Eco-friendly "padyak" of Tabaco wows Miss Earth candidates

TABACO CITY, Dec. 2 (PIA/LGU Tabaco City) -- Twenty–six (26) official candidates of Miss Earth 2012 expressed fascination over the first hand experience in riding the "padyak" or tricycle as part of the visit in historical landmarks and key tourists’ destinations in this city last month.

The candidates rode the said eco-friendly vehicle as they toured Saint Baptist Church, a national historical treasure bestowed by the National Historical Institute and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The artistry and ingenuity of the vehicle's design, its contribution to the economy and support for clean and healthy environment, amazed the Miss Earth candidates that they even tried driving the padyak themselves.

Also fascinated by the world renowned majestic Mount Mayon, the beauties of the Earth admitted their excitement of being within 2,500 feet above sea level of an active volcano in their first’s list.

City Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro personally offered the guests her concocted lemon-grass tea and captivated the beauties with the city’s natural richness and developments.

Miss Earth candidates were also wowed by the craftsmanship of the local cutlery workers in Cobo while observing the process of making the bolos and other metal produce of the city. (MAL/FMGM - LGU-Tabaco City/PIA5)


Army's 9ID in Bicol renews commitment to Human Rights

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur -- Army’s 9th Infantry (Spear) Division join the Bicolano community and the whole nation today in welcoming the celebration of the National Human Rights Consciousness Week as Spear troopers took their oath anew reciting the Panunumpa sa Karapatang Pantao to promote and protect human rights.

“We are here today to show our support to the National Human Rights Consciousness Week celebration in order for our voices to be heard and be counted,” said Major General Romeo V Calizo, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry (Spear) Division based here.

In this year’s theme: “My voice counts in ending impunity: I work for Human Rights based governance,” Calizo said the Army banks on the combined efforts with its partner agencies and organizations for freedom to live free - free from fear and subjugation and free to pursue every endeavour within the bounds of existing laws and without trampling on the rights of others.

Army’s 9ID is guided by the Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan” adherence to Human Rights-International Humanitarian Law-Rule of Law (HR-IHL-ROL) as an important strategic imperative.

This ensures that the multi-stakeholder approach and paradigm shift to a people-centered approach be fully integrated in 9ID’s operations.

“We are prepared to continue playing our part in the Philippine government’s goals of safeguarding the ‘life, liberty and property’ of the Bicolanos,” said Calizo.

Calizo said that NPA remains a threat in Bicol Region, adding that in the guise of fighting for a “people-oriented” ideology, they wreak havoc in the society and have violated the people’s rights in the process. They were involved in the brutal killings and torture of their own members, mostly suspected and accused of being deep-penetration agents, he added.

Calizo furthered that executions of former NPA cadres and civilians have also been publicly acknowledged by the NPA. Just recently, they beheaded a barangay kagawad in Guinobatan, Albay as they accused him of not remitting a big amount of money extorted from poor residents.

“We are well aware that despite our efforts, some Bicolanos have been misled to believe the worst about the 9ID. Using their misleading causes, the NPA tried to turn the tables against us,” said Col Felix J Castro Jr., 9ID assistant division commander and human rights officer.

In order to recover from all the damage that these negative acts of the NPA, the 9ID decided to react by equalling their violence by further developing our ranks as protectors of HR-IHL to gain the respect of the Bicolanos.

“We ensure that our troops refrain from committing violations. We also make sure that any personnel proven beyond doubt to have committed human rights infractions would be dealt with accordingly because we do not tolerate such disrespect to human rights,” Castro said.

9ID has elevated its Human Rights Office with the designation of the Assistant Division Commander to head the office in order to give it a stronger personality.

Its functions shall include, but shall not be limited to, the advocacy on HR-IHL-ROL, monitoring of HR-IHL cases, and advising the Commander on all matters pertaining to HR-IHL-ROL. It shall also have supervisory functions over all HR cases being acted upon by concerned subordinate units/offices. Likewise, it shall have the power to conduct investigation on HR cases as a fact-finding office.

The 9ID’s renewed adherence in the protection and promotion of HR-IHL is relatively seen as the number of HR cases filed against our soldiers significantly dropped from 12 of last year to just one this year.

Among the initiatives since the implementation of the IPSP “Bayanihan” in 2010, is giving more emphasis on HR-IHL-ROL in the curricula of all trainings, seminars of officers and enlisted personnel, and also in its Troop Information and Education (TI&E) sessions at the 9th Division Training Unit. This is also replicated the lower units of the Command.

“However, despite our continued efforts, we cannot ultimately fight the abuses against human rights without the help, cooperation and commitment of every one,” said Calizo.

“We reaffirm today our commitment because we believe that Human Rights protection is the responsibility of all,” he said. (MAL/DPAO-9ID PA)