NEWS BITS

3 die in Isabela road mishap

ILAGAN CITY, Isabela -- Three persons died in a collision involving a motorcycle and a van here Monday night.

Motorcycle driver Fernando Cabrera, 27; his sister Maricris, 20, and sister-in-law Jonilyn, 26, died at the scene, according to city police chief  Supt. Vicente Valdez.

Authorities blamed the accident on the lack of warning device for a government road project in Barangay Sipay.

Valdez said piles of mud and boulders excavated from the project blocked the road.

He said no warning device was installed at the construction site.

The victims were on their way home when their motorcycle collided with a Toyota Hi-Ace van (ZGC-907) at past 9 p.m.

The driver of the van fled after the incident.

Evelyn Costales of the Department of Public Works and Highways said they would investigate RRC Construction, the contractor handling the project, for its failure to install warning signs.—Raymund Catindig 

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

2 men electrocuted in Ilocos Sur

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur -- Two people were killed of electrocution in separate accidents that happened here and Caoayan town both in Ilocos Sur last Wednesday.

In Bantay, construction worker Manuel Acenas Jr. was climbing to the roof of a house he was building in Barangay Balaleng-Amianance when he accidentally touched a live wire.

He suffered severe burns and was declared dead on arrival at the local hospital.

In Barangay Poblacion, Caoayan, Edwin Benzon, a 27-year-old cook was cleaning up in the kitchen of the restaurant he was working in when he touched a live wire sticking out of the floor. He suffered the same fate as Acenas.

PDEA steps up anti-drug operations, info campaign

BAGUIO CITY- - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  in the Cordillera upped anti-drug operations in the city as it embarked on information campaign on dangers of illegal drugs.

PDEA Cordillera information chief Joseph Frederick Calulut reported during the  recent City Justice Peace and Order Council meeting  that from January  to May this year, they  had 24 anti-drug operations in the city  resulting to the arrest of 34 suspects and filling  in court of 35 cases.

There are 34 identified  drug affected barangays  in this summer capital, 61 drug personalities and 14 wanted persons, he added.

Calulut  also reported that shabu is the number one   drug of choice with a current price of P3,475 per gram while  marijuana is sold in the city at  P100 per gram.

‘The illegal drugs shabu comes from  Metro Manila and we are intensifying our operations in coordination with the other law enforcement like the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police’, he said.

 To help prevent individuals from using drugs, Calulut said they regularly go to schools and universities  to make lectures and educate the students  on the ill effects of drugs.

Other targets of information and education campaign are  call center workers  and public utility drivers who are said  to be vulnerable  to substance use because of the nature of  their jobs that stretch through the night.

Calulut said they recently had a forum with the barangay officials  to help  them in  their   law   enforcement  efforts to clear barangays  from use of illegal drugs. – Joseph Zambrano

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

Floating dry dock awaits claimants

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — A floating dry dock stranded on the shoreline of Barangay Paratong, Sta. Catalina, this province, since being swept away by strong waves at the height of tropical storm “Egay” is awaiting to be claimed.

Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson asked the claimant-owner though to make sure to submit proper documents.

The floating dry dock was reportedly headed for Mariveles, Bataan from Japan when it was swept off course by strong winds spawned by Egay. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the dry dock bore no markings as to ownership. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

3 most wanted in Cordillera nabbed

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet -- The Police Regional Office-Cordillera arrested three of the top most wanted persons in the region last week.

Chief Supt. Isagani Nerez, regional police director, said two of the arrested were rape suspects Joseph Bisonia Montealegre, 24, and listed No. 7 in the TMWP regional level and Gilbert Papa Dela Cruz a.k.a. “Balong,” 38.

In Ifugao, the No. 8 TMWP in the municipality of Aguinaldo, identified as Jerome GalayaPanawan, 31, was arrested in his residence in Barangay Bunhian.

Two men dead in ‘lover’s quarrel’

ROSALES, Pangasinan — Two men sharing a room at the Cozy Resort Hotel, here, were found dead with multiple stab wounds last Monday. Homicide investigators identified the fatalities as Bryan V. Cruz, a mall employee, and of 21 Trancoville, Baguio City and ReignerJospe Mercado, of Pila, Laguna.

Hotel owner Conde Cruz quoted his staffers as saying that two hours after the men checked in at 8 p.m. Monday, the two were shouting at each other. No one dared to check as the quarreling quieted down. Probers believe one of the fatalities stabbed the other to death and then committed suicide. – Liezle Basa Iñigo

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

14 public schools benefit from SM cares program  

BAGUIO CITY - Fourteen public schools in this mountain resort are beneficiaries of SM Foundations 1000 wooden armchair donation here.

SM Baguio donated 800 wooden chairs to 14 selected public schools while 200 more will be given to the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS).

The wooden armchair donations were received by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Department of Education, Schools Division Superintendent Francis Cesar Bringas in simple rites at the division office handed over by SM Mall Manager Janssen Pe and Public Relations Officer Karen Nobres last June 23.

The recipient Elementary Schools are, Baguio Central School, JosefaCarino elementary School, Quezon Hill Elementary School, East Quirino Elementary School, Bakakeng Elementary School, Fort Del Pilar Elementary School, Lindawan Elementary School, Springhills Elementary School, Rizal Elementary School, San Vicente elementary School, Bonifacio Elementary School, Don Mariano Marcos Elementary School, Lucban Elementary School, Mabini Elementary School, Magsaysay Elementary School and Pinsao Elementary School.

The 14 elementary schools will be receiving 50 wooden armchairs each.

Aside from the armchair donations, the giant mall is also maintaining classrooms and school buildings of selected public schools in the city. – Paul Rillorta

Ilocos Norte earthquakes destroy ancestral houses

LAOAG CITY -- The two successive earthquakes in Ilocos Norte night of July 4 damaged centuries-old ancestral houses in the province.

PR practitioner Pete Dacuycuy posted photos of their family’s ancestral house, Villa Valdes-Lardizabal, in San Nicolas town.

The triple whammy brought about by the earthquakes 20 minutes apart, plus the torrential rains from Severe Tropical Storm Egay, cause the house’s massive foundation to crumble.

Built in the early 1800s, the house fondly called kabite (meaning big wall in Ilocano), is located right in front of the town plaza.

“Our ancestral home in Ilocos Norte – aftermath from Typhoon Egay n Intensity 5.5 earthquake last night, July 6 at 9pm….that’s our dining room n kitchen…,” wrote Dacuycuy.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a magnitude 5 tremor occurred at 8:56 p.m. six kilometers southeast of Batac City.

The second temblor, measuring magnitude 4.3, occurred at 9:12 p.m. two kilometers northwest of Marcos, also in Ilocos Norte.

The town of San Nicolas is about 18 kilometers from Batac, epicenter of the first earthquake. -- Armin Amio

P2M set to build temporary classrooms for Country Club pupils

BAGUIO CITY  -  Temporary classrooms will be built  for the pupils of Country Club Village Elementary School.
Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he, together with the officials of Country Club Village headed by punong barangay Gil Lomboy came to an agreement with the John Hay Management Corp. headed by Jaime Agbayani to build temporary classrooms at the covered court in the village.

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority earlier gave notice to the Department of Education-Baguio and the barangay officials of Country Club Village to remove the Country Club Village Elementary School saying it is within Camp John Hay reservation.

  

The city government allotted P2 million for the project and earlier identified 8,500 square meters within village for construction of a new school building for the Country Club Village Elementary School.

 Nevertheless, BCDA and JHMC are against the idea underscoring the assessment of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau indicating that the identified site is a slide-prone area.

   

But Domogan said only a portion of the identified site is slide-prone  and it is still feasible to construct a school building with some engineering interventions to guarantee safety of the building. – Jho Ar ranz

‘Egay’ victims in La Union to get 30,000 relief packs

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union -- Hardest-hit areas of tropical storm “Egay” are assured of relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development with 30,000 family food packs on their way to La Union, which is already under a state of calamity.

DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said the food packs were on its way to San Fernando City, La Union, after the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) and local authorities presented the situation of the province.

Soliman, along with Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, visited the city last Tuesday to provide inputs relative to rescue, relief, early recovery and rehabilitation/reconstruction.—Liezle Basa Inigo and Freddie Lazaro

‘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

Funds pushed for b’gay business  ses, products

BAGUIO CITY – Funding for barangays products and businesses was pushed by Councilor IsabeloCosalan, Jr. through two proposed ordinances.

As in the one town-one product (OTOP) program,  a product or services within a barangay or cluster should be identified, as well as the availability of raw materials, talents or skills to pursue the program assured before it is deemed as one barangay-one product (OBOP), the proposed ordinance stated.

The enterprise should be of “high degree of competitiveness  and economic value,” and viable after three years of operation.”

 The second proposed ordinance sets livelihood and marketing assistance fund for promotion of barangay-based livelihood groups and micro and small enterprise in Baguio.

Cosalan, Jr., said, the fund should be for the purchase of raw materials, additional equipment, booth rental for participation in market encounters, trade fairs, expositions outside the city of Baguio as it is deemed for “development and strengthening of self-employment programs,”

The cooperatives and development officer receives application, screens and recommends those qualified for assistance to the office of the mayor and prepares list of requirements and applicants, and post activities for the information of beneficiaries.  

The applicant-beneficiary should be duly recognized and endorsed by the barangay council, CSWDO, concerned council committee and should have been operation for a year. It should be a recognized micro enterprise as an independent or juridical person, involved with the manufacture, sale and promotion of local or indigenous products and service, duly recognized with the DTI, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA) and a resident of Baguio.

A letter of intent, application form, business permit, certificate of registration for cooperatives, financial statement, business plan and pictures of products or services are needed as supporting documents. 

Within 45 days after release of funds, a written report citing tangible benefits supported by documents should be submitted to the office of Cosalan, Jr. The fund may be availed of once in a year, a maximum of P30,000 for individuals, and P50,000 for a group.

Cosalan earlier  proposed inventory of barangay micro business enterprises registered and issued certificates of Authority by the Treasurer’s Office. The result forms part of the support system for assistance packages for the business community, specifically the small and medium enterprises.  – Julie G. Fianza 

DTI launches trade center in Lagawe

LAGAWE, Ifugao - The Department of Trade and Industry launched its Negosyo Center at its provincial office in this capital town June 29.

The launching program started with the blessing of the center by Catholic priest Fr. Andrew Claver followed by the ceremonial cutting of ribbon led by DOST-Ifugao Provincial Director Genna BuenafeJ allorina and DTI- Ifugao Director Valentin Baguidudol.

Provincial director Baguidudol said during the program and press conference  establishment of Negosyo Centers nationwide is in support to entrepreneurs as provided under the Go Negosyo Act authored by Sen. Bam Aquino.

Also present during the launching were Ifugao League of Municipa Mayors President Gerry Dalipog, Godfrey Dominong of the IfugaoChamber  of Commerce and members of the province’s business sector. – Art Tibaldo

Baguio Nutrition Month activities set

BAGUIO CITY – Anchored on the theme, “Timbang iwas to sa tamang nutrisyun at ehersisyo!” nutrition month activities are conducted in the barangays up to August, but with culminating and awarding ceremonies at the Baguio Convention Center on July 31.

Awareness on the role and importance of proper nutrition and physical activity to prevent obesity which may result to non-communicable diseases, and implementation of education and information campaign among communities, national and local government units, non-government organizations, private sector, media, the academe and other stakeholders are among the objectives of the celebration of July as nutrition month.

Activities on the second week of July are medical missions and blood-letting at Padre Zamora; Iodized salt distribution at Phil-am, and clean-up drive at East and West Quirino Hill, BGH compound and Upper QM. 

Feeding of underweight preschool, daycare and school children are scheduled at Lower General Luna, Trancoville, DPS, Military Cut-off, BGH Compound, Lourdes Subdivision Extension, San Roque, Middle Rock Quarry, Burnham-Legarda barangays with a supplementary feeding for highest gainer month-long activity will be conducted at Imelda Marcos barangay.

Nutrition slogan, poster, poem, essay song and talent presentation, draw and tell, trivia, fruit and vegetable carving are featured in Upper Dagsian, Bakakeng Central, Minesview and Leonila Hill barangays.

A nutrition garden contest at Balsigan barangay go on, as with cooking contests in various districts. Tree planting, clean and green program, distribution of seeds, community gardening are scheduled in East Quirino Hill, P. Burgos,

Lectures and forum including a no-smoking campaign shall be conducted at South Drive, Upper QM, Middle Rock Quarry, City Camp Central and Pinget.                    

Multivitamins are distributed to underweight preschool children at P. Burgos, as a Buntis and Lactating congress, bright child contests, healthy baby, mother and father, breastfeeding are scheduled in San Antonio Village and Palma-Urbano.

Health buffs are invited to join the eco-walk, hataw, taichi, fun run, run-for-a-cause, and physical exercises at Andres Bonifacio, Quezon Hill Proper, Lower Quirino Hill, LoakanLiwanag, Gibraltar, Kias, Camp 8, Mines View, Sto. Nino, Trancoville, Padre Zamora, Holy Ghost Proper, City Camp Proper, BGH Compound, Lourdes Subdivision Extension, San Roque, Dominican-Mirador, Middle Rock Quarry, GEFA.

In coordination with other line agencies, livelihood training programs are slated at South Drive, Camp 8 and Dominican-Mirador.

Last July 1, nutrition month streamers were hung at strategic places in the city and barangay levels as activities to promote sustained exercises were launched, with a “Baryamoparasakalusuganko” program at City Camp Proper.   

More barangay activities are scheduled for the third, fourth, last week of July, and August.    

During the 5th regional nutrition meet last June, data was presented that children in the region have a good showing as to nutritional status, older children however have a tendency towards undernutrition and obesity; within an “obesogenic” environment. Accordingly, the condition is caused by less outdoor activities, more of processed foods, and more sugar-based food and juices. 

Adults, also are at risk with illnesses traceable to weight increase and inactivity, the charts show. Those ailments are identified as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, hypertension and kidney failure.  

Government-initiated measures however 1are being implemented such as the milk code, mandatory nutrition labels on food, prohibition of unhealthy foods in school canteen; barangay-based advocacies including growth monitoring; higher taxes on sugar-based juices; plans and programs as coordinated with other concerned offices; and the flourishing of healthy eating places. This is where barangay nutrition workers should be immersed in information campaign, guest speaker Regional nutrition officer Rita Papey said. – Julie G. Fianza