COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

Tabuk city has new schools division 

TABUK CITY, Kalinga--  Tabuk City has now its own schools division office starting School Year 2014-2015.

According to  Schools Division Supervisor Alfredo Budaden,  the Kalinga Schools Division Office shall designate some of its key personnel to serve as skeletal staff of  Tabuk City Division Office for   opening of classes June 2.

Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban has allowed use of a space at the old city building as temporary office of the new city schools division office.

The city government has extended assistance for office equipment and supplies to the office, Tubban said.
Cities in the country are entitled to have their own separate schools division offices, among the number of mandated government agencies accorded to cities by law.

Budaden said  Department of Education  regional office is closely working with the city government for full establishment of the Tabuk City Schools Division Office. -- Larry Lopez

Fish kill noted in Ilocos Sur towns

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Rising temperatures caused several fish kill incidents in this province, resulting in an estimated loss of P300,000, according to Provincial Agriculturist Teofilo Quintal. Quintal confirmed the fishkills in several fishponds and rivers in the towns of Caoayan, parts of Cabugao town, and Magsingal.

To avoid further fish kills, Quintal called on the local fishermen and the local government units to conduct river excavations so that the fish could find deeper and cooler waters. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

SM Foundation sets medical mission June 10

BAGUIO CITY -- SM Foundation will conduct a medical-dental mission for 1,500 patients here June 10 at its carpark near SCMC Mall Administration Office.

SMFI initiated "Gamot Para Sa Kapwa,"for  indigent families.

SM Foundation will offer free chest Xray, ECG, blood sugar screening, blood pressure monitoring, medical consultation, dental services and free medicines to patients in cooperation with the Baguio Health Department, Department of Social Welfare and Development, 911 On Call, Philippine Red Cross Baguio Chapter,Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Philippine Military Academy, University of the Cordilleras, Watsons and the City Government of Baguio.

SM Foundation Inc., SM's outreach and community service organization, has four areas of advocacy: education through scholarship and donations of schoolhouses, mall-based outreach programs, health, and community projects.. -- Karren Padilla 

Robber slain in DagupanCity pawnshop heist

DAGUPAN CITY – One of 10 suspected robbers who tried to rob a pawnshop and jewelry store in this city was shot dead by a security guard afternoon of June 1.

The armed men, who reportedly arrived on four motorcycles, barged inside the BHF Pawnshop and Gemline jewelry store along A. B. Fernandez Avenue, said Supt. Christopher Abrahano, city police chief.

Abrahano said the robbers were disarming two of the security guards, when the third one managed to fire a shot hitting one of the suspects.

The gunfire caught the attention of the patrolling police officers, who responded to the scene prompting the robbers to escape on their motorcycles.

The suspects reportedly transferred to a waiting Innova van on Nablestreet leaving their motorcycles behind.

Pursuing policemen recovered four motorcycles and an M16 Armalite at the scene. Police have yet to identify the slain suspect. – Eva Visperas        

Ifugao town sets counterpart  for Philhealth beneficiaries

By Marcelo Lihgawon

AGUINALDO, Ifugao -- The Sangguniang Bayan here approved a resolution requiring all PhilHealth beneficiaries here sponsored by the local government unit to pay counterpart before enrollment.

The SB said payment of counterpart shall be made first quarter of every year based on household earning and assets or basing on prescribed categories as members.

“Collection derived from counterparts of sponsored members shall be deposited as trust funds of the LGU to be used for additional members,” the SB said.

The legislative body said LGU- sponsored beneficiaries are classified into four categories with counterparts.

For category 1 like barangay officials and employees, people engaged in business, employed/hired as job order or casual, the counterpart is P1,000 while P800 for category 2 includes members having three and below beneficiaries.

Barangay police and PhilHealth members having beneficiaries of four and above beneficiaries are under category 3 with P600 counterpart.

For category 4 that includes single parents, senior citizens not dependent to any Philhealth member, individual ongoing continuous medication, rape victim survivors and those that have mental disorder and differently abled persons, counterpart is P400.

La Union firm hikes electricity rate by P1

SAN FERNANDO, La Union – The La Union Electric Cooperative (Luelco) will increase by one peso its electricity rate effective this May after it temporarily shifted to a power supplier which charges a higher price.

Reports said Luelco is now getting its power supply from GN Power, a coal-operated power plant, because some hydropower plants have been operating abnormally due to the dry season.

From P9 per kilowatt-hour in April, the May billing will now be P10 per kwh, according to a report from ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol Northern Luzon on Thursday.

A Luelco representative said the electric cooperative was forced to buy its power supply from coal and diesel-operated power plants because some power plants cannot operate during summer due to the drought.

DTI turns over equipment to 5 Ifugao organizations

LAMUT, Ifugao --  The provincial Department of Trade and Industry recently turned-over  equipment under Shared Service Facility (SSF) projects to five recipient nongovernment organizations who will operate and manage them.

According to DTI provincial director ValentinBaguidudol, SSF projects are envisioned to increase productivity and efficiency of clients whose businesses will utilize equipment.

Awarded were equipment for fruit processing given to the Lamut Grassroots Savings and Development Cooperative (LAGSADECO) represented by Julio Pugong Jr., and another for packaging to Ifugao Federation of Development Cooperatives (IFEDECO) received by John Bolla.

Stewart Baccay received facility for Lagawe Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative (LMDC) while   Joel Binwag received equipment for rice wine brewing for 4 Corner Association.

The facility for agro-product processing  was given to the TOPMPC received by John Hidalgo.

DTI Cordillera Administrative Region director Myrna Pablo  andBaguidodol explained and presented the memorandum of agreement with the NGO beneficiaries before the turn over of the SSF facilities. -- Daniel Codamon

Ilocos Norte drug suspect falls

CAMP JUAN, Ilocos Norte — After 10 years on the run, a suspected illegal drug trader in Ilocos Norte was recently arrested at the Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City, police said.

Senior Supt. Francisco Esguerra, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Region 1, said Alphy Marquez, of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, has been wanted since March 2004.

Esguerra said he has a pending drug case filed with the Regional Trial Court Branch (RTC) 19 in Bangui town and listed as one of the most wanted persons in Ilocos Norte. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Gov creates 2014 “Gotad ad Ifugao” working committees

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Gov. Denis Habawel has issued an executive order  designating coordinators  and committees for this year’s “Gotad ad Ifugao” festival.

This is  ensure  success of the commemoration of the province’s 48th anniversary dubbed as “Gotad ad Ifugao” on June 16-20.

Habawel said  event will be a time for Ifugaos to celebrate years of being an independent province and this event will be a showcase of Ifugao culture, tradition and practice.

This year, 26 employees of the provincial government were identified as event coordinators while 19 were designated to chair working committees.

Designated persons were tasked to prepare activity and budget proposals, prepare guidelines and  attend meetings . -- Marcelo Lihgawon

JHMC joins schools In Brigada Eskwela

BAGUIO CITY -- John Hay Management Corp. heeded the requests of several schools within the John Hay reservation areafor support in this year’s BrigadaEskwela, a project of the Department of Education.

Brigada Eskwela brings together teachers, parents, LGUs, community members and stakeholders in the yearly activity to prepare a conducive learning environment for students and teachers before the classes start.

JHMC, implementing arm of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority in  cleaning and repair of schools within its jurisdiction.

The John Hay reservation area comprises 13 barangays, where public schools are found surrounding the forest watershed

As part of its community relations program, JHMC will continue to partner with agencies in promoting programs and activities for the community.

Bauang gets Red Orchid award

Bauang, La Union – This coastal town has been dubbed “Model Town” in the north after being bestowed with the Red Orchid Award for two consecutive years for successfully implementing the “smoke-free” town initiative.

As this developed, this town is now vying to win the prestigious Red Orchid “Hall of Fame” award. This was disclosed by Vice Mayor Bonifacio G. Malinao Sr., who said that a team from the national office had already conducted a research to validate this town’s “smoke-free” campaign that has been successful for years. Malinao expressed optimism that they can win the prestigious award due to the full support and cooperation of their constituents for the program that has been implemented – making this town as one of the cleanest towns in the region. -- Mar Supnad

Businesswoman shot dead in Ilocos Sur

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – A businesswoman was shot dead by unidentified suspect in Zone 6, Bantay, Ilocos Sur May 31.

Police identified the killed victim as Michelle Gorospe, 24, of Barangay Solid West, Vigan City and of Barangay Boquig, Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

Gorospe’s nephew, Jake, 12, survived the incident.

Investigation showed the victims were on board a motorcycle when Gorospe was shot. -- Freddie Lazaro

26 Cordillera road rehab projects  up in Cordillera 

Baguio City – Twenty-six road rehabilitation projects in the Cordilleras are slated for completion before end of 2014. Regional Director Edilberto Carabbacan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Cordillera said the projects, under the DPWH-Department of Tourism (DOT) convergence project worth P2 billion, started in 2013.

He said in 2013 there were 12 tourism road upgrading projects implemented in Abra, Benguet, Ifugao and Baguio City worth P1.005 billion funded by the national government to connect all potential tourist destinations in the region. “Four of these have been completed while the six are still being constructed and two are delayed due to lack of manpower and materials,” he said.

Projects for CPLA projects checked

BAGUIO CITY – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary TeresitaQuintos-Deles Monday visited sites where farm-to-market roads were recently completed, as part of the PAMANA project for former Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA), which helped Manabo, Abra and barangay Cabiten in Mankayan, Benguet.

Deles’ one-day site visit took place first in Manabo with a welcome party led by Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin and other LGU officials in Casakudan Elementary School in SitioSakudan, San Ramon East, Manabo.

Deles also met with the former armed groups who opted integration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as forest guards locally called the “BantayGubat group.”  -- Larry Fabian

Is health council formed to address rising AIDS cases

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – With the alarming reports on the rising occurrences of Human Immunodeficiency Virus – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV-AIDS) here, health officials are seeking the formation of a council to address its prevention. Ilocos Sur’s Provincial Health Officer Carmeliza Singson disclosed that at least 12 residents from the province, two of whom are overseas Filipino workers (OFW’s), were infected with HIV in 2013.

Two are full–blown AIDS cases. It was reported that the Provincial Health Office (PHO) was doubling its efforts in educating sex workers, reminding them of the need to undergo regular pap smear examinations. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

257 added to PNP elite force

CAMP JUAN, Ilocos Norte — A total of 257 rookie policemen from the Ilocos provinces had finished the rigid 45-day PNP Special Counter-Insurgency Unit Training (PNP SCOUT) held at the San Roque Power Plant Corporation in San Manuel, Pangasinan.

The trainees received their certificates during the culmination exercises held at the grandstand of the police regional office in Region 1 May 9 at Camp Brigadier Oscar Florendo in San Fernando City, La Union. -- Freddie G. Lazaro