DOST advises Bicol residents to monitor tsunami prone areas

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 22 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), has identified areas in Bicol that are prone to tsunami and advised its residents to be watchful of the ocean even during normal times.

Ocean wave disasters need real-time observation and rapid dissemination of warning so that people in these identified areas of Bicol will be prepared, according to DOST regional director Tomas Briñas.

These tsunami-prone areas identified by the Phivolcs in the mapping conducted as early as 2007 are the eastern coastlines of Albay covering the municipalities of Tiwi, Malinao, Bacacay, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, Rapu-rapu, Manito, Tabaco City, and this city.

In Camarines Sur, the tsunami prone areas mapped by Phivolcs are the municipalities of Caramoan, Presentacion, Lagonoy, San Jose, Tigaon, and Sangay that all sits in the northeastern side of the province.

The municipalities in the northern side of Camarines Sur such as Garchitorena, Lagonoy and Siruma and in the western section—Tinambac, Calabanga, Bombon and Magarao are also in the hazard map.

In Camarines Norte, these areas are the towns of Sta. Elena, Capalonga, Jose Panganiban, Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Basud, and Mercedes that are all at the coastline of the Philippine Sea.

In Catanduanes, an island province at the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 10 of its 11 municipalities are listed as tsunami prone in the Phivolcs hazard map. These municipalities are Virac, Bato, Baras, Gigmoto, Viga, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Pandan, Caramoran, and San Andres.

Sorsogon’s towns of Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Bulusan, Sta. Magdalena, Matnog, and the Bacon District of Sorsogon City that are also along the Philippine Sea are listed in the tsunami hazard map.

All these Bicol coastal areas are located near the Philippine Trench, a major fault considered as potential earthquake and tsunami generator. They are marked with red color in the map representing tsunami inundation areas.

Briñas said an earthquake with magnitude of intensity 8.1 could trigger at the coastlines of these areas three to more than six-meter high waves that are extremely life threatening.

The advice to residents to observe the ocean, Briñas said, is part of the “Tsunami Risk and Monitoring in the Philippines,” an initiative of the Phivolcs that highlights an effective tsunami warning system.

This system is comprised of dense, real time network of seismic stations, real time sea level monitoring network, rapid communication and local mass alerting systems, accurate hazard and evacuation maps and well-informed citizenry.

The warning system was presented by Phivolcs director Renato Solidum during the “Wave Observation and Disaster Prevention” seminar recently organized in Manila by the Phivolcs in collaboration with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and the Embassy of Japan.

The seminar was aimed at generating further research and more importantly, to give people an idea on how to prepare for these ocean wave disasters.

It also opened up a partnership to come up with a collaborative program applicable both in the Philippines and in Japan, according to DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Graciano Yumul Jr.. (MAL/DCA, Legazpi City)


DA crafts National Corn Program for 2012, Prepares 2013 budget

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb 22 (PIA) -- Government agencies and corn industry stakeholders convened last week for the National Planning Workshop for 2012 and Budget Preparation for the AgriPinoy Corn Program for 2013 at the Alicia Hotel here.

Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA Bicol regional executive director, said that the 2012 action plan will integrate the guidelines issued by DA Secretary Proceso Alcala that focus on community-based targets, cultivation of farmers knowledge and capability building activities, incorporation of climate change interventions, and development of new and out of the box interventions.

Said guidelines, along with the introduction of modern technologies, are in line with the administration’s action plan to boost food production in the country.

Crafting of the action plan and budget proposal for 2013 were Director Agnes Catherine T. Miranda, chief of the DA Planning Service (DAPS), and Telma C. Tolentino, chief of the DA Budget Division (DABD).

The 2012 forecast for the agriculture sector will likewise be discussed by Mario Padrinao of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

Also in the said event were Joel S. Rudinas, DA undersecretary for Field Operations, and Edilberto M. de Luna assistant secretary for Field Operations and concurrently National Corn Program Coordinator.

The AgriPinoy Corn Program is one of the banner programs of the Department of Agriculture to increase productivity and production of quality corn for human consumption, feeds and industrial uses and to improve the quality of life of farmers in the country. (MAL/SAA/DA V)


Sorsogon water firm preserves watershed areas, pursues contour agricultural farming

By Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Feb.22 (PIA) -- Watershed areas need to be cared for, preserved and protected as these sustain the source of water, said Engr. Ronaldo G. Borbono, manager of the Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD).

According to Borbono, the watershed areas now being maintained by SCWD are very well preserved and protected by farmers themselves and now home to several endemic flora and fauna. It is envisioned to become a tourism visitation site.

The local water district continues to advocate to the public to be appreciative of its importance.

He also said that employees regularly conduct tree planting activities as their firm support of the government's environmental thrusts and to articulate collectively the National Greening Program as trees preserve the sources of water.

Borbono said that Barangay San Jose of Bacon district is one of their watershed areas and now being developed to showcase the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) program, a banner project under the Water District Assistance to Environment and Resources as highlighted in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.

As an environmental preservation tool, the SALT project is also an alternative source of livelihood for people living in the slopes in the watershed and are taught contour farming according to Barbono.

The water district is assisting these farmers to adapt this kind of farming to abolish the practice of kaingin system or slash and burn that destroy the forest.

The prevalent livelihood source in forests is the illegal cutting of trees made into charcoal but with this assistance, Borbono said that farmers will avoid this practice since they will now have a source of livelihood and the watershed will be preserved as they are also taught the importance of protecting the land from erosion due to incorrect upland farming practices.(MAL/IAG-PIA Sorsogon)


PNP San Miguel bares 4th quarter report for 2011

SAN MIGUEL, Catanduanes, Feb. 22, (PIA) - There was a significant decrease in crime incidences in the municipality of San Miguel during the fourth quarter of 2011, reported the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its 4th quarter report.

Like other municipalities, San Miguel is confronted with two adverse problems, insurgency and criminality. Of the two, the former is a most potent threat to the town’s peace and order and economic stability. However, due to constant police visibility, checkpoint operations, and Preventive patrol, occurrence of said crime has decreased.

For the period October to December 2011, the station conducted 120 police visibility, checkpoints,and preventive patrols especially in crime-prone areas and school areas. Intensified operation dubbed as ‘higpit bakal’ on some videoke bars and security inspection to government installations and facilities within their area of responsibility (AOR) were and are being conducted regularly to prevent any untoward incidents.

For the same period, there was no recorded violent and non-violent incident within their AOR.

Moreover, based on the crime incidents reported and processed by the