New MP police chief /Ifugao terraces summit

TRAILS UP NORTH
Glo Abaeo Tuazon


The provincial police office of Mt. Province held a turnover ceremony August 13 at Mt. Data Hotel for the new provincial director. Guest of honor and speaker was Gov. Maximo Dalog. Regional police head Chief Supt. Orlando L. Pestano officiated the turnover for incoming officer-in-charge Senior Supt Fortunato B. Albas from outgoing provincial director Senior Supt Pedro L. Ganir. Other ranking officers of the regional and Mt. Province police offices also graced the event.

Ganir served as provincial director of Mt. Province from Jan. 29, 2008 until August 13 and was given due recognition for his exemplary contribution to the province. He received an award of Medalya ng Kasanayan. Prior to this, Ganir served as provincial police chief of Ifugao March 14, 2007 to Jan. 29, 2008. He is now officer -in-charge of the Regional Headquarters Support Group effective this date.

Albas on the other hand, of PNPA class 1983 was previously assigned as deputy provincial director of Abra and Benguet in 2003 and 2005 respectively and lately served also as the group director of the Regional Mobile Group and chief of RHSG.
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The "Midterm Review and Assessment of the Ifugao Rice Terraces Ten Year Master Plan" started August 13 at the Banaue Hotel in Banaue, Ifugao. With the persistent challenge of Gov. Teodoro B. Baguilat Jr. to make the event materialize, the three-day event is expected to comprehensively discuss the theme.

The summit was basically conceived to get ideas on conserving and preserving the Ifugao Rice Terraces as a World Heritage Site. For much of the past decades, the terraces have been in a state of neglect for reasons of poverty, outmigration and modernization. In a bid to preserve the "8th Wonder of the World", Ifugao LGU, conservationists, environmentalist, NGOs and farmers organizations with the pushing of the governor came to participate and contribute in the review and assessment of the master plan to provide necessary data for completion of reports.

August 13 was the opening program and the State of the IRT (Ifugao Rice Terraces) Conservation Program Address by Baguilat. Secretary-General of UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines Preciosa S. Soliven gave a much needed inspirational talk to rekindle the fires of persistence and care for the cause.

Other noted speakers tackled the issues on systems of rice intensification, safeguarding and managing Ifugao indigenous oral traditions and nurturing indigenous knowledge of experts. Day 2 was on presentation of contemporary studies on the IRT particularly on developing infrastructure guidelines and sustainable financing mechanism for rice terraces heritage sites of Ifugao.

The controversial issue of climate change and its implications to the IRT was an inevitable topic too. Workshops followed with cultural presentations and a tour to Hungduan for the sponsors and guests.

By the end of the summit, the PPDO organizing team and Ifugao provincial government Baguilat gathered added knowledge and information. Financial resources were a concern with the vision of conserving the rice terraces as world heritage site. The wisdom shared during the affair was an addition to the best that makes Ifugao also a home of culture and heritage of humanity. -- email: twilight_glo@yahoo.com