NEWS BITS

Bangus products to bear ‘Dagupan Certified’ logo

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan – The Sangguniang Panlungsod recently passed City Ordinance No. 2028-2015, institutionalizing measures for the promotion and advancement of bangus industry here.

Under the ordinance, the city will create the Bangus Industry Development Council to be the policy-making body; the Bangus Industry Development Office, the implementing body of the BIDC, the accreditation, monitoring, branding and marketing teams under BIDO and the Technical Working Group as coordinating body to the BIDC.

With this system in place, it would be easy for milkfish lovers to identify the world-renowned Dagupan bangus from milkfish grown in other areas.

The DagupanBangus products will bear the “Dagupan Certified” logo which shall be printed on all tags and labels.

Mayor  Belen Fernandez  said that accredited growers, dealers and processors are only authorized to use the logo in their tags and labels subject to the requirements of the ordinance.

She also warned businessmen,that non-compliance with the requirements would be a ground for denial of application and revocation of certification.

She noted that there are corresponding administrative penalties and criminal sanctions for unauthorized use of the logo. -- LiezleBasaInigo

Transport groups told: Pay taxes

BAGUIO CITY  - The city government designated parking areas, loading and unloading area for buses, mini-buses, vans and jeepneys along Gov. Pack Road last week after reports reached mayor Mauricio Domogan on conflicts of transport groups along the area.

This, as city treasurer Alicia Onoza said some transport groups have not been paying taxes to city government for a number of years while others are operating without business permits.

Domogan urged transport groups to settle their obligations with the city, otherwise, they will not be allowed to operate business.

He ordered treasury office to inspect to make sure all businesses along Gov. Pack have secured business permits.

As regards complaints and observations of commuters in the city wherein some jeepney public utility vehicles stopped plying roads as early as 9 p.m., Domogan urged jeepney operators/owners to do so until there are no more passengers at night. -- JhoArranz

Registry of Deeds- Ifugao turns over 722 titles to land owners

 ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- More than 700 landowners in this corn- producing municipality recently received  land titles from the provincial Registry of Deeds. Lawyer Marion Cojpag of RD-Ifugao  turned over  722 land titles to recipients in a ceremony witnessed by municipal officials led by  Mayor Glenn Prudenciano.

Processing and distribution of land titles is part of the public service program of the RD in the province for the promotion of real land ownership.

Meanwhile, Land Bank of the Philippines Santiago City Branch Manager Virginia Sevilla  urged local government unit employees and the public to  use properly  offsite  Automated Teller Machine (ATM)  they  installed at the   municipal hall  here. 

Local officials requested installation of the ATM to minimize the transfer of big sum of money from the bank for salaries of employees.

“We are happy to provide the online service as part of our commitment to better serve clients in the LGU through an automated payroll account and other bank clients including the 4Ps,” Sevilla  said.  -- Marcelo Lihgawon with report from Lorena Dulnuan    

LTO Apayao gets CSC  Seal of Excellence award

LUNA, Apayao -- The Land Transportation Office  Apayao  office  is among the few national awardees of the Citizen’s Satisfaction Center- Seal of Excellence Award  of Civil Service Commission.

CSC Commissioner Robert Martinez with CSC-Cordillera regional director Marilyn Taldohanded the award  to Department of Transportation and Communication regional director Celina Claver and LTO Apayao personnel led by  OIC head Brando Failoga during  recent 20th founding anniversary of Apayao.

For its achievement, LTO-Apayao received a wall-mountable glass seal bearing the “Seal of Excellence” logo and  a cash reward of P100,000.00, to be utilized for improving  compliance with Anti-Red Tape Act.

“I salute and strongly commend the LTO-Apayao District Office awarded with the Seal of Excellence with a rating of 90.81 following their ARTA Report Card Survey conducted in 2014. To reiterate, the LTO-Apayao District Office is recognized not only for passing the Report Card Survey or RCS but for garnering excellent rating in the delivery of their services,” said Martinez in his message.

The RCS is a survey mechanism developed and administered by the CSC in compliance with Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9485, known as Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 or ARTA to rate agency performance and client satisfaction in terms of quality of service rendered, the time it took to complete the transaction, client-friendliness of physical setup, availability of basic facilities for clients with special needs and clean comfort rooms, waiting area, among others.

With the award, LTO-Apayao joined 150 service offices awarded with Seal of Excellence for their display of excellence in delivery of services to the public and for adherence to ARTA.

In the Cordillera,  it includes Department of Trade and Industry –  Kalinga, and regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,  Commission on Higher Education and  Department of Labor and Employment.

Martinez challenged LTO-Apayao to sustain its excellence award by making sure to give the best service to the people.

“The sustainability or the consistency of your excellent public service will be the next challenge. And one good indicator of sustainability is when you accept that changes are a part of the journey towards service excellence.

Gov. Elias Bulut Jr.  promised to donate two motorcycle units to LTO-Apayao  for efficient service. -- RedjieCawis

Brotherhood of Saint Andrews  serves 92 folks in health mission

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Some 92 residents of barangay Balili of this capital-town were beneficiaries of dental and health services provided by the Brotherhood of Saint Andrews- All Saint Cathedral of the Episcopal Church.

Led by BSA chair Samson Cabfeng, the group  conducted dental services as well as blood typing, sugar blood count and blood pressure check-ups to Balili villagers including some residents of adjacent sitios of Bilig of barangay Alab, Bontoc and Payagyeo of Suyo, Sagada.

Cabfeng said their dental and other health missions in the various barangays is part of their group’s  discipline while a  great help to villagers who can hardly travel to the town centers or pay health services for their medical needs.

Participating in the health mission were BSBA members dentist  Norton Comafay  of the Department of Education, Bontoc General Hospital medical technologist Rey Bacwaden,  Bontoc municipal police personnel led chief of police Richard Soliven, All Saints Mission teachers and some volunteer nurses.

JunjunSacgaca provided his vehicle for the group.

Cabfeng said their group’s health services is also made possible with the donations of medicines and other needed materials coming from various sources including that of HedCor based in Sabangan.

Expressing the residents’ gratitude to the group,  barangay captain Henry Atiwag said the health mission conducted in his barangay did not only address some basic health problem of his constituents but it also showed some basic health data and  situation of the barangay. -- Andrew Doga-ong

Vendor shot dead in Pangasinan

By Cesar Ramirez 

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan – A vendor was killed and his wife was wounded when unidentified gunmen waylaid them in Barangay Tanaytay here on Tuesday, a report to the Pangasinan police office said yesterday.

The report said Robert Ramos, 40, and his wife, Lelaine, 38, were riding a tricycle on their way home when the gunman suddenly appeared from an alley and shot them several times. Robert died at the scene.

Lelaine managed to run and seek help from their relatives. She sustained gunshot wounds in different parts of the body and was confined in a hospital.

Police are conducting an investigation.

5 Cordillera local governments vie forPopCom development award

BAGUIO CITY -- The Commission on Population officially launched the Rafael M. Salas Population and Development Award to give recognition to local government units, chief executives and institutions or individuals for outstanding contributions in population and development.

Rafael M. Salas was first executive director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) from the time it became operational in 1969 until 1987.

He was a pioneer in the field of population who advocated importance of understanding the links between population and development and need to take population factors into account in development planning.

POPCOM Cordillera regional director Rosa Fortaleza, said the award aims to recognize local government units, local chief executives, institutions and individuals who take part and have big contributions in implementation of  population management programs.

For the awards, top three cities and top three municipalities will be chosen based on the criteria of governance on health and health financing; Access to programs, services and facilities and performance monitoring.

The six awardees will receive special glass plaques and cash prizes for the awarding ceremony which is initially set in August.

For Cordillera, Fortaleza bared the cities of Baguio and Tabuk, and municipalities of La Trinidad in   Benguet, Daguioman of Abra and Sta. Marcela in  Apayao were included as nominees for first screening last Feb. 18. -- Kim Tiqui

Pangasinan town drug suspect nabbed

POZORRUBIO, Pangasinan – Police and anti-narcotics agents recently arrested a man ranked first in the list of drug personalities in this town.

Government operatives also seized three sachets of shabu, shabu paraphernalia, a  Cal. 38 pistol and several ammunition from Marlon Estaris, 39, in  Barangay Palguyod, a report to Chief Insp. Ryan Manongdo, town police chief, showed.

A coin purse with a sachet of shabu was also seized from a certain Jonathan Cervantes, 38, when he and Estaris tried to run away from the arresting officers. – Eva Visperas

JICA execs monitor project atIfugao State University 

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Officials of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are  monitoring status  of  Ifugao Satoyama  Meister training program at Ifugao State University here.

The ISMTP is a program that aims to empower village people in heritage sites of Ifugao to improve their quality of lives by harmonizing heritage conservation, environmental preservation and economic activities.

This is aligned with the Human Resource Development Program of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System in Philippines which is Ifugao Rice Terrraces.

The methods of the program were patterned after Noto Satoyama Satoumi Meister Training Project by Kanazawa University of Japan.

At least 17 trainees from heritage sites of the province attended lectures  under the program such as natural farming system, land utilization, management of heirloom rice production, ecological concepts and practices and others.

The trainees, who are expected to graduate this March, also attended trainings on food production, native delicacy preparation and were given educational tour to some successful small scale enterprises in Ifugao like the taro production and traditional and modern rice wine facilities.

They also visited Japan where they interacted with their counterpart trainees.

JICA senior representative Azukizawa Eigo who expressed hope trainees under the ISMTP would be involved in economic activities in their communities.

IFSU president Serafin Ngohayon said collaboration between IFSU, provincial and municipal local government of Ifugao, Japan’s Kanazawa University and the University of the Philippines will help in productivity of trainees even after program is finished. -- Daniel Codamon

Rotary Club of Bangued reaches out to poor folks

BANGUED, Abra -- Guided by its motto, “Service above self,” the Rotary Club  ofBangued is reaching  out to  poor communities in  the province.

Frank Asia, incumbent president of RC of Bangued said medical missions were held by the club with polio eradication as special project.

These with support of Rotary International which provided free vaccination to children.

For  gift-giving activities, Asia said, the RC of Bangued distributed slippers and raincoats to students in schools. 

Asia said there are other projects like helping calamity victims such as relief goods and services.

Livelihood trainings are also provided to help others help themselves. They are also  active in campaign to save the environment by planting trees.

The RC of Bangued also engages in high-impact projects which included water system in Tuquib, Villaviciosa funded in part by RC-Ampang Chapter of Malaysia. The water system costs P4 million.  .

Asia said in instances where RC-Bangued could not provide all funds required for high-impact projects, they seek other sources to complement whatever funds are generated from among their members. 

In the case of Villavisiosa waterworks, they sought support of Gov. Estaquio Bersamin. -- Josa Mai Ramirez

10 carabaos given to Ifugao farmers

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Ten female native carabaos were  recently turned over to farmer-beneficiaries  in the province as part of the government’s livelihood program.

The animals weighing  more than 200 kg  came from the ED Ranch of Masbate City made available under the Barangay Livestock Breeding Loan Program of the government through Department of Agriculture.

During recent turnover, Gov. Denis Habawel explained to beneficiaries loan contract agreement so they would be responsible beneficiaries.

The LCA provides recipients shall take good care of the animals which will be subjected to periodic inspection by the DA, Provincial Veterinary Office and Municipal Agriculture Office.

Ownership of the animal shall also remain with the MAO and it shall not be removed or transferred without any written permission from the MAO or PVET or their authorized representatives.

He said the endeavor is a  national program of the government for livelihood assistance to farmers.

He said this is  a loan to be repaid after two years from acquisition and that the offspring, whether male or female, will be re-dispersed to the next qualified and interested farmers to raise either for breeding or draft animal.

The ten beneficiaries of this animal dispersal program were MoisesHangdaan, John Philip Vegara, Jaime Tultog, Arthur Bando and George Belingon from the municipality of Lamut and Ramon Lim-ang, RoldanAllaga, Leonardo Tayaban, JorimPunbawi and Christopher Bacali from Lagawe. -- Daniel Codamon

DepEd-Kalinga reminds schools to hold modest graduation exercises

TABUK CITY, Kalinga- - With commencement of school year 2014-2015 by end of this month, Kalinga Schools Division called on schools in the province to hold “modest but meaningful” graduation exercises.

Kalinga Schools Division Superintendent Caroline Verano said Memorandum Order No. 3 from Department of Education Sec. Armin Luistro urged schools to hold simple commencement ceremonies without cost to students and parents.

Since graduations and similar commencement exercises are occasions to recognize students’ achievements, these should not cause financial burdens to parents, Verano said.

The move is part of the reforms we now see in the country’s education system to change the mindset of parents that graduations are times of thanksgiving and recognition, not times of cash-outs.

Verano said “meaningful graduation” is measured from the achievements of the graduates not by what they wear and how fashionable they are.

To promote socialized and no-cost intensive graduation practices, the order suggested wearing of school uniforms for graduation, instead of buying expensive gowns and attires.

In line with no-cost graduation policy, DepEd also discourages schools from collecting fees or require graduating students to give financial contributions as requirement to graduation.

Verano also reminded school authorities about the DepEd order on the required 180 days in a school  year. -- Larry Lopez

Fugitive falls in Pangasinan

ROSALES, Pangasinan  - Authorities arrested one of the top wanted fugitives in Quezon City during an operation last week in this town.

Police said Manny Limjoco, 39, of 13th Avenue, Barangay Socorro, Cubao, was nabbed March 14 around 12:30 p.m. in front of a drug store here along Carmen Avenue.

Limjoco, is reportedly most wanted person in Quezon City and suspected leader of a crime group involved in robbery and the illegal drugs trade.

The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Rosa Samson of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 105 for murder.

Prior to the arrest, police got information that Limjoco was seen in his home province.

The suspect is now detained at the Cubao police station.

Ifugao  group gets livelihood fund assistance

HINGYON, Ifugao -- An organization in this municipality received recently  funding assistance for livelihood  project on concrete hollow blocks production.

The Department of Labor and Employment awarded to Adimayko Cultural Ensemble Association of Hingyon town  P225,000 for purchase of hollow blocks-making equipment and facilities.

Dr. Avelina Manganip, DOLE – Ifugao head, said the amount is the counterpart of their agency of the proposed project through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program.

The ACEA which has 60 members proposed a P426,560 worth concrete hollow blocks production  in which  the municipal government, the accredited co-partner (ACP) will provide a 20% counterpart  and the rest of the  amount will be shouldered by the proponent.

The DOLE – Regional Livelihood Technical Working Group found the project feasible  as there is no   existing competitor in the area. -- Marcelo Lihgawon