Boat
sinks in P’sinan river
AGNO, Pangasinan – Authorities are
preparing to contain an oil spill reportedly caused by the sinking of a fishing
boat in a river here on April 18.
At least 280 liters of fuel from the F/B 2
Sister-Gemini were believed to have spilled into the river in Barangay Dangley.
Mechanic Rey Montemayor said one of the
boat’s outriggers broke.
Village officials informed the Philippine
Coast Guard station in Bolinao about the incident.
Van
falls off cliff; 3 hurt
ITOGON, Benguet -- Three persons were injured
when their van plunged into a ravine here April 18.
Driver Joe Cawas and his passengers Eden
Attem and William Banoca were rushed to the Baguio City General Hospital for
treatment.
Cawas reportedly lost control of the wheel
when he avoided a vehicle parked along the highway in Barangay First Gate.
15,000
jobs up in Ilocos fairs
SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- At least 15,000 jobs await new graduates and
other jobseekers in the Ilocos region this month, the Department of Labor and
Employment announced Wednesday.
Grace Ursua, DOLE Ilocos region director,
said close to 15,000 overseas and local jobs would be offered at two job fairs
on April 30 and May 1.
Ursua said they would conduct a job and
livelihood fair at the SM City mall in Rosales, Pangasinan on May 1 and at
the Robinson’s Place mall in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte on April 30.
She said the events aim to cut jobseekers’
time in searching for jobs by bringing companies in one place to hire workers.
“DOLE makes it easy and fast for
jobseekers to find jobs that fit their qualifications, interests and
inclinations. It also helps employers find the right applicants for their
manpower needs,” Ursua said.
Aside from job fairs, the agency conducts
livelihood fairs showcasing products of DOLE-assisted projects.
Cop arrested for rape
CABANATUAN CITY – A police officer was
arrested by his colleagues for allegedly raping his stepdaughter here
Wednesday.
The police officer, assigned in Limay,
Bataan, was collared by members of the provincial police-criminal investigation
and detection group, Chief Insp. Joselito Fidel Brioso, chief of Region 3-CIDG,
said.
The policeman was arrested at his home at
around 1:30 p.m. based on a warrant signed by Judge Johnmuel Mendoza for
three counts of rape.
The 14-year-old victim told investigators
that the rapes occurred on April 3 and 27, 2013 and on Oct. 24, 2014.
The policeman was ordered transferred to a
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility in Barangay Kalikid. – Manny
Galvez
Disaster
preparedness program set in Mt Prov
BONTOC, Mt. Province - - The Department
of the Interior and Local Government provincial office here has launched
disaster preparedness program to upgrade capability of local government units
in addressing disasters and climate change.
Dubbed “Operation Listo,” it sets upgrades
disaster preparedness and response programs.
The program also contains disaster
preparedness manual or protocol that will guide the mayors and other stakeholders
on the course of action that needs to be done before, during and after the
occurrence of disasters and calamities.
Orienting the participants on the program
during the provincial “Listo” convergence action planning, DILG provincial
director Anthony Ballug said LGUs have competent disaster management programs.
“LGUs take lead role in disaster matters,”
Ballug said, adding “operation listo” includeds disaster preparedness manuals
being downloaded to LGUs.
The manual contains the checklist for early
warning or preparation processes for mayors, municipal local government
operation officers, fire marshals, chiefs of police and local disaster risk
reduction and management officers.
A dialogue was held April 15 to strengthen
commitment, network and partnership among the LGUs, civil society
organizations, private sector, academe and media by establishing common
understanding and appreciation of the LGU disaster preparedness manuals and
disaster related activities.
A WEmboree was scheduled April 29-30 -- a gathering
of youths to discuss their role in addressing disaster resiliency and
encouraging volunteerism in disaster risk reduction.
In the same affair, local officials led by
Gov. Leonard Mayaen, heads and representatives of key offices in the province
signed Declaration of Commitment of Operation “Listo” TamangPaghahanda,
TamangAksyon . -- Andrew Doga-ong
Hot logs seized in Ilocos
BACARRA, IlocosNorte – Lawmen
intercepted a truck loaded with illegal lumber with an estimated value of
P700,000 here Wednesday.
Truck driver Val Fernan Valentino and his
helper EdilbertoLingad were detained after failing to show documents for the
hardwood that included tanguile and narra.
Valentino and Lingad reportedly produced
permits showing they were transporting softwood species like gemelina.
The logs were supposed to be delivered to
Tarlac City when it was intercepted in Barangay Tambidao, Bacarra police chief
Senior Inspector JephreTaccad said.
Benjamin Tumaliuan, environment and natural
resources director in Cagayan, denied reports that the logs came from his
jurisdiction in Pamplona.
Zumba
fitness gig benefits over 600
BAGUIO CITY – Over 600 benefited from the
“Zumba Strides” diabetes and oral health awareness fitness activity last April
18 at the Melvin Jones Burnham Park.
Jointly sponsored by the Baguio Everlasting
Lions Club and the local chapters of Philippine Medical Women’s Association
(PMWA) and Philippine Dental Association (PDA), the project served a total of
350 who availed of the cholesterol, triglycerides and diabetes screening
undertaken by medical practitioners who volunteered for the event.
Project chairs Emma Dela Cruz of the
Everlasting Lions Club, Dr. Lillian Opena of the PMWA and Dr. Joanne Balderas
of the PDA said a total of 320 fitness enthusiasts also participated in the
two-hour zumba workout led by accredited instructors.
Conducted from 6-10 a.m. at part of the
city’s Summer Vacation (SUMVAC) in Baguio activities, the event included free
blood pressure monitoring, diabetes screening, triglyceride and body mass index
testing.
Participants were also treated to free
toothbrushes and toothpastes, and lectures on diabetes for laymen and oral
health education. These were on top of free breakfast, hot and cold
drinks and a raffle draw.
Proceeds of the event will be used to fund
various community outreach programs of the three associations. – Aileen Refuerzo
Ifugao
town gets more awards for programs
By Marcelo B. Lihgawon
LAMUT, Ifugao – This town is reaping more
awards as efforts of this town’s officials and residents to make it a better
place to live in was acknowledged by Department of Interior and Local
Government.
DILG – Cordillera director John Castaneda, in
his message during the recent
“RambakantiLamut” opening program lauded municipal officials for leading,
and Lamut folks for supporting their leaders in endeavors towards progress and development.
“I heard of your environment and health
ordinances and policies such as ‘No Smoking’, ‘No Spitting’ and the very
popular “WalangPlastikansaLamut”. Only determined leaders and enlightened
populace can make this possible,” Castaneda said.
The municipality earlier received awards and recognition such as Seal of Good
Housekeeping the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping, Red Orchid award and LuponTagapamayapa awards.
With the “Seals” awards, Castaneda said P2
million was allotted to local government
unit to construct open green shed at
public market and improve the market and municipality.
During the program, Castaneda was adopted as
a son of Lamut with the Ifugao name “Pangudyawan” through resolution adopted by
members of the Sangguniang Bayan.
The ‘RambakantiLamut 2015’ which had the
theme, “Sustaining Socio-Economic Growth
in 2015 and Beyond”, coincided with the 56th founding anniversary of the
municipality. “Rambakan” means a time to
celebrate a successful year.
Lamut was separated as municipal district on
April 5, 1959. It is composed of barangays Ambasa, Bimpal, Hapid,
Jolowon, Lawig, Lucban, Mabatobato, Magulon, Nayon, Panopdopan, Payawan, Pugol,
Poblacion East, Poblacion West, Pieza, Sanafe, Salamague, and Umilag.
Ecija dam nearing critical level
CABANATUAN CITY – The water at the
Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija is nearing critical level as it dropped below
180 meters yesterday.
The low water level threatens to affect power
generation by the National Grid Corp. of the Philipines (NGCP).
Reynaldo Puno, operations manager of the
Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems which operates the dam, said
the water level as of noon yesterday was at 178.99 meters, down from Monday’s
179.10 m.
The elevation was 7.49 meters higher than the
critical level of 171.5 m and just two meters above the required minimum power
generation level of a power plant that produces electricity distributed by
NGCP.
Last Wednesday, the water level was at 180
meters. It dropped to 179.83 m the following day and then to 179.45 and 179.28
meters on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Puno said they expect the water level to go
down to 177 by the end of this month.--
Manny Galvez
‘Prices
of goods not affected by weather’
BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Trade and
Industry said onset of summer and typhoons have minimal effect on prices of basic goods and commodities in
Cordillera.
DTI- Cordillera consumer welfare and trade
regulation division chief, Samuel
Gallardo, in an interview, said based on their monitoring, prices of basic
goods and commodities remain stable, prices of basic goods and commodities sold
in region are within suggested retail
price (SRP) issued by DTI.
“Weather is only one factor that is being
considered as reason for increase in prices but it has more effect on
agricultural products, not on the basic goods and commodities that DTI
monitors,” Gallardo said.
“For agricultural products such as
vegetables, if there is an over-supply
prices go down and when there is high demand, prices go up; but for products that DTI monitor such as
canned goods, milk, and bread, among others, there is not much change (due to
weather). If ever there is, it is very
gradual,” he said.
Meantime, Gallardo told the public that as
consumers, they must also know their rights as well as their responsibilities.
“Always exercise your right to choose
properly, do not just buy any product you see in one store. You can always
check other stores where you may see the same quality but at more affordable
price,” Gallardo said. “Give also respect to vendors or salespersons.” Vaneza Detorio
Dagupan
kicks off Bangus Festival
DAGUPAN CITY – Rain failed to stop
participants from performing in a street dancing competition marking the Bangus
Festival here April 17.
The show dubbed Gilon-GilonedBaley or Fish
Harvest in the City was witnessed by thousands of spectators who waited in the
streets and in the plaza.
Just like last year, dancers from Barangay
Pantal bagged the first place, followed by the runners-up Barangay Lucao,
Tebeng, Carang-laan and Tapuac.
The Pantal group received P150,000; Lucao got
P100,000, and Tebeng, Caranglaan and Tapuac got P80,000; P60,000 and P50,000,
respectively.
Pantal also won an additional P20,000 for
Best in Costume and another P20,000 for Best in Street Dancing, while Lucao
received an additional P20,000 for Best in Musicality.
Meanwhile, Pantal will represent the city in
the Festivals of the North on April 26.— Eva Visperas
Village official nabbed for drugs
SANTA, Ilocos Sur – A barangay councilman was
arrested in a drug sting here April 18.
DominadorAdvincula was collared after he
allegedly sold a plastic sachet believed to contain shabu to an undercover
agent in Barangay Labut Norte, town police chief Senior Inspector Rogelio
Remiendo Jr. said.
Operatives recovered two more plastic sachets
of shabu and a fan knife from Advincula’s pocket.
The suspect denied peddling shabu, but
admitted to using it.
1
dead in P’sinan shooting rampage
BOLINAO, Pangasinan — A man died and three
others, including a 13-year-old boy, were hurt after an unidentified man went
on a shooting rampage during a town fiesta in Barangay Estanza here Tuesday.
Narding Cudal Carolino, 56, a resident of
Barangay Tupa was pronounced dead on arrival at the Bolinao Community
Hospital.
Richard Paltep, 13; Isagani Odero, 40; and
Fidel Tabucol, 43, were hit by stray bullets and brought to the Western Pangasinan
District Hospital in Alaminos City.
Investigators recovered Carolino’s bag, which
contained a Cal.38 revolver, a Cal. 22 pistol and bullets.
A witness said the assailant, who was wearing
a red baseball cap, red jacket and denim pants fled after the incident.
Tabuk
anti-rabies vaccination drive on
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The City Veterinary Office covered 18 of
the city’s 42 barangays under its free anti-rabies vaccination program January
to March.
CVO office Fermin Quinto said Tabuk has a
total dog population of 9,128 and they have targeted at least 80% or 7,302 dogs
to be vaccinated this year.
For first quarter, the CVO vaccinated 2,700
or 37% of the target.
According to Quinto, the city’s massive
anti-rabies vaccination program aims to achieve a rabies-free city by
2016.
But based on the 2014 CVO rabies monitoring
report, there were four rabies cases reported in Barangay Norte, here, that
were confirmed by the Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
The cases had disrupted the city’s efforts to
sustain the three-year “rabies free zone,” prescribed period of zero rabies
case before a place could be declared rabies-free.
Quinto urged pet owners to bring their dogs
for vaccination. The massive dog
vaccination was coordinated with barangay officials. -- Larry T. Lopez
MP
provincial census coordinating board created
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Gov. Leonard G.
Mayaen recently issued an executive order organizing the Provincial
Census Coordinating Board.
The Board will help facilitate implementation
of 2015 Census on Population which the Philippine Statistics Authority will
conduct in August this year,
The governor chairs the Board with OIC
schools division superintendent Gloria Buya-ao as vice chairperson and PSA
officer Adrian Cerezoas executive
officer.
Its members include line agencies, provincial
offices and some sectors.
The Board is tasked to assess needs of PSA in
terms of facilities, security, publicity, and other logistics; provide
transportation facilities for the distribution/delivery of census materials and
supplies and transmittal of census returns before, during, and after the census
operations; communications facilities
for use of census personnel; venues for the training of census personnel and temporary space that will serve as
headquarter of census personnel or storage area for census materials and
supplies for the duration of the census operations.
It is also tasked to provide facilities for
the lodging of census personnel assigned in areas outside their official
station; assist the Municipal Census Coordinating Board in the conduct of
publicity and information campaign and assist the PSA in the census operation
to ensure complete coverage of the province. - Juliet Saley
Banaue
festival presents longest ‘mumbayu’
BANAUE, Ifugao — The “Imbayah Festival” of
this tourist town will highlight this year’s festivity with the longest
“mumbayu” – the act of manually pounding rice grains to remove the husk.
The festival, which started in 1979, is only
celebrated every three years. On April 26-29, the four-day “Imbayah Festival
2015” will mark the first year that it will be celebrated annually.
“I thought of making the festival an annual
activity to prevent the tradition from dying and being forgotten, as well as to
let the other people know of the culture of the place,” said Banaue Mayor Jerry
Dalipog.
With the theme “Celebrating Imbayah’s best:
Upholding Banaue’s Ingenuity, Identity and Progress,” the festival got its name
from the Ifugao word “bayah” which means rice wine.
Ifugao is known to have the best quality rice
wine made of high quality sticky rice called “diket.”
The festival will formally start in the
morning of April 27 with an ethnic parade, program and the longest pounding of
rice in which all the 19 villages will bring five traditional rice pounding
devices called “pagbayuan.”
The festival will also feature the Imbayah
Trek: Exploring the trekking products of Banaue; the Batad Amphitheater Trek;
and the Bannawor Trail Trek. These three events will be participated in by
tourists from different parts of the country and the world.
On the 28th, the public will see the
participants from the different villages in their ethnic attire for the street
dancing competition followed by the indigenous game competitions and the
presentation of the traditional method of settling disputes or what is called
as “hadchaan.”
Drug
courier eludes police, abandons sacks of marijuana
SUDIPEN, La Union -- Police confiscated five
big rolls of marijuana plants concealed in two sacks abandoned by an
unidentified illegal drug courier on the roadside in Barangay Ipet here April
18.
Police said they responded to a citizen’s
report at 7:30 p.m. that day about a suspicious-looking man carrying the sacks
on the highway.
When police officers reached the area, the
man suddenly boarded a passing bus and left the two sacks behind.
Upon inspection, the sacks yielded five rolls
of dried marijuana plants with an estimated weight of 6 kilograms with an
estimated value of P145,000. -- Freddie
G. Lazaro
Drunk driver killed; 5 injured
CAMP QUIRINO, Ilocos Sur — A miner who gave
his friends a ride after a drinking spree was killed when he lost control of
his vehicle and rammed it Onto a tree on the shoulder of the national highway
in Barangay Daligan, Sta. Cruz, this province April 18.
Police identified the fatality as Mario
Asion. All five occupants of the vehicle – Robert James Isnada, 5; Eric Isnada,
31; Gerry Isnada, 42; Roberto Isnada, 57; and Eric Marquez, 31 – were injured
and rushed to the nearest hospital. -- Freddie G. Lazaro
Rain
fails to dampen Bangus Festival spirit
DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan — At least 70,000
spectators braved the rains from afternoon till night to witness grand opening
of the “Bangus Festival” April 17.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang kaganapan sa lungsod.Kahit
pa umulan, nagtiyagaang (mga) manunuod na maglakad para lang tunghayan ang
street dancing (There’s no stopping the program in the city. Despite the rain,
spectators walked the streets to watch the street dancing),” said Supt.
Christopher Abrahano, chief of police, whose men the festival secured.
He said the “Gilon-GilonedBaley,” a
street-dancing competition, kept the main road of this city closed from 1 p.m.
to 6 p.m.
The dance steps in the competition, which
pitted 19 contingents against one another, depict the traditional livelihood of
gathering “bangus” (milkfish) from the fishponds in the city. The champion will
be announced at the Festivals of the North on April 26.
More activities tied to the festival are the
“Bangusine” or the Bangus Cuisine International Showcase at the City Plaza on
April 27 and the “Bangusan Street Party and KalutanedDalan” at the Jose R. De
Venecia Expressway Extension Road on April 30.
Tublay
gaining tourists’ attention with its caves
TUBLAY, Benguet -- This small, silent
municipality is now gaining attention of tourist with its scenic spots like
Bengaongao, Paterno and Ovek caves in Barangay Ambongdolan.
The Ambongdolan caves have rock formations of
stalagmites and stalactites and enormous spaces to explore ideal for spelunking
and adventure.
The Department of Tourism had identified
Ambongdolan caves as prime tourist destinations, along with other caves in the
province.
This April, local officials including those
from provincial departments of Tourism and Public Works and Highways inspected
infrastructure projects worth 135 million implemented in said barangay to improve
accessibility to caves.
Projects included concrete view deck with
comfort room facilities located at the most top portion of Paterno and
Bengaongao caves overlooking a wide range of rice and vegetable plantation and
a long winding rive.
Along with this were newly-constructed
information centers in the barangay hall and at Bengaongao Cave vicinity
operated by local folks to assist visitors.
Other tourist sites in the town are Mt,
Pokkong and Teytey rock climbing site, Winaca eco-cultural farm in Barangay
Caponga, and neighboring organic farms, Barangay Tuel hot spring, Barangay
Baayan Rice Terraces, camping and trekking site at Barangay Central
Tublayand Pasalubong Center located at
view deck area of Barangay Ambassador.
One come-on of Tublayo is its peaceful and
hospitable residents. -- Shane A. Awacan
SSS,
DSWD to provide protection for contractual, job order employees
BAGUIO CITY -- The Social Security System and
the Department of Department of Social Welfare Development -Cordillera Regional
Office have partnered to provide social protection and benefits to
contractual and job order employees of DSWD – CAR through recent memorandum of
agreement.
For the SSS – DSWD partnership under
the “AlkanSSSya” micro – savings program, 477 DSWD employees will now be
enrolled and covered by the social protection and benefits of SSS.
Signatories to the MOA were DSWD regional
director Janet Armas, SSS Baguio branch head Nancy Umoso, Baguio Accounts
Management Section OIC-Section head
Jhona Legaspi, and Libertine Balicdang, representing DSWD job
orders and contractuals.
Umoso said under AlkanSSSya, DSWD
workers will benefit from SSS’s educational loans as well as funeral,
maternity, sickness, disability, death and retirement benefits.
“Those who can complete at least three months
of contribution may get the sickness and maternity benefit; with 36 months
contribution, they may avail of loan and disability benefits; and those who
will complete 120 months contribution will acquire the retirement benefit,”
Umoso said.
Armas told
their workers SSS insurance coverage is one way of getting the proper
welfare and social protection as their work involves travelling and exposure to
man-made or natural disasters.“Para sa kapakanan niyo din ito (It is for your
own welfare).”
SSS VP for Northern Luzon Luis Olais, in an
interview, said theAlkanSSSya program was introduced last September in
Baguio for vendors at the city public market with a metal cabinet with coin
slots serving as a “savings” box for vendors to drop P10 – P20 per day to
cover their SSS membership monthly due.
For the DSWD, it will be the
e-AlkanSSSya (electronic version) wherein the monthly contribution will be
deducted from their salary and will be electronically transmitted by DSWD to
SSS, Olais said.
Mayor
urges ‘house to house’ collection of garbage fees
BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan urged
barangay officials of the 128 barangays in this mountain resort to take the
initiative in the collection of garbage fees here.
Domogan said, “the barangays should already
go around every household to collect from their constituents the required P20 a
month garbage fee per household.’
“This will insure that the barangay will get
their share of the garbage fee,” he said.
The city government has already adjusted the sharing scheme on garbage fees where 70 percent of collections will go to barangay funds and 30 percent will go the city coffers.
The city government has already adjusted the sharing scheme on garbage fees where 70 percent of collections will go to barangay funds and 30 percent will go the city coffers.
Domogan said,” the adjusted sharing scheme is
already very advantageous for the barangays.”
“This is a challenge for barangay officials, if they really want to get their 70 percent share from collections, then they should take the initiative to go house to house and collect the garbage fees to make it sustainable,” he said.
“This is a challenge for barangay officials, if they really want to get their 70 percent share from collections, then they should take the initiative to go house to house and collect the garbage fees to make it sustainable,” he said.
The mayor highlighted the poor collection of
garbage fees from barangays and the slow compliance to the waste segregation
policy which should be strengthened to insure better waste management.
Domogan also urged the barangays to submit
the master list of households availing of the services or a complete census of
barangay constituents in order to have a rough computation on the actual
garbage fees to be collected.
The barangay treasurers are also obligated to collect and enforce remittance, computation of shares and determine the households where fees will be collected.
The barangay treasurers are also obligated to collect and enforce remittance, computation of shares and determine the households where fees will be collected.
The barangay officials are also required to
monitor the compliance of their constituents to the
no-segregation-no-collection policy.
Residents who indiscriminately dump their
garbage and violate anti-littering ordinances will be meted the following;
first offense –warning, second offense - P500 fine and third - P1,000 fine.
The mayor said,” this is already a chance for
barangays to strengthen collection efforts as this is a very good source of
revenue for every barangay. – Paul Rillorta
DOLE
awards P1.9M toAbra associations
BANGUED, Abra -- The Department of Labor and
Employment recently awarded P1.9 million livelihood assistance to four group
beneficiaries in the province.
According to DOLE-Abra new provincial
director George G. Lubin, the livelihood assistance is under the agency’s
Kabuhayan Program which aims to provide interventions to aspiring entrepreneurs
to boost the economic activities in the countryside.
The four local groups given livelihood
assistance were LumabaAp-apaya Framers Organization of Villaviciosa –
P592,550.00; Poblacion Women’s Light Bringer Organization of Malibcong –
P476,980.00; Poblacion Women’s League Association of Barangay Guimba, San Juan
– P434,700.00; and the Organization ngmgaKababaihanng Barangay Dugong, Bucay –
P410,242.00.
The fund was expected to benefit 305
members and make an impact in their communities in terms of poverty alleviation
and thus make solid contribution to achieving the administration’s agenda of
attaining inclusive growth.
DOLE’s Kabuhayan Program is a community-based
employment program adopted to develop and sustain local enterprises that would
generate self-employment and increase productivity.
It is implemented through efforts of agencies
such as Department of Trade and Industry that provides the skills trainings and
local government units that procure the equipment, tools and materials needed
by the organization including the monitoring and evaluation of the business
activities of the groups. -- Josa Mai Ramirez
Baguio
City’s top 10 taxpayers bared
BAGUIO CITY -- Baguio’s top payers in
business and real property taxes were recently cited in simple ceremony here
at city hall grounds.
DHL Global Forwarding Philippines, Inc. was
this year’s top business taxpayer paying P1,943,000 followed by Pilipino Cable
Corporation with P1,871,497 payment and Highland Gaming Corporation paying
P1,550,236 to the city.
Rounding out the top ten business taxpayers
were Puregold Price Club, Inc., Imelda Lao, Jarco Realty and Development
Corporation, Jollibee Foods Corporation Legarda Branch, Foghorn Incorporated,
Philippines American Life and General Insurance and ACE Hardware.
Top three spots in real property tax payments
are Fog Horn Inc. (Azalea Residences, Leonard Wood Road Hotel), City Light
Properties Development Corporation Hotel at Upper General Luna and Ayala Land,
Inc. at Pineridge Condominium, Brentwood.
In fourth to tenth place for payment of real
property taxes were Golden Crown Group Realty Inc. at Navy Base, Session Brent
Property Holdings, Inc. at Session Road, Eurotel Corporation Hotel at Abanao
Extension, Benguet Apartments and Hotel Inc. at Prime Hotel Session Road, Mr.
Peter Ng of Supreme Hotel, Magsaysay, Alfredo Go of Good Taste, Cariño Street
and Er-Al Enterprises, Inc. at Chapis Village Marcos Highway.
Hall of fame plaques of recognition were
given to Pilipino Cable Corporation as business taxpayer and the Ayala Land
Inc. as real property taxpayer. -- JhoArranz
DENR:
Change in waste handling reduces trash
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A change in outlook
and habits in handling household wastes will greatly help in reducing
wastes that go all the way to the disposal facility.
According to Joyce Ann
Almoite-Mangsat, Department of Environment and Natural Resources -
Environmental Management Bureau Cordillera Regional Solid Waste Coordinator,
the major source of wastes comes from the household and the remaining wastes
from other institutions where people are transients.
There has to be a change in
behavior to achieve waste reduction at home, Mangsat said, adding
proper waste segregation is a matter of attitude or change in mindset.
Mangsat spoke before students of
Benguet State University National Service Training Program in a
Kalikasan Camp March 28-29 at the BSU Integrated Highland Farm Systems
Agriculture Training Center in Longlong, Puguis here.
She said the Ecological Solid Waste
Management law or Republic Act 9003, requires segregation of seven types
of wastes such as biodegradable which comprise half of the total household
wastes and the other half as non-biodegradable categorized into
plastics, paper, glass, metal, residual and special wastes.
Sharing her experiences, food waste could be
used as pet or animal feeds while kitchen, yard and animal wastes can be
developed as compost for soil conditioner. If this is done, half of the
total wastes will be reduced at the household level, she said.
The setting up of mini- material recovery
facility (MRF) at home temporarily serves as storage for non-biodegradable
materials said Mangsat. If accumulated, they could be sold to recycling
centers. Plastic and styro wastes are sold from P0.50 to P1.00 per kilogram.
Aside from selling the collected recyclable
materials, these could be re-used as containers, organizers or materials for
arts craft.
The benefits of recycling in preserving and
conserving the environment should be looked into other than the financial
benefits, Mangsat said.
According to the waste analysis and
characterization study (WACS) of the Asian Development Bank, wastes
generated per capita per day is one person generates .25 to .50
kilogram wastes. As per 2006 WACS In La Trinidad, a person generates an
average of 0.47 kg.
Whatever status in life is a person is young
or old alike, each generates wastes at the time of waking up till sleeping
time, she said.
Mangsat urged BSU students to help advocate
solid waste management at the household level in their outreach programs as
their office cannot do this alone adding that they could only be effective
advocates if they truly practice segregation.
"You just have to believe in
yourself that you can do it and manage your garbage properly and you will make
a difference,” she said. -- Susan Aro
Vandals warned of numbered days
BAGUIO CITY – Pesky graffiti vandals recently
got stern warning from the head of the city’s anti-graffiti task force here.
“You are no longer safe because we’re coming
for you. Even if you’re juvenile, we’re coming for your parents,”
anti-graffiti management committee co-chair Charles Niederstadt Sr. said
during kick-of of anti-graffiti program
at the city hall.
Niederstadt who co-chairs the task force with
Mayor Mauricio Domogan said they will start implementing the campaign by April
23.
“The tools (for an effective program) have
been given by the mayor. It is now up to us to do the work,” he said as
he rallied residents to contribute to the program by helping remove the
graffiti, donating spare materials for the removal of the writings, reporting
graffiti acts and making contributions in any way to the task force.
The campaign will be anchored on the
Anti-Graffiti Code of the City of Baguio or Ordinance No. 41, series of 2008
and the anti-graffiti action plan now being firmed up by the task force.
During the program, representatives from both
the government and private sectors committed to fully support the drive.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the manifestation
of support by representatives from both the government and private sectors last
Monday is crucial to the cause of the revitalized campaign to stem the
worsening problem on vandalism.
He thanked Niederstadt, a foreigner married
to a Baguio native, for taking the lead in the campaign.
The foreigner’s crusade against graffiti
which took roots from his family’s brushes with the vandals even in the United
States prompted the city to tap Niederstadt’s group Stop Tagging Other People’s
Property (STOPP) in 2012 to provide assistance in the implementation of the
code.
In 2013, the mayor created the AGMC as a private-led
government-supported system of management which will oversee the implementation
of the Anti-Graffiti Code in consonance with the operational plan which will
involve the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), students, volunteers, barangays
and media.
He tasked Niederstadt as his co-chair with
STOPP as the revenue-generating arm to raise funds in addition to the
government appropriation beginning 2014 onwards.
Last February, the mayor ordered the
finalization of the action plan and the appropriation of the budget to fully
enforce the ordinance.
The mayor also incorporated the campaign in
the city’s clean and green program by making it as one of the criteria in the
yearly barangay contest.
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