MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Cordillera provinces included in PGMA livelihood projects

BAGUIO CITY -- Three out of the six provinces in the cordillera are included in the national government’s priority areas for the implementation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Programs (CLEEPS) and other poverty alleviation projects to help the poor families in rural areas combat the effects of the global financial crisis.

In a letter furnished the Cordillera Regional Development Council here, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita identified the priority areas of concern for the region as Abra and Apayao which were previously identified as part of the 10 poorest provinces with over 50 per5cent pover5ty incidence and Kalinga which was recently branded as food poor.

Ermita said the CLEEPS was geared to help the poor, expatriates, workers in the export industry, out-f-school youth among others from the threats and consequences of reduced or lost income as a consequence of the global economic crisis.

Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza was named as the Cabinet officer for the Cordillera while Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral was given the task to concentrate on the government’s initiatives and interventions in Abra and Apayao.

With such directive, the RDC’s social development committee has started to along its programs and projects with the needs of the depressed communities in the light of the impact of the global financial crisis which started to take its toll on the poor sectors of the country.

Aside from Abra and Apayao, the poorest provinces in the country include Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Maguindanao, Sheriff Kabunsuan, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Lanao del Sur, Northern Samar, Masbate and Misamis occidental.

On the other hand, the other food poor provinces are Zamboanga del Norte, Tawi-Tawi, /Northern Samar, Apayao, Masbate, Agusan del Sur, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat islands and Surigao del Sur.

Ermita cited the programs and projects to be undertaken by the concerned government departments would include hiring for emergency employment, fund and supervise livelihood projects for the benefit of the poor.

The Executive Secretary ordered the concerned Cabinet officials to frequently submit a periodic report to the President through the Presidential Management Staff on what has been done to comply with the Presidential directive.

The cordillera is part of the North Luzon Agri-business Growth Quadrangle Super Region as earlier defined by the President, thus, most of the government interventions done are mostly on infrastructure development to improve accessibility to boost tourism development in the remote provinces of the region such as Mountain province, Ifugao and Kalinga.

Last year, Arroyo issued cash assistance coupons under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to over 20,000 poor residents of Abra and Apayao to help alleviate their condition in life and allow them to strive hard to work for their livelihood while the government would do its part in providing employment opportunities. -- Dexter A. See


1,900 Cordillera workers displaced by financial crisis
By Dexter A See

BAGUIO CITY – At least 1,900 workers at different companies in the Cordillera comprised the first batch of employees displaced by the global financial crisis, it was reported.

But despite this bleak development, lawyer Ana Dione, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment in the Cordillera, said the region is in a good position to face the crisis because the mass layoff taking place in other regions is not happening in companies in the economic zone here.

While the Texas Instruments Philippines retrenched over 500 workers last year and bared plans to lay off another batch of workers this year, Dione said the future is still bright for the TIP as it has already started to operate even on a medium level.

She said this is an indication that orders for electronic chips are still being placed with the firm.

Philippine Economic Zone Authority officials informed DoLE they expect investors to consider Baguio City as one of the areas where they can invest even with the global financial crisis.

The PEZA officials noted the increase in business process out-sourcing operations in the city.

Out of the 1,900 affected workers in the region, 1,376 are partially displaced as they are still holding on to their jobs but on a rotation or reduced-time scheme, which is authorized by the labor department to prevent mass layoff.

The other affected workers are considered totally displaced because they are no longer connected to the companies which had earlier employed them.

Dione said several industries in the region which were the initial victims of the global crisis included manufacturing, service, electronics, and mining.

Nevertheless, she said, DoLE made sure that the retrenched workers were properly compensated by their employers.

What is significant, Dione said, is that the labor sector is now inquiring from DoLE about the programs and projects of the national government for the development of skills or livelihood that would enable the workers to augment their meager income.

A concrete example cited by the Cordillera DoLE official is the labor union of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. which had requested the labor department to re-train the mine workers on skills that could be used to generate income or livelihood.

The labor official said DoLE is providing emergency employment assistance as well as training to workers in the region who are interested in developing skills and knowledge that could make them productive amidst the global financial crisis.


Baguio roads, parks closed for flower fest
BAGUIO CITY – City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. last week issued two administrative orders for the use of certain roads and parks for activities of this year’s Baguio Flower Festival.

In Administrative Order 9, Athletic Bowl, Melvin Jones Field and Grandstand shall be used for the opening parade and ceremonies on Feb. 1; Burnham Park and the lake shall be used for the “Promenade at the Lake,” Fluvial Parade on Feb. 14; Melvin Jones, for the “Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom,” activity on Feb. 22; and the Athletic Bowl for the Grand Street Parade and Ceremonies on Feb. 28.

On March 1 up to March 3, the Athletic Bowl shall be used for the floats on parade and display afterwards; on March 7, Pony Boys take charge of the Melvin Jones Field and Grandstand with games on horseback, dubbed as “Gymkhana;” while the whole of Athletic Bowl and the Grandstand is reserved for the closing ceremonies and electric light parade on March 8.

As to Administrative Order 10, the mayor cited the Local Government Code as basis for the closure of some city streets for the celebration of Panagbenga 2009.

On Feb. 1 from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. roads from Military Cut-off rotunda to Lower Session Road, Session road and Harrison road shall be closed for the opening parade, while from the first of February until March 8, Lake Drive road shall be closed for the Market Encounter and Landscaping Contest.

On Feb. 23 to 25, Legarda road from Baguio Palace Hotel to Giligan’s shall be closed for Legarda rocks, while on Feb. 26 to Feb. 28 from 5 PM to 12 Midnight, the road fronting Abanao Square is closed for Abanao Nights.

On Feb. 28, from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., Military Cut-off rotunda to lower Session road, Session road, Magsaysay Avenue, Harrison road is closed for the grand street parade; on March 1, the same route is closed for the float parade.

On March 1 at 12 noon up to March 8, Session (from SM rotunda to Mercury Drug at People’s Park) and other roads intersecting Session shall be closed for the Session road in Bloom.

On March 8, from 5 o 8 p.m., Harrison road from the intersection of Veniz Hotel to the junction of Baguio Patriotic School shall be closed for the closing ceremonies and electric light parade.

Victory Liner buses shall load and unload their passengers at the Baguio Convention Center to ensure the unobstructed use of Upper Session as assembly point of passengers for the different activities.

Signs and markers are expected to direct the riding public along the routes, while the Traffic Management Branch of the Baguio City Police Office is expected to come up with appropriate rerouting schemes and safety measures for changes in the schedule for the early information of the public. – Julie G. Fianza


2,000 students to be given summer jobs
BAGUIO CITY – At least 2,000 students from the different private and public educational institutions in the cordillera will be given temporary jobs this summer despite the expected negative effects of the global financial crisis which has started affecting numerous multinational companies in the country.

This was bared by lawyer Ana Dione, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in the cordillera, who added the provision of job opportunities for indigent students is a continuous commitment of the national government under the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES).

According to her, they expect the number of students to be employed to increase because some local government units are also providing for the full wages of the employed students in case they cannot be accommodated with the DOLE.

The SPES provides for employment opportunities for poor but deserving students in the various local government units and companies with 60 percent of their wages being paid by their employer while the remaining 40 percent comes in an education voucher which will be submitted to the school where the students are enrolled to cover for a portion of their school fees.

She said the employment opportunities are given to the students is during summer and December depending on the availability of funds for the purpose.

Dione assured interested students who are aspiring to avail of the SPES that such program will continue since the budget for the purpose has remained in their appropriation this year, thus, the effects of the global financial crisis should not be a hindrance for the benefit of the students, especially the indigent ones.

Compared to other region who are now experiencing massive retrenchment of workers in multi-national companies, Dione explained the Cordillera is in a better situation to face the effects of the crisis since employers are trying their best not to fire their workers but instead avail of certain schemes such s reduced work hours and shifting to ensure continuity of jobs and avoid displacements.

Out of the 1,916 displaced workers in the region from July to December last year, 1,376 workers are considered to be partially affected because they are still employed in a mining company in Benguet but they are observing work rotations.

Dione encouraged workers in the region to avail of the various trainings being provided by concerned government agencies so that they would be productive even if they will be outside their respective workplaces.

Moreover, the DOLE-CAR is also providing re-training programs for groups of displaced or even currently employed workers provided they are interested to avail of it so that they would be kept busy in this time of crisis earning income for their respective families.

In fact, she disclosed several groups of workers have already started the work programs on how to avail of the important training programs to make them look for alternative sources of livelihood while working in their respective companies. -- Dexter A. See


Moratorium on rampant expansion of Cordillera vegetable farms sought
By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY -- A long-term moratorium on the expansion of vegetable farms in Benguet and Mountain Province would boost the consolidated efforts of various sectors in the Cordillera to preserve and protect the region’s watersheds and forests from destruction.

The imposition of the moratorium was recommended by Primitivo Galinato Jr., newly installed regional executive director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera.

In a report to DENR Secretary Joselito Atienza, Galinato described the state of the Cordillera environment as "very critical and alarming." He had earlier conducted an inspection of the forests in Benguet and Mountain Province.

He said the protection of the watersheds and forests in the Cordillera should be a consolidated effort of all sectors.

Galinato said local officials in areas where expansion of commercial farms is rampant should spearhead efforts to save the remaining forests for the benefit of the future generations.

Aside from the rapid expansion of commercial farms, the new regional director cited forest fires as another serious problem plaguing the region’s watersheds and timber stands.

Forest fires, he said, are rampant during the dry season. Concerned provincial and community environment and natural resources offices must have prepared plans for the prevention of forest fires, he also said.

Last year, 11 forest fires were reported by the field offices of the DENR, destroying an aggregate area of 114 hectares with damage estimated at P361,009.

Of the total burned area, 39.5 hectares were natural forests; 14.2 hectares, grassland; and 61.02 hectares, plantation forests. Some 560 seedlings, poles, and trees were destroyed in the plantation areas.

The fires destroyed the pine forests of Benguet, Mountain Province and Kalinga.
It was also reported that causes of forest fires included kaingin-making, smoking, incendiary, and high-tension wires.

Most of the reported fires happened in January, February, and March, the period considered as the start of summer when most of the forest litters are dry and susceptible to fires.

"The protection of our watershed is of utmost importance to everybody, and the protection of the forests from fires and the moratorium on the expansion of commercial farms to the forest areas are two important ways to ensure the preservation of the region’s forests," Galinato said.

The DENR official also took note of the fragile nature of the Cordillera mountain ranges, particularly its pine forests.

He laments the rampant conversion of the forests into vegetable gardens, particularly in Benguet.

"We may not feel its adverse impact this year or next year, but soon we will suffer its effects. I fear to imagine that day when we no longer have water in our rivers and our mountainsides crumble, and all that would be left to our children are gravel, stone and dust," Galinato said


Smoke-belching campaign starts; car owners warned
By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – The city government has warned smoke belchers of stiff fines saying it has started implementing the clean air ordinance through random inspection of vehicles along city roads.

Members of the roadside inspection, testing and monitoring team from the city environment management office are now doing the rounds on city roads to check vehicles emitting excessive smoke.

Procedures in cleaning up environmental air have been an issue as reports from the Baguio City Health Services Office showed ten leading causes of death are respiratory ailments caused by or aggravated by air pollution.

The data has been culled from records the past five years. It is also a known fact that emission from motor vehicles is a major cause of air pollution.

Owners of smoke-belching vehicles have been sternly warned of polluter’s fee which is P1,000 for the vehicle operator and warning for the driver for the first offense; P2,000 for operator and P100 for the driver on the second offense, and P3,000 for the operator and P200 for the driver on the third and subsequent offenses.

Suspension of driver’s license would result if proper action; maintenance or repair of the vehicle has not been followed, the ordinance states.

Accordingly, RITMT members are from the CEMO, Baguio City Police Office, and accredited volunteers or those from non-government organizations.

The RITMT is composed of the team leader, flagger, spotter, vehicle plate removers, ticketing officer, information and education officer, smoke emission technician, prober, recorder and tool keeper, and the testing team.

Procedures for the roadside inspection and monitoring should be consistent with Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Land Transportation Office, the ordinance stated.

The ordinance cited a provision which grants power to local government units to “promote the general welfare by ensuring and supporting, among other things, promotion and safety and enhancement of the right of the people to a balanced ecology,” thus the creation of the RITMT.

Other specifics; such as procedures and provisions for the roadside monitoring were stipulated in the ordinance approved by the council last year. -


RTC rules in favor of city over ‘donated’ Adiwang school lot
By Isagani S. Liporada

BAGUIO CITY – A petition to void a request by the city council to the Office of the President to segregate a 9,000-sq. m. lot in Dontogan “for school purposes” was recently junked by Regional Trial Court, Branch 6 for procedural flaws.

The city council earlier passed a resolution urging President Arroyo through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources “to segregate said area occupied by Adiwang Elementary School in Dontogan and to declare the same for school purposes in favor of the Baguio government.”

But in a decision penned by judge Antonio Esteves dated Jan. 8, the RTC ruled, the petition for prohibition filed by the heirs of one Pablo Adiwang did not comply with conditions precedent to make the issues ripe for judicial adjudication and the same is an off beam remedy resorted to by petitioners.

Pablo Adiwang purportedly donated only 7,000-sq. m. of his land during his lifetime. His heirs represented by one Gabriel Adiwang however claimed the school encroached upon 2,000-meters more of what was left to them by their father.

The heirs claimed Resolution 66-2008 suffered serious constitutional flaws, depriving them of their property without affording them their day in court. They said the resolution authorized wasteful expenditure of public funds to an act which they claimed was blatantly confiscatory.

Petitioners claimed their father intended to donate merely 7,000 and not 9,000-sq. m. piece of realty, making Resolution 66 an act beyond the council’s power.

But the court ruled the resolution was not unconstitutional since it was a mere request, which the OP may or may not grant. On that score, the court said the resolution, being a mere expression of a sentiment by the council, “did not confiscate any property at all.”

On allegations the resolution was in conflict with the terms of the donation made by the old man Adiwang, the court, after finding the property is public domain and subject to the Townsite Sales Reservation system of land registration, deduced it can not be acquired by mere possession even for time immemorial.

“Any disposition of lots of the same kind may only be done through proper application with DENR,” the court added.

Thus, wanting title over the land, the RTC ruled the bare claims of petitioners cannot prevail over clear provisions of law. Moreover, since the late Pablo Adiwang never had said title, he never had the authority to donate the property to Adiwang Elementary - ownership being a prerequisite in donation.

The court likewise noted the suit was prematurely filed as resort to administrative remedies before Council and before DENR were still available to the petitioners at the time the case was filed.

Further, it declared that a petition for prohibition was not proper remedy since the same may only be used against government bodies or officials exercising judicial, quasi-judicial, or ministerial functions. On the other hand, the city council was in the exercise of legislative powers.