Bicol economy grows by 2.6 percent in 2011

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 3 (PIA) -- The economy of Bicol region grew by 2.6 percent in 2011, half its pace in 2010.

The National Statistical Coordination Board data showed that the service sector buoyed the regional economy with a 3.9 percent growth.

The service sector, the biggest contributor to the region’s output at 55.5 percent, grew at a slightly faster rate from the 3.7 last year.

Transportation, storage and communication rose at an accelerated rate of 6.5 percent from one percent rate in 2010.

Meanwhile, the report showed that the growth of the trade sector slowed down to 3.3 percent from a robust 12.2 percent expansion in 2010. Finance also plunged registering a negative 0.1 percent growth from a near standstill.

Other services turned in the best performance among the service subsectors with a much improved 7.7 percent expansion from 2.6 a year ago.

It also showed that public administration and defense shrunk by 1.4 from a modest 5.6 percent the previous year.

Growth in the industry sector skidded to 1.9 percent from a fast 10.9 percent expansion in 2010.

Meanwhile, the 38.8 percent surge in manufacturing was not enough to compensate for contractions in the mining and quarrying and construction subsectors.

Mining and quarrying decreased to 12.2 percent, a complete reversal from the 37.3 percent surge in 2010. Similarly, construction plunged by 4.5 percent from a positive 4.7 percent growth in 2010.

Electricity, gas and water supply managed a 2.9 percent growth, way below the 7.8 percent expansion in 2010.

Industry accounted for 18.9 percent of Bicol region’s economy in 2011, a slight drop from the 19.0 percent contribution in 2010.

Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing (AHFF) sector just managed to stay afloat at a growth of 0.7 percent. The 0.8 percent contraction in the fishing subsector compounded the lackluster performance of the agriculture and forestry subsector.

Agriculture and forestry hardly expanded with a 1.2 percent growth, a slowdown from the 4.8 percent performance in 2010.

AHFF’s share to the total economy dropped from 26.1 percent in 2010 to 25.6 percent in 2011.

Services were the largest contributor to the economic performance of Bicol region in 2011, accounting for about 2.1 percentage points of the 2.6 growth.

Industry contributed almost 0.4 percentage point, while AHFF’s share was close to 0.2 percentage point. (MAL/NSCB/PIA5/Albay)



DOLE-5 institutionalizes 1st NGO-based PESO in Bicol

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 3 (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-5 signed the memorandum of agreement with the Child Sponsorship for Community Development Inc. (CSCDI) to institutionalize the first nongovernmental organization (NGO)-based Public Employment Services Office (PESO) in the region.

Nathaniel Lacambra, DOLE-5 regional director, said the establishment of CSCDI is a significant development as it will serve as an added access to employment opportunities.

“Having an NGO as a PESO is a leap of faith for us. This gesture shows us (DOLE) that private-based organizations have realized the importance of the role of PESO. It means we are on the right track in helping Filipinos find a job,” Lacambra said.

CSCDI, the local Sponsorship Operating Agency of Children International, is an NGO that sponsors the education, health, and security of less fortunate but deserving children.

CSCDI coordinator Gigi Ventanilla said the accreditation of the CSCDI as a school-based PESO will serve not only the continuity of the program but they can also help their scholar-graduates to look for jobs through placements and referrals.

“We can also help DOLE and our government in enhancing employment,” Ventanilla added.

Together with the MOA signing, which was also part of the anniversary celebration of the CSCDI, are the orientation on labor rights and relations and announcement of upcoming IT training project in the province to be co-sponsored by DOLE-Bicol. (MAL/SAA-PIA5, Albay)


Albay, Sorsogon to benefit from convergence poverty reduction project

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 3 (PIA) -- Albay and Sorsogon will be the recipients of a new poverty reduction project to expand the food and income base in target barangays in calamity prone municipalities in Bicol.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), concerned provincial governments, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Farmers Community Development Foundation International, National Nutrition Council, Bicol University and local government units inked the agreement last week to implement measures to improve quality of life of residents and empower communities to be self-reliant.

Remia Tapispisan, DSWD regional director, said the project will complement the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

She added that 150 of pilot recipients are also 4Ps beneficiaries.

Albay province was targeted as many poor families living around the Mayon volcano went through a shortage of food supply when the volcano erupts.

Many residents in the province of Sorsogon also suffered shortage due to low income and is periodically aggravated by calamities.

The project also aims to promote sustainable food security and nutrition; generate income and employment to provide for the recipients other needs and build capacities of food and income deficient people to make said poverty reduction effort sustainable.

Dr. Ponciano Batugal, rresident of FCDF, said a planting material recovery and sharing mechanism will be established to make it easy for the recipients to borrow as well as pay.

All inputs will be loaned out in kind using a simple promissory note, which would indicate the following:
1) All root and tuber crop planting materials and native vegetable seeds provided to the recipients will be returned “in kind” after four months at twice the amount borrowed and the repayment will be shared with two more farmers;
2) high-quality grafted fruit seedlings will be provided, which will be returned with 20 shoots after three years;
3) 50 African Night Crawler earthworms used to make organic fertilizer will also be provided, which will be returned at twice the amount after six months;
4) Two to five ready to lay eggs native chickens from the barangay native chicken breeding project will be provided, which will be replaced with 30 eggs after one year.

Batugal said each recipient will also be provided trainings on technical skills for producing, processing and marketing products; farmer association, micro-credit management and on human values formation to ensure project sustainability.

A food security garden as well as a barangay food association will be established in every barangay.

Registration of said barangay association to appropriate government agencies will also be facilitated and a joint planning with the local government unit (LGU) to incorporate the project in the Municipal Development Plan and institutionalize LGU support will be conducted.

If the project becomes successful, 4Ps beneficiaries no longer have to spend money on buying food. The cash grants they receive from the 4Ps may be utilized for their other needs.

Social Welfare Sec. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman expressed her gratitude to the provincial government particularly to Albay Governor Joey Salceda for being not just an economic adviser but for always ensuring counterpart on all DSWD programs.

Albay provincial government will provide counterpart for the new project which would cover the municipalities of Camalig, Polangui and Sto. Domingo.

Soliman also thanked NAPC, through Usec. Florencia Dorotan for initiating said project.

This, according to the secretary is a proof that government agencies from the national down to the local as well as non-government agencies and private sectors are now converging to create a greater impact on poverty reduction

She also reiterated Gov. Salceda’s statement, “Walang talo kung ang ating ginagawa ay pagpuksa ng kahirapan (Nobody is a loser if what we do is fight poverty).”

The project is an initiative of the NAPC and DSWD, with funding support from the UNDP. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)


Navy’s anti illegal logging campaign scores anew

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 3 (PIA) -- Joint anti-illegal logging operatives of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices in Quezon province seized 9,938 illegally-cut logs last July 31 at Brgy. Canaway, Gen Nakar, Quezon.

The logs have an estimated market value of P298,140.

The operatives were also able to confiscated 8,000 board feet of logs worth P240,000 on July 25 at Brgy. Dinahican, Infanta, Quezon.

With successful series of operations, the number of confiscated logs is now at 17,938 board feet, amounting to P538,140.
Commodore Abraham F. Celzo, commander of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon, congratulated the Naval Detachment Infanta.

He urged them to continue their active support other government agencies and local government units to stop illegal logging operations in their area of responsibility.

“Since January of this year, Navforsol has recorded a total of six successful anti illegal logging operations which resulted to the confiscation of 44,561board feet of assorted lumber with an estimated market value of P1,596,140,” said Celzo.

Successful anti-illegal logging campaigns and operations were also carried out in collaboration with Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police stations in Infanta, Quezon. (MAL/Navforsol/PIA)