NEWS BRIEFS

 More int’l flights at Clark in December

CLARK, Pampanga — An official of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) announced yesterday that more international flights are expected at Clark International Airport (CRK) this coming month, with about six flights a week or 24 flights a month to serve local and foreign passengers.

CIAC President Alexander Cauguiran said the flights increase is not just a big boost for the Freeport zone but also a gain for Central Luzon and the country’s economy.

The latest to announce more flights via CRK is full service carrier Dragonair, a subsidiary of Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific that operates in 44 destinations in 134 countries and territories across Asia and has an Airbus Fleet of 41 aircrafts consisting of A320’s, A321’s, A330’s and B747 (Cargo), according to Cauguiran.

Citing Dragonair country manager Rob Bradshaw, Cauguiran said the carrier will increase its Clark-Hong Kong route from four to six times weekly this December in anticipation of increase in traffic at CRK.

“Dragonair hopes to establish a long-term plan for Clark Airport, including further increase of flight frequencies via CRK,’’ said Cauguiran. “It will undertake a rebranding in the coming weeks.”

He said the airline will become Cathay Dragon to symbolize an alignment of the values that the company holds in both brands. – Franco Regala

Boy drowns in La Union waterfalls

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union– An 11-year-old boy drowned at the Kibkibulan Falls in Barangay Pao Sur  in this city on Nov. 13. 

Ahron Reu Edralin slipped when he scaled the waterfalls to take photos of his relatives who were swimming.

Edralin was pronounced dead on arrival at the Training and Regional Medical Center. – Jun Elias

Baguio coding suspended for PMSEA, Fil-Am golf events

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan has suspended the implementation of the number coding scheme in this city specifically for the participants and families of two major events to be held here Nov. 14 to Dec. 9.

Domogan issued administrative order (AO) 147 s. 2016 suspending the implementation of the scheme, specifically for the participants of the 63rd Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference and the 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament, which will be held at the CAP-John Hay Trade and Cultural Center and the Baguio Country Club (BCC) and the Camp John Hay (CJH) fairways.

Baguio City will host the 63rd Mine Safety and Environment Week which will open on November 14 and 67th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament, the longest running amateur golf competition in the world,that will tee off on Nov. 21. -- PNA

H oliday in IlocosSur for Quirino Day

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – It was non-working holiday in Ilocos Sur Wednesday.

Proclamation 1927 signed by former president Ferdinand Marcos declared the holiday to mark the birth anniversary of former president Elpidio Quirino.  

“His able stewardship of the government and his personal virtues developed among the Filipinos in general and Ilocanos in particular a feeling of pride for the Filipino race and inspired in them a sense of patriotism,” the proclamation read.

The people of Ilocos Sur should be given full opportunity to celebrate his birth anniversary with fitting ceremonies, it added.

Gov. Ryan Luis Singson led the celebration, which started with a mass at the Saint Paul Cathedral. 

K-12 issues tackled in La Trinidad school

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The La Trinidad National High School, led by the principal Flora D. Tubal recently held a one-day advocacy program on the Dept. of Education’s K to 12 particularly on senior high school concerns. The activity was conducted in preparation for pre-registration for Grade-11 and planning for Senior High School concerns for School Year 2017-2018.

Lectures were done on such concerns by TESDA, PESO, and University of the Cordilleras speakers. Participants included parents and stakeholders relative to their children’s track and strand of choice. – Rose Virginie D. Killip

Free lab exam for rabies until Dec. 30

BAGUIO CITY --The Secretary of Agriculture extended free laboratory services for rabies examination by DA’s Animal Disease and Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory of the Bureau of Animal Industry and Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories until Dec. 31.

This is in line with the goal to improve disease surveillance and institute better institution better prevention and control measures to eliminate rabies in the Philippines by 2020.

The RADDL is located at the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC) Compound, Dontogan, Baguio City with contact number (074) 444-9871.

Pet owners are encouraged to have their dogs vaccinated against rabies at the age of three months and above. The DA-CAR offers free anti-rabies vaccination, which is located in BPI Compound, Guisad, Baguio City with contact numbers (074) 444-9872, 0998-3767-419 (smart) and 0915-2209-987 (globe).

Ilocos Norte to launch 911 emergency hotline

LAOAG CITY -- o ensure a faster and more efficient emergency response in Ilocos Norte, the provincial government will localize the nationwide 911 hotline this November.

Gov. Imee Marcos announced the establishment of Ilocos Norte’s own emergency response center.

 “Ayon sa pangulo, lahat tayo kailangan magkaroon rin ng 911 hotline na ang reresponde tulad ng Davao City ay ang pulis, firetruck at ambulansya. Ag-live operation tayon inton Nobyembre!”

 Through the project, Ilocanos around the province will have direct access to the local authorities in times of emergencies and disasters.

 Wilfredo Lorenzo Jr., Officer-in-charge of the Provincial Information Technology Office, said they are coordinating with national agencies including National Telecommunications Commission and Department of Interior and Local Government.

They are also seeking assistance of telecommunication companies in running the hotline effectively.

 As part of their preparations, the provincial government held training for emergency responders recently.

 “The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Resiliency Council conducted training for the responders which comprise of police officers, health care providers, and search and rescue team.”

Marcos said the project should include assistance to senior citizens, especially those who reside alone and in far-flung areas.

 “Dapat my back up din ang 911 na ‘Saguip Seniors,’ mga senyoritas at senyoritos na nag-iisa na, malayo at walang nag-aalaga. Laging nadadali sa bagyo ang lola at lolo.”

 She urged the youth to “sign-up for your lola duty.”

 “Dapat ang bawat solo senior, mag-assign tayo ng mga kamag-anak, karuba, (barangay health worker), kagawad at may mag-aasikaso.”

 The nationwide 24-hour hotlines for citizen complaints (8888) and emergencies (911) were made accessible to Filipinos on August 1, 2016 as part of President Rodrigo Duterte's measure against crime and corruption.— Jennifer T. Pambid,

Benguet overshoots rabies vaccination target

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The free massive anti-rabies vaccination campaign in the province was successfully conducted even overshooting its target.

An interagency collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government and municipal local governments, the anti-rabies campaign led by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, started in March as part of Anti-rabies Awareness Month observance and extended until June.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Miriam Tiongan said they have exceeded the target of the dog population by 7.34 percent which is above the national target of 70% and the region’s target of 80%.

                 Of the total dog population of 35,069 in the 13 towns of the province, 30,628 dogs were vaccinated.

The capital town of La Trinidad had the highest number of dogs vaccinated with 6,479 out of the   7,652 dogs.

Other towns that had high rate of vaccination are   Bakun, Kapangan and Buguias. The campaign is aimed to eradicate rabies by 2020. Fortunately, no rabid dog case is recorded this year so far, Tiongan said.

The OPVet is still doing vaccination but with minimal charge. The Office  is also conducting information education and administering spay and neuter to control dog population. -- Susan C. Aro

Baguio posts 82% passing rate in 2016 A&E exam

BAGUIO CITY- - The Department of Education – Alternative Learning System(ALS) Baguio Division again registered the highest passing rate in the April 17 Accreditation and Equivalency examination in the region  with an average of 82.78 percent for the elementary and secondary levels.

ALS Baguio Education program supervisor Arthur Tiongan said 42 out of their 45 (93.33%) examinees for the   elementary level while 410 out of the 501 takers in the secondary level passed the exam.

Passers include eight of nine examinees from the Baguio City Jail.

 Ifugao was second with a passing rate of 62.44% with 11 out of the 24 examinees in elementary and 732 out of the 1166 in high school passing the exam.

Mountain Province followed at third with 58.92% passing mark with 13 out 39 in the elem.  level and 357 out of 589 in the high school level making it.

Abra and Benguet followed closely with 57.58 and 57.16%, respectively, then Apayao at 43.05%, and Kalinga at 27.25%.  The Schools Division of Tabuk City registered 36.49% passing rate.

Overall, there are 130 elementary passers and 5,906 high school level passers in the region.

Tiongan explained these A & E passers will get their DepEd elementary and high school diplomas equivalent to those who finished basic education and can enroll in higher level.

ALS A&E test is a paper and pencil examination designed to measure the competencies of those who have neither attended nor finished elementary or secondary education in the formal school system. Passers are given a DepEd certificate/diploma certifying their competencies as comparable graduates of the formal school system

“Those who passed the elementary level can now go to high school, while those who passed the secondary can either take technical – vocation education or college courses”, he  said.  -- Carlito Dar

CCTV cameras  installed 

in Kalinga’s main road 

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The city-government had installed closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the provincial road leading to the city proper in a bid to strengthen its anti-criminality and traffic management efforts.

City Public Order and Safety Officer (POSO) Dionisio Falgui III informed there are 15 CCTV units installed at strategic points of the 7-kilometer road to help in the solution of cases, mostly traffic-related, that usually occur in the area. 

The CCTVs are operational under two centralized monitoring stations at the police provincial command and city POSO.

Falgui disclosed that the city government has approved an additional fund for the extension of the project to cover the entire stretch of the road up to the farthest barangay in Balong. He also revealed the plan to install CCTV cameras near schools.

Police intelligence reports indicated that drug pushers are targeting schools in their illegal trade.

Other sites in the city earlier installed with CCTVs include public markets, landmarks, PNP compact posts, city hall compound and other crowded areas. 

In a related report, the provincial government recently held the blessing of the four-lane improvement project of the provincial road.  

Funds used for the project constructed in phases came from the province’s cash incentives on the Seal of Good Local Governance Award from the Department of Interior and Local Government for three years. --      Larry T. Lopez

Ifugaos sustain traditional forest management system

LAGAWE, Ifugao – This age when technology has invaded all aspects of life, Ifugaos are proud of still practicing the muyong, the traditional way of preserving the forest.

The “muyong” system   revolves around the concept of protecting the forest as watershed and preserving its flora and fauna, its wildlife and keeping the ecological balance. 

It is a private or clan-owned woodlot, which serves as a “forest zone where people can gather firewood and lumber for their house-building needs through selective harvesting.

The ‘muyong’ is one of Ifugao’s living tradition that is passed from generation to generation,” he said.

The vital water systems that irrigate the province’s famed rice terraces come from watersheds and headwaters, which traditionally have been maintained through the muyong approach.

Local officials said the muyong system should be replicated in other parts of the country as a solution to water shortage, floods, landslides that kill thousands of people every year. -- JDP/JBZ

Tabuk City shifts to high-tech waste management system

TABUK CITY, Kalinga- - This city is now going high tech in its waste management system.

The local government unit   has shifted to Technology for Waste Diversion Facility and installed a granulator “Markell” machine for the processing of bio and non-bio waste materials at its Dilag open dump site in Sitio Bayabay this city.

Salud Lammawin, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said the machine worth P6.5 million will reduce the garbage disposed at the site. She said the supplier has already conducted training on the operation of the diesel fuel-run waste processing equipment.

Other facilities currently being constructed in the area are a materials recovery facility (MRF) and a composting unit amounting to P1 million and P500, 000.00, funded respectively by the LGU.

The installation of these facilities is in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

 Lammawin  also bared  rehabilitation of   dump site is underway with the  city government  providing P3 million funding for the first quarter this year particularly for  initial perimeter fencing, leachate pond, high density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, retaining wall,  guard house, gate, billboard, and  gas vent among others. -- Peter A. Balocnit

DOLE allots P6 million for 16 Kalinga groups

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Sixteen associations are set  to  receive financial assistance for livelihood projects from the Department of Labor and Employment.

Dr. Alexander Gumabol, DOLE provincial office head here, said they are preparing the checks worth around P6 million for distribution to livelihood proponents, mostly farmer groups needing post-harvest facilities.

Organizations to be given post-harvest facilities are San Isidro Farmers Asso. of Magabbangon (P352,700.00); Lumawig Clan of Pinukpuk (P481,000); Talac Yellow Corn Upland Rice of Gogbgog(P350,000); Matagoan Lapata of Tabuk(P350,000); Mengawisan Association of Masablang(P500,000); Bulitnao Tourism Manggayadan Farmers of Magnao(P353,000); Purok 3 Matayog Farmers(P200,000); Saltan Organic Farmers(P50,000); Amlao Farmers(P450,000); Guringad-Tope Clan(P350,000); Sumadel 1 Livelihood(P420,000), and Pakawit Pumiyaan(P350,000).

Others with different livelihood are Tuga National High School (P403, 050) for bakery and pastry making;

Tabuk Ornamentals, Landscaping and Nursery Livelihood (P485, 000); Purok 3 Bulanao Indigent, Tourism, Handicraft Asso. (P383, 000), and Naneng Rural Improvement Club on red rice processing (P326, 000).

These projects  will have immediate impact on employment of members and additional income for their families, Gumabol said. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Ifugao farmers groups train on livestock raising

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- Members of two farmers organizations from this town and  Hingyon municipality underwent a training on poultry and swine production and hands-on preparation of fermented feeds  conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Officer (PVET).

The farmers were given lectures on the health and economic significance of utilizing home-made or processed fermented feeds for their poultry and livestock industry, good animal husbandry practices, animal health management and the various animal diseases such as the New Castle Disease of poultry and fowls.

There was also hands-on demonstration on how to process their own organic feeds using   raw and indigenous foodstuff that abound in the area.

The 22 members of the Haliap Farmers Organization of this municipality who attended the training received 13 piglets as their animal dispersal while the 23 members of the Bitu Resource Cooperative and Development Association, Inc. given 19 piglets.

PVET training coordinator Ferdinand Dunuan said that the project was funded by the Department of Agriculture which is mandated to exclusively promote organic agriculture in the country pursuant to Republic Act 10068. -- Daniel B. Codamon

Doctor pushes diabetes  prevention among children

BAGUIO CITY -- Diabetes is now a global concern and intensive education among young ones who are potential victims, is still best prevention,

Dr. Domingo Solimen of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC)   said  during the Department of Health media forum last week.

The World Health Organization figues said  350 million people with diabetes around the globe, and disease is the direct cause of around 1.5 million deaths.

Solimen said diabetes, a non-communicable disease that is due to high blood sugar level, is the number one cause of kidney failure.  

At BGHMC, 60 percent of their dialysis patients are due to diabetic complications, he bared.

Diabetes is also considered risk factor to heart attack, blindness and traumatic amputation.

Diabetic complications can be fatal but the disease is also highly preventable and treatable especially if detected early on.

As a preventive measure, Solimen said their intensive information and education campaign is focused on orienting elementary pupils of healthy lifestyle given that obesity, a risk factor for diabetes, is now prevalent among children.

Obesity in the younger ages is related to the manifestation of diabetes in their adulthood, he said.

Solimen advised the general public to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a balanced diet which includes avoiding salty foods, too much sweets and frozen foods, as well as smoking.

He also advised  diabetic family members and those feeling the symptoms (that include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased hunger) to have their blood sugar checked.

This year’s   World Health Day on April 7 focuses on diabetes with the theme, “Beat Diabetes” to scale up diabetes prevention, strengthen care and enhance surveillance. --  Leo  and G. Montecastro

Kalinga barangays, schools set sites for pre-fab health stations

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Recipient barangays and schools of pre-fabricated barangay health stations (BHS) in the province are now busy identifying and preparing the sites.

Dr. Bernadette Andaya of the Center for Health Development reported that    barangay Dangtalan in Pasil was the first to prepare and concrete the site.

Andaya bared that the pre-fab BHS is 12x18 feet or 50sq.m. in dimension and   worth P240, 000.00. 

The pre-fab BHS project is funded under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Tamang Serbisyo sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya or TSeKaP .

She said a joint memorandum of agreement was forged between DOH, the Department of Education and barangay local government units. 

The nationwide construction of said BHS projects is contracted by a single contractor. An engineer will be hired per province to supervise project implementation, she added.

TSeKaP  strengthens  health systems; increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery of basic health services and enable a more equitable distribution of national health programs through the government’s Daang Matuwid Program

In another development, Andaya announced that DOH Sec. Janette Garin will visit Kalinga in April to distribute medical equipment packages to rural health units, and barangay health stations. – Peter Balocnit

NFA-Kalinga urges bigasan outlets to renew permits
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial operation center here  urged bigasan operators to renew their permits in order to continuously to provide accessible and cheap rice.

Assistant  Provincial Manager Ric Baliang informed their office is open to renewal of 2016 permits to NFA-bigasan retail outlets and licenses for grains traders. 

NFA   is also accepting  new applications for its rice retail service especially in remote areas of the province where there is problem on accessibility.

There are at least 80 bigasan retailers stationed in various sites in the province selling NFA cheap quality rice at P27-32/kg, Baliang disclosed.

Baliang cleared there is no price adjustment in government rice but NFA allows minimal add-on cost to defray transportation expenses by retailers from far-flung barangays.

Meanwhile, the provincial NFA warehouse has a current inventory of 23,000 bags of rice, which according to Baliang is sufficient until the next quarter.

In the last cropping, NFA procured only 2,000 bags of palay due to the province’s low palay production arising from the irrigation crisis. 

Baliang hopes  their procurement operation would be back to normal with the resumption of regular operation of the National Irrigation Administration’s service in the province this cropping. -- Larry T. Lopez

DOST   provides baking tools to women’s group

PINUKPUK, Kalinga -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provincial office here recently  provided  bakery equipment to Barangay Dugpa Kalipi (Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina) Organization this town for  its bakery project.

The Kalinga Science and Technology Center said their office provided P149, 000.00 for the purchase of one set oven, one set dough roller, one set dough kneader, and a blender while the proponent shared P140, 000.00 counterpart.

The group aims to produce baked products enriched with vegetables.

Raw material for the manufacture of baked products is not a problem since local raw products like malunggay and root crops are found in abundance in the place. Members of the organization will undergo training on good manufacturing practices from January 27-28.

 Meanwhile, Alfonso Berto, provincial DOST officer,  said they are processing approval of other proposals under the community-based program on Science and Technology Enhancement for the Advancement of Municipalities or STEAM. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Baguio sets regulations on use of ambulance

 BAGUIO CITY – The city government set regulations on the use of the three government-operated ambulance units serving the city’s constituents.

 In Administrative Order No. 112, Mayor Mauricio Domogan authorized the city treasurer’s office to collect fees from patients using city-owned ambulances for transport within and outside the city.

The fees will be minimal or “socialized” and will go to the maintenance of the vehicles, gasoline, meals for volunteers and toll fees.

The three ambulances are assigned in three separate offices – the health services office, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Committee (CDRRMC) under the city administrator’s office.

The HSO maintains the Baguio City Emergency Medical Services (BCEMS) as the pre-hospital emergency management arm of the CDRRMC which includes ambulance services under the Health Emergency Management System.

The mayor said while the BCEMS uses the HSO ambulance to transport patients for medical treatment at hospital facilities or referral for higher management within and outside the city, the transport of patients is not the priority function of BCEMS.

“As the pre-hospital emergency arm of CDRRMC, its main function is primarily emergency medical responders,” he said.

On payment of the regulatory fees, the process: applicants secure payment slips from the office where ambulance is assigned indicating the amount to be paid at the city treasury office. 

The offices will record all official receipts before transporting the patient and will prepare necessary official travel order for the personnel in the ambulance team to be signed by the department or assistant department head and approved by the city mayor.   

The city treasury office will collect the amount based on the payment slip issued by the concerned offices based on the following charges: For every trip within Baguio City, the client will pay P500 one way and for trips outside the city, the client will pay P75 per kilometer. – Aileen P. Refuerzo