Greenpeace-Phl in Bicol to set out global campaign 

for ocean's protection

By Sally A. Atento

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 18 (PIA) -- Greenpeace Philippines has visited the coastal waters of Burias and Ticao Pass in Masbate province of the Bicol region to gather data for scientific and objective intervention on the problems threatening the marine ecosystem. 

“The visit is part of the peaceful global campaign set out by the Greenpeace to protect and preserve our oceans. We are advocating for changes to ensure that our needs are met without harming our environment,” said Vince Cinches, Greenpeace Southeast Asia oceans campaigner, during the Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) regional office here. 

Vinches stressed overfishing as the major threat in our marine ecosystem, which endangers not only the fishing industry but livelihood and food security as well.

“Illegal and unregulated fishing mechanisms especially those used by large fishing vessels contribute to the significant depletion of our resources. At times the massive fish catch of these vessels in one night are far more than the total weekly catch of ordinary fishers,” he said.


He said, by-catch or untargeted capture of varied marine species is also a threat that needs to be addressed.

Greenpeace reports this practice kills around 100 million marine animals each year. In other countries captured species, including turtles and dolphins which are now considered extinct, are discarded dead or dying but in the Philippines they are sold as food.

Vinches said the impact of these practices along with other unsustainable fishing mechanisms has been affecting our local fish supply. He noted the continuous soaring of prices but deteriorating quality and quantity.

“It’s ironic that Philippines is an archipelagic country with around 1, 707 islands but the fish supply from our oceans is diminishing. Our fishes these days are getting smaller since the larger ones are gone. Even the smaller and younger ones that shouldn’t have been caught are sold,” Vinches said.

Also part of the team’s local advocacy is a public forum on Overfishing and Ocean Protection on October 25 this year at Donsol Sorsogon. Everyone is encouraged to join the said event.

Greenpeace is a worldwide organization that advocates protection and conservation of environment. (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)



BFP Sorsogon City supports “YES-O” Program

By Benilda A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Sept 18 (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) office here held a fire safety seminar and first aid training with participants of the Youth for Environment School (YES) program, which is anchored on the implementation of RA 9512 (Environment Awareness and Education Act of 2008) and RA 9729 (Climate Change Act).

According to city fire marshal Senior Inspector Walter Badong Marcial, the activity is well-timed in the wake of the implications and challenges of climate change.

“Though our participants are mostly elementary pupils, we are imparting them the basic knowledge that they can be used in times of emergency and other related cases,” he said.

He added that the bureau also finished conducting the said training-seminar to three schools in the city, while some others are scheduled this weekend.

Marcial pointed out the significance of the said activity to the community for them to be vigilant during disasters and calamities.

Lectures or interfacings included fire safety tips as well as first aid training such as Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation, Bandaging and Splinting, Emergency Rescue Transport and other common emergency management.

Furthermore, fire and earthquake drill are also being conducted to assess the capability of the pupils in case they encounter similar situations.

Meanwhile, BFP Sorsogon City encourages everyone to be safety conscious as well as to be actively involved in promoting this kind of endeavor to attain fire-free community.

In case of emergency BFP Sorsogon City can be reached at cellphone number 09072927215 or through their hotline number 160. (MAL/BAR/MGCorral-BFP Sorsogon City/PIA5)




COMELEC urges voters to register complete biometrics

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Sep 18 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) provincial field office here urged voters in the 11 municipalities to register for the coming elections.

The commission said 11 percent of the total 148,243 registered voters in the province still have to complete their biometrics data with their respective municipal election offices.

Attorney Maria Aurea C. Bo-Bunao, provincial election supervisor, said Monday that pursuant to Sec. 2 Resolution No.9149, qualified voters who have not yet registered or those applying for reactivation and correction of entries in their registration records must register before October 31, 2012.

For those who intend to change or transfer from other city or municipalities, Bo-bunao stressed that he or she must be a registered voter of the place where he or she formerly resides.

In the event that they want to transfer in other voting municipality, they must a resident of the barangay where she presently resides and intend to vote for at least six months, unless otherwise disqualified by law.

Meanwhile, voters’ registration is suspended from October 1-5, 2012 to give way to the filing of Certificate of Candidacies for all elective position in the May 13, 2013.

The Commission also reminded voters to bring necessary documents needed for their registration. (MAL/EAB-PIA5 Catanduanes)



Binay directs police to fast track investigation of Morales' killing

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 18 (PIA) -- Vice President Jejomar Binay has directed the Philippines National Police (PNP) in Albay to fast track the investigation on the killing of Engr. Nelson B. Morales, chair of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and former Makati City Engineer.

Binay was in Malinao to pay his last respect to his former staff, who was laid to rest during the weekend.

Morales was gunned down while walking off the Estancia Church after attending a wedding ceremony over a week ago.

In his meeting with Morales family, Binay assured them that he will personally see to it that justice for his death would swiftly prevail.

Malinao Vice Mayor Alice Morales, sister of the slain UNA leader, was quoted saying that Binay, during a private meeting, directed Police Senior Supt. Ruben Sodsod, Albay police director, to intensify the manhunt against the five suspects.

Binay also requested for a deeper investigation of the case to determine the identity of the mastermind. Initial investigation showed that the suspects were hired gunmen and former military personnel and military officers are allegedly coddling them.

He said it is still speculative to say that politics might be behind the killing of Morales though local political observers said Morales’ killing was politically motivated.

Meanwhile, police arrested on weekend, Roderick Saysay Sarahan, 37, at his residence in barangay Molosbulos, Libon, Albay while he was about to board a motorcycle with no plates.

Police Supt. Paulino Belga, Albay PNP deputy provincial director for administration, said Sarahan was one of the five suspects witnesses have identified from the police roster of rouge gallery. He was found positive with powder burns after undergoing a paraffin test.

Other suspects were brothers Gilbert and Ramson Concepcion, both former Army soldiers assigned in Sorsogon, but were discharge from the service due to their alleged involvement in criminal activities; Wilfredo Sasota, a certain Peter and Alan Doe’s.

Another suspect Christian Saysay, 22, died from a gunshot wound on Friday. Report of the incident where he was shot was not given.He was one of the gunmen positively identified by witnesses. The others served as look out.

Belga said all the suspects have the same middle name, Saysay, and residents of barangay Molosbulos, Libon. Police theorized that Gilbert Concepcion is the leader of the group.

Police crack team is having difficulty in tracking down the suspects as they are transferring from one area to another traversing the remote villages of Albay and Camarines Sur. (MAL/MSA-PIA5/Albay)