Chiz to DA: Craft viable insurance schemes for farmers in typhoon-stricken areas

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA) -- Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero has called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to step up its efforts in encouraging farmers to insure their lands and crops to protect them against losses brought about by typhoons and natural calamities.

Several typhoons in the past weeks have destroyed large swaths of agricultural lands in the country, and Escudero saw the need to insure more farmlands and products in areas battered by severe tropical storms.

Escudero put to task the DA to encourage more farmers to insure their lands and farm products with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), a government-owned and -controlled corporation tasked to provide insurance protection against loss of crops, livestock and agricultural assets due to natural calamities, plants pests and disease, among others.

According to the senator, while new insurance schemes are being adapted by PCIC in some areas in the country, many farmers, particularly self-financed farmers, are not keen on availing insurance coverage.

This is the reason, he added, why the DA should craft viable insurance schemes for all farmers, especially for those in provinces usually hit by typhoons like Eastern Visayas, the Bicol region and some areas in Southern Luzon.

Escudero cited a recent agreement among the local government unit in Negros Occidental, a farmer’s group and PCIC where in a certain percentage of the insurance premium is shouldered by the local government, which can be replicated in other areas.

“Pwedeng maghati-hati (sa pagitan) ng local government at may counterpart rin ang farmers. Ang rough computation namin sa mga palayan at sugarcane farms ay humigit kumulang P800 to P840 per year ang premium para ma-cover more or less P20,000 per hectare para sa magsasaka,” Escudero said.

Escudero also mentioned the insurance scheme he proposed to the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Government Service Insurance System, which placed under insurance coverage school buildings in Eastern Visayas and Bicol frequently visited by typhoons, to make sure there is enough funds for immediate repair after the onslaught of typhoon or other calamities.

“Bilang estimate sa insurance, noong pina-insure ko dati ang Regions 5, 8, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Isabela, Cagayan na nasa eastern seaboard ng bansa, noong na-cover namin ng insurance lahat ng school buildings diyan, P100 million lamang ang ginastos namin. Ang school building repair fund ng DepEd ay P3 billion. So wala pang 4 percent iyon ng school building fund. Mako-cover na ng insurance ang madalas na tinatamaan ng bagyo,” Escudero explained.

He said that with more farmers getting insurance coverage, many would be protected. “Pag may crop insurance, tamaan man ng kalamidad, peste, o baha, makababawi sila at makababangon muli at hindi mababaon sa utang ng mahabang panahon.” (MAL, PIA V/Office of Sen. Escudero)

Sorsogon City mainstreams disaster risk reduction mechanisms in local planning and urban management

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA) -- Utilizing the strategy of bottoms up approach, the city government of Sorsogon has conducted a series of inter-sectoral consultation to mainstream the interventions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and institute disaster risk reduction initiatives.

“Inputs of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) and the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC), together with other members of the community have provided the office on the current situations, conditions and identifying problem areas , provide necessary actions steps and harmonizing it with development plans were the mechanism initiated already by the city government to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation, and institute disaster risk reduction, Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda usually expressed whenever he is invited to share the best practices of the city” Tito D. Fortes said in an interview done by the Philippine Information Agency Office here last Monday.

“We were tasked to share the best practices of the city government here on DRR in Baguio City only two weeks ago since Mayor Dioneda was in another commitment sharing again the best practices in Solid Waste Management implementation” Fortes said.

Fortes, as the newly installed officer in charge of programs and projects under the CCMA provided several persons visiting the city, a tour of the office where emboldened hazard maps were posted showing their areas of vulnerabilities and vulnerabilities of neighboring municipalities that also poses a bearing on certain climatic conditions in the city.

Fortes said that the maps generated through the assistance of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided personnel working in the DRR a very comprehensive presentation of certain types of vulnerabilities of the city.

“This office has created awareness within the basic sectors in the community to look at disasters with preparedness and with a committed responsibility of what should be done collectively in addressing the concerns,” Fortes said.

”The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) together with the Sorsogon City Development Planning Office (CPDO) have harmonized their Physical Framework Development Plan,” he said.

Reformulation and the enhancement of the city PFDP in compliance with the CCMA and DRR will now serve as the basic operating guidelines and legal policies to be followed for the expedient implementation of programs and projects under the infrastructure development landscape of the city,” Fortes further explained. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Rice supply to last up to 7 months, distribution of certified seeds until Sept 15

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, September 9 (PIA) -- There is enough supply of rice in the region estimated to last for seven months.

The National Food Authority Bicol disclosed to PIA Tuesday this week through its radio program Aramon Ta Daw that rice supply is good up to 214 days or more than seven months.

Nelsie E. Alcantara, the agency’s regional public information officer, said there is a total of 666,593 bags of rice available at present of which 644,769 are imported rice; 162 sacks of local rice and 21,662 bags of iron fortified rice. On top of these there are 1,670,596 bags of procured palay ready for milling anytime equivalent to 1,085,887 or 65 per cent recovery rate. The current buffer stock totals 1,752,480.

A couple of weeks back, Edwin Atayza, NFA Bicol Operations officer reported of the existing bags of rice in NFA provincial offices across the region. He said Albay has a supply of 647,373 bags; Camarines Norte 129,997; Camarines Sur 725,265; Catanduanes 70,552; Masbate 79,691 and Sorsogon 245,196 or a total of 1,898,074.

The total number of bags then is higher by 145,594 against the present inventory.

Atayza also stated that there is an average of 8,000 bags daily sales of NFA rice.

Meantime, Yolanda R. Navarro, Ph.D., manager of Albay NFA reported that the region has reached 95 per cent of the distribution of certified seeds to qualified farmers as the rapid seed supply financing project distribution is only up to September 15.

Farmers are encouraged to avail of the remaining stocks especially those who suffered losses in past typhoons. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

Sanggunian to conduct forum on power system reliability and sustainability

by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, September 9 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government through the SP Committee on energy chaired by Hon. PBM Roger F. Pereyra will be holding a "Forum on Catanduanes Power System Reliability and Sustainability" on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 8:00 in the morning at the Provincial Capitol Dome.

The forum aims to clarify issues regarding the power and electricity supply in the province.

A program will be held in connection with the activity. Governor Joseph C. Cua is expected to deliver his message during the opening program. A Bird's Eye View of Catanduanes Power Outlook will be given by Hon. Roger Pereyra.

Engr. Rodolfo G. Mendoza, OIC-General Manager (FICELCO) will give a talk regarding FICELCO then and Now Gaps and Current Concerns.

Moreover, First Catanduanes Electric Cooeprative, Inc. (FICELCO), Catanduanes Power Generation, Inc. (CPGI), Sunwest Water and Electric Power Co. Inc. (SUWECO)and National Power Corporation (NPC) will present solutions to power problems- short and long term action plans.

After the Presentation of Proposed Compromise Undertaking Agreement by Engr. Serafin Marcaida, SPUG-Catanduanes, an open forum will be held.

A Memorandum of Joint Undertaking will takaplace after with NEA, FICELCO, CPGI, SUWECO, NPC, LGU and LCE as signatories to be witnessed by Business Sector, Church Academe, PNP, UKAG, PWEE PMA, Catanduanes Chapter Hotel and Rest. Ass., NGOs and POs. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Two Bicolano OFWs awarded livelihood loans, five others receive grants

LEGASPI CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA/OWWA) -- Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz personally led the awarding of livelihood loans to two Bicolano OFWs Wednesday (Sept. 7) held at the regional office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here.

The loan awards were given under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s (OWWA) OFW Reintegration Program (ORP) in compliance with President Benigno Aquino’s directive of providing OFWs and their families with viable and sustainable sources of income within the Philippines.

Baldoz was accompanied by Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac to oversee the launching of DOLE Bicol’s Community Enterprise Development (CED) Program.

Antonio Rico Jr. of Baranggay Pawa here, an engineer who worked in Libya, was awarded P500,000 loan. He intends to use the loan to purchase a van for use as a public utility vehicle that caters to travelers from Legaspi bound for Sorsogon and vice versa.

Freddie Siruma of Naga City was awarded a loan worth P300,000 which he plans to use to put up a general merchandise business. He worked as a mechanic in Libya before he was repatriated due to the Libyan political crisis.

OWWA Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn O. Hapal said that the main aim of the ORP is to make OFWs think less of working abroad as the only way out of poverty. “We hope that with ORP OFWs will consider overseas employment just as an option as opposed to being the ‘only’ option,” Director Hapal said.

“Though overseas employment generates a lot of income not only for the OFWs’ families but also for our country, it eventually takes its toll on our migrant workers in the form of social cost. With this livelihood loan, OFWs can generate income that is enough to live a decent and comfortable life here in the country,” she said.

“Although the income they may generate from their businesses here may not even be close to what they are used to earning abroad, OFWs will not be paying the high price of social cost should they choose to avail of the ORP,” Director Hapal added.

Five female OFWs were also awarded livelihood grants under the Balik Pinay, Balik Hanap Buhay program, a joint undertaking of DOLE and OWWA.

All five awardees were distressed workers who either ran away from their employers due to maltreatment or were repatriated. Under this program, distressed female OFWs will be trained in hair cutting, manicure and pedicure, massage and reflexology, making of fashion accessories, or cooking. They will also be given starter kits so they can put up their own small businesses.

The five awardees were trained in the cooking of siomai, que-kiam and puto-pao and they were given the necessary startup kits. (MAL, PIA V/OWWA V)