Albay network continues year-round smoke-free promotion

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, October 25 (PIA) -- In step with the health department’s goal of a smoke free environment, the Smoke Free Albay Network (SFAN) continues with its campaign for the program in the province.

In its last meeting held October 14 at the Sangguniang Panglalawigan session Hall, board member Herbert Borja, SFAN chairman, reported that legislation of the Smoke-Free Albay ordinance is being set up for committee hearing as soon as the legal office of the province is through with the review.

Atty. Rodolfo Bonafe Jr., according to Borja, is almost through with the appraisal of the proposed ordinance.

The drive for smoke-free province, also include appeal to towns and cities in Albay province to pass similar ordinances. In same meeting Tabaco City and Daraga town reported to have passed their respective local laws.

Tabaco’s youthful councilor and chairperson, Committee on Health Sheina Onrubia reported that the smoke-free ordinance in Tabaco City has been approved on third reading Oct 10 and expects a smooth sailing of Sangguniang Panglungsod approval on October 17.

Daraga town on the other hand has passed the same ordinance per report of Councilor Salvador Llamanzares’ representative Ramon Llona. Llona disclosed that the smoke-free law was adopted minus the controversial provision of allowing cigarette selling and vending within 100 meters of public places.

A component of SFAN promotion is training for its members to equip them with knowledge and capacity to deal with the program’s implementation. SFAN secretariat led by Rose Olarte-Orbita reported that some 23 members attended a meeting cum seminar on effective smoke-free implementation with the University (UP) College of Law Development Foundation (UPCLDF), Diliman, Quezon City last September 26.

Said forum expected the participants to possess enhanced capability of SFAN with the “teeth” and tools of smoke-free advocacy and created a venue to discuss effective means of dealing with tobacco industry interference especially in the passage of ordinances by local government units.

UPCLDF founding member and UP Law Prof. Rowena Daroy Morales and Atty. Cyril Alfred S. Castro discussed important issues on tobacco industry issues on RA 9211, DOH smoke-free model ordinance and other Smoke Free policies, how to deal with tobacco industry interference and the use of UPCLDF tools/materials for effective implementation in the local level.

Both discussed the G7 model on how seven cities in Metro Manila are making inroads in the implementation of tobacco ordinances in respective cities. G7 stands for the cities of the National Capital Region composed of Quezon, Makati, Manila, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Calooocan which spearhead the campaign for smoke-free Philippines.

Participants to the seminar considered the activity as enhancement of smoke free advocacy to LGUs and government offices in implementing tobacco control laws. It will support enforcers raise peoples’ awareness of tobacco related laws and put into effect initiatives for law enforcement.

Pastor Deodato Quintela, head of the Smoke-Free Legazpi enforcement unit said he found the UPCLDF encounter a valuable and helpful experience.

SFAN whose set-up includes membership of government and non-government organizations is led by Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda as its honorary chairman. Salceda has signed an executive order creating the SFAN in October last year. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

Feature: 'Kasanggayahan Inmates Break', an entertainment with a humane message

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY , October 25 ( PIA) -- Inmates of the Sorsogon Provincial Jail here strutted their stuff during the first "Kasanggayahan Inmates Break 2011" in time for the celebration of the provincial foundation anniversary and cultural festivity last week.

Provincial jail warden Josefina Lacdang of the SPJ, who has been always controversial in her ways more than one especially in trying to institute reforms inside the jail, once more proved to those critics who watched the selected 70 inmates performed several entertainment numbers from songs, dances, acrobats and synchronized body calisthenics the other day giving those spectators a glimpse that inmates are never short of talent and skills.

Lacdang said that she was inspired by the performance of inmates in Cebu City who now are famous in the Utube because of what they have shown in a mass dance and calisthenics presentation and should serve as a motivation to those in charge of prisons in the Philippines.

Lacdang also explained that the SPJ has now a library where these inmates can read and find time to hone their skills academically aside from the skills for livelihood development provided to them by the SPJ through the assistance of the provincial government and other non-governmental organizations providing them training.

"Inmates should also be given the chance to enjoy life even in incarceration. and the reforms I instituted is with a humane policy especially in treating women inmates and those who are a bit young," according to Lacdang.

The activity according to Lacdang was also suggested to her by no less than Governor Raul R. Lee that started from a choral group within the prison so that whenever mass is officiated the inmates'choir will be the one to sing in the mass.

She has also instituted inside the SPJ a "Lupon" where certain problems within can be easily settled by inmates within themselves and that more understanding can be achieved and jailbreaks be avoided.

"The"Kasanggayahan Inmates Break" is the first activity thought of the inmates to also show people that they can be part of the Kasanggayahan activity and that inmates should not be treated as if they no longer are part of society ," Rommel Lanuza one of the inmates said in an interview.

"The stigma of being inmates has been so deep that sometimes seeing them is being feared ," according to Lanuza.

"Major Lacdang and the governor have provided the inmates here the chance to redeem themselves. In fact here in the SPJ we are visited by priests and pastors and we accord 5 hours praying time each week together," Lanuza expressed.

"We have really practiced almost everyday and have chosen well those who would like to perform,"Lanuza,said when interviewed after their performance.

"This first Kasanggayahan Inmates Break was thought of by the inmates themselves so that they would feel appreciated too," Lacdang said.

"Here the inmates are provided the opportunity of developing themselves and they are made to realize that the prison is not a confinement but a rehabilitation where they should realize what they have committed against society and redeem themselves so that when given the chance after serving their term they are ready to be mainstreamed", according to Lacdang. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Law Enforcement Coordinating Council reconvened in Sorsogon

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, October 25 (PIA) -– The Police provincial office here has reconvened the Sorsogon Provincial Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (LECC) to synergize anew efforts of agencies in government to ensure unified direction and integration of efforts throughout the country in suppressing criminal activities on a day to day basis, particularly in the operating levels.

Police Senior Superintendent John CA Jambora, Police provincial director of Sorsogon, said the reactivation of the council is pursuant to the Executive Order No. 727 series of 1981 for the implementation of an effective law enforcement functions.

In a conference held here recently, Jambora said that the LECC will be part of the Provincial Peace and Order Council initiatives in the proper coordination and integration for the implementation and enforcement of general and special laws in particular.

The reconvening of the LECC provided the member agencies a reorientation of the authority, mission, functions, organizational relationships, and sub-committee tasks of the LECC.

Jambora furthered that provincial law enforcement council will continuously coordinate with member agencies in the procedures and policies as stipulated within the guidelines to facilitate cooperation and integration of efforts in the suppression of criminal activities.

PNP Sorsogon, according to him, has provided and will regularly provide provincial situationer on the peace and order situation identifying priority areas for coordination particularly in joint law enforcement activities.

The member agencies were also requested to submit to the chairman of the PPOC their respective strategies for consideration that may help in the suppression of criminal acts given the culture and location of the province and other law enforcement facet that could provide facility for easy coordination.

With province’s peace and order situation, member- agencies suggested that every meeting members shall tender a sharing of information for updates on certain policies, issues and concern to better the organizational knowledge of situations in the province so that right recommendations can be provided. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Government convergence initiatives gaining grounds in Catanduanes

VIRAC, Catanduanes, October 25 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently convened its third leg of convergence initiative forums in the province of Catanduanes.

Since its launching on February 23, 2011 by the national offices of Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and DAR, the National Convergence Initiative has gained grounds all over the country since then.

Provincial chief Alexander T. Teves of DAR Catanduanes presided over at least three meetings since April 12, 2011, the latest of which was held at the DAR provincial office in Constantino, Virac last October 7, 2011. PARO Teves has been designated Chairperson of the Provincial Technical Working Group (TWG) of the convergence

initiative in Catanduanes, while the Gov. Joseph C. Cuaserves as co-chairperson.

Members of the CI include the DAR, DENR, DA, PPDO (PLGU), and other provincial partners institutions as maybe designated. Also present in its meeting last October 7 were Ms Juliet Araojo representing DENR /CENRO, Mr. Salvador Gianan of PASO, Mr. Edgar Olet of DA, CARPO Nelia Tadoy, SARPOs Socorro Facundo, and Sarah Tito, and Ms Nerissa Balin of DAR-BDCD.

“The convergence initiative in Catanduanes is a step in the right direction, considering the full support of all stakeholders and partner agencies,” PARO Teves noted when pressed for comment after the meeting. He emphasized that the CI is not necessarily showcasing each other’s mandate, but it stands to complement resources of the government for common clients in the target areas.

PARO Teves also made it clear that the convergence initiative under President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s dispensation is committed to ensure countryside development as strategy for poverty reduction. He said that the secretaries of DAR, DA DENR after assuming office in mid-2010 immediately launched the Enhanced the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development.

The Enhanced NCI operational framework integrates the people, their economy and their environment, optimize resources, create substantial effect in the short-term, and make possible model-building across ecosystems, production systems, and rural poverty sectors/small, producers in the long-term.

It can be recalled that sometime in 1999, a similar initiative was also forged among DA-DAR-DENR that was aimed to facilitate the convergence of resources of the three agencies to maximize the impact on countryside development.

Under Pres. Aquino’s term when the NCI has been revived, it aims to address the weaknesses and gaps that were experienced before, while taking advantage of the agribusiness investment that have been initiated and engage the beneficiaries of the three departments on these investments. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)