NEWS BITS

Ecija town mayor ousted by OMB remains in office

PANTABANGAN, Nueva Ecija — Four months have passed since the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Mayor Lucio Uera of this town for having illegally suspended and dismissed 44 permanent municipal employees, but he has since remained in office.

           

In its joint resolution issued in June 2013, the OMB found Uera administratively liable for grave misconduct and grave abuse of authority for having unilaterally suspended and terminated the 44 municipal employees.

            

The aggrieved employees are now questioning why – despite the OMB having transmitted its ruling to the office of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas – Uera continues to hold office and dispense the functions of mayor.

            

“I am very concerned about this because I received reports that Mayor Uera has been telling people that he cannot be removed from office because he has connections (within the Ombudsman),” Alison Villaflor, one of the complainants said.

            

Villaflor has repeatedly written to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, requesting Uera’s removal from his post but has not yet received any reply or acknowledgment from her office. —  Sheen Crisologo

Sec Singson to grace Begnas di Bauko fest

BAUKO, Mountain province — This scenic town is set to celebrate its Begnas Festival on March 12-14 at Bauko Catholic High School at Poblacion to be highlighted by inauguration of Mabaay-Abatan tourism road with Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson cutting the ribbon.

Singson will be welcomed by Rep. Maximo Dalog, Gov. Leonard Mayaen and Bauko Mayor Abraham B. Akilit.

With the theme “Menpaek ya mamang-et ay Ibauko, gameng di nsiposdan da alapo” (Diligent and vigilant people of Bauko, gem of the native land), it aims to strengthen participation and bonding of its 22 barangays.

Begnas di iBauko is one of cultural festivities celebrated annually by the municipality com foundation day. It will feature the cultural presentation of barangays.

A musical-theater presentation of Bauko government employees in a stage play entitled “Tawid di litagwan” under the direction of Ventura Betot will also be featured. The stage play is about responsible utilization and nurturing of natural resources.

Activities were conducted before the begnas . A trek to Bauko Spanish Trail to the camping site of Balintaugan culminating at the “Lepas di ipadogan” in Bagnen Oriente (festival) took place Feb. 20-21. Inauguration and launching of the Agro-industrial fair is set at municipal ground March 2-14.

A job fair will also be conducted March 9-10 at same venue.— Arsenia Addon

2 die as van hits motorcycle

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Two persons died while two others were injured when their motorcycle was hit by a van in Tuao town Feb. 20.

Jay-ar Baltazar and Adriano Jove were declared dead on arrival at the Nuestra Señora de Piat District Hospital while Dante Fernandez and Mark Marzan were said to be in critical condition at the Cagayan Valley Medical Center, according to case investigator PO3 Jonathan Corpuz.

Reports said the victims, who were on a motorcycle driven by Jove, were traveling along the highway in Barangay Villa Laida when they were sideswiped by the van at around 11 p.m.

Corpuz said the van driver, who has yet to be identified, escaped after the accident.— Raymund Catindig

4.1 quake jolts Baguio, nearby provinces

BAGUIO CITY — Classes started promptly and without fuzz Tuesday morning shortly after some panic when a magnitude 4.1 earthquake rocked this city at 7:14 a.m.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the center of the quake was about 13 kilometers southeast of this city.

It was felt strongest in this city and La Trinidad, Benguet at Intensity 4, which is considered moderately strong, but caused no casualties or damage to property.

Phivolcs said such intensity is comparable with the “vibration of a passing heavy truck that is felt by people indoors and some people outdoors and may awaken light sleepers.”

Intensity 3 was felt in Itogon, Benguet, which is relatively weak, “but some people may experience dizziness and nausea.”

Meanwhile, it was “slightly felt” at Intensity 2 in Dagupan City in Pangasinan and Intensity 1 or “scarcely perceptible” in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

There was no significant disruption of classes in this city and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said that power transmission service was normal.

Drug couple busted

BACNOTAN, La Union — A couple from Taguig City was busted in Barangay Guinabang, here night of Feb. 22 for possession of drugs, guns, ammunition and explosives, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said.

Senior Insp. Reginaldo Dalipias, local deputy police chief, identified the suspects as Jabar Masorong, 32, and his wife Asnaimah Macalanggan-Masorong, 33,  both of Barameda Street, Taguig City.

Seized from them were 10 sachets of suspected “shabu,” a .38-caliber gun, a “paltik” or homemade pistol, assorted bullets, a hand grenade, and a marked P1,000 bill used in the buy-bust operation around 7:30 p.m.

They are now detained at the Bacnotan Municipal Jail, facing a string of criminal charges. — Erwin G. Beleo

Mt Province to employ 878 studes under SPES

BONTOC, Mountain Province — In support to the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) of the Department of Labor and Employment, the provincial government unit,  nine towns and two tertiary schools in the province will be employing 878 students this summer vacation.

Of the total, the municipality of Natonin pledged to hire 212 students; provincial government - 145; Bauko -115; Tadian – 78; Paracelis – 66; Mountain Province State Polytechnic College – 50; Sabangan – 49, and  Barlig – 45. 

Xijen College of Mountain Province and the Office of the Vice governor will employ 25 students each; Besao and Bontoc,  24 each and Sagada, 20.

The towns of Bauko, Barlig, Besao, Bontoc, Sagada, Tadian, provincial government and office of the vice governor will  hire students for  20 days.

Students to be employed by Natonin and Paracelis will work for 25 days and  22 days in  Sabangan, according  to DOLE Provincial Field Office  Head Samuel Lasdacan.

MPSPC and Xijen College of Mountain Province will employ students for 40 days.

Lasdacan said all the Public Employment Service Officers in municipalities were instructed to start screening student applicants  and process the employment documents of qualified applicants in time for their employment in  April.

Student applicants are required to submit complete documents such as original/certified true photocopy  of birth or baptismal certificate, grades for first semester for college students and latest card of previous year for high school students, income tax return   of parents or certification from the barangay stating that the income of the family does not exceed the poverty thresh hold.

The SPES is a regular annual job creation program of the national government intended for the poor but deserving students to augment their school fees by providing them work during summer vacation. This program is open to all qualified high school, college, technology or vocational students and drop-outs who intend to continue their studies.

Under this program, students are paid a salary computed based on the given wage rate of each of the employers, 60 percent will be paid by the employer in cash while the remaining 40 percent  of the salary will be paid by DOLE in the form of education voucher. — Juliet Saley

Kalinga gov calls for peace, unity in Ullalim fest address

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Gov. Jocel C. Baac  urged people to take the “call of a thousand gongs  a call for peace and unity” as the  province celebrated its founding anniversary last week with the theme, “Kalinga at 20: A Legacy of Peace and Unity”

Baac made the call Monday  before a multitude who watched the spectacular dance of “awong chi ganza” or call of a thousand gongs played by 3,048 players coming from the various barangays, municipalities and schools.

Rallying for peace and unity among tribes, Baac  likened the harmony of the three thousand gongs to people of the province, who in the midst of diversified beliefs and dreams, could ultimately stand as one for Kalinga.

The rhythm and tune produced from the thousand gongs could resound  and despite varied tribal groupings, ‘our hearts can beat as one and act together to push our province and people forward to prosperity and development, Baac said.

“I urge you to bring the call beyond the borders of the province – to the rest of the Cordillera, nation and wherever it could reverberate”, Baac  said.

This year’s “awong chi ganza”  was documented  for possible entry in the Guinness World of  Book Records.

It was launched last year and played by a thousand gong players from the different municipalities but this time, organizers increased the number of players to 3,048. — Larry Lopez

New quake devise installed in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — A new earthquake intensity meter has already been installed here for disaster preparedness and response.

The device, which was provided by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) and Japan government, is capable of perceiving movements or shaking during or after an earthquake.

The earthquake device is connected to a computer with an internet access that gathers information and transmits real-time data to Phivolcs database for an accurate description of an earthquake. — Liezle Basa Iñigo

La Trinidad launches Strawberry Festival

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — As the Baguio Flower Festival heated up,   the  nearby capital town of Benguet also  launched last week its Strawberry Festival.

Set to open in the first week of March just as  Baguio’s Panagbenga is winding down,  Strawberry Festival 2015  carries the theme  “Valley of Colors: A Colourful Gathering and Merry-Making”.

La Trinidad officials headed by Mayor Edna Tabanda said the  month-long event will kick-off on March 2 with the opening  of Agro-Industrial Trade Fair and barangay booths at the public market grounds.

The formal opening is on March 6  that will start with  an ecumenical service.

On March 16, the “Strawberry Lane”   will open at the Municipal Park where  various strawberry by-products and other La Trinidad produce will also be offered for sale.  Also featured will be  strawberry cake festival and strawberry baking and pastries competition.

The town’s foundation  day on March 18  will be highlighted with street dancing, parade,  the main program, and multi-cultural celebrations and rituals. A mini-float and drum and lyre parade and competition  are scheduled on March 20.

The annual Strawberry Fun Run and Walk with the most awaited  ‘Duting tan Dukto’, and the search for the sweetest and biggest strawberry fruit  are  set on March 2. Coronation night for Mr. and Ms. La Trinidad  will be on March 28 at the Benguet State University grounds.

Other scheduled-activities  include: clean-up drive (Mar. 6), renewal of marriage vows (Mar. 19), barangay night (Mar. 20), youth symposium, Acoustic Band Competition (Mar. 25), La Trinidad Got Talent (Mar. 27), Jobs Fair (Mar. 30 -31), and various family, sports and adventure events, among others.

Tabanda is  inviting the public to come and celebrate with them and enjoy the various cultures and products of La Trinidad.  — Arlene Abat

200 Abra women join livelihood  training

BANGUED, Abra,– More than 200 women in the province   are being  trained  to engage in livelihood projects to augment their family incomes.

Since  January,  four training sessions were  conducted  at Velasco, Tayum; Cabaruyan, Daguioman; Poblacion, Tayum  and Sulbec, Pidigan.  Another training session  is  set  at Cayapa, Lagangilang .

Noemi Belandres-Bachiller of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office was trainer in food processing and preservation.

Participants in the livelihood development trainings were members of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina.

The KALIPI members cited Gov. Eustaquio P. Bersamin for giving attention to needs of Abra women by funding their training programs and giving soft loans that are interest-free for capital to start small businesses.

The governor assured the women of his continuing support for as long as these women will show their sincerity and diligence in implementing the skills they have acquired and really engage in business and not misuse the money that is loaned out to them.

They also thanked the PSWDO headed by Decimia D. Cabang for sustaining the program for the women by integrating and accommodating their project proposals for inclusion in the funding in their annual investment plan. – Maria Teresa Benas

Ifugao town gives incentives to retiring nutrition scholars

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao — Retiring barangay nutrition scholars in this municipality  now  receive  incentives from the local government.

Municipal officials led by Mayor Glenn Prudenciano and Vice-mayor Joseph Angowan approved last quarter of 2014 the ordinance granting incentives to retiring BNSs upon reaching the optional or mandatory age of retirement.

The ordinance states the BNS at age 60 to 65 could apply for  early retirement with an incentive of P20,000, and at the compulsory retirement age of 65, incentive is  P25,000.

This is in recognition to services of  BNSs  leading  to reduction of malnutrition cases in the municipality and  in gaining Green Banner Award on nutrition in the region.

 Barangay nutrition scholars   are trained community workers  whose basic tasks include caring for the malnourished, mobilizing communitites for improvement of their nutrition, linking community with service providers, and assisting in delivery of nutrition services.— Marcelo Lihgawon

DA Sec urges farmers to join Benguet Agri-Pinoy trade scheme

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, — Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala urged Cordillera farmers to sell their crops under a business scheme   of Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center here.

Alcala, however said farmers are not forced or mandated to join the BAPTC saying “Kung sinong unang nagtiwala, siyang unang makikinabang” pertaining to the benefits the farmers would be getting in the said trading center.

The BAPTC, expected to be operational this first quarter of the year, aims to help farmers of Cordillera access new technologies, lower cost of production and wider market options  under DA’s Agri-Pinoy Trading Center program.

The program aims to attain sufficiency in food staples and sustain the growth of the lucrative local vegetable industry in the Cordillera which is to benefit the farmers.

BAPTC is patterned after the Sentrong Pamilihan in Sariaya in Quezon Province where, according to Alcala, he hopes the Cordilleran farmers will get to experience what farmers of Sariaya experienced.

He said BAPTC would help the farmers be competitive in terms of production and quality of vegetables.

Alcala said he is now pushing trading centers that would allow development agricultural marketing in the country. — Pryce E. Quintos, Jasmine Ann Jacer and Christine Faye Kim

DOLE 2 eyes hiring of 16,000 new grads

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — This year, as in previous ones, Region 2 expects 16,000 youth to graduate from college and face the challenge of landing a job, the Department of Labor and Employment said Tuesday.

            

Lawyer Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr., DOLE Region 2 director, said the big population of young graduates calls for action and, as such, his office sees through the holding of at least 50 job fairs throughout the region.

            

The job fairs, Rodriguez said, will be done in partnership with academic institutions, local government units, local private employers and overseas recruitment agencies in order to help the fresh college graduates find suitable employment.

            

But the job fair is not only for those graduating this month. He said the job fairs are a venue for the unemployed, laid off and even returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose contracts abroad have been terminated to find new livelihood opportunities.

            

“That is why we will be organizing Job Fairs to bring employment right here in our doorstep,” Rodriguez said. “We will be posting in our website, www.ro2.dole.gov.ph the schedules of Job Fairs.  We will also be using social media for information dissemination.” — Liezle Basa Inigo

Motorists reminded of ‘king of the road’ law

BAGUIO CITY – Folks here are once again clamoring for strict implementation of the city’s King of the Road Ordinance to discipline drivers and prevent vehicular accidents.

The ordinance requires motorists to slow down when approaching a pedestrian lane and fully stop for five seconds in all pedestrian crossings within the city.

The ordinance is yet to see full implementation given the fact that the Traffic Management Unit lacks personnel to man all pedestrian lanes.

Signs of the ordinance are in place and augmentation forces which includes police interns are now Manning different choke points in the city.

Volunteers were also tapped to help in directing traffic especially during weekends and big city events.     Mayor Mauricio Domogan said, there order for city police to man crossings especially in crowded areas.

This he said includes areas where frequent accidents are recorded.

“We have asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to cut savings from the pedestrian overpass being constructed by removing the planned elevator, hopefully the money saved can be appropriated for another overpass or underpass fronting Saint Louis University,” Domogan said.

The mayor reminded drivers to follow traffic rules and regulations, speed limits and observe utmost care when driving a motor vehicle.

“This also applies to pedestrians, they should also use designated pedestrian lanes when crossing and drivers should yield to pedestrians ,” he said.

As per Ordinance No. 7 series of 1984 or the Comprehensive Transportation and Traffic Ordinance of the City of Baguio, it is unlawful for any person to drive in a built up area at a speed exceeding 30 kilometers per hour.

Domogan said, following the speed limit will not only reduce number of vehicular accidents but will serve to discipline reckless drivers.”

A recent incident of over speeding and careless driving caused the death of a student in the city last month. — Paul Rillorta

Baguio Filipino-Chinese share gifts to poor folks

BAGUIO CITY - The city government here in partnership with the Baguio Filipino-Chinese Community celebrated Spring Festival with gift sharing at Bakakeng Central headed by punong barangay Dan Palos Daniel. They gave 5,000 gift packs to indigent constituents.

Feb. 19 was at Bell Church with 5,000 gift packs given to poor folks.

Beneficiaries were identified by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Hotelier Peter Ng said they have a 2-classroom project at the Mabini Elementary School ready to be used next school year. — Jho Arranz

Tour operators promote Cordillera  tourism sites

BAGUIO CITY —The Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) has given its commitment that its more than 300 members and affiliate transportation and hotel and restaurant groups  will market the region’s unique features and attractions.

PHILTOA made the vow during the five-day Island Philippines Fun Caravans Cordillera leg where some 50 tour operators and first-time visitors toured heritage sites and tourist destinations in the region.

The tourism caravan is the first activity of the PHILTOA, with the aim of boosting tourism promotion in the entire country. The caravan started in the Cordillera region, then to Southern Tagalog, Central and Northern Luzon, Visayas and in Mindanao.

PHILTOA president Cesar Cruz said the group advocates to help the domestic tourism industry through the caravan – an effective way to encourage local and foreign tourists to visit historic sites in the countryside.

He said their group wishes to contribute to the declaration of 2015 Visit Philippines’ “It’s more fun in the Philippines” of the DOT by coming up with the five caravans which they can use to design low cost tour packages for visitors.

He said Cordillera is not difficult to sell as  communities are ready, the local governments have programs and there are unique sites that can be found in the region.

The Cordillera’s Heritage Warrior Caravan started in Kiangan, Ifugao where the local government pushes for the new concept of tourist destination and attraction – the “Open Air Museum.”

Kiangan is the town where General Tomoyuki Yamashita actually surrendered in September 2, 1945 before he was flown to Camp John Hay in Baguio City for the signing of the surrender documents with the Americans the following day.

The concept is not just seeing the attraction, but being part of the attraction, doing activities involving the tourists right at the heritage site.

The next stop was Banaue and Banga-an Rice Terraces which are listed as UNESCO heritage sites. The group proceeded to Bontoc and Sagada in Mt.Province ; then to Buguias, Atok and La Trinidad towns, ending in Baguio.