The dramatic decrease in dengue cases in Albay resulted from the massive campaign of the Provincial Health Office and Department of Health against the deadly disease. (MAL/JMM, PIA V)

BIR Camarines Norte surpassed P5.3M collections in the first semester of this year

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, July 19 (PIA) – Taxes collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) district office here surpassed by P5.3 million the target from January to June this year due to intensified tax campaign of the agency.

OIC Revenue District Officer Nemesia G. Diana said that the district office has collected a total of P229.8 million exceeding the target goal for the said period of P224,496,000.

She said that due to their appeal, more tax payers have filed and paid their income taxes, particularly businessmen in the province and they also intensified tax mapping every month to ensure that businessmen are paying the right taxes.

Diana also said that taxes collected include income taxes, value added taxes, percentage taxes, excess taxes and others.

It will be recalled that for the first 5 months the BIR has already surpassed some P5.1 million and was able to exceed more than P200,000 for the month of June.

She said that the RDO here target goal for this year is 457.17 million wherein they will have to collect P37 million every month in order to reach the said goal at the end of the year.

She also urged consumers to always ask for receipts in their purchases and services transactions wherein they can also win instant prizes in the Papremyo sa Resibo contest .

She explained that "PSR" offers instant cash prizes through text in the said promo of the BIR. To join text PSR(space)TIN No.of O.R.(space)O.R. No.(space) O.R. amount and send to 9777 (for single entry) or 9778 (for multiple entries). P100.00 reflected in the official receipt per entry and P2.50 will be deducted from the load per entry. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)