MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

City gov’t prepares to build Sto. Tomas trash dumpsite
By Aileen P. Refuierzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city government will soon begin ground preparations for its engineered sanitary landfill project.

Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. has given the go signal for the conduct of land survey, identification and evaluations of the 2.9-hectare city property at Sto. Tomas School Area barangay recently chosen as landfill site.

The said processes are required before the landfill project can be prosecuted.

City Environment Management Office head Romeo Concio said that after passing the resolution confirming the site, the city council will also have to officially identify the area as disposal site as a requirement of the law.

In Administrative Order No. 60, the mayor created the Sto. Tomas Property Land Identification Task Force composed of city personnel with technical capabilities to undertake the land identification and survey to establish the metes and bounds of the property.

The task force will be composed of Engrs. Luis Ortencio of the city assessor’s office, Edward Magalgalit of the city building and architecture office, Gerald Sannad of the city engineering office and Virgilio Tumayan of the city planning and development office, Salvador Goyala, Edwin Ingosan and Roland Obello of the city environment management office and three police personnel from the city police office.

Apart from conducting the actual identification, survey and evaluation of the lot, the task force will also be tasked to coordinate with barangay officials and residents on the plans and activities of the task force and to prepare and submit to the Baguio City Solid Waste Management Board evaluation reports, plans and other pertinent documents generated during the identification and survey.

The body was also tasked to submit a report on its accomplishments after a month.

The Sto. Tomas lot was recently chosen over four other shortlisted options as the final location of the planned landfill. It is said to be the most advantageous since it is located within the city and would require the least development cost of P61 million.

Concio said the city will also have to begin the process of conducting a survey on social acceptability to satisfy the requirements of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.

A full-blown feasibility study on the site will be made preparatory for the city’s application for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR.

Construction or development proper will only begin upon satisfaction of these requirements.

Concio said the city plans to develop the first cell which will require a one-hectare area of the lot. He said this cell can contain the city’s wastes for three to five years. The succeeding cells can be developed in future.

The establishment of a landfill has been identified as the city’s final disposal facility after the closure of the Irisan open dumpsite pursuant to Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The mayor said a safe disposal system is also included in the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan of 2002-2008 and the Medium-Term Development Plan of Baguio City for 2005-2010.


Stringent rules set in Baguio anti-smoking law
By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city government has adopted the rules and regulations to implement Ordinance No. 8 series of 2008 or the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Baguio City.

The ordinance prohibits smoking in public utility vehicles, government-owned vehicles or other means of public transport, accommodation and entertainment establishments, public buildings, public places, enclosed public places or any enclosed area outside one’s private resident or private place of work except in duly-designated smoking rooms.

The rules defined all areas where smoking will be banned:

PUVs would refer to public utility jeepneys, buses, taxis and other vehicles used in the transport of goods and members of the general public. Accommodation and entertainment establishment refer to restaurants, fastfood chains, eateries, motels, lodges, inns, boarding housing, disco houses, videoke bars and movie houses or any other place offering food, sleeping, accommodation and recreational facilities to the public for a fee.

Public building refers to any building or structure owned by the government and used for government purpose or one that is owned by a private person but used exclusively by the government or any of its instrumentalities or any building used or controlled for public purposes without reference to the ownership of the building.

A public place refers to gasoline stations, banks, malls, town squares, terminals, shopping or business arcades, schools, churches, hospitals, cinema houses, gymnasia, funeral parlors, barber shops and parks.

As per the rules, establishments are required to designate a smoking room or area which is totally enclosed or physically segregated but properly ventilated and properly marked by a sign posted saying “Smoking Area.”

The sign shall include a warning in English about the ill effects of both smoking and secondary exposure to tobacco smoke.

Accommodations and entertainment establishments can however opt to be considered as smoking establishments but must first obtain registration with the Office of the City Mayor.

Persons liable are any individual smoking within the prohibited areas, any passenger, driver, conductor or inspector of government-owned vehicles or PUVs, or the president or manager, owner/proprietor or operator of accommodation and entertainment establishments who “knowingly and willfully allows, abets or tolerates and/or fails to warn, advise or report violators.”

The Health and Services Office and the City Building and Architecture Office are tasked to inspect and certify the appropriateness of the designated smoking areas while the inspection of tourism-accredited and non-accredited establishments shall be done by the city health office in coordination with the city administrator’s office.

The rules also give establishments 60 days to comply with the requirements including the registration of accommodation and entertainment establishments with designated smoking areas.

For the penalties, violators will be meted fines ranging from P500 to P2,000 or imprisonment or not less than one to six months or both upon discretion of the courts.

Failure to comply with the 60-day period would be a ground for business permit revocation.

Establishment owners will be subject to following penalties: P300 fine or one month imprisonment or both for the first offense; P500 fine and two months imprisonment for second offense and P1,000 fine and four months imprisonment for third and subsequent offenses.

PUV violators are subject to fines ranging from P100 to P500 and imprisonment of from one to three months.
Three violations of the rules shall be ground for cancellation of the establishment’s business permit.


3 Samaritans sustain patients’ fight to live
By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Supporting the sick and needy can be addicting.

Expatriate Baguio boy Freddie de Guzman, an architect in Canada, recently sent P19,225. It was the latest in a series of humanitarian remittances he quietly began sending about three years ago.

From the fund, P3,500 paid for the latest chemotherapy session of John Brix de Guzman, an eight-year old boy battling leukemia. A total of P1,155 was used for the infant formula of a baby boy whose 32-year old mother can’t breast-feed due to her own medication for affective bipolar disorder.

Freddie also reached out with a P4,000 support to English teacher Noemi Harold of the Irisan National High School and P645 for the medicines of a woman inmate of the city jail. Both women are afflicted with cancer.

He contributed P3,000 to a joint fund drive of the Venture Club and Minda’s Buddies, a support group for cancer victims headed by cancer survivor Marivic Bugasto.
Freddie’s personal effort began when he read of the plight of a then 49-year old widow and mother of nine diagnosed for breast cancer. He bankrolled her chemotherapy and the patient went on remission.

Since then, Freddie never stopped sending amounts, even after he lost his job last year. He admitted his days can’t be complete without reconnecting to Baguio. He said a friend helped him out with the latest remittance.

Another Samaritan who requested anonymity recently delivered P10,000, also his latest in over a year, to bank executive Rolly de Guzman of RCBC.

Of it, P2,500 helped the family of John Roe Aclopen, a 17-year old boy from Camp 8 who recently succumbed to a rare disease medically known as spiral cerebral atoxi. An equal amount went to the family of 44-year old Christopher Guzman of Loakan Proper who was diagnosed for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adonis Togana, another high school teacher battling cancer, received P2,000. The remaining P3,000 was divided equally for social welfare officers Jane Concepcion and Letty Tumbaga.

Jane and Letty have worked for years helping ease other people’s suffering. As social workers of the city, they reach out to the sick and needy, sometimes using their own resources. Recently, both were diagnosed for cancer.

From southern Germany, fourth dan traditional karate instructor Julian Chees of the Shoshin School advised that part of a P66,000 fund he earlier allotted for three orphans in Ifugao be used for other patients.

Of it, P6,000 helped settle the burial costs for Jessica Tampol, an eight-year old pupil at the Rizal Elementary School who recently succumbed to complications of diabetes.

From the Shoshin (Beginner’s Mind) fund , P359.75 paid for a can of infant formula for the same toddler being supported by Freddie. This was aside from P510 for the baby’s elder sister, who turned 11 last month.

Another P500 settled the elementary graduation fees of a son of Rhoda Boquiren, whose family could hardly make ends with what she earns from sorting recyclables from garbage.
Julian recently sent P10,000 to support Anabel Lampaz, a mother of eight facing eviction for the nth time for non-payment of rent. A lady Samaritan in New York also offered form lumber the family needs to build a shanty so it won’t be evicted again.

Freddie and Julian had requested anonymity, but relented when told releasing their names would give a human face to the humanitarian cause and perhaps inspire others to take on their addiction.


Europeans top list of tourists in Cordillera
BAGUIO CITY — Europeans have remained the top foreign tourists in the Cordillera the past several years because the region’s attractions met the preference of nature lovers and adventure seekers, a top official here said.

Purification Molintas, regional director of the Department of Tourism in the Cordillera, also expressed optimism tourist arrivals from Europe would continue even with the current global financial crisis.

Aside from Europeans, foreigners visiting the region’s beautiful tourist destinations included Americans, Asians and other nationalities.

The DoT official said Europeans are considered nature lovers, thus, destinations in the region such as the famous Banaue rice terraces in Ifugao, the caves in Sagada, Mountain Province and the white water rafting in Kalinga suit their interests.

Molintas said the local tourism industry does not yet feel full effects of the global financial crisis since most foreign tourists arriving now have booked their travels in advance.

She said the country might feel the pinch of the global crisis by next year, adding the improving economic situation in the country would spell the difference in the region’s lucrative tourism industry.

DoT studies showed a foreign tourist in the region spends from P2,500 to P5,000 daily. Thus, more tourists in a certain locality would mean additional income for residents and businesses.

The region’s booming tourism industry, Molintas said, is getting a big boost from the implementation of road rehabilitation projects that improve accessibility to tourist destinations.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has made the rehabilitation of several road networks in the Cordillera as her priority to beef up economic development in the rural areas.

With the completion of Phase One of the Halsema highway rehabilitation project from Baguio City to Mount Data, Bauko, Mountain province, Molintas said foreign and local tourists are now willing to take the circuit from Sagada, Mountain Province to Banaue, Ifugao and then to the white water rafting areas in Kalinga.

Completion of phases two and three of the Halsema highway and improvement of the Bontoc-Tabuk-Tuguegarao road would further boost local tourism because more potential destinations would be accessible, she said. – Dexter A See


Palace to release P68 M Baguio share from PEZA
BAGUIO CITY – The national government will only release P68 million out of the P125 million share of the city government from the operation of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority based in Barangay Loakan here due to expected decline in revenues arising from worsening effects of the global financial crisis.

This was bared by Rep. Mauricio G. Domogan, who added the balance of P57 million will be allocated in the succeeding national budgets, thus, the city will have to wait for a little more time in order to receive the full amount from the nati9onal treasury.

According to the lawmaker, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. told him the P68 million fund will be available for release once the P1.4 trillion national budget will take effect 15 days after the President shall have signed the same.

Domogan said the fund to be taken from the national budget will be used for the initial development and rehabilitation of the Baguio Athletic Bowl located within the premises of the Burnham Park, the city’s premier tourist destination, so it will conform with international standards for hosting regional, national and international competitions.

While expressing disappointment over the reduced release of the supposed city’s share, the congressman said it is better to take the amount rather than have nothing at all so development of Athletic Bowl and Burnham Park could start and be completed in time for the city’s centennial celebration on Sept. 1.

Domogan added the city must understand the predicament of the national government as revenues are expected to go down because of the worsening effects of the global financial crisis, thus, the P68 million is a good amount to jumpstart and complete whatever development plans are prepared for the Athletic Bowl and Burnham Park.

Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management rejected the insertions made in the 2008 budget in the amount of P125 million for the payment of the city’s share from the PEZA operations because of certain technical issues that were immediately settled.

To ensure that the city government would receive the amount this year, Domogan worked out during the House deliberations on the budget the inclusion of the same amount so that the city could maximize its utilization, especially for the development of the idle Athletic Brown and Burnham Park.

The solon assured local officials he will work out the inclusion of the remaining unpaid balance amounting to P57 million in next year’s budget so that the national government could settle its obligations with the city and the funds will be utilized for the implementation of more impact projects that will serve as an added tourist attraction for this mountain resort city.

Burnham Park and the Athletic Bowl will be the major sites for numerous events that were lined up for the celebration of the city’s centennial anniversary, thus, the need for a total rehabili8tation of the two facilities located at the heart of the city. -- Dexter A. See


New salary scheme for gov’t workers backed
By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Regional Development Council approved a resolution supporting the House of Representatives Joint Resolution No. 24 which calls on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to modify the compensation and position classification system in government and implement the same initially effective July 1 as well as authorizing the amendment of existing laws and issuances contrary to the proposal to give a big boost the country’s civil service sector.

The region’s policy-making body pointed out there is an urgent need to bolster the standardized compensation scheme and to correct inequities between positions as a means of revitalizing the civil service.

The speedy action of the President on the matter would stop growing demoralization among government officials and employees because of the inequitable position classifications that do not actually conform with the times, the RDC said.

Earlier, the House of Representatives issued Joint Resolution No. 24 urging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately introduce acceptable and practical revisions to the existing compensation scheme and position classification system of the bureaucracy in order to update the same, enhance its performance and orientation.

The proposed revision of the civil service system seeks to distinguish differences in levels of responsibility and accountability among government employees and officials.

The RDC said it is imperative for all government employees and officials to support and advocate for the adoption of reforms in the existing compensation and position classification system of the government by appealing to the President to revise the current system in accordance to the policies, standards and guidelines provided in the proposal.

According to the RDC, Resolution No. 04, series of 2009, the most expedient way to provide an adequate and competitive compensation package for government employees is for the President to exercise her authority to revise the existing system to what would conform with the times, especially with the onslaught of the global financial crisis which is slowly taking its toll in some parts of the country.

The supposed revision in the government’s compensation and position classification system is in consonance with the national government’s bid to come out with a lean and mean bureaucracy capable of dealing with the trend of the times so that officials and employees will be motivated to give their best in discharging their sworn duties and responsibilities as well as pinpointing accountable individuals.

The national government has temporarily suspended the implementation of the rationalization plan which is said to create a lean and mean bureaucracy because of the expected serious negative effects of the global financial crisis to the country’s economy, especially in the generation of jobs for the people, particularly the upcoming members of the labor force, the fresh graduates.


Rob victim fined for bouncing check
BAGUIO CITY -- A victim of robbery was penalized here by a bank last week for a bouncing check.

According to the victim, she was called up by Robinson’s Bank informing her that somebody was going to encash her check amounting to P33,000.00, but it lacked fund so she had to deposit additional fund.

The victim said she was surprised for she never issued any check to somebody.

Upon verification made by the bank, they found out that the amount of P33,000.00 was already deposited to a certain person at BPI Dagupan Branch.

Because of what happened, the victim was made to pay penalty fee of P2,200.00 to the bank for the check.

Early this March 18, the victim also discovered that one of her checks with check number 3588728 or 358-8729 was also missing.

Before she would be penalized again, she went to Police Station 7 to blotter the said incident.—Deborah Dogillo


Reckless driver hits mother, speeds off
BAGUIO CITY – A jeep driver is now being hunted by police for hitting a young mother with his vehicle along Scout Barrio jeep terminal March 16 around 3:30 p.m.

Complainant May Sharon Y Balbin Alagao, 29, who went to the city police’s Station 7 to report the incident, said the jeep, which plies the downtown-Scout Barrio route hit her elbow and knees then immediately sped away.

Police said Balbin, with her child alighted from a jeepney but the jacket of her child fell down.

When she picked it up, the Scout Barrio-bound jeep coming from Perfecto St. reportedly hit the complainant and without any word, sped away.

The victim, native of Mt. Province is married and residing at Barangay Irisan. -- Krista Giselle G. Seda


Inmates hold course on organic cooking
BAGUIO CITY --Inmates of the city jail showed literal proof of the pudding by dishing out food to toast their completion of a crash course on organic food cooking last March 16.

Thirty six who finished the training – 11 women and 25 men – served French bread, chocolate cupcakes, squash juice and other recipes within their temporary means after Dr. Federico Martin, assistant city schools superintendent, confirmed them graduates.

Martin said their finishing the course handled by volunteer teacher Irma Koon is proof “there is life at the end of the tunnel”. He expressed hopes “that your interest (in learning) will be sustained.

The course was initiated by jail warden, Supt. Rebecca Pawid, schools supervisor Arthur Tiongan and coordinator Whitney Dawayen of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education.

Earlier, the jail management, the city schools and the Baguio City Schools of Arts and Trades represented by vocational administrator David Bungallon inked an agreement to pursue non-formal literacy and vocational education programs for the inmates.

Tiongan also announced the conduct of classes to allow inmates to apply for academic promotional accreditation in lieu of and equivalent to regular elementary, high school and college grades and years.

“Walang magawa e,” a trainee said to explain why he joined the cooking class and went on to admit he enjoyed it.

The inmates set the mood of their graduation with a rendition of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up” and ended with a hip-hop performance.
Pawid recognized the efforts of Koon and the cooperative agencies for their support to the jail’s reform program. – Baguio City Jail Inmates’ Press Release.


PhilHealth to increase benefits starting April
Effective April 5, all PhilHealth members and their dependents admitted in any of the 1,500 strong partner hospitals across the country will be enjoying increases in their hospitalization benefits.

This after the issuance of PHIC Circular 9, s.2009 on PhilHealth’s Revised Inpatient Schedule which is in line with its mandate to provide a responsive, adequate and more equitable benefit package especially in the light of the global economic crunch.

PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Rey B. Aquino in his recent service caravan to the provinces of Ifugao, Kalinga, Mt. Province and Benguet said that PhilHealth will be increasing its benefits by 35 percent to as much as more than 100 percent aggregate for room and board, drugs and medicines, x-ray, laboratories and others, operating room fee, and doctor’s professional fee.

Depending on the patient’s illness case type, a member would now be able to avail of daily subsidies for room and board ranging from P500 to P1,100 if confined in a Level 3 & 4 (Tertiary) hospital such as the Baguio General Hospital, SLU-Hospital of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame de Chartres, Pines City Doctors’ Hospital, BCU-Sto Nino and Benguet General Hospital in La Trinidad.

Also in the same hospital category, members would now enjoy a ceiling of P28,000, from a previous P16,000 for drugs and medicines for illnesses categorized under Case Type C.

Illnesses belonging to this case type include cancer necessitating chemotherapy, end stage renal disease requiring dialysis, and many more classified under the International Coding of Diseases-10th Edition (ICD-10) set by the World Health Organization

This new set of inpatient benefits will apply to all PhilHealth members such as the Private and Public Sector Employees, Individually Paying, Overseas Workers, Sponsored, and Lifetime Program members for their confinements here and abroad.
Meanwhile, Elvira C. Ver, Regional Vice President for PhilHealth Cordillera urged accredited health care institutions and practitioners to refrain from jacking up their hospital and professional rates so that the increase in the inpatient benefit package would be more meaningful and the burden of hospitalization is minimized.



Flavier cites parables in launching hospital facility
By Ramon Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- Former Health Secretary and Senator Juan Flavier was recently home in Baguio to open one more medical facility funded out of his congressional allotment during his three terms in the Senate which ended in 2006.

“This is the only invitation I accepted in the last two years,” he said at the inauguration and blessing of the Infectious Disease Building of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

The third BGHMC building to be built through his initiative, the edifice will also house the out-patient service of the Psychiatry Department and the Drug Rehabilitation Unit.

In a speech interspersed with his signature wit and humor, Flavier drew cheers when he announced the BGHMC “is one of the best (medical facilities) in the country”
“I also said that (for the medical facility) in Tarlac,” he added, eliciting laughter. .
“I have two messages for you,” he said. “First is that no matter what you do, continue to learn, for learning is the key to life.”

He recalled that, as a young doctor, he had to learn, to be able to serve the barrio people in Nueva Ecija and Cavite..He said he had to learn what it takes to pursue community development (as president the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement and the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction), and later to work as secretary of health and as senator.

“Second, whatever you do, there will be people who will criticize (you for it),” he said, drawing from lessons of parables he wrote based on his experiences as a barrio doctor and community development worker.

Earlier, Flavier also initiated the construction of a new main building and a facility that upgraded the Psychiatry Department of the BGFHMC and reconstruction of the Baguio Health Department building, aside from new classrooms for the Baguio City National High School.

With him the in the program were Rep. Mauricio Domogan; regional health director, Dr. Myrna Cabotaje; BGHMC chief, Dr Manuel Factora; professional and medical staff chief, Dr. Jimmy Cabfit; and hospital chaplain, Fr. Bobby Mangonon who blessed the new edifice. .

A product of the Baguio City High School and the University of the Philippines, Flavier finished his masters in public health at the Johns Hopkins University.

As health secretary from 1992 to 1995, he initiated innovative approaches to public health, among them “Oplan Alis Disease” nation-wide immunization program for children, “Yosi Kadiri” anti-smoking and “Sangkap Pinoy” nutrition campaigns.

His effectiveness in rallying sectors of the community to support these health campaigns under the battle cry “Let’s DOH it” earned him the “Filipino of the Year” citation from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.His grounded skill in community organizing, together with his humility and sense humor have endeared him to many.

During an election rally here for his first term in the Senate, Flavier checked facts when the master of ceremonies who introduced him as “one among us, one who grew up in Baguio”.

“Agpayso nga taga-Baguio ak ngem kitaen yo man no dimmakkelak (I’m really from Baguio, but look if I grew up),” he told the crowd, referring to his diminutive frame.

Among his notable pieces of legislation were the Traditional Medicine Law, the Poverty Alleviation Law, the Clean Air Acty and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act.