DPWH V readies rehab projects to typhoon stricken infrastructures in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, January 4 (PIA/DENR) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here has recently completed the preconstruction and procurement activities of the P373 million worth of rehabilitation projects for infrastructures damaged by typhoon and other calamities in Albay.

DPWH V regional director Danilo Dequito said in a radio interview that the fund is sourced from Calamity Fund for fiscal year 2010 under the General Appropriation Act (GAA) or RA 9970 that was released under Special Allotment Release Order or SARO #11-02105 dated December 7, 2011, with validity period until December 31, 2011.

“With the very tight timeline, Negotiated Procurement was resorted to as authorized by DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson in his Memorandum dated November 16, 2011, giving authority to Regional Directors and District Engineers to use Alternative Method of Procurement to facilitate the implementation of various DPWH infrastructure facilities damaged by typhoons and other calamities such as flashfloods and heavy rains,” said Director Dequito when asked on the possibility of a lapsed funding due to the late release of the allotment.

The amount released was based from the report of damages of typhoon Bebeng to the different districts of Albay wherein Albay 1 District Engineering Office (DEO) reported P3 M for the heavily damaged and scoured apron and soil foundation of 3 barrel box culvert and settlement of six blocks of concrete pavement along Daang Maharlika (DM) Jct.-Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco-Camarines Sur Boundary Road;

Albay 2nd DEO, P21.55 M for damaged flood control projects in Buyuan and Mabinit and heavily silted river course along Padang and, Tagaytay Rivers; and,

Albay 3rd DEO reported P320.97 M for various damages in their national roads, bridges and flood control projects. Additional P28.88 M was also released for typhoon damages on spillways in Libon, Albay.

“We do assure the Albayanos, that we adhere to the ‘Tuwid na Daan’ advocacy of this present administration. We are here to serve and give our best for public service,” the director said. (MAL/LVCastañeda, DPWH V)

Bicol’s rice stock to last until April 2012

by Aida Alcazar-Naz

Legazpi City, January 4 (PIA)—If belief of plenty for the new year will be adhered to, Bicolanos can consider 2012 will have ample supply of rice.

Tradition of the community called for having stock of basic food stuffs available in welcoming the incoming year made the public confident as the National Food Authority (NFA) assured the public that rice supply in the region is adequate that can last up to the second quarter of 2012.

The information was disclosed to PIA via it’s radio program three days before the new year by Edwin Ataiza, NFA Bicol chief of operations division.

According to Ataiza, there were 255,000 bags of rice in the bodegas of the agency. In addition, a total of 1,623,000 sacks of palay which when milled will be equivalent to 1,055,000 bags of rice. Or a total of 1,310,000 sacks that can last 144 days or 4.8 months.

Rice supply per province was ascertained, Albay with 86,522 bags; Camarines Norte 30,285; Camarines Sur 50,000; Catanduanes 30,505; Masbate 17,455; Sorsogon 40,233.

Of the existing rice stock, 49 per cent or 125,000 bags were imported rice from Thailand and Vietnam. The rest were from the rice procurement program of the agency.

Ataiza also noted that for the last months of 2011, NFA’s distribution to its accredited retailers was 9,000 bags per day which meant that there was enough commercial rice in the market. Rice distribution behavior in the past when demand for NFA rice was high rose to 15,000 bags daily.

NFA rice was sold at P25 to retailers and in turn to consumers at P27 per kilo. No increase in price of rice was made especially during the holiday season per President Benigno S. Aquino’s instructions that price of rice remain as is. The President believed raise in the price will put additional burden to the masses.

NFA Bicol will go massive rice procurement this 2012 as there will be zero importation.

Ataiza is convinced that the region can be self sufficient in rice as the Department of Agriculture continue with its aggressive program on productivity coupled with the distribution of certified seeds and the introduction of submerging rice variety that can withstand flooded farmland. The National Irrigation Administration in turn continues with its rehabilitation of irrigation facilities.

NFA buys palay at P17 per kilo plus 30 centavos incentive for farmer’s cooperative, 20 centavos for drying and 20 centavos for delivery to the buying station equivalent to P17.70 per kilo. The agency gives the farmer an option to select which buying price is higher, the government’s price or the private business buying cost.

The agency also buys corn at P13 a kilo for white variety and P12.30 per kilo for the yellow type under the corn procurement program.

This is NFA’s goal to keep farm-gate price at a level that provide farmers a reasonable return on their investment.

Ataiza also said that the existing rice supply is also in line with the food security outlook of the agency that in times of calamity or emergency, both natural or man-made staple food requirements shall be made available. The more than 1 million sacks of rice in the bodegas is more than the requirement of 400,000 to 500,000 bags of stock of a given time to assure food security for the population. (MAL/AAN, PIA V)

One-stop shop for business operators service system opens in Sorsogon City

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, January 4 (PIA) -- Dubbed "BOSS", Business Operators Service System has been made again operational by the Sorsogon City government this January 2012 to be opened for 20 days to give way to a systematized procedure of renewing and applying for business permits and licenses..

According to Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic R. Deoneda, this procedure has been implemented for several years now during his term as a mechanism to create facilitation in the renewal and new application of permits and licenses.

Dioneda assured that all departments in the city involved in the issuance of permits and licenses together with national agencies whose mandate is the same has been provided tables and personnel in the main hallway of the city hall so that people who are transacting business will be provided a fast, reliable and accessible service. Personnel to attend to them were already posted in the different sections and the flow of transaction has been made operational so that access, facilitation and waiting time is made more easy.

The process, according to the mayor, has also been well disseminated to all business owners here in the city and orientation has also been provided to them especially with the different permits that has to be renewed or newly filed, adding that the necessary needed papers in transacting the business has been made available to them already since last month so that when customers come they are already ready with what they need.

There are different permits and licenses issued by the local government depending on their business and what agencies also provide certifications or needed documents so that no customer will be coming back and forth which is waste in time and resources.

BOSS will be opened 5 days a week and to include also two Saturdays starting last Monday, January 2 to end on the midnight of Jan. 22 .

A 25 percent interest to their fee will be charged to those who will be late in filing and paying their business license and according to the city treasury office, a one time paying regulation will be observed, that upon filing of permit and license, payment of required dues shall also be paid.

"Those who comply with the requirements is helping the city government better improve the services the local government as their taxes go to the national treasury some are retained here which also go to better the services we provide,"Dioneda explained.

"Our taxes will help also propel our economy and establish an improved service delivery of the national and local government,programs and projects ," he said. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


Naga City fetes Bicol Martyrs
by Lizel S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Jan. 4 (PIA) -- The city government here and various agencies commemorated the 115th Death Anniversary of the Bicol Martyrs at the Plaza Quince Martires today.

Led by Mayor John Bongat, there was the traditional wreath laying followed by the 21-gun salute. The surviving heirs and descendants of the martyrs were present to grace the said occasion.

Bongat in his message reiterated the great courage and heroism that the 15 martyrs have exuded on their quest for freedom from the hands of the Spaniards. The activity should serve as a mirror for the young generation to emulate the great deeds that their forefathers.

According to history, 11 of these martyrs were executed on this day in 1897 in Luneta, three died after their exile, while the other one died in prison.

The said occasion also served as a venue for the awarding of plaques and incentives to the winning coaches of Batang Pinoy and Batang Pinoy 2011 Winning Athlete.(MAL/LSM, PIA CamSur)


Iwas paputok campaign in Albay successful — PNP
by Aida Alcazar-Naz

Legazpi City, Jan 4 (PIA) —- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Albay is satisfied with the result of the advocacy campaign on reduction of firecracker-related injury in the province.

Albay Provincial Police Office Director P/SSupt William S. Macavinta said that there were only six victims this year which is 50 percent lower in comparison to last year’s number of injured individuals and zero deaths.

Two of the victims came from Daraga town, one each from Camalig and Guinobatan, and one person each from the cities of Legazpi, Ligao, and Tabaco.

The youngest victim was a two-year old boy, two boys aged 8 years old, and three adults aged 24, 30, and 31. All victims were treated in government facilities.

Macavinta attributed the marked reduction of casualties to massive information campaign by government agencies including the PNP and the local government units.

The PNP organized an inter-agency team that went around the towns and cities of the province, first in December 27 and the second time in December 31 to inform people about Iwas Paputok.

Policemen also went about its inspection of malls and stores to make certain that only those firecrackers allowed by RA 7138 were being sold. PNP was able to confiscate P80,000 worth of prohibited firecrackers from the cities of Legazpi, Ligao, Tabaco; and the towns of Polangui and Camalig.

The Iwas Paputok campaign according to Macavinta was part of the Karangahan Albay Green Christmas organized by Albay through the leadershipship of Governor Joey Salceda.

“We consider the outcome of the Iwas Paputok campaign as a component of the Albay Green Christmas as very successful. While six is not zero, still this achievement resulted from reduced firecrackers to celebrate the New Year. The economic benefits are estimated at P14 million savings,” said Salceda.

There was no report of indiscriminate firing either from gun owners or policemen was reported.

On December 31, the PNP Albay set up a sumbungan paputok desk to respond to any complaint related to welcoming the New year. (MAL/AAN-PIA V)