Installation of power generator to benefit stakeholders - LTO

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Nov. 21 (PIA) -- Following successive power outages in Catanduanes, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will install gasoline-fed power generator at the LTO district office here to facilitate transactions even during brownouts.

Mar Jose A. Magistrado, acting chief of the Operations Division, said that online-transaction processing (OLTP) in any district office and regional office of LTO has two key benefits: simplicity and efficiency.

Reduced paper trails and faster, more accurate verification, forecasts for revenues and expenses are patent examples of how OLTP makes things simpler for businesses.

He added that in any information processing system, security and reliability are to be considered.

Operations can be severely affected when the transaction system or database is unavailable due to data corruption, network availability issues, or systems failure such as power failure and/or communications line error, such as the case of LTO in Virac.

LTO 5 assistant regional director Vincent O. Nato, underscored the issues on “The constant availability of a site support and maintenance staff of IT provider Stradcom requires top management determination and intervention which were already seriously taken into account and a long-term solution being deliberated.”

During their three-day stay in the province from November 14 to 16, a series of consultations with LTO officials, Catanduanes police, office of the governor, and other stakeholders were also conducted involving the same issues and concerns.

An orientation-seminar was also held for presidents and other officers of various tricycle associations in the municipality of Virac on 14 November 2012. Similarly, a reorientation-seminar was administered for Catanduanes police in preparation for deputation of qualified applicants.

Field law enforcement operations with the assistance of PNP Catanduanes Police Provincial Office was carried out on November 15 and 16 resulting in 79 apprehensions for violations of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code with 41 motor vehicles literally impounded and turned over to LTO Virac District Office. (MAL/EAB-PIA 5/LTO release)


DTI-Sorsogon strongly advocates for pili nut in global market

SORSOGON CITY, Nov. 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) office here has convened anew pili nut farmers, producers, and other industry stakeholders to promote and make pili gain momentum in the local, and most especially, in the global market.

The province remains the largest supplier of pili in Bicol region and has now developed processors in the province inching their way not only to the local market but priming for foreign market as well said Leah A. Pagao, DTI Sorsogon director.

“In fact, Tia Berning Pili Candies will soon be available in the Korean market,” she proudly said.

Pagao furthered that pili would not have made a hit in the market without the usual backings and support from various stakeholders.

She took the opportunity to thank Mayor Leovic Dioneda of this city for fully supporting the efforts of championing Sorsogon as pili producer through their various programs, activities, and assistance to growers.

She also said that for their part, DTI has offered technical programs and services to develop the capability of entrepreneurs along managerial, skill, marketing, and even in accessing credit for business expansion or transformation.

Furthermore, Pagao narrated that apart from marketing and promotion activities being conducted by DTI, the Kasanggayahan Trade Fair 2012 last October highlighted the pili, which is considered the province’s champion commodity.

“Likewise, the same exposure will be repeated in December this year during the Sorsogon Festival of Sorsogon City,” she added.

Major issues and concerns from the participants were drawn out such as government’s assistance to the pili farmers, increasing the number of pili trees, comprehensive approach to pili industry or the need for pili development plan, and the support to the micro pili food processors.

Pili (scientific name: Canarum ovatum) is a tropical fruit native to Bicol and is considered by the Department of Agriculture (DA) the "flagship commodity" in Bicol Region. It is abundant especially in Albay, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon.


In 1992, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported that Bicol supplied 82 percent of the national volume, most of which came from Sorsogon. This prompted the National Economic Development Authority to declare Sorsogon as the commodity champion for pili. Moreover, best quality of pili is found in Sorsogon.

As per record of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Sorsogon belongs to the top pili-growing provinces in the country with 3,693.10 metric tons (MT); followed by Albay with 1,818.79 MT; Northern Samar, 782 MT; Camarines Sur, 354.96 MT; Quezon, 104.95 MT; Samar, 101.16 MT; Negros Occidental, 89.98 MT; Eastern Samar, 84.83 MT; Camarines Norte, 43 MT; and Catanduanes with 11.04 MT. (MAL/BAR-PIA5/MPC-DTI Sorsogon)