Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident in Japan
INFORMATION BULLETIN № 11
23 March 2011
Update as of 10:00AM
Contrary to some media reports, the DOST PNRI is not recommending the routine screening for radio activity of trevelers from Japan and other countries abroad;
No abnormal amount of radio activity was found on travelers from Japan who requested scanning from the DOST-PNRI; and
According to World Health Organization, travelers returning from Japan who have come from beyond the 20-km evacuation zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant and who have undergone proper screening and decontamination procedures in Japan, and travelers from all other areas, do not pose a radioactive health risk to others and do not require screening.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
WORLD WATER DAY -- DENR Regional Executive Director re-echoes the theme of this year’s celebration of World Water Day, “Water for Cities: Responding to the Urban Challenge”. Fragada reveals more information about the current water quality status of Bicol during the World Water Day Satellite Centerpiece Event held last March 22, 2011 in Bicol University Amphitheater. He also enjoins everyone to continue adhering to the advocacy of protecting and conserving our water sources. (Niña Albie Dulay)
LGUs, NGO conduct 4-day disaster risk reduction planning workshop for high risks barangays
SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – A four-day live-in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Contingency Planning/ Workshop for members of Barangay Development Council/Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee has formally started at El Retiro Brgy. Cabid-an, this city, on March 21 and is set to finish on March 24, Thursday.
Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (SPRDMO) Information Officer Von Labalan said that the planning-workshop was organized by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the PDRMO in partnership with the Green Valley Development Program/World Vision, an active combined non-government forces that have long been partners of the government in its disaster response efforts.
“Some 70 participants from ten barangays that are considered vulnerable to various hazards including Embarcadero and Binanhuan in Juban town, Timbayog and Sumalot in Casiguran, Pili and Hubo in Magallanes, San Eugenio and La Espreranza in Santa Magdalena, and Gimaloto and Cabarbuhan in Sorsogon City including their respective Municipal Information Officers joined the said planning-workshop to make themselves equipped with well-built capacities, preparedness and strategies appropriate in giving response every time calamities occur,” said Labalan.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Climate Change Adaptation Chairman Honorable Benito Doma in his opening message assured the participants of the availability of the government to assist affected communities. “However, nothing is best but for each community to know how to stand independently every after a calamity and not at all times dependent to the government,” he stressed out.
Phivolcs Bicol resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta also shared his expertise and ardently discussed the importance of early warning to avert further damage to life and properties. He also presented the Philippine Vulnerability Map showing the geographically prone areas to typhoons, volcanic activities and tsunamis including active faults and trenches specifically in the Bicol region and discuss as well, important facts about earthquakes and its destructive effects.
Laguerta also explained why there are areas that are hardly hit by volcanic explosions and the scientific details of Mt. Bulusan’s recent activities, as well as the necessary precautions that affected residents must do.
Jun Pantoja of Juban DOST-Pagasa synoptic station, meanwhile, said that bad weather condition is but a natural phenomenon. “It will happen and no one can stop it, but we can prepare for it,” he added.
Pantoja discussed the Science of Meteorology that explains weather and climate. “And due to the continuous La Niña episode, it is normal that the country will experience wet summer,” he said.
He also explained to the participants how to forecast weather and the weather causing phenomena such as thunderstorms, lightning, tornado, hail, inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), cold front, tropical cyclones, south-west and north-east monsoons, low and high pressure weather systems, storm surge and the necessary precautions that should be done.
Issues on global warming and climate change were also discussed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office through its representative Dante Bonos. “Weather and climate are affected by greenhouse gases and the global warming which is said to be caused by human activities triggers various calamities and disasters, which are now experienced elsewhere in the world,” he said.
At the end of the planning-workshop, participants are expected to make a hazard map and craft a Barangay Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Plans with a clear emergency preparedness, communication and strategic evacuation. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)
LGUs enjoined to observe Earth Hour
…targets repeat of cities and towns record-breaking fete in 2010
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office here has directed all its attached offices and local government units (LGUs) nationwide to observe the Earth Hour on Saturday (March 26).
DILG Bicol Regional Director Blandino Maceda said the offices and LGUs are expected to switch off their lights and electrical appliances for at least 60 minutes starting at 8:30 pm on Saturday in support of Earth Hour, a global initiative promoting environmentally sustainable actions.
Blandino’s directives came after DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo issued Memorandum Circular 2011-41, which enjoins all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, and DILG regional directors to observe Earth Hour on the said date and time.
According to the memorandum, due to the success of last year's observance, the agency is once again encouraging all local chief executives to organize their own Earth Hour events within their jurisdictions by undertaking electricity-saving activities.
In 2010, a record-breaking 1,076 Philippine cities and municipalities joined the rest of the global community in making a symbolic call for united action against climate change, the directive read.
The directive, according to Maceda, also encourages the announcement of the Earth Hour during flag raising ceremonies and hanging of banners, streamers, and tarpaulins in order to generate awareness of the event.
Likewise, barangays are also urged to run their own Earth Hour events; local officials to tell the world through social media about it; encourage employees to sign up at www.earthhour.org and share stories of their actions that benefit the planet; and continue using compact fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent bulbs in all government installations.
The memorandum of Robredo also said all regional directors should also cause the widest dissemination of said office order to all local authorities within their respective jurisdiction. (MALoterte, PIA Albay)
CamSur PESO opens employment opportunities anew for residents
By Lizel S. Macatangay
PILI, Camarines Sur (PIA) – Pursuant to its mandate to provide employment opportunities for the province’s constituents, the Camarines Sur Employment Center (CSEC) announces job vacancies for job seekers, here and abroad.
CSEC team leader Rodresia Torallo said Pioneer Asia Manpower International, Inc., one of the most trusted placement agencies of the province, is in need of factory workers and caretakers for deployment in Taiwan and Hongkong.
Torallo said for factory workers, qualified to try their luck are male ages 23-35 years old, at least 5”7” in height and female with age range from 20-30 at least 5”2” in height. Applicants must have finished at least a 2-year course. Gross salary is pegged at Php 26,000.00.
Applicants for caretaker jobs in Taiwan , should be female, , 23-38 years old and at least 5” in height. Applicants who already have a local or an overseas experience as caregiver or domestic helper is an advantage.
They must be able to speak English and have the capacity to understand English. High school graduates can try their luck. Gross salary is Php 23,000.00.
For domestic helpers to be deployed in Hongkong, they must be at least 5” in height and with age ranging from 23-38 years old with proportionate weight. Applicants should be at least high school graduate, local or overseas experience as caregiver or domestic helper and capacity to understand and speak English is an edge among other applicants. Gross salary is marked at PHP20, 000.00.
Interested applicants may come at CSEC office at the capitol main lobby on April 7 and 8, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for pre qualification interview and screening.
They should bring with them comprehensive resume w/ detailed job description w/ 2x2 photo in decent attire, 2 pcs 2x2 & 1x1 pictures, original & photocopy of school credentials/ records, certificate of employment(if available), NSO and local copy of birth certificate, NBI clearance, valid passport, SSS id or SSS certification, PhilHealth card.
CSEC continuously provides job opportunities by conducting recruitment activities. Through this activity, the jobseekers could explore various employment openings and seek the assistance that they need.
CSEC facilitates activities that could ease-up the complexity of finding jobs that match their qualifications. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
DOH Calls for measles eradication before 2015
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) -- “WE need to conduct a high quality immunization campaign that will target elimination of measles and accelerated control of rubella through the use of a cost-effective quality MR vaccine.”
This was the core message of DOH in line with its battlecry “ Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas” pursuant to the measles –rubella immunization campaign that they will soon launch in various parts of the country in the upcoming months of April and May 2011.
Dr. Evy B. Sarmiento, DOH CHD- Bicol Non Communicable Cluster Head cited the high incidence of measles in far flung areas where packets of susceptibility to measles are mostly found.
“Camarines Sur occupies the top most position with the highest number of measles instances accounting to 211 cases out of 233 measles incident in other provinces. We will be requiring a 95% immunization coverage in all areas,” Sarmiento added.
Measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a measles virus and might cause serious complications, especially for those who haven’t had a measles shot. It is common and often fatal in developing areas and is characterized by the classical symptoms of fever, maculopapular rash, the three C’s which is cough, coryza characterized by a runny nose and conjunctivitis or red eyes. It is transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions or aerosols.
Commonly known as “German measles”, rubella on the other hand is a contagious viral disease, which occurs most often in children usually occurring with mild, low fever, nausea and a transient rash. Infection during early pregnancy may cause fetal death or congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
CRS infection may affect all organs and may lead to fetal death or premature delivery. Based on findings, almost 85% of the infants inflected during the gestation period or during the first trimester of inception are certain to get the infection.
Some of the documented complications arising from measles include blindness due to corneal scarring, encephalitis among older children and adults, chronic disability, diarrhea and pneumonia, which is the common cause of death among the fatalities.
Yet in arresting the rising case of mortality, there are ways to prevent the occurrence of complications. This is through a live attenuated virus vaccine which could provide a lifelong immunity from the aforementioned complications.
The immunization activity is also in support of the Millennium Development Goal which calls for the reduction by two-thirds of the mortality rate of children under the age of 5 years by 2015. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
SC junks Comelec ruling on congressional disqualification issue
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) - The Supreme Court (SC) has junked the petition of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) en banc resolution, saying it acted with grave abuse in disqualifying and canceling the certificate of candidacy of Albay 3rd District Representative Fernando V. Gonzalez for being an alien.
Last March 8, the SC granted the petition of Rep. Gonzalez annulling and setting aside the resolution of the Comelec Second Division on May 8 last year and Comelec En Banc Resolution on July 23 last year for raising citizenship issue against Gonzalez and disqualifying him as the duly elected representative of the third district of the province.
The court, in dismissing the Comelec petition for disqualification of Gonzalez, however, referred the case to the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal (HRET) saying that “without prejudice to the filing of a proper petition before the HRET in raising the same question on the citizenship qualification of Gonzalez.”
The SC decision declared that no authority under any law can impose upon and compel people to accept a loser as their representative or political leader stating that “the wreath of victory cannot be transferred from the disqualified winner to the repudiated loser.”
The SC ruling said the Comelec clearly acted with grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying Gonzales to run as member of the House of Representative and ordering the proclamation of former House Representative Reno Lim who lost by a wide margin of 29,292 votes, after the provincial board of canvasser declared Gonzalez, the winning candidate in the May 10 local election.
Gonzalez, in a phone interview, said the high tribunal ruling is an indication that “justice had been done and the rule of law had been exercised to the fullest.”
He pointed out that SC decision clearly found that the Comelec has indeed infringed the law by gravely abusing their discretion by issuing a disqualification resolution against him.
Based on the results of the counting and canvassing of votes, Gonzalez emerged as the winner, having garnered a total of 96,000 votes while Lim ranked second with 68,701 votes.
On May 12, 2010, the PBOC officially proclaimed Gonzalez as the duly elected Representative of the 3rd district of Albay. Gonzalez took his oath of office on the same day. (MALoterte, PIA Albay)
Chiz condemns culture of impunity in the military
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – “How can we call for an end to the culture of impunity among our government agents dealing with people in government custody when they also do it to their very own men?” Senator Francis Escudero asked.
Escudero posed this question after the so-called torture video found its way to the net, showing men in uniform beating up a group of recruits with sticks and ropes. In the video, the trainees, obviously in excruciating pain, could be heard in screaming.
According to Escudero, chairman of both the committees on justice and human rights and the national defense and security in the Senate, this clearly calls for reforms on moral and ethical trainings in the military and police.
“This culture of impunity does not make a loyal, disciplined, obedient and fierce soldier. The recruits undergo training, and rigorous it should be for them, but the design should be geared toward molding their characters into warriors who can follow lawful orders. The training showed they are being to become fierce animals without reasons.” Escudero said.
Escudero stressed that such acts had no place in a civil and democratic society like ours and was clearly a violation of the anti-torture law the senator sponsored in the Senate.
“The law was crafted precisely to stop the culture of impunity which has been found prevalent not only in government institutions nowadays but also in facilities on the other side of government. It is a law that should uphold every aspect of human rights,” he said.
Escudero challenged the present military leadership to conduct a thorough review of its policies and programs to improve the quality of its graduates not only in terms of their physical training and abilities, but also in terms of the overall makeup of the soldiers it produces.
“Our military trainers should bear in mind that discipline is not acquired only through physical and mental stress. The primary training that should be instilled in the trainees’ minds is the privileged position they are in for having the duty and honor to serve their country and their people” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – A four-day live-in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Contingency Planning/ Workshop for members of Barangay Development Council/Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee has formally started at El Retiro Brgy. Cabid-an, this city, on March 21 and is set to finish on March 24, Thursday.
Sorsogon Provincial Disaster Risk Management Office (SPRDMO) Information Officer Von Labalan said that the planning-workshop was organized by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the PDRMO in partnership with the Green Valley Development Program/World Vision, an active combined non-government forces that have long been partners of the government in its disaster response efforts.
“Some 70 participants from ten barangays that are considered vulnerable to various hazards including Embarcadero and Binanhuan in Juban town, Timbayog and Sumalot in Casiguran, Pili and Hubo in Magallanes, San Eugenio and La Espreranza in Santa Magdalena, and Gimaloto and Cabarbuhan in Sorsogon City including their respective Municipal Information Officers joined the said planning-workshop to make themselves equipped with well-built capacities, preparedness and strategies appropriate in giving response every time calamities occur,” said Labalan.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member and Climate Change Adaptation Chairman Honorable Benito Doma in his opening message assured the participants of the availability of the government to assist affected communities. “However, nothing is best but for each community to know how to stand independently every after a calamity and not at all times dependent to the government,” he stressed out.
Phivolcs Bicol resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta also shared his expertise and ardently discussed the importance of early warning to avert further damage to life and properties. He also presented the Philippine Vulnerability Map showing the geographically prone areas to typhoons, volcanic activities and tsunamis including active faults and trenches specifically in the Bicol region and discuss as well, important facts about earthquakes and its destructive effects.
Laguerta also explained why there are areas that are hardly hit by volcanic explosions and the scientific details of Mt. Bulusan’s recent activities, as well as the necessary precautions that affected residents must do.
Jun Pantoja of Juban DOST-Pagasa synoptic station, meanwhile, said that bad weather condition is but a natural phenomenon. “It will happen and no one can stop it, but we can prepare for it,” he added.
Pantoja discussed the Science of Meteorology that explains weather and climate. “And due to the continuous La Niña episode, it is normal that the country will experience wet summer,” he said.
He also explained to the participants how to forecast weather and the weather causing phenomena such as thunderstorms, lightning, tornado, hail, inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ), cold front, tropical cyclones, south-west and north-east monsoons, low and high pressure weather systems, storm surge and the necessary precautions that should be done.
Issues on global warming and climate change were also discussed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office through its representative Dante Bonos. “Weather and climate are affected by greenhouse gases and the global warming which is said to be caused by human activities triggers various calamities and disasters, which are now experienced elsewhere in the world,” he said.
At the end of the planning-workshop, participants are expected to make a hazard map and craft a Barangay Disaster Preparedness and Contingency Plans with a clear emergency preparedness, communication and strategic evacuation. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)
LGUs enjoined to observe Earth Hour
…targets repeat of cities and towns record-breaking fete in 2010
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regional office here has directed all its attached offices and local government units (LGUs) nationwide to observe the Earth Hour on Saturday (March 26).
DILG Bicol Regional Director Blandino Maceda said the offices and LGUs are expected to switch off their lights and electrical appliances for at least 60 minutes starting at 8:30 pm on Saturday in support of Earth Hour, a global initiative promoting environmentally sustainable actions.
Blandino’s directives came after DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo issued Memorandum Circular 2011-41, which enjoins all provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays, and DILG regional directors to observe Earth Hour on the said date and time.
According to the memorandum, due to the success of last year's observance, the agency is once again encouraging all local chief executives to organize their own Earth Hour events within their jurisdictions by undertaking electricity-saving activities.
In 2010, a record-breaking 1,076 Philippine cities and municipalities joined the rest of the global community in making a symbolic call for united action against climate change, the directive read.
The directive, according to Maceda, also encourages the announcement of the Earth Hour during flag raising ceremonies and hanging of banners, streamers, and tarpaulins in order to generate awareness of the event.
Likewise, barangays are also urged to run their own Earth Hour events; local officials to tell the world through social media about it; encourage employees to sign up at www.earthhour.org and share stories of their actions that benefit the planet; and continue using compact fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent bulbs in all government installations.
The memorandum of Robredo also said all regional directors should also cause the widest dissemination of said office order to all local authorities within their respective jurisdiction. (MALoterte, PIA Albay)
CamSur PESO opens employment opportunities anew for residents
By Lizel S. Macatangay
PILI, Camarines Sur (PIA) – Pursuant to its mandate to provide employment opportunities for the province’s constituents, the Camarines Sur Employment Center (CSEC) announces job vacancies for job seekers, here and abroad.
CSEC team leader Rodresia Torallo said Pioneer Asia Manpower International, Inc., one of the most trusted placement agencies of the province, is in need of factory workers and caretakers for deployment in Taiwan and Hongkong.
Torallo said for factory workers, qualified to try their luck are male ages 23-35 years old, at least 5”7” in height and female with age range from 20-30 at least 5”2” in height. Applicants must have finished at least a 2-year course. Gross salary is pegged at Php 26,000.00.
Applicants for caretaker jobs in Taiwan , should be female, , 23-38 years old and at least 5” in height. Applicants who already have a local or an overseas experience as caregiver or domestic helper is an advantage.
They must be able to speak English and have the capacity to understand English. High school graduates can try their luck. Gross salary is Php 23,000.00.
For domestic helpers to be deployed in Hongkong, they must be at least 5” in height and with age ranging from 23-38 years old with proportionate weight. Applicants should be at least high school graduate, local or overseas experience as caregiver or domestic helper and capacity to understand and speak English is an edge among other applicants. Gross salary is marked at PHP20, 000.00.
Interested applicants may come at CSEC office at the capitol main lobby on April 7 and 8, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for pre qualification interview and screening.
They should bring with them comprehensive resume w/ detailed job description w/ 2x2 photo in decent attire, 2 pcs 2x2 & 1x1 pictures, original & photocopy of school credentials/ records, certificate of employment(if available), NSO and local copy of birth certificate, NBI clearance, valid passport, SSS id or SSS certification, PhilHealth card.
CSEC continuously provides job opportunities by conducting recruitment activities. Through this activity, the jobseekers could explore various employment openings and seek the assistance that they need.
CSEC facilitates activities that could ease-up the complexity of finding jobs that match their qualifications. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
DOH Calls for measles eradication before 2015
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) -- “WE need to conduct a high quality immunization campaign that will target elimination of measles and accelerated control of rubella through the use of a cost-effective quality MR vaccine.”
This was the core message of DOH in line with its battlecry “ Iligtas sa Tigdas ang Pinas” pursuant to the measles –rubella immunization campaign that they will soon launch in various parts of the country in the upcoming months of April and May 2011.
Dr. Evy B. Sarmiento, DOH CHD- Bicol Non Communicable Cluster Head cited the high incidence of measles in far flung areas where packets of susceptibility to measles are mostly found.
“Camarines Sur occupies the top most position with the highest number of measles instances accounting to 211 cases out of 233 measles incident in other provinces. We will be requiring a 95% immunization coverage in all areas,” Sarmiento added.
Measles is a highly infectious viral disease caused by a measles virus and might cause serious complications, especially for those who haven’t had a measles shot. It is common and often fatal in developing areas and is characterized by the classical symptoms of fever, maculopapular rash, the three C’s which is cough, coryza characterized by a runny nose and conjunctivitis or red eyes. It is transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions or aerosols.
Commonly known as “German measles”, rubella on the other hand is a contagious viral disease, which occurs most often in children usually occurring with mild, low fever, nausea and a transient rash. Infection during early pregnancy may cause fetal death or congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).
CRS infection may affect all organs and may lead to fetal death or premature delivery. Based on findings, almost 85% of the infants inflected during the gestation period or during the first trimester of inception are certain to get the infection.
Some of the documented complications arising from measles include blindness due to corneal scarring, encephalitis among older children and adults, chronic disability, diarrhea and pneumonia, which is the common cause of death among the fatalities.
Yet in arresting the rising case of mortality, there are ways to prevent the occurrence of complications. This is through a live attenuated virus vaccine which could provide a lifelong immunity from the aforementioned complications.
The immunization activity is also in support of the Millennium Development Goal which calls for the reduction by two-thirds of the mortality rate of children under the age of 5 years by 2015. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
SC junks Comelec ruling on congressional disqualification issue
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) - The Supreme Court (SC) has junked the petition of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) en banc resolution, saying it acted with grave abuse in disqualifying and canceling the certificate of candidacy of Albay 3rd District Representative Fernando V. Gonzalez for being an alien.
Last March 8, the SC granted the petition of Rep. Gonzalez annulling and setting aside the resolution of the Comelec Second Division on May 8 last year and Comelec En Banc Resolution on July 23 last year for raising citizenship issue against Gonzalez and disqualifying him as the duly elected representative of the third district of the province.
The court, in dismissing the Comelec petition for disqualification of Gonzalez, however, referred the case to the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal (HRET) saying that “without prejudice to the filing of a proper petition before the HRET in raising the same question on the citizenship qualification of Gonzalez.”
The SC decision declared that no authority under any law can impose upon and compel people to accept a loser as their representative or political leader stating that “the wreath of victory cannot be transferred from the disqualified winner to the repudiated loser.”
The SC ruling said the Comelec clearly acted with grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying Gonzales to run as member of the House of Representative and ordering the proclamation of former House Representative Reno Lim who lost by a wide margin of 29,292 votes, after the provincial board of canvasser declared Gonzalez, the winning candidate in the May 10 local election.
Gonzalez, in a phone interview, said the high tribunal ruling is an indication that “justice had been done and the rule of law had been exercised to the fullest.”
He pointed out that SC decision clearly found that the Comelec has indeed infringed the law by gravely abusing their discretion by issuing a disqualification resolution against him.
Based on the results of the counting and canvassing of votes, Gonzalez emerged as the winner, having garnered a total of 96,000 votes while Lim ranked second with 68,701 votes.
On May 12, 2010, the PBOC officially proclaimed Gonzalez as the duly elected Representative of the 3rd district of Albay. Gonzalez took his oath of office on the same day. (MALoterte, PIA Albay)
Chiz condemns culture of impunity in the military
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – “How can we call for an end to the culture of impunity among our government agents dealing with people in government custody when they also do it to their very own men?” Senator Francis Escudero asked.
Escudero posed this question after the so-called torture video found its way to the net, showing men in uniform beating up a group of recruits with sticks and ropes. In the video, the trainees, obviously in excruciating pain, could be heard in screaming.
According to Escudero, chairman of both the committees on justice and human rights and the national defense and security in the Senate, this clearly calls for reforms on moral and ethical trainings in the military and police.
“This culture of impunity does not make a loyal, disciplined, obedient and fierce soldier. The recruits undergo training, and rigorous it should be for them, but the design should be geared toward molding their characters into warriors who can follow lawful orders. The training showed they are being to become fierce animals without reasons.” Escudero said.
Escudero stressed that such acts had no place in a civil and democratic society like ours and was clearly a violation of the anti-torture law the senator sponsored in the Senate.
“The law was crafted precisely to stop the culture of impunity which has been found prevalent not only in government institutions nowadays but also in facilities on the other side of government. It is a law that should uphold every aspect of human rights,” he said.
Escudero challenged the present military leadership to conduct a thorough review of its policies and programs to improve the quality of its graduates not only in terms of their physical training and abilities, but also in terms of the overall makeup of the soldiers it produces.
“Our military trainers should bear in mind that discipline is not acquired only through physical and mental stress. The primary training that should be instilled in the trainees’ minds is the privileged position they are in for having the duty and honor to serve their country and their people” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
PNRC initiates convenio project in CamSur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) - The Philippine Red Cross Camarines Sur Chapter together with the Spanish Red Cross and the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional Para El Desarrollo (AECID) marked another landmark project in selected towns and barangays in Camarines Sur as the Convenio Project formally kicked off in Camarines Sur.
In a simple yet remarkable launching of the Convenio Project and the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PRC and its partners/stakeholders held at the Regent Hotel here, Nanette Rodrigazo, PRC-Camarines Sur Chapter administrator expressed her gratitude for the support of other Red Cross chapters, particularly the Spanish and Australian Red Cross for pursuing these projects in the most vulnerable areas of the province.
Complementing the PRC’s role are its partner agencies, specifically the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The towns of Lagonoy, Siruma, and Garchitorena were among the lucky recipients of the project. For the first time, PRC will also include groups and members of the indigenous communities located in the city of Iriga and the town of Buhi. Interventions concerning vulnerability on health and disaster preparedness will be undertaken in the aforementioned areas.
The project aims to contribute in the reduction of the vulnerability of selected communities to health risks and the risk to natural disasters. Specifically, it also aims to strengthen the capacity of the members of the community and the local structures herein for the improvement of their health management and risk reduction for natural catastrophes.
The beneficiaries’ inclusion in the project is based on the donor’s criteria, citing among others their poor access to health services, specifically those from remote areas with high prevalence of water borne diseases and malnutrition; areas with limited sources in terms of livelihood, areas with highly populated puroks/ sitios; areas without or with poor access to potable water and areas which are prone to natural disasters.
The donors also chose the areas where there is good acceptance of the project while exhibiting high potential for synergies with LGUS and other agencies/projects.
The local government of Camarines Sur, through Governor LRay Villafuerte, has also expressed its 100 percent support for the full implementation of the Community Health Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Program of the Philippine Red Cross. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
OPD of Bicol Med. Center to cater to the needy
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) - Soon to accommodate the increasing number of patients coming from various parts of the region is a newly inaugurated out-patient-department (OPD) of the Bicol Medical Center here, graced by no less than Health Secretary Enrique Ona as the guest of honor and speaker.
Congressmen Rolando Andaya and Luis Villafuerte, representatives from the first and third districts of Camarines Sur respectively, were also present during the occasion.
Ona, in his speech, cited recent findings that most of the patients, particularly those who come from the low-income bracket are not enrolled in PhilHealth. This sector, he said, is the most vulnerable sector who can hardly afford to pay their hospital bills.
Fortunately, he added, government, through the Universal Health Care Program of President Benigno Aquino III dubbed as Aquino Health Agenda or AHA, is determined to push a health reform program prioritizing families from the poor sector as its main beneficiary and one of the strategies to attain this goal is through the financial risk protection agenda which will be realized by expanding the NHIP enrolment and benefit delivery of Philhealth members.
Dr. Efren Nerva, the newly-installed medical chief of the Bicol Medical Center, revealed that the hospital is trying to accommodate every patient, even those coming from the neighboring provinces, not withstanding the category of BMC as a tertiary hospital.
“We are running at the rate of 149 percent occupancy here at BMC, and even if our mandate as tertiary hospital dictates that we should only cater to tertiary cases, we are morally obliged to attend to some other needs as a professional health worker and practice humanitarian act to those who need our assistance, irregardless of their condition.”
In the absence of a provincial hospital, Congressman Villafuerte proposed that the BMC be upgraded as a modern medical hub equipped with state of the art facilities which will cater and accommodate the needs of its increasing patients.
Following this thought, he said that once realized, we will be able to attain our Millennium Development Goal commitment to reduce child and maternal mortality and improve the health conditions of every Filipino. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Bicol Kalahi-CIDSS project management now hiring
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol needs 15 new employees to implement projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Regional Director Remia Tapispisan of DSWD Bicol said interested individuals may submit their applications to the regional office located at PBN-Buragwis, Legazpi City addressed to the Office of the Regional Director.
Needed fo the project are: deputy regional project manager, deputy regional community development specialist, deputy regional community infrastructure specialist, infrastructure assistant, regional financial analyst, financial analyst III, financial analyst II, monitoring and evaluation officer II, regional training assistant, procurement assistant, regional bookkeeper, budget assistant, administrative assistant II who shall function as cash clerk, administrative assistant I and an administrative aide IV who will be designated as driver.
Among the three projects funded by the MCC Account-Philippines is the $120 million Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) which is being implemented in 187 municipalities of six regions, Bicol among them.
DSWD implements said KC-MCC over a period of five years starting 2011 until 2015.
Interested applicants may download the application forms and send same along with the letter of application to kalahi.dswd.gov.ph. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
“Devil’s advocate” needed to enact RH Bill – Lagman
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — There is need for devil’s advocates so that the Reproductive Health bill can be canonized into final enactment, stressed one of author staunch advocates of the bill in the Congress.
House Minority Leader and Albay I District Rep. Edcel Lagman, in an email to PIA Bicol News Service, said that if 55 anti-RH legislators have been listed to interpellate the sponsors of the RH bill, then why is it that no one is prepared to interpellate despite the readiness of the RH authors to answer questions in the plenary since last Monday, 14 March 2011.
Lagman stressed that there is need for an immediate high level confrontation through plenary debates even as the RH advocates are certain that their measure will survive the furnace of interrogation.
Lagman, the principal author of House Bill No. 4244, the consolidated substitute RH bill, also said Deputy Speaker Raul Daza and Rep. Amado Bagatsing, who are known opponents of the bill, told him that they would be ready to interpellate only in May when sessions resume after a long break.
“ The procrastination of the oppositors of the RH bill is a signal victory for the reproductive health measure because it validates the reality that the RH advocates have the superiority in arguments as well as in numbers while the oppositors are merely employing dilatory tactics,” he said.
Lagman added that “Delaying the passage of the RH bill is a defeatist strategy.” (MALoterte/PIA Albay)
MDRRMC Virac to convene on disaster preparedness
By Edna A. Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) -- In line with the provisions of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Act of 2010 or RA 1021, that local Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) is to convene once every three(3) month or as necessary, the mDRRMC of Virac is set to assemble on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Office of the Mayor.
The purposes of the meeting is to formulate Local Risk Reduction and Management Plans; to conduct drills on tsunami evacuation, typhoon surge evacuation, floods evacuation, fire evacuation and to establish a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Expected to attend are the following members of the MDDRMC of Virac Dr. Artemo Q. Rivera (DepEd). P/Chief Supt. Alvin L. Gruba (PNP), Lt. Col. Danilo P. Aquino (PA), William Aldea (DILG), Neil Vargas (Red Cross), Dr. Arlyn Arcilla (Municipal Health Officer), Ma. Rosario M. Arcilla (Liga President, SB Ex-Officio Officer);
F02 Danilo Tayobana (Municipal Fire Marshall), Nieva Santelices (Acting PDRRMO), Urgel Santelices (Municipal Planning Development Officer), Josefina T. Ramirez (MSWDO), Henry M. Quinones (Municipal Budget Officer and Cipriano Almojuela Jr. (Municipal Engineer). (PIA Catanduanes/mal)
CSC turns over PCARRD-donated ICT equipment to 6 LGUs
By Edna A. Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes- Catanduanes State Colleges turned over a complete set of brand new desktop computer with LCD monitor, computer table and chair, HP printer, digital camera, two cellular phones and a Smart Broadband plug-in with free one-year subscription to municipal government units of Bato, Bagamanoc, Gigmoto, Panganiban, San Miguel and Viga.
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment grant was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) for its Techno Gabay Program - Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS) Center with CSC as its partner member agency.
Gigmoto Municipal Mayor Edgar Tayam, San Miguel Mayor Edna Bernal, Bato Municipal Councilor Domingo Prensader (representing Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez), and the municipal agriculturists of the six LGU beneficiaries, accepted the ICT equipment from CSC President Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre.
The turnover held on March 8 was witnessed by CSC VP for Research, Extension and Production Dr. Susan T. Santelices, Extension Director Sonia R. Vargas and Techno Gabay Partner Member Agency Focal person Ananias Deuda and Mrs. Nelia B. Teves, Provincial Agriculture Services Office FITS Center Manager.
Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, CSC president, said that the turnover is just one activity to equip FITS centers with necessary facilities for a more efficient delivery of services to the farmers.
The CSC President assured the recipient municipalities of CSC’s continued support by providing consultancy services, and transfer of technologies especially those derived from researches. She also encouraged the FITS centers to produce a Magsasakang Siyentista (MS) awardee in the province.
The Magsasakang Siyentista, which is part of the Techno Gabay FITS, provides technical support and hands-on training and share experiential insights to on-farm visitors. They also render technical assistance during training, seminars, field days, and lakbay-aral visits.
With the encouragement of the CSC President, San Miguel Mayor Edna Bernal said that she would fully support the program since San Miguel is the only town in the province that is predominantly agricultural, in which 90% of its population is into agriculture.
“Napapanahon ang FITS center sa San Miguel sapagkat ang aming LGU ay nag-o-operate ng Barangay Bagsakan Project at ito ay nanalo na sa Gawad Saka award sa Region V as Outstanding Barangay Bagsakan Center – LGU Category at naipanalo na rin namin ito hanggang sa National Level”, Mayor Edna Bernal said.
The FITS center is one among the modalities of the Techno Gabay Program, a program of PCARRD to bring science-based information and technology services to end-users in agriculture, forestry and natural resources sectors. CSC is a partner member agency (PMA) of the program.
FITS centers are also slated to be established in Caramoran and Pandan and it is now waiting for the confirmation of the Department of Science and Technology, according to the CSC President.
The provincial and municipal LGUs take charge of the Farmer’s Information Technology Services (FITS) Centers established by PCARRD through CSC. (PIACatanduanes/CSC/mal)
DPWH assures safety of buildings and bridges
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol reactivated its Task Force on Building and Bridge Inspection upon receipt of instruction from Secretary Rogelio Singson.
“We witnessed the tragedies experienced by our neighboring country, we have to do our part to mitigate these disasters and thus save lives,” said DPWH Bicol Regional Director Danilo Dequito in an interview after attending a meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) here.
In a memorandum issued by Singson, he directed the Task Force to conduct re-inspection and assessment of all public buildings and bridges along national roads. Priority shall be given to inspection of public schools and hospital buildings.
“The inspection of these structures will be done annually and immediately after an earthquake of at least magnitude 5 or Intensity IV as maybe determined by PHIVOLCS,” explained Asst. Regional Director Jesus Salmo.
The members of this inspectorate team are representatives from Planning and Design, Construction, and Maintenance Divisions of DPWH regional office, concerned District Engineering Offices and also representatives from the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) and Philippine Association of Building Officials (PABO). (LVCastaneda, DPWH V/PIA Albay/mal)
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) - The Philippine Red Cross Camarines Sur Chapter together with the Spanish Red Cross and the Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional Para El Desarrollo (AECID) marked another landmark project in selected towns and barangays in Camarines Sur as the Convenio Project formally kicked off in Camarines Sur.
In a simple yet remarkable launching of the Convenio Project and the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between PRC and its partners/stakeholders held at the Regent Hotel here, Nanette Rodrigazo, PRC-Camarines Sur Chapter administrator expressed her gratitude for the support of other Red Cross chapters, particularly the Spanish and Australian Red Cross for pursuing these projects in the most vulnerable areas of the province.
Complementing the PRC’s role are its partner agencies, specifically the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The towns of Lagonoy, Siruma, and Garchitorena were among the lucky recipients of the project. For the first time, PRC will also include groups and members of the indigenous communities located in the city of Iriga and the town of Buhi. Interventions concerning vulnerability on health and disaster preparedness will be undertaken in the aforementioned areas.
The project aims to contribute in the reduction of the vulnerability of selected communities to health risks and the risk to natural disasters. Specifically, it also aims to strengthen the capacity of the members of the community and the local structures herein for the improvement of their health management and risk reduction for natural catastrophes.
The beneficiaries’ inclusion in the project is based on the donor’s criteria, citing among others their poor access to health services, specifically those from remote areas with high prevalence of water borne diseases and malnutrition; areas with limited sources in terms of livelihood, areas with highly populated puroks/ sitios; areas without or with poor access to potable water and areas which are prone to natural disasters.
The donors also chose the areas where there is good acceptance of the project while exhibiting high potential for synergies with LGUS and other agencies/projects.
The local government of Camarines Sur, through Governor LRay Villafuerte, has also expressed its 100 percent support for the full implementation of the Community Health Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Program of the Philippine Red Cross. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
OPD of Bicol Med. Center to cater to the needy
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) - Soon to accommodate the increasing number of patients coming from various parts of the region is a newly inaugurated out-patient-department (OPD) of the Bicol Medical Center here, graced by no less than Health Secretary Enrique Ona as the guest of honor and speaker.
Congressmen Rolando Andaya and Luis Villafuerte, representatives from the first and third districts of Camarines Sur respectively, were also present during the occasion.
Ona, in his speech, cited recent findings that most of the patients, particularly those who come from the low-income bracket are not enrolled in PhilHealth. This sector, he said, is the most vulnerable sector who can hardly afford to pay their hospital bills.
Fortunately, he added, government, through the Universal Health Care Program of President Benigno Aquino III dubbed as Aquino Health Agenda or AHA, is determined to push a health reform program prioritizing families from the poor sector as its main beneficiary and one of the strategies to attain this goal is through the financial risk protection agenda which will be realized by expanding the NHIP enrolment and benefit delivery of Philhealth members.
Dr. Efren Nerva, the newly-installed medical chief of the Bicol Medical Center, revealed that the hospital is trying to accommodate every patient, even those coming from the neighboring provinces, not withstanding the category of BMC as a tertiary hospital.
“We are running at the rate of 149 percent occupancy here at BMC, and even if our mandate as tertiary hospital dictates that we should only cater to tertiary cases, we are morally obliged to attend to some other needs as a professional health worker and practice humanitarian act to those who need our assistance, irregardless of their condition.”
In the absence of a provincial hospital, Congressman Villafuerte proposed that the BMC be upgraded as a modern medical hub equipped with state of the art facilities which will cater and accommodate the needs of its increasing patients.
Following this thought, he said that once realized, we will be able to attain our Millennium Development Goal commitment to reduce child and maternal mortality and improve the health conditions of every Filipino. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Bicol Kalahi-CIDSS project management now hiring
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol needs 15 new employees to implement projects funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Regional Director Remia Tapispisan of DSWD Bicol said interested individuals may submit their applications to the regional office located at PBN-Buragwis, Legazpi City addressed to the Office of the Regional Director.
Needed fo the project are: deputy regional project manager, deputy regional community development specialist, deputy regional community infrastructure specialist, infrastructure assistant, regional financial analyst, financial analyst III, financial analyst II, monitoring and evaluation officer II, regional training assistant, procurement assistant, regional bookkeeper, budget assistant, administrative assistant II who shall function as cash clerk, administrative assistant I and an administrative aide IV who will be designated as driver.
Among the three projects funded by the MCC Account-Philippines is the $120 million Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) which is being implemented in 187 municipalities of six regions, Bicol among them.
DSWD implements said KC-MCC over a period of five years starting 2011 until 2015.
Interested applicants may download the application forms and send same along with the letter of application to kalahi.dswd.gov.ph. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
“Devil’s advocate” needed to enact RH Bill – Lagman
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — There is need for devil’s advocates so that the Reproductive Health bill can be canonized into final enactment, stressed one of author staunch advocates of the bill in the Congress.
House Minority Leader and Albay I District Rep. Edcel Lagman, in an email to PIA Bicol News Service, said that if 55 anti-RH legislators have been listed to interpellate the sponsors of the RH bill, then why is it that no one is prepared to interpellate despite the readiness of the RH authors to answer questions in the plenary since last Monday, 14 March 2011.
Lagman stressed that there is need for an immediate high level confrontation through plenary debates even as the RH advocates are certain that their measure will survive the furnace of interrogation.
Lagman, the principal author of House Bill No. 4244, the consolidated substitute RH bill, also said Deputy Speaker Raul Daza and Rep. Amado Bagatsing, who are known opponents of the bill, told him that they would be ready to interpellate only in May when sessions resume after a long break.
“ The procrastination of the oppositors of the RH bill is a signal victory for the reproductive health measure because it validates the reality that the RH advocates have the superiority in arguments as well as in numbers while the oppositors are merely employing dilatory tactics,” he said.
Lagman added that “Delaying the passage of the RH bill is a defeatist strategy.” (MALoterte/PIA Albay)
MDRRMC Virac to convene on disaster preparedness
By Edna A. Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes, (PIA) -- In line with the provisions of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction Act of 2010 or RA 1021, that local Municipal Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) is to convene once every three(3) month or as necessary, the mDRRMC of Virac is set to assemble on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at the Office of the Mayor.
The purposes of the meeting is to formulate Local Risk Reduction and Management Plans; to conduct drills on tsunami evacuation, typhoon surge evacuation, floods evacuation, fire evacuation and to establish a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.
Expected to attend are the following members of the MDDRMC of Virac Dr. Artemo Q. Rivera (DepEd). P/Chief Supt. Alvin L. Gruba (PNP), Lt. Col. Danilo P. Aquino (PA), William Aldea (DILG), Neil Vargas (Red Cross), Dr. Arlyn Arcilla (Municipal Health Officer), Ma. Rosario M. Arcilla (Liga President, SB Ex-Officio Officer);
F02 Danilo Tayobana (Municipal Fire Marshall), Nieva Santelices (Acting PDRRMO), Urgel Santelices (Municipal Planning Development Officer), Josefina T. Ramirez (MSWDO), Henry M. Quinones (Municipal Budget Officer and Cipriano Almojuela Jr. (Municipal Engineer). (PIA Catanduanes/mal)
CSC turns over PCARRD-donated ICT equipment to 6 LGUs
By Edna A. Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes- Catanduanes State Colleges turned over a complete set of brand new desktop computer with LCD monitor, computer table and chair, HP printer, digital camera, two cellular phones and a Smart Broadband plug-in with free one-year subscription to municipal government units of Bato, Bagamanoc, Gigmoto, Panganiban, San Miguel and Viga.
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment grant was funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) for its Techno Gabay Program - Farmers Information Technology Services (FITS) Center with CSC as its partner member agency.
Gigmoto Municipal Mayor Edgar Tayam, San Miguel Mayor Edna Bernal, Bato Municipal Councilor Domingo Prensader (representing Mayor Eulogio Rodriguez), and the municipal agriculturists of the six LGU beneficiaries, accepted the ICT equipment from CSC President Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre.
The turnover held on March 8 was witnessed by CSC VP for Research, Extension and Production Dr. Susan T. Santelices, Extension Director Sonia R. Vargas and Techno Gabay Partner Member Agency Focal person Ananias Deuda and Mrs. Nelia B. Teves, Provincial Agriculture Services Office FITS Center Manager.
Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre, CSC president, said that the turnover is just one activity to equip FITS centers with necessary facilities for a more efficient delivery of services to the farmers.
The CSC President assured the recipient municipalities of CSC’s continued support by providing consultancy services, and transfer of technologies especially those derived from researches. She also encouraged the FITS centers to produce a Magsasakang Siyentista (MS) awardee in the province.
The Magsasakang Siyentista, which is part of the Techno Gabay FITS, provides technical support and hands-on training and share experiential insights to on-farm visitors. They also render technical assistance during training, seminars, field days, and lakbay-aral visits.
With the encouragement of the CSC President, San Miguel Mayor Edna Bernal said that she would fully support the program since San Miguel is the only town in the province that is predominantly agricultural, in which 90% of its population is into agriculture.
“Napapanahon ang FITS center sa San Miguel sapagkat ang aming LGU ay nag-o-operate ng Barangay Bagsakan Project at ito ay nanalo na sa Gawad Saka award sa Region V as Outstanding Barangay Bagsakan Center – LGU Category at naipanalo na rin namin ito hanggang sa National Level”, Mayor Edna Bernal said.
The FITS center is one among the modalities of the Techno Gabay Program, a program of PCARRD to bring science-based information and technology services to end-users in agriculture, forestry and natural resources sectors. CSC is a partner member agency (PMA) of the program.
FITS centers are also slated to be established in Caramoran and Pandan and it is now waiting for the confirmation of the Department of Science and Technology, according to the CSC President.
The provincial and municipal LGUs take charge of the Farmer’s Information Technology Services (FITS) Centers established by PCARRD through CSC. (PIACatanduanes/CSC/mal)
DPWH assures safety of buildings and bridges
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bicol reactivated its Task Force on Building and Bridge Inspection upon receipt of instruction from Secretary Rogelio Singson.
“We witnessed the tragedies experienced by our neighboring country, we have to do our part to mitigate these disasters and thus save lives,” said DPWH Bicol Regional Director Danilo Dequito in an interview after attending a meeting of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) here.
In a memorandum issued by Singson, he directed the Task Force to conduct re-inspection and assessment of all public buildings and bridges along national roads. Priority shall be given to inspection of public schools and hospital buildings.
“The inspection of these structures will be done annually and immediately after an earthquake of at least magnitude 5 or Intensity IV as maybe determined by PHIVOLCS,” explained Asst. Regional Director Jesus Salmo.
The members of this inspectorate team are representatives from Planning and Design, Construction, and Maintenance Divisions of DPWH regional office, concerned District Engineering Offices and also representatives from the Philippines Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP) and Philippine Association of Building Officials (PABO). (LVCastaneda, DPWH V/PIA Albay/mal)
Monday, March 21, 2011
Mining contributes P11.4 billion to Bicol economy in 2010
By Ed de Leon
LEGAZPI CITY- Three mining companies operating in Bicol produced a total of P11.4 billion worth of metallic and non metallic products last year thereby contributing to the upswing of the Bicol economy, according to the Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office here.
Reynulfo A. Juan, MBG regional director for Bicol, said that aside from the good volume of production of these mining companies, they also paid a total of P782.61 million in taxes in 2010.
Of these three mining companies, Masbate Gold Project, operating in Aroroy town in Masbate province under Australian and Filipino management, produced a total of 4,000 kilograms of gold, 3,200 kilograms of silver with a total value of P6.9 billion, Juan said.
While the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), operating in Rapu-Rapu town in Albay under Korean -Malaysian-Filipino management, has produced a total of 34,200 metric tons of copper concentrate, 34,800 metric tons of zinc concentrates with gold as by-product with a total value of P3.79 billion, Juan added.
He said the Palanog Cement Plant project (PCLP), operating in Camalig town also in Albay, produced a toal of 6.89 million bags of cement valued at P872 million pesos.
Juan said that because of the steady rise in the prices of metals and non metals in the world market, he is optimistic that the outlook for mining industry this year is healthy pointing to more investors wanting to invest in the mining.
He said that the MGB welcomes only new mining ventures who will operate in a responsible manner like the three currently operating firms which has committed a total of P310.32 million pesos in environmental protection enhancement projects.
These projects form part of their operations which include reforestation activities, maintenance of tailings and impounding systems, slope stabilization measures and other environmental mitigation structures
Juan added that the three companies also implemented a total of 268 projects under the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP)amounting to P41.71 million pesos in host communities which includes the construction and repair farm to market roads, bridges ,water system, post harvest facilities, school buildings, , electric power,, health facilities and funding for scholarship and livelihood programs. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
Plebiscite needed to postpone ARMM polls – Chiz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Any amendment resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections can only be made effective and valid through a plebiscite duly called for that purpose, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on justice and human rights, bucked the plan and legislative moves postponing the ARMM elections, including the appointment of officers-in-charge (OIC) in the regional government to serve in the interim period.
“It is my opinion that the bill postponing the ARMM election, including appointing OICs, is an amendment of the ARMM Organic Law, which requires two-thirds vote of Congress, with both chambers voting separately. In a plebiscite, the people directly participate. It is considered sacred as it defines or makes a social contract such as ARMM,” Escudero explained.
Any revision or amendment to Republic Act 9054, or the ARMM Organic Law, explicitly requires a vote of two-thirds of Congress voting separately. A majority vote in a plebiscite automatically gives the hands down result, as mandated under Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII of RA 9054.
The Palace has certified as urgent a legislation seeking to postpone the ARMM elections to put in place reforms and synchronize it with the 2013 political exercise.
According to Escudero, continuity in the ARMM administration is crucial in the peace and economic development programs as it means pursuing these without interruptions.
“The only way to achieve lasting peace is by following the basic rudiments of democracy and due process. “Let the people of ARMM decide for themselves who they want to choose as their leaders. They know who is good for them,” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
National greening program convergence project launched in Camarines Sur
By Aida Alcazar-Naz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Parallel to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III to reduce poverty in the countryside while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation and address climate change, the countrywide national greening program (NGP) convergence project took off in Camarines Sur last March 11.
The cabinet secretaries of departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Agrarian Reform led the launching of the said convergence project in Bula town in Camarines Sur, said DENR Regional Information Officer Ruby Mendones at PIA’s radio program Aramon Ta Daw last Monday.
DENR Sec. Ramon Paje, DA Sec. Proceso Alcala and DAR Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes signed a memorandum of agreement signaling the union of these departments to implement the country’s greening program.
In Executive Order No. 26 issued February 24, 2011, President Aquino tasked the DENR to lead the implementation of NGP, with DA and DAR to constitute the program’s oversight committee.
The national greening program’s goal is to plant 1.5 billion trees in some 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016, which is more than twice the government’s accomplishment of 730,000 hectares for the past 25 years.
Among the areas targeted for planting under the program are forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban area under the greening plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable lands.
In Bicol, 60 per cent of the effort goes to agroforestry where the implementation will help arrest erosion. Some suggested specie are narra, molave, coconut for its 100 uses, including ipil-ipil and kakawate.
Thirty per cent of the greening effort is to plant forest trees with focus on endemic specie like lauan, bigtikan apitong, almacige and kamagong and exotic trees like mahogany, gmelina.
Meantime, 10 per cent of the greening effort will go to urban greening. DENR Bicol recommends banaba, which according to studies filters the air aside from its herbal benefits.
NGP will mobilize people’s participation through social mobilization harnessing participation of national government agencies, LGUs, government owned and controlled corporations, including state colleges and universities.
Likewise, some 14 million students across the country will be tapped to participate in the program, as well as the 20 million residents in upland communities in an effort to provide them additional livelihood opportunities and reduce poverty. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
I-Rice re-launch kicks off in Camarines Sur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
PALESTINA, Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) ---- To combat the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency among schoolchildren, the National Food Authority (NFA) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) re-launched the I-fortified rice in a simple yet momentous ceremony held at the LRV Multi Purpose Building at Palestina Elementary School here.
The activity, which is also being simultaneously introduced in various parts of the country, was attended by stakeholders coming from various government institutions and private organizations. All have sealed their commitment to help the government in its campaign to fight malnutrition, particularly among the undernourished schoolchildren.
I-Rice or Iron Fortified Rice is a mixture of white milled rice and I-Mix or iron rice premix which was processed thru fortification. Fortified rice is advisable for those children with severe calorie and protein deficiency since it replaces nutrients lost during the milling process. It is also in compliance with the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 otherwise known as Republic Act 8976.
NFA Provincial Manager Eliseo B. Caliwag said that their agency is giving its all out support for the government’s fortification program citing among others its important role in promoting the health condition of the children in the province.
“Actually, the use of fortified rice was already launched a few years back, but it experienced a setback due to some reasons so now we are re-launching its use, promoting its importance and recognizing this program as an effective and sustainable means to fight micronutrient deficiency.”
Caliwag also assured the public that I-rice is safe to eat since its fortification is a result of careful and extensive studies involving its partner agencies, like the Department of Health (DOH), Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The Food and Development Center (FDC) of the National Food Authority is also involved in the said process.
Some of the nutritional benefits of I-rice include anemia prevention and prevents child birth defects and mortality during pregnancy. It also boosts healthy red blood cells, enhance body system against infection, improves mental and physical development, helps maintain alertness and endurance and improves productivity. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
LGU, DepEd and PRC ink MOA on disaster preparedness
By Lizel S. Macatangay
Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) – In strengthening their resolve to lessen if not eradicate casualties and damage to properties caused by natural disasters, the local government of Camarines Sur, thru Governor LRay Villafuerte recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Red Cross- (PRC) Camarines Sur Chapter to formalize another convergence of forces, this time in equipping the community with disaster preparedness.
In this campaign, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government and barangay units will be working hand in hand in implementing the principles of the Community Health Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Program aimed at improving the community’s vigilance during the occurrence of natural disasters and the constituent’s health condition as well.
PRC’s main responsibility will be to closely coordinate with other partners/stakeholders to ensure that the project will be properly and efficiently implemented. It is also the task of PRC to maintain the partnership with project partners even beyond the project period to ensure its sustainability.
The provincial government unit on their part is also tasked to ensure coordination effort and provide assistance, technical support and services as its counterpart component. It is also their obligation to guarantee its sustained promotion and support to community health and disaster risk reduction program by providing manpower support.
The local government units of Lagonoy, Siruma,Garchitorena , Buhi and the city of Iriga will each provide a cash equity of 10% for the construction of facilities in line with health and disaster program.
Selected barangay recipients should also assist the project staff in the identification and recruitment of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and Barangay Disaster Action Teams (BDATS). They should also see to it that the staff and Red Cross workers are safe and protected in the course of implementing the project. A cash equity equivalent to 5% for construction and rehabilitation of health and water facilities shall also be shouldered by the barangay.
Added to the project component is the participation of DepEd who is also responsible for the creation of school disaster management plan and its similar replication in other schools.
The project’s recipients includes barangays Tambo, Salvacion, Iraya, Ipil, San Ramon, Antipolo, Igbac, Cabatuan and Ibayugan, all from the town of Buhi and barangays Santiago, Cristo Del Rey, Sta. Teresita, San Pedro, Perpetual Help, Santo Nino and Sta. Maria from the city of Iriga. These barangays are mostly inhabited by Indigenous People or IPs.
Other barangays include Himanag, Bocogan, Sta.Cruz,Del Carmen,Olas, Guibahoy, San Isidro, Sipaco, Mangogon and Mapid , all from Lagonoy; Barangays Butawanan, San Ramon, Malaconini, Sulpa, San Andres, Vito, Cabugao, Tandoc, Mabuhay, Fundado, Penitan and Nalayahan; and barangays Danrica, Tamiawon, Burabod, Dangca, Cagamutan and Sagrada from the town of Garchitorena. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Agrarian reform community's Bagsakan Center gets .5M aid
By Edna A Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) - The Provincial Government of Catanduanes, through the Provincial Agricultural Support Office (PASO), granted Php 500, 000 worth of equipment to a DAR-assisted Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), for the operation of their Bagsakan Center.
The K-4 (Kapatiran Kaunlaran at Kilusan ng mga kababaihan sa Mislagan-Capilihan), a 36-member People's Organization organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office in 2007.
Senior Agriculturist Ligaya San Roque designated bagsakan center coordinator of the PASO said that the equipment is being released into two batches, the first release worth Php 300, 000 was on January 4, 2011 while the final batch will follow anytime.
Delfin Advincula , ARC's K-4 cooperative chairperson personally received the aid from Governor Joseph C. Cua.
Members of the cooperative were thankful that the aid will help boost the center's capacity and services that was launched in April 2010.
Provincial Agriculture Reform Officer of DAR here, Alexander Teves expressed his appreciation for the assistance given to ARC, citing its usefulness to the center in sustaining the operations.
He also said that this is a good indication of governments continuing effort to converge various services from the different agencies in promoting economic development of their common client.
Government Cua handed over its first batch of release to K-4 officials the following equipments manual and electric meat grinder, electric rice grinder, digital price computer scale, powered coconut grater, 24 plastic crates, 1000-kg capacity vascular scale, four (4) chest freezers, showcase chillers for 300 L and 620 L capacity, two (2) hanging weighing scales (100 kg capacity), and two (2) 20-kilo stand weighing scale. (PIA Catanduanes/mal)
High Risks barangays to undergo community based disaster risk reduction contingency planning
By Irma A. Guhit
SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – To start today, March 21, until March 24 is the four-day training on community-based disaster risk reduction contingency planning of leaders, and members of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (BDRRMCs) of two identified high risks barangays in the Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes, Sta Magdalena towns and Sorsogon City.
The four-day training is spearheaded by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the Sorsogon Povincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council(PDRRMC) in cooperation with the Green Valley Development Program / World Vision (GVDP/WV)
According to Governor Raul R. Lee, this training is a jumpstart of successive trainings to identified high risks and vulnerable barangays in the province so as to come up with a more comprehensive community- based disaster risk reduction contingency plan and actualize it.
It can be recalled that the province of Sorsogon has been reported and nationally focused most of the times due to the calamities they are exposed to specially the Mt. Bulusan's unrest and the lahar flow experienced by high risks barangays in the municipalities of Irosin, Juban and Casiguran..
The provincial government has been cognizant in making the people of Sorsogon be more aware and ready to respond correctly to lessen the impacts and effects of calamities significantly the risks which they are exposed to by providing them the knowledge, capabilities, skills and attitude to intelligently respond collectively to such natural occurrence.
Sorsogon as a province is exposed to several natural calamities, from typhoons, volcanic unrest, flooding, soil erosion, storm surge and a lot more that the need to capacitate leaders and key players will be mainstreamed to the basic communities, according to Manro Jayco, action officer of the SPDRRMC.
It is now considered too, a best practice of the province to partner with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as an effort for collaboration and convergence to address, mitigate and respond to such natural occurences., he said.
Based on RA 10121, all DRMMCs are required to train, teach, guide and capacitate local communities especially those considerered high risks and vulnerable to be empowered.and reselient.
The Japan experience has taught the world simply to be more resilient and calm by having contingency plans although this heartbreaking calamity has been so devastating, according to Jayco."We have not been spared too when the announcement of impending tsunami to hit the Philippines within four hours was nerve-wrecking that everyone was scared."
The end goal of this training is to provide the necessary basic knowledge to community leaders and the like in communities to understand their risks, plan to adapt and mitigate, plan a comprehensive functional contingency plan, have drill sessions and diseminate the right information for people's collegial action.
The contingency plan will focus more on warning, communication, process of evacuation, the need to positively respond and be forewarned. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)
DepEd launches Int'l Mother Language day
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) this year as proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This year’s IMLD theme is “Making Every Child a Reader Through Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education.”
UNESCO aims to uplift the linguistic and cultural diversity of our society.
IMLD seeks to heighten awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.
Public and private elementary and secondary schools are encouraged to participate in these activities.
All of the programs will be based on the IMLD theme.
The regional directors, school divisions or city superintendents, and school heads are encouraged to lead on the said activities. (MEACamu, BUCAL/pia Albay/mal)
Plebiscite needed to postpone ARMM polls – Chiz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Any amendment resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections can only be made effective and valid through a plebiscite duly called for that purpose, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on justice and human rights, bucked the plan and legislative moves postponing the ARMM elections, including the appointment of officers-in-charge (OIC) in the regional government to serve in the interim period.
“It is my opinion that the bill postponing the ARMM election, including appointing OICs, is an amendment of the ARMM Organic Law, which requires two-thirds vote of Congress, with both chambers voting separately. In a plebiscite, the people directly participate. It is considered sacred as it defines or makes a social contract such as ARMM,” Escudero explained.
Any revision or amendment to Republic Act 9054, or the ARMM Organic Law, explicitly requires a vote of two-thirds of Congress voting separately. A majority vote in a plebiscite automatically gives the hands down result, as mandated under Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII of RA 9054.
The Palace has certified as urgent a legislation seeking to postpone the ARMM elections to put in place reforms and synchronize it with the 2013 political exercise.
According to Escudero, continuity in the ARMM administration is crucial in the peace and economic development programs as it means pursuing these without interruptions.
“The only way to achieve lasting peace is by following the basic rudiments of democracy and due process. “Let the people of ARMM decide for themselves who they want to choose as their leaders. They know who is good for them,” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
DTI holds seminar for dealers on product standardization
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) -- In compliance with its mandate to protect the consumers and empower responsible businessmen and industrial allies, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Camarines Sur conducted over the weekend a product standards update attended by hardware and electrical dealers, private individuals and members of the local media here.
DTI provincial head Edna Tejada cited the importance of ensuring that the materials, processes and services that the customers are availing of, is also commensurate to their expectations and payments as well.
“Comes summer time, a lot of our households would embark on improving their homes and their business so we think that this is the most opportune time to talk about the product standard of construction materials, electrical and electronic home products and why do we really need to ensure that all the materials that we will use should follow the quality of product standardization.”
The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) is the national Standards body of the Philippines pursuant to Republic Act No. 4109.Otherwise known as the Philippine Standardization Law, BPS is also the sole government authority of the Philippines to certify products that affect health, life and safety of consumers.
Mr. Jay Ablan, DTI Spokesperson reiterated the need to inspect the PS or ICC mark in every product that the consumers wish to purchase.
“A manufacturer or importer whose product is under mandatory product certification cannot sell or distribute without the license and clearance from BPS, which authorizes the use of Product Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance or ICC Mark.
Products under mandatory certification includes electrical and wiring devices, electrical and household appliances, building and construction materials, mechanical/ building and construction materials and consumer and chemical products. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Biomass Power Plant soon to rise in Camarines Sur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
SIPOCOT, Camarines Sur (PIA) ---- Joining the call for a more efficient energy production and cost-effective renewable energy, Eco Enerhiya Development Corporation (EEDC) is set to utilize the rich local agricultural wastes specifically located here and in its adjoining municipalities.
The waste which will be used as fuel for the Bio Mass Power Plant Project is found to be in abundance especially in the towns of Ragay, Sipocot and Lupi located in the first district of Camarines Sur and Libmanan in the 2nd district of the province.
Among the said municipalities, Sipocot proved to be the most ideal site due to its strategic position, having large quantities of agri wastes in their area of jurisdcition. In a study, it was found out that the standing net volume of 406,656.33 metric tons (MT) for biomass, 18.6 times the annual requirement is more than sufficient to operate the bio mass power plant.
Coconut farms can already supply 195,778.45 MT or 48 percent of the total prospective wastes.
EEDC have thought of embarking on the said endeavor basically to displace as much conventional energy as possible, dislodge 200MW worth of conventional energy with renewables, shift 100MW worth of conventional energy through efficiencies and alleviate poverty through fair trading practices with farmers.
Mr. Noriel Z. Cabanela, EEDC Project Coordinator in Camarines Sur said that the 2-megawatt output would only require about 60 metric tons of agri-waste daily.
“Given the standing net supply of 649.9 MT of biomass in the contiguous municipalities of Ragay, Sipocot, Lupi and Libmanan, the supply is already 10.8 times the requirement. Sipocot alone already accounts for a daily net volume of 169.04 MT which can supply 2.8 times the requirement needed to run the power plant,” Cabanela added.
EEDC also assured the public that the project will not in any way harm the harmonious relationship of the environment and its elements by strictly complying with their Corporate Social Responsibility. Once the plant becomes operational, the company will allocate a certain portion from its sales and allot it to the development of programs that will promote productivity and help the farmers to optimize the use of marginal lands.
Currently, EEDC is conducting the necessary steps and requirements to gain the nod and social approval of the community. Meetings and continuing dialogues have already been scheduled to assess and gauge the social acceptability of the said project. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
POPCOM and BUCAL join forces pursuing RH and sexuality education
LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Populations (Popcom) remains upbeat in pursuit of informing and educating the development on the issues pertaining to reproductive health and sexuality.
Popcom Public Information Officer Miracle Bolanos said the commission has recently forged a partnership with Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) to pursue an advocacy among the young on RH and sexuality issues.
Dubbed “Preparing Responsible Individuals as Movers and Enablers of Development (PRIMED)”, Popcom and BU intend to educate particularly the students on matters like pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy.
Bolanos said that the duo organizations held art exhibit last February 14 portraying issues on reproductive health, followed by a live concert from the Audio Visual Communications students at the in CAL Amphitheater.
The activity was participated in by students from all tertiary levels where most cases of PMS occasionally happen.
Bolanos observed that BU offered courses like Speech and Theatre Arts (STA), Audio Visual Communications (AVC), AB-English, Broadcasting and Journalism which are very helpful to the Popcom portraying our goals such as the dangers in engaging in this topic.
The said partnership started September last year, where Popcom and BUCAL signed the agreement on pursuing the advocacy and the former granting the latter the P100,000 funding for the program. (BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)
PNRC to hold annual summer safety instructions
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine National Red Cross, Legazpi City Chapter will be celebrating the “Annual Summer Safety Instructions,” that will begin on the 25th of April 2011.
This month-long celebration will have various activities on safety measures, like executing first-aid, basic life support, as well as swimming.
The said event into two parts: one part will include professionals and the other one will be non-professionals. Chapter volunteers, chapter staff, instructors, and non-instructors, will evaluate the participants of the event.
The registration fee for professionals is P1,500 while P1,200 will be the fee for non-professionals.
Everyone above 13 years old are welcome to participate.
They are anticipating that the celebration will be successful. (SLDimapilis, BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)
Chiz urges gov’t to craft comprehensive labor policy for OFWs
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Senator Francis Escudero underscored the need for the government to forge an agreement with countries employing Filipino workers to protect them against labor malpractice and abuses.
In an email to PIA Bicol News Service, Escudero said that since taking on overseas jobs remain a personal choice of millions of Filipinos, the government should put in place a comprehensive labor migration policy for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to ensure that they are safe and protected.
According to the senator, the government should address the common complaints of OFWs against health and safety, labor malpractice, non-payment of overtime pay, absence of pay slips, poor accommodation, discrepancies in wages and repatriation in case of crisis, among others.
“It is high time that our government start to acknowledge that we have a labor-export policy and rid the industry of unscrupulous labor recruiters and protect our migrant workers,” Escudero said.
“We already have enough, ripe reasons to initiate a government- to-government arrangement for labor migration since we have long seen the reality of labor exodus of Filipinos to other countries. The Philippine government can no longer deny this,” he added.
“OFWs are our modern-day heroes and the remittances they send to their families propel our economy. I think the best way to repay them is to ensure that they would be safe and properly compensated in the countries where they would be deployed,” Escudero furthered.
The senator also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to look into the conditions of OFWs working in Madagascar, many of whom have contracted malaria in their work place.
Reports reaching Escudero’s office said OFWs working in the Ambatovy project in the town of Toamasina had been asking the government that they wanted to be repatriated after their company, Kentz Engineers and Constructors, failed to pay them salaries and overtime pay.
Aside from labor malpractices, OFWs in Madagascar have also complained that they were not given any anti-malaria medication as the place in known to be infested with malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Escudero also asked the DFA and the DOLE to look into reports that a Filipino supervisor had succumbed to malaria last month in the area.
Kentz currently employs around 2,000 OFWs working in the Ambatovy project, a large-tonnage mining project that integrates many facilities to process and refine nickel into pure nickel briquettes. (PIA V/Albay)
By Ed de Leon
LEGAZPI CITY- Three mining companies operating in Bicol produced a total of P11.4 billion worth of metallic and non metallic products last year thereby contributing to the upswing of the Bicol economy, according to the Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) regional office here.
Reynulfo A. Juan, MBG regional director for Bicol, said that aside from the good volume of production of these mining companies, they also paid a total of P782.61 million in taxes in 2010.
Of these three mining companies, Masbate Gold Project, operating in Aroroy town in Masbate province under Australian and Filipino management, produced a total of 4,000 kilograms of gold, 3,200 kilograms of silver with a total value of P6.9 billion, Juan said.
While the Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), operating in Rapu-Rapu town in Albay under Korean -Malaysian-Filipino management, has produced a total of 34,200 metric tons of copper concentrate, 34,800 metric tons of zinc concentrates with gold as by-product with a total value of P3.79 billion, Juan added.
He said the Palanog Cement Plant project (PCLP), operating in Camalig town also in Albay, produced a toal of 6.89 million bags of cement valued at P872 million pesos.
Juan said that because of the steady rise in the prices of metals and non metals in the world market, he is optimistic that the outlook for mining industry this year is healthy pointing to more investors wanting to invest in the mining.
He said that the MGB welcomes only new mining ventures who will operate in a responsible manner like the three currently operating firms which has committed a total of P310.32 million pesos in environmental protection enhancement projects.
These projects form part of their operations which include reforestation activities, maintenance of tailings and impounding systems, slope stabilization measures and other environmental mitigation structures
Juan added that the three companies also implemented a total of 268 projects under the Social Development and Management Program (SDMP)amounting to P41.71 million pesos in host communities which includes the construction and repair farm to market roads, bridges ,water system, post harvest facilities, school buildings, , electric power,, health facilities and funding for scholarship and livelihood programs. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
Plebiscite needed to postpone ARMM polls – Chiz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Any amendment resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections can only be made effective and valid through a plebiscite duly called for that purpose, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on justice and human rights, bucked the plan and legislative moves postponing the ARMM elections, including the appointment of officers-in-charge (OIC) in the regional government to serve in the interim period.
“It is my opinion that the bill postponing the ARMM election, including appointing OICs, is an amendment of the ARMM Organic Law, which requires two-thirds vote of Congress, with both chambers voting separately. In a plebiscite, the people directly participate. It is considered sacred as it defines or makes a social contract such as ARMM,” Escudero explained.
Any revision or amendment to Republic Act 9054, or the ARMM Organic Law, explicitly requires a vote of two-thirds of Congress voting separately. A majority vote in a plebiscite automatically gives the hands down result, as mandated under Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII of RA 9054.
The Palace has certified as urgent a legislation seeking to postpone the ARMM elections to put in place reforms and synchronize it with the 2013 political exercise.
According to Escudero, continuity in the ARMM administration is crucial in the peace and economic development programs as it means pursuing these without interruptions.
“The only way to achieve lasting peace is by following the basic rudiments of democracy and due process. “Let the people of ARMM decide for themselves who they want to choose as their leaders. They know who is good for them,” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
National greening program convergence project launched in Camarines Sur
By Aida Alcazar-Naz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – Parallel to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III to reduce poverty in the countryside while ensuring food security, biodiversity conservation and address climate change, the countrywide national greening program (NGP) convergence project took off in Camarines Sur last March 11.
The cabinet secretaries of departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Agriculture and Agrarian Reform led the launching of the said convergence project in Bula town in Camarines Sur, said DENR Regional Information Officer Ruby Mendones at PIA’s radio program Aramon Ta Daw last Monday.
DENR Sec. Ramon Paje, DA Sec. Proceso Alcala and DAR Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes signed a memorandum of agreement signaling the union of these departments to implement the country’s greening program.
In Executive Order No. 26 issued February 24, 2011, President Aquino tasked the DENR to lead the implementation of NGP, with DA and DAR to constitute the program’s oversight committee.
The national greening program’s goal is to plant 1.5 billion trees in some 1.5 million hectares from 2011 to 2016, which is more than twice the government’s accomplishment of 730,000 hectares for the past 25 years.
Among the areas targeted for planting under the program are forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban area under the greening plan of local government units, inactive and abandoned mines and other suitable lands.
In Bicol, 60 per cent of the effort goes to agroforestry where the implementation will help arrest erosion. Some suggested specie are narra, molave, coconut for its 100 uses, including ipil-ipil and kakawate.
Thirty per cent of the greening effort is to plant forest trees with focus on endemic specie like lauan, bigtikan apitong, almacige and kamagong and exotic trees like mahogany, gmelina.
Meantime, 10 per cent of the greening effort will go to urban greening. DENR Bicol recommends banaba, which according to studies filters the air aside from its herbal benefits.
NGP will mobilize people’s participation through social mobilization harnessing participation of national government agencies, LGUs, government owned and controlled corporations, including state colleges and universities.
Likewise, some 14 million students across the country will be tapped to participate in the program, as well as the 20 million residents in upland communities in an effort to provide them additional livelihood opportunities and reduce poverty. (PIA V/Albay/mal)
I-Rice re-launch kicks off in Camarines Sur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
PALESTINA, Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) ---- To combat the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency among schoolchildren, the National Food Authority (NFA) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) re-launched the I-fortified rice in a simple yet momentous ceremony held at the LRV Multi Purpose Building at Palestina Elementary School here.
The activity, which is also being simultaneously introduced in various parts of the country, was attended by stakeholders coming from various government institutions and private organizations. All have sealed their commitment to help the government in its campaign to fight malnutrition, particularly among the undernourished schoolchildren.
I-Rice or Iron Fortified Rice is a mixture of white milled rice and I-Mix or iron rice premix which was processed thru fortification. Fortified rice is advisable for those children with severe calorie and protein deficiency since it replaces nutrients lost during the milling process. It is also in compliance with the Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000 otherwise known as Republic Act 8976.
NFA Provincial Manager Eliseo B. Caliwag said that their agency is giving its all out support for the government’s fortification program citing among others its important role in promoting the health condition of the children in the province.
“Actually, the use of fortified rice was already launched a few years back, but it experienced a setback due to some reasons so now we are re-launching its use, promoting its importance and recognizing this program as an effective and sustainable means to fight micronutrient deficiency.”
Caliwag also assured the public that I-rice is safe to eat since its fortification is a result of careful and extensive studies involving its partner agencies, like the Department of Health (DOH), Foods and Drugs Administration (FDA), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The Food and Development Center (FDC) of the National Food Authority is also involved in the said process.
Some of the nutritional benefits of I-rice include anemia prevention and prevents child birth defects and mortality during pregnancy. It also boosts healthy red blood cells, enhance body system against infection, improves mental and physical development, helps maintain alertness and endurance and improves productivity. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
LGU, DepEd and PRC ink MOA on disaster preparedness
By Lizel S. Macatangay
Pili, Camarines Sur, (PIA) – In strengthening their resolve to lessen if not eradicate casualties and damage to properties caused by natural disasters, the local government of Camarines Sur, thru Governor LRay Villafuerte recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Red Cross- (PRC) Camarines Sur Chapter to formalize another convergence of forces, this time in equipping the community with disaster preparedness.
In this campaign, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government and barangay units will be working hand in hand in implementing the principles of the Community Health Management and Disaster Risk Reduction Program aimed at improving the community’s vigilance during the occurrence of natural disasters and the constituent’s health condition as well.
PRC’s main responsibility will be to closely coordinate with other partners/stakeholders to ensure that the project will be properly and efficiently implemented. It is also the task of PRC to maintain the partnership with project partners even beyond the project period to ensure its sustainability.
The provincial government unit on their part is also tasked to ensure coordination effort and provide assistance, technical support and services as its counterpart component. It is also their obligation to guarantee its sustained promotion and support to community health and disaster risk reduction program by providing manpower support.
The local government units of Lagonoy, Siruma,Garchitorena , Buhi and the city of Iriga will each provide a cash equity of 10% for the construction of facilities in line with health and disaster program.
Selected barangay recipients should also assist the project staff in the identification and recruitment of Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and Barangay Disaster Action Teams (BDATS). They should also see to it that the staff and Red Cross workers are safe and protected in the course of implementing the project. A cash equity equivalent to 5% for construction and rehabilitation of health and water facilities shall also be shouldered by the barangay.
Added to the project component is the participation of DepEd who is also responsible for the creation of school disaster management plan and its similar replication in other schools.
The project’s recipients includes barangays Tambo, Salvacion, Iraya, Ipil, San Ramon, Antipolo, Igbac, Cabatuan and Ibayugan, all from the town of Buhi and barangays Santiago, Cristo Del Rey, Sta. Teresita, San Pedro, Perpetual Help, Santo Nino and Sta. Maria from the city of Iriga. These barangays are mostly inhabited by Indigenous People or IPs.
Other barangays include Himanag, Bocogan, Sta.Cruz,Del Carmen,Olas, Guibahoy, San Isidro, Sipaco, Mangogon and Mapid , all from Lagonoy; Barangays Butawanan, San Ramon, Malaconini, Sulpa, San Andres, Vito, Cabugao, Tandoc, Mabuhay, Fundado, Penitan and Nalayahan; and barangays Danrica, Tamiawon, Burabod, Dangca, Cagamutan and Sagrada from the town of Garchitorena. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Agrarian reform community's Bagsakan Center gets .5M aid
By Edna A Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes (PIA) - The Provincial Government of Catanduanes, through the Provincial Agricultural Support Office (PASO), granted Php 500, 000 worth of equipment to a DAR-assisted Agrarian Reform Community (ARC), for the operation of their Bagsakan Center.
The K-4 (Kapatiran Kaunlaran at Kilusan ng mga kababaihan sa Mislagan-Capilihan), a 36-member People's Organization organized by the Department of Agrarian Reform Provincial Office in 2007.
Senior Agriculturist Ligaya San Roque designated bagsakan center coordinator of the PASO said that the equipment is being released into two batches, the first release worth Php 300, 000 was on January 4, 2011 while the final batch will follow anytime.
Delfin Advincula , ARC's K-4 cooperative chairperson personally received the aid from Governor Joseph C. Cua.
Members of the cooperative were thankful that the aid will help boost the center's capacity and services that was launched in April 2010.
Provincial Agriculture Reform Officer of DAR here, Alexander Teves expressed his appreciation for the assistance given to ARC, citing its usefulness to the center in sustaining the operations.
He also said that this is a good indication of governments continuing effort to converge various services from the different agencies in promoting economic development of their common client.
Government Cua handed over its first batch of release to K-4 officials the following equipments manual and electric meat grinder, electric rice grinder, digital price computer scale, powered coconut grater, 24 plastic crates, 1000-kg capacity vascular scale, four (4) chest freezers, showcase chillers for 300 L and 620 L capacity, two (2) hanging weighing scales (100 kg capacity), and two (2) 20-kilo stand weighing scale. (PIA Catanduanes/mal)
High Risks barangays to undergo community based disaster risk reduction contingency planning
By Irma A. Guhit
SORSOGON CITY, (PIA) – To start today, March 21, until March 24 is the four-day training on community-based disaster risk reduction contingency planning of leaders, and members of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (BDRRMCs) of two identified high risks barangays in the Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes, Sta Magdalena towns and Sorsogon City.
The four-day training is spearheaded by the provincial government of Sorsogon through the Sorsogon Povincial Disaster Risk Reduction Council(PDRRMC) in cooperation with the Green Valley Development Program / World Vision (GVDP/WV)
According to Governor Raul R. Lee, this training is a jumpstart of successive trainings to identified high risks and vulnerable barangays in the province so as to come up with a more comprehensive community- based disaster risk reduction contingency plan and actualize it.
It can be recalled that the province of Sorsogon has been reported and nationally focused most of the times due to the calamities they are exposed to specially the Mt. Bulusan's unrest and the lahar flow experienced by high risks barangays in the municipalities of Irosin, Juban and Casiguran..
The provincial government has been cognizant in making the people of Sorsogon be more aware and ready to respond correctly to lessen the impacts and effects of calamities significantly the risks which they are exposed to by providing them the knowledge, capabilities, skills and attitude to intelligently respond collectively to such natural occurrence.
Sorsogon as a province is exposed to several natural calamities, from typhoons, volcanic unrest, flooding, soil erosion, storm surge and a lot more that the need to capacitate leaders and key players will be mainstreamed to the basic communities, according to Manro Jayco, action officer of the SPDRRMC.
It is now considered too, a best practice of the province to partner with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as an effort for collaboration and convergence to address, mitigate and respond to such natural occurences., he said.
Based on RA 10121, all DRMMCs are required to train, teach, guide and capacitate local communities especially those considerered high risks and vulnerable to be empowered.and reselient.
The Japan experience has taught the world simply to be more resilient and calm by having contingency plans although this heartbreaking calamity has been so devastating, according to Jayco."We have not been spared too when the announcement of impending tsunami to hit the Philippines within four hours was nerve-wrecking that everyone was scared."
The end goal of this training is to provide the necessary basic knowledge to community leaders and the like in communities to understand their risks, plan to adapt and mitigate, plan a comprehensive functional contingency plan, have drill sessions and diseminate the right information for people's collegial action.
The contingency plan will focus more on warning, communication, process of evacuation, the need to positively respond and be forewarned. (PIA Sorsogon/mal)
DepEd launches Int'l Mother Language day
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Department of Education (DepEd) launched the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) this year as proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
This year’s IMLD theme is “Making Every Child a Reader Through Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education.”
UNESCO aims to uplift the linguistic and cultural diversity of our society.
IMLD seeks to heighten awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance, and dialogue.
Public and private elementary and secondary schools are encouraged to participate in these activities.
All of the programs will be based on the IMLD theme.
The regional directors, school divisions or city superintendents, and school heads are encouraged to lead on the said activities. (MEACamu, BUCAL/pia Albay/mal)
Plebiscite needed to postpone ARMM polls – Chiz
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Any amendment resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections can only be made effective and valid through a plebiscite duly called for that purpose, Senator Chiz Escudero today said.
Escudero, chairman of the Senate Committee on justice and human rights, bucked the plan and legislative moves postponing the ARMM elections, including the appointment of officers-in-charge (OIC) in the regional government to serve in the interim period.
“It is my opinion that the bill postponing the ARMM election, including appointing OICs, is an amendment of the ARMM Organic Law, which requires two-thirds vote of Congress, with both chambers voting separately. In a plebiscite, the people directly participate. It is considered sacred as it defines or makes a social contract such as ARMM,” Escudero explained.
Any revision or amendment to Republic Act 9054, or the ARMM Organic Law, explicitly requires a vote of two-thirds of Congress voting separately. A majority vote in a plebiscite automatically gives the hands down result, as mandated under Sections 1 and 3, Article XVII of RA 9054.
The Palace has certified as urgent a legislation seeking to postpone the ARMM elections to put in place reforms and synchronize it with the 2013 political exercise.
According to Escudero, continuity in the ARMM administration is crucial in the peace and economic development programs as it means pursuing these without interruptions.
“The only way to achieve lasting peace is by following the basic rudiments of democracy and due process. “Let the people of ARMM decide for themselves who they want to choose as their leaders. They know who is good for them,” Escudero said. (Office of Sen. Escudero/PIA Albay/mal)
DTI holds seminar for dealers on product standardization
By Lizel S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY, (PIA) -- In compliance with its mandate to protect the consumers and empower responsible businessmen and industrial allies, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Camarines Sur conducted over the weekend a product standards update attended by hardware and electrical dealers, private individuals and members of the local media here.
DTI provincial head Edna Tejada cited the importance of ensuring that the materials, processes and services that the customers are availing of, is also commensurate to their expectations and payments as well.
“Comes summer time, a lot of our households would embark on improving their homes and their business so we think that this is the most opportune time to talk about the product standard of construction materials, electrical and electronic home products and why do we really need to ensure that all the materials that we will use should follow the quality of product standardization.”
The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) is the national Standards body of the Philippines pursuant to Republic Act No. 4109.Otherwise known as the Philippine Standardization Law, BPS is also the sole government authority of the Philippines to certify products that affect health, life and safety of consumers.
Mr. Jay Ablan, DTI Spokesperson reiterated the need to inspect the PS or ICC mark in every product that the consumers wish to purchase.
“A manufacturer or importer whose product is under mandatory product certification cannot sell or distribute without the license and clearance from BPS, which authorizes the use of Product Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance or ICC Mark.
Products under mandatory certification includes electrical and wiring devices, electrical and household appliances, building and construction materials, mechanical/ building and construction materials and consumer and chemical products. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
Biomass Power Plant soon to rise in Camarines Sur
By Lizel S. Macatangay
SIPOCOT, Camarines Sur (PIA) ---- Joining the call for a more efficient energy production and cost-effective renewable energy, Eco Enerhiya Development Corporation (EEDC) is set to utilize the rich local agricultural wastes specifically located here and in its adjoining municipalities.
The waste which will be used as fuel for the Bio Mass Power Plant Project is found to be in abundance especially in the towns of Ragay, Sipocot and Lupi located in the first district of Camarines Sur and Libmanan in the 2nd district of the province.
Among the said municipalities, Sipocot proved to be the most ideal site due to its strategic position, having large quantities of agri wastes in their area of jurisdcition. In a study, it was found out that the standing net volume of 406,656.33 metric tons (MT) for biomass, 18.6 times the annual requirement is more than sufficient to operate the bio mass power plant.
Coconut farms can already supply 195,778.45 MT or 48 percent of the total prospective wastes.
EEDC have thought of embarking on the said endeavor basically to displace as much conventional energy as possible, dislodge 200MW worth of conventional energy with renewables, shift 100MW worth of conventional energy through efficiencies and alleviate poverty through fair trading practices with farmers.
Mr. Noriel Z. Cabanela, EEDC Project Coordinator in Camarines Sur said that the 2-megawatt output would only require about 60 metric tons of agri-waste daily.
“Given the standing net supply of 649.9 MT of biomass in the contiguous municipalities of Ragay, Sipocot, Lupi and Libmanan, the supply is already 10.8 times the requirement. Sipocot alone already accounts for a daily net volume of 169.04 MT which can supply 2.8 times the requirement needed to run the power plant,” Cabanela added.
EEDC also assured the public that the project will not in any way harm the harmonious relationship of the environment and its elements by strictly complying with their Corporate Social Responsibility. Once the plant becomes operational, the company will allocate a certain portion from its sales and allot it to the development of programs that will promote productivity and help the farmers to optimize the use of marginal lands.
Currently, EEDC is conducting the necessary steps and requirements to gain the nod and social approval of the community. Meetings and continuing dialogues have already been scheduled to assess and gauge the social acceptability of the said project. (PIA Camarines Sur/mal)
POPCOM and BUCAL join forces pursuing RH and sexuality education
LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) — The Commission on Populations (Popcom) remains upbeat in pursuit of informing and educating the development on the issues pertaining to reproductive health and sexuality.
Popcom Public Information Officer Miracle Bolanos said the commission has recently forged a partnership with Bicol University College of Arts and Letters (BUCAL) to pursue an advocacy among the young on RH and sexuality issues.
Dubbed “Preparing Responsible Individuals as Movers and Enablers of Development (PRIMED)”, Popcom and BU intend to educate particularly the students on matters like pre-marital sex and teenage pregnancy.
Bolanos said that the duo organizations held art exhibit last February 14 portraying issues on reproductive health, followed by a live concert from the Audio Visual Communications students at the in CAL Amphitheater.
The activity was participated in by students from all tertiary levels where most cases of PMS occasionally happen.
Bolanos observed that BU offered courses like Speech and Theatre Arts (STA), Audio Visual Communications (AVC), AB-English, Broadcasting and Journalism which are very helpful to the Popcom portraying our goals such as the dangers in engaging in this topic.
The said partnership started September last year, where Popcom and BUCAL signed the agreement on pursuing the advocacy and the former granting the latter the P100,000 funding for the program. (BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)
PNRC to hold annual summer safety instructions
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) – The Philippine National Red Cross, Legazpi City Chapter will be celebrating the “Annual Summer Safety Instructions,” that will begin on the 25th of April 2011.
This month-long celebration will have various activities on safety measures, like executing first-aid, basic life support, as well as swimming.
The said event into two parts: one part will include professionals and the other one will be non-professionals. Chapter volunteers, chapter staff, instructors, and non-instructors, will evaluate the participants of the event.
The registration fee for professionals is P1,500 while P1,200 will be the fee for non-professionals.
Everyone above 13 years old are welcome to participate.
They are anticipating that the celebration will be successful. (SLDimapilis, BUCAL/PIA Albay/mal)
Chiz urges gov’t to craft comprehensive labor policy for OFWs
LEGAZPI CITY, (PIA) -- Senator Francis Escudero underscored the need for the government to forge an agreement with countries employing Filipino workers to protect them against labor malpractice and abuses.
In an email to PIA Bicol News Service, Escudero said that since taking on overseas jobs remain a personal choice of millions of Filipinos, the government should put in place a comprehensive labor migration policy for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to ensure that they are safe and protected.
According to the senator, the government should address the common complaints of OFWs against health and safety, labor malpractice, non-payment of overtime pay, absence of pay slips, poor accommodation, discrepancies in wages and repatriation in case of crisis, among others.
“It is high time that our government start to acknowledge that we have a labor-export policy and rid the industry of unscrupulous labor recruiters and protect our migrant workers,” Escudero said.
“We already have enough, ripe reasons to initiate a government- to-government arrangement for labor migration since we have long seen the reality of labor exodus of Filipinos to other countries. The Philippine government can no longer deny this,” he added.
“OFWs are our modern-day heroes and the remittances they send to their families propel our economy. I think the best way to repay them is to ensure that they would be safe and properly compensated in the countries where they would be deployed,” Escudero furthered.
The senator also called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to look into the conditions of OFWs working in Madagascar, many of whom have contracted malaria in their work place.
Reports reaching Escudero’s office said OFWs working in the Ambatovy project in the town of Toamasina had been asking the government that they wanted to be repatriated after their company, Kentz Engineers and Constructors, failed to pay them salaries and overtime pay.
Aside from labor malpractices, OFWs in Madagascar have also complained that they were not given any anti-malaria medication as the place in known to be infested with malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
Escudero also asked the DFA and the DOLE to look into reports that a Filipino supervisor had succumbed to malaria last month in the area.
Kentz currently employs around 2,000 OFWs working in the Ambatovy project, a large-tonnage mining project that integrates many facilities to process and refine nickel into pure nickel briquettes. (PIA V/Albay)
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