ISSUE NO. 4, January 25, 2007

Dengue cases dip in 2006

The Department of Health (DOH) here reported a decrease in the number of dengue cases recorded in Oriental Negros in 2006.

Data collected by the DOH here shows that dengue cases in the province dipped to 978 last year from 1,203 cases recorded in 2005.

The mosquito-borne disease, however, left a more deadly trail in 2006 with 8 deaths recorded compared to six victims who died in 2005.

According to Suzy Sayre, Provincial Mosquit-Borne Disease Program Coordinator of DOH here, the casualties in 2006 were from Bacong, Bais City, Dumaguete City, La Libertad, Mabinay and Tanjay City.

The dengue victims who died in 2005 were from Dumaguete City (2), Mabinay (2), Tanjay City and Valencia.

Sayre said the areas most affected by the killer disease are mostly urban areas such as the cities of Tanjay, Bais and Dumaguete. “Dengue is known as an urban disease,” said Sayre.

The DOH surveillance team here is now monitoring dengue cases as of January 2007.

Sayre said she is unable to divulge just yet the exact number of dengue cases for January this year as surveillance work is still being done.

She said the DOH here continues to conduct intervention measures such as regular health information drive, environmental sanitation and container management in all areas and Rural Health Units in the province.

DOH National Epidemiology Center Director Dr. Eric Tayag has recently assured that DOH is at the forefront of the dengue outbreak in Lagusan and Agusan del Sur.

Local officials of San Pedro, Laguna have earlier declared a dengue outbreak in their municipality following the death of a person and the hospitalization of some 20 persons.

The DOH is seriously monitoring the condition of the victims while the Laguna Health Office is currently conducting fogging operations to contain the proliferation of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Dengue outbreak has also been declared in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur where three persons died and 18 persons were hospitalized.

DOH said that the numbers of dengue victims in Bayugan continues to rise but assures the public that the DOH remains at the forefront in making sure that all the victims receive immediate medical attention. (PIA/RMN)

E-Campaigning approved by Comelec

The Comelec has given its nod to electronic campaigning or E-campaigning that would allow candidates to campaign through the Internet and short messaging service (SMS).

This move is to adjust with the evolving trend in electronic and communication.

With the use of the Internet and SMS, it is expected that it will help ensure a peaceful and orderly campaign process during the upcoming polls.

Candidates, voters and the electronic and communication industry are seen to benefit from E-campaigning.

Candidates will be spared from the cost of printing and travel expenses usually incurred during the campaign period.

Voters, on the other hand, will no longer have to endure the sight of posters on public walls after which there’s no worry over who will clean up after election.

Meanwhile, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Manuel Advincula sees E-campaigning as not as effective a tool as rallies wherein the public can see and personally listen to the candidates.

Aside from its economical advantages, Advincula does not see any more benefits from the e-campaign compared to posters and flyers where the public can always see the face of the candidate.

“People use the Internet mostly for chats and text messages sent containing campaign agenda are more likely irritating to the subscriber,” he said.

So far, the Provincial Comelec has not received any memorandum or notice from its national office pertaining to E-campaigning.

The administration has earlier urged all Filipinos to join hands to temper the heat of partisanship and strengthen democracy, as this is part of the Government’s grand vision for the future and a legacy to the generations to come.

The Administration has already fielded initiatives to bring the poll summit to fruition.

The summit will involve all concerned agencies, institutions and sectors as President Gloria Arroyo wants that the youth, millions of whom are coming into the voting stream, to play an active role in clean and peaceful polls.

The Comelec is ready for the poll summit called for by the President. Aside from the Comelec, the PNP, the CBCP, and other election watchdogs will also attend the summit which will be held after the last day of filing of certificate of candidacies.

Cabinet Secretary Ricardo Saludo has been designated by the President to lead the poll summit.Unity behind clean and peaceful polls must be done to complement the country’s political and economic stability. (PIA/Donna Christine T. Ucang)

OFW remittances hit an all time high of $11.44B

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are urged to transact with the the more reliable banking system when sending money back home.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is currently conducting an information drive discouraging OFWs from sending remittances through informal channels.

The move follows the result of a recent survey that showed that 20% of OFW money remittances in 2005 were done outside of the banking system and flowing instead through informal channels.

OFWs have been reported to send money through friends, acquaintances or other travelers, which is very risky, according to local BSP Manager Paulita C. Enrile.

She said these informal channels are unlicensed or unregulated operations.

She urged OFWs to send remittances through the banking system even if they have to pay for additional charges. “Using banks is safer than sending it to friends who might “lose” the money along the way,” said Enrile.

Central Bank has recently noted an increase of 17.6% on the remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for the 11-month period compared to 2005.

It reported that the 11-month remittance hit an all time high of $11.4B.

According to Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, this overwhelming increase in the remittances posed a strong possibility that the year 2006 will exceed the Central Bank’s estimated $12.3B.

Tetangco added, “The strength of remittances during the 11-month period may be attributed to the continued preference for Filipino workers by host countries and improved financial services made available by banks and other non-bank remittance channels.”

The remittances came mainly from the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Taiwan.

Presently there is an increase of 13.8% to 786,687 on land-based workers and 9.8% to 250,447 on sea-based workers citing the preliminary data from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

The increase in employment, according to Atty. Jose Ogang of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the province, is part of the President’s program to employ locally and in abroad 1 million Filipinos by 2010.

Presidential Spokesperson Ignacio R. Bunye earlier said the administration will do whatever it takes to meet the projected 6% growth over the next three years and drive a new dawn for the Filipino people.

Bunye said the upcoming years of steady growth shall be matched with basic social services aimed at lifting up the threshold 50% of the population who still live below the poverty line. (PIA/Donna Christine T. Ucang)

NFA NegOr welcomes new manager

The National Food Authority in Oriental Negros recently welcomes its new provincial manager, Engr. Gil B. Ibarra who assumed office recently.

Ibarra replaced the former provincial manager, Engr. Marianito Bejemino, who is transferred to NFA in Bacolod City, which also happens to be Ibarra’s last assignment.

Ibarra has been with NFA for almost 34 years, starting as milling supervisor in 1973 then as Sr. Cereal Classifier, Sr. Operations Officer and Regional Operations Officer.

By 1984 to 1988, he became Assistant Provincial Manager and from 1989 to 1992 as acting provincial manager.

From 1993 to present, he has been a full-pledged provincial manager assigned in different NFA provincial offices of the country.

Ibarra, 55, was born in Camiling, Tarlac where he spent his elementary and high school years.

In 1968, he finished his Diesel Mechanic degree at Central Luzon Polytechnic College and in 1973 he obtained his bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering and became a registered ME in 1977.

While working with NFA, he never stopped his schooling since he believed that “education is a continuing process.”

He took up law at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and in 1992 finished his Bachelor of Laws.

Currently, he has earned 39 units in Masters of Public Administration from Queozn colleges in Southern Philippines.

He is also a holder of career service executive eligibility.

His wife, Fe Gallera Ibarra, sat as Administrative Officer of NFA in Bacolod City after his transfer to Oriental Negros.

They have two children, Raymond Gil and Merry Jo.

As manager of the NFA in the province, Ibarra said he will see to it that agency’s programs will continue to be carried out.

He likewise assured the consuming public of the availability of NFA rice at P18.00/kg in different accredited market outlets. (PIA/RMN)

Grain retailers urged to renew license

The National Food Authority (NFA) here has urged all the grain retailers in the province to renew their license starting January 2007.

With this, the retailers will be issued a metal plate as license or registration to be used effectively all throughout and a 10 percent increase of RL fees.

The renewal is due to the approved revision of NFA rules and regulations on grains businessmen by NFA Council on November 23 last year.

Grains businessmen include also operators of rice and corn mills, warehouses or storages of rice and corn/feeds and palay/ corn brans (tahop), palay thresher and corn shellers, mechanical dryers for palay and corn, truck operators or any kind of vehicles hauling rice and corn, restaurants, carinderias, hotels and other business establishments who serve rice and corn.

According to newly installed NFA Provincial Manager Gil Ibarra, all grains businessmen have to renew their licenses to avoid fines and penalties. PM Ibarra warned, those who have no license yet may do so since our enforcement teams are conducting inspections every now and then. He reminded also other grains retailers and operators that what they have paid at their respective city and municipality are just permits.

Moreover, PM Ibarra said, it is necessary that businessmen have to pay their grains license at the office of NFA and those who want to renew their licenses in advance may do so now.

Grain retailers and operators may not start their business without NFA license metal plate even if they have mayor’s permit, Ibarra said. Thus, NFA continuous its inspection and information drive on the renewal of licenses so that businessmen can be guided accordingly.

To give ample time and preparation for the renewal or application of licenses and give access to grain businessmen, the following areas are scheduled and visited by NFA:

For February, Ayungon, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Canlaon City and Sta. Catalina; March, Bacong, La Libertad, Valencia and Dauin; April, Bais City, Mabinay, Vallehermoso and Siaton; May, Basay, Manjuyod, and Zamboanguita; and June, Dumaguete City, Bayawan City and Pamplona,

Meanwhile, the Government recognizes the contribution of the business and labor sectors as vital in keeping the economy ahead of the curve.

The Administration urges broader consultations to ensure reasonable profits for enterprise and enable workers to make both ends meet and enjoy the just returns of the day, as industrial peace reinforces productivity and enterprise in an environment of sharing and caring.

The Government will continue to up the tempo of the pro-poor programs and provide non-wage benefits acceptable to the employers and welcomed by the workers.

Economic analysts expect the peso to breach the 46-peso level against the US dollar if the country would maintain its current fiscal trend and expand further its macroeconomics.

The country is in the final relay of the economic homerun and the Administration urges all stakeholders of the economy to stay on the course and work together in the solidarity of one nation facing a common future. (PIA/JCTilos)

ISSUE NO. 3, January 18, 2007

Politicians urged not to pay “permit to campaign” fees to NPA

The election period is well on its way and with this, the Armed Forces of the Philippines vows to stop any efforts from rebel groups to use this period in favor of their movement.

Negros Oriental Provincial Director P/Supt. Melvin Buenafe said that they will not allow the New People Army rebels to collect “permit to campaign” fees from potential candidates.

Dialogues with the candidates have been made during the past elections to stop this effort of the NPA to generate funds.

According to Insp. Gilbert Renasa, the NPA rebels use the election period not just to generate funds but also to maximize their works in favor of their movement. They are using the election period for their electoral struggle such as positioning their movement in the government and to gather intelligence materials.

P/Supt. Buenafe added that they are doing a routine talk with the politicians here in the province but with the limited number of police and military they cannot give each candidate a bodyguard.

The Provincial Police Office will still have to evaluate the hotspots in the province which will be determined through previous incidences and intelligence reports.

A gun ban will be enforced starting on January 14 up to June 13.

The AFP has earlier said it would thwart any efforts by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) to collect “permit to campaign” fees from politicians during the May elections.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon said the military had received reports that the NPA was planning to collect “permit to campaign” fees in their respective areas of control from candidates.

“We hope to be able to control the collection of permit-to-campaign fees. We will discuss this with the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies as I think it’s an illegal activity,” Esperon said.

The NPA collects the fees from politicians who want to campaign in areas where they hold sway.

Esperon urged candidates not to pay campaign fees to the NPA. “We should not be paying fees to an armed group that is bent on extorting [money] from the people, from the candidates. (I am) calling on probable candidates not to pay permits to campaign fees to the NPA,” said Esperon. (Donna Christine T. Ucang/PIA)

OrNeg to host 2nd Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival

Agriculturists and agriculture enthusiasts in Negros Island will converge in Dumaguete City as Oriental Negros will play host to the second Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival on February 8 to 10, 2007.

The festival will banner the theme “Save the Earth – Negros , Go Organic,” according to Nitz Bangay, Information Officer of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

The festival, said Bangay, aims to promote a widespread awareness among farmers and agriculturists on the importance of adopting natural farming methods and discouraging the use of pesticide and chemical fertilizers.

Both Oriental Negros and Negros Occidental provincial governments are pushing for the organic farming technology or natural farming systems.

During the festival, organically-grown farm products from local government units all over the Negros Island will be exhibited in booths that will be set up at Freedom Park .

A symposia will also be held at the Lamberto Macias Sports Complex.

Topics that will be taken up include Organic Agriculture and Fair Trade, International Market for Organic Products and Lifestyle on Health and Sustainability, Prospects and Challenges in the Local Organic Market, Clustering as a Strategy for Global Competitiveness, Updates on the Optimization Standardization of Muscovado Processing, Rice Duck Raising and Organic Piggery, Organic Vegetable Production, Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT 2), Organic Certification and Standards and Updates in Vermi-Composting.

A business counseling/technical and marketing sessions will also be done on February 9.

Participants will also be treated to agri-tours to the Bio-Intensive Garden in Brgy. Janay-Janay in San Jose and Caticugan Organic Tilapia Production site at Sitio Naga, Caticugan, Siaton.

The first Negros Island Organic Farmers’ Festival was held in Bacolod City on July 2006 wherein Oriental Negros delegates who attended were led by Governor George P. Arnaiz, Board Member Henry Pryde Teves and Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is set to sign 19 farm agreements with China involving investments worth P240.1 billion or $4.9 billion over the next five to seven years.

The deals include the development of 1.2 million hectares for rice, corn, sorghum and other crops in the Philippines , according to Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

The biggest of the deals will be a memorandum of agreement that will allow the Fuhua Group Ltd. to invest $3.83 billion in one million hectares of land in the country for higher-yielding corn, rice and sorghum.

The two agreements with total investments worth 43.4 billion pesos will also be signed with the Beidahuang Group, the corporate state farm of the Hei Long Jiang province.

NegOr still bird-flu free

Despite Oriental Negros being a bird flu-free province, local health and veterinary offices remain vigilant in the implementation of precautionary measures to keep avian flu away from the province.

The Provincial Veterinary Office conducts random blood sampling of birds such as egret (tulabong) every month in Tanjay City and Bais City .

The said cities have been identified to be areas in the province where migratory birds land, according to Dr. Rodney George Pangilinan, special project coordinator at the Provincial Veterinary Office.

The abundance of food resources and wetlands and mangrove forests in the province attract the migratory birds who fly here during the warm season to take advantage of good weather conditions that prevail in the islands of Central Visayas between September to January.

Records show that most of the migratory birds from other Asian countries stay for a while in the mangrove and wetlands of Bayawan City , Tanjay City and Bais City .

Recently, Japan pledged an additional $67 million contribution to the battle against avian influenza and other pandemic diseases that have hit some countries in the Southeast Asian region.

Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced Japan ’s new contribution during the 10th ASEAN Three Summit among the heads of state of the ASEAN, China , Japan and the Republic of Korea at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Island Hotel Resort and Spa.

Last year, Japan contributed $150 million to the multi-nation campaign against avian flu, but the amount has already been spent.

ASEAN leaders also expressed appreciation for the contribution of their three dialogue partners in East Asian in disaster reduction and management in combating the spread of infectious diseases in the Southeast Asian region.

BIR sees 20% increase on tax collection in 2007

Tax collection is expected to be higher by 20 percent this year.

This was disclosed by Atty. Arturo Acabal, Officer in Charge/Revenue District Officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue here.

Acabal is confident that tax collection will be higher this year because of the Value Added Tax.

A 2 percent VAT was added on all goods and services on February 2006 which generated negative feedback from the public.

But a year later, VAT proved to have helped the economy greatly specifically in the administration’s project to alleviate poverty, said Press Secretary Ignacio R. Bunye.

In December 2006, the BIR national office issued a memorandum to all district offices nationwide for the submission of the total VAT collection of each cities and municipalities.

This is to determine the share of the Local Government from the added tax, said Acabal.

The 20% excess from this collection will be given to the LGUs.

Acabal said his office is still preparing their collection data and has yet to submit the total collection for this year to the national office

President Arroyo congratulated the economic team for the efforts that was done to put the economy in a better state.

With this improvement, the President hopes, that more investors will come in and have more confidence on the country’s economic system that will eventually generate more jobs. (Donna Christine T. Ucang/PIA)

Registered voters in NegOr decrease this yr - Comelec

Registered voters for this year’s election in Oriental Negros is expected to decrease from 606,000 in 2004 to 593,382 as of October 2006 even as the provincial election registration board still collating the number of the remaining new registrants of the last two months of last year.

This, the Commission on Election (Comelec) is cleansing its list of voters by removing the names who are already dead, persons who transferred to and from the province, and who failed to vote twice for two consecutive elections shall be deactivated, and those who are convicted for a year or more per records provided by the court, Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Manuel Advincula cited.

Moreover, Atty. Advincula lamented that the youths are seemingly uninterested or unconcerned as half of the qualified voters of the youths failed to register last 2006.

He said the youths lack the motivation to participate in the democratic process.

As the election period starts, the Comelec Provincial Supervisor implored that no untoward incidents will happen especially in the municipalities and cities in the province where intense political rivalry are happening.

Atty. Advincula identified the election hotspots in the province such as Canlaon, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Bais, Tanjay, Bacong, Zamboanguita and Siaton.

Meantime, a command conference will be held this week with the Comelec officials and Philippine National Police (PNP) Provincial Police Director and chiefs of police from the municipalities and cities at the PNP Provincial Headquarters to discuss the implementation of the gun ban.

According to Comelec, even those with permit to carry firearms will be apprehended if they break the ordinance.

The PNP will strengthen its implementation of Oplan Bakal throughout the country.

PNP is also in the process of creating Task Force Armas and Task Force Hagibis to monitor criminality in the streets daily until after the election period.

The Administration enjoins the people to be vigilant and watchful of election fraud, as the PNP and the AFP sustains their visibility in enforcing election- related strictures such as the implementation of the gun ban, the manning of check points and the monitoring of choke points. (JCTilos/PIA)

INFOBYTES ISSUE #2, January 11, 2007

Govt runs after tax evaders, smugglers

The government in 2006 filed a total of 70 tax evasion cases, the Department of Finance recently reported.

The cases were filed in line with the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

In Oriental Negros, the BIR here has recommended the filing of one tax evasion case last year.

“We have a strong evidence so we recommended to our regional office to file this case,” said Jose Senador, who declined to identify the alleged tax evader.

In 2005, the government has set up RATE along with the Run After the Smugglers (RATS) program of the Bureau of Customs and the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) of the Department of Finance to pump up the government’s anti-corruption drive and to discourage the public from evading the payment of proper taxes and duties.

Under RATS, a total of 28 anti-smuggling cases were filed by the Bureau of Customs.

However, Oriental Negros has a clean slate as local BoC Subport Deputy Collector Datu Camad Ali said there has been no smuggling cases reported in the province.

While many cases have been filed in the country under the RATE and RATS, the success of the programs are not yet complete as prosecutors have yet to win a conviction.

Of the cases filed last year, some are still pending in courts while a few were dismissed.

The frequency of the filing of cases has also slowed down. When the programs were first implemented in 2005, the BIR, BOC and RIPS were each tasked to file at least one case a week.

But the DoF said the slowdown only meant that the prosecuting agencies were focused on quality rather than quantity of cases filed.

The RATE and RATS also used to cater to high-profile tax evaders and smugglers, but the programs now mostly charge lower-profile offenders. The BIR earlier said charging middle-income earners for tax evasion was also necessary to put more teeth into the program.

Convention center completion hastened for int’l rondalla festival

The provincial government is tripling its efforts to finish the construction of the province’s Convention Center as Oriental Negros is set to host the Second International Rondalla Festival dubbed Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa or “Strings of Unity” on February 19-25, 2007 at the Convention Center in Dumaguete City.

Oriental Negros Governor George P. Arnaiz said construction of the Convention Center is aimed to be completed on the third week of February in time of the opening of the Rondalla Festival.

“We will make sure that everything will be in place to make the Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa a success in our province,” Arnaiz said.

The seven-day event aims to promote international friendship and contribute to world peace through music from the world’s best of the best performers in rondalla music.

Around 450 delegates from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, will set foot in Dumaguete City to participate in the Festival.

The National Music Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) said the initial listing of countries who will participate in the festival include Spain, Hawaii, Israel, Mexico, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar, Russia and Australia.

Of the delegates, six are from Filipino local and national talents, foremost of which are Silliman University’s Kwerdas and La Libertad Children’s Rondalla.

Provincial Board Member Mariant Escaño Villegas, chairperson of the Provincial Management Committee of Second International Rondalla Festival, said that from the European-Asian continent comes the Quartette Phoenix and the Heart of Russia from the former Soviet Union, and Turna Universitaria Complutense De Madrid, Spain.

From the Asia-Pacific comes the contingent from Rondanihan, Australia National; University of Singapore and Bayanihan Singapore Rondalla, Singapore; Chiang Mai Rajabhat and Mahasarkham Universities of Thailand and the Ryuku Kingdom Traditional Music and Dancing Company and possibly Myanmar.

Villegas added the other participating rondalla performers from the Middle East include the Three Plucked Strings of Israel and possibly, Iran who still needs to be confirmed by the NCCA.

In Latin America, two famous rondalla ensembles from Mexico are also attending. They are the La Rondalla Magisterial Procrea and Rondalla del Recuerdo, she disclosed.

Meanwhile, other rondalla presenters from the Phillippines include the Celso Espejo Rondalla of Las Piñas City; the Kabataang Silay Performing Arts and Rondalla Ensemble, the Nabua National High School Rondalla; the Zamboanga del Norte National High School Rondalla; the Handurawan Ensemble; and the Philippine National University-Rondalla.

The Cuerdas sa Panaghiusa-Second International Rondalla Festival is a flagship project of the NCCA.

Its implementation is carried out by the Musicological Society of the Philippines, Inc. in partnership with the province of Oriental Negros and the UP College of Music.

To date, the festival has spawned a renewed interest from its first participants and other artists from different parts of the world.

The Convention Center, the first of its kind in Central Visayas, is being built at an estimated cost of P137 Million with a seating capacity of 1,000 and ultra-modern facilities to make it at par with international standard.

Meanwhile, an exuberant President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo described as a "moment of pride for all Filipinos," the Philippines’ hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu on Jan. 10-15.

In her message at the Joint DND-AFP New Year’s Call 2007 at Camp Aguinaldo’s Tejeros Hall this morning, the President said Filipinos are known worldwide for their excellence and the ASEAN Summit is another venue to showcase their best.

The President chairs this year’s ASEAN Summit among the leaders of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines.

Farm sector growth in Phils at 4.7- 5% in 2006

NegOr agri yield unaffected by last quarter typhoons

By:Francis Ryan A. Salvador, PIA Intern

The province’s agricultural yield has shown improvement despite the amassing effects of typhoons that slammed the country in the third and fourth quarters of 2006.

Palay and corn production here in 2006 are up from the previous year’s yield, according to Ricarda P. Diamano, Officer in Charge/Provincial Agricultural Statistics Officer.

Records from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics show that palay production rose from 60,306 metric tons in 2005 to 66,452 metric tons in 2006.

Palay areas harvested in 2006 is at 21,159 hectares, from the 20,425 hectares in 2005.

Yield per hectare in 2006 is at 3.14 metric tons while in 2005, it was only at 2.95 metric tons.

Diamano explained that increase in the province’s yield is a result of an increase in production area, liberal use of improved seeds, organic fertilizer and less occurrence of major pests and diseases.

Palay areas harvested is also up due to the conversion of other farm areas such as sugarcane and corn to palay.

“Additional areas are being developed by the National Irrigation Administration as new service areas in Zamboanguita, Ayungon, Dauin and Bayawan City,” said Diamano.

She also attributes the yield increase to the absence of damaging effects from weather disturbances.

“Bisan daghan bagyo ang niagi, wala kaayo naapektuhan ang probinsya nato,” said Diamano.

The province’s location has also been pivotal to the province’s good performance in the agricultural sector.

This was affirmed by the Crops Division of the Provincial Agriculturist Office.

“There were no devastating effects (here) except in areas that were hit by the typhoons directly,” disclosed Alvin E. Blaza, chief of the Crops Division.

Corn yield, however, dipped slightly in 2006 with only 0.70 metric tons yield per hectare from 0.73 metric tons in 2005.

Corn production in 2006 is at 63,477 metric tons while the total yield in 2005 was at 65,300 metric tons.

Production went down because of the repeated use of open pollinated variety seeds in most farms in the province with limited use of inputs like fertilizer and pest control materials, Diamano stressed.

The province has a total stretch of 51,500 hectares of corn farms and a total of 13,925 hectares of rice fields, of which 3,550 hectares are rain fed, 1,075 hectares upland and 9,300 hectares irrigated land.

Farm sector productivity in the national level likewise grew despite the barrage of typhoons that hit the country with the country’s agricultural growth estimates pegged at 4.7-5% last year.

In terms of volume, farm output grew 5.4 percent to 59.6 million metric tons from 56.6 million metric tons a year ago.

“Full year growth in 2006 will not be lower than 4 percent. This is within the government’s target,” Agricultural Secretary Arthur Yap said. He noted that the agricultural sector contributed significantly to the economic growth in the first nine months of 2006.

Yap gave credit to the programs instituted by his predecessor, Domingo Panganiban, who lobbied for the early release of the irrigation funds worth P2 billion in the first quarter. “Early harvests done by the farmers during the third quarter saved a lot for the sector, bu the export oriented seaweed industry was devastated by the storm Milenyo (international codename: Xangsane),” he added.

The seaweed industry is expected to take a hit of at least $10 million as strong waves wiped out production facilities during that time. Yap said that these facilities were now being rehabilitated.

Economists are keeping a tight watch on the agricultural sector as it still accounts for a fifth of the local economy. Government production data will be ready by the third week of January, officials said.

BAS NegOr ranked top 3 nationwide

The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics in Oriental Negros is the third top performing office under the bureau in the country.

Ricarda Diamano, Officer-in-Charge/Provincial Agricultural Statistics Officer of BAS here, disclosed this, saying that the local BAS office was recognized nationally for its excellent performance from July to September 2006.

But the local BAS division is no stranger to this recognition as it has been hogging top spots in the regional rankings in the past few years.

In regional standing, it ranked no. 2 in 2002 and no. 3 in 2003. Then it went on to hog the no. 1 spot in the region for two consecutive years from 2004 to 2005, besting the other three other provinces in the region.

She said they are now keeping their fingers crossed as to whether they will be ranked no. 1 again in Region 7 for 2006, completing a three-year streak as the top performing BAS office in the region.

Diamano said the ranking is based on a division’s performance in the technical and administrative operations.

Meanwhile, Malacañang is hopeful that with the opening of session in Congress before the end of the month, legislators would be able to get their act together and pass the General Appropriations Act.

Combined with the country’s very strong economic indicators, the passage of the 2007 budget will sustain the momentum that is driving the peso up, keeping inflation down and moving investments forward, it said.

Diocesan electoral board set to convene

The Diocesan Provincial Electoral Board is set to convene in preparation for the May 14, 2007 local and national elections to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and honest polls.

Rev. Fr. Julius Heruela, Convenor of the Electoral Board will meet the Electoral Board Working Committees on January 23, 2006 at the Pre-Jordan Hall, Cathedral Compound, this city.

In a core group meeting with Fr. Heruela last week, has identified the committees to meet are representatives of the Parish Pastoral for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), Vote Care, Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and some supportive and committed organizations and individuals to chair the finance, education, transportation, documentation committees.

Meantime, Dumaguete City Comelec’s Election Registration Board has continued its hearing this week to determine the exact number of registered voters in the city as registration of voters wrapped up last December 31, 2006.

The Comelec has also announced that the filing of candidacy for local officials will start on Monday, January 15 to March 29, 2007 and for senatorial candidates, January 15 to February 12, this year.

Indeed, the mid-term polls in May will be a referendum on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

Secretary Bunye stated, the administration accepts the challenge on the basis of the performance of the President, who is the only leader in recent history who has decisively turned the economy around in record time, has dented poverty, has taken a strong stand against terror alongside our global allies, has paved the way for permanent peace in Mindanao and is on the way to modernizing the armed forces.

Bunye said, President Arroyo has put the Philippines in the world map in a way that mirrors good governance despite political noise. We challenge her detractors to match or surpass this record. (JCT)

Organizers hopeful internet problem solved before ASEAN Summit

CEBU CITY—The National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the 12^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit today expressed the hope that the problem of erratic internet connections in the country would be solved before the start of the summit on Jan. 10.

But Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., NOC secretary general, said that journalists covering the Cebu summits should be advised about the internet access problem.

Paynor said that the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Smart and Globe, the main internet providers, have been doing everything they could to put back in harness the internet connection in the country.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit Taiwan last Dec. 26 snapped portions of underwater communication cables, disrupting internet and phone connections not only in Taiwan and the Philippines but in other countries as well.

Sixty percent of Globe’s fiber optics submarine cables have been affected by the earthquake.

Ten days after the strong tremor, internet users in the Philippines have still difficulty accessing the internet; if at all, it is an off-and-on situation.

Some 1,700 foreign and local journalists covering the Cebu summits from Jan. 10 to 15 would have difficulty transmitting their stories to their home offices if the internet disruption would remain.

But they have been advised to use other means, preferably the wireless high fidelity (wifi) technology, to transmit their stories if the internet problem is not fully solved.

Sixteen world leaders have confirmed attendance in the summit—10 from the ASEAN and six from the association’s dialogue partners.

Aside from the ASEAN Summit, there will be the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, the 2^nd East Asia Summit, and the summit between the ASEAN and individual leaders of the dialogue partners.

Eggs, umbrellas for Summit success

CEBU CITY – Eggs for sunshine, umbrellas for the rain.

The message here is that organizers of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit here will spare no efforts to ensure its success.

Aside from prayers, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has reportedly offered two truckloads of eggs to the Carmelite sisters as an offering for good weather, the bad one last month being the reason for the postponement of the original summit.

Even in the event the weather turns sour again and rain comes pouring down on Cebu this time (which weather forecasters discount), National Organizing Committee secretary general Ambassador Marciano Paynor has come up with the closest thing to most everyone’s simple answer: umbrella.

Paynor said more than 500 umbrellas will be available to protect summit participants from the rains.

This much, Paynor and Garcia detailed to members of the media men in Tuesday’s press conference at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) to emphasize the readiness of the country, particularly the province of Cebu, as the host of the five-day conclave slated here Jan. 10-15.

“We are procuring more than 500 umbrellas to protect us from the rain,” he said in answer to the possibility of the rainy weather continuing to the days leading to the summit. “In the event that it continues, we just have to accept it as it is.”

Metro Cebu has been blanketed by rains spawned by the intertropical convergence zone since Monday, raising concern yet again that the summit might be postponed for the second time because of bad weather.

But Paynor quickly assured the fainted-hearted, saying “Natural occurrences such as the weather is something we cannot do anything about. Other countries still hold their summits even when snow is falling and world leaders still attend because they cannot do anything about it.”

Paynor assured that there has been no waning of enthusiasm among the participants notwithstanding the postponement of the summit last December.

“Everyone who needs to be here are here. The same countries that are supposed to come last December are also coming this January,” he stressed.

Paynor added that the postponement last month was a blessing in disguise as it allowed organizers to fine-tune preparations for the high-level meeting, including putting the finishing touches to the CICC, reinforcing security, and beautifying the city.

Garcia, who was obviously disappointed when the summit was postponed last month, put it more succinctly when she said: “We are ready then, we are more than ready now.”

ISSUE NO. 1, VOLUME 3, JANUARY 4, 2006

Six fireworks-related injuries reported in OrNeg- DOH

A total of six cases of fireworks-related injuries were reported in the province during the holiday revelry here.

According to Dr. George Villamor, chief of the Department of Health (DOH) here, the victims were treated in the three hospitals in Dumaguete City.

The victims are aged three to 24 years old.

The youngest victim is a three-year old from Cebu Ciy who was in Dumaguete for the holiday celebration.

Five of the six victims were outpatients, while one victim, from Sta. Catalina, was admitted to a hospital for treatment, said Villamor.

Victims were treated for abrasions, first and second degree burns.

“Dili grabe ang injuries,” said Villamor.

There were no reports of victims of stray bullets.

DOH personnel collated the data from the three hospitals in the city covering the period from December 24, 2006 to January 1, 2007.

However, the DOH chief could not say if there was an increase or decrease in the number of cases reported in 2006 from 2005. “There is no comparable data because we did not conduct any surveillance last year,” he said.

Nevertheless, Villamor believes there is a decrease in the number of cases in the province in 2006.

Shabu price up due to crackdown

The intensified campaign against illegal drugs has jacked up the street value of shabu in the country, according to a report from the National Bureau of Investigation.

This was confirmed by SPO1 Manuel Sanchez, Action Monitoring Officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the province.

Sanchez said the street value of shabu in the province is now priced at P3,500 per gram.

In 2005, it was being sold at P2,000 per gram.

Sanchez said the costlier shabu trade in the province is a result of the stepped up efforts to crackdown on illegal drugs operations which has resulted to numerous arrests in the province in 2005. s

PDEA has conducted a total of 80 ani-illegal drugs operations in the province which led to the arrest of 111 drug personalities, disclosed Sanchez.

“Ningmahal ang shabu kay sige ang dakop,” he said.

Sanchez assured that PDEA is set on conducting more operations in 2007.

NBI in its report said that in the years 2000 to 2005, the street price of shabu was around P5,000 for 5 grams.

In 2006, the price increased to around P18,000 to P20,000.

NBI Regional Director Ruel Lasala who heads the bureau’s Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force said joint operations with PDEA to dismantle major drug laboratories in the country has drastically slashed the supply of the banned narcotic.

“According to the law of supply and demand, if the demand is there but the supply is limited, the price rises,” said Lasala.

Meanwhile, Malacañang stressed that PNP crackdown on shabu should be lauded as it is effectively making the prices of the drug higher and thereby curtailing the market.

The government will continue to pursue all anti-crime programs and step up safety patrols in the metropolis and other major cities to ensure the safety of the public.

Arroyo unwraps 2007 salary package for state workers

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Friday said she is welcoming the New Year with a new salary package increasing the base pay of government workers by an average of 10 percent in 2007.

"We started 2006 with a pay hike for government workers and we will end it with a vow to do it again next year," the President said in her New Year’s message.

Mrs Arroyo said as soon as Congress returns to its session, she will certify an urgent bill "that will seek to grant an average 10-percent increase in the base pay of government employees effective July 2007."

"This bill governs the usage of the P10.3 billion which we have set aside as the first installment of a merit-based, performance- driven compensation reform package for public sector workers," she said.

"I am asking Congress to cap its impressive run of legislation with the passage of this important bill."

The President said that in July she will ask Congress to expedite the passage of the third edition of the salary standardization law, one that will not only increase the pay of state workers but boost the productivity of the government as well.

She said Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya would file the bill before Congress.

"These measures distill inputs from the field, best managerial practices, performance benchmarks and projected revenue streams of the government, all with the interest of the public in mind," she said.

RDC’s call for more UnionBank ATM’s no longer needed- Garcia

The call of the Regional Development Council (RDC) for the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to negotiate with Union Bank to open branches in provinces without Union Bank ATMs is no longer necessary as the GSIS is currently negotiating the PNB, LBP and rural banks to accept service charges on GSIS E-Card transactions made by GSIS members.

This was announced by GSIS President and General Manager Winston Garcia during the launching press conference on GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (G-W@PS) last December 2006 in Siquijor province after the RDC passed a resolution on the said request on November 28, 2006.

GM Garcia also informed that by February 2007, the GSIS will start upgrading the old e-card with new e-card plus which has a microchip that stores all the data including GSIS member fingerprints. For GSIS members in the islands of Camiguin, Coron, Romblon and Siquijor have already their e-card plus because they are among the first in the country to own what is called a smart card.

Thus, Garcia assured RDC that with this G-W@PS all transactions will no longer be measured in weeks and months but in seconds and minutes. More significantly, the GW@PS is paperless, with the secure biometrics feature of e-card plus and the wireless kiosk, and can now check records of the member, apply for policy, cash advance, emergency, salary loans and maturity without filling up a single document via the internet, Garcia cited.

The GSIS chief said that the presence of the G-W@PS kiosk in Siquijor would remove the need for GSIS members there to travel for hours just to transact with the nearest GSIS office in Dumaguete.

Namfrel elec board to prepare for May 07 elections

Members of the Namfrel electoral board here is set to convene on January 5, 2007 to discuss preparations for the upcoming May 2007 elections.

This was disclosed by Fr. Julius Heruela who sits as the chairperson of the Namfrel electoral board.

The meeting will be held at the Cathedral Convent, this city.

The Commission on Elections here is currently verifying the list of registered voters in the province.

Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. fears that the May 14 national and local elections might be deferred if Congress fails to pass the trillion-peso national budget for this year.

Abalos raised the need for a budget worth more than P4B to prepare the May 2007 polls and the Comelec will not be able to conduct the national elections if the proposed budget this year will not be passed.

Abalos added that the election automation has a dim chance since Congress cannot decide yet on the 2007 national budget but he expected the electronic transmission to push through.

In other election matters, Abalos said that the gun ban starts on January 14 and the registration process has no extension.

When the period for filing certificates of candidacy starts on January 14, so will the “no-exemption" gun ban on all candidates running for electoral posts this May.

Abalos said he will not allow any application by candidates for exemption from the gun ban.

“Political figures running in the polls will not get any exemption. Definitely, zero. No way. If they have threats, we'll provide them with security," Abalos said.

He said the gun ban will take effect from Jan. 14, the start of filing of certificates of candidacy, to June 13, 30 days after the May 14 polls.

Abalos also said the Comelec is now finalizing a list of hot spots where local political tension threatens the peace-and-order situation.

Those areas will be placed under Comelec control, he said. However, Abalos declined to name the areas because “baka maalarma ang mga tao (people might be alarmed)."

PHOTO RELEASE FOR DECEMBER

KAPIHAN SA PIA

Topic: "Ikaw at Ako, Laban Sa Karahasan sa Kababaihan"
Dec. 6, 2006, 3:00 p.m., Women's Center, Dumaguete City

Provincial Infocen Manager Jenny Catan-Tilos (left) moderating the forum while guest Cecil Hoffman of G-WAVE looks on.

Provincial Women's and Children's Concern Desk Officer P/Insp. Rosalinda Abellon

Mrs. Laume Quijote of the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

GSIS Launching of G-W@PS in Siquijor
Dec. 15, 2006, Siquijor, Siquijor

Siquijor Gov. Orlando Fua (left) with GSIS President Winston Garcia at the presscon held during the launching of the new G-W@PS. PIA in Dumaguete coordinated the press conference, bringing the Dumaguete media to the island province.