ALBAY LAUNCHES CLIMATE CHANGE GUIDEBOOK

Asset Manager, Tiwi Geothermal Field, Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holdings,  Inc.  Mr. Wilson Clemente (left) hands over the copy of Albay Sustainable Development Guidebook to Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda during the symbolic  launching of  Climate Change guidebook. Other photo shows: Ms. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, Executive Director, Manila Observatory;  Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva  and Malinao Mayor Avelino Ceriola, held at Climate Change Academy, Bu Compound, Legazpi City, last May 16, 2012.  (Alex Cal/PIA)

SMOKE-FREE ALBAY ORDINANCE

SMOKE-FREE ALBAY ORDINANCE – The signing of the Provincial No-Smoking Ordinance brings Wednesday (May 16) another milestone in the province of Albay,  under the leadership of Governor Joey S. Salceda and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Albay, headed by Vice Gov. Harold Ong Imperial. The ordinance was authored by Board Member Herbert Borja (Chairman of the Committee on Health and Social Services) and co-authored by Board Member Neil L. Montallana (Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means). Also present are the SFAN (Smoke Free Albay Network) and other partner agencies, national and local media networks.. (Alex Cal/PIA V)

CAAP and NGCP warn public of kite-flying hazards

By Aida A. Naz

LEGAZPI CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Legazpi City urged local government officials to prohibit kite flying in this city, and the three Albay towns of Daraga, Camalig, and Jovellar.

Judaline Martinez, administrative in-charge of CAAP office here, disclosed to PIA through its regional radio program Aramon Ta Daw that kite-flying along the flight route of airplanes is hazardous as it may entangle with the airplane, which can cause accidents detrimental to passengers and destroy properties.

Martinez related that the Cebu Pacific has reported sighting of kites at least twice in March 3 and April 21. Cebu Pacific, particularly RPC 628 positively, recounted the event.

In at least three instances, CAAP was able to confiscate kites in three areas particularly in Cruzada, Legazpi City; Binitayan, Daraga, and Cotmon in Camalig. CAAP already made an appeal to local officials from the city and municipal authorities to barangay officers.

The air traffic office has named at least 39 areas where kite flying is prohibited. In Legazpi City there are 18 places where it is banned. These are Washington Drive, Vel-Amor Subdivision, Dapdap, Buragwis, Binanuahan, Guevarra, Rawis, Bonot, Bitano, Oro Site, Peñaranda, Gogon, Cruzada, Barangay 24, Baybay, San Roque, Calle Siping, and PNR Site.

In Daraga town kite flying is barred in 19 barangays—Tagas, Balaguer, San Roque, Market Site, Maroroy, Binitayan, Sagpon, Bagtang, Sipi, Bagumbayan, Kimantong, Balinad, Tabontabon, Gabawan, Gapo, Peñafrancia, Inarado, De la Paz and Dinoronan.

Kite flying is disallowed in barangays of Cotmon and Comon in Camalig, while it is forbidden in the entire area of Jovellar.

Martinez has particularly mentioned that Legazpi City has an ordinance that bans kite flying with a corresponding punishment when found guilty either a fine of P5,000 or imprisonment or both.

CAAP is the government agency that promulgates and adopt aviation safety rules and regulations and is committed to enhance air traffic environment by ensuring safer aircraft operations and guaranteeing safety of each flight.

Meantime, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) calls for vigilance against kite flying as it causes tripping of transmission lines resulting to brownouts or power interruptions or electrocution as kites may get entangled in high-voltage transmission lines.

In addition, NGCP reminds the public of the threats of building fires, planting trees, constructing houses and installing antennas near transmission facilities.
(MAL/AAN-PIA V)


Albay to launch program for PWDs in 2013 elections

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- Albay is set to launch a program this month to increase active participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the coming 2013 midterm election.

Through the program, “A Fully-Abled Nation,” stakeholders will recommend to the Commission on Election (COMELEC), an easy access to registration sites and polling places for PWDs in order to reduce or remove constraints that PWD voters face to freely exercise their rights.

The Fully Abled Nation is an initiative of the Asia Foundation, with the support from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), COMELEC, civil society, religious organizations, non-government, local government units, and other stakeholders.

The program intends to increase voter awareness among PWDs, promote partnerships to enhance support and awareness of PWD participatory needs and strengthen the capabilities of disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) and NGOs supporting PWD advocacies.

The Asia Foundation will assess the current status of PWD and organizations, policies and government bodies related to PWD concerns including the conduct of survey and focus group discussions among election officers to assess their awareness of PWDs’ electoral rights.

The foundation will provide technical assistance on advocacy strategies, financial management, volunteer management, and media training for DPOs and NGOs working with PWDs to enhance their participation in the next year’s elections and also develop PWD responsive election materials.

In the province of Albay, PWDs have been given full recognition to participate in the development process.

The provincial government of Albay is providing financial, medical and educational assistance to PWDs organizations. Other support services being extended to PWDs through the provincial Social Welfare Office are livelihood, capability building, provision of assistance devices and musical instruments.

Currently, the Visually Impaired Voice in Albay (VIVA), Albay Federation of PWDs, and Albay Women with Disabilities are among the active organizations in the province of Albay. (PNA/MAL-PIA5, Albay)

DTI, LGU confiscates 20 weighing scales

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 15 (PIA) --A total of 20 illegal weighing scales were confiscated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Local Government Unit (LGU) of Virac last May 10 at the Virac Public Market.

The confiscation is part of the ”Operation Tamang Timbangan” campaign of DTI in cooperation with LGUs of the different municipalities of the province.

Four of the weighing scales were defective while the rest have no seal or were not calibrated by the Municipal Treasurer’s Office.

Joining the enforcement team were Vic Romero of Virac LGU, Sammy Cavada of DTI and two police officers, PO1 Froilan Gianan and PO1 Jayson Lim.

The composite enforcement team of DTI, Virac LGU and PNP will continue to monitor compliance to Weight and Measures and Price Tag Laws of business establishments.

DTI further state that same operations will continue to be conducted by their department in the 11 towns of Catanduanes. (EA Bagadiong/ PIA Catanduanes)


LGU Naga pushes for the special employment program for students

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, May 15 (PIA) -- The city government here has successfully launched the Special Program for Employments of Students (SPES) and with the initially employment of 89 students in various establishments here.

The Employment and Manpower Development Center (EMDC) of the METRO Public Employment Service (PESO) disclosed that the first batch of SPES, which have already finished their contracts last week, started their summer jobs on April 3. Eighteen of them were assigned in private companies within the city and to other establishments.

Some were employed in various establishments that are supportive of the city’s objective to provide short-term employment to selected students. Another batch will be entering another contract this coming June until October 2012.

SPES aids poor but deserving students to augment their educational and financial needs by facilitating their employment. The program has two categories; E4E which stands for Earn for Enrollment is applicable to secondary students during summer and Christmas vacation and L& E or Learn, covering only one semester.

E4E is applicable to 4th year high school graduating students where they are given a chance to earn for their entrance in college while L&E is intended for college and tech-voch students to help them sustain their daily expenses. Here, college students work for three hours per day for 80 days.

This program is pursuant to the Joint Memorandum Circular signed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Finance (DOF) pursuant to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9547, amending Republic Act 7323 otherwise known as SPES.

Roderick Reforsado, EMDC head, said that they are continuously conducting advocacy activities, including pledging sessions to as many prospective private employers that can be accommodated by the allocated SPES funds.

“We see to it that there is equitable allocation of SPES funds among the participating private and public employers in its areas of jurisdiction,” Reforsado said in an interview.

The DOLE on the other hand, shall serve as the program manager of the SPES. It will provide the necessary technical and administrative assistance to its regional and field offices. (MAL/LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)


609 “hired-on-the-spot” on Labor Day jobs fair
2,122 to be hired upon completion of requirements

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, May 15 (PIA) --A total of 609 job seekers were “hired-on-the-spot” (HOTS) by local and overseas companies during the Labor Day’s Mega Jobs Fair held May 1 at SM City mall in Naga City, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office here.

DOLE V assistant regional director Exequiel Ronnie A. Guzman observed more than 6,000 hopefuls from all over the region braved the summer heat and mammoth crowd just to take the opportunity to land in their long desired job.

De Guzman said that among the HOTS, 600 were hired by local companies while nine by overseas recruitment agencies comprising 17 percent of the 3,550 total job applicants who were lucky to have officially registered.

Aside from HOTS, some 2,122 Bicolanos, broken down to 1,572 for local and 550 for overseas jobs, were considered to be hired, and only need further interviews, with pending submission of additional requirements and succeeding interviews scheduled days after the fair.

“There were really a lot of people. If you’re not persistent enough you will probably leave. I was there 7am but when I arrived I was at the middle of the line already,” 20-year old ‘Raprap’ (not real name), a management graduate from a prominent school in Pili, Camarines Sur, said in Bicolano.

“I and my friends went home at 3:00 p.m. The line was just too long! We know that we won’t be accommodated anymore. Next time we’ll be very early. I hope there will still be next time. One of our classmate was HOTS. He’s very lucky!” said Jomar of Magsaysay Naga City.

DOLE V Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra meanwhile said that jobs fair remains the best job matching facility of the government.

He added that the government has a sure Return of Investment (ROI) on the jobs fair, citing that in the Labor Day affair the agency spent a total of P135,000.00 and considering the number of registered applicants who were ‘serviced’ by the fair, then the government only spends at least P40.00 per applicant. (MAL-PIA5 Albay)


Siglang Pinoy project promotion underway, seeks media help

By Rosalita B. Manlangit

DAET, Camarines Norte, May 14 (PIA) -- The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources and Development (PCAARRD) forged partnership with the media sector in Camarines Norte to pursue promotion and gather people's support for the implementation of the Siglang Pinoy in the province.

Divorah V. Aguila, Science Research Specialist I of the FNRI-DOST V, said the agencies concerned identified Siglang Pinoy project pilot areas the Labo and Basud towns among the six other sites in the country.

Siglang Pinoy project is a community-based project that aims to empower six selected food poor and undernourished areas in the country through a mix of interventions on nutrition communication and technology transfer.

She said that interventions include nutrition promotion, food and nutrition training, nutrition-school-on-the-air and media dialogue.

Aguila said that the project is a 3-year program wherein it started in Labo in 2010 and in Basud in 2011.

The six identified sites of the project with submitted proposals include squash catsup for Labo and nata de coco for Busud towns of Camarines Norte, cassava products for Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte; seeweed canton for Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay (proposals already approved); complementary blend/rice base for Bayawan City, Negros Oriental and squash noodles for Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

For nutrition promotion the project focused on the six core messages to include the exclusive breastfeeding for baby for six months; complementary feeding after six months and continue breastfeeding up to 2 years, proper exercise, avoid of alcohol and smoking; and the consumptions of vegetables and rootcrops.

She said that based on the 7th National Nutgrition Survey in 2008 results revealed in the country that two in every 10 Filipino children 0 to 5 years old are underweight, and two in every 10 Filipino Children are underheight for age or stunted.

She added that they have already formulated high-impact technologies and solutions to combat problems in nutrition not only in six selected areas but also in the country. (MAL/RBM-PIA Camarines Norte)

SSS Catanduanes gets Seal of Excellence Award

By Edna A. Bagadiong

VIRAC, Catanduanes, May 14 (PIA) -- Social Security System (SSS) Catanduanes branch received the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center Seal of Excellence Award of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

CSC Catanduanes provincial director Maria Guia DV. Garcia said that the award was conferred by virtue of CSC Resolution Number 1200656 promulgated in April 23, 2012 granting the said award to SSS branch here

Section 10 of the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007 states that all offices and agencies providing frontline services shall be subjected to a Report Card Survey (RCS) to be initiated by the Civil Service Commission, in coordination with the Development Academy of the Philippines, which shall be used to obtain feedback on how provisions in the Citizen’s Charter are being followed and how the agency is performing.

The CSC has conducted the RCS in fifty (50) selected government agencies from July 1- August 31, 2011.

In Catanduanes, the RCS was conducted at Social Security System,(SSS)- Catanduanes Branch in July 2011 and February-March 2012.

In conducting the RCS, Garcia explained that interviewers were guided by the RCS Survey Instruments which include the Manual Instructions (MOI), Survey Questionnaire (SQ) and Inspection Checklist (IC).

The items in the SQ and IC were assigned a corresponding number of points, which add up to a maximum of 1200 points. In the case of SSS Catanduanes, 30 clients who availed of the frontline of the agency services were interviewed, which results showed that the agency has obtained excellent rating in the RCS Report Card.

In line with this, an awarding ceremony is tentatively scheduled this June. A cash reward of P75,000 pesos shall be granted to SSS Catanduanes which shall be used for the purchase of equipment and/or other materials and services that will improve the delivery of its frontline services and shall be charged from the ARTA fund of the CSC.

A wall-mountable glass seal that bears the CSC Seal of Excellence Award Symbol will also be given to SSS. (MAL/EAB-PIA Catanduanes)



DA allots P10M for Bicol livelihood projects

By Analiza S. Macatangay

PILI, CAMARINES SUR, May 14 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture has allotted P10 million for livelihood projects of the fisheries sector in the region.

The funds will be distributed among eleven fisherfolks' organizations in the region, nine local government units and one university from the province of Camarines Norte.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) V regional director Dennis Del Socorro said that the livelihood projects will be concentrated on mangrove propagation in the various coastlines in the region, construction of fish cages with ten units of bottom set gillnets, four units of engines for motorized banca, two units of fishing vessel and three sets of bamboo fish cages.

Certificate of awards were also awarded to the fisherfolk recipients of Camarines Norte, including the awarding of Aquasilvi culture project, mangrove rehabilitation project, seaweeds input assistance and various fishing paraphernalia. A community-based multi species hatchery project was also awarded to Camarines Norte State College (CNSC).

Fishing paraphernalia which include ten bottom set gill nets, four units of marine engine, two units of motorized banca and three units of fish cage net were also raffled off.

Aside from the said projects, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala also distributed ten goats to selected fishermen and one module of sheep composed of three (3) females sheep or ewe and one ram for additional source of livelihood.

During his Bicol visit, Alcala also took time to listen to the local government officials and fisherfolks’ concern regarding the services and programs of BFAR and DA. The fruitful exchange of thoughts aims to solicit the real condition of the agriculture sector in the country.

The said visit is also in line with the month long celebration of the Farmer’s and Fisherfolk’s month with the theme “Sapat na Pagkain, Sama Sama Nating Kamtin.”

Alcala is determined to bring into fore the various services of the national government while it steadfastly focuses its efforts to attain self sufficiency in rice, along with other major stables before the end of 2013. (MAL/LSM-PIA Camarines Sur)