MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

City council refuses to confirm contract: Baguio mayor pushes P18.7 M Irisan dumpsite rehabilitation
BY AILEEN P. REFUERZO

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. Thursday said the critical state of the Irisan dumpsite calls for the pursuit of its rehabilitation “at all cost.” This, even as the city council refused to confirm the contract for the dumpsite closure and rehabilitation project amounting to P18.7 million.

“The executive has no choice but to proceed with the project because of the urgency and emergency state of the site. We really have to move forward,” the mayor told his weekly Ugnayang Panlungsod hosted by the DZEQ Radio ng Bayan.

The city council did not confirm the contract which was awarded to the winning bidder, the Asia Envirocon/C.B. Garay Philwide Builders, due to varying opinions. There were contentions that the project can be implemented even without the council’s confirmation based on the provisions of Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act which was even supported by the Department of Budget and Management.

However, some members maintained that the confirmation is a requisite as per provisions of the Local Government Code. The mayor, however, said there is stronger basis to push through with the project than its urgency and necessity.

He said the retaining wall protecting the dumpsite is now in danger of collapsing as a crack has again emerged from the structure. If this is not addressed immediately then a bigger disaster is in the offing, the mayor warned.

The mayor earlier declared the dumpsite closure and rehabilitation as a special project and even assigned offices to monitor its implementation. Engineer Nazita Banez, head of the solid waste management division of the city environment and parks management office said the project will involve the closure and rehabilitation of three-fourths or 75 percent of the whole 2.1 hectare dumpsite area.

The remaining 25 percent will be maintained as residual waste containment area, a small-scale dumpsite which will serve as the city’s waste technology in the meantime that the final garbage management scheme is being worked out.

The scope of work for the project covers trash moving works which involves the leveling and compaction of existing solid wastes and spreading and compaction of earthfilll; leachate collection (trash excavation, setting up of piping system, leachate collection pond and sump pump, installation of methane gas vents (drilling and installation of pipes); storm drainage system (installation of trash excavation and drainage canal); perimeter/litter fence and gates, crib wall as trash erosion control, access road, gate, guardhouse and the operation and management of incoming wastes for four months; and ensuring of safety and security during project duration.

The city was earlier given the go signal to proceed with the project by the Environmental Management Bureau office of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cordillera.

The city is also currently pursuing other waste management programs like the development of materials recovery facilities in the barangay and the imposition of the mandatory waste segregation to compliment the dumpsite closure project. Banez said 17 materials recovery facilities are targeted for construction to cater to the waste management needs of the barangay clusters.

The first five MRFs are now operational in the various barangays. The city also plans to construct a main MRF structure amounting to P250 million and bio-reactor machines for the composting needs of the barangays.


13 seriously hurt: Culprit in Baguio City grenade blast hunted
BAGUIO CITY – Police have yet to identify the man who lobbed a grenade near the main gate of the Saint Louis University along Bonifacio St. here Oct. 2 wherein 13 persons were seriously injured.

The incident was reportedly due to a gang war prompting various sectors to ask the city government and the police to adapt drastic measures in addressing the issue.

Police identified the victims and their residential areas: Tony Francis Atijera, 18, of Marcoville; Oliver Calara, 19, of Camp 7, Kennon Road; John Rajanam, 18, of Triniville, La Trinidad, Benguet; Alexander Quejada, 18, of Shangrila Village; Mark Alvin Guerren, 23, of Green valley; Angelo Magsino, 22; PJ Baligan Iglesias, 22 of La Trinidad, Benguet; Lee Troy Tagudar, 19, of Happy Homes; Allan Kato Pungtilan, 20, a resident of Lower Quirino-Magsaysay subdivision; Zala Shane Flores, John Robles Rafanan, Edward Casula, and MJ Calugdan.

Police said a man was seen running from the SLU main gate after he lobbed a grenade at a crowd of students around 6 p.m. Although police investigators are still conducting a deeper probe into the incident, initial reports disclosed the targeted establishment – Control Shift Computer Shop – at the basement of Anita building along Bonifacio Street, was a known hideout of the Pinoy True Crips fraternity.

The computer shop was reportedly managed by Leonard Oliganga Christian, 26, married, a resident of Engineers Hill.

The gang war between the PTC, who allied themselves with the Bloods (another young gang) over a year ago, has been ongoing for several months now against two other gangs, said reliable sources, who named these two other rival gans as the North Side Terrorists and the Rappers Delta Foundation.

Reportedly recovered by police at the blast scene were MK2 fragmentation grenade parts such as a safety lever, a blast set and assorted shrapnel.

Insp. Emilio Dallo, head of the city police explosive and ordnance disposal unit told newsmen an MK2 fragmentation grenade contains trinitrotoluene or TNT flakes and has a 15-meter blast radius which is about 90 square meters wide.

Senior Supt. Moises Guevarra, BCPO director, also told newsmen although they still have to identify the suspect who lobbed the grenade, witnesses have been questioned about his description.

The suspect was described by one of the witnesses as wearing camouflage short pants, who, while going down the stairway leading to the computer shop “looked emotionally disturbed while looking for someone.”

“The possible motive was retaliation of some incident that may have happened earlier but we are still trying to confirm this,” Guevarra said.

He said he ordered the creation of Task Force Rizal, headed by Supt. Allan Campos, now conducting deeper probe on the incident and other related incidents. – With a report from Dexter See


City social welfare exec denies barbs over lot as CPLA men join dispute
BY RAMON DACAWI

BAGUIO CITY -- City social welfare and development officer Betty Fangasan last week took exception to a news report Sunday that her office “is tagged as the culprit” in a dispute over a piece of land at Irisan where the city set up a refuge center for children and minors needing protection and shelter.

“We deny said accusation as the lot was acquired by the city through a deed of donation made by the owners, the heirs of Felipe Puce who were certified by the National Commission in Indigenous Peoples as the legitimate claimants of the same,” Fangasan said.

According to the news report, private claimant Frumencio Salda has accused Fangasan’s office of encroaching on his property by trying to expand the fenced area of the refuge center. “We are not expanding the fenced area,” Fangasan said, adding that “the subject disputed land has been acknowledged by the donor, Heirs of Felipe Pucay as the one donated by them.”

She said she had nothing to do with the survey and the actual construction and that her office is the end-user, to manage the refuge facility for minors. The survey, she said, was done with the guidance of Teresita Luna, the secretary of the donor, who showed the metes and bounds. Fangasan said that prior to the acceptance by the city of the donation, tedious processes were undertaken to determine the person who had the legitimate claim over the property.

She noted that the NCIP certified the Heirs of Pucay as the owners, resulting in the deed of donation to the city on Dec. 27, 2001, covering an area of more or less 5,000 square meters reserved, identified and fenced for public purposes, specifically for social welfare. She noted that Elsie Kiwas, the representative of the donors, acknowledged that the present fenced area is the one donated by them.

This was provided for in an agreement signed by the Heirs of Pucay and the city government following meetings initiated by city administrator Peter Fianza with Mr. Salda, Fangasan said.

“For unknown reasons, Mr. Salda did not sign the agreement,” she said. She added that Kiwas also offered to amend the deed of donation if the area occupied by the center is beyond the estimated 5,000 square-meter area, as the immediately adjoining area also belongs to the Pucay heirs.

“On the part of Mr. Salda, he failed to show proofs to bolster his claim. Rather, he resorted to pure harassment which the city does not tolerate,” Fangasan said. “The city had accorded him all the opportunity for the acknowledgement of his claim, however, until today, no legal document has been presented by him.”

“We are saddened by Mr. Salda’s having members of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army deployed in the area in order to harass the city from continuing its infrastructure projects in the area,” she said. Joel Gatchalian, who identified himself as the deputy commander of the CPLA’s third battalion, was quoted in the news report as saying “we decided to help out after we found out that the landowner is being unjustly dispossessed of his land.”

Irisan barangay officials reportedly had passed a resolution warning the city social welfare office against expanding its land area. Fangasan, however, said there’s no such barangay council action. She asked the CPLA not to intervene in favor of Salda.

She said Salda has filed a civil case before the court for recovery of possession and, out of respect for the legal process that he initiated he should wait for the court to resolve the issue.


PAG-IBIG execs clarify ‘misreported’ loan rates
BY JULIE G. FIANZA

BAGUIO CITY - PAGIBIG branch head Jocelyn Necesito clarified the earlier announced reduced housing loan interests, as members deluged her office with loan inquiries. In an oversight, the loan interest rates were ‘misreported’ as notches lower than the supposed bracket.

The loan rates would be, as corrected, 7 percent for loans of 350,000 to 750,000 with a monthly amortization of P2328.56 up to a maximum of P4,989.77; while loans of 800,000 to 2M, would have a monthly amortization of 7,317.91 up to a maximum of P18,294.79 at the rate of 10.5%. Earlier, the loan interest rates are from 10.5% to 7%; and from 11.5% to 10.5%, thus there is a corresponding monthly savings, from the amortization payments.

For loans from P50,000 up to P300,000 the interest rate stays at six per cent (6%) per annum. The paying term for loans is specified in a monthly amortization table, which could be anywhere from 1 (one) year to a maximum of 30 (thirty) years, or 360 months.

Said amortization table could be checked at the PAG-IBIG office. According to Necesito, the basic requirement for loans, is attendance to the counselling seminar being conducted every Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3PM at the 3rd floor, PAG-IBIG Fund office, Insular Life Building, Abanao street. The document requirements would then be discussed, as requests would depend on the loan purpose.

Documents needed may include the properly filled-up loan application forms, income tax returns, certificate of employment and/or certificate of income (if employed), certified true copy of title, survey plan with location plan, medical examination (of the loan applicant) and proof of billing address.

Other requirements may also be requested as to what is needed. According to Necesito, the reduced loan rates is “our best way of giving our Pag-ibig members the opportunity to become homeowners.” Personnel who can help prospective loan applicants may also be reached at tel nos. 619-1330 or 619-2710 during office hours.