Northern Philippine Times

Monitoring Cordillera nutrition status

>> Saturday, June 15, 2019

BONTOC, Mountain Province --The National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the Regional Nutrition Evaluation Team (RNET) in the region are conducting nutrition monitoring and evaluation using new evaluation tool dubbed “monitoring and evaluation of local level plan implementation protocol (MELLPI-Pro).

Nutrition Officer III Bella Basalong of NNC led the 5-member team here for the third leg of the activity.

The previous years, Mt. Province was not evaluated due to absence of nutrition action plan, but with the MELLPI evaluation may proceed with or without a NAP, Basalong said.

MELLPI Pro, Balisong said, is a protocol that includes procedures and tools; promotive since it promotes awareness and observance to existing laws, rules and guidelines; progressive as scoring is based on desired progress of local government units in terms of nutrition program implementation and Professional because it promotes professional and objective review of evidences.

First part of the evaluation is a desk review of accomplishment reports, nutrition action plans, and other pertinent documents.

The group then presents to members of the nutrition committee their findings and recommendations.

Part of the new tool is an overall visual presentation of the results of evaluation through a spider web diagram wherein it automatically provides the result of the evaluation, she added. In every corner of the web are five dimensions namely vision and mission, nutrition laws and policies, governance and organizational structure, local nutrition committee management functions and nutrition interventions/services.

These are the aspects the evaluators are looking at.

Initial result of evaluation showed that in terms of implementation of nutrition programs, Mountain Province did good as shown in the web diagram.

For the things to improve, the province needs to develop a nutrition in emergencies plan which will be integrated to the local nutrition action plan, and local disaster risk reduction management plan.

The RNET recommended for the committee to come up with a 3-year plan for nutrition and to be updated annually.

The RNET cited full support of nutrition committee members headed by Provincial Administrator Amador Batay-an for their active involvement and notable nutrition program implementation.

The group also visited the Nutriskwela Community Radyo Kataguan in Bauko.

The Nutriskwela Community Radyo is an NNC project which involves setting up non-profit, non-partisan community radio stations and training of broadcast personnel in areas with high malnutrition prevalence and which do not have easy access to broadcast media.

An M& E activity was conducted in Apayao last May 7 and Kalinga in May 23.

For June, the team will proceed to Abra and Benguet. The City of Baguio was already evaluated by the National Evaluation Team.

In conjunction with the MELLPI, the RNET also evaluates the performance of the barangay nutrition scholars. -- JDP/MAWC - PIA CAR

9 dead in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga drug busts

CABANATUAN CITY -- Six people were killed in anti-drug operations in Nueva Ecija and Pampanga Wednesday and Thursday.

Reports reaching the office of Brig. Gen. Napoleon Coronel, Central Luzon police director, identified the slain suspects in Nueva Ecija as Jimboy Constantino, 26, a resident of Barangay MS Garcia, Mar Cardano of H. Concepcion and Jhon Jhon Mallari of Mayapyap Sur, all in Cabanatuan City; Michael Domingo, 33, of Abar First, San Jose City, and Rod de la Cruz of Palayan City.

In Pampanga, Richard Arequel, 29, was killed in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics agents in Barangay Cabetican, Bacolor.

Du30 pardons PMA cadets facing minor punishments

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City-- President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an order giving pardon to cadets who are facing punishments.

“I therefore say, I Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines hereby pardon all outstanding punishments for the underclassmen — 2CL (second class), 3CL and 4CL of the Cadet Corps Armed Forces of the Philippines (CCAFP) as recommended by the Superintendent effective today, May 26,” the President said in his speech during the graduation ceremony of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Mabalasik Class of 2019 on May 26.

The order will include all those facing punishments for violation of less grave offenses.

He, however, mentioned that they have yet to check the record as to how many cadets are benefitting from the order.

Maj. Reynan Afan, PMA Information Officer, said pardon is a president’s prerogative as commander in chief, and is not mandatory.

Afan said, under normal circumstances, cadets are mandated to follow several regulations during their stay inside the academy.

“There are rules and regulations which the cadets have to comply with starting from the time they wake up at specific time in the morning and before sleeping," he said, citing PMA's book containing rules and regulations.

Afan added cadets could be reported for not submitting their assignments on time or not coming to class on time, which offenses are in the cadets' book, and considered less grave offenses.

“It is the cadets’ bible that defines how to live in the cadet corps from the moment they wake up until the moment they sleep there is always a regulation,” the officer said.

Afan said that the two cadets reported to have been delisted from the graduates’ list are not included in the pardon issued.

He clarified that the order specifically mentioned the 2nd, 3rd and 4th class cadets only.

Grave offenses are different matters and are not included in the pardon that the President issued.

“That is honor code, an entirely separate entity and is not included,” Afan said.

He said cadets commit violations on two bases -- regulation and the honor system.

Prior to signing the order, the President said he "will pardon you this time because I need good and capable soldiers."

Duterte was guest of honor and speaker during the graduation ceremonies on Sunday where 261 cadets were conferred the ranks of Second Lieutenant for those joining the Army and the Air Force and Ensign for those going to the Navy. -- PNA

DepEd-Cordillera seeks help to rebuild fire-hit Benguet school

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd)-Cordillera is asking kind-hearted individuals or organizations to help in rebuilding the Indaoac Elementary School in Tuba, Benguet or at least provide temporary classrooms for its students, ahead of the opening of classes in public schools on June 3.

The school burned down to ashes on the evening of May 1.

Georaloy Palao-ay, of the DepEd Cordillera Public Affairs division, said they have relayed the matter to the national office in Manila.

“Ang pwedeng gawin (What they can do), they can seek the help of the barangays (if ever temporary classroom can be provided by barangays). If they can use the barangay halls or portions of a house of good-hearted citizens as classrooms as temporary solution," Palao-ay said in an interview.

“Right now, there is an immediacy of the need to have even temporary classrooms, we are calling on the community to help,” he said.

Palao-ay said just like what the people of Kalinga did when the school was washed out during typhoon ‘Rosita’ October last year, "the community there on their own way, helped each other to put up a temporary learning center”.

He said that the Benguet division of the DepEd had asked help from the UNICEF to borrow the big tents they lent to schools in the province after Typhoon “Ompong” in September last year.

He said that it will take time for new structures to be programmed under the DepEd.

School head appeals for help

The Philippine Information Agency, in an advisory, issued the appeal for help of Henry Tinaza, head teacher of the school.

In the Ilocano dialect, he said "please help us, the children have nothing to use for their schooling when classes start on June 3”.

Tinaza said that the school immediately needs construction materials to rebuild their school which is being used by more than 60 students and at least four teachers who are in-charge of the multi-grade level applied in the school.

The school's sole unburned building, a small structure which serves as storage and canteen, cannot accommodate the students during school days.

Initial report of the Tuba Fire station shows that the fire at the Indaoac Elementary School in Sitio Indaoac in Tabaan Sur started at the Principal’s room that spread to the adjacent rooms including the Kindergarten Room, the classroom of Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3 and 4, Grades 5 and 6 and the home economics room.

The BFP estimated the damage at P5 million.

The school had been serving as a polling precinct in the past election, and would have served again for the May 13 polls had it not been burned two weeks prior to the election. -- PNA

Woman champ, 67 can’t stop competing

By Pigeon M. Lobien

BAGUIO CITY — Erlinda Lavandia, former Gintong Alay stalwart and Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) javelin queen, remains eager to continue competing even at the age of 67.

"Gusto kong lumaban habang kaya pa. Pero gusto kong umabot sa 80 o’ mahigit pa na sasali sa mga kumpetisyong pampalakasan, (I want to compete while I can. But my dream is to compete in any sports competition until I reach 80 or even more than that),” said Lavandia, a retired cop.

Lavandia grabbed headlines anew after scooping four gold medals in the Singapore Masters Athletics’ 40th Anniversary Track and Field tourney at Bokit Gombak Stadium on May 2-4.

Lavandia competed in the women’s 65-above category where she ruled her pet javelin throw event with 25.65 meters distance right on her first attempt to handily beat Indonesian Julia Jacob (14.15m), and Sri Lankan pair J.A. Jasmin (12.66m) and E.N.L. Jayanthi (10.45m).

Lavandia also came out with golden performance in the discus, shot put and hammer competitions, feats that cemented her status as the queen of throwing events.

She submitted an 18.99-m in discuss throw to beat Sri Lankan Jasmin (15.38m) and Indonesia Jacob (12.70m), then completed her romp with a 7.25m heave in shot put at the expense of Jacob (5.35m) and finally, the hammer with 20.81m toss.

“I would like to emulate an 80 something pole vaulter and a 70+ runner competing in hurdles,” said Lavandia, who claimed the P120,000 incentives given to her by Baguio City.

“If they can do it, why can’t I,” added the first of the Gintong Alay athletes who moved to Baguio in 1979 to train under the sports program of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Lavandia was referring to 84-year old pole vaulter Flo Meiler, who travels around the world just to compete in Masters where she won and even broke world records.

“Kaya ensayo lang, at lalo na sa mga Masters events (I just have to practice particularly in Masters events),” said Lavandia, who won gold in javelin in the 1977, 1979, 1981 and 1985 SEAG. She took the silver in 1983 edition.

Lavandia was already with the defunct Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police in 1977 when she was reassigned in Baguio for further training.

“I loved it here and I never left even after the Gintong Alay program was scrapped (in 1986),” she said.

With every medal she won in the SEAG, the corporal first class was promoted a rank higher until her retirement in 2008 when she achieved the rank of Police Chief Inspector, now a police major.

“I also had successes as a cop, not just in sport and trained also in traffic management,” added Lavandia.

She looks forward to meeting again her fellow sports legends like Lydia de Vega, Guido del Prado, Elma Muros, Eric Buhain, and Hector Begeo in a reunion of Gintong Alay athletes set to be held in November this year.

Lavandia is expected to compete again, this time at the (javelin) world masters athletics in Canada this year.

“I played in all the throwing events only in the Southeast Asia region, but not in the Asian or World competitions,” she added. -- PNA

Pangasinan PNP pushes profiling of foreigners

By Eva Visperas

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Pangasinan police recommended a mandatory profiling of all foreigners residing or temporarily staying in the province.

Col. Wilson Joseph Lopez, Pangasinan police director, issued the recommendation following an anti-drug operation that resulted in the arrest of four suspected Chinese drug traffickers and the recovery of P124 million worth of shabu in Urdaneta City on May 24.

In a report dated May 25, Lopez said he is encouraging an “enhanced liaisoning” to raise the police data collection effort involving foreigners and their possible link to illegal activities and criminal groups.

Lopez attributed the arrest of the susects and the recovery of the illegal drugs to the enhanced intelligence efforts of the police, and its coordination with other law enforcement agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

“The drugs would have proliferated the streets of Pangasinan as well as Metro Manila had it not been intercepted,” Lopez said.

He said the Chinese – identified as Lu Jun, Lui Bin, Li Yu and Ye Ling – were presented for inquest for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Aboitiz to build big Ifugao hydropower plant complex

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Renewable energy provider SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) and the municipal government of Lamut recently signed an agreement for the proposed Alimit Hydropower Complex.

The same framework agreement was concurred by the Lamut municipal council, through the issuance of Resolution No. 2019-18-041 endorsing the Alimit project.

With this, all four of the local government units hosting Alimit Hydro, namely the towns of Aguinaldo, Lagawe, Lamut, and Mayoyao, have signified their approval for what is set to be Ifugao’s first large-scale hydropower facility.

The agreement outlines the cooperation, collaboration, and obligations between and among SNAP as project proponent and the municipalities as hosts during the development and operation phase of the project.

“We believe that meaningful collaboration with our stakeholders and communities can help propel our country toward a more energy-secure future,” said SN Aboitiz Power president and CEO Joseph S. Yu. “We are thankful for the support and trust that the concerned local government units of Ifugao have extended to SNAP and the Alimit Project.”

The first phase of the project entails the construction of the 120-megawatt Alimit Plant and the 20-MW Olilicon Plant. The capital outlay for this phase is expected to be between US$450 to US$550 million.

The second phase of the complex includes the 250-MW Alimit pumped storage facility.

SNAP is a joint venture of SN Power of Norway and Aboitiz Power.

It owns and operates the 360 to 388-MW Magat hydro on the border of Isabela and Ifugao; the 8.5-MW Maris hydro in Isabela; the 105-MW Ambuklao hydro in Benguet; and the 140-MW Binga hydro also in Benguet.

Lagawe deputizes folks to implement town laws

>> Tuesday, June 11, 2019

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The local government here has strengthened implementation of pro-environment and traffic ordinances for a clean and orderly municipality tapping its stakeholders.

Mayor Martin Habawel, Jr. has issued Executive Order No. A-01 Series of 2019 deputizing the Municipal Anti-criminality and General Services, barangay officials and “tanods”, security guards, government and private employees, owners of business establishments and tricycle association’s officers to apprehend violators of municipal laws.

Deputized individuals will implement the ordinances prohibiting smoking, littering/dumping or throwing of garbage and spitting of “moma” in public places, Comprehensive and Integrated Solid Waste Management ordinance and transportation ordinance.

The municipal treasury’s office will issue a booklet of citation tickets to the enforcers. Once apprehended, the violation and amount of penalty shall be indicated in the ticket provided and the violator will pay in cash or render community service corresponding to the violation.

If the violator refuses to pay or render community service corresponding to his violation, the apprehending enforcer will notify the police for assistance and appropriate action.

LGU employees who caused the apprehension of violators will automatically be recommended to the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) committee for nomination as Best Employee of the week, month or year with awards and incentives as may be determined. -- PIA Ifugao

Benefits of DOT- accredited Mt Prov stakeholders cited

By Francis B. Degay

SAGADA, Mountain province -- The Dept. of Tourism of the Cordillera Administrative Region conducted an orientation on DOT accreditation system to tourism stakeholders in Mountain Province on May 30 in this tourist town.

Mayor James ‘Payko’ Pooten expressed his gratitude to DOT-CAR for bringing and conducting the seminar in Sagada.

“The training expenses were income of the business sector and indirectly the municipal government in terms of revenue from taxes of the business establishments,” he said.

Pooten said the tourism industry brings money to the community, but it also contributes to problems such as increase of waste and shortage of water.

He urged trainees to abide with local regulations and national laws.

Angela Fagutao of DOT-CAR discussed the tourism regional situation and progressive accreditation system of tourism enterprises especially on requirements and non-monetary benefits.

Among the non-fiscal incentives of tourism establishments if accredited were the following: inclusion of company profile to the official DOT websites, entitlement to subsidized human resource development seminars and endorsement to LTFRB for the grant of certificate of public conveyances for tourist land transport of accredited tourist land transport companies.

Other incentives: endorsement of tourist infrastructure projects to appropriate government agencies such as BOI or TIEZA for availment of incentives such as reduction in applicable real estate/income taxes, endorsement of accredited tourist land transport companies to Metro Manila Development Authority for exemption of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the number coding scheme under certain terms and conditions, endorsement to LTFRB for exemption from regular franchising process for accredited accommodation establishments to use a maximum of two shuttle service vehicles for free use of house guests and customers under certain terms and conditions and endorsement to DFA for grant of accreditation as preferred travel agents servicing passport-seeking clients.

P7-K marijuana burned, 11 arrested in Cordi drug ops

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Cordillera police destroyed P7,068,200 worth of marijuana plants and arrested 11 drug personalities in the region last week.

On May 27-31, police uprooted and burned 6,781 fully grown marijuana plants worthP1,368,200 in Barangay Tacadang, Kibungan, Benguet. Said plants were discovered in four marijuana plantations.

In Kalinga, a total of 28,300 fully grown marijuana plants and 1,000 seedlings worth P5.7 million were destroyed in Butbut Proper, Tinglayan town in 10 plantations.

Meanwhile, 11 drug personalities were arrested in the region.

Journalito Aldaca Pilor, was apprehended in Lubluba, Dolores, Abra on May 30 while Jonnie H Thomas was held at Cresencia Village, Baguio City on May 31.

Confiscated from the residence of Pilor were two sachets containing suspected shabu and sling bag while four sachets containing suspected shabu and one aluminum foil strip were confiscated from Thomas’ residence.