Sorsogon Peace Council briefed on revised Philippine Reintegration Program

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY , September 6 (PIA) -- The Office of the Presidential Advisory on the Peace Process (OPAPP), through its Southern Luzon representative Cristopher Azucena, oriented the members of the Sorsogon Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of the revised Philippine Reintegration Program (PRP) in a meeting held here last week at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO).

According to Azucena the PRP first program implementation was contained in the Economic Development Corps (EDCOR) which was conducted from 1950-1954.

This was followed by the National Reconciliation and Development Program (NRDP) implemented from 1986-1991. Then it was reviewed and revised so from 1992-1993 what was implemented under the PRP was the New National Reconciliation and Development Program.

In 1994 under the PRP the National Program for Unification and Development was implemented from 1994-2000 followed by Expanded Balik Loob which was in effect from 2000-2003 and another name was coined to implement the PRP, implemented from 2007-2010 which was the Social Integration Program (SIP)

Azucena said that based from the findings from past experiences and records , the implementation of the program since 1986, around 275,147 former rebels and their families have benefited from the government reintegration activities and a total of P1, 835 Billion have been spent.

Under the NDRP/ NNRDP P1.28 M was provided to 233,996 beneficiaries,

While under the NPUD a total of P385.55 M was distributed to 40,396 beneficiaries. In the SIP, P253 M was provided to 982 beneficiaries.

Now under the Aquino administration Prospects for Peace , the OPAPP has released the Framework for the Reintegration and Development of Former Combatants (FCs) now contained in the revised Philippine Reintegration Program.

It is anchored on four guiding principles and policies.

These four guiding principles and policies are : first, it should be locally driven and owned and nationally led ; second, built on broad partnership; third, time bound with clear exit strategy ; and fourth, subject sensitive and flexible.

Azucena also explained that under the locally driven strategy, provincial Local government units whenever practicable are focal points of authority, assistance and management. OPAPP and other national agencies will act or perform as oversight functions, monitoring and evaluation, provide policy direction, capacity building support and assist in resource mobilization.

Under the broad partnership strategy, government and non-government organizations are converged to assist and provide support programs and services.

Former combatants (FCs) , their families, communities of settlement, LGUs and other stakeholders should be involved in planning and implementation of the PRP.

Underscored by Azucena is that the program should be time bound with clear exit strategy. Meaning, the local reintegration plan are with clear outputs and timelines.

For this he said, "There should be effective monitoring and evaluation system installed at the start of the program to track progress of FCs and how the program will help them to be mainstreamed.

The last guiding principle he said for the PRP to be successful is that it should be subject sensitive.

"It should be a flexible packaging and provision of assistance that is context-specific , and needs and capacity based.It should utilize case work approach for each FC , allows for flexibility in implementation arrangement based on capacity to deliver", he stressed.

"Most importantly respect for privacy of FCs and their family and need for confidentiality of some process be observed", he said."These guidelines on the revised PRP are of utmost importance so that as members of the PPOC, each one can really assist in the implementation and success of the program.

The delivery of the program according to Azucena to new surfacing rebels shall be done as need arises through local government and non-government partners as seen as appropriate.

The purpose of the orientation is also to organize the local reintegration team. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

SKI Group conducts info drive for Bulusan geothermal exploration project

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- An initial information education campaign for the Bulusan Geothermal Exploration Project was presented here by the SKI Group of Companies, a Department of Energy (DOE)service contract awardee, to do exploration activities for a possible geothermal potential source outside the declared reservation area of Mt. Bulusan.

Various stakeholders invited by the provincial government to the information communication campaign were the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Community Environment and Natural Resources, Office, Philippine Information Agency, Provincial Tourism Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and the three local government units of Juban, Irosin and Bulusan where the initial exploration areas will be conducted.

A schematic map was presented to show the areas where stone and water samples will be taken for geothermal studies.

"The SKI is one of the companies now doing geothermal exploration in three areas of the country so that the supply for power in the Philippines be well provided",Engineer Benjie Monzon said.

"The government in its effort to provide continued power to its constituency will have to award service contracts to companies for exploratory activities of identified areas where it can be potential for energy source", Bobby Adajar, representative of the DOE said.

Meanwhile apprehensions of local governments regarding the exploration were ventilated and where threshed out during the open forum.

"What we are afraid of , is if the water source of Bulusan will be depleted", Mayor Michael Guysayco said."This is quite difficult to explain to our constituency. while we appreciate the information provided by SKI, still we have some fears"

Mayor Jun Ong of Irosin also said that the exploration phase to be conducted by SKI should be made more consultative.They should still have to do series of IECs to find out the social acceptability of the project by the community, particularly in Irosin where before the plan for geothermal was not accepted.

"We would like to request SKI to do massive IEC so that the constituency will be well informed and if these project pushes through, they are consulted" Ong added.

Meanwhile DENR, RO 5, represented by Felix Mendoza also explained that while SKI showed the schematic map for areas of exploration, he requested a hard copy where areas be specifically specified and that the schedule for exploration be provided to them.

"DENR will be represented during the initial and the whole process of the exploration to document and also be aware of the study being conducted", Mendoza explained.

CENRO officer in charge Krisma Rodriguez also explained that with the Mt. Bulusan Volcano Protected Area Bill already in process, there will be discrepancies in delienated areas and that the map provided by SKI be forwarded to them for review so that there will a clear setting of boundaries..

Meanwhile Governor Raul Lee explained that projects like these are part now of government' desire to see the needs of the country in terms of power generation and geothermal is one of the safest and renewable source for energy.

DOE reported that the Philippine exploratory phase for different kinds of energy are distributed as Gas Turbine generation 10%, Coal 24 %, Geothermal Power 22%. Hydro 13%, Diesel 8 %, Oil thermal 18 % and combined 5 %.

There are 4 geothermal power plants in the Philippines and there are still 4 companies with geothermal applications. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


Albay, Bicol cities named among 30 top performing LGUs for 2010

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- Albay province and the cities of Naga and Ligao in Bicol were among the thirty top performing local government units in the country for 2010 chosen by the Department of Local Government (DILG), a ranking DILG official said Tuesday.

The 30 provinces and cities have been named top performing local government units for 2010 based on their high scores in the latest Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), a web-based, self-assessment tool that measures their performance in key governance areas and provides information on their status in terms of local governance and development.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said LGPMS, which is managed by the DILG’s Bureau of Local Government Supervision, assesses LGUs on administrative, social, economic, and environmental governance, and on fundamentals of good governance which include transparency, participation and financial accountability.

He said the 30 LGUs -– 10 provinces and 20 cities -– got an average overall performance index ranging from 4.6415 to 4.9370, with one as the lowest and five as the highest.

The top 10 high performing provinces according to rank are: Bohol (4.9370); La Union (4.9115); Bulacan (4.8628); Negros Oriental (4.8331); Pangasinan (4.8185); Ilocos Norte (4.8185); Albay (4.8064); Cavite (4.8031); Compostela Valley (4.7812); and Tarlac (4.7773).

Albay Governor Joey Salceda lauded the DILG for regularly conducting the LGPMS as this would encourage other LGUs to steam up their performance in various aspects of local governance.

Salceda said Albay under his stewardship have develop landmark programs that would spur socio-economic activities in the province.

The programs place Albay in the economic road map that would engage investors, tourist, and traders to be secure in the province as one of the most liveable place across the country.

“Our vision is to become the most liveable province know for good schools good hospitals and good environment,” he said.

Under the program Albay Rising the road map direction would focus on the 5 E’s : Economy, Education, Environment, Equity and Health.

The notable projects of 5 Es include, among others: the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA), Guicadale Business Platform, National Renewable Energy Program, Barangay Capacity enhancement, 4Ps, Higher Education Contribution Scheme, Education Quality for Albayano (EQUAL), Albay Higher Education Contribution Scheme (AHECS), Bicol University and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital modernization and the Universal PhilHealth coverage.

The province has also embarked on an aggressive program such as Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) operation where pre-emptive disaster measure had been instituted to attain a “ Zero Casualty” goal and the Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) program.

Meanwhile, top performing cities in the highly urbanized and independent component cities category are Valenzuela (4.9150); San Juan (4.8875); Puerto Princesa (4.8640); Angeles (4.7410); Davao (4.7380); Naga (4.6940); Zamboanga (4.6865); Iligan (4.6710); Cebu (4.6633); and Taguig (4.6415).

For the component cities category, the top performers were Ligao (4.9240); Laoag (4.9193); San Fernando (4.9177); Vigan (4.8617); Gingoog (4.8568); Cabanatuan (4.8363); Dipolog (4.8113); La Carlota (4.7553); Iriga (4.7522); and Batac (4.7430). (MAL/MSA/LGU Albay)