All livestock traders in Negros Oriental who are not yet licensed are urged to secure their license from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
The newly issued Administrative Order No. 8 of the Department of Agriculture (DA) strictly requires the licensing of all livestock traders, which is to be done every year, says Provincial Chief Quarantine Officer Dr. Alfonso Tundag
Tundag said that as of now not all livestock traders in Negros Oriental are licensed.
Records from the Provincial Veterinary Office show that around 50 traders have been licensed in 2005.
“We expect them to renew their licenses this year,” says Sarah Perocho, agricultural technologist and laboratory technician at PVO here.
According to Perocho, livestock traders are required to undergo a training before a license is issued to them. “The training will inform the traders about policies, regulations, laws and system of licensing of the Bureau of Animal Industry,” she said.
The licensing fee ranges from P300 to P500.
A corresponding penalty has been set for traders who fail to secure a license, but Tundag said it is still yet to be imposed as the administrative order is still in its infancy stage.
Tundag said that together with the Provincial Veterinary Office, a series of information campaign is seen to be conducted in all three districts in the province in January next year, in time for the issuance and renewal of license for livestock traders.
He said that traders need to secure their permits immediately or problems will ensue when time comes they transport their livestock. “We will not issue a veterinary shipping permit to traders who are not licensed,” warns Tundag.
A veterinary shipping permit is however not only limited to livestock traders.
Tundag said regular boat passengers who will transport animals, animal products and by-products are also required to secure a veterinary shipping permit prior to boarding the vessel.
“These are possible carriers of infectious diseases…we only should transport healthy animals and by-products,” stressed Tundag.
A signboard will be put up in the total seven passenger sub-ports in the province to inform passengers about the said requirement.
Passenger sub-ports in the province are in San Jose, Amlan, La Libertad and two each in Sibulan and Guihulngan.
The chief quarantine officer was recently in a two-day Re-Tooling Seminar conducted by the Regulatory Division of DA-7 in Taptap, Cebu during which officials from the Bureau of Animal Industry discussed the new administrative order.
Other topics discussed during the seminar include the Animal Welfare Act, Administrative Order No. 9 detailing the requirements to establish an auction market, procedure for domestic transport of animals and the Avian Influenza or Bird Flu.
More than 60 participants attended the seminar, including city veterinarians and staff from the Provincial Veterinary Office.
6/29/2006
MEDIA ADVISORY 6-29-06
The Phil. Information Agency will hold an out-of-town Kapihan forum in Tanjay City on June 29 (Thursday), 2:00 p.m.
The Kapihan topic is on “Male Forum on Reproductive Health” and the guests are Dr. Irving Dingcong, municipal health officer of Ayungon; Hon. SB Member Juveleo Acabal; and Dr. Quintin Bascos, chief of hospital in Bindoy. PIA is inviting the media to cover the event.
Those who wish to do so but do not have vehicles should be at the PIA office today (June 29) before 1:00 p.m. Departure time is at 1:00.
The Kapihan topic is on “Male Forum on Reproductive Health” and the guests are Dr. Irving Dingcong, municipal health officer of Ayungon; Hon. SB Member Juveleo Acabal; and Dr. Quintin Bascos, chief of hospital in Bindoy. PIA is inviting the media to cover the event.
Those who wish to do so but do not have vehicles should be at the PIA office today (June 29) before 1:00 p.m. Departure time is at 1:00.
ISSUE NO. 26 June 29, 2006
AdCom Chair denounces anti-cha cha claims of ‘One Voice’ movement
The chairman of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) strongly denounced the claims of an anti-charter change group known only as ‘One Voice Movement’ during the recent symposium on Charter Change held at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).
Dr. Jose Abueva, who chairs the AdCom, said the claims of the One Voice Movement are all lies. “It seems…that they look down on the people as lacking discernment and lacking judgment on the issue of Charter Change,” asserts Abueva.
Abueva was reacting to the challenge posed by the new citizen’s group One Voice Movement that was recently published in a major national newspaper in which the group condemned the move to shift the current form of government into parliamentary through the People’s Initiative.
Abueva noted that of the 80 signatories that supported One Voice’s campaign, 15 were from the religious sector.
The anti-charter change group asserted that the country doesn’t need to convert into a parliamentary form of government in order to solve the woes plaguing the nation.
“But what has this current form of government brought us? Until now we haven’t solved the country’s worst problems,” argues Abueva.
He said the country continues to suffer from poverty, unemployment, political instability, threats of coup de etat, to mention a few.
Abueva also described the country’s electoral process as “corrupting” and costly.
“But under our proposal, we’ll do away with the election…and have a unicameral parliament that will be more efficient in implementing and passing laws,” says Abueva.
The One Voice Movement also claimed that the move to implement charter change is being rushed through the People’s Initiative, a process that the group describes as a “deception.”
But Abueva said the group’s claim is false, as “never before in the history of the Philippines have we consulted the people [on Charter Change] as [much] we are consulting them now.”
He said that public fora and nationwide consultations have already been happening long before the Sigaw ng Bayan has launched the People’s Initiative.
The People’s Initiative has now gathered more than 10 million signatures nationwide, which Atty. Raul Lambino says is proof that the country needs charter change now.
Since launching the advocacy campaign on Cha-Cha, the combined forces of the Sigaw ng Bayan, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and the Charter Change AdCom have barnstormed in the provinces to articulate the issue of constitutional reforms to a higher level of national consciousness.
Malacañang welcomed the challenge of One Voice, saying this will keep the issue alive and the public more informed about its pros and cons.
“We need to keep the debate burning on the pros and cons and we hope that in the end, all sides will accept the sovereign verdict and will of the people,” says Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye Jr.
Cha cha now, not later - Lambino
Change the charter now or else the country will continue to suffer, warned Atty. Raul Lambino, spokesperson of Sigaw ng Bayan and convenor of the People’s Initiative, who described the current form of government in the country as “degenerated” and have not supported the needs of the people.
Lambino, speaking before an audience of 5,000 which packed the Cultural and Sports Gymnasium of Negros Oriental State University in its 2nd Charter Anniversary celebration, said that things can only take a turn for the worse if the country will not institute reforms that will strengthen democratic institutions in the country.
“Ten years from now, if we don’t change this degenerated form of government, even East Timor would surpass us,” says Lambino.
Because of the dismal lack of opportunities available here, Filipinos are going out of the country “to beg for dollars.”
He stressed that the parliamentary form of government has been successful in most countries in Asia and Europe.
Philippines remains the only country in South East Asia that has a presidential form of government, says Negros Oriental 3rd District Congressman Herminio Teves in the same forum.
According to the congressman, the economy of the neighboring countries of the Philippines has improved under a parliamentary government.
Around 5,000 students, faculty and staff of NORSU and its satellite campuses turned up at the symposium during which Ambassador Jose Romero Jr., executive director of Asian Center for the Study of Democracy and Atty. Alex Andrew Icao of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Negros Oriental Chapter served as speakers.
While the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) agrees with the convenors of One Voice that the country needs far-reaching reforms, the Commission maintained that the group has failed to see on a deeper level the realities why the people are urgently calling for wholesale changes.
“We are glad that they (One Voice) are aware that we are beset with recurring problems that have incredibly swelled over the years since our Independence. But we disagree with the kind of prescription they’re offering to remedy the worsening economic and political situation,” said AdCom chairman Lito Monico Lorenzana.
Lorenzana said the proposal of One Voice to “discontinue the people’s initiative” is a “snobbish and elitist remark to paralyze and kill the legitimate efforts of citizens to assert their right in amending the constitution via a people’s initiative.”
According to Lorenzana, an elitist group of prominent faces such as One Voice—which is composed of few members of the Catholic clergy, academe, business, former government officials, and newspaper columnists—“cannot dictate to the 10 million Filipinos to stop their initiative just because it does not fit into their description of their very limited consensus without the benefit of concrete alternatives.”
“On the contrary, there is a growing consensus for specific changes that have been widely articulated among the broad marginalized sector of society. The people’s initiative is in fact an expansive consensus of the masa from Aparri to Jolo who don’t have the luxury to ride in expensive cars,” Lorenzana noted.
He added that the poor have the biggest stake in a democracy and not those who have the means to advertise their names in the guise of a non-partisan movement of concerned citizens, noting that these people are actually serving largely as voices of those who have hidden presidential ambitions.
“You don’t diminish and snob the people’s initiative just because they don’t have the means to advertise their influence,” Lorenzana added.
Negrenses capture Muaythai gold on Olympic Day Festival for Asian
Three members of the Dumaguete-Oriental Negros Muaythai Team walked away with the gold during the three-day Olympic Day Festival – Philippine Muaythai League 2006 held June 23 to 25 at SM Manila.
The Philippine Muaythai League 2006 is part of a week-long Olympic Day Festival play-offs that will determine who are the national contenders for the Asian Games in 2006.
Walter “Wa-wa” Zaldarriaga, 17 from Dumaguete City, punched and kicked his way to the 54-57 kgs Championship title, defeating Narciso Arcibar from Makati. Referee Billy Alumno stepped in 45 seconds into the first round to stop the fight as it looked like Narciso was unable to defend himself from Wa-Wa’s torrent of punches and kicks.
In the 32 kgs Junior Championship Title, John Rey “Jon-jon” Bendijo, 13 from Bacong faced off against Efren Lopez from Caloocan and came out with the gold. At 30 seconds into the 2nd round, Lopez gave a verbal submission after being punched squarely in the face.
Romnick Pabalate, former Dumaguete Muaythai student from Mabinay and recently drafted to the Philippine Muaythai Team, scored a gold victory after facing off against Jayson Basa from Quezon City during the 45-48 kgs Championship Title fight.
The OrNeg Team is led by Coach Bernabe Bustillo with the support of Governor George P. Arnaiz.
The 27 bouts held at SM Manila saw an estimated attendance of over 1,000 spectators.
Meanwhile, the Dumaguete-OrNeg Muaythai Team is set for kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Fights dubbed as “Ground and Pound” on July 8, 2006 at the New Cebu Coliseum Complex, according to MAP Visayas Region Commissioner Kru Ike Xavier Villaflores.
The OrNeg Muaythai Team under Villaflores trains at the Dumaguete Muaythai Association Headquarters along Dr. Meciano Road, this city at 5:30 p.m. every Monday to Saturday.
In observance of Environment Month
“Environmental protection, a shared responsibility”- DENR
SIQUIJOR-- Noting the series of natural calamities hitting the country, most of which are being linked to “man’s neglect to nature” the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) here reiterates once more his call for environmental protection in the province.
PENRO Oscar Magallones during the forum with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) urged everyone to be “responsible stewards” of the resources that God entrusted to man.
Echoing Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes’s messages for the celebration of Environment Month in June, Magallanes said the protection of the environment is not only a DENR concern but a shared responsibility. “Matag usa kanato adunay katungdanan sa paprotehar sa atong kalikupan tungod kay kini hinulaman lamang natgo sa atong umaabot nga kaliwatan,” he said as he stressed the government’s strong campaign against illegal logging and wild animal hunting and poaching, among others.
He also urged everyone to clean the surroundings, plant trees and preserve the natural resources not only during environment month.
Magallones especially calls on the Siquijodnons to maintains the present state of the province as one of the eco-tourism sites in the country. He said Siquijor is lucky it is yet free from pollution compared to other big cities and therefore should be preserved and protected.
This, however does not exempt the local government units of the province from identifying/putting up a landfill site that the law requires, says Magallones.
The PENRO also pushed for proper segregation of waste in every household stressing that there is money in trash if we only know how to manage them. Along with this, the DENR, he said is undertaking an advocacy campaign of waste recycling, segregation and reduction through the launching of “Recyclables Collection Event” (RCE) on June 17 in Cebu.
The basic concept of RCE is to earn money out of garbage or waste materials, says Magallones.
PNP eyes TOPCOP center to protect tourists, investors
SIQUIJOR-- The Philippine National Police is eyeing for the establishment and operationalization of a TOPCOP or Tourist Oriented Police Community Oriented Police center in the province.
According to the PNP here, Siquijor province is one of the tourist destinations in Region 7 that proposed for the construction of TOPCOP centers totalins to some P6,370,400 based on the proposed financial and logistical requirements submitted by the Police Regional Office-7.
Areas proposed for the project are Panglao in Bohol, Mactan of Cebu, Siquijor and Dumaguete
with a proposed budget of P1,529,600 each for the construction alone.
The establishment of TOPCOP centers is one of the measures seen by the government not only to protect tourists and other foreign visitors in the country but to enhance the general peace and order situation of the country’s tourist destination, as well as improve its overall travel and investment climate.
The incidence of crimes committed against tourists, investors and foreign visitors is projecting a negative image for our country abroad, hence it is imperative that appropriate and stringent measures be taken,” the PNP said.
The government, in its effort to spur progress and development is stepping up a more vigorous war against insurgency, terrorism and other forms of criminality citing particularly the reported CPP-NPA’s extortion activities.
One of the objectives of its renewed and revitalized campaign against the CPP-NPA is for the armed forces to stand in the way of the insurgents’ extortion activities and to ensure that an environment of law and order prevails. In this way, free enterprise can provide income and jobs to the people, Malacañang said.
Noting that “people have long witnessed how the CPP-NPA has been extorting in gang-land fashion not only from the businessmen but also from the workers through their so-called revolutionary taxes,” the administration warns business firms not to be easily swayed to pay extortion for the NPA although it is understood that oftentimes they are put under threat to do so.
“Extortions by the NPA terrorists must be put to a stop by increasing the pressure on them and keeping them on the run. The operations against the insurgents need to be intensified to carry out the administration’s goal of spurring progress and development through law enforcement, social justice and economic improvement,” Malacañang said.
DOLE calls on entrepreneurs to register as BMBEs to ease the impact of wage hike
SIQUIJOR-- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here called on the entrepreneurs in Siquijor province to register as Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) to lessen the impact of wage increase on establishments.
DOLE made the call during its recent Technical Assistance Visit Orientation Seminar conducted among members of the Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (SCCII) and some local entrepreneurs.
Engr. Vicente Abordo of DOLE-7’s Technical Assistance Visit (TAV) team said that while business employers have to comply with the labor standards, the government is offering them a way out to ease the burden of wage hike to establishments through the BMBE law.
Following the labor sector’s clamor for an increase in wages due to the change in economic conditions, another round of wage hike may be implemented on July 24.
Siquijor’s daily minimum wage is currently pegged at P190 for non-agriculture and P175 for agriculture workers.
Abordo said that the law provided benefits and incentives to BMBE-registered businesses among which are exemption from taxes and fees and exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law.
He explained that the law clearly states that BMBEs shall be exempt from the coverage of the minimum wage law provided that all employees covered under the Act shall be entitled to the same benefits given to any regular employee such as social security and health care benefits.
As noted, the RTWPB in Central Visayas is deliberating on two worker’s petitions – a P75 daily wage increase from the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and a P95 across-the-board hike from the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL).
Public consultations on the issue have been set on June 15 in Dumaguete City, June 22 in Tagbilaran City and on June 29 in Cebu City.
Following the consultations, the wage board will conduct a public hearing in Cebu City on July where all sectors are expected to air their piece and submit their final position papers on the issue.
The RTWPB will then start deliberating on the workers’ petition.
Elias Cayanong, chairman of the RTWPB-7 and DOLE7 regional director, however, said that workers from the different provinces in Central Visayas can expect different wage adjustments. “That is, if the seven-man RTWPB decides to give anything,” says Cayanong.
He adds that some areas may not get any increase at all. “Instead of wage hikes, some areas may only need to improve working conditions and other benefits for the workers,” he said.
It can be noted that the RTWPB-National Capital Region (NCR) already agreed on a P25 increase in basic pay for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila Monday (June 26).
The administration believes the P25 wage hike is fair and is bent on implementing the non-wage benefits for the workers.
The administration said it understands the concerns of the labor sector and the government will now stop in searching for ways to alleviate the economic difficulties faced by the worker in the context of overall economic stabilities, Malacañang said.
On the other hand, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce an Industry (PCCI) President Donald Dee said that the government is preparing non-wage benefits like tax exemption to the minimum wage earners.
Dee added that private companies should support the efforts of the Administration in easing the burdens of the minimum wage earners.
NegOr to create CPC-6 provincial communication task force
The provincial government of Negros Oriental is set to create a Provincial Communication Task Force for the Sixth Country Program for Children (CPC-6) to advance the goals of the program in the areas covered by CPC6 in the province.
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 08-06, Governor George Arnaiz has appointed the provincial government’s communication partners from government line agencies and CPC-6 focal areas to compose the 20-man task force.
Appointed chairperson is Provincial Public Information Officer 4 Josefina Columna with PIA-Negros Oriental Infocen Manager Jennifer Catan-Tilos as co-chair.
Members include Provincial Information Officer 1 Oliver Lemence; In-Charge of information, education and communication at the Integrated Provincial Health Office Juanita Gualiza; Joy Catacutan of Department of Education provincial division; Lilian Mondarte of the Department of Labor and Employement; Victor Camion, legal research assistant at the office of Board Member Melimore Saycon; Provincial Social Welfare Officer 3 Amalia Aum; Abot-Kamay Trainee and Valencia Information Officer Desiderio Tilos; Valencia Social Welfare Officer Rowena Giangan; and Sibulan Vice Mayor Antonio Paalan.
Also included as members are the municipal public information officer-designates of the following CPC-6 focal areas: Bacong, Dauin, Siaton, Bayawan City, Dumaguete City, Tanjay City, Bais City, Jimalalud and Guihulngan.
The task force is set to meet for an organizational meeting on July 4 at 9:00 a.m. at the Governor’s Office Conference Room.
The team is expected to spearhead communication activities particularly in the following areas under CPC-6: Child Rights Advocacy and Participation, Media Advocacy and Mobilization, Communication for Behavior Change and Goals Monitoring and Advocacy.
SOUNDBYTES:
On the Economy
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commends the Regional Tripartite Wage Board of Metro Manila for expeditiously acting on the petition of our workers, saying that the board acted with fairness and sensitivity in balancing the interests of workers and employers.
The RTWB granted a P25 wage hike on Metro Manila workers recently. RTWB Director Ricardo Martinez said the amount was a compromise reached by the wage board after a series of public hearings and consultations with the concerned sectors.
The Government continues to move on with non-wage benefits to ease the burden on our workers. Congress is urged to immediately act on vital legislation such as the restructuring of the income tax system.
On Mt. Bulusan/Tropical Storm Domeng
The President is monitoring very closely the developments in the Mt. Bulusan area and other parts of the country affected by Tropical Storm Domeng.
Contingency measures have been put in place for a worst case scenario for a worst case scenario.
The President has also asked the DBM and the GSIS to prepare the release of calamity funds and emergency loans for those affected by the eruption of Mt. Bulusan.
Nevertheless, the government calls on the people from various sectors to come together in anticipation of any calamity situation and show solidarity, resiliency and altruism in times of need.
On Counter-Insurgency
MILITANT organizations led by party-list group Anakpawis launched a campaign to gather one million signatures to counter the administration’s all-out war against the New People’s Army.
However, the government is not deterred by signature drives to stop the war against proven terrorists.
The CPP-NPA has shown its true colors in its attacks against civilian and commercial installations, armed extortion activities and the purging and killing of their own kind.
The chairman of the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) strongly denounced the claims of an anti-charter change group known only as ‘One Voice Movement’ during the recent symposium on Charter Change held at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU).
Dr. Jose Abueva, who chairs the AdCom, said the claims of the One Voice Movement are all lies. “It seems…that they look down on the people as lacking discernment and lacking judgment on the issue of Charter Change,” asserts Abueva.
Abueva was reacting to the challenge posed by the new citizen’s group One Voice Movement that was recently published in a major national newspaper in which the group condemned the move to shift the current form of government into parliamentary through the People’s Initiative.
Abueva noted that of the 80 signatories that supported One Voice’s campaign, 15 were from the religious sector.
The anti-charter change group asserted that the country doesn’t need to convert into a parliamentary form of government in order to solve the woes plaguing the nation.
“But what has this current form of government brought us? Until now we haven’t solved the country’s worst problems,” argues Abueva.
He said the country continues to suffer from poverty, unemployment, political instability, threats of coup de etat, to mention a few.
Abueva also described the country’s electoral process as “corrupting” and costly.
“But under our proposal, we’ll do away with the election…and have a unicameral parliament that will be more efficient in implementing and passing laws,” says Abueva.
The One Voice Movement also claimed that the move to implement charter change is being rushed through the People’s Initiative, a process that the group describes as a “deception.”
But Abueva said the group’s claim is false, as “never before in the history of the Philippines have we consulted the people [on Charter Change] as [much] we are consulting them now.”
He said that public fora and nationwide consultations have already been happening long before the Sigaw ng Bayan has launched the People’s Initiative.
The People’s Initiative has now gathered more than 10 million signatures nationwide, which Atty. Raul Lambino says is proof that the country needs charter change now.
Since launching the advocacy campaign on Cha-Cha, the combined forces of the Sigaw ng Bayan, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and the Charter Change AdCom have barnstormed in the provinces to articulate the issue of constitutional reforms to a higher level of national consciousness.
Malacañang welcomed the challenge of One Voice, saying this will keep the issue alive and the public more informed about its pros and cons.
“We need to keep the debate burning on the pros and cons and we hope that in the end, all sides will accept the sovereign verdict and will of the people,” says Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye Jr.
Cha cha now, not later - Lambino
Change the charter now or else the country will continue to suffer, warned Atty. Raul Lambino, spokesperson of Sigaw ng Bayan and convenor of the People’s Initiative, who described the current form of government in the country as “degenerated” and have not supported the needs of the people.
Lambino, speaking before an audience of 5,000 which packed the Cultural and Sports Gymnasium of Negros Oriental State University in its 2nd Charter Anniversary celebration, said that things can only take a turn for the worse if the country will not institute reforms that will strengthen democratic institutions in the country.
“Ten years from now, if we don’t change this degenerated form of government, even East Timor would surpass us,” says Lambino.
Because of the dismal lack of opportunities available here, Filipinos are going out of the country “to beg for dollars.”
He stressed that the parliamentary form of government has been successful in most countries in Asia and Europe.
Philippines remains the only country in South East Asia that has a presidential form of government, says Negros Oriental 3rd District Congressman Herminio Teves in the same forum.
According to the congressman, the economy of the neighboring countries of the Philippines has improved under a parliamentary government.
Around 5,000 students, faculty and staff of NORSU and its satellite campuses turned up at the symposium during which Ambassador Jose Romero Jr., executive director of Asian Center for the Study of Democracy and Atty. Alex Andrew Icao of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Negros Oriental Chapter served as speakers.
While the Charter Change Advocacy Commission (AdCom) agrees with the convenors of One Voice that the country needs far-reaching reforms, the Commission maintained that the group has failed to see on a deeper level the realities why the people are urgently calling for wholesale changes.
“We are glad that they (One Voice) are aware that we are beset with recurring problems that have incredibly swelled over the years since our Independence. But we disagree with the kind of prescription they’re offering to remedy the worsening economic and political situation,” said AdCom chairman Lito Monico Lorenzana.
Lorenzana said the proposal of One Voice to “discontinue the people’s initiative” is a “snobbish and elitist remark to paralyze and kill the legitimate efforts of citizens to assert their right in amending the constitution via a people’s initiative.”
According to Lorenzana, an elitist group of prominent faces such as One Voice—which is composed of few members of the Catholic clergy, academe, business, former government officials, and newspaper columnists—“cannot dictate to the 10 million Filipinos to stop their initiative just because it does not fit into their description of their very limited consensus without the benefit of concrete alternatives.”
“On the contrary, there is a growing consensus for specific changes that have been widely articulated among the broad marginalized sector of society. The people’s initiative is in fact an expansive consensus of the masa from Aparri to Jolo who don’t have the luxury to ride in expensive cars,” Lorenzana noted.
He added that the poor have the biggest stake in a democracy and not those who have the means to advertise their names in the guise of a non-partisan movement of concerned citizens, noting that these people are actually serving largely as voices of those who have hidden presidential ambitions.
“You don’t diminish and snob the people’s initiative just because they don’t have the means to advertise their influence,” Lorenzana added.
Negrenses capture Muaythai gold on Olympic Day Festival for Asian
Three members of the Dumaguete-Oriental Negros Muaythai Team walked away with the gold during the three-day Olympic Day Festival – Philippine Muaythai League 2006 held June 23 to 25 at SM Manila.
The Philippine Muaythai League 2006 is part of a week-long Olympic Day Festival play-offs that will determine who are the national contenders for the Asian Games in 2006.
Walter “Wa-wa” Zaldarriaga, 17 from Dumaguete City, punched and kicked his way to the 54-57 kgs Championship title, defeating Narciso Arcibar from Makati. Referee Billy Alumno stepped in 45 seconds into the first round to stop the fight as it looked like Narciso was unable to defend himself from Wa-Wa’s torrent of punches and kicks.
In the 32 kgs Junior Championship Title, John Rey “Jon-jon” Bendijo, 13 from Bacong faced off against Efren Lopez from Caloocan and came out with the gold. At 30 seconds into the 2nd round, Lopez gave a verbal submission after being punched squarely in the face.
Romnick Pabalate, former Dumaguete Muaythai student from Mabinay and recently drafted to the Philippine Muaythai Team, scored a gold victory after facing off against Jayson Basa from Quezon City during the 45-48 kgs Championship Title fight.
The OrNeg Team is led by Coach Bernabe Bustillo with the support of Governor George P. Arnaiz.
The 27 bouts held at SM Manila saw an estimated attendance of over 1,000 spectators.
Meanwhile, the Dumaguete-OrNeg Muaythai Team is set for kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Fights dubbed as “Ground and Pound” on July 8, 2006 at the New Cebu Coliseum Complex, according to MAP Visayas Region Commissioner Kru Ike Xavier Villaflores.
The OrNeg Muaythai Team under Villaflores trains at the Dumaguete Muaythai Association Headquarters along Dr. Meciano Road, this city at 5:30 p.m. every Monday to Saturday.
In observance of Environment Month
“Environmental protection, a shared responsibility”- DENR
SIQUIJOR-- Noting the series of natural calamities hitting the country, most of which are being linked to “man’s neglect to nature” the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) here reiterates once more his call for environmental protection in the province.
PENRO Oscar Magallones during the forum with Philippine Information Agency (PIA) urged everyone to be “responsible stewards” of the resources that God entrusted to man.
Echoing Environment Secretary Angelo T. Reyes’s messages for the celebration of Environment Month in June, Magallanes said the protection of the environment is not only a DENR concern but a shared responsibility. “Matag usa kanato adunay katungdanan sa paprotehar sa atong kalikupan tungod kay kini hinulaman lamang natgo sa atong umaabot nga kaliwatan,” he said as he stressed the government’s strong campaign against illegal logging and wild animal hunting and poaching, among others.
He also urged everyone to clean the surroundings, plant trees and preserve the natural resources not only during environment month.
Magallones especially calls on the Siquijodnons to maintains the present state of the province as one of the eco-tourism sites in the country. He said Siquijor is lucky it is yet free from pollution compared to other big cities and therefore should be preserved and protected.
This, however does not exempt the local government units of the province from identifying/putting up a landfill site that the law requires, says Magallones.
The PENRO also pushed for proper segregation of waste in every household stressing that there is money in trash if we only know how to manage them. Along with this, the DENR, he said is undertaking an advocacy campaign of waste recycling, segregation and reduction through the launching of “Recyclables Collection Event” (RCE) on June 17 in Cebu.
The basic concept of RCE is to earn money out of garbage or waste materials, says Magallones.
PNP eyes TOPCOP center to protect tourists, investors
SIQUIJOR-- The Philippine National Police is eyeing for the establishment and operationalization of a TOPCOP or Tourist Oriented Police Community Oriented Police center in the province.
According to the PNP here, Siquijor province is one of the tourist destinations in Region 7 that proposed for the construction of TOPCOP centers totalins to some P6,370,400 based on the proposed financial and logistical requirements submitted by the Police Regional Office-7.
Areas proposed for the project are Panglao in Bohol, Mactan of Cebu, Siquijor and Dumaguete
with a proposed budget of P1,529,600 each for the construction alone.
The establishment of TOPCOP centers is one of the measures seen by the government not only to protect tourists and other foreign visitors in the country but to enhance the general peace and order situation of the country’s tourist destination, as well as improve its overall travel and investment climate.
The incidence of crimes committed against tourists, investors and foreign visitors is projecting a negative image for our country abroad, hence it is imperative that appropriate and stringent measures be taken,” the PNP said.
The government, in its effort to spur progress and development is stepping up a more vigorous war against insurgency, terrorism and other forms of criminality citing particularly the reported CPP-NPA’s extortion activities.
One of the objectives of its renewed and revitalized campaign against the CPP-NPA is for the armed forces to stand in the way of the insurgents’ extortion activities and to ensure that an environment of law and order prevails. In this way, free enterprise can provide income and jobs to the people, Malacañang said.
Noting that “people have long witnessed how the CPP-NPA has been extorting in gang-land fashion not only from the businessmen but also from the workers through their so-called revolutionary taxes,” the administration warns business firms not to be easily swayed to pay extortion for the NPA although it is understood that oftentimes they are put under threat to do so.
“Extortions by the NPA terrorists must be put to a stop by increasing the pressure on them and keeping them on the run. The operations against the insurgents need to be intensified to carry out the administration’s goal of spurring progress and development through law enforcement, social justice and economic improvement,” Malacañang said.
DOLE calls on entrepreneurs to register as BMBEs to ease the impact of wage hike
SIQUIJOR-- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here called on the entrepreneurs in Siquijor province to register as Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) to lessen the impact of wage increase on establishments.
DOLE made the call during its recent Technical Assistance Visit Orientation Seminar conducted among members of the Siquijor Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (SCCII) and some local entrepreneurs.
Engr. Vicente Abordo of DOLE-7’s Technical Assistance Visit (TAV) team said that while business employers have to comply with the labor standards, the government is offering them a way out to ease the burden of wage hike to establishments through the BMBE law.
Following the labor sector’s clamor for an increase in wages due to the change in economic conditions, another round of wage hike may be implemented on July 24.
Siquijor’s daily minimum wage is currently pegged at P190 for non-agriculture and P175 for agriculture workers.
Abordo said that the law provided benefits and incentives to BMBE-registered businesses among which are exemption from taxes and fees and exemption from the coverage of the minimum wage law.
He explained that the law clearly states that BMBEs shall be exempt from the coverage of the minimum wage law provided that all employees covered under the Act shall be entitled to the same benefits given to any regular employee such as social security and health care benefits.
As noted, the RTWPB in Central Visayas is deliberating on two worker’s petitions – a P75 daily wage increase from the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) and a P95 across-the-board hike from the Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL).
Public consultations on the issue have been set on June 15 in Dumaguete City, June 22 in Tagbilaran City and on June 29 in Cebu City.
Following the consultations, the wage board will conduct a public hearing in Cebu City on July where all sectors are expected to air their piece and submit their final position papers on the issue.
The RTWPB will then start deliberating on the workers’ petition.
Elias Cayanong, chairman of the RTWPB-7 and DOLE7 regional director, however, said that workers from the different provinces in Central Visayas can expect different wage adjustments. “That is, if the seven-man RTWPB decides to give anything,” says Cayanong.
He adds that some areas may not get any increase at all. “Instead of wage hikes, some areas may only need to improve working conditions and other benefits for the workers,” he said.
It can be noted that the RTWPB-National Capital Region (NCR) already agreed on a P25 increase in basic pay for minimum wage earners in Metro Manila Monday (June 26).
The administration believes the P25 wage hike is fair and is bent on implementing the non-wage benefits for the workers.
The administration said it understands the concerns of the labor sector and the government will now stop in searching for ways to alleviate the economic difficulties faced by the worker in the context of overall economic stabilities, Malacañang said.
On the other hand, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce an Industry (PCCI) President Donald Dee said that the government is preparing non-wage benefits like tax exemption to the minimum wage earners.
Dee added that private companies should support the efforts of the Administration in easing the burdens of the minimum wage earners.
NegOr to create CPC-6 provincial communication task force
The provincial government of Negros Oriental is set to create a Provincial Communication Task Force for the Sixth Country Program for Children (CPC-6) to advance the goals of the program in the areas covered by CPC6 in the province.
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 08-06, Governor George Arnaiz has appointed the provincial government’s communication partners from government line agencies and CPC-6 focal areas to compose the 20-man task force.
Appointed chairperson is Provincial Public Information Officer 4 Josefina Columna with PIA-Negros Oriental Infocen Manager Jennifer Catan-Tilos as co-chair.
Members include Provincial Information Officer 1 Oliver Lemence; In-Charge of information, education and communication at the Integrated Provincial Health Office Juanita Gualiza; Joy Catacutan of Department of Education provincial division; Lilian Mondarte of the Department of Labor and Employement; Victor Camion, legal research assistant at the office of Board Member Melimore Saycon; Provincial Social Welfare Officer 3 Amalia Aum; Abot-Kamay Trainee and Valencia Information Officer Desiderio Tilos; Valencia Social Welfare Officer Rowena Giangan; and Sibulan Vice Mayor Antonio Paalan.
Also included as members are the municipal public information officer-designates of the following CPC-6 focal areas: Bacong, Dauin, Siaton, Bayawan City, Dumaguete City, Tanjay City, Bais City, Jimalalud and Guihulngan.
The task force is set to meet for an organizational meeting on July 4 at 9:00 a.m. at the Governor’s Office Conference Room.
The team is expected to spearhead communication activities particularly in the following areas under CPC-6: Child Rights Advocacy and Participation, Media Advocacy and Mobilization, Communication for Behavior Change and Goals Monitoring and Advocacy.
SOUNDBYTES:
On the Economy
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commends the Regional Tripartite Wage Board of Metro Manila for expeditiously acting on the petition of our workers, saying that the board acted with fairness and sensitivity in balancing the interests of workers and employers.
The RTWB granted a P25 wage hike on Metro Manila workers recently. RTWB Director Ricardo Martinez said the amount was a compromise reached by the wage board after a series of public hearings and consultations with the concerned sectors.
The Government continues to move on with non-wage benefits to ease the burden on our workers. Congress is urged to immediately act on vital legislation such as the restructuring of the income tax system.
On Mt. Bulusan/Tropical Storm Domeng
The President is monitoring very closely the developments in the Mt. Bulusan area and other parts of the country affected by Tropical Storm Domeng.
Contingency measures have been put in place for a worst case scenario for a worst case scenario.
The President has also asked the DBM and the GSIS to prepare the release of calamity funds and emergency loans for those affected by the eruption of Mt. Bulusan.
Nevertheless, the government calls on the people from various sectors to come together in anticipation of any calamity situation and show solidarity, resiliency and altruism in times of need.
On Counter-Insurgency
MILITANT organizations led by party-list group Anakpawis launched a campaign to gather one million signatures to counter the administration’s all-out war against the New People’s Army.
However, the government is not deterred by signature drives to stop the war against proven terrorists.
The CPP-NPA has shown its true colors in its attacks against civilian and commercial installations, armed extortion activities and the purging and killing of their own kind.
6/27/2006
PHOTO RELEASE 6-27-06
Symposium on Charter Change: Issues and Concerns
NORSU Cultural and Sports Gymnasium
June 26, 2006
Note: News release to follow.
Ambassador Jose Villanueva Romero, Jr., Executive Director of Asian Center for the Study of Democracy.
Atty. Raul Lambino, spokesperson of the Sigaw ng Bayan and convenor of the People's Initiative.
NORSU Cultural and Sports Gymnasium
June 26, 2006
Note: News release to follow.
Ambassador Jose Villanueva Romero, Jr., Executive Director of Asian Center for the Study of Democracy.
The NORSU gymnasium jampacked with around 5,000 students, faculty and staff from NORSU and its satellite campuses.
Atty. Raul Lambino, spokesperson of the Sigaw ng Bayan and convenor of the People's Initiative. 6/26/2006
PANLANTAW 2nd Issue
The second issue of Panlantaw, the official newsletter of ANOPIO or the Association of Negros Oriental Public Information Officers (ANOPIO) is now off the press! Panlantaw's maiden issue was relased late last year in time for the province's Buglasan Festival of Festivals.
Panlantaw is edited by Municipality of Sibulan Information Officer Connie Rosales with PIA Information Manager Jenny Tilos as the editorial consultant. The design/layout is by Rachelle Nessia, IO-2 of PIA, with IO-2 Lindy Pagunsan as the business manager. Circulation is facilitated by PIA AV Tech 2 Leo Duran and Dario Punzalan.
Oliver Lemence with PIA AV Tech Leo Duran during the paper's distribution.
ANOPIO during their June 22 meeting at the PIA office.
Panlantaw is edited by Municipality of Sibulan Information Officer Connie Rosales with PIA Information Manager Jenny Tilos as the editorial consultant. The design/layout is by Rachelle Nessia, IO-2 of PIA, with IO-2 Lindy Pagunsan as the business manager. Circulation is facilitated by PIA AV Tech 2 Leo Duran and Dario Punzalan.
Still hot from the printing press, copies of Panlantaw were distributed to the different information officers in the province composing ANOPIO. Photo shows (L-R): Oliver Lemence, information officer of the Governor's Office; Eli Manlangit, Bayawan City Public Information Officer and ANOPIO President with PIA IO-2 Lindy Pagunsan browsing the Panlantaw pages.
Oliver Lemence with PIA AV Tech Leo Duran during the paper's distribution.ANOPIO during their June 22 meeting at the PIA office.6/23/2006
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Dumaguete media is invited to cover the Symposium on "Charter Change: Issues and Concerns" on June 26, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) Cultural and Sports Complex.
6/22/2006
Issue No. 25 June 22, 2006
NORSU holds symposium on Charter Change
A symposium on “Charter Change: Issues and Concerns” will be conducted by the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) on June 26, 2006, 2:00 p.m. at the state university’s Cultural and Sports Complex to highlight the 2nd Charter Anniversary of NORSU as a state university.
NORSU, from being then Central Visayas Polytechnic College, became a state university on June 25, 2004 through Republic Act 9299 signed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Local and national luminaries will compose the panel of speakers during the symposium, namely: Ambassador Jose Villanueva Romero Jr., Executive Director of Asian Center for the Study of Democracy; Dr. Jose Abueva, former University of the Philippines President and Chairman of the Advocacy Commission (AdCom) on Charter Change; Lawyer Raul Lambino, Spokesperson of Sigaw ng Bayan and convenor of the People’s Initiative; and Lawyer Alex Andrew Icao who will represent the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Negros Oriental Chapter.
Abueva, Romero and Lambino will speak in favor of Charter Change while Icao will present the stand of the IBP, which is against Cha-Cha.
Abueva was also in Dumaguete City for a similar forum conducted at St. Paul University last month during which he and AdCom member and former Senator Vicente Paterno discussed the pro’s and con’s of the proposed shift to a parliamentary form of government.
The symposium will be attended by students, faculty and staff of NORSU main campuses in Dumaguete and faculty and administrators of its satellite campuses, says Joy Perez, NORSU Information Officer.
Whether or not to change the constitution remains the hottest talk in the country.
Recently, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza declared with aplomb that “victory is at hand” for the overwhelming majority of Filipinos backing constitutional reforms.
Atienza made the bold declaration during the two-day series of “ULAP sa TOP” forums during which he pointed to independent surveys validating the vast public support for the parliamentary shift and the fact that the signatures for the People’s Initiative have already been verified in almost all of the country’s 213 legislative districts.
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her opening statement with officials of the North Luzon super-region in Cauayan, Isabela said the millions of signatures gathered by the Sigaw ng Bayan movement have made charter change a legitimate issue.
“I am thanking all of you who were involved in the people’s initiative. With eight million plus signatures supporting people’s initiative as a legitimate issue, this gives the initiative and the Constituent assembly a life of their own,” she said.
ULAP sa TOP (Tao at Organisasyon sa Pagbabago) summits make up the information blitz that the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines launched nationwide to educate the public on the merits of the parliamentary system and get their feedback on what type of parliament, along with the powers of the President and the Prime Minister, they want to be adopted.
PAO to award 12 schools successfully implementing GPAK program
Twelve schools that have successfully implemented the Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan (GPAK) in the province will be recognized by the Provincial Agriculturist Office during the GPAK Awarding Program on June 27, 2006 at 9:00 a.m.
GPAK is now on its fourth year of implementation in the different public elementary schools in the province.
The winning schools were chosen after an evaluation conducted in the participating schools in the three congressional districts in Negros Oriental.
Prizes in the form projects will be given to the three top schools in each district under two categories, namely Gulayan and Palaisdaan categories.
The winning schools under the Gulayan category this year are:
First District:
- Tinaogan Elementary School, Bindoy (1st Prize)
- Pinocauan Elementary School, Vallehermoso (2nd Prize)
- Bindoy Central School, Bindoy (3rd Prize)
Second Disrict:
- Azagra Elementary School, Tanjay City (1st prize)
- Don Loreto Ledesma Memorial School, Tanjay City (2nd Prize)
- Bagtic Elementary School, Mabinay (3rd Prize)
Third District:
- AMRES Elementary School, Sta. Catalina (1st Prize)
- Minaba Elementary School, Bayawan City (2nd Prize)
- Caniogan Valley Elementary School, Sta. Catalina (3rd Prize)
Under the Palaisdaan category, the winning schools are Maayongtubig Elementary School in Dauin (1st prize), Baslay Elementary School in Dauin (2nd prize) and Liptong Elementary School in Valencia (3rd prize).
The winning schools will receive prizes through projects. First prize winner under the Gulayan category will receive projects worth P100,000, second prize winner P75,000, and P50,000 for third prize while winning schools under the Palaisdaan category will receive P50,000 for first prize, P30,000 for second prize and P20,000 for third prize.
It can be recalled that Negros Oriental has earlier been awarded as Galing Pook Awardee for 2005 due to its successful implementation of the GPAK program in coordination with the Department of Education, Provincial Agriculture Office and the local government units here.
PGMA opens more “Tindahan Natin” Outlets in CV
More than 100 store operators in Central Visayas have been identified for the PGMA’s Tindahan Natin project that went full swing this month of June.
According to the Department of Social Welfare(DSWD)-Region 7 in Cebu, almost 9,000 families from 17 identified depressed areas in Region 7 are seen to benefit from the project.
The identified areas in Oriental Negros are: Vallehermoso, Amlan, San Jose, Bindoy, Tanjay City, Bacong, Bayawan City, Pamplona, Dauin, Ayungon and Guihulngan.
In Bohol, the identified areas are Bien Unido, Balilihan, Anda, Loboc, Catigbi-an, Dimiao, Carlos P. Garcia, Dagohoy and Loon.
Meanwhile, four barangays in Cebu City were also identified, namely: Brgy. Mambaling, Pasil, Ermita and Tinago.
The families will receive their Family ID’s-cum-passbooks, which will be used for their purchase of low priced but nutrition-packed basic commodities such as rice and noodles through a store accredited by the National Food Authority (NFA).
Tindahan Natin is a national government initiative geared towards generating jobs, livelihood and food security. It initially broke ground in Manila to provide safety nets for the poor, prioritizing areas with high hunger incidence.
Under this project, DSWD in coordination with the local government units will identify the potential operators/outlets and provide necessary assistance such as financing, training, conduct of seminars and workshops for business entrepreneurs and other livelihood programs, issues the ID-cum-passbook and makes sure the prescribed selling price are sold to the target families.
NFA, on the other hand, licenses and accredits operator outlets and delivers the rice and noodles at wholesale prices for retail in the identified Tindahan Natin stores.
There are currently 115 store operators from Cebu City, Bohol and Oriental Negros that have been identified to serve the beneficiaries who are accredited by NFA.
Bayawan disaster council represents Reg 7 in NDCC Gawad Kalasag Awards
Bayawan City Disaster Coordinating Council (BCDCC) was chosen by top officials of RDCC to represent Region 7 for the 2006 National Disaster Coordinating Council Gawad Kalasag Awards.
The development came after the BCDCC landed first place during the recently concluded regional contest for the Best Pictorial Presentation of Different Disaster Management Activities in their localities where Larena and Siquijor tied for second place and Bais City for third place.
The contest was conducted during the 2nd Quarter Disaster Management Enhancement Forum for Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators at Plaza Ma. Luisa Hotel in Dumaguete City on June 15 to 16, 2006.
Entries were judged according to the following criteria: total number of disaster management activities conducted (40%); mitigation (20%); preparedness (30%); response (50%); and rehabilitation (5%) for a total of 100%.
The screening committee of the region were amazed by the number of disaster management activities being undertaken by Bayawan City Disaster Coordinating Council under the leadership of its vibrant Mayor German P. Saraña Jr.
The quarterly forum of deputized coordinators is in preparation with the onset of typhoon months and the disaster consciousness month celebration in July where it will be highlighted by the “Search for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance” with the theme: “Itaguyod ang Kaunlaran ng Bayan, Kalamidad ay Paghandaan.”
Meanwhile, the deputized coordinators elected their interim set of officers in Region 7 aiming to confederate themselves and to send a regional representative to the National Disaster Coordinating Council, composed of the following: President – Col. Nicolas S. Noble Jr. (Ret) of Bayawan City, three Vice Presidents represented by Col. Sozimo Magno (Ret) of Cebu province, Col. Jacinto S. Piquero (Ret) of Bohol province, and Engr. Rito Abapo for the province of Siquijor.
On September 21, 2006 Bayawan City will host the third Quarter Disaster Management Enhancement Forum for the Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators (CDCC) where different provinces will submit their ratified by-laws and hopefully on that meeting, Region 7 will be successfully confederated.
Water, sanitation dev’t council to discuss arsenic contamination
The Provincial Water and Sanitation Development Council (PWSDC) is set to meet on June 23 at Bethel Guesthouse to discuss among others arsenic contamination and some mitigating measures.
A resource person from the Silliman University Chemistry Department will expound on the subject matter from the academic point of view. To complement the presentation, another resource person have also been invited from BioQuel of Eurotrade Germany to present the processes and the equipment to filter arsenic substance from water.
PDMASP scholars in Siquijor top reg’l speech choir contest
Ten scholars under the Pres. Diosdado Magacapal Agrarian Scholarship Program (PDMASP) from Siquijor State College won the regional speech choir competition held in Ecotech, Lahug, Cebu City.
The competition, which culminated the Agraryo Escolars Convention held last June 5-6, 2006, was attended by PDMASP scholars from Bohol, Cebu, Oriental Negros and Siquijor.
The theme for the two-day event was “Delivering Sustainable Progress in the Countryside thru PDMASP.”
PDMASP is a DAR-initiated program catering to deserving children of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
The Department of Agrarian Reform is mandated to improve the lives and living conditions of the countryside through effective delivery of support services to farmer-beneficiaries and the scholars are envisioned to improve not only the lives of their respective families but their community as well.
The Agraryo Eskolars Convention, one of the activities of DAR Region 7 for the month-long celebration of the 18th CARP Anniversary, honors these selected and deserving students.
The PDMASP scholars now enrolled in Siquijor State College are: Roldan Andog, 4th Yr. BSCT; Blair Joy Agan, 4th Yr. BSE; Joylyn Ates, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Roselle Balongkit, 4th Yr. BSHRM; Maricel Mabalod, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Melita Manginsay, 4th Yr. BSBA; Jiff Kline Patay, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Chriselle Ponce, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Agustin Tamiat, 4th Yr. BSBA; and Marilyn Tumala, 4th Yr. BSEEd.
The Siquijor delegation was accompanied by the recently installed Provincial Agrarian Reform Office of DAR Siquijor, Ms. Teresita E. Depeñoso, DAR PDMASP Coordinator Leilani Jansalin, PIO Richard Leduna and Roel Taruc, Speech Choir trainor.
The participation of Siquijor scholars to the regional convention is jointly sponsored by the LGUs of Siquijor, San Juan and Maria.
ALTAMCO wins best drama in reg’l competition in Bohol
The Alanag sa Tanan Multipurpose Cooperative (ALTAMCO) Incorporated bested six other contestants as it emerged the Best Cooperative Improvement Drama Presentation with a cash prize of P15,000 and a participation prize of P1,500 during the Regional Team Work in Action (TWIA) 2006 Rally held at Demaluan Beach Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol on June 2, 2006.
The group represented Siquijor Province that competed other entries from Region VII and Region IX namely: Oriental Negros, Cebu, Bohol. Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.
It can be recalled that the ALTAMCO Inc. entry has won first place in the role play contest during the TWIA 2006 Provincial Rally sponsored by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the auspices of the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program (BIARSP) held at Dondeezco Beach Resort and Restaurant on May 22, 2006.
“We are so thankful to the services rendered by one of your faculty members, Mr. Roel D. Taroc who served as the director of the ALTAMCO role play entry,” ALTAMCO Manager Cesar Bulaybulay said.
Classes open smoothly- DepEd Siquijor
Classes opened smoothly here with no reports of unusual incidents, says Division Superintendent Fernando T. Po of the Department of Education in Siqjuijor province.
“So far, our provincial office has not received any complaints of public schools refusing to enroll students,” says Education Supervisor Luzviminda basal in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here.
Basal appealed for teachers’ and parents’ cooperation in all school activities to ensure safety as well as quality education for students.
With the opening of classes, public schools have been warned not to reject enrollment of students who are unable to pay miscellaneous fees.
Basal said a memorandum order from DepEd Secretary Fe Hidalgo was sent to public school heads to remind them not to turn down enrollees based on inability to pay miscellaneous fees.
To reinforce the order, Provincial Superintendent Dr. Fernando T. Po has earlier created a team of monitoring officers composed of DepEd planning officer and education supervisors to address enrollment-related complaints.
More Kalahi projects completed, inaugurated in EV
The town of Enrique Villanueva in the province of Siquijor was a recipient of several completed projects particularly on road, school and daycare center construction involving a combined cost of P3,559,633.
Funded under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services: Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KALAHI-CIDDS:KKB) these rural infrastructure are aimed at improving the economic and social conditions of the different target beneficiaries.
Completed and recently inaugurated projects include the Libo Elementary School Economics Building worth P915,369; the Parian asphalted FMR worth P979,756 that will benefit 205 direct and 550 indirect households; and the Manan-aon re-graveled farm to market road worth P284,777 to benefit 34 households.
On the other hand, pre-schoolers will soon enjoy their places of learning as the KALAHI program also fully completed the Poblacion Day Care Center worth P641,085 to benefit 49 direct and 12 indirect households and the Cang-mangki Daycare Center with a total sub-project cost of P738,646 to benefit 56 direct and 52 indirect households.
Local counterpart contributions from the community, municipal, barangay and the Department of Education have helped materialize the projects.
A symposium on “Charter Change: Issues and Concerns” will be conducted by the Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) on June 26, 2006, 2:00 p.m. at the state university’s Cultural and Sports Complex to highlight the 2nd Charter Anniversary of NORSU as a state university.
NORSU, from being then Central Visayas Polytechnic College, became a state university on June 25, 2004 through Republic Act 9299 signed by Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Local and national luminaries will compose the panel of speakers during the symposium, namely: Ambassador Jose Villanueva Romero Jr., Executive Director of Asian Center for the Study of Democracy; Dr. Jose Abueva, former University of the Philippines President and Chairman of the Advocacy Commission (AdCom) on Charter Change; Lawyer Raul Lambino, Spokesperson of Sigaw ng Bayan and convenor of the People’s Initiative; and Lawyer Alex Andrew Icao who will represent the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Negros Oriental Chapter.
Abueva, Romero and Lambino will speak in favor of Charter Change while Icao will present the stand of the IBP, which is against Cha-Cha.
Abueva was also in Dumaguete City for a similar forum conducted at St. Paul University last month during which he and AdCom member and former Senator Vicente Paterno discussed the pro’s and con’s of the proposed shift to a parliamentary form of government.
The symposium will be attended by students, faculty and staff of NORSU main campuses in Dumaguete and faculty and administrators of its satellite campuses, says Joy Perez, NORSU Information Officer.
Whether or not to change the constitution remains the hottest talk in the country.
Recently, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza declared with aplomb that “victory is at hand” for the overwhelming majority of Filipinos backing constitutional reforms.
Atienza made the bold declaration during the two-day series of “ULAP sa TOP” forums during which he pointed to independent surveys validating the vast public support for the parliamentary shift and the fact that the signatures for the People’s Initiative have already been verified in almost all of the country’s 213 legislative districts.
Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her opening statement with officials of the North Luzon super-region in Cauayan, Isabela said the millions of signatures gathered by the Sigaw ng Bayan movement have made charter change a legitimate issue.
“I am thanking all of you who were involved in the people’s initiative. With eight million plus signatures supporting people’s initiative as a legitimate issue, this gives the initiative and the Constituent assembly a life of their own,” she said.
ULAP sa TOP (Tao at Organisasyon sa Pagbabago) summits make up the information blitz that the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines launched nationwide to educate the public on the merits of the parliamentary system and get their feedback on what type of parliament, along with the powers of the President and the Prime Minister, they want to be adopted.
PAO to award 12 schools successfully implementing GPAK program
Twelve schools that have successfully implemented the Gulayan at Palaisdaan Alay sa Kabataan (GPAK) in the province will be recognized by the Provincial Agriculturist Office during the GPAK Awarding Program on June 27, 2006 at 9:00 a.m.
GPAK is now on its fourth year of implementation in the different public elementary schools in the province.
The winning schools were chosen after an evaluation conducted in the participating schools in the three congressional districts in Negros Oriental.
Prizes in the form projects will be given to the three top schools in each district under two categories, namely Gulayan and Palaisdaan categories.
The winning schools under the Gulayan category this year are:
First District:
- Tinaogan Elementary School, Bindoy (1st Prize)
- Pinocauan Elementary School, Vallehermoso (2nd Prize)
- Bindoy Central School, Bindoy (3rd Prize)
Second Disrict:
- Azagra Elementary School, Tanjay City (1st prize)
- Don Loreto Ledesma Memorial School, Tanjay City (2nd Prize)
- Bagtic Elementary School, Mabinay (3rd Prize)
Third District:
- AMRES Elementary School, Sta. Catalina (1st Prize)
- Minaba Elementary School, Bayawan City (2nd Prize)
- Caniogan Valley Elementary School, Sta. Catalina (3rd Prize)
Under the Palaisdaan category, the winning schools are Maayongtubig Elementary School in Dauin (1st prize), Baslay Elementary School in Dauin (2nd prize) and Liptong Elementary School in Valencia (3rd prize).
The winning schools will receive prizes through projects. First prize winner under the Gulayan category will receive projects worth P100,000, second prize winner P75,000, and P50,000 for third prize while winning schools under the Palaisdaan category will receive P50,000 for first prize, P30,000 for second prize and P20,000 for third prize.
It can be recalled that Negros Oriental has earlier been awarded as Galing Pook Awardee for 2005 due to its successful implementation of the GPAK program in coordination with the Department of Education, Provincial Agriculture Office and the local government units here.
PGMA opens more “Tindahan Natin” Outlets in CV
More than 100 store operators in Central Visayas have been identified for the PGMA’s Tindahan Natin project that went full swing this month of June.
According to the Department of Social Welfare(DSWD)-Region 7 in Cebu, almost 9,000 families from 17 identified depressed areas in Region 7 are seen to benefit from the project.
The identified areas in Oriental Negros are: Vallehermoso, Amlan, San Jose, Bindoy, Tanjay City, Bacong, Bayawan City, Pamplona, Dauin, Ayungon and Guihulngan.
In Bohol, the identified areas are Bien Unido, Balilihan, Anda, Loboc, Catigbi-an, Dimiao, Carlos P. Garcia, Dagohoy and Loon.
Meanwhile, four barangays in Cebu City were also identified, namely: Brgy. Mambaling, Pasil, Ermita and Tinago.
The families will receive their Family ID’s-cum-passbooks, which will be used for their purchase of low priced but nutrition-packed basic commodities such as rice and noodles through a store accredited by the National Food Authority (NFA).
Tindahan Natin is a national government initiative geared towards generating jobs, livelihood and food security. It initially broke ground in Manila to provide safety nets for the poor, prioritizing areas with high hunger incidence.
Under this project, DSWD in coordination with the local government units will identify the potential operators/outlets and provide necessary assistance such as financing, training, conduct of seminars and workshops for business entrepreneurs and other livelihood programs, issues the ID-cum-passbook and makes sure the prescribed selling price are sold to the target families.
NFA, on the other hand, licenses and accredits operator outlets and delivers the rice and noodles at wholesale prices for retail in the identified Tindahan Natin stores.
There are currently 115 store operators from Cebu City, Bohol and Oriental Negros that have been identified to serve the beneficiaries who are accredited by NFA.
Bayawan disaster council represents Reg 7 in NDCC Gawad Kalasag Awards
Bayawan City Disaster Coordinating Council (BCDCC) was chosen by top officials of RDCC to represent Region 7 for the 2006 National Disaster Coordinating Council Gawad Kalasag Awards.
The development came after the BCDCC landed first place during the recently concluded regional contest for the Best Pictorial Presentation of Different Disaster Management Activities in their localities where Larena and Siquijor tied for second place and Bais City for third place.
The contest was conducted during the 2nd Quarter Disaster Management Enhancement Forum for Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators at Plaza Ma. Luisa Hotel in Dumaguete City on June 15 to 16, 2006.
Entries were judged according to the following criteria: total number of disaster management activities conducted (40%); mitigation (20%); preparedness (30%); response (50%); and rehabilitation (5%) for a total of 100%.
The screening committee of the region were amazed by the number of disaster management activities being undertaken by Bayawan City Disaster Coordinating Council under the leadership of its vibrant Mayor German P. Saraña Jr.
The quarterly forum of deputized coordinators is in preparation with the onset of typhoon months and the disaster consciousness month celebration in July where it will be highlighted by the “Search for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance” with the theme: “Itaguyod ang Kaunlaran ng Bayan, Kalamidad ay Paghandaan.”
Meanwhile, the deputized coordinators elected their interim set of officers in Region 7 aiming to confederate themselves and to send a regional representative to the National Disaster Coordinating Council, composed of the following: President – Col. Nicolas S. Noble Jr. (Ret) of Bayawan City, three Vice Presidents represented by Col. Sozimo Magno (Ret) of Cebu province, Col. Jacinto S. Piquero (Ret) of Bohol province, and Engr. Rito Abapo for the province of Siquijor.
On September 21, 2006 Bayawan City will host the third Quarter Disaster Management Enhancement Forum for the Civil Defense Deputized Coordinators (CDCC) where different provinces will submit their ratified by-laws and hopefully on that meeting, Region 7 will be successfully confederated.
Water, sanitation dev’t council to discuss arsenic contamination
The Provincial Water and Sanitation Development Council (PWSDC) is set to meet on June 23 at Bethel Guesthouse to discuss among others arsenic contamination and some mitigating measures.
A resource person from the Silliman University Chemistry Department will expound on the subject matter from the academic point of view. To complement the presentation, another resource person have also been invited from BioQuel of Eurotrade Germany to present the processes and the equipment to filter arsenic substance from water.
PDMASP scholars in Siquijor top reg’l speech choir contest
Ten scholars under the Pres. Diosdado Magacapal Agrarian Scholarship Program (PDMASP) from Siquijor State College won the regional speech choir competition held in Ecotech, Lahug, Cebu City.
The competition, which culminated the Agraryo Escolars Convention held last June 5-6, 2006, was attended by PDMASP scholars from Bohol, Cebu, Oriental Negros and Siquijor.
The theme for the two-day event was “Delivering Sustainable Progress in the Countryside thru PDMASP.”
PDMASP is a DAR-initiated program catering to deserving children of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
The Department of Agrarian Reform is mandated to improve the lives and living conditions of the countryside through effective delivery of support services to farmer-beneficiaries and the scholars are envisioned to improve not only the lives of their respective families but their community as well.
The Agraryo Eskolars Convention, one of the activities of DAR Region 7 for the month-long celebration of the 18th CARP Anniversary, honors these selected and deserving students.
The PDMASP scholars now enrolled in Siquijor State College are: Roldan Andog, 4th Yr. BSCT; Blair Joy Agan, 4th Yr. BSE; Joylyn Ates, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Roselle Balongkit, 4th Yr. BSHRM; Maricel Mabalod, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Melita Manginsay, 4th Yr. BSBA; Jiff Kline Patay, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Chriselle Ponce, 2nd Yr. BSIT; Agustin Tamiat, 4th Yr. BSBA; and Marilyn Tumala, 4th Yr. BSEEd.
The Siquijor delegation was accompanied by the recently installed Provincial Agrarian Reform Office of DAR Siquijor, Ms. Teresita E. Depeñoso, DAR PDMASP Coordinator Leilani Jansalin, PIO Richard Leduna and Roel Taruc, Speech Choir trainor.
The participation of Siquijor scholars to the regional convention is jointly sponsored by the LGUs of Siquijor, San Juan and Maria.
ALTAMCO wins best drama in reg’l competition in Bohol
The Alanag sa Tanan Multipurpose Cooperative (ALTAMCO) Incorporated bested six other contestants as it emerged the Best Cooperative Improvement Drama Presentation with a cash prize of P15,000 and a participation prize of P1,500 during the Regional Team Work in Action (TWIA) 2006 Rally held at Demaluan Beach Resort in Panglao Island, Bohol on June 2, 2006.
The group represented Siquijor Province that competed other entries from Region VII and Region IX namely: Oriental Negros, Cebu, Bohol. Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte.
It can be recalled that the ALTAMCO Inc. entry has won first place in the role play contest during the TWIA 2006 Provincial Rally sponsored by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the auspices of the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program (BIARSP) held at Dondeezco Beach Resort and Restaurant on May 22, 2006.
“We are so thankful to the services rendered by one of your faculty members, Mr. Roel D. Taroc who served as the director of the ALTAMCO role play entry,” ALTAMCO Manager Cesar Bulaybulay said.
Classes open smoothly- DepEd Siquijor
Classes opened smoothly here with no reports of unusual incidents, says Division Superintendent Fernando T. Po of the Department of Education in Siqjuijor province.
“So far, our provincial office has not received any complaints of public schools refusing to enroll students,” says Education Supervisor Luzviminda basal in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here.
Basal appealed for teachers’ and parents’ cooperation in all school activities to ensure safety as well as quality education for students.
With the opening of classes, public schools have been warned not to reject enrollment of students who are unable to pay miscellaneous fees.
Basal said a memorandum order from DepEd Secretary Fe Hidalgo was sent to public school heads to remind them not to turn down enrollees based on inability to pay miscellaneous fees.
To reinforce the order, Provincial Superintendent Dr. Fernando T. Po has earlier created a team of monitoring officers composed of DepEd planning officer and education supervisors to address enrollment-related complaints.
More Kalahi projects completed, inaugurated in EV
The town of Enrique Villanueva in the province of Siquijor was a recipient of several completed projects particularly on road, school and daycare center construction involving a combined cost of P3,559,633.
Funded under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services: Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay (KALAHI-CIDDS:KKB) these rural infrastructure are aimed at improving the economic and social conditions of the different target beneficiaries.
Completed and recently inaugurated projects include the Libo Elementary School Economics Building worth P915,369; the Parian asphalted FMR worth P979,756 that will benefit 205 direct and 550 indirect households; and the Manan-aon re-graveled farm to market road worth P284,777 to benefit 34 households.
On the other hand, pre-schoolers will soon enjoy their places of learning as the KALAHI program also fully completed the Poblacion Day Care Center worth P641,085 to benefit 49 direct and 12 indirect households and the Cang-mangki Daycare Center with a total sub-project cost of P738,646 to benefit 56 direct and 52 indirect households.
Local counterpart contributions from the community, municipal, barangay and the Department of Education have helped materialize the projects.
6/16/2006
PHOTO RELEASE 6/16/06
VISAYAS AREA BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2006
June 15 - 17, 2006 Silliman University, Dumaguete City
Theme: "One Visayas, One Vision, One Vibrant Economy"
(L-R): Jose T. Ng - Vice President for Visayas, PCCI; Craig Reines - Vice President & General Manager, Teletech Philippines; Ambassador Donald Dee - PCCI President; Hon. Joey Salcedo - Presidential Consultant on Economic Affairs / Congressman, 3rd District, Albay; Ernesto Quiamco - NOCCI President; and Hon. Manuel Sagarbarria - Conference Director.
Craig Reines with his presentation on "Prospect & Scenario of the Visayas in the 21st Global Economy"
Congressman Joey Salceda discussing his presentation on "Visayas & the Philippines: Financial & Economic Outlook 3 Years Hence"6/15/2006
PHOTO RELEASE 6/15/06
KAPIHAN ON DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
June 14, 2006, Bethel Guesthouse, Dumaguete City
(Please see news item posted below)
Meteorologist Edsin Culi of PAGASA giving the latest weather outlook. 
L-R: Henry Villaflores, chief of the Phivolcs Seismology Division in NegOr, Board Member Arturo Umbac, PDCC executive officer; Meteorologist Edsin Culi of PAGASA; and Infocen Manager Jenny Tilos of PIA.
Hon. Arturo Umbac showing the landslide-prone and flashflood-prone areas in the province.
Henry Villaflores, chief of the seismology division of Phivolcs here.
ISSUE NO. 24 JUNE 15 2006
Bayawan boosts eco-governance project
The local government unit of Bayawan City led by Mayor German P. Saraña has already set the wheels turning for its eco-governance program that will shoot not two, but three birds with one stone - develop underutilized areas and provide a sustainable market-led agricultural development while producing alternative energy.
Under its eco-governance program, there are now 30,976 jatropha seedlings thriving in 15 nurseries in Bayawan City as of May 2006, according to Bayawan City Agriculturist Luis Sumalpong.
Jatropha, or locally known as “tuba-tuba”, is a plant capable of producing bio-diesel fuel.
Aside from jathropa, Bayawan City is also embarking on a rubber plantation project which Sumalpong said they hope to launch by the first week of July.
He disclosed that they already have an estimated 300,000 seedlings being planted in a 60-hectare stretch in a watershed area identified by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
The city government however has no plans of stopping there and is looking at expanding the rubber and jatropha plantations on a larger scale.
To encourage the 28 total barangays in the city to take part in the eco-governance program, Mayor Saraña is offering an incentive to the barangay officials.
For the barangay that can plant 350 hectares of jathropa, the city government will acquire a jatropha oil extraction machine for them, which costs around P100,000, says Sumalpong.
“The Mayor also ordered the schools to establish jathropa nurseries within the school premises,” he adds.
CENRO Chief Charlie Fabre has cited in a recent forum the active participation of the Bayawan City government in the eco-governance program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Wala pa naghisgot si President Arroyo, ang atong mayor sa Bayawan aduna na sya’y 20,000 seedlings of jatropha,” says Fabre during a forum held by the Philippine Information Agency to mark the celebration of Environment Month.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier revved up two national programs that can stem poverty and hunger in the countryside, at the core of which is the cultivation of jatropha as a diesel substitute in the government’s energy conservation program.
DENR together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) have identified more than 700,000 hectares for agro-forestry and biofuel cultivation nationwide.
Primary among the agricultural products being pushed by the President is jatropha, a drought-resistant perennial shrub whose fruit can be processed into oil and refined into diesel or burned in home stoves.
Found throughout the Philippines, jatropha has an economical life of up to 35 years and can live for 50 years.
A readily available and renewable fuel, jatropha grows fast, with little or no need for maintenance and can reach a height of three to eight meters.
Based on extensive testing done in India, three kilos of jatropha seed can produce a liter of crude jatropha oil.
Mt. Kanlaon still on alert level 1
Alert level 1 remains in effect over Mt. Kanlaon as the volcano continues to show sporadic periods of unrest.
Henry Villaflores, chief of the seismology division of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said Kanlaon Volcano recently exhibited two episodes of ash emission.
The volcano spewed minor steam ash from 4:10 to 4:44 p.m. and 5:35 to 5:50 p.m. on June 13 and then again from 5:09 to 5:30 in the morning of June 14.
“The grayish steam clouds rose to about 900 meters above the active crater and drifted to northeast and northwest,” says Villaflores, reading from the latest Kanlaon Volcano Advisory from the volcanology division during a Kapihan forum held June 14 by the Philippine Information Agency.
But no volcanic earthquakes coincident with the ash puffs were recorded
No big recorded tectonic earthquakes have been recorded either, adds Villaflores.
Phivolcs, however, is still urging the public not to enter the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone around Kanlaon Volcano.
Aside from Kanlanon, other Philippine volcanoes have also been showing periods of unrest recently.
Mt. Bulusan had been on alert level 1 beginning March 19 but on June 7, the alert level was raised to No. 2 after the volcano exhibited an elevated degree of unrest.
Also on heightened alert status are Mt. Mayon in Albay province and Taal Volcano.
Villaflores, during the forum, dismissed the notion that the volcanoes’ activities of unrest are somehow interconnected. “Volcanoes like Kanlaon, Bulusan, Mayon and Taal have different vents or sources of heat from underground. It’s just coincidental na nagkadungan na sila, but it doesn’t mean that they all have one source,” he explained.
Villaflores also assured that the two other volcanoes in the province, Cuernos de Negros and Mt. Talinis, have been quiet for more than a hundred years.
But the seismologist is not shrugging off the possibility that it might suddenly stir awake. “Pareho sa nahitabo sa Mt. Pinatubo nga dugay nang gahilom, nikalit ra man ug balik ug buto,” he said.
Although there are no known fault lines within Negros island, Villaflores said they have identified what they call as probable fault lines, or areas where an earthquake’s epicenter falls.
“Whenever there is a quake, we get the epicenter and after a few years mahitabuan na pud nga dinha dapita, we mark it on the map and call it a probable fault line,” explains Villaflores.
According to Villaflores, the probable fault lines here are in an area in Bais City crossing the mountains to Siaton town and part of Guihulngan going to San Carlos City.
The identified fault lines in the country or the Philippine Fault Zone lies on the eastern part of the Philippine Archipelago.
Board member stressed community should be ready for disaster
Board Member Arturo Umbac urged the community to brace themselves for disaster in view of the onset of rainy season starting June.
“We should be prepared and the people should not depend solely on the government,” says Umbac, who also sits as executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC).
According to Meteorologist Edsin Culi of the local PAGASA, around eight to 11 tropical cyclones are seen to cross the Philippine area of responsibility between July to December this year.
“July is the peak of the southwest monsoon or habagat, and tropical cyclones accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds are likely scenarios in this period,” says Culi during the Kapihan forum held June 14 by the Philippine Information Agency.
Umbac, who authored Ordinance No. 1 which establishes the Negros Oriental Community-Based Disaster Preparedness and Management Program, said they have already identified the flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in the province.
Based on records from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, the landslide-prone areas here are Canlaon City, Manjuyod to Himampangon, Bais to Mabinay, Dauis to Mabinay and Mabinay to Bayawan.
Identified flood-prone areas are Vallehermoso, Guihulngan, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Tanjay City, Pamplona, Amlan, Sibulan, Dumaguete City, Bacong, Siaton and Bayawan City.
DepEd-7 sees 2% increase of student enrollment this year
With the nationwide opening of classes of public schools in both elementary and secondary levels early this month, the Department of Education in Region 7 (DepEd) is pegging the average increase of student enrollees this year to two percent.
However in Negros Oriental, it still cannot be determined whether there has been an increase in enrollment among the public schools under the DepEd Negros Oriental Division since the schools are still accepting enrollees, says Mrs. Miriam Lou Batiancila, DepEd Planning Officer 2.
Partial data from Batiancila’s office shows that as of June 13, some 39,615 secondary students and 105,092 elementary students have already been enrolled in the public schools under the provincial division.
This is just 77 percent and 90 percent of last school year’s enrollment for elementary and secondary levels, respectively.
A total of 135,243 elementary students and 44,873 high school students were enrolled in school year 2005 to 2006.
Batiancila said the final data on the division’ total enrollment this year will be determined by September.
The DepEd provincial division covers five divisions of public elementary and high schools in the province excluding Bayawan, Tanjay, Dumaguete and Bais cities.
In Cebu City, only over 25 percent of public elementary pupils reported to the first day of class according to DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Carolino Mordeno.
Mordeno appealed to parents to enroll their children immediately. Although they would still accept late enrollees, but only for valid reasons like being sick, newly migrated from another place or for emergency reasons.
Tropical storm leads to emergency bangus harvest in Siquijor
The recent typhoon Caloy that hit the country last month caused considerable damage to some lives and properties.
In Siquijor, fishing residents in San Juan and members of the Tubod Fishermen’s Association (TUFA) made an emergency harvest of about 700 kgs. Or 7 metric tons of milkfish or “bangus” as strong waves brought about by the typhoon hit the area, the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here reported.
Other damages were destroyed cage houses, torn nets and broken pipes.
The emergency harvest was done to save the bangus fish cage project from total loss, Provincial Fishery Warden Warren Inao said.
Inao said that they have made the harvest at 1 p.m. on May 11, 2006. However, due to the difficulties encountered during the harvest, almost 300 kgs. bangus escaped from their stocks.
He said that 18 days or more should have been waited for the harvest to complete the four-month culture duration as it was stocked on January 29 this year. It was obvious that the milkfish hasn’t yet reached its harvestable stage as there were bags of unconsumed feeds inside the cages, he said.
“The remaining feeds will be used for the next cropping or otherwise be given to some fish cages or other municipalities to prevent it from spoilage,” Inao said.
Inao further said that due to limited local market, members of the association agreed to sell it to neighboring municipalities and provinces at P80 per kilogram.
AI program in goats to benefit Siquijor farmers
A group of experts from the Department of Agriculture Region 7 was in Larena, Siquijor to conduct a training on artificial insemination (AI) in goats.
The training was conducted at the Provincial Veterinary Office compound on May 16-20, 2006 with livestock technicians from the local government units and selected goat raisers in attendance.
Topics on estrus detection, breeding and management practices were discussed during the lectures.
Before finishing the course, all participants had to perform actual AI works using induced local females.
AI is a method in which spermatozoa is deposited in the reproductive tract of a physiologically receptive female using instruments instead of natural mating with a male.
In animal industry, it is a very useful tool in the rapid upgrading of the local stock since semen from superior sire can be served to more females more quickly.
It is also more economical and less risky than maintaining males for natural breeding.
In Siquijor province, where almost every farmer raises goats, the use of AI to improve the genetic makeup of the native breeds will mean better income, says Dr. Federico G. Ada of the PVO here.
There are other biotechnologies like the multiple ovulation and embryo transfer but it is very rarely done in the Philippines for technical and economical reasons.
In some countries, cloning of animals to produce an exact replica of its donor have been tried with great success.
AI program in goats is scheduled to start during the 3rd quarter this year according to the Provincial AI Coordinator Basilio Castillon.
DENR leads observance of June as Environment Month
SIQUIJOR-- To mark June as Environment Month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) is inviting the public to an ‘open house’ of their office to make known the various services the agency is offering.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Celso Loriega Jr. said the open house will last for a month as he encouraged the public to visit their office and see the day-to-day tasks involved in operations, administration and management.
In Siquijor province, DENR has lined up activities for the month-long celebration, including a motorcade within Larena town on June 1 and tree planting at Palinkgod Hills in Larena on June 5.
Herbal planting will also be done on June 23 at Bandila-an, Siquijor and on June 25 a tree-planting at Brgy. Bitaug, Larena to observe the Philippine Arbor Day which calls for a nationwide simultaneour tree planting along the roadside.
Under this year’s theme “Buhayin ang Matamlay na Kapaligiran” Loriega called on every citizen to care for the surroundings as the protection of the environment is a shared responsibility.
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7, National Food Authority (NFA) together with the provincial government of Oriental Negros would like to invite the media to the launching of the “Tindahan Natin” project in Poblacion, Amlan town on June 20, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
Residents from the pilot barangays are expected to attend the launching to receive their Family ID’s-cum-passbook as beneficiaries of the livelihood project.
The Tindahan Natin project sells low-priced but good quality rice and noodles through a store accredited by NFA.
Expected to grace the launching are concurrent Presidential Adviser on Job Creation and PMS Secretary Arthur Yap, DSWD Assistant Secretary Renand Maquiling, NegOr Gov. George P. Arnaiz, Congressmen Jacinto Paras, Emilio Macias and Herminio Teves, Amlan Mayor Victoriano de la Cruz, Dir. Flo Pascual of NFA and DSWD-7 Director Teodulo Romo Jr.
Around 115 store operators from Bohol, Oriental Negros and Cebu City have been opened which is seen to benefit almost 9,000 indigent families in the different identified poor communities in the areas.
The local government unit of Bayawan City led by Mayor German P. Saraña has already set the wheels turning for its eco-governance program that will shoot not two, but three birds with one stone - develop underutilized areas and provide a sustainable market-led agricultural development while producing alternative energy.
Under its eco-governance program, there are now 30,976 jatropha seedlings thriving in 15 nurseries in Bayawan City as of May 2006, according to Bayawan City Agriculturist Luis Sumalpong.
Jatropha, or locally known as “tuba-tuba”, is a plant capable of producing bio-diesel fuel.
Aside from jathropa, Bayawan City is also embarking on a rubber plantation project which Sumalpong said they hope to launch by the first week of July.
He disclosed that they already have an estimated 300,000 seedlings being planted in a 60-hectare stretch in a watershed area identified by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
The city government however has no plans of stopping there and is looking at expanding the rubber and jatropha plantations on a larger scale.
To encourage the 28 total barangays in the city to take part in the eco-governance program, Mayor Saraña is offering an incentive to the barangay officials.
For the barangay that can plant 350 hectares of jathropa, the city government will acquire a jatropha oil extraction machine for them, which costs around P100,000, says Sumalpong.
“The Mayor also ordered the schools to establish jathropa nurseries within the school premises,” he adds.
CENRO Chief Charlie Fabre has cited in a recent forum the active participation of the Bayawan City government in the eco-governance program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Wala pa naghisgot si President Arroyo, ang atong mayor sa Bayawan aduna na sya’y 20,000 seedlings of jatropha,” says Fabre during a forum held by the Philippine Information Agency to mark the celebration of Environment Month.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier revved up two national programs that can stem poverty and hunger in the countryside, at the core of which is the cultivation of jatropha as a diesel substitute in the government’s energy conservation program.
DENR together with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) have identified more than 700,000 hectares for agro-forestry and biofuel cultivation nationwide.
Primary among the agricultural products being pushed by the President is jatropha, a drought-resistant perennial shrub whose fruit can be processed into oil and refined into diesel or burned in home stoves.
Found throughout the Philippines, jatropha has an economical life of up to 35 years and can live for 50 years.
A readily available and renewable fuel, jatropha grows fast, with little or no need for maintenance and can reach a height of three to eight meters.
Based on extensive testing done in India, three kilos of jatropha seed can produce a liter of crude jatropha oil.
Mt. Kanlaon still on alert level 1
Alert level 1 remains in effect over Mt. Kanlaon as the volcano continues to show sporadic periods of unrest.
Henry Villaflores, chief of the seismology division of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said Kanlaon Volcano recently exhibited two episodes of ash emission.
The volcano spewed minor steam ash from 4:10 to 4:44 p.m. and 5:35 to 5:50 p.m. on June 13 and then again from 5:09 to 5:30 in the morning of June 14.
“The grayish steam clouds rose to about 900 meters above the active crater and drifted to northeast and northwest,” says Villaflores, reading from the latest Kanlaon Volcano Advisory from the volcanology division during a Kapihan forum held June 14 by the Philippine Information Agency.
But no volcanic earthquakes coincident with the ash puffs were recorded
No big recorded tectonic earthquakes have been recorded either, adds Villaflores.
Phivolcs, however, is still urging the public not to enter the 4-kilometer radius permanent danger zone around Kanlaon Volcano.
Aside from Kanlanon, other Philippine volcanoes have also been showing periods of unrest recently.
Mt. Bulusan had been on alert level 1 beginning March 19 but on June 7, the alert level was raised to No. 2 after the volcano exhibited an elevated degree of unrest.
Also on heightened alert status are Mt. Mayon in Albay province and Taal Volcano.
Villaflores, during the forum, dismissed the notion that the volcanoes’ activities of unrest are somehow interconnected. “Volcanoes like Kanlaon, Bulusan, Mayon and Taal have different vents or sources of heat from underground. It’s just coincidental na nagkadungan na sila, but it doesn’t mean that they all have one source,” he explained.
Villaflores also assured that the two other volcanoes in the province, Cuernos de Negros and Mt. Talinis, have been quiet for more than a hundred years.
But the seismologist is not shrugging off the possibility that it might suddenly stir awake. “Pareho sa nahitabo sa Mt. Pinatubo nga dugay nang gahilom, nikalit ra man ug balik ug buto,” he said.
Although there are no known fault lines within Negros island, Villaflores said they have identified what they call as probable fault lines, or areas where an earthquake’s epicenter falls.
“Whenever there is a quake, we get the epicenter and after a few years mahitabuan na pud nga dinha dapita, we mark it on the map and call it a probable fault line,” explains Villaflores.
According to Villaflores, the probable fault lines here are in an area in Bais City crossing the mountains to Siaton town and part of Guihulngan going to San Carlos City.
The identified fault lines in the country or the Philippine Fault Zone lies on the eastern part of the Philippine Archipelago.
Board member stressed community should be ready for disaster
Board Member Arturo Umbac urged the community to brace themselves for disaster in view of the onset of rainy season starting June.
“We should be prepared and the people should not depend solely on the government,” says Umbac, who also sits as executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC).
According to Meteorologist Edsin Culi of the local PAGASA, around eight to 11 tropical cyclones are seen to cross the Philippine area of responsibility between July to December this year.
“July is the peak of the southwest monsoon or habagat, and tropical cyclones accompanied by heavy rains and strong winds are likely scenarios in this period,” says Culi during the Kapihan forum held June 14 by the Philippine Information Agency.
Umbac, who authored Ordinance No. 1 which establishes the Negros Oriental Community-Based Disaster Preparedness and Management Program, said they have already identified the flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in the province.
Based on records from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council, the landslide-prone areas here are Canlaon City, Manjuyod to Himampangon, Bais to Mabinay, Dauis to Mabinay and Mabinay to Bayawan.
Identified flood-prone areas are Vallehermoso, Guihulngan, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Tanjay City, Pamplona, Amlan, Sibulan, Dumaguete City, Bacong, Siaton and Bayawan City.
DepEd-7 sees 2% increase of student enrollment this year
With the nationwide opening of classes of public schools in both elementary and secondary levels early this month, the Department of Education in Region 7 (DepEd) is pegging the average increase of student enrollees this year to two percent.
However in Negros Oriental, it still cannot be determined whether there has been an increase in enrollment among the public schools under the DepEd Negros Oriental Division since the schools are still accepting enrollees, says Mrs. Miriam Lou Batiancila, DepEd Planning Officer 2.
Partial data from Batiancila’s office shows that as of June 13, some 39,615 secondary students and 105,092 elementary students have already been enrolled in the public schools under the provincial division.
This is just 77 percent and 90 percent of last school year’s enrollment for elementary and secondary levels, respectively.
A total of 135,243 elementary students and 44,873 high school students were enrolled in school year 2005 to 2006.
Batiancila said the final data on the division’ total enrollment this year will be determined by September.
The DepEd provincial division covers five divisions of public elementary and high schools in the province excluding Bayawan, Tanjay, Dumaguete and Bais cities.
In Cebu City, only over 25 percent of public elementary pupils reported to the first day of class according to DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Carolino Mordeno.
Mordeno appealed to parents to enroll their children immediately. Although they would still accept late enrollees, but only for valid reasons like being sick, newly migrated from another place or for emergency reasons.
Tropical storm leads to emergency bangus harvest in Siquijor
The recent typhoon Caloy that hit the country last month caused considerable damage to some lives and properties.
In Siquijor, fishing residents in San Juan and members of the Tubod Fishermen’s Association (TUFA) made an emergency harvest of about 700 kgs. Or 7 metric tons of milkfish or “bangus” as strong waves brought about by the typhoon hit the area, the Bureau of Fish and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) here reported.
Other damages were destroyed cage houses, torn nets and broken pipes.
The emergency harvest was done to save the bangus fish cage project from total loss, Provincial Fishery Warden Warren Inao said.
Inao said that they have made the harvest at 1 p.m. on May 11, 2006. However, due to the difficulties encountered during the harvest, almost 300 kgs. bangus escaped from their stocks.
He said that 18 days or more should have been waited for the harvest to complete the four-month culture duration as it was stocked on January 29 this year. It was obvious that the milkfish hasn’t yet reached its harvestable stage as there were bags of unconsumed feeds inside the cages, he said.
“The remaining feeds will be used for the next cropping or otherwise be given to some fish cages or other municipalities to prevent it from spoilage,” Inao said.
Inao further said that due to limited local market, members of the association agreed to sell it to neighboring municipalities and provinces at P80 per kilogram.
AI program in goats to benefit Siquijor farmers
A group of experts from the Department of Agriculture Region 7 was in Larena, Siquijor to conduct a training on artificial insemination (AI) in goats.
The training was conducted at the Provincial Veterinary Office compound on May 16-20, 2006 with livestock technicians from the local government units and selected goat raisers in attendance.
Topics on estrus detection, breeding and management practices were discussed during the lectures.
Before finishing the course, all participants had to perform actual AI works using induced local females.
AI is a method in which spermatozoa is deposited in the reproductive tract of a physiologically receptive female using instruments instead of natural mating with a male.
In animal industry, it is a very useful tool in the rapid upgrading of the local stock since semen from superior sire can be served to more females more quickly.
It is also more economical and less risky than maintaining males for natural breeding.
In Siquijor province, where almost every farmer raises goats, the use of AI to improve the genetic makeup of the native breeds will mean better income, says Dr. Federico G. Ada of the PVO here.
There are other biotechnologies like the multiple ovulation and embryo transfer but it is very rarely done in the Philippines for technical and economical reasons.
In some countries, cloning of animals to produce an exact replica of its donor have been tried with great success.
AI program in goats is scheduled to start during the 3rd quarter this year according to the Provincial AI Coordinator Basilio Castillon.
DENR leads observance of June as Environment Month
SIQUIJOR-- To mark June as Environment Month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) is inviting the public to an ‘open house’ of their office to make known the various services the agency is offering.
DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Celso Loriega Jr. said the open house will last for a month as he encouraged the public to visit their office and see the day-to-day tasks involved in operations, administration and management.
In Siquijor province, DENR has lined up activities for the month-long celebration, including a motorcade within Larena town on June 1 and tree planting at Palinkgod Hills in Larena on June 5.
Herbal planting will also be done on June 23 at Bandila-an, Siquijor and on June 25 a tree-planting at Brgy. Bitaug, Larena to observe the Philippine Arbor Day which calls for a nationwide simultaneour tree planting along the roadside.
Under this year’s theme “Buhayin ang Matamlay na Kapaligiran” Loriega called on every citizen to care for the surroundings as the protection of the environment is a shared responsibility.
MEDIA ADVISORY
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 7, National Food Authority (NFA) together with the provincial government of Oriental Negros would like to invite the media to the launching of the “Tindahan Natin” project in Poblacion, Amlan town on June 20, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
Residents from the pilot barangays are expected to attend the launching to receive their Family ID’s-cum-passbook as beneficiaries of the livelihood project.
The Tindahan Natin project sells low-priced but good quality rice and noodles through a store accredited by NFA.
Expected to grace the launching are concurrent Presidential Adviser on Job Creation and PMS Secretary Arthur Yap, DSWD Assistant Secretary Renand Maquiling, NegOr Gov. George P. Arnaiz, Congressmen Jacinto Paras, Emilio Macias and Herminio Teves, Amlan Mayor Victoriano de la Cruz, Dir. Flo Pascual of NFA and DSWD-7 Director Teodulo Romo Jr.
Around 115 store operators from Bohol, Oriental Negros and Cebu City have been opened which is seen to benefit almost 9,000 indigent families in the different identified poor communities in the areas.
6/09/2006
PHOTO RELEASE 6/9/06
KAPIHAN SA PIA FORUM ON
ENVIRONMENT MONTH
June 7, 2006 Bethel Guesthouse, Dumaguete City
(Please see story in the post below)
CENRO Chief Charlie Fabre
L-R: CENRO Charlie Fabre, PENRO Antonio Cabrido, Vice Mayor William Ablong, ENRMD Chief Mercy Teves and PIA Infocen Manager Jenny Tilos
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Antonio Cabrido
Dumaguete City Vice Mayor William Ablong
The panel of discussants6/08/2006
ISSUE NO. 23 JUNE 8, 2006
PNP heightens internal security operations
Paradigm shift to combat terrorism – Dir. Alarcio
SIQUIJOR-- Despite claims that peace and order situation in Central Visayas remains stable, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is more active in the conduct of anti-insurgency operations along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a regional peace and order council (RPOC) meeting hosted by Siquijor Provincial Government, newly-installed Director Police Chief Superintendent Silverio D. Alarcio Jr. said the PNP is undergoing a paradigm shift that allows them to be in “equal footing with the AFP.”
The PNP can already conduct tactical operations against insurgency alone or with the AFP unlike before when they only served as a support agency, Alarcio explained.
Department of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz has earlier expressed the government’s optimism in outwitting the New People’s Army in a defense meeting held recently in Singapore.
Sec. Cruz said there is no reason the government could not capture the rebels as about 16% of their total number were captured in 2001.
Alarcio, whose assignment in Region VII is perceived to be a special task to oversee the preparation for ASEAN summit said the PNP and the AFP treat internal security as the highest priority because of the upcoming activity. Both agencies counted the recently concluded SEA Games and the forthcoming ASEAN Summit, among others, as threats of terrorism.
Director Alarcio said police visibility is further enhanced and improved to ensure security and safety of tourists coming in the region as he stressed pro-active policing as an effective way to combat terrorism.
Alarcio dismissed rumors that the recent Cebu bombing was a “scripted, stage-managed affair.”
We hope to raise awareness in Metro Cebu and get people’s support to believe that terrorism is not only the problem of the AFP or the PNP but is everybody’s concern, he said.
Echoing the same sentiment on the rumor, Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia lauded the police for having preempted the horrendous bombing incident and hoped that the detractors would be fair and rational enough to discern what is best for the country and act accordingly.
Gov. Garcia expressed confidence on the police force saying she is fully supporting the PNP or the Central Command in its fight against insurgency as she put in place vital infrastructure in the province, setting aside politics, she said.
Attended by local chief executives, regional directors, representatives from the academe and religious sectors composing the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), the meeting was held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, Capitol, Siquijor, Siquijor.
DepEd7 warns public students against joining frats; recruiters to face expulsion
DepEd-7Regional Director Dr. Carolino Mordeno warned public elementary and high school students not to join fraternities and that those who are directly involved in the recruitment will face the possibility of expulsion from the school.
The warning came amid the rising tide of violence in fraternities that have resulted to a number of deaths among the youths in Cebu especially between archrivals Tau Gamma and Akhro fraternities.
Mordeno bared that he has instructed all school principals in the region about the department’s policy against joining fraternities.
However, most recruiters are not school insiders but belong outside, says Mordeno.
Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Administrative Officer Erlina Comeros meanwhile said police visibility will be increased near the schools’ premises to discourage recruitment of new frat members.
Policemen in the different provinces in the region have also been tasked to ensure the safety of school children especially during the opening of classes in the “Balik Paaralan” program, according to Comeros.
Increased police visibility is not only meant to ward off the possible recruitment of new frat members but also secure the safety of students and the people as well.
As traffic is seen to worsen when classes open, Comeros said the policemen assigned in nearby schools are asked to help traffic enforcers particularly in helping school children cross the streets safely.
Comeros also said they have coordinated with different civic groups and barangay officials to help the police maintain peace and order especially in their respective communities. Parents must do their share in watching over their kids and ensuring that they are all well and safe.
Philippines removed from US Trafficking in Persons Tier 2 Watch List
Philippines scored a small victory after the US State Department announced in its 2006 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report that Philippines has been removed from their Tier 2 Watch List and upgraded to Tier 2.
This developed after the Philippine government implemented strategies to combat trafficking in persons in the country.
The US State Department annually releases the TIP report wherein it classifies each country depending on the concrete actions taken by the government to combat the trafficking problem.
The 150-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat “severe forms of trafficking in persons,” or modern-day human slavery.
A spot on the report’s watch list could mean diplomatic sanctions in the release of financial aid for development programs for the country, warned Vic Abadesco, Visayas Coordinator of the Visayan Forum during a Kapihan forum held earlier this year.
Abedesco in that forum said Philippines was placed on the Tier 2 watch list last year due to the lack of convictions made on traffickers.
In the forum, Abedesco disclosed that Negros Oriental has been identified as one of the trafficking “hostpots” or a major recruitment ground for victims and potential trafficking of victims.
“Negros Oriental is a transit area and at the center of development, commerce and transportation and it is a fertile recruitment ground for traffickers,” he said.
But following the release of last year’s TIP, the Philippine government right away “stepped up efforts to implement its anti-trafficking law and made initial progress in implementing strategies to combat trafficking in persons, particularly in prosecuting human traffickers.”
The report noted that over the last year, the country made discernible progress in its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts particularly in prosecuting human traffickers.
In 2005, 67 cases were under preliminary investigation and another 31 cases were filed for prosecution under the 2003 anti-trafficking law. Of those, two cases resulted in the conviction of four individuals for trafficking offenses, with courts handing down life imprisonment sentences to the traffickers and awarding compensation to the victims.
The TIP report also cited the move of the Department of Justice to triple the number of prosecutors at the national level handling trafficking cases and assigned additional prosecutors at the regional level to focus on trafficking cases, resulting in a four-fold increase in the number of investigative cases presented for prosecution under the 2003 anti-trafficking law.
However, the report, while lauding the “impressive protection efforts” of the Philippine government for trafficking victims, pointed out the financial constraints of the government’s witness protection program to accommodate the large number of trafficking victims.
It also noted that despite its progress in the fight against trafficking in persons, Philippines does not fully comply yet with the minimum standards and remains a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.
US State Department data shows that a significant share of the over one million Filipino men and women who go overseas each year to work as domestic servants or in the construction and garment industries are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude.
Still, the US State Department remains hopeful that the Philippines will show continued progress as it expressed its support to the country’s ongoing anti-trafficking efforts.
PCCI, NOCCI host visayas biz conference in Dgte
For three days this month, Dumaguete City will become a hub for business trends, opportunities, discussion and all things business as it plays host city to this year’s Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC).
Hosted by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) led by its president and conference host Ernesto Quiamco, the conference from June 15 to 17 is expected to welcome around 200 industry leaders and business people from Visayas.
This year’s VABC is unique from the past conferences as it will be held at the academic or “university town” setting of historic Silliman University, which for two days will be transformed into a vibrant business atmosphere for current and future investors in the region.
The conference’s theme this year is: “One Visayas, One Region, One Vibrant Economy” which, according to City Councilor and Conference Chairman Manuel Sagarbarria, intends to prod Visayans to think and go beyond the traditional provincial or regional boundaries.
VABC is one event where business and leisure mix together. It is an annual activity sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry that serves as a venue in which business leaders can discuss, compare notes, learn new business opportunities and explore the possibilities of doing business together while unwinding and enjoying the best that the host city can offer through trade fairs and tours.
The two-day conference will open with a Trade Fair on June 1 which will showcase business potentials in tourism, education, agribusiness and financing - four booming economic sectors of Oriental Negros.
A Franchising Expo and Business Matching will also be held to give a chance for the public and conference delegates to inquire and strike business deals with the participating franchising companies.
Delegates will also be treated to a golf event, social gatherings and tours.
Plenary sessions will be conducted on the second day with the following industry luminaries serving as keynote speakers: Presidential Consultant on Economic Affairs and Albay 3rd District Congressman Hon. Joey Sarte Salceda; Teletech-Philippines Vice President and General Manager Craig Reines; PCCI Vice President-Tourism Saime Lim; PCCI Vice President for Transportation and WG&A Vice President Xavier Aboitiz; PCCI Vice President – Productivity & Global Competitiveness and DOST Packing R&D Center Consultant Raul Hernandez; SPI Technology Executive Vice President for Global Operations Ian David Bellord; Globe Telecommunication Visayas Region Chief Operating Adviser Andrew Buay; and Francorp Philippines Legal Associate and Global Franchise Marketing Franchise Sales Consultant Bernard Eugenio.
For the 2006 VABC, PCCI is collaborating with NOCCI as host, the Visayas Chambers, Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation, Provincial Government of Oriental Negros, Dumaguete City Government, DTI, DOST and Silliman University in organizing the event.
Tropical cyclones expected this month, warns PAGASA
Now that La Niña has ended and the onset of the rainy months has begun, weather bureau PAGASA has warned of at least 2 tropical cyclones expected to hit the country this June.
According to Provincial Meteorological Chief Edsin Culi, PAGASA’s seasonal climatological outlook from April to June indicates that this period signals the start of the rainy season, associated with the southwest monsoon season or locally known as “habagat” which is expected to bring about heavy rains that can cause landslides and floods.
Rainfall conditions during the period are expected to be near normal to above normal in many parts across the country.
The climatological outlook states that “rainfall amounts of more than 600 mm are expected over the mountainous areas of Luzon, Quezon provinces, Camarines provinces, Albay, Samar, CARAGA and Compostela Valley. Rainfall of less than 300 mm are expected over Cagayan, some areas in Central Luzon, Palawan, and the southern portions of Panay, Negros and Zamboanga.”
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier declared the third week of June as “Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week” due to the onslaught of rains.
The president has directed the weather bureau to lead an awareness information campaign on disaster preparedness during the period, as well as assist private agencies in the said campaign.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs has warned residents near Mt. Kanlaon in Central Visayas to stay away from the permanent four-kilometer danger zone within the perimeter of the volcano because of an impending hydrothermal explosion.
Public schools warned vs rejecting stude enrollment for failure to pay miscellaneous fees
With the opening of classes this week, public schools in Negros Oriental has been warned not to reject enrollment of students who are unable to pay miscellaneous fees.
Anabelle Ramirez of the Department of Education, in an interview with reporter Victor Camion, said that based on an order from DepEd Secretary Fe Hidalgo, public school heads who turn down enrollees based on inability to pay fees such as Red Cross or Boy Scout/Girl Scout fees are likely to face sanctions.
However, as of press time, the DepEd provincial office has not received any complaints of public schools refusing to enroll students.
The DepEd Action Center remains open for complaints, says Ramirez.
Provincial Superintendent Dr. Aleli Abne has earlier created a four-man team of monitoring officers to address enrollment-related complaints.
Ramirez said the monitoring officers have been going around the public schools in the province to look into problems that crop up during enrollment and opening of classes as well as warning school officials against discrimination of children.
Parents who wish to air their complaints may call the Action Center at the DepEd provincial office through 225-1622, 225-2838, 225-2376 or 422-0267.
The local Action Center is in line with the call center opened by the DepEd central office in Manila to respond and attend to the complaints and queries of parents and students concerning the opening of classes and other school matters.
Parents and students may send their complaints and queries through text messages to 2622 or by calling (02) 631 6033.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier commended DepEd together with other agencies and local government units who have teamed up to ensure the smooth and peaceful opening of classes this school year.
The president stressed that education is a flagship concern of her administration and “we will not stop until we can deliver all available resources to build more classrooms led by competent teachers, and with better books, facilities and modern tools of learning.”
Pres. Arroyo has instructed the DPWH and AFP through its engineering units to coordinate with DepEd officials for the construction of makeshift classrooms in overpopulated schools and those affected by the on-going rehabilitation of school buildings.
Around P4 billion was added to the budget of the DepEd in the bicameral conference of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The lawmakers also tackled ways and means on how to solve the shortage of textbooks and waning number of teachers in the country.
NegOr forest cover increase; PENRO pushes for lifting of cancellation of CBFM
In the midst of grim reports of a dying environment, data from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources here of increasing forest cover in Negros Oriental show that not all hope is lost after all.
Although still subject to ground verification, recent land satellite data show a marked increase in forest cover in Negros Oriental of about four to five percent, says Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Charlie Fabre in yesterday’s Kapihan forum held to mark Environment Month this June.
Earlier satellite data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have shown the apparent deterioration of greenery in the province down to 3%, which according to Fabre worsened in 1987 after the government cancelled the logging concession in the country in 1980.
“DENR was not (then) prepared to protect the remaining forest from logging concessions,” Fabre said.
Despite this, DENR plodded ahead with its forest protection and conservation projects in the province, resulting to the slight increase in the forest cover here.
Fabre disclosed that there is now about 10% forest cover in the province, both man made and natural but excluding the alienable and disposable lands over which DENR has not clearly surveyed.
The environment officer also the marked forestry progress in Basay town. “In Basay in 1990, walay makitang kahoy pero karon aduna na tay mga 70 percent natamnan ug kahoy within Basay area,” declares Fabre.
He also attributed the increased forest cover to the eco-governance program, of which Fabre identified Bayawan City as DENR’s leading eco-governance partner in the province.
Bayawan City is set to embark on the establishment of rubber plantations and jathropa nursery, which is a plant variety capable of producing bio-diesel.
Currently, the PENRO here is pushing for the lifting of suspension on community-based forestry management (CBFM) sites.
DENR under then Environment Secretary Michael Defensor cancelled the CBFM after DENR received reports of minor violations allegedly committed by the people’s organizations managing the sites.
PENRO here conducted a people’s organization forum on June as a show of support for the people’s organizations. “Sila’y nagbantay for the past 15 years sa kalasangan nga ilang gitamon… it is not true that low performance and PO’s in terms of establishing their projects,” Fabre stressed.
Meanwhile, measures have also been instituted in Dumaguete City to arrest the degradation of the environment.
According to Vice Mayor William Ablong, in the same forum, Dumaguete City has initiated a project called Local Initiative for Affordable Wastewater (LINAW) project under the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID).
Dumaguete is one of four areas in the country identified to implement the three-year project, says Ablong.
“We are now waiting for the health clearance from DOH to proceed with the construction of a septage treatment facility in our dry river bed in Camanjac,” he disclosed.
The vice mayor also said the city government is strictly implementing the Septage Management Ordinance in the city.
Under the ordinance, one of the requirements for new construction of buildings is the properly designed septic tank. “We do not issue building permits to proposed building structures…or approve building of houses and subdivision if their septic tanks have only one or two chambers. Septic tanks should have three,” stressed Ablong.
PMA cadets, cadettes, officers to join NegOr’s independence day celeb
About 120 cadets, cadettes and AFP officers of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are set to visit the province from June 10 to 14, 2006.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe in a letter said the group will participate in the province’s celebration of the Independence Day at Quezon Park as well as conduct a silent/fancy drill exhibition at Silliman University Ballfield.
The exhibition will start at 3:00 p.m. on June 12, 2006.
The visit is also in line with the government’s campaign to invite qualified young boys and girls to join the PMA.
The group will conduct an information drive here and visit key schools and universities to provide an opportunity for deserving Negrenses to benefit from the scholarship grant in the prestigious Academy.
Town to celebrate Independence with revelry
A unique and cheerful celebration will highlight the 108th Independence Day celebration in the town of Valencia in Oriental Negros with town Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez Jr wanting to turn the celebration into a virtual fiesta revelry with dances, games, exhibitions at the park.
June 12 is designated as Philippine Independence Day, marking the proclamation by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898 – a liberation from colonial Spanish rule.
“ It is just fitting that Filipinos will celebrate the event with full of life and revelry,” said Mayor Gonzalez who conceptualize how this year’s Independence day be celebrated.
Traditional ceremonies like floral offering to the Philippine flag and parade, with participants coming from the PNP, barangays tanods, World War II veterans and military retirees, will remain the highlights of the event which Mayor Gonzalez will keynote. For the first time, an ecumenical prayer from various religious leaders in Valencia will be performed.
There will be booths that will feature Filipino food and specialty delicacies, as well as arts and crafts. The splendor and grandeur of Philippine culture and heritage will be showcased through dances and songs.
Chaired overall by Councilor Joseph Catan, this year’s Independence day – with the theme” Pagkakaisa Para Sa Matatag Na Republika, will present Filipino games like sack racing, habal-habal race competition, rapelling , a 3-legged race and a Pinoy Big Brother competition. Mayor Gonzalez invites everyone to celebrate Independence Day in his town Valencia.
Paradigm shift to combat terrorism – Dir. Alarcio
SIQUIJOR-- Despite claims that peace and order situation in Central Visayas remains stable, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is more active in the conduct of anti-insurgency operations along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
In a regional peace and order council (RPOC) meeting hosted by Siquijor Provincial Government, newly-installed Director Police Chief Superintendent Silverio D. Alarcio Jr. said the PNP is undergoing a paradigm shift that allows them to be in “equal footing with the AFP.”
The PNP can already conduct tactical operations against insurgency alone or with the AFP unlike before when they only served as a support agency, Alarcio explained.
Department of Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz has earlier expressed the government’s optimism in outwitting the New People’s Army in a defense meeting held recently in Singapore.
Sec. Cruz said there is no reason the government could not capture the rebels as about 16% of their total number were captured in 2001.
Alarcio, whose assignment in Region VII is perceived to be a special task to oversee the preparation for ASEAN summit said the PNP and the AFP treat internal security as the highest priority because of the upcoming activity. Both agencies counted the recently concluded SEA Games and the forthcoming ASEAN Summit, among others, as threats of terrorism.
Director Alarcio said police visibility is further enhanced and improved to ensure security and safety of tourists coming in the region as he stressed pro-active policing as an effective way to combat terrorism.
Alarcio dismissed rumors that the recent Cebu bombing was a “scripted, stage-managed affair.”
We hope to raise awareness in Metro Cebu and get people’s support to believe that terrorism is not only the problem of the AFP or the PNP but is everybody’s concern, he said.
Echoing the same sentiment on the rumor, Cebu Provincial Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia lauded the police for having preempted the horrendous bombing incident and hoped that the detractors would be fair and rational enough to discern what is best for the country and act accordingly.
Gov. Garcia expressed confidence on the police force saying she is fully supporting the PNP or the Central Command in its fight against insurgency as she put in place vital infrastructure in the province, setting aside politics, she said.
Attended by local chief executives, regional directors, representatives from the academe and religious sectors composing the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC), the meeting was held at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, Capitol, Siquijor, Siquijor.
DepEd7 warns public students against joining frats; recruiters to face expulsion
DepEd-7Regional Director Dr. Carolino Mordeno warned public elementary and high school students not to join fraternities and that those who are directly involved in the recruitment will face the possibility of expulsion from the school.
The warning came amid the rising tide of violence in fraternities that have resulted to a number of deaths among the youths in Cebu especially between archrivals Tau Gamma and Akhro fraternities.
Mordeno bared that he has instructed all school principals in the region about the department’s policy against joining fraternities.
However, most recruiters are not school insiders but belong outside, says Mordeno.
Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Administrative Officer Erlina Comeros meanwhile said police visibility will be increased near the schools’ premises to discourage recruitment of new frat members.
Policemen in the different provinces in the region have also been tasked to ensure the safety of school children especially during the opening of classes in the “Balik Paaralan” program, according to Comeros.
Increased police visibility is not only meant to ward off the possible recruitment of new frat members but also secure the safety of students and the people as well.
As traffic is seen to worsen when classes open, Comeros said the policemen assigned in nearby schools are asked to help traffic enforcers particularly in helping school children cross the streets safely.
Comeros also said they have coordinated with different civic groups and barangay officials to help the police maintain peace and order especially in their respective communities. Parents must do their share in watching over their kids and ensuring that they are all well and safe.
Philippines removed from US Trafficking in Persons Tier 2 Watch List
Philippines scored a small victory after the US State Department announced in its 2006 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report that Philippines has been removed from their Tier 2 Watch List and upgraded to Tier 2.
This developed after the Philippine government implemented strategies to combat trafficking in persons in the country.
The US State Department annually releases the TIP report wherein it classifies each country depending on the concrete actions taken by the government to combat the trafficking problem.
The 150-country report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on the efforts of governments to combat “severe forms of trafficking in persons,” or modern-day human slavery.
A spot on the report’s watch list could mean diplomatic sanctions in the release of financial aid for development programs for the country, warned Vic Abadesco, Visayas Coordinator of the Visayan Forum during a Kapihan forum held earlier this year.
Abedesco in that forum said Philippines was placed on the Tier 2 watch list last year due to the lack of convictions made on traffickers.
In the forum, Abedesco disclosed that Negros Oriental has been identified as one of the trafficking “hostpots” or a major recruitment ground for victims and potential trafficking of victims.
“Negros Oriental is a transit area and at the center of development, commerce and transportation and it is a fertile recruitment ground for traffickers,” he said.
But following the release of last year’s TIP, the Philippine government right away “stepped up efforts to implement its anti-trafficking law and made initial progress in implementing strategies to combat trafficking in persons, particularly in prosecuting human traffickers.”
The report noted that over the last year, the country made discernible progress in its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts particularly in prosecuting human traffickers.
In 2005, 67 cases were under preliminary investigation and another 31 cases were filed for prosecution under the 2003 anti-trafficking law. Of those, two cases resulted in the conviction of four individuals for trafficking offenses, with courts handing down life imprisonment sentences to the traffickers and awarding compensation to the victims.
The TIP report also cited the move of the Department of Justice to triple the number of prosecutors at the national level handling trafficking cases and assigned additional prosecutors at the regional level to focus on trafficking cases, resulting in a four-fold increase in the number of investigative cases presented for prosecution under the 2003 anti-trafficking law.
However, the report, while lauding the “impressive protection efforts” of the Philippine government for trafficking victims, pointed out the financial constraints of the government’s witness protection program to accommodate the large number of trafficking victims.
It also noted that despite its progress in the fight against trafficking in persons, Philippines does not fully comply yet with the minimum standards and remains a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor.
US State Department data shows that a significant share of the over one million Filipino men and women who go overseas each year to work as domestic servants or in the construction and garment industries are subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude.
Still, the US State Department remains hopeful that the Philippines will show continued progress as it expressed its support to the country’s ongoing anti-trafficking efforts.
PCCI, NOCCI host visayas biz conference in Dgte
For three days this month, Dumaguete City will become a hub for business trends, opportunities, discussion and all things business as it plays host city to this year’s Visayas Area Business Conference (VABC).
Hosted by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NOCCI) led by its president and conference host Ernesto Quiamco, the conference from June 15 to 17 is expected to welcome around 200 industry leaders and business people from Visayas.
This year’s VABC is unique from the past conferences as it will be held at the academic or “university town” setting of historic Silliman University, which for two days will be transformed into a vibrant business atmosphere for current and future investors in the region.
The conference’s theme this year is: “One Visayas, One Region, One Vibrant Economy” which, according to City Councilor and Conference Chairman Manuel Sagarbarria, intends to prod Visayans to think and go beyond the traditional provincial or regional boundaries.
VABC is one event where business and leisure mix together. It is an annual activity sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry that serves as a venue in which business leaders can discuss, compare notes, learn new business opportunities and explore the possibilities of doing business together while unwinding and enjoying the best that the host city can offer through trade fairs and tours.
The two-day conference will open with a Trade Fair on June 1 which will showcase business potentials in tourism, education, agribusiness and financing - four booming economic sectors of Oriental Negros.
A Franchising Expo and Business Matching will also be held to give a chance for the public and conference delegates to inquire and strike business deals with the participating franchising companies.
Delegates will also be treated to a golf event, social gatherings and tours.
Plenary sessions will be conducted on the second day with the following industry luminaries serving as keynote speakers: Presidential Consultant on Economic Affairs and Albay 3rd District Congressman Hon. Joey Sarte Salceda; Teletech-Philippines Vice President and General Manager Craig Reines; PCCI Vice President-Tourism Saime Lim; PCCI Vice President for Transportation and WG&A Vice President Xavier Aboitiz; PCCI Vice President – Productivity & Global Competitiveness and DOST Packing R&D Center Consultant Raul Hernandez; SPI Technology Executive Vice President for Global Operations Ian David Bellord; Globe Telecommunication Visayas Region Chief Operating Adviser Andrew Buay; and Francorp Philippines Legal Associate and Global Franchise Marketing Franchise Sales Consultant Bernard Eugenio.
For the 2006 VABC, PCCI is collaborating with NOCCI as host, the Visayas Chambers, Negros Oriental Business Development Foundation, Provincial Government of Oriental Negros, Dumaguete City Government, DTI, DOST and Silliman University in organizing the event.
Tropical cyclones expected this month, warns PAGASA
Now that La Niña has ended and the onset of the rainy months has begun, weather bureau PAGASA has warned of at least 2 tropical cyclones expected to hit the country this June.
According to Provincial Meteorological Chief Edsin Culi, PAGASA’s seasonal climatological outlook from April to June indicates that this period signals the start of the rainy season, associated with the southwest monsoon season or locally known as “habagat” which is expected to bring about heavy rains that can cause landslides and floods.
Rainfall conditions during the period are expected to be near normal to above normal in many parts across the country.
The climatological outlook states that “rainfall amounts of more than 600 mm are expected over the mountainous areas of Luzon, Quezon provinces, Camarines provinces, Albay, Samar, CARAGA and Compostela Valley. Rainfall of less than 300 mm are expected over Cagayan, some areas in Central Luzon, Palawan, and the southern portions of Panay, Negros and Zamboanga.”
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier declared the third week of June as “Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week” due to the onslaught of rains.
The president has directed the weather bureau to lead an awareness information campaign on disaster preparedness during the period, as well as assist private agencies in the said campaign.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs has warned residents near Mt. Kanlaon in Central Visayas to stay away from the permanent four-kilometer danger zone within the perimeter of the volcano because of an impending hydrothermal explosion.
Public schools warned vs rejecting stude enrollment for failure to pay miscellaneous fees
With the opening of classes this week, public schools in Negros Oriental has been warned not to reject enrollment of students who are unable to pay miscellaneous fees.
Anabelle Ramirez of the Department of Education, in an interview with reporter Victor Camion, said that based on an order from DepEd Secretary Fe Hidalgo, public school heads who turn down enrollees based on inability to pay fees such as Red Cross or Boy Scout/Girl Scout fees are likely to face sanctions.
However, as of press time, the DepEd provincial office has not received any complaints of public schools refusing to enroll students.
The DepEd Action Center remains open for complaints, says Ramirez.
Provincial Superintendent Dr. Aleli Abne has earlier created a four-man team of monitoring officers to address enrollment-related complaints.
Ramirez said the monitoring officers have been going around the public schools in the province to look into problems that crop up during enrollment and opening of classes as well as warning school officials against discrimination of children.
Parents who wish to air their complaints may call the Action Center at the DepEd provincial office through 225-1622, 225-2838, 225-2376 or 422-0267.
The local Action Center is in line with the call center opened by the DepEd central office in Manila to respond and attend to the complaints and queries of parents and students concerning the opening of classes and other school matters.
Parents and students may send their complaints and queries through text messages to 2622 or by calling (02) 631 6033.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has earlier commended DepEd together with other agencies and local government units who have teamed up to ensure the smooth and peaceful opening of classes this school year.
The president stressed that education is a flagship concern of her administration and “we will not stop until we can deliver all available resources to build more classrooms led by competent teachers, and with better books, facilities and modern tools of learning.”
Pres. Arroyo has instructed the DPWH and AFP through its engineering units to coordinate with DepEd officials for the construction of makeshift classrooms in overpopulated schools and those affected by the on-going rehabilitation of school buildings.
Around P4 billion was added to the budget of the DepEd in the bicameral conference of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The lawmakers also tackled ways and means on how to solve the shortage of textbooks and waning number of teachers in the country.
NegOr forest cover increase; PENRO pushes for lifting of cancellation of CBFM
In the midst of grim reports of a dying environment, data from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources here of increasing forest cover in Negros Oriental show that not all hope is lost after all.
Although still subject to ground verification, recent land satellite data show a marked increase in forest cover in Negros Oriental of about four to five percent, says Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Charlie Fabre in yesterday’s Kapihan forum held to mark Environment Month this June.
Earlier satellite data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have shown the apparent deterioration of greenery in the province down to 3%, which according to Fabre worsened in 1987 after the government cancelled the logging concession in the country in 1980.
“DENR was not (then) prepared to protect the remaining forest from logging concessions,” Fabre said.
Despite this, DENR plodded ahead with its forest protection and conservation projects in the province, resulting to the slight increase in the forest cover here.
Fabre disclosed that there is now about 10% forest cover in the province, both man made and natural but excluding the alienable and disposable lands over which DENR has not clearly surveyed.
The environment officer also the marked forestry progress in Basay town. “In Basay in 1990, walay makitang kahoy pero karon aduna na tay mga 70 percent natamnan ug kahoy within Basay area,” declares Fabre.
He also attributed the increased forest cover to the eco-governance program, of which Fabre identified Bayawan City as DENR’s leading eco-governance partner in the province.
Bayawan City is set to embark on the establishment of rubber plantations and jathropa nursery, which is a plant variety capable of producing bio-diesel.
Currently, the PENRO here is pushing for the lifting of suspension on community-based forestry management (CBFM) sites.
DENR under then Environment Secretary Michael Defensor cancelled the CBFM after DENR received reports of minor violations allegedly committed by the people’s organizations managing the sites.
PENRO here conducted a people’s organization forum on June as a show of support for the people’s organizations. “Sila’y nagbantay for the past 15 years sa kalasangan nga ilang gitamon… it is not true that low performance and PO’s in terms of establishing their projects,” Fabre stressed.
Meanwhile, measures have also been instituted in Dumaguete City to arrest the degradation of the environment.
According to Vice Mayor William Ablong, in the same forum, Dumaguete City has initiated a project called Local Initiative for Affordable Wastewater (LINAW) project under the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID).
Dumaguete is one of four areas in the country identified to implement the three-year project, says Ablong.
“We are now waiting for the health clearance from DOH to proceed with the construction of a septage treatment facility in our dry river bed in Camanjac,” he disclosed.
The vice mayor also said the city government is strictly implementing the Septage Management Ordinance in the city.
Under the ordinance, one of the requirements for new construction of buildings is the properly designed septic tank. “We do not issue building permits to proposed building structures…or approve building of houses and subdivision if their septic tanks have only one or two chambers. Septic tanks should have three,” stressed Ablong.
PMA cadets, cadettes, officers to join NegOr’s independence day celeb
About 120 cadets, cadettes and AFP officers of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) are set to visit the province from June 10 to 14, 2006.
Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Director P/Sr. Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe in a letter said the group will participate in the province’s celebration of the Independence Day at Quezon Park as well as conduct a silent/fancy drill exhibition at Silliman University Ballfield.
The exhibition will start at 3:00 p.m. on June 12, 2006.
The visit is also in line with the government’s campaign to invite qualified young boys and girls to join the PMA.
The group will conduct an information drive here and visit key schools and universities to provide an opportunity for deserving Negrenses to benefit from the scholarship grant in the prestigious Academy.
Town to celebrate Independence with revelry
A unique and cheerful celebration will highlight the 108th Independence Day celebration in the town of Valencia in Oriental Negros with town Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez Jr wanting to turn the celebration into a virtual fiesta revelry with dances, games, exhibitions at the park.
June 12 is designated as Philippine Independence Day, marking the proclamation by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo in Kawit, Cavite, on June 12, 1898 – a liberation from colonial Spanish rule.
“ It is just fitting that Filipinos will celebrate the event with full of life and revelry,” said Mayor Gonzalez who conceptualize how this year’s Independence day be celebrated.
Traditional ceremonies like floral offering to the Philippine flag and parade, with participants coming from the PNP, barangays tanods, World War II veterans and military retirees, will remain the highlights of the event which Mayor Gonzalez will keynote. For the first time, an ecumenical prayer from various religious leaders in Valencia will be performed.
There will be booths that will feature Filipino food and specialty delicacies, as well as arts and crafts. The splendor and grandeur of Philippine culture and heritage will be showcased through dances and songs.
Chaired overall by Councilor Joseph Catan, this year’s Independence day – with the theme” Pagkakaisa Para Sa Matatag Na Republika, will present Filipino games like sack racing, habal-habal race competition, rapelling , a 3-legged race and a Pinoy Big Brother competition. Mayor Gonzalez invites everyone to celebrate Independence Day in his town Valencia.
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