Sec. Coloma to keynote interfacing on Communicating the Phl Dev't Plan

LEGAZPI CITY, March 20 (PIA) -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” B. Coloma Jr. will keynote tomorrow’s (Wednesday, March 21) training of government information officers and advocacy workers on Communicating the Philippine Development Plan 2011 -2016 and on the Bicol Regional Medium Term Development Plan.

Director Eduardo A. De Leon of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here said the training is for government institutions, including local governments, to effectively communicate the thrusts of the national government, anchored on the “social contract” of President Benigno S. Aquino III to the Filipino people pursuing good governance and anti-graft and corruption.

Sec. Coloma’s keynote piece will also delve on Crisis Public Relations.

Albay Governor and Bicol Regional Development Council Chair Joey Sarte Salceda, on the other hand, will tackle, “Communicating the Medium Term Regional Development Plan,” during the same training.

The Medium Term Regional Development Plan that covers 2011-2016 is the guide for Bicolanons to attain the vision of making Bicol the most livable region in the country also in support of the attainment of the nation’s Millennium Development Goals and the President’s social contract with the Filipino people.

To be taken up during the training is the planning of the 2012 Communication Action Plan and the reorganization and induction of officers of the BicolComNet.

Participants will be coming in from national government line agencies, institutions, and other instrumentalities; and local government units (LGUs) comprising the Regional Information Advocacy Committee (RIAC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Bicol; training will be held at the Estevez Hall of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) office in Arimbay, this city.

The enhancement training is among the communications programs conducted by the PIA Bicol in partnership with the local communication agencies, to meet the training needs of the information officer and advocacy workers, as assessed by the Bicol Communication Network (BicolComNet) officers, in promoting government programs, policies, and activities. (MAL/SAA-PIA V, Albay)


Catandunganon wins BDM ultramarathon race

VIRAC, Catanduanes, March 20 (PIA) -- A Catandunganon bagged the seventh place in the recently concluded " 4th Bataan Death March (BDM) Ultra Marathon" Race held recently.

The said event was the 4th edition of the ultra marathon conducted to commemorate a significant part in the history of mankind and warfare which is the Bataan Death March in April 1942. It is likewise a gesture of honoring those heroes who died during the Filpino-American fight against the Japanese.

Winner Laurencio Ogerio, 35, and married with two kids, hails from Sabangan Caramoran and he ran a total of 102 kilometers which lasted for 18 hours.

Each runner-participant traced the actual route of the “Death March” from kilometer (km) Post #00 in Mariveles, Bataan up to the old San Fernando Railway Station in San Fernando, Pampanga covering a distance of 102 km.

Out of the 186 participants from the different places of the country, only 160 made it to the finish line which started from 10:15 a.m of March 3 until 4:00 p.m. of the following day.

According to Ogerio, compared to professional marathoners, he only started trying ultra run last year after running a distance of 50 kilometers. He also expressed that his only aim was to finish the race and did not expect to belong tot he top 10 runners.

Aside from being a professional marathoner, Ogerio is currently a jail guard at the Escort and Recovery Unit of the Manila City Jail.

He also wished to serve as an inspiration to his kababayans to become aware of the benefits of having a healthy body and lifestyle. (MAL/EAB-PIA 5, Catanduanes)


CSC Honor Awards program on

LEGAZPI CITY, March 20 (PIA) -- The Civil Service Commission (CSC) regional office here will be accepting nominations until April 30 in the search for outstanding public officials and employees in line with the Honor Awards Program (HAP) this year

Eunida Jalmanzar, public information officer of CSC V, said during the radio program “Ugnayan sa Bikol” of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) the search aims to promote excellence and recognize civil servants for their outstanding performance, contribution, achievements, and consistent manifestation of exemplary ethical behavior.

Jalmanzar said that the program is mandated under Republic Act 6713 on ‘ethical standards of public officers and employees’ in the Philippines.

CSC Honor Awards is in recognition of civil servants who have excelled through their innovations in their career and who embraced integrity despite temptations like bribery and other hindrances they face for the sake of public service.

The award categories, according to Jalmanzar, include the Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award, Pagasa Award, and the Dangal ng Bayan.

The Presidential or Lingkod Bayan Award is about exceptional or extraordinary contributions resulting from an idea or performance that had nationwide impact on public interest, security and patrimony as observed in an individual or group of individuals.

The Pag-asa Award is for outstanding contribution/s resulting from an idea or performance that directly benefits more than one department of the government.

The Dangal ng Bayan is conferred for good working behavior.

HAP applies to all officials and employees in the career and non-career service of the government including appointive barangay officials and employees recognized as government employees. (MAL/SBC-PIA 5, Albay)


Bicol contenders to national fire prevention contests known

LEGAZPI CITY, March 20 (PIA) -- To determine the youths’ knowledge on fire safety particularly on the current fire prevention theme Makiisa, Makialam, Makipagtulungan upang Sunog ay Maiwasan, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) organized a nationwide contest on essay writing, poster making, drawing, and photo competitions.

To represent Bicol in the annual competition are Jericho Magistrado of San Francisco Elementary School, Iriga City for drawing contest; Cedric Peña, Camarines Sur National High School, Naga City, poster-making; Junel Imperial, Vicente Basit Memorial High School, Daet, Camarines Norte, essay writing; and Remer Dante Orolfo, Ombao High School, Bula, Camarines Sur, for photo contest.

The drawing contest was a competition for elementary pupils while the contests for poster making, photo, and essay writing in Filipino were for high school students.

Bicol’s contenders will have a chance to win trophies and cash prizes ranging from P15,000; P10,000; and P7,500 for first, second, and third placers

F/Sr. Supt Leonardo O. Prades Jr., BFP Bicol regional director, said that the regional winners will be recognized during the Fire Prevention Month culminating activity on April 17. That date has been set aside, as BFD Day at the Albay Magayon Festival calendar. The awarding will form part of the whole day activity that include the Barangay Volunteer Fire Brigade Competition and the Inter-BFP Firefighters Amazing Challenge for men and women firefighters.

The 2012 regional winners will receive cash prizes of P3,000 each for the first placers.

Other regional winners who will receive cash prizes are John Rey Mahusay, Mahaba Elementary School Ligao, Albay and Jerel John Intia, Basud Elementary School, Camarines Norte for drawing contest; Albert Lopez, Ligao National High School, Ligao City for poster making contest; and May Toledo, Legazpi City High School and Ann Goyon of Matnog High School, Sorsogon for essay writing contest.

A three-man board of judges composed of Edison Mallapre of DepEd Albay, Nolasco Luna of the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) Region V, and Aida Alcazar-Naz of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol selected the winners.

Meantime, BFP Bicol continues with the observance of Fire Prevention Month this March that includes advocacy activities such as open house and ugnayan sa barangay.

Ugnayan sa Barangay programs are being conducted to remind the community the need for fire-safe homes. A parallel activity is being held in schools to inculcate among the young the negative consequences of fire incidents in the lives of families.

TV and radio hopping go on while information materials such as leaflets and brochures are being distributed to supplement the campaign.

On March 26, firefighters will conduct tree-planting, river clean-up drive and feeding activities in Barangay Dapdap, Legazpi City.(MAL/AAN-PIA V)


Govt engineers fast track river control project in Albay

LEGAZPI CITY, March 20 -- Threats of flooding still grip commuters negotiating the Maharlika Highway at barangay Culliat in Daraga town, prompting government engineers to fast track the rehabilitation of the Busay-Bongalon river control project in this second class town in Albay.

Danilo E. Dequito, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol, said he has ordered the Albay 2nd District Engineering Office to complete the said river control project in Daraga as soon as possible.

Flooding remains a problem in Daang Maharlika (DM) along the Culliat Section despite the ongoing river control project as water from Busay-Bongalon river flows directly to the said section whenever there is continuous rain.

According to Dequito, P8 million was spent for the initial construction of a 40 ln.m. dike with steel sheet pile foundation which was completed on October 10, last year but right after its completion, incessant heavy rains followed, causing severe damage on the existing dike.

To repair the dike, an additional P20-million funding was released by the DPWH central office to the Albay 2nd District Engineering Office, he said.

The additional amount is intended to cover the construction of 80 linear meter (l.m.) concrete dike and lower the rock formation of Busay Falls by 2.5 meters and widen its river bed by 14.0 meters.

“We already have significant accomplishment. However, last February 2, heavy downpour triggered a large volume of water that damaged the stock piled embankment that diverted the flow of water towards Daang Maharlika,” said Albay 2nd District Engineer Walter Lubiano.

“Nevertheless, the steel sheet piles remained intact restraining the excessive water flow, hence, the road remained passable to all types of vehicles,” he added.

Another P5 million was also released for the rehabilitation of DM Culliat whose pavement was heavily damaged due to the frequent inundation particularly during the last quarter of last year and early part of this year.

“Included in this funding is the construction of a 3 x 3-meter box culvert and a detour road will be installed just beside the section to be rehabilitated,” said Lubiano. “However, the initial work done on the detour was also washed out by the flash floods,” he continued.

Nevertheless, Lubiano assured the public of round the clock work particularly during good weather condition, to finish the project before end of April this year. (MAL/MSA/LVC-PIA V/ALbay)


Pandan police confiscates narra lumber

PANDAN, Catanduanes, March 20 (PIA) -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Pandan Municipal Police Station confiscated a total of 222.8 board feet of narra in Barangay Canlubi, Pandan on March 2 at around 6:45 p.m.

A concerned citizen found the lumber abandoned in a roadside in said barangay and reported it to the police. The lumber, left by suspected illegal loggers, were hauled by P/Inspector Millard Bongalon at five of his men.

Breakdown of confiscated narra lumber are as follows: 24 pcs. 2x2x6; 15 pcs. 1x3x6; and 6 pcs. 1x8x8 with a total amount of P11,125.

At present, the Pandan police is conducting a follow-up operations to know who were behind the illegal cutting of narra trees despite the implementation of total log ban in the country. (MAL/EAB-PIA 5, Catanduanes)