Increasing livelihood opportunities creating more jobs in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, October 4 (PIA/DOLE) -– With vibrant livelihood opportunities, a better quality of life for the people of the region may be expected.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol believes that the region’s economic growth would be greatly dependent on the number of successful livelihood projects initiated and funded by the government.

DOLE Bicol regional director Atty. Alvin M. Villamor remains confident that the livelihood enterprises, if well managed and chosen perfectly, would become the ‘elixir’ of Bicol’s economy.

Villamor has predicted that a single DOLE-funded group project with at least 20 members, if successful, could generate an additional 20 more employees and could provide 40 more people with steady income in the form of linkages among businesses including suppliers, retailers and raw materials producers.

“Let’s take the Sea Weeds Pansit in Tiwi as an example. The members of the group are earning, the fishermen are earning the wholesalers are earning and the retailers are earning. In short everybody in the community is earning! This is the basic concept of the Community Enterprise Development” Villamor added.

The Community Enterprise Development (CED) is the flagship livelihood program of DOLE, that was launched in Bicol by Labor Secretary of Labor Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz last month.

The CED Program is aimed to unite all government livelihood grants into a target community enterprise. It is designed to complement and not to compete with existing government funded projects like the One-Town-One-Product (OTOP) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

CED Program in Bicol is being handled by TSSD Livelihood Focal Person, LEO III Russel Ulysses Nieves.

“CED is more like a Bayanihan approach in order to help a certain project succeed” Villamor explained.

Since January, DOLE Bicol has already released at least P3 million livelihood grants to some 10 group projects ranging from small to medium enterprises and extended individuals grants to over 150 persons under the DK-SK starter kit and Negosyo sa Kariton project region wide.

“We want to educate and fuel Bicolanos that in order for Bicol to grow economically, one must not be content to be an employee but rather strive to become and employer through livelihood undertakings and small businesses.” Villamor concluded. (MAL/RPEscalante, DOLE V)

Ako Bicol files free legal assistance bill for senior citizens

LEGAZPI CITY, October 4 (PIA/AKB) -- Ako Bicol Party List (AKB) filed last week House Bill 5343, which aims to provide free legal assistance to all senior citizens in all criminal, quasi-judicial or administrative cases filed against them.

Rep. Rodel M. Batocabe of AKB said that it is in the pursuance of the Constitutional provision to promote social justice in the country.

“We know that senior citizens are one of the most marginalized sectors in the Philippines. We have to make sure their rights are protected, and that they their welfare should be a concern of the family, the community and government,” he said.

“The bill provides free legal services, including acceptance and appearance fees, but excludes necessary and actual expenses incurred, such as photocopying and messengerial services, as well as contingency fees. It also excludes senior citizens from availing of the privilege when the cases involve moral turpitude, intra-corporate disputes, Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act and if the case is in accordance with the Family Code, except in cases of guardianship.

According to Rep. Batocabe, this bill grants benefits and special privileges to senior citizens, who will otherwise be left marginalized, as they are.

“The Senior Citizens Act is a great piece of legislation, because it recognizes and believes in the contributions of senior citizens to nation building,” he said.

“Legal assistance is a need that not many can afford, and we hope that this can help alleviate their problems, so they can concentrate more on their families and participate more in community activities for their welfare," he added. (MAL/AKB)

Catanduanes electric coop apologizes for below-par service

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, October 4, (PIA) -- The First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. or FICELCO apologized to its consumers for its below-par delivery of service especially at height of typhoon Pedring.

According to FICELCO OIC general manager Rodolfo F. Mendoza, even before typhoon Pedring, the 3.6MW main power plant operated by the Catanduanes Power Generation, Inc. had a major mechanical breakdown on September 17 which triggered the power supply crisis.

They also explained that during typhoons, the co-op and the power providers’ cut-off electric service when typhoon signals reach number two but still continue during inclement weather even if power interruptions are experienced.

He also added that he signal strength of telcos at FICELCO compound is unreliable making it difficult to access the cellphone numbers of their officials.

Mendoza disclosed that with networking solutions in place, they are expecting improvement in FICELCO's communications capability. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Army, gaining more people's support, trust, and community partnership

by Lizel S. Macatangay

CADLAN, Pili, Camarines Sur, Oct. 4 (PIA) -- The 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, now on its 7th year, speaks of tales of unprecedented support from the community with the numerous programs that the unit has carried out during the past years.

These are just but few of the highlights of the celebration of the unit's foundation anniversary showcased in the simple yet meaningful ceremony held at Camp Elias Angeles, Barangay San Jose here yesterday.

No less than Vice Chief of Staff Lt.Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu of the Armed Forces of the Philiipines (AFP) keynoted the celebrations with military officers, soldiers, guests and visitors as distinguished guest of honor in attendance.

Mapagu has commended the 9th Infantry Division under the headship of Major General Josue S. Gaverza Jr. for successfully engaging his men in numerous community works during the past years.

"Those efforts became instrumental in gaining the trust of the community and eventually their support in various endeavors of the AFP," cited Mapagu.

Under the AFP’s Bayanihan project, members of the 9th ID vigorously supported the local government unit’s program on nutrition, environment and rescue operations.

Military officers and personnel have since participated in the successful holding of the nationwide tree planting activity spearheaded by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), in line with the National Greening Program pursued by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Cadet officers of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) joined hands in planting more than 300 tamarind trees along the camp’s riverside.

Major Angelo Guzman, Army division spokesman, said that this aims to show the importance of the reserve component in delivering necessary services to the community.

During the occurrence of typhoons and other calamities, the men and women of the 9th ID’s Disaster Response Operations Team braved through the flooded areas and risky destinations just to send relief goods to the evacuation centers, particularly secluded areas in far flung barangays.

Instead of guns and weapons, they carried life saving equipment to save lives.

Just recently, more than 150 soldiers participated in the blood letting activity, led by medical personnel of the Bicol Medical Center (BMC), held inside the Army headquarters. The collected blood is intended for soldiers who are wounded in every unfortunate encounter in various areas in the region.

Mapagu emphasized the need to collectively work towards the achievement of lasting peace.

He reiterated the need to enjoin every sector of the government as partners in realizing their mission to win peace in the Bicol Region in support of the government’s efforts in creating an environment conducive to sustainable development before 2016.

Once in 2002, the army unit lived up as 9th Infantry (Orgullo) Brigade until upgraded as a regular division on October 2004 by virtue of General Order No.517 Headquarters Philippine Army on October 6, 2004 under the command of MGen John D. Bolhayon AFP then as the Commanding General. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines Sur)