NEWS BITS

 Thousands join rally vs Naguillan priest

NAGUILIAN, La Union – More than 6,000 people from villages here joined a rally June 20 calling for the ouster of a parish priest who was accused of threatening, insulting, and harassing the faithful and the officers of the Parish Pastoral Council.

Holding placards denouncing Rev. Raul Panay of the St. Augustine of Hippo Parish, the protesters trooped to the town plaza and signed a petition written on tarpaulins.

More than 27,000 parishioners have signed the petition.

Panay allegedly threatened to shoot an official of a group conducting a fund-raising drive for church projects.

He also allegedly also asked a parish member for “pulutan” for a drinking session.

He denied the allegations against him. – Jun Elias

Vehicles, cell phones given to Lang-ay fest raffle winners 

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Lang-ay Festival raffle draw winners were revealed here last week by the Lang-ay Festival Organization.

The raffle draw was held  June 12  with prizes distributed.

The first prize, a Hiace commuter van was delivered to Julita Langbayan in Paitud, Paracelis, while the second prize which is a Mitsubushi Estrada pick-up truck was won by Tryphene Pocpoken of Sagada.

Third prize, a Mitsubishi Space Gear van went to Sheena Felipe of Ampucao, Itogon.

The fourth prize, a brand new Rusi Tricycle was won by Maureen Lalaan of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. On June 24, the winner claimed the tricycle, saying she would help in sale of tickets should there be another raffle draw for Lang-ay in the future.

Two of the consolation prizes of five Samsung cellphones were won by Bontoc residents Joseph Gironella and Margaret Chumacog. The rest were won by William Panas of Bakun, Benguet, Alfredo Parquillano of Baguio City, and Ysrael Casupang of Ampucao, Itogon. – Roger Sacyaten

Pangasinan parole officer shot dead

BINALONAN, Pangasinan – The parole and probation officer-in-charge of Rosales town was shot dead as she was walking home after alighting from a bus in Barangay Sumabnit here Tuesday night. 

Mary Alcaide Romua, 44, died on the way to the Urdaneta City General Hospital, said Chief Insp. Oliver Abayan, Binalonan police chief. Witnesses said a man on a motorcycle shot Romua.

Abayan said investigators are looking at robbery as the possible motive for the killing because Romua’s bag was missing.  “But it could just be a ploy of the suspect to mislead the investigators,” he said. – Eva Visperas

137 swimmers vie for Guinness record

BAGUIO CITY – A hundred and thirty-seven (137) swimmers joined the “World’s largest swimming lesson” at the Athletic Bowl Pool here June 18; hoping to be part of the country’s effort to break the 36,000 simultaneous swimming lesson Guinness world record.

The city is one of the country’s official host locations of the world record breaking attempt.  

According to coach Walter Oppod of Baguio City National High School, swimming lessons were given to teach children basics of swimming to prevent drowning.

With nine coach and assistant coaches, swimmers as young as four listened about basic water safety, entry into water, aquatic emergencies, dangers in shallow and deep waters. Front gliding, floating, arm strokes, proper breathing and submerging skills were also demonstrated, as the swimmers followed suit.

Braving the morning cold, the swimmers donned swim suits and caps, and churned the waters as they kicked their way across the pool assisted by the coaches with parents and chaperones watching from the poolside.  

Center head of the Philippine Life Saving Laurence Daguio said other safety and swimming programs will be announced later.

Their office within the swimming pool at Athletic Bowl here is open for inquiries, he said, or at cellphone number 0916-254-5532.

The city pool is the training venue some of the city’s swimmers, at least five national and an internationally acclaimed 17-year old athlete, he added.

The swimming lesson was joined by least six clubs, all based at the Athletic Bowl swimming pool which boasts of a children’s and adult pool. – Julie G. Fianza     

Ifugao Festival focuses on climate change

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Sen. Loren Legarda is meeting with stakeholders and other sectors in the Cordillera to discuss climate change and how to protect the rice terraces from the devastation of the phenomenon.

Governor Dennis Habawel said Legarda, chairman of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Cultural Communities, is one of the guest speakers for the Gotad Ed Ifugao Festival which coincides with the 49th Ifugao Foundation Day celebration in this capital town.

As part of the festival, Legarda’s committee will conduct a hearing at the Provincial Capitol to explain  effects of climate change to the local communities in the Cordillera region and to discuss environmental sustainability and heritage conservation, including threats to the Ifugao Rice Terraces.

According to experts, climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensities and prolong the dry season which would mean decreased water supply, dangerous landslides and even the collapse of the terraces.

Legarda will also launch “Guardians of the Forest, Stewards of the Land ,“ a coffee table book on indigenous forest conservation systems in the Cordillera region. The book is a project of Senator Legarda and the State Universities and Colleges of the Cordillera Administrative Region Research and Development Consortium (SUCCARRDEC).

Before the climate change hearing the Ifugaos will hold a grand cultural parade participated in by the municipalities of the province. In the afternoon, there will be various indigenous games and cultural presentations.

4.0 magnitude quake his Ilocos provinces

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – A moderately strong tectonic earthquake with a strength of 4.0 magnitude hit some part of Ilocos provinces early morning Wednesday but didn’t cause any damage to property, a report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said here. Local Phivolcs Researcher Porferio De Peralta said the quake occurred at 2:18 a.m., epicenter located at 39 kilometers southeast of Laoag City with a depth of 5 kilometers. Intensity 1 was felt in Vigan City and intensity 2 in Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

However, De Peralta said no aftershock was recorded after the tremor. Earlier, a 3.8 magnitude quake rocked some areas in Ilocos Sur last Tuesday evening at 9:00 p.m. with epicenter at 16 kilometers northwest of Santa Lucia town with a depth of 26 kilometers but not intensity recorded. - Freddie G. Lazaro

Matagoan Festival celebrates Tabuk’s founding anniversary

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Residents here celebrate the eighth year after the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the cityhood of this place, and held the fun-filled 14th Matagoan Festival which focused on culture and tradition of the Kalingans.

As part of the celebration, Mayor Ferdinand Tubban issued Executive Order No.18-2015, declaring a June 24 and June 26 as no school-day in the city to allow students to join the festivities.

The 14th Matagoan Festival and 8th Founding Anniversary of this city was themes “Tabuk: Lugar a Pagbiagan, KinabaknangnaAywanan.”

The weeklong festival will highlight culture and tradition through dances, songs, indigenous games, cultural practices, exhibits, display of One Town One Product (OTOP), skills competition, agricultural products trade fair and job fair.

Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso, aka Isko Moreno graced the celebration of Farmer’s and Agricultural Day last Tuesday as guest honor and speaker.

He was adopted as a son of the city and named after “Gongon,” a native Army captain known for his war exploits.

The founding anniversary started with a grand parade participated in by officials, school teachers and students. There were floats, cultural presentations, and the sounding of gongs which was followed by the declaration of the opening of the eighth founding anniversary of Tabuk as one city.

Matagoan festival’s main celebration was on June 26, with a street dancing competition for children, youth and adults and participated by the 42 barangays. Schools will also join with their drum and lyre.

Nueva Ecija wants Taong Putik fest declared pilgrimage destination

ALIAGA, Nueva Ecija – There were fewer participants compared to last year, but organizers said it was no reason why the “TaongPutik Festival” should not be declared an international pilgrimage destination.

The festival in Barangay Bibiclat has been drawing local and foreign tourists and devotees and more people are joining the mass and procession every year, said Mel Malang of the St. John Parish.

Board member Joseph Ortiz said the Guinness World Records should also recognize the festival for having the most number of people who bathe in mud.

Every June 24, the so-called mud people – devotees whose faces and bodies are smeared with mud and covered with dried banana leaves – welcome hundreds of tourists here.

Festival participants said they emulate St. John the Baptist, who appeared in most biblical tales dressed like a beggar.

A three-year-old child was the youngest and a centenarian woman the oldest participant in yesterday’s event.

Ortiz said the festival has enhanced the town’s image as a tourist spot.

The parish has also been declared a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Cabanatuan because its patron saint is said to be miraculous. – Manny Galvez 

Dengue awareness drive on in La Union schools

SAN FERANDO CITY, La Union – The city government started the anti-dengue drive with its partners from the Department of Health Region 1, City Schools Division of the Department of Education and the provincial government.

With the campaign theme “Eskwelahan, Simbahan, Palengke at buong Komunidad sama-sama nating sugpuin ang Dengue para sa malusog at ligtas na San Fernando!” (School, Church, Market, Whole Community, Let’s all join to eliminate Dengue for a healthy and safe San Fernando!), the program involves 26 elementary schools, 65 day-care centers, including five high schools, together with 59 barangays.

The activities, which began with a poster-making and slogan contest among school children, is timely as heavy rains have ushered the wet season and with it the influx of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Dr. Eduardo Posadas, city health officer, Mayor Pablo Ortega shouldered expenses for the information drive campaign around the city three times a week. Teams are fielded to search and destroy mosquito larva, install Olyset nets; conduct clean-up drives; fumigations; and even distribution of posters and slogan tarpaulins.

An integrated vector management community program participation recently in Barangay Sevilla, one of the thickly-populated areas, revealed that the number of dengue cases has been reduced from 131 in 2012 to 68 in 2013, lower by 52 percent. -- Erwin Beleo

Ifugao town regulates ambulant buyers’ activities

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- The local government here has regulated activities of ambulant buyers that include procurement of recyclable, special and residual waste.

Before engaging in business activities, ambulant buyers shall register with the municipal treasury office or barangay if not within the urban/ poblacion area and pay a permit fee of P15.00 before engaging in their trade.

Weighing scales of ambulant buyers should be checked first by any MTO personnel or barangay captain/official and issued a certificate of compliance or sticker.

The Kiangan police or local officials are authorized to inspect the recyclables and residuals bought by the buyer to ensure that no property bought by him are proceeds of theft or damage to property.

For big companies willing to undertake such kind of business, it will be subjected to the execution of a memorandum of agreement with the LGU.

Police and barangay “tanods” are authorized to apprehend any violator. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

Bontoc couple donates two classrooms to Catholic school

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Saint Vincent’s Elementary School, run by the Catholic Church here, was recipient of two concrete classrooms built through the generosity of a couple from this town who are alumni of the school.

Couple Daniel and Hilda Peckley were feted during inauguration of the classrooms on June 22 at the school grounds attended by pupils, teachers, school administration, and alumni.

“It’s payback time”, said Hilda, “in recognition of the blessings we received”. The couple is known for their successes in their business endeavors. Daniel Peckley is an infrastructure contractor and the wife engages in piggery and rice production.

Daniel is also alumni of the school.

The couple provided materials and labor for the project that started sometime in May 2015 and completed this June.

School principal Christopher Chees expressed gratitude to the couple for the two 8 meters by 8 meters classrooms.

Average cost of  the two classrooms would have been more than a million pesos as a classroom costs P650,000.

A plan to construct an additional school building is in the offing with different batches of alumni urged to help in fund raising. -- Roger Sacyaten

La Trinidad launches no smoking campaign

LA TRINIDAD – The local government here launched last week its smoke-free environment advocacy campaign pursuant to the town’s Tobacco Control Ordinance regulating smoking, selling, distribution and advertisement of tobacco products.

Mayor Edna Tabanda, who is also chair of multi-sectoral Municipal Tobacco Control Board, urged residents and stakeholders to show their cooperation and active involvement for the successful implementation of the ordinance in order to make this municipality a healthier place to live  especially for  senior citizens and children.

Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, OIC director of the Department  of Health Cordillera Administrative Region,  commended the municipality for coming up with said ordinance smoke- free community leads to lesser respiratory cases and health diseases.

Other activities during the launching include installation of a smoke free gallery on the adverse effects of smoking, Hataw exercise and a lecture on smoke free environment by DOH-CAR, risk assessment booth for blood pressure taking, blood chemistry or screening among others, and signing of pledge of commitment by stakeholders, and unveiling of the municipal billboard on Smoke Free Environment-Tobacco Control Ordinance campaign at the municipal park.

The municipal ordinance prohibits the following: smoking in any part of any enclosed or partially-enclosed public place, workplace, public conveyance or other public place; selling or distributing tobacco products to minors; selling, distributing and advertising tobacco products in a schools, public playground or any other facility frequented by minors or within a 100 meter-radius from the same; and purchasing products from minors.

It also prohibits using, buying or selling tobacco products by minors; placing, posting distributing any type of tobacco advertisement such as leaflets, posters and similar materials outside business establishments and placing cinema and outdoor ads of tobacco products.

Corresponding penalties shall be meted  to violators whether  individuals  or establishments. -- Maria Aprila Cruz

Lagawe sets P.6M  for  ‘Medicare para sa Masa’

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The local government here has allotted P.6-million  in  its  2015 annual budget as counterpart in insurance premium of  selected indigent beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance or “Medicare parasaMasa” .

“Because of increasing cost of medical and health services, many Lagaweans especially indigent families cannot afford the cost and deprived of the medical and health services they needed most,” the LGU stated.

NHI beneficiaries are indigent elderly,  disabled women and children, and those with severe illness where medical supplies, health and social services are provided inexpensively to them.

These NHI enrollees are recommended by the municipal selection committee and   determined through the means test protocol by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) .

The committee  is  chaired by  the municipal mayor  with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO), a Sangguniang Bayan Member, and the Chairman on the Committee on Social Welfare as members. -- Irish MikeeWigwigan

‘Asthma can’t be cured but can be controlled’

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- Asthma cannot be cured but symptoms can be controlled, said Dr. PrescillaPagada in a radio interview  as part of  the health campaign of the  Ifugao Provincial Health Office (PHO).

Pagada said Ifugao logged a total of 1,532 cases of bronchial asthma  in 2014 wherein 780 were males and  814  were females.

She said bronchial asthma is a disease of the lungs that can lead to episodes of breathlessness, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing.

It is caused by   genetic and environmental component.

Symptoms of the illness include difficulty in breathing, coughing, wheezing and feeling of tightness in the chess.

Sleeplessness, daytime fatigue, reduced activity levels, school and work absenteeism can be caused by frequent asthma symptoms.

“To manage your asthma it is important that you know the allergies that trigger your asthma. Avoid these triggers if possible, particularly smoking,” she said.

Pagada warned people suffering from asthma to take only prescribed medicines and avoid self-medication.

She urged mothers to promote breastfeeding because early introduction to cow’s milk may influence the babies in having allergies and possible asthma. -- PIA

Mt Prov speakers trained on autonomy advocacy

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Some 75 delegates from five towns of this province attended speakers’ training May 26-27 on Cordillera autonomy.

Participants came from Barlig, Bontoc, Paracelis, Sadanga, and Tadian. 

Gov. Leonard Mayaen said participants will form the local government’s core members of speakers who will be sent to barangays, “You will be our partners in whatever time or year to help speak on regional autonomy in your respective areas,” he said.

 “Personally, I believe in autonomy and Mt. Province can achieve greater heights if autonomy will be granted to the region.”

 Mayaen urged the speakers to educate participants on basic idea and concept of autonomy and set aside discussions on details of House bill proposing Cordillera autonomy since its contents are still subject to changes.

 The pool of speakers who were composed of members from the provincial government, Regional Development Council and National Economic Development Authority acquainted participants with the historical background on the pursuit for regional autonomy, and salient features of the third Organic Act.

 “Autonomy was initiated to give the region greater freedom,” said one of the participants when asked about how he would endorse the idea of regional autonomy in his community.

 For the municipalities of Besao,Sabangan, Bauko, Natonin, and Sagada, the provincial management task force plans to conduct the speakers’ training second semester of the year.

143 indigent students qualify  for Ifugao scholarship grant

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- A total of 143 indigent students were qualified to avail of the provincial government’s scholarship grant this year.

These beneficiaries are among the 286 applicants from 11 municipalities of the province for provincial government‘s Tertiary Education Assistance Program (TEAP) for school year 2015-2016.

TEAP grantees will be entitled to P5,000 per semester and P1,500 for the summer classes.

Provincial administrator Evelyn Dunuan said the TEAP committee aimed to have four grantees each barangay, a grantee per year to lessen dropout cases for coming school year.

As of school year 2014-2015, the provincial government recorded 447 TEAP grantees wherein 67 graduated and 111 were terminated due to failure to meet standards qualification of the program and drop-out cases.

The 175 barangays and 10 Special Economic Zone (SEZs) are entitled to one TEAP grantee every year who is willing to enroll in a public college in Ifugao offering courses not exceeding four years.

To qualify for the TEAP, an applicant must be a permanent resident of the province certified by the barangay captain and graduated from a recognized Ifugao secondary school with a general average grade of at least 80 percent.

He must  not be  a recipient of any scholarship program and financial assistance from the provincial government ,  and the total gross annual  family income  shall not exceed P75,000.

Provincial Ordinance 2004 – 07 created the TEAP. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon and Kipdohan