MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Gov’t asked to allocate P137-M counterpart fund For 2nd phase of Cordillera Highland Agricultural Project
By Dexter A. See

Baguio City – The national government should allocate at least P137 million as counterpart fund for a multi-billion-peso loan needed for the full implementation of the second phase of the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Project (Charmp) which is expected to start next year.

This developed after the Regional Develo0pment Council (RDC) in the Cordillera asked Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap to included in its proposed budget next year the budgetary counterpart for the agriculture project that is expected to boost economic development in the rural communities of the region.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD0) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) agreed to co-finance the P3-billion project provided that the government allots a counterpart fund.

The five major components of the seven-year Charmp include social mobilization, participatory investment planning and land titling; community watershed conservation, forest management and agro forestry; and agriculture, agribusiness and income generation, rural infrastructure development and project management coordination.

The RDC said that Charmp II aims to reduce the poverty incidence in the different parts of the Cordillera by increasing farm income, promoting sustainable resource management and addressing the long-standing, land-tenure concerns of indigenous people in the region.

It was learned that the P137-million government counterpart fund is broken down as follows: P57.4 million s the government’s direct counterpart fund and P79.7 million as loan proceeds. The RDC also sought the support of Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, for the effort to secure a budgetary allocation for the second phase of Charmp.

It was recalled that Senator Angara was the author of the Agriculture and Fisheries modernization Act (AFMA). He also authored several legislative measures pertaining to education, health, senior citizens and culture and concern for improving social welfare, protecting the environment, and the country’s cultural heritage.

The RDC enlisted the support of former Presidential Management Staff (PMS) chief Silvestre Afable, Presidential Assistant for the Cordillera Tomas Killip and other Cordillera officials for the appropriation of the counterpart fund for the project.

Charmp covers municipalities in the six provinces of the region to help improve the livelihood of farmers and increase productivity that could upgrade the agriculture sector in the countryside. The RDC said that to attain these objective, the gov’t must allot P137 million for the new agriculture project in Cordillera.


15 poorest Baguio barangays lack access to gov’t programs
BAGUO CITY -- Fifteen barangays in this city were found the poorest out of 129 barangays based from the local poverty action team’s survey done last year. These barangays include Sto. Thomas Apugan, Dominican Hill, Loakan proper, AZCKO, Zamora, Irisan, Bakakeng Central, Sto. Rosario, Outlook Drive, Upper Quezon Hill, Atok Trail, Upper Dagsian, Victoria Village, San Antonio Village and Ambiong.

Offices of the Social Welfare, Interior and Local Government, Baguio City Police, planning, buildings and architecture, health and education did the survey.

Based on poverty indicators, these barangays were found lacking in access to education, policemen and social services and employment. Evelyn Trinidad, officer-in-charge of the DILG city field office bared this saying the result of the survey was undergoing revalidation using the community-based monitoring survey system, Trinidad added.

Trinidad said Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. has formed a committee to address the concerns of these communities while results of the study were being validated.

She said surveys were meant to identify marginalized folk so they could be given access to government programs.


Bishop's ‘Golfing for a cause’ tees off November 10
BY NONNETTE C. BENNETTE

BAGUIO CITY – Baguio-Benguet Bishop Carlito Cenzon announced Nov. 10 as the ceremonial tee off of the fifth "Golfing for a Cause" at the Camp John Hay Golf Course.

On its fifth year, Bishop Cenzon's project that has raised funds for the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish school in Abatan, Buguias, Benguet expects more than 200 golf enthusiasts who will join the tournament at Camp John Hay Golf Club this year.

Bishop Cenzon said that the last four tournaments had made substantial contributions to the construction of the three floor parish church and school. "This has given a boost to the 50 communities in Abatan as they continue to give their share of free labor and food to the project," he said.

The schedule of activities include the registration, anticipated mass and ceremonial tee off on November 10 at 6:30 a.m. at the Camp John Hay Golf Course. At 6 p.m. of Nov. 10, welcome cocktails will be held at the Camp John Hay Clubhouse.

The dinner and awards ceremony will be held on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at the CJH Clubhouse. "We call on you to play golf and be part of a noble cause," Bishop Cenzon urged golf lovers in the Cordilleras.