Masbate strengthens fight against marine wealth exploitation

by Ernie A. Delgado

MASBATE CITY, November 21 (PIA) —- The local government is reinforcing the fight against exploitation of marine wealth with the enactment of “Anti-Super Light Ordinance of 2011,” which outlaws fishing with the aid of strong light.

Like trawling and fine-meshed net fishing, the use of super light, which is generated by halogen, is blamed for overfishing that RA 8550 or the Fishery Code of the Philippines included it among the banned forms of fishing in municipal waters—the waters within 15 kilometers from the coastline.

Under the ordinance, violators could be fined and jailed for violating RA 8550.

Exempted from the ordinance are government or private research and educational institutions, which were issued permit to use super light in fishing for research, experimental, educational and scientific purposes.

The city mayor issues such permit under certain conditions after consulting with the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Council.

The ordinance also outlaws the use of mercury lights and lights with more than 4,000 watts or 4 kilowatts in combined electrical power in fish catching in the city’s waters.

On the other hand, it legalizes the use of incandescent lamp, pressurized gas lamp, compact bulb as well as “hasag,” a traditional gear of fisher folks.

Violators of the prohibition on the use of mercury lights and lights of more than 4 kilowatts will be slapped with a P1,000 fine and imprisonment for up to six months.

The ordinance also provides monetary reward for law enforcers involved in the apprehension and prosecution of violators.

Those responsible for the conviction of violators—BFAR personnel, policemen, members of Bantay Dagat Task Force and barangay chairs—will receive at least 25 percent of the fine. (MAL/EADelgado, PIA Masbate)

Camarines Norte named recipient of PAMANA of OPPAP

by Rosalita Base-Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, November 21 (PIA) -- Camarines Norte has been named one of the recipient of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) that responds and strengthens peace building, reconstruction and development in conflict affected areas (CCAs) in line with the government’s goal of putting a permanent and just closure to internal armed conflicts.

Governor Edgardo Tallado said that the PAMANA framework on sustainable peace and development has three pillars namely: building the foundation of peace (Pillar 1), establishing resilient communities (Pillar 2) and addressing regional development (Pillar 3).

He explained that the OPPAP and the provincial government recognized the imperative of building critical partnership, collaboration, and cooperation in carrying out the PAMANA roadmap Pillar 3 projects through road accessibility as seen as main strategies that will contribute to the economic growth area of the province and eventurally of the region.

Earlier the governor has issued an Executive Order No. 2011-38 creating the Provincial PAMANA Management Team in the province which will oversee the implementation and management of PAMANA programs and projects in the province and ensure that the necessary processes are in place guided by principle of peace and social cohesion.

Governor Tallado is the chairman of the PAMANA Management Team and members include: Provincial Engr. Cesar Paita of the Provincial Engineering Office, Arch. Madonna Abular of Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), OIC Provincial Agriculturist Francia Pajares of Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg), Engr. Leopoldo Badiola of Ecosystem and Environmental Resource Management Division (EERMD) and OIC Cynthia de la Cruz of Provincial Social Welfare and Devt. Office (PSWDO), all under the provincial government.

A meeting of the provincial PAMANA Management Team will be held tomorrow with the representatives of OPPAP at the governor’s office.(MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)

Aquamarine project in Casiguran town under National Convergence Initiatives underway

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, November 21 (PIA) -- Programs for the fishing industry sector in Casiguran town, including an on-going training on aquamarine culture, are underway through the National Convergence Initiative (NCI), according to Mayor Maria Esther Hamor in an interview here last week.

Hamor said that the careful selection of the beneficiaries was a big consideration since the success of the project depends on their attitude, active participation and commitment to make the project profitable, sustainable, and the full cooperation to follow the local government’s fishery rules and policies should be addressed.

“As local chief executive it is my desire to alleviate poverty in our town but at the same time fully implement the sustainable conservation of our environment from land to sea and inland water resources,” she said.

Benigno Bejison, municipal agriculture officer of Casiguran, and Gil B. Ramos of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have conducted the trainings and the identified fishermen from Barangay Somal-ot were provided the needed materials to include five fishnets, four bundles of nylon rope, and 150 bamboo poles for their crab production.

According to Ramos, BFAR has provided the hands on training to on aqua-silvi culture technology to 61 fisherfolks in the said barangay.

It has also conducted the validation of the site selection process and most of the areas identified were mangrove area sites, a very good potential for the sustainability of the project.

Demonstration on the actual preparation of the area was done according to Bejison while the construction of crab cages were shown and process of harvesting were also explained.

The topics that were discussed included feeding management of crabs, record keeping, harvesting and post harvest activities, marketing, and the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Ramos said that mud crab production will only take four months to wait and that proper management should be followed so that the quality, quantity, and price of the produce will be competitive in the market.

Mayor Hamor explained that the LGU in partnership with the three converging agencies, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Agrarian Reform will continually coordinate in the implementation of the NCI projects in their municipality. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Energy corporation highlights corporate social responsibility programs

by Irma A Guhit

SORSOGON CITY , November 21 (PIA) -- Anchored on a five- pronged community development agenda, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) through its Community Partnerships Department (CPD), has laid down their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program component focusing on Health, Education, Livelihood, Small Scale Contract and Environment.

Engr. Liberato S. Virata, plant manager in his signed report provided their company's commitment to provide social prosperity and environmental stewardship through the implementation of a comprehensive, responsive and sustained program under their CSR program in partnership with their stakeholders and in keeping with the company’s objectives.

Senior Supervisor of the EDC-CPD, Eduardo Jimenez explained that under the CSR-CPD, 43 primary partner barangays with 17,680 households, 121 community associations, 71 schools and 47 health center in their host barangay-communities are beneficiaries of their CSR programs.

Under their Health Services Program, 47 health centers were continuously supported with trainings like drug abuse prevention with the enhancement of knowledge and capabilities of 65 health workers, medicine supply assistance, 36 medical and dental outreach conducted, improvement of several Barangay Health Centers..

Their health promotion support included trainings also of households on responsible parenthood,proper nutrition and health and sanitation practices while improving community access to basic medical facilities and services.

Total intervention under this program amounted to P5.7 M with 8,972 beneficiaries.

Jimenez cited that their environment programs focused on information education campaigns on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, promoting the BINHI program that diversify the planting of trees in four categories.

Their environmental protection enhancement is zeroed in on their continuous planting and reforestation of the 250,000 ha reservation area as their legacy of greening and their commitment to promote geothermal projects sites as eco-tourism destinations by maintaining their butterfly garden, bat sanctuary, wildlife park, twin falls and boiling pond sites.

Under their Livehihood Program, 44 livelihood projects are maintained under the Social Development Project (SDP) assisting farmers in rice production, vegetable gardening, fertilizer assistance, mud crab production, aquasilvi farming, and lambaklad project benefiting both land and sea based beneficiaries within the host communities

Jimenez said that their CSR beneficiaries under the livelihood component totaled to 7,528 with 122 organized farmers association.

Education has been one of their CSR pilot programs were host barangays' pupils and students were provided yearly school supplies including bags, miscellaneous fees payment assistance, and scholarships where 25 students in the secondary schools every year are chosen and sponsored with provisions of tuition fee, book allowance and monthly stipend.

A total of 26,330 individuals benefited from the regular education projects with a total amount of P 11.4 M intervention.

Meanwhile their Small Scale Contracts amounted to P43.2 M and this was awarded to cooperatives in the local communities for labor contracting.

Jimenez underscored that the total amount of intervention provided by the company in their CSR program amounted to P 99.5 M from 2005-2009 that benefited 41,244 individuals and group beneficiaries..(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Provincial Christmas Serenade Competition set

by Edna A Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, November 21, (PIA) -- The 2nd Provincial Christmas Serenade Competition in the province will be held on December 2011 during the Congressman's Night of the annual Christmas Cheers at Plaza Rizal which will start on December 16.

Twelve invited schools from the province are expected to participate in the said competition. There shall only be one official entry per participating school and it shall be composed of not more than 20 members who are all bona fide pupils of the school they represent and one conductor who is a faculty in the same competing school.

The chorale group shall sing two songs: one standard song "Carol of the Bells" and the other one is a song of their choice that could be interpreted either in a Capella or accompanied with live guitar or piano only.

The Congressional District Office spearheads the competition and encourages participants to use recycled or indigenous materials as part of their lower garments since the t-shirts will be provided by the office.

The performance proper shall only be six minutes and shall not exceed eight minutes presentation time.

A total of P63,000 cash prize will be given to participants where the champion shall receive P20,000, P15,000 for the first runner up; P10,000 for the second runner-up; and P2,000 shall be given to non-winning groups. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)