Robredo leads groundbreaking of P10 M water system project

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Salintubig Project worth P10 million in barangay San Pascual of Basud town and the ceremonial installation and unveiling of the marker of Seal of Good Housekeeeping in the towns of San Lorenzo Ruiz and Talisay here Tuesday (Feb. 14).

The Salintubig project will provide a water supply system in the municipalities and also to waterless barangays, health centers, and resettlement areas.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in December 2010 was entered into by the representatives of the DILG, Department of Health(DOH) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) for the implementation for water supply or Salintubig (Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat) program.

Under the agreement the DILG will be responsible for the capacity development requirements of the LGUs and water service providers for the planning, development, management of the water utility services of the Salintubig Program.

The province, municipality, and agencies which will implement the water supply projects will do the feasibility studies and engeneering designs, civil works construction, and management of the facilities.

NAPC will conduct the monitoring and evaluation and will submit the reports to the Office of the President.

DOH will be in charge in the implementation of the infrastructure component including the review, approval, and funding of the water supply systems.

The ceremonial installation and unveiling of the DILG marker were also grace by the Secretary in the said two towns before the ground breaking of the water system project.

Also present during the activities were regional director Santiago of DOH Regional Office, DILG regional director Blandino M. Maceda, executive director Sophie de Caen, and program adviser Paula Pelaez of the National Steering Committee ng Millenium Development Goal Achievement Fund (MDGF 1919) in the Philippines (Enhancing Access to and Provision of Water Services with the Active Participation of the Poor), and executives and officials of local governament units and barangay officials of the said towns. (MAL/RBM-PIA Camarines Norte).

Albay braces for heavy rains

…authorities suspend classes in preschool, elementary and secondary while early dismissal for tertiary level

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 16 (PIA) -- Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Wednesday suspended classes in the preschool, elementary, and high school levels in the province, as disaster authorities are bracing up for heavy rains spawned by an active Low Pressure Area (LPA) spotted in the Mindanao region.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the suspension of classes is a standard public safety and disaster avoidance measure to secure a zero casualty goal during disaster events.

“Due to the potential negative effects of the thick cloudiness associated with a Low Pressure Area it is estimated that rains with a volume of 10-18mm per hour is expected to affect the province today,” Salceda said.

Upon advice of the Office of Civil Defense-Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD-RDRRMC), classes in preschool, elementary and high schools are suspended until lifted, he said.

Meanwhile, Salceda also ordered around 3:00 p.m. also today the "early dismissal of all classes after 5:00 p.m." universities and colleges in Albay considering possible problems in the main highways in Barangay Cullat, Daraga town going to Camalig and third district areas and in Barangay Padang, this city going home to the first district.

Classes automatically resume tomorrow for college students without need for lifting.

Albay PDRRMC meanwhile will announce before 6:00 a.m. tomorrow whether to resume or not the classes in the preschool, elementary, and high school levels. If no announcement is made, the suspension will remain.

Local disaster council in the 15 towns and three cities were likewise advised to be on high alert and to prepare those in low lying and landslide-prone areas for countermeasures including possible evacuation.

Residents were warned not to cross swelling rivers, and artificial pools of water while those living near mountain slopes were advise to take precautionary measures for possible landslides.

Army trucks and other military mobility assets were requested to be prepositioned in the towns of Libon, Oas, Polangui, and Ligao City, areas which are prone to floods and landslides. (MAL, PIA V/Albay)

Bambooply, now big business - Australian businessman

By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Feb.16 (PIA) -- John Dreese, an Australian businessman who is now in town, coordinated with the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) and said that there is big business potential in planting bamboo especially in the mitigation of climate change since bamboos planted along waterways and in slopes prevent soil erosion. But, he said, the biggest business opportunity for bamboo is that it is the "in thing for making plywood known in the world market as "bambooply."

Dreesse, in his power point presentation, showed how countries like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and China value the plant since this is now the alternative source for making plywood. Its quality is more comparatively durable; it also has a natural sheen or glow captured in the ply and its natural beauty blends in "green" buildings constructed in big resorts and adhering to the new trend of green environment.

Dreese also expressed that here in the province of Sorsogon, the opportunity for planting bamboo as one of the major source for livelihood has a very great potential given the fact that "marurugi," the type of bamboo that is in demand in the world market thrives here in the province.

He also said that bamboo is also made into the finest clothing material since it is fibrous, and bamboo in countries like China, is now being made into cloth comparative to silk.

Dreese has also made his presentation at the Rotary Club of Metro Sorsogon enjoining everyone that they are now in the process of putting up a processing plant in Subic as this is the only place here with 24/7 power supply with available international land and sea ports and business application processing made easy by the local government.

Dreese has been traveling around the Philippines and encouraging local governments to venture into the planting of bamboo as this is one of the most simple planting material that needs no full time attention, and with the big uncultivated lands here, farmers can supply the volume that they need, he said.

"Once it is planted it just grows by its own, the potential of this plant is immense, from food to clothing and construction material," he declared (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)