DPWH gets P351.9 M for various infra projects in Bicol

by Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, November 16 (PIA) - The Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here has disclosed today that some P351,950.000.00 was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to DPWH V for the implementation of various infrastructure projects in the Bicol region.

DPWH regional director Danilo Dequito said that the amount released is part of the P5.5 billion released to the DPWH central office under the P72 billion Accelerated Disbursement Program of the Aquino administration.

Dequito said the amount will be used for 38 projects distributed in the six provinces of Bicol for the construction of roads, bridges and flood control projects.

He furthered that the DPWH district offices in the six provinces will implement 37 of the projects while the regional office will implement one project worth P20 million.

He added that Albay was allocated P163 million for 13 projects, Camarines Sur P45.7 million for eight projects , Catanduanes P1.5 million for three projects , Masbate P2 million for one project and Sorsogon P84.7 million for seven projects.

The DPWH regional director said that he has directed the district engineers to fast track the implementation of the projects without sacrificing the quality of the projects once completed .(MAL/EDL, PIA V)

PILImania leads greening movement in Naga City

by Lizel S. Macatangay

CAROLINA, Naga City, November 16 (PIA) -- More than 1,200 health buffs and environmentalists trekked the mountainous area of Barangay Panicuason, Carolina , this city during the fun walk cum tree planting held over the weekend.

Dubbed as “Pilimania,”it is a city-wide planting, mostly of pili trees in the city outskirts, intended not just to promote the viability of the said nut but also to showcase the Nagueños’ strong resolve to combat the ill-effects of climate change by targeting 40,000 trees to be planted by 2012.

Fara R. Bongat, Naga City ’s First Lady, sits as chairperson of Pilimania 2011 Executive Committee. Bongat has been actively calling for the support of the residents, particularly those from barangay agricultural and residential zones, including those residing in subdivisionS to allot their spaces and vacant lots for the propagation of various tree seedlings.

On Saturday, participants of the activity convened at the Don Bosco College at Carolina, Camarines Sur at 7am bringing with them pili, mahogany and narra tree seedlings and took part in the “Lakadan ta, Pa-Isarog,” (Lakaw, Dalagan saka Tanom Pasiring Mt. Isarog) tree planting.

Started by some local government officials and employees in April 2011 where 12,000 pili trees were planted, Pilimania supporters now include green advocates from various educational institutions, government and private employees and individuals who have been behind the noble cause.

Pilimania, the first ever in the city is the centerpiece project of Mayor John Bongat under

his administration’s Greening Environment Protection, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (GrEET) Program. (MAL/LSM, PIA Camarines SUr)

PLDT's 'Gabay Guro' project benefits Bato
by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 16 (PIA) -- Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) has benefited teachers both form elementary and secondary schools of Bato, Catanduanes in connection with the launching of its "Gabay Guro" project last November 4, 2011 in Bato Rural High School.

PLDT Vice-President Deng Kibanoff said that the project is an advocacy of PLDT Samrt Foundation for the teachers throughout the country. According to him, they will not become PLDT executives if not for their teachers and the project is one way of giving back to their mentors.

The project offers livelihood programs like internet cafe, inetrnet card, cellphone card wherein teachers will be officials dealers of PLDT facilities.

With regards to housing project, the official said that they are still in the process of negotiating with the Local Government Units (LGUs) of the 11 towns in the province. They are also offering scholarship programs for students who wish to take up education in college. At present, they already have 300 student scholars.

According to Bato Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez, when they heared about the project, they went immediately together with his wife Mrs. mely Rodriguez to the office of PLDT here and pledged their support to the project.

Meanwhile, teachers of the said town were thankful since the project is a great help to them. The training conducted by PLDT is according to them very helpful since it gave new knowledge and enabled them to reflect their jobs and duties as teachers.

Around 160 elementary and secondary teachers attended the training. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)

Energy company trains host communities in disaster risk reduction

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, November 16 (PIA) -- A total of 2,500 participants from the five schools of the host communities of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) underwent a training on disaster risk reduction early last week to provide them the better preparation should there be natural calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

According to Eduardo Jimenez, senior supervisor of the Community Partnerships Department CPD) of EDC, the school – based disaster risk reduction orientation activity were participated in by Tublijon Elementary School, Gayong Elementary School, Sto Nino Elementary and High Schoosl, and Osiao Paglingap High School.

The activity was conducted with the team up of ABS-CBN Foundation Sagip Kapamilya Inc., EDC BacMan Safety Management Division, EDC Corporate Social Responsibility Department, Sorsogon City Department of Education and Sorsogon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

Participants from the two barangays here that can only be reach via sea travel, Osiao and Sto Nino were taught on the use and importance of a life jacket when traveling at sea.

The local government has also issued a directive to all motor banca owners used as passenger vessel to have the necessary life jackets to be used by their passengers.

Meanwhile Marsha Alvarado of the EDC- CSR department explained to the participants the emergency preparedness tips contained in the poster calendar prepared by the company and were distributed to the schools, houses in the host communities after the training.

Volunteers from the Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines delighted the pupils and students with their amusing stories emphasizing the importance of disaster risk reduction preparedness during earthquakes and typhoons.

According to Jimenez, this activity is part of their company’s CSP program to enhance the knowledge and know-how of these local communities especially now that natural calamities have been one of the significant concerns here in the province and making communities aware of risk reduction.

According to Jimenez, EDc is committed to assist in providing information and training needs of these host communities and particularly to equip them with this timely training since Sorsogon is most frequented by typhoons.

He also emphasized that taking care of the environment is one of the key component in DRR significantly the planting of trees and avoiding illegal activities like cutting of trees, one of the reasons why some areas experience flooding and landslides.

The training acording to Jimenez has been successful that Barangay Emergency Response Teams (BERTs) have been organized after the three-day training with a composite structure and lists of volunteers coming from the barangays now trained and well equipped. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

1,123 4Ps beneficiaries of 3 towns to receive cash subsidy today

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, November 16 (PIA) -- Some 1,123 beneficiaries of 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the towns of Vinzons, Basud and San Vicente this province will receive today their cash subsidy under the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD).

DSWD provincial link Gloren Redrico said that they are conducting today a pre-validation and afterwards the beneficiaries will receive the cash subsidy at the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

She said that a family can receive a cash subsidy to a maximum of P1,400 that depend on the qualified beneficiaries with P300.00 for each child (up to 3 children) and P500.00 for the mother.

The 4Ps beneficiaries should submit themselves to conditionalities of the program like the check-up at the health center, regular attendance of their children in school.

The beneficiaries to receive cash today include the 1,065 from the town of Basud, 11 from the town of San Vicente and 47 from the town of Vinzons where some of beneficiaries already received the cash subsidies last October.

The cash subsidy to receive by the beneficiaries today is for the month of July to August and the amount will depend on the qualified members of the family.

There are 24,759 beneficiaries of 4Ps in the province from the ten towns out of 12 namely Capalonga, Sta. Elena, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Mercedes, Basud, Jose Panganiban, Labo, San Vicente, Paracale and Vinzons.

It will be recalled that the 4Ps is an strategy of the government that provides financial assistance to poor families to help improved their health, nutrition and education specially to children 0-14 years old. (RBM/PIA Camarines Norte)