NEWS BRIEFS

>> Tuesday, October 6, 2015


Aeta group protests takeover of property
ANGELES CITY – An Aeta community is seeking the help of the government over the alleged takeover by non-indigenous groups of their ancestral land in the northern part of the Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Residents of Barangay Sapang Uwak in Mabalacat town have filed a formal complaint against members of the Aniban n gNagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Hacienda Dolores and Alyansang Magbubukid at Residenteng Hacienda
Dolores, who have allegedly been grabbing their ancestral domain since last year.

In a letter to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Aeta leader Paramay Sibal said members of the two groups fenced and settled on their property.

“They also sell goods such as coffee, rice and sugar at high prices while they buy the Aeta produce at a very low price,” Sibal said.

He wants the illegal settlers ejected and pay P50,000 in damages. --  Ding Cervantes

Folks urged: Plant flowers to enhance Baguio reputation
BAGUIO CITY -- To enhance this city’s title as “City of Flowers,” the City Council recently passed Resolution No. 197, encouraging all residents to plant flowering plants and trees such as bougainville, sunflower, flame trees, and the like along the streets, roads and highways. The resolution introduced by City Councilor Fred Bagbagen and Betty Lourdes Tabanda said that considering the city of pines is famous worldwide for its Flower Festival and is known to be the City of flowers in the Philippines, it is just appropriate for the residents to sustain said prestigious identity.

Cauayan mayor’s aide nabbed for gun-toting
TUGUEGARAO CITY – An aide of a municipal mayor was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot bystanders in Cauayan City, Isabela night of Sept. 26.

Ricky Hildago, 44, livestock inspector of San Agustin town Mayor Virgilio Padilla, reportedly poked a 9mm pistol at a group of men who helped him remove his car from a canal in Barangay Silawit at around 7:30 p.m.

Police said Hidalgo, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol, was arrested by village officials. --  Raymund Catindig

MP swimming pool to be improved next year
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The provincial government is set to improve the swimming pool facility of the province.

Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen announced during recent Provincial Development Council meeting that among approved infrastructure projects for 2016 is rehabilitation of provincial swimming pool at the Bilibid compound.  He said budget was allotted to address upgrading of the pool to standard size and solve lack of water supply.

Mayaen said the provincial government has decided to turn the existing pool into a standard swimming facility to cater to the athletic concerns of the province. He added that this is also one of the steps in preparation for future challenges of hosting the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA) in the province wherein all of the events can be held in the capital town.

The pool was built in 2000. It used to be a fish pond manned by the Department of Agriculture.

In the latest Provincial School Board (PSB) meeting, Dep Ed authorities informed the PSB body of DepEd’s decision to hold this year’s provincial swimming events at Bulanao,Tabuk, Kalinga due to presence of standard sized swimming pools in our neighboring province, water temperatures of said pools are more conducive to  swimmers; and  many residents of Tabuk who hail from Mountain Province are willing to accommodate athletes during the competition.

The governor assured the provincial government’s support to DepEd’s decision by offering to handle the transportation expense of all athletes and coaches to and from the venue.

“While inter-school and inter-province athletic fests are part of DepEd’s curriculum, the provincial government is supportive of DepEd’s undertakings in its limited capacity.  This is one way of ensuring that our children gets ample support from all stakeholders and are equipped with the maximum amount of training they deserve,” Mayaen said.

Meanwhile, DepEd disclosed training venue for swimmers who will be competing in the 2016 regional athletic meet will also be in Tabuk. -- Erwin S. Batnag

Sinucalan Bridge open soon
STA BARBARA, Pangasinan – The four-lane Sinucalan, will soon be open to all types of vehicles after a year of closure. The construction and maintenance of the Sinucalan Bridge along Urdaneta Junction-Dagupan Road, here started February 2014 and was supposed to have been completed last October 2014 but because of some changes, including the request of Mayor CarlitoZaplan to stop the construction due to the high elevation of the bridge, the project was only finished last week. -- LiezleBasaIñigo

Former NPA rebels receive aid
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Two members of the New People’s Army (NPA), who returned to the folds of the law received financial aid for their livelihood from the government. Supt. Reynaldo Pasiwen of the Kalinga Police Provincial Office handed the checks worth P67,700 each to the two former rebels in a simple ceremony at Camp Juan Duyan this city. Pasiwen said that the rebels should live in peace with their families and be productive in their respective localities in life.

Angeles holidays declared
ANGELES CITY – President Aquino has declared Oct. 12 and 23 as non-working holidays in this city to allow residents to celebrate their fiesta.

Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa signed on Sept. 24 Proclamation 1130 declaring the city’s special non-working days.

Aside from the Kuliat Festival, city residents will hold the Tigtigan, TerakanKengDalan (music and street-dancing activity), which symbolizes the rise of the spirit of the Angeleños from the devastation brought by the Mt. Pinatubo. 

Jenny brings Magat 
Dam to spilling level
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Rains spawned by Typhoon Jenny have raised the water in Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela almost to its spilling level.

As of press time, the dam’s water level was 192.50 meters, according to Engineer Wilson Agustin of the National Irrigation Administration.

Agustin said dam authorities would be compelled to release water anytime this week to prevent it from reaching the 193-meter limit.

LTO-3 to print own licenses
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Land Transportation Office Regional Office 3 (LTO-3) announced that it will soon print new designs of licenses and permits after receiving a new license printer from its main office, recently. The license printer is a response to the driver’s license backlog issue in the region, said Marina P. de Jesus, LTO Region 3 regional director. Earlier, the LTO main office activated 25 sites in Metro Manila, Regions 3, 4-A, and 8, for license issuance to cut down the backlog problem in country. In Region 3, De Jesus said that the LTO’s main office opened driver’s license application sites in Angeles City and Bulacan, while the LTO-3 activated one in Barangay Maimpis, City Of San Fernando, Pampanga.

Backyard gardening pushed in Baguio
BAGUIO CITY — Almost a year after the Senior Citizens Officials For A Day (SCOFAD) approved a city council resolution enjoining residents to engage in organic backyard gardening as a means of augmenting the nutritional needs of their families, the city council has adopted the same. The SCOFAD resolution authored by SCOFAD Councilor Jane Tayab during their session on Oct. 7, 2014 was approved and adopted by the council in its regular session this week. “The concept of organic urban gardening was introduced to the community as a strategy to help the people find means to augment their daily vegetable requirement,” said Tayab.

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 ValentinBaguidudol said NCs promote  ease of doing business and access to services for MSMEs.

In his message read by ConstanciaBaccay, 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

DOST turns over Starbooks server to DepEd Mt Province
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Science and Technology Information Institute of the Department of Science and Technology turned over to Department of Education Division Office last  week one Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosk Station known as Starbooks. 

Starbooks is information kiosk which contains thousands of digitized science and technology (S & T) resources in various forms such as text and video/audio. The information is available through “read-only” format which can be accessed even without internet connection.

The Starbooks aim to create interest in the field of science and technology which may increase the number of Filipinos enrolling in S & T courses; encourage great and curious minds to develop new ideas; and inspire one’s capacity for entrepreneurship and research.

 After the turnover, representatives from the STII  HansiDinumla  and IngemarZarate III conducted an orientation on the administration of Starbooks to some 35 public elementary and high school teachers.

Based on the data of STII, this is now the 11th Starbooks server installed in the province. The others are at Holy Rosary High School in Kayan, Cagubatan National High School and  Mt. Province State Polytechnic College(MPSPC),  Tadian campus in the municipality of  Tadian; Saliok National High School and Immaculate High School in Natonin; Mt. Province General Comprehensive High School, Bontoc Central School, Xijen College of Mt. Province,MPSPC-Bontoc campus, and DOST Provincial Office, all in this capital town.

Local government units, non-government organization, and educational institutions can make a formal request addressed to STII director to avail of the STARBOOKS as long as they comply with the requirements like computer unit with Core i3 processor, 1GB memory, 1TB hard disk, video card, monitor, accessories (headset and others); pod with sticker; space; tarpaulin; mandatory training and focal persons (IT and librarian). -- Juliet B. Saley

‘Doctors to the barrios’ program serves Ifugaos
LAGAWE, Ifugao -- A health program of the provincial government served more than 10,000 individuals first semester this year through medical consultations.

The “Handog  Kalusugan sa Ifugao” has provided services to 10,521 people under the Doctors to the  Barrios program through medical consultations in 115 barangays in the province from January to July 2015.

Among the 11 municipalities, Tinoc had highest beneficiaries with 1,939 followed by Banaue – 1,614; Mayoyao – 1,212; Asipulo – 1,044; Lamut – 837; Kiangan – 813; Aguinaldo – 802; Hungduan – 737; Hingyon – 614; Lagawe – 484 and Alfonso Lista with 425.

The services were provided with the support of local health care givers and officials.

The “Handog Kalusugan sa Ifugao: Doctors to the Barrios ” a local  initiative under the leadership of Governor Denis Habawel since 2013, is supported by the SN Aboitiz Power.  It primarily aims  to fill in the gaps between health services of the hospitals and the rural health units, and to build up a data base of common illnesses to guide future interventions. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

Red Cross gives 174 families relief assistance
BONTOC, Mountain Province- Staff and volunteers of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in the province are now giving relief assistance to victims affected by Typhoon Ineng.

Officer in charge Veronica Tactay of Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter said  174 families in the province were given relief assistance by the PRC.

Of the total recipients, 47 families or 200 individuals were in Barangay Guinzadan Central, 15 families or 81 individuals were in SitioLetang, Barangay Tapapan and 11 families or 62 individuals are in SitioSoysoyoc, Tapapan, all in municipality of Bauko.

Also, 25 families or 106 individuals from Barangays Busa, Camatagan, Poblacion, Losad, Namatec and Bun-ayan, all in Sabangan and 18 families or 82 individuals in Barangay Gonogon, Bontoc were given relief assistance. In Tadian, 43 families from Barangay Masla, 15 families from Barangay Batayan, and students from Masla Elementary School and Masla National High School were reached out by PRC. 

Last week, Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter distributed non-food-items consisting of two mats, two mosquito nets, tarpaulin and one jerry can or water container per family.  Also, family pack and hygiene kits were given each family. The family pack contains five kilos of rice, four noodles and four canned goods while the hygiene kits are five pieces of towels, one nail cutter, one big size hair shampoo, one big size tooth paste, five pieces tooth brush, five pieces combs, two rolls of tissue paper, detergent bar, five pieces of bath soap, cotton buds, sanitary napkin and two shavers.

Along with this, Project Officer KenshaGardingan of the Health Services demonstrated proper hand washing to the beneficiaries while Nation Field Representative RiztyDogcio assessed the damages brought by the typhoon to the victims. Both were from the PRC –National Headquarters. -- Alpine L. Killa

Benguet to avail of support under Rural Dev’t Program
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet --  Gov. Nestor Fongwan  sought support of the provincial board in crafting a resolution affirming the provincial government’s participation to the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) to  enhance agriculture and fisheries sectors in the province.

Fongwan also urged the board for passage of appropriation ordinance  for the provincial government’s share to fund the proposal of the Benguet Arabica Coffee Enterprise anchored in one of components of PRDP.

Under the program,  participating local government unit  has to provide a counterpart for  a   project component.

The PRDP under the Department of Agriculture aims to increase the agricultural and fishery productivity and incomes of small farmers and fisherfolk through the establishment of needed infrastructure such as farm-to-market roads (FMRs), bridges, communal irrigation systems (CIS), and potable water systems, among others.

Provincial Agriculturist Lolita Bentres said nine group members belonging to the Benguet Arabica Coffee Enterprise proposed a P13 million project to boost the coffee industry of the province under the I –REAP.  The Benguet Arabica Coffee Enterprise affiliate group members are  fromKibungan,  Atok,La Trinidad, Sablan,Tuba, Tublay, Bakun, and Kapangan..

I REAP which is PRDP’s enterprise development component aims to strengthen and develop viable agri-fishery based enterprises through efficient value chains of key agricultural and fishery products in targeted project areas by providing technical, financial and infrastructure support.

Bentres said for the project proposal of the coffee enterprise,  P3 million will be the counterpart of DA while the remaining will be shared among the affiliate groups and with counterpart from the provincial government.

The national government obtained a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development - World Bank amounting to US$501.25 million to finance the PRDP to support the government’s effort to reduce poverty in rural communities in the 81 provinces of the country.

 Should the province be included in the PRD program, Bentres said it could also avail support in the other project components such as I-PLAN for local and national planning, I-BUILD for infrastructure development and  I-SUPPORT for project implementation support. -- Susan C. Aro

Free wheelchairs to persons with disabilities
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Twenty persons with disabilities (PWDs) were given free wheelchairs by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) in partnership with the Rotary Club Sampaguita Grace Park.

Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen chair of board of directors with officer in charge Veronica Tactay of Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter, Bontoc Mayor Franklin C. Odsdey, and members of the BOD handed over the 20 wheelchairs to the families and relatives of the recipients.

She said  the happiness of helping those in need is immeasurable. “We are very happy that to help the most vulnerable even in remote areas in Mountain Province,” Tactay said. 

Out of 20 beneficiaries, nine were from Bontoc, seven from Natonin and four  fromSadanga. Tactay added the province was lucky to get 20 wheelchairs as this was given on first come, first served basis.

She said identification of beneficiaries was in partnership with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) which provided the lists of beneficiaries together with the documents required that was forwarded by the Red Cross- Mountain Province Chapter to the PRC- National Headquarters. 

The requirements are request letter addressed to the PRC secretary general, certificate of indigence, medical certificate, and a case study.


Mayaen thanked the Red Cross as partner of the government in helping those in need of services and assistance. With the wheelchairs provided to the recipients, it will help them continue earn a living for themselves and their families. -- Alpine L. Killa

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