Customs Bicol overshoots 3rd quarter collection by 143%

By Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, October 6 (PIA) --The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Bicol has collected a total of P74,444,267.64 during the third quarter of 2011 overshooting its collection goal of P30,600,000.00 for the period by P43,844,267.74 or 143.28percent.

Salvador Ruivivar Jr., Bicol Customs district office officer-in-charge, said that the 2011collection for the same period is 250.04 percenthigher compared to the same period in 2010 of only P21.2 million .

Ruivivar said that the third quarter collection has contributed significantly to bring the total collection for the first nine months of 2011 to P192,343,566.40 or 120 percent of the P87,300,000.00 collection goal for the period or an increment of P105,043,566.40.

He said that the impressive increase in collection on July to September this year was due to the district’s close monitoring of Bicol-based importers and exporters.

He said that the mining industry in Bicol has contributed to the steady growth in the collection of custom duties from its export of gold, copper, zinc and other minerals as well as importation MOGAS Ron made by Sea Oil in August .

Ruivivar said that during the period under review exports from the Bicol region reached only $51,916,554.57 registering a decline of $9,629,388.24 from last year’s $61,545,942.81 or a15.65 percent fall.

He said that despite the lower vessel arrivals during the third quarter this year, with only 15 vessels that docked in ports of Bicol that is three less the same period last year, eight contained imported goods, six were used to transport exported commodities, while one was intended for conversion to domestic travel.

He said the volume of tonnage of cargo was higher from 100,987 metric tons for the same period last year to 104,265.77 metric tons or an increase of 3.25 percent increase in the volume of imported dutiable goods the bureau was able to collect more customs duties due to the higher value of the commodities that arrived and the higher rates of duties and taxes assessed on the exported mineral products.(MAL/EDL, PIA V)

Consumer Month Celebration kicks off in Camarines Sur

by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA City, October 6(PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office and Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here jointly lead the kick off with a motorcade yesterday in the main thoroughfares of the city to mark the start of the observance of the Consumer Month celebration this October.

The annual event is held pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1098 issued in September 1997 by then President Fidel V. Ramos. It aims, among others to improve the management, coordination and effectiveness of the consumer programs, with the interest of promoting the general welfare of the end-users.

This year’s theme: “Sapat, Ligtas at Abot Kayang Pagkain Para sa Lahat,”will be the battle cry of every patron and governing agencies as they strengthen the enforcement of the basic rules that would safeguard the economic rights of the buying public.

DTI Camarines Sur provincial manager Edna Tejada has enjoined all the stakeholders to partake of the upcoming activities in line with the promotion of the consumers’ right and welfare.

On October 13 to 14, the city government, led by Mayor John Bongat, in cooperation with the Naga City-Camarines Sur Alliance for Consumers Welfare and Protection ( CONSUMER ACTION) and DTI, will spearhead a two-day “Consumer Welfare Diskwento Fair” at the Plaza Quezon.

Local distributors of various prime and basic commodities and vegetable producers are invited to involve themselves in the said endeavor and offer a low and discounted price to their buyers.

A week before the end of October, the Department of Agriculture will host a CONSUMER Net meeting involving all the consumer agencies while on October 20, a forum dubbed as “Consumer Link: A Forum on Pressing Issues on Consumer Products and services” will also be conducted.

“Consumer Link’ is a meeting of consumer groups with members and officers of the partner agencies whose main objective is to iron out issues concerning energy, telecommunications, personal finances , food sufficiency and food safety issues.

Ms. Thess Albo of DTI-Camarines Sur said that consumer related agencies like the CONSUMER Net are in full support of these programs, along with other line agencies whose valuable contribution and support has made every Consumer Month celebration a big success. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)

Pamana Convergence Unit reviews framework draft policy

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, October 6 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Sorsogon has enjoined all members of the regional technical working group composed of the identified member agencies together with its provincial counterpart to become a convergent group who will provide the essence and synergy for the implementation of the projects and programs converging their mandated functions.

Aileen P. Jose, coordinator for Luzon of the Office of the Presidential Advisory for the Peace Process (OPAPP) in a meeting held here yesterday at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO) presented the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PaMaNa) Sorsogon Convergence Unit Framework Draft Policy and presented the programs and projects under this program, an agenda for peace and development of the province, specifically for the members to review comment and finalize.

National Economic Development Authority RO V representative Rosemarie O. Buan, presented the Regional Development Council (RDC) Resolution No. 26, S of 2011, drafted last August 26, 2011 at Legaspi City during the RDC meeting creating a Sorsogon PaMaNa Convergence Unit (SPCU) as the peace building initiative of the province, serve as development arm for conflict affected areas and to develop resilient communities

According to Buan, the RDC sees the need for convergence interventions of the different agencies in environment, agriculture, agrarian reform, social welfare, peace and security agencies to effectively complement and harness services and funds in the implementation of the peace agenda of the government.

Through the resolution, OPAPP and the Provincial Government of Sorsogon have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) together with the seven identified municipalities namely: Pto. Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Irosin, Juban, Magallanes and Casiguran, recipients of the programs and projects under the PaMaNa to insure its effective implementation.

The SPCU according to Col. Felix Castro, Jr. of the 903rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army will hopefully become a model for peace and development building strategy in conflict affected areas and ensure that programs and projects under the peace keeping efforts of government be properly implemented.

Under the draft policy of the SPCU, beneficiaries should be better served and assisted. Converging agencies identified under the program should complement, cooperate and facilitate for the easy implementation of the programs and projects with OPAPP to serve as the team leader.

A total of P30M will be released to the province through the different identified agencies implementing the program for the PaMaNa 2011 projects.

For Casiguran , approved project under PaMaNa is the improvement of the Farm to Market Road (FMR) in far flung barangays considered critical areas with 1,000 m concrete paving to cover the Bgys. Of Tiris, Bactolan, San Ramon and Burgos to be implemented by the Casiguran LGU. Department of Agriculture , Departement of Agrarian Reform(DAR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways in the amount of P3M.

For the local government of Irosin is the Establishment of Eco-tourism Center costing P2M and the concreting of the Buenavista-San Isidro Batang Road in the amount of P2.5M to be implemented by Irosin LGU, Department of Tourism(DOT) and DPWH.

For Magallanes will be the Improvement of the Parola Beach, Improvement of Bucal-Bucalan Spring, improvement of Sta. Lourdes Grotto costing P5M to be implemented by the LGU of Magallanes, DOT and DPWH.

Juban will receive P4M for the Marine Reserve Sanctuary Development Project,(PhaseI) and the concrete paving of Brgy. Tublijon-Sipaya road.

Pto Diaz will receive P3M for the concreting of the 560M x4M FMR for Bry. Cogon to San Rafael to be implemented by DA, DPWH and the local government of Pto. Diaz.

For the LGU of Barcelona a P2.8M of the FMR for Brgy. San Isidro will also be implemented through the DPWH, DA and Barcelona LGU.

The LGU of Gubat will also receive a P4M for the FMR, a tourism building to be implemented by the DOT,DPWH and the LGU of Gubat.

A proposed livelihood project for the whole province is still being considered in the amount of P3.7 million to benefit the tourism development and Bayong making project specially for the out of school youth and identified marginalized sectors in the province. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

RH advocates in Bicol set Day of the Purple Ribbon

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, October 6 (PIA) -- Bicolano advocates for the passage of the reproductive health (RH) bill set October 7 as the Day of the Purple Ribbon for RH to heighten advocacy on the enactment of the bill into law.

The day of the Purple Heart led by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development Foundation, Inc. (PLCPD) in coordination with the Commission on Population (POPCOM) call on political leaders to settle the debates and pass the RH Bill.

Three other places in the country have also named October 7 as Day of the Purple Ribbon for RH. These are Pampanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Zamboanga.

Ramon San Pascual, PLCPD executive director said the Day of the Purple Heart for RH is a nationwide event conducted monthly to mobilize grassroots organizations, government workers and officials, religious groups, academe, business and elected officials.

Past similar events were held in different areas of the country such as the cities Baguio, Iloilo, Davao, Pasay City with activities ranging from motorcades, candle and torch parades, purple ribbon tying and posting of sticker, rallies and cultural presentations.

The Bicol leg will feature A Lakaw Para sa Salud (Saving Mothers Lives) in Legazpi City and Kurahaw Para sa Salud (Cry for Health ) in Naga City with Albay first district Rep. Edcel Lagman and former Akbayan Partylist Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquiel as guest speakers.

A press conference and a program will be held at the Peñaranda Park, Legazpi City followed by a caravan dubbed as Lakaw Para sa Salud from Legazpi City to Naga city with stopover at the towns of Camalig and Polangui, Albay and Baao and Bula, Camarines Sur.

The Day of the Purple Heart for RH will conclude through a program at the Naga City Peoples’ Hall at the Naga City Hall.

Magdalena Abellera, officer-in-charge of POPCOM Bicol stated that national surveys showed that majority of the people believe that family planning is a personal choice and a right, with the government providing information and services to the people on the matter.

Tugegarao, Tacloban and Quezon City will hold similar actions in succeeding months. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)