Navy Team returns home after successful mercy mission in CDO

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 15 (PIA/PN) -- Philippine Navy ship BRP Heneral Antonio Luna (PG141) now returned to its station in Pasacao, Camarines on January 8, 2012 after a successful disaster relief operation in Cagayan De Oro City.

Lt. Darwin F Nieva, director of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (Navforsol) Public Affairs Office, said the vessel has been dispatched by the Philippine Navy attached to Joint Humanitarian Mission of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) V-Albay PDRRMC last month until early this month.

BRP Heneral Antonio Luna, logging a total of 834.35 miles, ferried Albay Water Purifying Machine and Water and Sanitation team that processed and distributed safe drinking water to the communities affected by typhoon Sendong in Cagayan De Oro City.

The vessel, according to Nieva, also conducted retrieval operations at the vicinity off Catarman Pt., Camiguin Island in search for a possible survivors swept to sea at the height of the typhooon, adding that officers and men of said vessel also participated in relief distribution, clean-up drive, and installation of tents.

Commodore Abraham F Celzo AFP commander of Navforsol, cited officers and men of BRP Heneral Antonio Luna and all personnel for their invaluable contribution to the success of Team Albay.

"Your unselfishness, dedication and sacrifices to work for the people and away from your family best epitomizes the true meaning of giving and sharing of Christmas, Bravo Zulo," remarked Celzo. (MAL/DFNieva, Navforsol).

Prov’l gov’t, LGUs get millions in project funds from DILG

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Jan. 16, (PIA) -- Catanduanes and its 11 municipalities will get millions in project funds from DILG after passing the Seal of Good Housekeeping program of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The fund allotments from DILG’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) as listed in a memorandum issued by DILG Bicol regional director Blandino Maceda are the following: Catanduanes - P5 million; Virac - P1 million; Caramoran - P900, 000; San Andres - P800,000; Viga - P700,000; Gigmoto, Pandan and ,San Miguel - P600,000 each; and Bagamanoc, Bato, Baras, and Panganiban will receive P500,000 each.

The funding could be spent only for the implementation of any or a combination of the following projects: rural electrification local roads connecting national roads; arterial farm-to-market roads and bridges; local economic enterprises; and flood control and drainage.

It could also be used as support on priority projects of the national government such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) such as achievement of universal primary education through the construction of pre-school, kindergarten or day care centers; reduction of child mortality and improvement of maternal health through the construction of water supply and sanitation system, procurement of medical equipment and construction, repair, rehabilitation of rural health units and birthing centers.

The fund could also be used for the repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of school buildings, irrigation systems, flood control and roads and bridges in areas and communities affected by calamities; basic emergency response equipment; and relief operations and assistance to victims of calamities,

LGSF allocation in the case of municipalities may also be used for medical assistance, other social services such as assistance to indigent/displaced persons or families, or financial subsidy to LGUs.

The release of the funding by the Department of Budget and Management is subject to the endorsement of DILG regional office. (EAB/PIA Catanduanes)

ATM to make transactions easier

by Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Jan. 16, (PIA)-- ARDCI NGO Group Inc., (formerly the Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc.) will open an automated teller machine (ATM) in the municipality of Baras, Catanduanes in the next few weeks.

ARDCI is a non-stock non-profit organization providing microfinance products and services to its members, mainly entrepreneurial poor Filipinos.

ARDCI had opened ATMs in the municipalities of Viga, Caramoran, and San Andres which was a big help to the citizens due to its convenience.

The said ATM program of ARDCI is in cooperation with Electronic Network Cash Tellers, Inc. (ENCASH), the first independent ATM deployer in the Philippines.

Since the installation of ENCASH ATM in rural areas, townsfolk can now easily transact their withdrawals within their towns.

Due to positive reactions from ATM users, ARDCI now includes installation of ATM in their yearly budget to cover more municipalities.

Said ATMs are compatible with Bancnet, Megalink, Cirrus, etc.

Forest protection council to intensify info campaign on environmental protection

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 16 (PIA)-- “We have to intensify the awareness of the people in Sorsogon in terms of environmental protection and conservation given the disasters that struck the country because of man’s total disregard of the environment,” Andy Espinar, Multi-sectoral Forest Protection Council (MFPC) president said.

“While we have strengthened the apprehension activities of the MFPC through the active roles provided by the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, awareness on the mitigation mechanisms to protect and conserve our environment is of utmost importance,” he said.

During the meeting, the different sectoral groups were told to come up with their annual work plan to be collated as the provincial MFPC work and financial plan 2012.

One of the concerns that surfaced was the provision of a livelihood component so that those engaged in illegal cutting of trees could be identified and given assistance.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer, Rene Camacho, said that he will give a copy of the environmental profile of the province as this will be the basis of the MFPC as a baseline data for dissemination.

It will also serve as the cue for local officials on what is the true condition of their municipalities in terms of forest cover to come up with their environmental plan and areas for reforestation.

The council also emphasized to all members to support the National Greening Program of the government, a strategy for environmental protection.

EDC-Environmental Management Department supervisor Henry Roy said that under their BINHI program, the company is pursuing to green the areas especially where geothermal plants were located.

An information dissemination campaign was conducted today at PBN-DZMS headed by the Philippine Information Agency, the Department of Education, and the Kapisanan ng Mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas, Sorsogon chapter. (PIA-SORSOGON)