DPWH to start construction of P5.5-B worth of projects for 2012 in Bicol

by Ed de Leon

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will have an early start with the construction of some P5.5 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Bicol in line with the government’s accelerated expenditure program to help drive domestic consumption and help spur economic growth in the countryside.

Engr. Danilo E. Dequito, DPWH V regional director, said that most of the projects were bid out before the end of December last year and that the remaining projects will also be bid out to constructors before the end of this month.

This, he said, was aside from the more than P500 million worth of calamity fund released early December of last year and was already bid out to contractors and will soon also start rehabilitation of the typhoon damaged flood control structures, roads and bridges.

Dequito said that out of the total 146 projects to be constructed under the 2012 infrastructure programs of DPWH in Bicol, 80 projects had already been bidded out with a total funding of P1.2 billion as of December 31 last year, while 46 projects worth P1.4 billion will be bid out by the end of this month; the remaining 20 projects worth P2.9 billion will be all be bid out by next month.

He added that the agency's regional office will implement some P1.5 billion worth of the projects which includes the Legazpi City Urban Drainage System worth P500 million, the Bicol River Basin and Watershed Management Project flood mitigation component worth P350 million and the Camarines Sur/Albay diversion road worth P500 million and P150 million for drainage/protection work along national roads.

Dequito said that most of the road projects is part of DPWH Secretary Singson's commitment to pave all arterial road by 2014.

He said that the road projects are also leading to tourist distinations in Bicol in line with the governments tourism program to increase tourist arrivals in the country to boost the economy. (MAL/EDL-PIA V)

Bicol PNP reports 40% decrease of firecracker injuries in Bicol

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 12 (PIA) —- Due to massive advocacy on the harm brought about by firecrackers, the Philippine National Police (PNP) believe that the campaign paid off with the decrease of injured cases.

This reflection was made by P/Supt Renato B. Bataller, PNP Bicol regional public information officer during an interview at the PIA radio program Monday. The official stated that there were 38 individuals injured in 33 firecracker incidents, lower than last year’s 63 recorded cases or a variance of 25 cases.

The period covered by the report from December 16 until January 1, 2012 showed that Albay topped the list of firecracker victims with 14, followed by Camarines Sur with nine, Camarines Norte eight, Masbate four, Sorsogon three, and zero for Catanduanes.

Police arrested nine persons, eight of whom were from Albay and one from Camarines Sur for selling illegal firecrackers.

The operation was able to confiscate illegal firecrackers with a combined value of P120,324, Impounded prohibited firecrackers in Albay amounted to P91,509 while those from Camarines Sur was P16,815. The police was able to seize P12,000 worth of firecrackers in Camarines Norte but was unable to arrest any perpetrator.

The PNP report disclosed a case of indiscriminate firing and a victim of stray bullet.

SPO2 Isidro Cucal y Nartatez is facing criminal and administrative cases for firing a gun last December 16 that traumatized children in the area. Recovered from the suspect’s possession were one caliber .9mm pistol, one magazine assembly loaded with two live ammo and two fired cartridges. No fire incident attributed to firecrackers was reported. (MAL/AAN-PIA V)

Albay braces for La Nina

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 12 (PIA/LGU Albay) -- It will be a wet year, so said PAGASA of year 2012. The Albay provincial government has retooled its action plan following PAGASA's forecast of intensified rains and flooding by the first quarter of this year due to the expected return of the La Nina phenomenon promptly putting into effect the Reactivated Albay Task Force La Nina 2012 (RATFLAN 2012).

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said preparations have actually been started in December last year, with a refresher training on weather-related hazards and responses conducted by the Albay Provincial Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) for the 30-man core team from the province’s 720 barangays.

Aerial inspections of Albay’s lahar zone in its 2nd district, flood plains of the third district and landslide prone areas of the province were also conducted in late December 2011 by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), APSEMO, and the Philippine Air Force Task Operations Group 5, the governor disclosed.

Salceda said RATFLAN 2012 has immediately been put in effect with an initial P22 million budget for concrete actions and operations, with APSEMO acting as secretariat with its head presiding over the regular meetings of members starting January.

The return of the destructive La Nina weather phenomenon was forecast by PAGASA. The massive floods brought about by relatively weak tropical storm Sendong in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Northern Mindanao that resulted to more than 2,400 deaths, attest to its lethal threat.

Disaster officials in Albay agreed that their existing risk maps need to be redrawn since previously declared safe areas were recently hit by massive flash floods, landslides, and lahar flows particularly at the foot of Mayon Volcano.

Salceda said preparations are hinged on the recent rainfall situation indicating that La Niña would persist while weather systems causing heavy rainfall exist, as was reported by PAGASA.

Tropical storms Bebeng (May 8-9), Chedeng (May 25), Falcon (June 22), and Juaning (July 22) caused severe flooding, landslides, and mudflows which indicated so much run-off water and precipitation.

He said the onset of the northeast monsoon in the last quarter of 2011, has brought about so much rain that prompted the Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to issue Public Safety Advisories.

Aside from updating risk maps, Salceda said steps are also being initiated to strengthen community-based real time warning systems using rain gauge stations and flood marker, install CCTV in 5 critical (highly typological) locations, conduct a sustained Communication Protocol via the disaster Infoboard, and improve the Evacuation Plan and Procedures of the province. (MAL/LGU ALbay)

Gubat town trains health workers for mother and baby care programby

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 12 (PIA) -- A three day essential health training for health workers focused on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) No. 4 - to eradicate maternal and infant mortality - is now ongoing here.

According to Dr. Carmen Ramos Bonoan, the need to enable health workers in the proper care of pregnant and lactating mothers is a must since this is one of the most vulnerable group needing health care attention based on report of maternal and infant mortality status nationwide.

A group of physicians and lecturers coming from the University of the Philippines headed by Dr. Maria Asuncion is now the one conducting the training.

There is indeed a need to provide a continuous skills enhancement for health workers starting from the barangay health centers, municipal, and district hospital personnel so that collegial support system in the implementation of the MDG No. 4 be achieved.

According to Ramos, aside from enabling the health personnel, the barangay health centers,and municipal and district hospitals will also be upgraded in terms of facilities and other equipment together with provision of information education materials, fliers and brochures specifically on the maternal and infant health care implementation.

Funding for the procurement of health equipment will be shouldered by the office of congressman Deogracias Ramos.

It was also learned that the following flagship programs are being provided substantive funding allocation: the strengthening of health development mechanisms, environmental protection and conservation, tourism, and infrastructure development.

It is expected that the three-day training program will provide the health workers particularly in the second district the needed skills and knowledge in the assistance and support of the implementation of the MDG goal no. 4.(MAL/IAG-PIA Sorsogon)