MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Palace releases P12 million for Baguio infrastructure projs
BAGUIO CITY- The Office of the President, through the Department of Budget and Management, approved the release of P12 million to fund the implementation of various infrastructure projects in this mountain resort city that would improve the delivery of basic services to the people.

The said amount was requested by Baguio City Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan from former Senator Juan Flavier who had been instrumental in improving various health and education facilities here.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr. identified the projects where the amount will be utilized which includes the construction of classrooms at the Baguio City National High School(BCNHS) Annex at San Vicente barangay – P8 million; construction of multi-purpose building at Gabriela Silang – P2 million and construction of a multi-purpose building at Balsigan barangay – P2 million.

He added that the allotment released shall be valid for obligation up to December 31, 2007.

Furthermore, the P12 million allotments authorized by the agency shall be used solely for the purposes indicated in the Special Allotment Release Order and that releases shall be made in accordance with existing budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Andaya disclosed that it is the primary responsibility of the head of the department, bureau or agency to keep expenditures within the limits of the amount allotted.

Earlier, Domogan requested a total of P25 million from former Senator Flavier to fund the implementation of various priority infrastructure projects in the different parts of the city but only P12 million was released since the senator ended his term last June 30, 2007.

Flavier had been instrumental in the construction of the P549 million five-storey annex building of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, the various structures at the BCNHS Main Campus where he happens to be an alumnus, the completion of the P55 million structure of the Baguio health department and the construction of vital roadlines and multi-purpose buildings in the city.

Local officials here hailed the two-time senator for his vital contribution sin the development of the city, especially in improving the delivery of health care services and the provision of quality education to the people.

In return, the BCNHS named several of its structures Flavier buildings in memory of the lawmaker’s support to his Alma Mater. – Dexter See


North Luzon projects on to boost business, income
BAGUIO CITY - Millions of pesos worth of major infrastructure projects are now ongoing in north Luzon to boost business.

When completed, the major infrastructure projects in the Northern Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ) Super Region will also boost crop yield in the area and increase farmers’ income.

Roy S. Imperial, NLAQ project manager said these ongoing infrastructure projects are key components in the vision of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to transform regions 1, 2, 3, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and northern parts of Aurora (north of Baler), Tarlac (north of Tarlac City), Nueva Ecija (north of Cabanatuan City), and Zambales (north of Subic), as a thriving food production area and source of food for Metro Manila and other major population centers in Luzon.

Imperial said under the government’s NLAQ program, seven major transport, irrigation, power and post-harvest infrastructure projects were targeted for completion in 2010.

However, construction and development works for the Benguet Cold Chain System were already completed. The system, he said, was inaugurated by President GMA last March 19, 2007.

The cold chain system has the following components: building with cold storage, fruit and vegetable washer, stainless working tables, work shed and a pre-cooler.

The Halsema highway is a major road network in the Cordillera heartland connecting the provinces of Benguet, Mt. Province and Ifugao.

This highway is the main artery that connects these provinces to the Sabangan-Cervantes Road, Bontoc-Tuguegarao Road and other minor road networks.

Under the Halsema Highway Project, a report furnished by DA Secretary Arthur C. Yap, Development Champion for Luzon in his report to the President indicated that the Mt. Data-Bontoc Section has received an initial release of Php 340 million out of the allocation of Php 1 billion.

The 13 sections are now on-going and 7 sections are on the mobilization stage. Meanwhile, Php 189 million was initially released to the Bontoc-Banaue section with 7 sections now on-going and 4 are on the mobilization stage, the report said.

An amount of Php 112 million was received by the regional office of the and district engineer’s office of the DPWH for civil works under the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao Road Project for the Bontoc-Tinglayan Boundary

Secretary Yap also reported that an amount of Php 220 million constituting Php 120 million for relocation and resettlement works and Php 100 million for rehabilitation of Agno River has been released to the Agno River Integrated Project in Pangasinan. Yap said that as of May 2007, an overall accomplishment of 89.5 percent has been achieved with an area coverage of 2,173 hectares.

The Casecnan Multi-purpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in Nueva Ecija has an overall accomplishment of 83.87 percent.

The Banaoang Pump Irrigation Project (BPIP) in Ilocos Sur has acquired full road right of way (ROW) in the construction of pumping station, substation, and approach channel, 75% in main canal construction and 10% in lateral canals.

The Airport Development Projects in Basco, Ibayat, Bagabag, Lal-lo, and Casiguran have completed its respective detailed estimates, scope and program of works. An allocation of Php 51.9 million for these projects have been approved while Php 15 million was released for the rehabilitation of the Casiguran airstrip, according to Secretary Yap.

Some delays are being encountered in the implementation of the Dingalan Port Development Project and Port Irene Development Project due to unfavorable weather.


Baguio mayor extends wine drinking hours after getting criticism
BY JULIE G. FIANZA

BAGUIO CITY – Owners of night business establishments in this city heaved sighs of relief following the issuance of executive order 2 by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. to amend EO 3 extending time for consumption of liquor.

The time of operation of certain business engaged in the selling and dispensing of intoxicating beverages, was also made clear in the later issuance.

The changes were made after “careful study, meetings and further consultations” between the mayor and various sectors; the academe, religious and other sectors, including owners of establishments selling and dispensing intoxicating beverages.

Bautista told establishment owners during a meeting “peace and order should be first on their minds, before profit.”

Businessmen should be partners with the city in maintaining peace and order, he added.

Bautista added peace and order would entice more tourists to the city, thus would mean more business.

In EO 2, the mayor noted the association between incidents of crime and sale of liquor without restriction and regulation by certain business establishments; and the need to intensify the regulations of sale and consumption of liquor.

He said the Local Government Code stipulated “local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, promote health and safety, improve public morals, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.”

Instead of the earlier 6 p.m. to 12 midnight liquor ban, the time of serving of liquor of all business establishments engaged in the selling and dispensing of intoxicating beverages shall be: from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Mondays to Friday and 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

The order, stands for night clubs, cabarets, disco pads, cocktail lounges with dancing and with hostesses, beer gardens and bars, and similar establishments.

Same restriction stands, wherein minors under 18 years of age, intoxicated persons and those with deadly weapons and firearms, except those in actual performance of public functions, shall not be admitted within the premises of said establishments.

Minors, maybe admitted in such places, when in private parties and accompanied by parents and guardians, and but will not be served liquor.

For identification purposes in said establishments, waiters and waitresses engaged in sale or serving of liquor shall wear uniforms and nameplates, the order said.

For sari-sari stores, liquor maybe sold in retail and by bottles only, and customers are not allowed to consume such in the premises. Licenses and permits shall be cancelled automatically, in case of violation.

The mayor said ban is in place for “selling and drinking of liquor at any time of the year in public parks, cemeteries, along alleys, city and national roads, and bus terminals.”

The prohibition also applies to drinking inside vehicles while the said vehicle, either moving or parked, are within alleys, cemeteries, city and national roads, taxi stands, bus and jeepney terminals,” the mayor said.


Baguio-Aritao road nearly done to ease travel time
BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio-Aritao road project is now around 90 percent finished but it will be fully completed by March next year. When done, travel to Kalinga, Ifugao and other provinces in Region 2 would be greatly reduced.

This was bared during the recent Baguio-Aritao Road Improvement Project Monitoring Advisory Group meeting wherein the project engineer and the contractor bared the new completion date is March 28, 2008 after the Department of Public Works and Highways approved in principle a 147 calendar days extension.

The project was earlier set for completion this coming Oct. 14.

Despite the accomplishment, the contractor requested for an extension due to some problems encountered in the project implementation such as difficulty in hauling cement to the Ambuclao bypass road and limited mobilization of heavy equipment because of the 15 tons limit being implemented by National Power Corporation at the Ambuklao spillway.

Another reason cited was erratic weather condition. Engineer Benjamin Bautista of the DPWH Philippine –Japan Highway Loan project management office reported that as of July 25, actual accomplishment is 92.926 percent with a slippage this month of -2.622 percent.

With only a balance of 5.5 kilometers to be paved, concreting would be completed in two months time except for some critical portions.

The remaining works would be the two bridges and the Ambuklao bypass road, which involves the construction of reinforced earth wall at the end of the 1.72 km by pass road, he said.

Explaining the delay, Bautista said the contractor had problems on moving heavy equipment and cement to the sites after the Napocor during the course of the project strictly implemented a 15-tons load limit over the Ambuklao spillway.

Heavy equipment have to pass through the other way while the contractor had to adopt a scheme in which only one half of the supposed load of cement is transported in a trip.

Bial Palaez, BMAG co-chair, said the completion date being printed is important especially for planning business propositions like tours.
He said the completion date means the project is fully finished including documentation.

As the shortest alternative route from Nueva Vizcaya to Benguet cutting down travel time by almost one half via San Jose, Nueva Ecija, the Baguio Aritao road is seen to boost tourism in the area.

Bautista said at the moment, travelers can travel through the road with relative comfort.

The Baguio to Ambuklao stretch is now all paved with a little portion near the boundary to be concreted very soon.

From the 6-8 hours travel time from Baguio to Aritao junction, it is now three to three and one half hours, he said.

Osmondo Hortaleza, project manager of CAVDEAL, said baring any unforeseen problems, the 147 calendar days extension would be enough for them to complete the project.

DPWH regional Director Mariano Alquiza appealed to the contractor to finish the project earlier.

CAVDEAL is the contractor of the Baguio-Aritao Contract Package 1 from Baguio to Pangawan, Kayapa Section(Benguet side) covering 68.128 kms. Contract Package II, Pangawan-Kayapa-Aritao Section(Vizcaya side) had already been completed and inaugurated by President Arroyo last January.

The Baguio-Aritao road is a major component of the Cordillera Roads Improvement Project to interlink the Cordillera with neighboring provinces to enhance the socio-economic activities in the areas.

Investing in physical infrastructure to increase business confidence and improve the lives of the people is one of the priority agenda of the government. -- PIA


Envoy cites Abra NGO for graft drive
BAGUIO CITY – British Ambassador Peter Beckingham hailed the relentless efforts of a non-governmental organization in the Cordillera to eradicate graft and corruption in the region, saying this was an indication of strong partnership between the private sector and government.

Beckingham cited the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Governance headed by Pura Sumangil for forming the indigenous people’s organization and provincial agrarian reform coordinating committees as community-based programs as monitoring bodies in different rural communities.

Beckingham said the United Kingdom shared the same vision of ensuring transparency and elimination of graft and corruption in the government.

The ambassador said he would love to explore the wonders of the Cordillera, noting the warm welcome given to him by local officials and members of civic organizations.

A community-based monitoring system funded by the British government aims to achieve higher standards of economic governance with focus on anti-corruption and transparency.

Also, a P12-million project is geared at contributing to the government’s poverty-alleviation program and the millennium development goals with focus on the poorest regions and marginalized sectors.

Beckingham said his country owes the Philippines for augmenting the labor force of the UK where some 200,000 Filipinos are working in hospitals and information technology firms.

UK is returning the compliment by funding poverty-alleviation and anti-corruption efforts, he said. -- Dexter See