Naga River Revitalization Project gets support from foreign community

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, international financing community and international non-government organizations have given their support to the Naga River Integrated Revitalization Project.

Mayor John Bongat of this city arrived last week from Basel, Switzerland assured of the international organizations' support to the program, basically the core of Bongat's visit in Switzerland whose trip was sponsored by the Cities Development Initiative for Asia (CDIA) in exchange of his presentation of the Naga River's program and its concept to potential investors who will be willing to finance the project.

Based on CDIA's pre-feasibility study, the project's cost is estimated at $65 million.

Bongat's presentation was lauded by representatives from several countries for its integrated approach and his inclusion of the city's historic, cultural and religious prospective to the implementation of the project.

"We now included the word integrated in our project to emphasize that we will be applying a multi-faceted approach in bringing the Naga River blueprint into reality, not just to all the Nagueños but for all the Bicolanos, particularly Ina's devotees," Bongat said in an interview.

Bongat said the project will not only focus on the protection of the environment but will also include disaster risk reduction management, conversion of the riverside into an economic zone, its preservation as their heritage and as a tourism initiative which will bring to the fore the city's potential for growth and development.

Part of the big picture is the construction of 6 mini-ports or wharfs along the riverside where small bancas will fetch and embark their passengers. This is one of the components of turning the riverbanks into economic zones through the river transport system and will give barangay residents an alternative livelihood source. The docks or landing stages will be built from Barangay Sabang going to Magsaysay area and will benefit constituents of the 11 barangays located along the Naga River.

Dubbed as the Naga River Rehabilitation Project then when the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo first presented the study in Singapore in 2010, the venture is now elevated in its revitalization status, with the inclusion of making it not just as one of the city's tourism attractions, but also an economic center where economic growth will be its centerpiece.

The project will cover three phases: the physical rehabilitation of the riverbanks by building green river walks in both sides, the construction and operation of waste water treatment facilities and a greenway development scheme which will interconnect the public road leading to the central business areas, government entities and educational facilities. (LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)



Army intensifies internal security operations to avoid ‘permit-to-campaign fees’

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- The Philippine Army (PA) unit based here has intensified internal security operations to eliminate an armed group’s modus of collecting fees for "permit-to-campaign" to candidates of this province and ensure peace and order in the May 2013 elections.

Lt. Col. Michael M. Buhat, commanding officer of the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion, said during the Philippine Information Agency's "Talakayan" held here recently, that the army unit has initiated internal security operations in 61 villages out of 70 rebel-infested barangays.

Camarines Norte is comprised of 282 barangays.

Buhat said out of the 61 bayanihan activities conducted last year, 41 were declared cleared barangays while 20 have on going operations.

He said the army will deploy personnel in these barangays while conducting nine bayanihan activities in the towns of Labo with four and Sta. Elena with five infested with the armed New People’s Army (NPA).

Buhat said the unit will also conduct clearing operations in the barangay according to the request of the candidates on the campaign period.

He added that they were in pursuit of the armed group after the encounter which happened on January 23 in the town of San Lorenzo Ruiz where there were no casualty on both sides.

Police Senior Supt. Moises Pagaduan, provincial director of the Camarines Norte Police Provincial Office (CNPPO), on the other hand, said the police is strictly implementing the gun ban and Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint in the province.

He said they also plan to conduct anti-gambling operations regarding the virtual game if it is legal or jueteng as previously ordered by the PNP Regional Director Police Chief Supt. Clarence Guinto. (MAL/RBM-PIA5, Camarines Norte)


Bayanihan IPSP humanitarian mission benefits Sorsogon, Cam Sur residents

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 4 (PIA) -- The Team Naval Forces of Southern Luzon (Navforsol) of the Philippine Navy based here held two consecutive medical and dental missions last Jan. 26 and 27 in Barangay Dangcalan, Donsol, Sorsogon and in Barangay Ombao Polpog, Bula, Camarines Sur.

Navforsol provided the outreach program with medical, dental and EENT (eyes, ears, nose and throat) check-ups, giving out free eyeglasses, haircuts and therapeutic massages to more than 945 beneficiaries.

Command surgeon Maj. Renato Esmabe MC of the Navy led the Team Navforsol contingent composed of medical-dental teams and civil affairs team from Naval Station Julhasan Arasain, based in this city.

The humanitarian mission was also supported by the Tulong Mo, Kinabukasan Ko Foundation Inc., the 903rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, the Donsol District Hospital, the rural health unit of Pilar, Philippine National Police, St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, medical volunteers and the local government of the recipient areas.

Commodore Manuel Natalio A. Abinuman, commander of the Navforsol, said search and rescue, disaster relief and evacuation operations are just among the many administrative functions that the major units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Bicol region have been doing to help the Bicolanos.

Abinuman said these activities are far from the common experiences of the uniformed men and women who usually carry guns and go after the enemy of the state.

He explained that these types of operations are classified as non-traditional roles of the AFP but vital in the pursuit of public peace and order and welfare especially in the Bicol region.

“These activities are just a fragment of the numerous socio-economic and environmental development programs of the Navy being conducted jointly with other stakeholders in line with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan,” Abinuman said.

“Such activity highlights the role of the sailors, marines and soldiers not just as defenders of peace but also as good ambassadors for socio-economic development and we in the Navforsol will continue our commitment to support inter-agency initiatives towards the achievement of lasting peace and development in the region,” Abinuman said. (MAL/Ens. EJRDuruin-Navforsol/PIA5)