NEWS BITS

Illegal gambling probed

BAGUIO CITY  -  Mayor Mauricio Domogan ordered police to probe alleged gambling here at waiting shed area along Harrison Road adjacent to Jadewell parking lot after several complaints reached his office of illegal activity  done daily from 5 to 7 a.m.

Card games like “tong-its” and dice games are being played which involves a considerable amount of cash, complainants said saying patrons of said activity are usually taxicab drivers.

Said illegal activity is being done after the closing of the night market.

Domogan issued a memorandum directing city police director, Senior Supt. Rolando Miranda to stop such activities and apprehend those involved and to identify and arrest police protectors.

“The illegal activity has tarnished the wholesome image of the city of Baguio to be a city of character of gambling free,” said Domogan.  -- JhoArranz

Sto. Tomas forest fire blamed on kids

TUBA, Benguet -- The Office of Civil Defense has denied reports that a forest fire on Mt. Sto. Tomas here was started by kaingeros or those who burn down trees to clear land for planting crops.

The fire was allegedly started by children playing in the area, Alex Uy, OCD regional director for the Cordillera, said.

The blaze, which started March 19, destroyed a steep and rocky portion of the mountain declared as a forest reserve area.

Local police joined firefighters in trying to put out the fire.

Benguet police director Senior Supt. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. had asked the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council earlier to implement measures to mitigate the blaze.

Civil defense officer Hector Villanueva said they have yet to determine the amount of the damage

‘Heroes Road’ begins in Candon

CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – The construction of an eight-km bypass road, dubbed  “Heroes’ Road,” has started following formal groundbreaking rite here at Barangay Tablac Monday.

Rep. Eric D. Singson said his office and Candon City officials led by Mayor Ericson G. Singson, initiated preparation of the diversion road’s project proposal to the national government to solve the emerging traffic congestion at the city proper

The bypass road will be called “Heroes’ Road because it would contain the monuments of local heroes as additional tourist attraction of the city. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Illegal drug group busted

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The leader and two core members of Castromayor Drug Group were nabbed in recent buy bust operation conducted by local police , together with San Juan Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 1.

Supt. Julius C Suriben said in his report that the buy bust operation at Barangay, Panicsican, San Juan resulted to the arrest of Reynato Joaquin, Edlin Castromayor, and Richard Tangalin.

The police seized six sachets of shabu, one sachet of marijuana fruiting tops, assorted drug paraphernalia and the buy bust money. “This group has a wide market in the province established by Castromayor. They are now under the custody of San Juan PNP while a case for violation of RA9165 is being prepared for filing,” said Suriben. -- Mar T. Supnad

Public forum held to assess 4Ps in Apayao

LUNA, Apayao -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Office, in partnership with International Holistic Engagement for Life and Progress (I-HELP), civil society organizations and parent leaders conducted  public forum to assess the PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)  implementation  in the province  last week.

According to SauloTagoc, provincial coordinator of I-HELP, the forum aims  to provide venue for  partner beneficiaries to share their voice in the implementation of 4Ps.

It is  an opportunity for beneficiaries and the program implementors to create  systematic flow of information exchange in providing service.

Parent leaders shared their experience and testimonies on how the program has affected their lives and their families.

Parent leaders from Sta. Marcela, Pudtol, Luna, Kabugao, Flora and Calanasan also reassured commitment  to the program.

“We oversee a better living and poverty alleviation of the rural through cooperation and strengthened organization of the beneficiaries of the government programs of the like,” Tagoc said.

DSWD-Cordillera regional director Janet Armas said grassroots consultation will be done in the region to assess situation of programs and look at situation  of  beneficiaries.

Armas said assessment of  program implementation status of the 4Ps  based on the parent leaders’ point of view will help the national government particularly the National Program Management Office  and the other government offices to enhance guidelines and policies regarding the program. – Jaylord Agpuldo 

Award winning film ‘Captive’ director wows students

BAGUIO CITY -- Students and film enthusiasts from Baguio City and Benguet were treated to a free film showing and workshop by award winning director Brillante Mendoza at the SM City Cinema  last week.

The students viewed “Captive” by  Mendoza top billed by European actress Isabelle Huppert as Therese Bourgoine, one of captives in the 2001 kidnapping incident in Palawan where Muslim terrorist group Abu Sayyaf took numerous people hostage from the Dos Palmas resort.

Mendoza said independent or Indie films  are being produced on a low budget but with better stories.

He said indie films focus more on the story than commercialism which is the reason why  this kind of film  has lesser profits compared  to mainstream films.

Indie films are usually based on real events  which  take a long time of research and data gathering about the characters, place, concept, among others..

“Even if the material is a fusion of 75 percent real incidents and 25 percent fiction, I still treated the whole film as an actual event,” Mendoza said  of  ‘Captive.’

The filmmaker, who is  a  recipient of this year's Singkuwento International Lifetime Achievement Award for his invaluable contributions to the movie industry,  has been going to various areas to promote the alternative art movement or independent film making.

The film appreciation workshop was attended by students and faculty members from Saint Louis University, University of the Cordilleras, University of Baguio and University of the Philippines, Tuba Central School, Joaquin Smith National High School, Irisan National High School, Rizal Elementary School, Tuba National High School and Baguio City National High School. -- Hannah Costales and Arlene Abat

OFW shot dead

CABANATUAN CITY – A vacationing overseas Filipino worker was buried last week after he shot dead by a lone assailant in Guimba, Nueva Ecija March 20.

Abner Abuan was killed two days after he arrived home in Barangay Veronica to visit his sick mother, Senior Supt. Crizaldo Nievez, provincial police director, said.

Abuan died while being treated at the Guimba General Hospital for gunshot wounds in the head and body.

The victim was talking to a certain Helen Tiopanco on Danzalanstreet when a man on a motorcycle shot him at around 6:15 a.m.

Police have yet to determine the motive for the killing. – Mannay Galvez 

  

 La Trinidad creates Tobacco Control Board

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A Tobacco Control Board  was created to recommend policies and programs and carry out advocacy campaign in pushing  the town’s tobacco ordinance regulating  smoking, selling,

distribution and advertisement of tobacco products.

The board chaired by Mayor Edna Taband is composed of officials, concerned heads of the municipal local government, business sector, religious, academe,  among others as result of La Trinidad Tobacco Control Ordinance  passed in July  last year.

Among the provisions include the  development of a smoking cessation program, creation of smoking control enforcement unit, production of citation ticket system, and an advocacy campaign.

The smoking cessation program is aimed at treating tobacco dependence which employs techniques and methods to help tobacco users to stop using tobacco and to avoid subsequent relapse.

The program will be developed by the municipal health officer with assistance of civil society organization representative or other partners with particular competence.

The smoking control enforcement unit will ensure implementation of the ordinance and will act as the liaison, coordinating and enforcement office.

A citation ticket system will also be developed for alleged violations incurred by individuals together with corresponding penalties.

Information dissemination campaign will  involve posting of billboards and information campaign materials, dissemination of information materials to establishments and public conveyances, and the conduct of orientation seminars and trainings.

The ordinance also provides for prohibited acts which are illegal such as selling or distributing of tobacco products to minors; using, buying or selling of tobacco products by minors and  smoking in enclosed public areas, among others. --  SusanAro

Sabangan celebrates Gagayam Festival

SABANGAN, Mountain Province –  The 9th Gagayam Festival was held here  March 20 to 235 with the theme “Nasiknan ay kultura, ipeyas isnan sumubwa.”

Activities started March 20 with a civic and street dancing parade showcasing local folks’ rich culture, traditions and arts.

The town’s own son,  Roldan Colas , a  2014 Dangalng Bayan national awardee,  will was guest of honor.

Other activities included agro-industrial  fair where the municipality's products were displayed and sold to the public; battle of the gongs for elementary level; cultural presentations by the different barangays; parlor games; indigenous games such as ‘bawwet’, ‘ak-akkad’, ‘pakpaka-ak’, ‘lumban di manga-ew’, ‘lumban di sumalulong’, ‘penpenek’, ‘ginnuyudan’ and ‘sanggol’;  indigenous literary musical like ‘dad-dad-at’, ‘uggayam’, ‘buyag’, ‘liw-liwa’ and ‘tantandak’;  ball games and  search for BinibiningSabangan.

Cedric Rommel Likigan, chairman of program committee, said there were also  inter-barangay and  friendship/invitational games. 

Tabuk City launches campaign against dengue  

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office  recently launched campaign against dengue vector aedis mosquitoes.

CDRRM officer Christian Luyaben said the move involves local government unit conducting massive indoor residual spraying among households, schools and establishments with the community cleaning surroundings to eradicate breeding sites of mosquitoes.

‘To realize greater impact of our program against dengue, we should strengthen LGU-community partnership where LGU teams lead and residents sustain the initiative, Luyaben said.

All efforts against dengue would be futile if mosquitoes still have abundant breeding sites, he said urging  residents to do community action like clearing of canals.

Aside from spraying, the teams also treated canals from kiti-kiti.

The CDRRMO targets to cover all barangays of Tabuk this summer before the rainy days come. -- PIA

BSP-Ifugao holds 44th provincial jamboree

KIANGAN, Ifugao --  With the theme “Peace and development through scouting,” the Boy Scouts of the Philippines-Ifugao Council recently held its 44th provincial jamboree at the Kiangan Central School grounds here.

Gov. Denis  Habawel told 400 boy scout delegates from the province, the  jamboree is a very important episode in their lives because they  experience how it is to live alone away from their parents,   applying

the skills and knowledge they learn as boy scouts to survive hence, preparing them for independence.

He encouraged them to make the most of the  event as it is very important for their skills development, moral transformation and a sense of responsibility to become more productive and good citizens of their community and the country with the scout slogans and motto as their guiding principles.

The boy scouts had activities involving song interpretation, plastic recycling, making recycled burners, mono-printing, networking, emergency preparedness, poster making, extemporaneous speaking, quiz bee contest, dance drama, creative ensemble and single writing and singing.

The delegates  also toured historic places of the municipality such as the Kiangan Shrine, the Yamashita Surrender Site, the Kiangan Rice Terraces, Open Air Museum and the Utu Water Falls. -- PIA

18 Mt. Province students pass DOST scholarship

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Eighteen  students from this province  are among successful examinees of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) scholarship test last September.

 DOST provincial director Norberto Cobaldez  identified the passers as Jordan Lee Achawon of Barlig National High School (NHS); Lenbon John Attolba of  Data NHS, Allyne Boyongan of Namatec NHS, Yoshi Pilando of Pingad NHS,  all in the municipality of Sabangan; Lhelie Cawilan of Lubon NHS in Tadian; Exequiel Jan Damiyay and Jeanne Sumedca,  both of St. Mary’s School of Sagada, Inc., John Lee Gayao of Sagada NHS, Olivia Olaget of Balugan NHS , also  in Sagada; JovanieOnsat  of Saliok NHS and Albert II Pat-og of Immaculate Heart High School in Natonin; Joyce Dao-asen of Guinzadan NHS and May Joy Oloy of Bauko Catholic School,  in Bauko; Jola Dumbab of Paracelis NHS; Mah-ya May Fakat and Luger Lex Pit-og of the Mt. Province General Comprehensive High School  in this capital town; and  Charles Paatan  of Banguitan NHS and Rufin Maricris of St. James High School of Mt. Province, Inc.  in the municipality of Besao.

The DOST-SEI examination conducted every year and established a testing center here.

A total of 218 graduating high school students took the exam here last year.

 Under this scholarship program, qualified students will pursue a four to five year course in any of the DOST-SEI priority fields of study at a university identified by the Commission on Higher Education as a center of excellence.

 Cobaldez said the scholars receive financial support to cover tuition fee and other school fees and book allowance per semester, monthly allowance, physical education /military science uniform, and transportation round trip fare for those studying outside home province. -- PIA

DOLE Kalinga hires 126 interns under GIP

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Labor and Employment provincial office here, in cooperation with Office of Rep. Manuel Agyao, is hiring 126 interns under the Government Internship Program (GIP).

The interns were  oriented and  started work March 16 to end  August 14 through a six-month service contract.

They will receive stipend of 75 percent of the regional minimum wage. Most of the interns are assigned to hospitals.

The memorandum of agreement was also signed between DOLE and partner agencies including municipal local government units.

Agyao’s office provided P3.7 million to pay the stipend of the interns including payment of a one-time Government Service Insurance System membership.

Engineer Sammy Bayangan who represented Agyao challenged interns to do their best while serving in government. “Develop your talents and skills so you may be armed to look for permanent job later,” he told interns.

Dr. Alexander Gumabol of DOLE in orienting the interns emphasized the importance of work discipline, role modelling, and dedication to public service. -- PIA

 Emergency hotline set at Ifugao State University

LAMUT, Ifugao -- An emergency hotline was established at the Ifugao State University (IFSU) main campus here to be used in times emergency situations.

The emergency hotline was established early this year as project of the University Supreme Students Government with financial aid  lawyer Raymond Marvic C. Baguilat, guest faculty under political science program.

Michelle Binwag, USSG president, said the hotline will help ensure safety and serve as a dedicated security hotline for students at IFSU main campus when in the face of threat, danger and assault.

“Students may send their text messages to the hotline number  09153716441, on concerns of any untoward incident or suspicious operation within the campus and in IFSU boarding places,” Binwag said.

Texters should identify their name and the college to which they belong whenever they send their text report.

Student’s identity is kept confidential, she added.  

“By identifying themselves they help ensure that the text messages are not prank texts that may compromise safety of the responding IFSU Security Force. We enjoin out fellow students to help make the IFSU Hotline very beneficial to them by using it responsibly.” Binwag said. -- PIA

SPES grantees sign contract

BAGUIO CITY  -  Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) grantees signed contracts with the city government and Dept. of Labor and Employment (DOLE) last week.  

SPES grantees will undergo a final orientation afternoon of March 31 at the Baguio City multi-purpose hall for them to be aware of their duties and responsibilities as grantees.

“The city has allotted funds for the employment of 300 students for deployment to the city’s various government departments,” said executive assistant and public employment services office designate manager Jose Atanacio.

He said over 98 percent of SPES registrants are either third year or graduating high school students.

“The SPES grantees will be divided in two tranches, the first batch of high school students will be working from April until May, while the second batch of college students will be working from June to July,” said Atanacio.

SPES is based on Republic Act 7323, or an “Act to help poor but deserving students pursue their education by encouraging their employment during summer and/or Christmas vacations, through incentives granted to employers, allowing them to pay only 60 per centum of their salaries or wages and the 40 per centum through education vouchers to be paid by the government, prohibiting and penalizing the filing of fraudulent or fictitious claims and for other purposes. 

With this program, the SPES grantees will develop their skills with support of government employees in the city. -- JhoArranz

               

Vandals warned of numbered days

BAGUIO CITY – Pesky graffiti vandals got a stern warning from the head of the city’s anti-graffiti task force here last week. “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 (AGMC) co-chair Charles Niederstadt Sr. said during the kick-off of the 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.

Under the code, violators will be penalized with fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 and imprisonment.  Community service will also be employed as penalty for violators. – Aileen Refuerzo

CHARMP 2 grants P10.6M livelihood assistance to Benguet 

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- One hundred forty groups in the province are  recipients  of   P10.6 million  worth of  livelihood projects under the CHARMP 2 or the Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resources Management Project .

Provincial Agriculturist Lolita Bentres said livelihood projects are under livelihood assistance fund of agriculture, agribusiness and income generating activities (AAIGA) of CHARMP 2.

  

Bentres said funds released in two tranches will sustain rural development  in Atok, Bakun, Bokod,

Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, and Sablan towns.

The AAIGA  aims to improve crop production, promote agribusiness, and improve non-farm rural small enterprises  to increase family income.

Among the business undertakings are  livestock and poultry production and marketing, relending services, organic crop production, crop processing, coffee marketing and production, retailing services.

Each group recipient received at least P50,000 to P180,000 depending on the nature of project.

Bentres said their office monitors implementation and extend technical assistance.

If all goes well, the provincial government may also earmark budget to match the CHARMP2 livelihood funding assistance, Bentres added. -- Susan Aro

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 memorandum of agreement signed  March 13.

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,  itwill 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.