Legazpi City to host Comelec’s first national goodwill games

BY: JOSEPH JOHN J. PEREZ

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 24 (PIA) – It will be a three-in-one celebration as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared that this city will be the venue for its first ever national goodwill games slated on November 28 to December 2 this year.

“The event will feature Comelec’s anniversary on December 2; tribute to the retiring commissioners led by Chairman Sixto Brillantes and commissioners Lucinito Tagle and Elias Yusuph; and the historical hosting of the first national goodwill games held in Bicol,” Comelec Bicol regional election director Romeo Fortes told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Bicol in an exclusive nterview.

According to Fortes, the event will also help boost Albay’s bid in hosting Palarong Pambansa next year.

 “This will be sort of a dry-run especially for Department of Education (DepEd) Legazpi and Albay Divisions who will officiate the games,” Fortes added.

Aside from DepEd, Comelec Bicol asked for the assistance of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Legazpi City to manage the event, Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide security and PIA to provide information and media support for the duration of the sports event.

Expected participants of more than 2,000 personnel coming from Comelec main office and its sixteen regional offices, the event will showcase not only sports events but regional cultures. Nightly cultural presentations will also showcase the three main island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanaoed.

Featured team and individual sports events are basketball, bowling, volleyball, swimming, track events, badminton, table tennis, lawn tennis, chess, billiards, cycling, fun run, walkathon, and traditional games such as tug of war and sack race.

“The fun run will also serve as our voters education campaign for our on-going registration with our slogan, vote to validate, validate to vote,” Fortes said.

Preparations are now peaking up with the recent meeting with partner government agencies and private groups as Comelec regional offices already made reservations with hotels. “Chairman Brillantes will join the regional officials in preparatory conferences here on October 3 until 5 to finalize plans and transact with service providers,” Fortes told the PIA.

All Comelec regional officials are expected to come during the three-day conference to conduct ocular inspections of hotels, meet with caterers and transport services, finalization of events and rules, and selection of event’s logo.

Fortes assures that they are exerting all efforts for a perfect hosting alluding to Mayon’s perfect cone. “We are focusing on hosting, winning events are just secondary,” he said. Comelec Bicol is the defending champion for basketball, table tennis, track events and the highlight, the cultural presentation. “This will be a grand festival in Legazpi,” Fortes said.

Bicol was unanimously chosen to host the First Comelec National Goodwill Games during the recent meeting of the Comelec Regional Directors Organization (CREDO) of which Fortes is the incumbent president. (MAL/JJJP-PIA5)
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Albay to share best DRR practices at int’l commemoration of Natural DRR Day

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 17 (PIA) – The Philippine Working Group for ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism has invited Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda to its annual Kapihan on Human Rights on October 8, 2014 at La Breza Hotel in Quezon City in commemoration of the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

In his letter-invitation, PWG chairperson Wigberto E. Tañada has requested Salceda to give a presentation on the “Role of Local Government Units (LGUs) Before, During and After Disasters.”
Since 2002, the Kapihan has been a key forum to discuss human rights issues and their present situation by bringing together different sectors.

The event will serve as a forum for an open and constructive engagement to discuss the Kapihan’s theme for this year which focuses on disaster risk management and response and its implication on human rights.

“Considering the onslaught of (and continued threat) of strong typhoons and earthquakes and the effects of climate change, the Philippines has become more and more vulnerable to the threats brought by natural disasters which may lead to the loss of life and property,” Tañada noted.

Along with Salceda, representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), concerned government agencies, LGUs, and members of civil society were invited to share their reflections and assessments on prevailing human rights issues and concerns in relation to disaster risk and management.

The Albay governor, a sought-after international speaker on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management, has been known to “walk his talk.”

The most notable of which was a zero-casualty for his province after typhoon Glenda severely hit Bicol Region last July 15.(AAN/SAA-PIA5/Albay/PGH PIO)

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Legazpi City reiterates 4S strategy to prevent dengue outbreak

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 17(PIA) – The Legazpi City Health Office (CHO) has convened village chiefs here to address increasing number of  dengue cases in the city after the onslaught of typhoon Glenda in July.

“The Legazpi City Epidemological and Surveillance Unit (CESU) has informed the City Health Department for the possible  out-break of dengue due to the reported increasing number of the infectious disease from mosquito bites in this locality,” Legazpi Health Officer Fulbert Alec Gillego said.

Gallego revealed that dengue cases in the city started right after typhoon Glenda and has continued to increase in the previous months due to continuos rains.

“This mosquito bite constraint started right after Legazpi was triggered by Typhoon Glenda in July and the continuous rains in the previous months which in turn resulted to the huge volume of waters deposited in this locality, Gillego noted.

The top ten villages identified by the CHO with high number of dengue cases are Rawis with 28 dengue cases, Washington Drive East with 19, Cruzada and Taysan each with 12 cases, Cabangan (Barangay 19) and Gogon both with 10, Bigaa with 9, San Roque 8 and Cabangan (Barangay 18) with 7.

To prevent further spread of this health menace in the community, Gillego urged the the public to work hand in hand reiterating the implementation of the 4s strategy, Search and Destroy, Seek Early Consultation, Self Protective Measure and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

“Under the Search and Destroy, the people in the community should go out of their houses at 4 o’ clock in the morning, look for the breeding areas of the mosquito and destroy it. Also, remove all the stagnant waters and always observe cleanliness in the surroundings,” Gallego explained

He furthered that in case of fever, early consultation must be done to determine the cause.

Common symptoms of dengue fever that appear 3-14 days after the infective Aedes mosquito bite are high fever lasting 2-7 days, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, body weakness, nose and gum bleeding, and red spots on the face, extremities, and trunk.

There is no vaccine yet for dengue thus the best way to fight it is to prevent mosquito-bites and keep mosquitoes from breeding, said Gillego. (AAN/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

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Evacuation starts as Mayon restiveness raised to Alert level 3

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 16 (PIA) – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) in Albay has ordered all local government units (LGUs) and DRR authorities to implementforced evacuation late Monday night on all settlers within the 6-kilometer permanent danger zone while at the same time preparation for an imminent evacuation of the 10,000 families in the 6-8 kilometer extended danger zone down slopes of Mayon Volcano following raising the alert level from 2 to 3 hoisted over the volcano.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda has issued the advisory late last night as Philippine Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised around 10:00 pm the alert level of Mayon Volcano from from Alarming to Critical Status due to the continuous observation of increasing abnormalities based on the parameters being monitored by the agency.

The advisory also provided the enforcement of “no human activity” policy within the 6-km PDZ as counter measures for disaster avoidance.

“Based on our recent aerial surveys of Mayon before and after Alert 2, we have observed some re-entry of about 300 settlers into the 6KM PDZ even though they have long been resettled. Moreover, other settlers may have taken advantage of the interregnum since the Mayon eruption 2009,” Salceda said.

The governor said all local governments concerned and their respective DRR team, including the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao, towns of Guinobatan, Camalig, Daraga, Sto Domingo and Malilipot, which were earlier trained on preparedness and response in the wake of Mayon unrest, were already directed to set preparations into motion for forced evacuation of settlers within 6-km PDZ while compulsory evacuation for residents inside the 6-8 km EDZ buffer zone.

In the emergency meeting today of Albay PDRRMC, Salceda, upon recommendation of Bicol Director Raffy Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), has now placed villages in surrounding cities and municipalities directly affected by the restiveness of Mayon Volcano, which Alert Level is raised from 2 to 3, under state of calamity and directed mandatory evacuation not only for settlers within 6 km permanent danger zone but also those residing in 6-8 extended danger zone.

He furthered that classes will be suspended in schools with classrooms to be used as evacuation centers and in schools located within the 8-km extended danger zone down slopes of Mayon volcano due to threats of eruption.

Salceda has likewise ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) in the province to prepare contingency plan for school classes to be affected noting that as guidance during disasters, the rights of the evacuees are superior to the rights of schoolchildren.

"The province-owned permanent evacuation centers in Gogon, Aecid Daraga, and Guinobatan can no longer be used as classrooms starting today although there may be a need to use more schools to accommodate the evacuees from the 6-8KM EDZ," he stated.

He reiterated that the cluster approach, especially for camp management as organised and practiced during the Mayon 2009 eruption, shall be employed.

Populations located at the northeast of Mayon Volcano are also advised to be ready with damp cloths and/or dust masks in case of ashfall.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) are also ordered to check availability of evacuation vehicles and assist local DRRMCs in the premptive evacuation, check points in PDZ and EDZ, and camp security management.

Meanwhile, Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco reported that Guinobatan DRRMC has earlier conducted forced evacuation of 28 families or 120 persons living within the 6 kilometer danger zone in Barangay Muladbucad Grande.

Also today, Phivolcs' latest Mayon Bulletin shows that Mayon Volcano’s seismic network recorded thirty-two (32) volcanic earthquakes and seventy-two (72) rock fall events during the past 24-hour observation period. Intensity III (bright) crater glow was visible last night, although rain clouds prevented visual observation of the crater during the day.

Rolling incandescent rockfall within the uppermost reaches of the Bonga Gully last night indicates that the summit lava dome is breaching the crater in its southeastern side. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) flux was measured at an average of 611 tonnes/day on 02 September 2014. Ground deformation data showed inflationary changes in the edifice from February 2014 based on precise leveling surveys on the 3rd week of August 2014, and edifice inflation from January 2012 baselines based on continuous tilt measurement.

All the above data indicate that the volcano is exhibiting relatively high unrest due to the movement of potentially eruptible magma.

Mayon Volcano’s alert status has been raised to Alert Level 3. This means that magma is at the crater and that hazardous eruption is possible within weeks. It is recommended that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone (EDZ) on the southeastern flank be enforced due to the danger of rock falls, landslides and sudden explosions or dome collapse that may generate hazardous volcanic flows. PHIVOLCS maintains close monitoring of Mayon Volcano and any new development will be communicated to all concerned stakeholders. (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

ALMASOR stands out in 25th PHL Travel Mart Expo

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 11 (PIA) – The AlMaSor (Albay Sorsogon Masbate) tourism exhibit showcasing the best of the three provinces of Bicol emerged as one of the most visited booths and premier choice for travel enthusiasts in the 25th Philippine Travel Mart Expo held September 6-8 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional director Maria Ong Ravanilla has tapped Albay to lead the two other provinces in the recent collaborative undertaking in promoting tourism in the area.

Ravanilla shared that toung and old alike flocked to the AlMaSor exhibit enjoying the different sights that one could expect to see when visiting the featured provinces of Bicol region.

Happy faces turn into delight as they sample delicacies offered by the staff, food fare such as the famed Guinobatan Longanissa, the sumptuous and creamy Pinangat from Camalig, Pili candies, and the unique sili ice cream from Colonial Grill.

The brainchild of Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, the AlMaSor is a trifecta of rich tourism destinations that perfectly complements each province as the three are very close geographically and each can be deemed as a gateway to the other provinces.

Albay Provincial Tourism Officer Dorothy Colle said in the short span of two years the results have been overwhelming.

“The collaborative efforts given by the three provinces, with the leadership and vision of Governor Salceda has propelled the influx of tourists to our region by leaps and bounds, with continued drive and exposure, like this travel mart, the potential for growth is unbounded,” said Albay Provincial Tourism Officer Dorothy Colle.

Colle further said that if the flow of visitors in the first few hours after the opening is to be an indication of what is to come in the three days of the exhibit, the ALMASOR booth may very well be among the top exhibits frequented by visitors, even among fellow exhibitors.

The ALMASOR pavilion has also been declared by the organizers as one of the top five finalists in the Best Pavilion Category and has won third place alongside Bohol and South Cotabato.

Votes were made by visitors, who are given 1 STICKER upon registration to be placed on a board designated for each pavilion.

The 25th Philippine Travel Mart is a three day exhibit at the SMX Convention Center organized by the Philippine Tour Operators’ Association (PHILTOA). Aside from Local Government Units, the Travel Mart also features booths from TRAVEL AGENCIES and airlines that offer savings of up to 70% in savings. (MAL/SAA/PGA-PIO/PIA5)

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JOC for Penafrancia Fiesta announces road closures, detours in some parts of Naga City

BY: ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY

NAGA CITY, Sept. 11 (PIA) --- The Joint Operations  Center (JOC) for Penafrancia Fiesta has announced the closure of some major roads while at the same time providing detours  to ensure the smooth flow of the Traslacion procession Friday, September 12, here.

The same JOC has alreadey deployed personnel from the the Philippine National Police (PNP) and partner agencies to augment the teams that will supervise traffic in the main thoroughfares of this city.

The JOC has advised that Magsaysay avenue, in front of Sea Oil, including its adjoining streets which include Dayangdang Corner-Colgante, Boundary of Penafrancia and San Felipe Zone 1, Penafrancia Corner Magsaysay, Magsaysay-Balatas in front of Shell gasoline statio, MT Villanueva Corner Acacia Street and Jacob Street-People’s Mart until Elias Angeles St, corner Jacob Street, in front of USI will be closed to all kinds of vehicles.

Barlin Corner- P.Diaz, and Barlin Corner- Arana, including P.Burgos, Corner Barlin, Barlin Corner, Dimasalang St, Sta. Cruz Corner Iglesia St., Panganiban Drive –Dinaga and Panganiban Corner –Blumentritt , along M. Castro Street going to Panganiban will also be closed to traffic.

The traffic will be closed tomorrow starting at 11am.

The annual Traslacion procession signals the formal start of the Penafrancia Fiesta celebration, officially starting the string of religious activities in the city until the image of Inang Penafrancia is brought back to the Basilica Minore during the Fluvial Procession.

This year, as expected, millions of Marian devotees are expected to flock to the Pilgrim City and Queen City of the Bicol Region after the religious festivity kicked off a week ago.

The Traslacion procession will commence at the Penafrancia Basilica where the image of Inang Penafrancia will be brought by bare-footed voyadores at the Metropolitan Cathedral for a 9-day novena. After which, the most-revered image of Ina will be brought back from the Metropolitan Cathedral going to her original abode at the Basilica Minore via the historic Naga river through the fluvial procession.

The mass will commence at 12:00 pmn and will be officiated by Fr. Andres Belleza, Chief Chaplain of the Philippine Army.

Fr. Louie Occiano, Chairman of the Caceres Commission on Communication (CCC0m) of the Archdiocese of Caceres is enjoining all the devotees to share the faith and continuously spread the devotion to Ina.

“We are celebrating the year of the Laity where we focus on the role of the lay faithful to give witness to the gospel of Christ with Mary.  That is the reason for this celebration.  We  enjoined everyone to deepen their devotion to Ina for a more strengthened community.” (MAL/LSM-PIA5/CamSur)

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Legazpi City eyes 700,000 tourists this year

BY: SALLY ATENTO-ALTEA

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept 11 (PIA) – Legazpi City is targeting 700,000 tourist arrivals in the whole year of 2014 hoping to notch a SLOT in the Top Ten Best Tourists Destination and Top Five Convention City in the entire country.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said the open CHARTERED FLIGHT from Xiamen City in China to Legazpi City will give a huge contribution to the increasing number of tourist arrivals in order to achieve the 700,000 target tourist visitors this year 2014.

Rosal urged the city tourism office to work hand in hand with the city government in promoting its tourism program such as informing all kinds of tourist travelers of the tourist destinations and other idyllic places in the city.

He disclosed that those tourists particularly foreign travelers who visited the city, have greatly contributed to almost all kind of business establishments such as HOTELS, bars, restaurants, enterainment hubs and stores of native products along with the transport sector which also benefitted from said tourist arrivals.

Legazpi City Tourism Officer Joan Encinares Jamisal also said during the Corporate PLANNING MEETING on Monday at the Sambalas Restaurant here that the city is aiming to be included in the Top Ten Best Tourists Destination in the country after ranking 14th in this category.

Jamisal said that her office has recorded an increasing tourist arrival since last year.

A total of 579,470 tourist arrivals from January to December 2013 posted 32.27% increase compared to 438,100 tourist arrivals on the same period last year.

The same increase is posted from January to June this year with 352,318 tourist arrivals or up by 12.42% compared with 313,388 arrivals on the same period last year.

Around 469 foreign tourists and 85 visitors came to this city from January to March 2014 prompted by the presence of whale sharks or butanding that visited the city along Legazpi Boulevard.

Jamisal revealed that the adventure at the majestic Mount Mayon is the primary reason why this city is frequently visitied by tourists compared to other localities and neighboring provinces in the region.

 She also cited the excitement of riding an All Terrain Vehicle Ride (ATV) as the reason why some tourist personalities want to go back and spent their vacation in this city.

Furthermore, the city’s food tourism such as laing, pinangat, bicol express, sili ice cream and other native delicious foods have likewise captured the taste of foreign travelers urging them to come back and enticing others to try it for themselves.(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

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PNP to hold firearms licensing caravan

VIRAC, Catanduanes, Sept. 10 (PIA) -- To help promote responsible gun ownership in the province, the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office recently announced an upcoming Caravan for the Processing of Application for License to Own and Possesses Firearms (LTOPF).

According to Psupt Ronald Tanael Briones, a team from Firearms and Explosives Section, Police Regional Office 5 will be arriving at CATPPO on September 23, 24 and 25, 2014 to process said application.

In this connection, all firearms holder with expired license and interested private individuals who wants to have their own firearms for protection will apply first for LTOPF, which is a prerequisite for Registration of Firearms, Renewal, Transfer of Firearms, and Purchase of new Firearms.

Moreover, applicants are advise to secure the following requirements prior to the said Caravan which will cover only Gun Safety Seminar, Neuro-Psychiatric Examination, Drug Testing and Finger Printing which will be held at Catanduanes Police Provincial Office: a)Letter Request to own firearm/s addressed to the Chief Pnp Pdg Allan La Madrid Purisima ; b)Two (2) Notarized LTOPF Application forms available at Operations Branch Catanduanes Police Provincial Office, Camp Francisco Camacho, Virac, Catanduanes or (downloadable at www.fed.org.ph);

c) RTC and MTC Clearances; d)Directorate for Intelligence (DI) or Regional Intelligence Division (R2) Clearance; e) One (1)NSO BIRTH CERTIFICATE or Valid Passport; f) Two pieces government-issued ID’s; g) Ten pieces (10) latest  2X2 Pictures white back ground with name tag;

h) Latest Proof of Billing (ex. Electric, Water, Telephone/Cellphone Bill; For Government Employee/Officials: Appointment Order, For Private Employed: INCOME TAX RETURN AND Certificate of Employment; For Businessmen: Income Tax Return or Business Permit; For Retired Government Employees: Retirement Order and For Reserve AFP personnel: J9 Clearance;

i) Payment of More or less Four thousand Pesos (Php 4,000.00) which will cover Gun Safety Seminar, Neuro-Psychiatric Examination, Drug Testing and Finger Printing.

For more info, interested applicants are advised to visit the Operations Branch, Police Provincial Office, Camp Francisco Camacho, Virac, Catanduanes and look for SP01 Edmundo T Araojo, Firearms PNCO Contact number 09182722935. (MAL/EAB-PIA5/Catanduanes)

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Awareness on Road Safety and Courtesy for students conducted

SORSOGON CITY, Sept 10 (PIA) – TRAFFIC LAW enforcement government agencies are optimistic that students, especially those who drive or intend drive vehicles, will be responsible drivers following a Seminar on Road Safety and Courtesy conducted for at least 16 schools in this city last week by the Philippine National Police (PNP) Sorsogon Provincial Office.

Police Advisory Council (PAC) chair Edgar Balasta said the seminar intends to raise awareness of students, especially among those who are driving vehicles, of the importance of road safety and courtesy much as prevent road ACCIDENTS and other untoward incidents.

“We are determined to help our local enforcers here of abating road accidents and to warn reckless motorists who violate TRAFFIC LAWS, non-wearing of helmets, and driving without license especially among minors,” said Balasta.

The seminar gave emphasis on the enforcement of traffic rules, salient provisions of RA 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code and the DOTC-LTO-LTFRB Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.

During the discussion, traffic safety consultant Victorino Daria III, classified three types of obnoxious drivers in Sorsogon City, namely the "Insane Driver" or those who loses control when driving and RECKLESSLY DRIVING even in populated area; the "Aggressive Drive"r who uses open pipe or muffler which produces piercing noise and races with other vehicles both in populated and non-populated areas; and the "Moronic or Mongoloid Drivers" who are apathetic and does not mind if he can negatively affect others, which most often caused heavy road traffic.

According to Daria, 79 percent of road ACCIDENTS were due to driver’s error or erroneous usage of vehicles and 10 percent due to slippery or damaged roads.

He also said that in Metro Manila, 90 percent complied by the Helmet Law, but in the province of Sorsogon including, including this city most motorists obey the law only during LTO operations.

He further said that data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) disclosed that 15 million driver’s license all over the country were released by the said office and registered nine (9) million motorcycle vehicles.  No data, however, for colorum vehicles were released.

 “If the government spends billion for anti-terrorism program, the more that the government attends and gives priority to public safety,” said Daria.

Meanwhile, City Legal Officer Atty. Jovert Laceda discussed the laws related to traffic and road safety. He said that based from statistics, more than 1.2 million people from across the globe died due to road ACCIDENTS.

He likewise explained that the country has existing laws which can be violated by motorists least they will cause accidents which can also result to incarceration and overburdening expenditures for the victim’s medication and survival. (MAL/BAR-PIA5/Sorsogon)

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Business Week showcases Renewable Energy Forum in Naga City

BY: ANA-LIZA S. MACATANGAY

NAGA CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) --- Business and other private sector stakeholders here are now coming up with tangible plans to help combat the adverse implications for industries and other business ventures that may be directly affected by the looming power shortage come 2015.

Organizers of the Bicol Business Week (BBW), together with the Department of Energy (DOE) and GNN TV 48, sponsored a Renewable Energy Forum at Villa Caceres Hotel here over the weekend to heighten the awareness of the community regarding other possible alternate energy sources.

Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Energy Management Division - Renewable Energy Management Bureau chief Ruby De Guzman in her presentation stated that the government already started measures to look for alternative sources of energy since 1900’s when it developed hydropower to push electricity generation and non-power applications in rural communities.

“The government initiated commercial development of hydropower resources thru the National Power Corporation and the National Electrification Administration. We have the Republic Act No. 7156 which provides for full private sector development of mini-hydropower resources (up to 10 MW) in 1991 and the private sector’s participation thru Build-Operate-Transfer Scheme of large hydropower projects in mid 1990’s,” De Guzman added.

De Guzman said that the government has also laid the foundation for commercial utilization of geothermal energy between 1952 to late 1960’s thru studies and inventories of geothermal activities as part of its effort to look for alternative sources of energy.

Global News Network (GNN) TV 48 chief executive officer and station manager Fred Perdon in this city said that the forum intends to create awareness among the stakeholders and even members of the community the value of renewable energy and the many sources of it just waiting to be tapped and utilized.

“We want to let the people know that we have a lot of sources of renewable energy. We have the Biomass or biofuels, geothermal, solar power, hydropower, the ocean and even the power from the wind. These are just waiting to be tapped for our use,” Perdon said .

Philip J. Chien, chair of the Foreign Chamber Council of the Philippines and owner of GNN, also shared his thoughts on how to attract investment in the midst of the impending power crisis.

Chien has a long line of expertise and business involvements since the 1970’s after he joined an American company involved in the manufacturing of high quality apparels for export to USA and Europe and became one of the biggest garment manufacturer and exporter in the Philippines.

He is also the founding chair of Taiwan Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and currently its Chairmen Emeritus.

Rep. Leni Gerona-Robredo of Camarines Sur third congressional district also graced the forum.  (MAL/LSM-PIA5/CamSur))
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SWEAP –KASAMA sa BICOL celebrates 18 years of service to member-employees of DSWD

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 1 (PIA) -- The Social Welfare and Development Employees Association of the Philippines – Mga Kawaning Sama-sama sa Mapag-paunlad na Asosasyon sa Bicol, Inc. (SWEAP – KASAMA SA Bicol, Inc.) turns 18 this year.

SWEAP – KASAMA SA Bicol, Inc. is an organization of employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol founded in 1996 and pursues mainly to protect and work for the promotion of the general benefit, rights and common interest of the employees and to support a just and humane management.

Ronald Morco, the concurrent SWEAP President of Bicol said that the remarkable achievement of the association throughout the years included the enrolment of the contractual workers of the field office for membership in the Social Security System (SSS) and the Philippine Health Insurance Program of Philhealth.

For its 18 years of existence, he noted, the association has now 1,074 members with a total asset of P628,200.00

SWEAP has since 1996 been catering to the needs of its members through providing loans and financial assistance to its members and continuing conduct of human development activities.

Another noteworthy innovative project of the association is the utilization of on-line voting during election that provides opportunity for other employees in field offices to cast their votes without anymore coming to the main office.

The SWEAP-KASAMA sa Bicol, Inc. is registered with the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The founding of the association is an exercise of the employee’s right to organize.

Morco said that it is the strategy of the employees supported by the management to ensure mutual protection to its members and work hand and hand with the management in creating and maintaining reasonable working condition for its employees in fostering professionalism in the service.

Officers of the SWEAP-KASAMA sa Bicol, Inc. are Ronald Morco, president; Ranulfo Pasano, vice president for Internal Affairs; Marissa Paeste, secretary; Judina Dave Lorena, treasurer; Juvy Pasano, auditor; Evelyn E. Jerusalem, public information officer; Luis Mendaros and Sammy Buemconsejo, business managers.

For the working committees, Generosa Millete heads the finance; Edlyn Bangate, education and research; Nida Macinas, information and publication; Nida Tiansay, employees welfare; Corazon Rodriguez, employees development; Janet Gubot, membership.  (MAL/EEJerusalem-DSWD5/PIA5/Albay)  
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