Mayon Trail Run ‘11 set on Oct. 22

by Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, October 3 (PIA) -- Running sports enthusiasts from all over the country and abroad are expected to join up this year’s Mayon Trail Run 2011 showcasing a scenic race that takes one to the mountain trails, streams and rivers, lava fronts and sweeping vistas of majestic Mayon Volcano as backdrop.

Mayon Trail Run, dubbed the most grueling adventure run in the Philippines, returns for the fourth straight year on October 22, 2011.

Through this race, Albay continues its campaign to promote tourism, with Mayon Volcano as one of the pillars of tourism in Bicol and even in the whole country; promote healthy lifestyle; and promote environmental care and concerns among participants and spectators.

The event is also designed to help in the campaign for environmental issues, including global warming or climate change, wherein Albay remains in the frontlines of similar advocacies known and recognized in the country and globally.

The trail running intends to rediscover the tourism potentials of areas in the city, especially in known areas earlier considered as danger zones such as the flanks of the volcano and the lava fronts that could be turned into tourist attractions.

The race will have new route of the trail starting at the top of Ligñon Hill, a 160-meter high cinder cone just a few kilometers north of the city, then trek down the hill and cross the Yawa river, ascent one of the major gulleys of the Volcano, the Bonga gulley, climb the five-story trails of lava wall and return to the hill.

The run will have three categories: Extreme (22K); Regular (11K); and Kids (3K).

Registration fee for the Extreme MTR is P750; P500 for the Regular MTR; and P300 for the 3K Kids MTR.

Winners will get P300,000 cash; Extreme MTR finishers—a medal and certificate; and the Regular MTR and Kids MTR finishers—certificates.

Participants of the Mayon Trail Run 2011 will not only experience one of the most arduous races but also one of the most scenic with the stunning sights of Mayon Volcano, the cityscape and surrounding greeneries down slopes of the most active volcano in the country.

Last year and even as Mayon Volcano remains restive, the race attracted almost 250 running enthusiasts from all over the country in a 21-kilometer trail run.

The event, which is part of Legazpi City’s celebration of the feast of St. Raphael, is organized by the Legazpi city government, Junior Chamber International-Legazpi Chapter, Provincial Government of Albay, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The North Face and 100 Plus drink.

Interested participants can register at selected outlets of The North Face nationwide and Albay Bicycle Center in Legazpi City starting October 1. They can e-mail Yves Eli Yu at yves188@gmail.com or call him at 09175588929. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Orgulyo kan Bicol, Gayon Bicol 2011 set on October 6-9 in Megamall

LEGAZPI CITY, October 3 (PIA) -- Now on its 15th year, the longest running regional trade fair in the Philippines, joins the world in promoting green trade.

With the theme, “GREEN! Naturally, Responsibly, Sustainably,” the Orgulyo Kan Bikol – Gayon Bicol 2011 will showcase products made of indigenous and organic materials derived from different sources across the region.

Regional director Jocelyn Blaco of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) V said that long before the world started going green, the Bicol Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and tourism industry already promote eco-tourism for sustainable industry.

For this year, according to Blanco, a total of 96 MSME exhibitors will participate in this annual display of Bicol best crafts, cuisines, products, cultures, among others.

A total of 77 enterprises are regular participants, while the other 19 enterprises are new who will be given full marketing assistance by DTI via this trade fair.

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) beneficiaries, assisted by DTI V, have also joined with one booth per province allotted. Wearables, processed food, house wares, furniture and health and wellness will be showcased during the fair.

OKB-Gayon Bicol has become an annual marketing and cultural event that, through the years has provided opportunities for our homegrown entrepreneurs to develop, find new markets and become more competitive.

To be held on October 6-9 at the Megatrade Hall 2, 5th Level, Bldg. B, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City, the OKB-Gayon Bicol 2011 is a showcase of public-private partnership.

DTI’s partners and sponsors are the Department of Tourism Region (DOT) V, PhilExport, OK Bikol Foundation, Inc. RuMEPP, local government units (LGUs), and non-government organizations. (MAL/JR Berango, DTI V)

Detour Mabey bridge in Sto. Domingo town opens in less than 3 weeks

DPWH ALBAY 1ST DISTRICT, Legazpi City, October 3 (PIA) -– The construction of a detour Mabey Bridge at San Fernando Bridge 1 in Sto. Domingo, Albay will open in less than 3 weeks as the first and second abutments were already finished.

In an interview, Engr. Leopoldo N. Barela, Maintenance Division chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Albay I District, said that if the weather remains fair the coming day, the Mabey Bridge will be passable to vehicles with weight capacity of up to 10 tons by October 20 and will be passable to all types of vehicles after three months.

Barela said both approaches had been already cleared and the placing of aggregate base course on the approaches is being done.

Installation of Mabey components will soon follow after the 28 days curing period of the abutments.

OIC D.E. Roberto M. Rito of DPWH Albay I District said that construction of Mabey Bridge is closely monitored since its repair or rehabilitation of the alternate route started last September 9, undertaken by DSB Construction and Supply on a negotiated procurement procedure.

The San Fernando Bridge in the main highway that caters to motorists going to Albay first congressional district was destroyed by typhoon Juaning, July this year.

Meanwhile, the re-graveling of shoulders, repair of line canals and slope protection are also undertaken on the alternate route with a P1.5 million funds for the San Andres-San Fernando alternate roads already requested by our office.

The said project is expected to be finished on the first week of November. (MAL/DPWH Albay I District)

Mine workers in Rapurapu join int’l coastal cleanup day

LEGAZPI CITY, October 3 (PIA/PRCA) -- Around 100 mine employees of the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP) joined the shoreline clean-up as part of the International Coastal Cleanup. They collected 500 kilos of rubbish and debris from the shorelines of Barangays Binosawan and Malobago.

Carmelita Pacis, assistant vice-president for environment management of Rapu-Rapu Minerals, said "this yearly worldwide clean-up is part of RRPP’s environment management practices to promote sustainability and of the annual observance of Philippine National Cleanup Month which falls in September.”

Company employees were encouraged to join the activity and were given tokens for their participation. Mylene Ogaya, a supervisor with the Compliance Administration Department, joined the group that picked up trash in Binosawan.

As a first time participant to a clean up activity, Ogaya said, “nabuhay ang aking pagiging environmentalist. Nabuksan ang aking isip na kailangan palang maglinis at maging aware sa environment. Kahit na maliit na bagay ang aming ginawa dahil konti lang ang trash na nakolekta, malaki nang achievement iyon na maging parte ng activity. Kaya kahit na hindi international coastal clean up day, plano kong isabuhay yung awareness na naibigay ng activity. Sasabay ako sa iba pang mga clean-up activities. (The environmentalist in me was revived. My mind was opened up to the need to clean-up and be aware of the environment. Even if our [collective] action was not so significant since the trash we collected was not as much, what we did was a big achievement to be part of the activity. So even if it is not international coastal clean-up day, I plan to make the awareness that I received from the activity a part of my life. I will join in other clean-up activities.)"

“Trash Free Seas: 2011 International Coastal Cleanup” marked the 26th year of volunteer efforts to remove trash from oceans and waterways. It was spearheaded by Ocean Conservancy, Inc., a global not-for-profit organization that strives to protect the oceans and its wildlife.

On the third Saturday of September every year, the organization mobilizes hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world from 152 countries and locations. These volunteers spend a day picking up litter from coastlines, lakes and inland waterways.

The two companies that operate the copper-zinc mine on the island – the Rapu-Rapu Minerals, Inc. and Rapu-Rapu Processing, Inc. – are recipients of the 2011 Mother Nature Award given by the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines and of the 2011 Saringaya Awards granted by the Environment Management Bureau Region V (EMB-V) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region V (DENR-V). (MAL/PRCA)

SCWD bags CSC's 2011 Outstanding Agency Award

LEGAZPI CITY, October 3 (PIA/SCWD) -- Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) was adjudged 2011 Outstanding Agency under the Non-Accredited Government Agency category in the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office’s Search for Outstanding Agency.

Among the Government Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCC) in the Region, SCWD was the only agency to qualify for the award. Last year it was also recognized as a semi-finalist for the same recognition.

SCWD was also awarded as an Outstanding National Government Agency in 2004 and was also conferred with Service Excellence Award (Hall of Fame) in 2003 as an Outstanding Local Water District in the field of Personnel Management and Administration from 2001 to 2003. The basis for the selection is its compliance to all CSC requirements and policies.

Meanwhile, Luisa L. Dery, SCWD’s former Industrial Relations Management officer (IRMO) designate, was also recognized as finalist for the Best Human Relations Management Practitioner category.

Engr. Ronaldo G. Barboño, SCWD general manager, received the plaque of recognition with a cash prize of P5,000 from CSC Regional Director Cecilia Nieto and CSC Commissioner Mary Ann Fernandez Mendoza. Also present during the awarding were Mrs. Teresita H. Banta, Administrative Division manager, Mr. Terry Hernan, the present Acting IRMO and Ms. Luisa L. Dery. The awarding ceremony was held at Hotel Venezia, Legazpi City, September 21.

The selection process was part of the 111th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary. (MAL/MLJumamil, SCWD)

Camarines Norte celebrates Children’s Month

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, October 3 (PIA) –- The provincial government of Camarines Norte has lined-up activities in celebration of the Children’s Month celebration this October with the theme “Local Council for the Protection of Children para sa Bright Child: Pakilusin, Palakasin, Pagtulungan Natin.”

The activities scheduled for the whole month of October include: the hanging of streamers in respective offices and establishments, monitoring visits to internet cafés of the Provincial Regulatory Board, Search for Most effective elementary and secondary schools, supplemental feeding and de-worming of day care children and Division Read-a-thon.

Earlier Governor Edgardo Tallado has encouraged national and local government units, and other establishments for the hanging of streamers in support for the children’s month celebration.

Other activities include the Annual Search for Child-Friendly Barangay – October 1-14, statistical exhibit on children’s situation and Child Friendly Movement (CFM) Activities- October 3-31 and Sagot Mo I Devinfo Mo on October 3-14.

A children’s caravan will be held tomorrow and the Dikit Paalala for the different establishments while a radio guesting will be at the DWCN-Radyo ng Bayan on October 5 to inform the public on the activities of the children’s month and child rights.

There will be an advocacy on newborn screening on October 4-8 and the launching of Breast Cancer Awareness/Pink Ribbon on Oktubre 5-31.

Other activities include: garantisadong pambata, youth congress, Philippine Statistics Quiz, Observance of National Hand Washing Day and Tooth Brushing for day care and elementary school children, dialogue of Pillars of Justice System, Festival of Talents of Pre-School Children/ Star Level and Lecture Quiz on CRC for School Children and meeting of the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children.

For the culminating activity on October 25 will be the CFM Assembly to highlight the Presentation of the Provincial State of the Children’s Report, the awarding of the winners for the Search for Child-Friendly Barangay and the Awarding Ceremony of the “Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas.” MAL/RBM/PIA Camarines Norte).