Prov'l gov't, Virac LGU initiate weather proofed, green housing project

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Feb. 24 (PIA)-- Catanduanes, in collaboration with the local government here has initiated the implementation of the housing project in Barangay Sto. Domingo to provide affordable and safe homes to government employees and Housing Development Mutual Fund (PagIbig) members.

Likewise, it seeks to introduce replicable strategies to building technology using green designs and construction techniques.

The project intends to introduce new approaches in renewable energy applications and waste management initiatives for the achievement of ecological integrity in mass housing projects; and pioneer sustainable home-owner livelihood programs with the available low energy cost.

Virac LGU employees will also be covered by the said program subject to the Sangguniang Bayan's assigning its portion of the four-hectare land to the provincial government.

Housing units to rise in the said site will be single-detached, two-level duplex, and low-cost and modular studio-type row houses that can withstand wind speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and magnitude 8 earthquakes.

To avail the program, the following are the requirements: the permanent government employee must have at least P3,000 net take home pay after deducting the probable monthly amortization of the housing loan or with at least 40 percent disposable income, has satisified eligibility requirements of the Pag IBIG housing loan application, an active Pag IBIG member with a minimum of 24 monthly contributions, not more than 65 years old upon filing, is insurable and has legal capacity to acquire real property, with no outstanding Pag IBIG housing loan or foreclosed, cancelled and brought back or subject to "dacion en pago", with no outstanding Pag IBIG multipurpose loans in arrears and with proof of repayment capacity and approved by the housing project committee.

Said project will introduce and feature the following renewable energy: solar power system for each household unit, off-grid wind/solar power for water supply pump; solid waste disposable, biogas digester or anaerobic buffered reactor (ABR), composting, collection and processing of non-biodegradable waste in materials recovery facility (MRF), and waste water disposal, storm water and brown eater treatment before disposal.

On the other hand, the livelihood center will feature battery charging for e-trikes and e-jeepneys, purified water station, ice-making, cottage industries using processed biogas and supply of organic fertilizers. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)


Coconut authority to assess Cadang cadang in coconut trees
To set up measures to prevent further infestation

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb. 24 (PIA) -- The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) has commenced Monday (Feb. 20) a comprehensive general surveillance on Cadang-cadang disease in coconut in different barangays of the 12 municipalities of Camarines Norte.

PCA Camarines Norte officer in charge Editah P. Idnani said that the province and other provinces in Bicol region as well as in Region IV-A and Region VII are affected by the Cadang-cadang viroid infestation based on the yearly monitoring conducted by the PCA - Albay Research Center.

The said disease was previously identified by the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department Agriculture (BPI-DA) and later the monitoring was transferred to the PCA-Albay Research Center due to the closure of the BPI.

Under the Cadang-cadang Containment and Rehabilitation program, PCA targets to eliminate Cadang-cadang disease in coconuts not only in this province but also in other provinces in the regions cited.

She said that Cadang-cadang viroid weakens the coconut tree and results in less fruit with yellowish and lesser leaves and eventually cause the death of the tree.

Idnani cited that coco water livelihood and industry are also affected by the said disease wherein some 100,086 hectares of land planted with coconut will be under the said surveillance.

The ground survey is being conducted by 17 enumerators hired by the PCA in every barangay of all the 12 municipalities in the province using a survey questionnaire.

The 17 enumerators hired, are graduates of Agriculture and were assigned in every barangay in each municipality to conduct the ground survey in three months. (MAL/RBM, PIA Camarines Norte)


Prov'l gov't, Virac LGU initiate weather proofed, green housing project

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Feb. 24 (PIA)-- Catanduanes, in collaboration with the local government here has initiated the implementation of the housing project in Barangay Sto. Domingo to provide affordable and safe homes to government employees and Housing Development Mutual Fund (PagIbig) members.

Likewise, it seeks to introduce replicable strategies to building technology using green designs and construction techniques.

The project intends to introduce new approaches in renewable energy applications and waste management initiatives for the achievement of ecological integrity in mass housing projects; and pioneer sustainable home-owner livelihood programs with the available low energy cost.

Virac LGU employees will also be covered by the said program subject to the Sangguniang Bayan's assigning its portion of the four-hectare land to the provincial government.

Housing units to rise in the said site will be single-detached, two-level duplex, and low-cost and modular studio-type row houses that can withstand wind speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour and magnitude 8 earthquakes.

To avail the program, the following are the requirements: the permanent government employee must have at least P3,000 net take home pay after deducting the probable monthly amortization of the housing loan or with at least 40 percent disposable income, has satisified eligibility requirements of the Pag IBIG housing loan application, an active Pag IBIG member with a minimum of 24 monthly contributions, not more than 65 years old upon filing, is insurable and has legal capacity to acquire real property, with no outstanding Pag IBIG housing loan or foreclosed, cancelled and brought back or subject to "dacion en pago", with no outstanding Pag IBIG multipurpose loans in arrears and with proof of repayment capacity and approved by the housing project committee.

Said project will introduce and feature the following renewable energy: solar power system for each household unit, off-grid wind/solar power for water supply pump; solid waste disposable, biogas digester or anaerobic buffered reactor (ABR), composting, collection and processing of non-biodegradable waste in materials recovery facility (MRF), and waste water disposal, storm water and brown eater treatment before disposal.

On the other hand, the livelihood center will feature battery charging for e-trikes and e-jeepneys, purified water station, ice-making, cottage industries using processed biogas and supply of organic fertilizers. (MAL/EAB, PIA Catanduanes)