NEWS BITS

Group to probe ‘dangerous’ school site at Country Club

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week created a technical working group to evaluate the 8,559-square meter lot identified as school site at the Baguio Country Club Village.

In Administrative Order No. 84, the mayor designated Councilor Peter Fianza as chair and city engineer Leo Bernardez as co-chair of the TWG with city building head Nazita Banez and a representative from the Environment Management Bureau of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources as members.

The TWG will be tasked primarily to order the conduct of a soil test to determine the soil capacity of the area to house a school building.  It will also take charge of evaluating and assessing whether the lot is slide-prone and not safe as school site and determining whether engineering intervention can be introduced to remedy the situation.

The mayor said there is a need to determine the feasibility of the lot as a school site after Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) president and chief operating officer Arnel Casanova objected to its use as such on the ground of safety based on the report of the EMB-DENR-CAR that the area is prone to landslides.

The mayor said the lot was identified as a school building site on June 14, 2012.

“The (area) is outside the fence of Camp John Hay and within the Baguio Country Club Barangay which is to be excluded from John Hay Reservation pursuant to No. 14 of the 19 conditionalities for the development of Camp John Hay per Resolution No. 362 series of 1994 which was approved by Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA),” the mayor said.

He gave the TWG a month from August 3 to complete and submit a report. – Aileen P. Refuerzo

Smuggled lumber donated to Kibungan school

BUGUIAS, Benguet—To repair typhoon-damaged classrooms and construct library bookshelves, the Buguias town thru its DENR-Community Environment and Natural Resources Office donated impounded smuggled lumber to Enrique Jose Elementary School in Masala, Kibungan, Benguet Aug. 11.

Said smuggled lumbers were confiscated from the different municipalities like Kibungan, Mankayan, Bakun, Kapangan, and Buguias under jurisdiction of said DENR-CENRO.

Buguias OIC Cenro officer Modesto Cabatan delivered 75 pieces of lumber to said campus upon the request of school principal Jonathan C. Lagan.

EJES faculty and Parents-Teachers Association officers agreed to utilize the smuggled lumber to rehabilitate their typhoon-damaged kindergarten classroom, build tables and bookshelves for their mini-school library, and establish fascia boards around the campus.

Lagan said they needed lumbers for improvement of said school, a priority program underschool improvement plan.

The DepEd and DENR entered into a memorandum of agreement earlier which the latter shall donate to the former confiscated illegal lumber for educational purposes. -- Mercedes S. Catacutan

DOH allots P37M for health facilities in MP

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The  Department of Health  has  allotted 37,002,902.00 under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program to improve health services in the province,

Provincial Health team leader Judith Dao-as during recent provincial health board meeting reported P10 million  was appropriated for Bontoc General Hospital for  improvement of emergency room, OB-Gyne building and other areas, and improvement of water supply system.

The amount of P2.5 million each was allotted to district hospitals of  Barlig, Besao and Paracelis for construction of sewage treatment plant. These HFEP projects will be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Dao-as also bared the DOH appropriated P19,502,902.00 for rural  health units in the province for equipment.

Each RHU (including barangay health stations proposed as birthing facilities) of the 10 municipalities was allotted more than P2 million.

The main goal of the HFEP is to improve delivery of essential and specialized health services.

It  aims to upgrade priority  rural health centers and barangay health stations to provide basic emergency obstetric and newborn care   services for reduction of maternal mortality and  to upgrade government hospitals  in  provinces to make them more responsive to health needs of  people.

The DOH allocated P8,509,840.08 under  HFEP  for the province  last year. -- Juliet B. Saley

Pacific Partnership 2015 starts P’sinan humanitarian mission 

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The US Navy team for the Pacific Partnership 2015 started conducting Tuesday a three-day humanitarian and civic mission in this province.

A group of officers from the hospital ship USNS Mercy conducted veterinary services in the villages of Libsong East and West, Tonton, Rosario, Lasip, Wawa, Aliwekwek, Basing, Dulag, Tumbar and Namolan in this town.

A similar activity was held Wednesday in several villages in San Carlos City.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. welcomed the team, saying the US Navy Pacific Partnership would strengthen the ties between the US and the province.

Espino said the group would share with local rescue personnel new techniques on risk reduction management.

The US Navy also donated medicine to the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital and Lingayen District Hospital.

Provincial health officer Ana Maria Teresa de Guzman said the group would lead a forum on communicable and tropical diseases such as dengue, leptospirosis and tuberculosis.

The Pacific Partnership 2015 is said to be the largest multilateral humanitarian assistance and relief mission conducted annually in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.-- -- Cesar Ramirez

La Trinidad officials ban knuckle devices

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Knuckles which come in various forms, style and materials used as weapons dating back in ancient times  will soon be banned in this capital town.

Knuckles made of cast iron, brass, lead, and wood were accordingly made in the United States during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865 which were bought and used often by soldiers particularly those fabricated in cast iron or brass.

Considered as weapons, such devices or objects are made into a set of finger rings or guards attached to a transverse piece and worn over the front of the doubled fist for use to inflict injury or to kill.

Seeing danger of using such objects as loose weapons, Councilor  John Botiwey   authored ordinance 22-2015 which prohibits carrying and selling of knuckles within the town.

Among its provisions   include prohibition of carrying or  in possession a knuckle outside the home or immediate premises; and   selling, renting, or giving away or  directly or indirectly participate in the sale, renting or giving away of such objects.

Penal provisions in case of violations are provided in the measure.

The ordinance was referred to provincial board’s committee on peace and order for study and action. -- Susan C. Aro

Baguio  market-rice section ‘best retailer group’

BAGUIO CITY  -  The city council approved a  resolution introduced by councilor Elaine Sembrano commending the Baguio City market-rice section for winning first place as the best retailer group, region I category.

This is a nationwide search for best rice market retail outlets conducted by the National Food Authority.

Region I covers public market rice retail outlets in the Ilocos and Cordillera with the rice section of the Baguio City market recently adjudged as regional winner, coming out  first place in region-wide competition.

Being the first placer, Baguio city market-rice section is automatically nominee for the national category in the nationwide search of the NFA for the best rice retailers throughout the country.

The resolution said  “This notable achievement deserves utmost congratulations and full acknowledgement from a grateful city, and citation of the officers and members of the Baguio City Rice Section groups of retailers led by their president Nicolas Medrano, Jr.”

Sembrano said, “The achievement of the Baguio City market rice section has given honor to the city which only shows that the rice section of the city market exemplifies good market practices that are fair, reasonable and consumer-friendly.”  -- JhoArranz

P90 M given to poor senior citizens in CAR

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera disbursed P90.4 million first semester this year for Social Pension Program for 60,509 indigent senior citizens in the region.

The province of Abra received biggest amount with P23,938,500 for 16,060 senior citizens. Apayao got P8,629,500 for 5,708 senior citizens, Baguio City obtained P928,500 of 625 elders; Benguet with P17,195,000 for 11,474 senior citizens; Ifugao received P15,844,500 for 10,569 senior citizens; Kalinga got P10,866,500 with 7,258 senior citizens and Mountain Province received P13,097,000 for 8,814 pensioners. 

Regional DSWD director Janet Armas said that the SSP distribution is intended to augment basic needs of senior citizens, including medicine and other nutritional and health needs.

Qualified to receive the P500 monthly stipend are senior citizens who are frail, sickly, or have disabilities; are not receiving pension from Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System , or Veterans pension, and do not have a permanent source of income or regular support from relatives.

The Aquino administration through the DSWD has lowered the age qualification of indigent senior citizens who can receive the P500 monthly social pension as provided for by Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

Starting this year, indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above will now receive the Social Pension. Originally, only senior citizens aged 77 and above received the pension.

For 2015, the government has allocated P5.962 billion to benefit some 939,609 indigent senior citizens aged 65 and above.

The pension is distributed every quarter through cash payment by DSWD Field Offices or city/municipal social welfare and development offices. -- Joseph Zambrano

Tabuk City’s  2015Patawid trade fair  sales up by 67%  

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- With scaling-up in product quality and marketing skills, sales in the 2015 Patawid Agro-industrial Trade Fair shot-up by 67 percent over sales last year.

Benita Mangadap of Trade and Industry provincial office said exhibitors hauled in total sales of P3.2 million  over the P2.154M in 2014 or an increase of P1.046M.

A joint-project of DTI-Kalinga and city government, the Patawid has become part of the annual celebration of the city founding anniversary and Matagoan Festival.

A brainchild of DTI-Kalinga, the event showcased homemade products from the line of woven items, home-kitchen wares, souvenirs, toys, decors, processed foods, furniture, ornamentals and organic agri-produce.

As marketing arm to open wider outlets to small entrepreneurs, organizers had invited guests-exhibitors from partner provinces of Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya and Baguio City.

To enhance product design and innovations, special awards were  given to winning exhibitors.

This year, Best New Products Award went to KINWA Etnika Handicrafts, BalikTribo Fashion Accessories, Desiree’s Food Products, Mt. Zion Bakery, Jaja’s Handicrafts & Gift Shop and E. Bro’s Antiques & Modern Furniture Shop. The winners also received P1000 cash incentives each.

For Best Dressed Booth, Peralta’s Souvenirs & Gift Shop, SMB Ornamentals and Kalinga Food Treat got P2,000 each as winners.

Adding fun and delight in the Patawid  this year was the new contest on landscaping.

Winners were Tropical Oasis Farm, Clem’s Fresh Blooms, JAM’s Flower Garden &Bago Ornamental –  first place;  Second Place – Jennica’s Garden0; 3rd  – Macjhemarhee’s Garden, Mt. Zion Flower Garden and 4th  – Gemmm’s Garden. -- Larry Lopez

34 hired on the spot in job fair

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Thirty four  applicants were hired for local employment during the recent jobs fair conducted by this city’s Public Employment Service Office and Department of Labor and Employment.

Loyda Saboy, PESO manager,said of  212 who registered and  were interviewed, 189 qualified with 34 hired on the spot including 13 females.

Ten employers  for overseas employment and four for local employment offered a  total of 4,071 job vacancies in job fair  conducted on the third day of the Matagoan festival on June 26.

According to Dr. Alexander Gumabol, DOLE provincial head, said job fair was  the sixth  to be conducted for  conducted this year in the province  and the highest in number of job vacancies offered.

He said the first jobs fair conducted on Feb. 14-15 was sponsored by the provincial PESO; the 2nd on March 6 was in Lubuagan; 3rd in Pinukpuk on March 19; 4th in Rizal on March 24; and the 5th by the Kalinga-Apayao State College on March 26. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Abra form task force to address child abuse

BANGUED, Abra-- The Provincial Council for the Protection of Children was recently reorganized to promote protection and welfare of children in the province.

Gov. Eustaquio P. Bersamin also issued an executive order creating the Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (IMTF) to monitor and document cases of abused, neglected, exploited and discriminated children in the province for the PCPC to address problems.

The PCPV shall perform functions such as formulate plans, policies and programs for children that are gender-fair, culturally relevant and responsive to the needs of diverse groups of children from 18 years old and below; prepare the Annual Work and Financial Plan for children; and recommend appropriations to the SanggunianPanlalawigan; provide coordinative-linkages with other agencies and institutions in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of plan for children.

The PCPC shall also establish and maintain a database on the children in the province.

It is the policy of the state to protect and rehabilitate children gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect or will affect their survival and normal development over which they have no control.

Among the laws that provide for the protection and welfare of children is Republic Act. No. RA 7610 which provides special protection of Filipino children against abuse, neglected, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and  RA No. 9344. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas andJosa Mai B. Ramirez

Ifugao gov forms group against illegal drugs

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Gov. Denis Habawel recently organized the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council to help in the campaign against illegal drugs in the province.

Executive Order No. 12 was issued by Habawel in consonance with DILG memorandum C mandating the local government units to create local anti-drug abuse councils to combat drug-addiction.

The council is chaired by the governor with the provincial director of the Philippine National Police as vice-chairman.

Members are representatives from provincial and national office including non-government organization.

The PADAC is  tasked to serve as a focal point through which various organizations and individuals work together cooperatively in the planning, implementation and evaluation of programs on drug abuse prevention.

It will provide for an effective mechanism for the coordination of existing services and program and those which might be developed in the immediate futures; provide for a mechanism to obtain funds, volunteers, facilities and technical expertise and perform other related responsibilities.

The provincial social welfare and development office is assigned as head of the secretariat to handle the administrative and technical activities and undertake liaising and coordination with appropriate agencies of the government and civil society organizations.

Habawel it is better to start preventive measures and not punitive actions  in order to  give chance  to  those involved in drugs to reform and  be assets in the community. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

Itogon sets yearly Palarong Bayan

ITOGON, Benguet -- Itogon officials institutionalized Palarong Bayan for sports competitions in the town in response to petition filed by residents and the youth.

A municipal ordinance provided conduct of Palarong Bayan in Itogon every month of May for sports competitions  to inculcate spirit of sportsmanship, excellence and consciousness. 

As provided in the Local Government Code, the PalarongBayan  that will be conducted in coordination with the Department of Education annually will  feature traditional sports and discipline such as those included in national and international competitions.

Itogon residents and youth earlier made petition urging municipal officials for annual holding of an inter-barangay sports fest. 

The petition said tis will foster young people’s physical, intellectual, emotional, and social growth. 

The measure which was referred to the committee on sports and youth development in the provincial board was given favorable review. --Susan C. Aro

Negosyo Center opens in Ifugao

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- A Negosyo Center was opened here  recently by the Department of Trade and Industry to boost development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province.

The launching of the NC at DTI office here was attended by DTI provincial and regional officials and employees, enterprisers and other stake holders.

St. Magdalene Parish priest Andrew Claver led the blessing of the center .Mimosa Regis of  DTI regional office, said  establishment  of  Negosyo Centers   is in compliance with Republic Act 10644 otherwise known as the “Go Negosyo Act”.

Regis said center in Lagawe town  is one of the seven Negosyo Centers to be launched in the Cordillera region this year and  part  of the 100 centers targeted by the DTI central office for 2015.

DTI – Ifugao director Valentin Baguidudol said NCs promote  ease of doing business and access to services for MSMEs

In his message read by Constancia Baccay, Rep. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. said that Go Negosyo Act is one of the best things to happen to inventive, resourceful and enterprising Filipinos who have not been fortunate enough to have the necessary support to see their vision come to fruition.

League of Mayors of the Philippines Ifugao chapter president Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog committed support for the success of the negosyo center. – Marcelo B. Lihgawon