Tourist arrival up despite Mayon incident – Salceda

By Joseph John J. Perez

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- Despite the unfortunate deaths of four German nationals and the injury to five Thais and an Austrian due to the Mayon Volcano phreatic eruption early morning of May 7, the number of tourist arrivals in Albay has still gone up.

“Occupancy rate increased by 10 percent,” Albay Governor Jose “Joey” Salceda said.

"The beauty of Mayon is the main reason why more tourists come to Albay not the mountaineering activities that attract only a few adventure seekers," Salceda said.

“We have the best ATV (all-terrain vehicle) experience in the world and nothing compares with it in its diversified track types, scenery that attract even foreigners,” Salceda added.

Hollywood actor Zac Efron recently tried Albay’s ATV experience in his brief visit in the province.

“Mountaineering has never been our sponsored and recommended activity, it is even regulated,” Salceda said.

All human activities within the volcano’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone except for rescue and retrieval operations are indefinitely suspended in the wake of Tuesday’s phreatic explosion of the world famous Mayon Volcano that killed and injured tourists including local guides totaling to 21 all.

“The controlling factor for human activity (within the volcano’s restricted area) is the (Phivolcs) alert level not the permanent danger zone restriction,” Salceda said.

Mayon’s six-kilometer permanent danger zone imposed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) restricts permanent habitation but not access for humans but the alert levels determine if human activities can be allowed within the restricted area, Salceda said.

“Alert level zero means there is no risk or its absence,” Salceda said. Alert level zero means that Mayon is just a "mountain" and it’s up to any mountaineer to take risk in climbing it, Salceda said. Mayon is in alert level zero when it spewed ash yesterday without warning that caught the hapless foreign mountaineers and their local guides by surprise.

Aside from climbing, harvesting of crops, picking of orchids and flowers, ATV activities beyond the lava front are restricted temporarily, Salceda said. Around 100 metric tons of flowers, orchids and ornamental plants are harvested annually within Mayon’s restricted zone, Salceda said.

“As long as Phivolcs says that Mayon is okay, it is also okay for us (to allow access to restricted area),” Salceda said. (MAL/JJJP-PIA5 Albay)


Soldiers on election duty in Camarines Sur attacked by rebels

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- Seven soldiers and five members of the CAFGU under the 49th Infantry Battalion performing election duty were attacked by around 20 suspected NPA rebels at 4:15 a.m. today in the remote village of Agao-ao in Ragay, Camarines Sur

Ltc Michael Buhat, commanding officer of the battalion said the assault killed a militiaman dead and two soldiers wounded in the government side, while the troop believed that the rebel side also suffered casualties as bloodstains are scattered at the enemies’ position.

“The soldiers were dispatched to the barangay Agao-ao Elementary School to provide security at for PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines that arrived in the area yesterday,” Buhat said.

The casualties are still in the area as combat medics attended to the wounded soldier.

Buhat said that the two soldiers are now in stable condition.

“A Humvee field ambulance is on its way for casualty evacuation while the Philippine Air Force was alerted for possible air evacuation if needed,” Buhat said.

“At present, we are giving priority to the well being of our wounded soldiers and to the bereaved family of the dead CAFGU,” he added.

Buhat said that the families of the fatalities are yet to be informed.

He said that additional troops were sent in the area for pursuit and clearing operation.

Col. Richard Q Lagrana, commander of the 902nd Infantry Brigade meanwhile said, “In the wake of the incidence, we will continue to provide security to ensure that the people could freely and safely exercise their right to vote and deter the rebels on the other hand from conducting atrocities as election nears.” (MAL/DPAO-PA/PIA5) #


DTI Bicol reminds contractors on PCAB renewal

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional office here have alerted all contractors to file their applications according to their respective schedules as the peak season for the renewal of contractor’s licenses for CFY 2013-2014 is fast approaching.

Starting February 1, 2013, Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) has been accepting renewal applications for fiscal year 2013-2014 under the following schedule, for license ending 0-1 deadline was February; 2-3 on March; 4-5 on April; 6-7 within this month; 8-9 on June, that will include new applications approved from January to June 2013.

Contractors may file their renewal applications at the PCAB office or at the nearest DTI regional and provincial offices.

Late filers will be segregated from regular filers and shall be imposed with appropriate penalties.

For more information, contractors may call on telephone numbers 480-5721/480-5720 and look for Engr. Elmer Aguilar. (MAL/JRBerango-DTI5/PIA5-Albay)


Thai consul visits injured nationals, meets DRRMC officials in Albay

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- Thai Consul Rooge Thammongkol in Manila arrived in this city at 10 a.m. Thursday visiting three rescued Thai nationals and monitor the rescue operation for the remaining climber of the same nationality caught up by Mayon’s ash explosion on Tuesday.

The Thai mountaineers were among the 27 climbers who went up the volcano.

Thammongkol met with Office of Civil Defense Bicol regional director Raffy Alejandro discussing the ordeal and next steps for the rescue operation efforts for the Thai national.

Thammongkol also proceeded to the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital to see the conditions of Thai survivors Nithi Ruangpisit, Tanut Ruchipiyrak and Udom Kiap.

Another Thai survivor, Boonchai Jattupornong, 35, was rescued on Wednesday but is still being brought down from the volcano.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office, Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office and the Provincial Health Office of Albay are now conducting a psychosocial therapy for the family of Jerome Berin, the Filipino tour guide included in the five fatalities of the Mayon Volcano explosion.

Berin’s body was brought down to Camp 1 by rescuing relatives and friends at about 4 a.m., Thursday, and was picked up by a helicopter and airlifted to this city at 7 a.m. (MAL-PIA5 Albay)


Immigration office introduces ‘hi-tech’ ID for foreign residents

By Joseph John J. Perez

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- A single fake Agency Certificate of Registration (ACR) confiscated in Bicol in the year 2008 sparked the modernization efforts of the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) to introduce a microchip-embedded identification card for foreign nationals.

“The project actually started in 2005 to replace paper-based documentation of the bureau,” BOI Bicol regional director Josephus Ojano said in an interview during the recent radio program “Aramon Ta Daw” of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Bicol.

That single apprehension however expedited the entire process of innovations that the Bureau is implementing to adapt to technological advancement.

“It confirmed that indeed, fake cards are proliferating,” Ojano said.

That fake "alien card" carried another person and name and it took the bureau a week in conducting the authentication process. “With the new technology that we adopted, it will be very difficult to fake it and the chances are almost nil,” Ojano said.

“The good news is, the new card has the same price with the old document,” Ojano said. The document is also known as immigrants certificate of residence and it is a proof that the bearer is a documented alien or foreigner. Usually, the issuance of the document takes two months, Ojano said.

“As of March 31 this year, there are around 1,700 registered foreigners in Bicol and more than 900 are located in Legaspi City area,” Ojano said. Majority of foreign residents are Chinese and some of them already elected to become Filipinos, Ojano said.

Next top groups are religious missionaries and Indian merchants.

“There is also an observable increase of student visa applicants and most of them are in Naga City,” Ojano said.

Foreigners who are below 18 years old are conferred with Special Study Card Permit based on Section 94 of the Philippine Immigration Act, Ojano said.

“There is an observed changing trend in the number of usual applicants that is also brought about by marriages of Filipinas to foreign nationals mostly European,” Ojano said.

“We do an extra mile of giving counseling sessions with foreigners who are applying for visa to orient them on Filipino values and culture,” Ojano said.

The "hi-tech" identification card for foreign visitors is a way of assurance from the Bureau of Immigration that there is more fun in the Philippines. (MAL/JJJP/PIA5-Albay)


Missing Thai rescued, fatalities retrieved in Mayon explosion

By Marlon A. Loterte and Joseph John J. Perez

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- The Albay Provincial Disaster Operation Center confirmed the lone missing Thai mountaineer was already rescued while five other fatalities are already being readied for transport and autopsy.

The rescue teams found alive Boonchai Jattupornpong, 35 years old, at 3:45 p.m. yesterday at 1,870 meters above sea level, or near Mayon Volcano’s Camp 2. The survivor suffered a broken right arm, neck and back burns, and unable to walk due to fatigue but now in a stable condition and now being brought by rescuers down slopes the volcano for medical treatment at the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH).

Boonchai, the lone missing person following Mayon’s phreatic explosion Tuesday was rescued by the composite team composed of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), local officials and mountaineers.

Meanwhile, the cadaver of local guide Jerome Berin was brought down by the retrieval team at 7:15 a.m. today to BRTTH for autopsy.

The four other fatalities, all German nationals Joanne Edosa, Roland Pietieze, Farah Frances, Furian Stelterare expected to be brought down by noontime today.

The composite team experienced zero visibility near the crater since Tuesday due to thick clouds that hampered the retrieval operations. “The weather situation on top Mayon changes almost every minute,” Salceda said.

The team also experienced difficulty executing their plan to hoist the remains of the victims since it is very difficult to land on a 45 degree angle using a light chopper, Philippine Air Force (PAF) Lieutenant Colonel Pedro Francisco III said.

The composite team numbered 160 supported by seven ambulances, three helicopters and numerous ground vehicles, was immediately organized and responded to incident within hours after the phreatic explosion early morning Tuesday, OCD Bicol Regional Director Gernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said.

“The whole world witnessed the maximum that we can do in terms of speed, quality of handling and treatment,” Salceda said.

An immediate and hasty resolution of the incident is the primary objective, Salceda added.

“We immediately informed the Department of Foreign Affairs on our actions as early as 8 a.m. last Tuesday and the concerned embassies are closely coordinating with us for updates and instructions,” Salceda said.

“It is our duty and we are following protocols in assisting foreign nationals involved in this incident,” DFA Bicol Regional Director Maricor Jesalva said.

Autopsies will be conducted on the remains of the victims and embalming will follow and some arrangements with the affected families will be coordinated, Salceda said.

The bodies were found to be near each other and believed to have suffered from severe trauma to the body, head injuries, intra-abdominal, thoracic injuries, internal bleeding due to rolling and huge hot rocks and ash fall inhalations, DOH Bicol said.

“I commend the efforts of the composite team specially the Red Cross for their mountaineering skills and the Philippine Army for continuing the search even at night by adding manpower and flashlights,” Salceda said.

Mayon Volcano produced at about 8:25 a.m., Tuesday, a small phreatic event that lasted for about 73 seconds, according to Albay PDRRMC chair and Gov. Joey Salceda.

A phreatic explosion, a steam-driven one, is caused by the pressure of heat that developed underneath the volcano, causing a steam that pushed ash up and come out as ash cloud, explained Ed Laguerta, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs (MAL/JJJPerez/PIA5/Albay)


Blackout hits 4 mainland Bicol provinces

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI, Albay, May 9 (PIA) -- Four provinces in mainland Bicol suffered power interruption yesterday, May 8, for almost five hours.

In a text message to Philippine Information Agency (PIA) by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) regional office here, they said it was due to the unplanned closure of five power plants supplying electricity to the Luzon grid.

The blackout had disrupted operations of several government agencies and business establishments highly relying on power distributed by providers, yet vital agencies and companies in the same sectors equipped with power generators and standby power supplies remained with their regular operations.

The provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon have been without power since 2 p.m. until 7 p.m.

The island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate, on the other hand, remained with power supply as each has its electricity not connected with the mainland grid and supplied by power generators service providers.

NGCP has advised that blackout was not confined in Bicol as that power outage was Luzon-wide and caused by generation deficiency.
A total of 3,700 MW went offline, according to NGCP, and transmission lines are secured and fully functional. (MAL-PIA5 Albay)


2 NPAs apprehended in Magallanes encounter

SORSOGON CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA) were captured recently following an encounter on May 1 at Barangay Siuton, Magallanes town this province.

Colonel Teody T. Toribio, commanding officer of the 31st Infantry Battalion, said that his soldiers under Captain Christopher Santander encountered 10 NPAs while on combat patrol in the forested area of the same place.

“The 10-minutes firefight did not bring any harm to our soldiers while we recovered three M16 rifles, a landmine, and subversive documents,” said Col. Toribio.

Toribio disclosed that they received reports from concerned citizens that NPA groups will be conducting extortion to some political candidates in Magallanes prompting them to conduct combat operation.

Santander, meanwhile, narrated that during the firefight, they have heard voices shouting for surrender, and that he immediately ordered his men for ceasefire.

“They were laying face down on the ground with their firearms by their side when they were captured”, described Santander.

The two captured rebels were identified as Judy Torres a.k.a. Ka Rolly, 33 years old, a resident of Brgy Dolos, Bulan, Sorsogon; and Jomar Gracilla, 19 years old, resident of Brgy Pili, Magallanes, Sorsogon. The two belong to the NPA's Front Committee 80 in Sorsogon. “Both of them were not hurt and were treated well at the headquarters of the 31IB in Brgy Rangas in Juban, Sorsogon,” said Santander.

Colonel Joselito Kakilala, Commander of 903rd Brigade, lauded the quick response of the soldiers to the reports of the civilians. He also praised the soldiers involved in the operation for their professional conduct in the observance of the Rules of Engagement and Human Rights.

The encounter was the second to happen within the span of three days in Bicol. On April 29, 2013, soldiers of the 83IB in Catanduanes have also encountered 10 NPA rebels in San Andres town that yielded an M16 rifle and leaving one soldier wounded. (MAL/BAR/MPPPanesa-PIA5 Sorsogon)


Army to hold prayer vigil, candle lighting for 2013 elections

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 9 (PIA) -- The Philippine Army’s 83rd Infantry Achiever Battalion (83IB) will hold a prayer vigil and synchronized lighting of candles tomorrow at the Virac Town Plaza.

The activity with the theme: “Sama-samang Panalangin Para sa Matahimik at Patas na Halalan 2013” aims to unite the stakeholders into a prayer vigil for a Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) 2013 and to showcase to the public the focused and united stand of the AFP units for the elections.

According to 1Lt. Joseph Rodanum T. Acleta, Civil Military Operations Officer of 83IB, the prayer vigil will focus on peace, honesty and love of God and country.

Most Rev. Manolo A. Delos Santos, Bishop of Virac Parish will serve as the guest speaker of the event.

Political candidates and the public are invited to participate in the activity. (EAB/ PIA Catanduanes)


6 Bicolanos top April 2013 Midwifery Licensure Exam, CSPC top performing school

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- Six Bicolanos notched places in the top 10 of the the Midwifery Licensure Exam held last month, according to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) regional office here.

PRC Bicol announced that the topnotchers out of 2,323 examinees included three from Bicol University, one each from Polytechnic College of Nabua and Mabini College of Daet Camarines Norte.

Benedict Rey Montas Serrano of Bicol University, garnered the first place with 89.70% rating, Ma. Jella Mirabel Turallo ranked third with a rating of 89.20%, Alyssa Aieen Mancilla Caabay got the sixth place with a rating of 88.75%, while Marinel Ala Atos ranked seventh with a rating of 88.70%. Camarines Sur Polytechnic College of Nabua alumna—Janria Turallo Gaminde placed fourth with a rating of 88.90% while Wenadyn Sapico De Guzman of Mabini College of Daet, Camarines Norte got the 10th place with a close rating of 88.20 %.

PRC said that 1,173 out of 2,323 passed the said examination given by the Board of Midwifery in various testing centers nationwide.

According to PRC, Camarines Sur Polytechnic College of Nabua is the top performing school with 65 out of 71 or 91.55 passing percentage which is 3.10% higher than the score of Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital School of Midwifery which placed second with the rating of 85.25 %.

Only two top performing schools are recognized, as per instructed by PRC, wherein only those colleges with 50 or more examinees and with at least 80% passing percentage are the only colleges to be included in the list of top performing schools. (MAL/MZEser-OJT-BU/PIA5)


Mayon Volcano ash eruption victims now all accounted for, says PDRRMC

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PIA) -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in this province said that casualties in the Mayon Volcano ash eruption last Tuesday has been accounted for and the other victims are now being attended to.

Filipino tour guide Jerome Berin, and four German nationals Joanne Edosa, Roland Pietieze, Farah Frances and Furian Stelter died in the ash explosion.

Berin’s remains have been airlifted from Camp 1 to the Legazpi City airport at around 7:00 this morning while the retrieval operation for the remaining four bodies is expected to be finished today.
According to the PDRRMC, around 27 people were reported to be in the Camp 2 area when the volcano spewed ash and huge scorching stones.

PDRRMC said that of these people, 14 were unharmed, 8 injured and 5 dead.

Boonchai Jattupornpong, the missing 35-year old female Thai mountaineer, has been found alive near Camp 2 in Sto. Domingo around 3:00 pm yesterday and has been taken to the hospital for treatment of burns and broken right arm.

Her fellow Thai mountaineers Nithi Ruangpisit and Tanut Ruchipiyrak (both 26 years old), and Thawiburut Udomkiat (45) have been earlier admitted to the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) for bruises and further medical assessment.

Sabine Strohberger (32), a female Austrian mountaineer has been discharged after treatment from minor bruises.

Three locals Bernard Hernandez (25) with fractured right hand, Calixto Balunso (30) with swelling left hand, and Kenneth Jesalva (21) with fractured clavicle were also admitted at the BRTTH. (MAL/SAA–PIA5/Albay)