NEWS BRIEFS

 2,000 partake of SM’s largest strawberry taho

BAGUIO CITY – SM City Baguio, in line with month-long “flavors of the Philippines” campaign of the Dept. of Tourism, recently showcased the “largest strawberry taho” here at The Drive, SM City.

Taho is a famous Philippine snack made of soft tofu, sago pearls and arnibal (sweetener syrup).

           The record breaking exhibit fed about 2,000 participants of the said event.

            The largest strawberry taho was made of 55 gallons of taho, 8 kilos of sago pearls, 50 kilo of fresh strawberries and 15 gallons of sugar syrup contained in a 5-foot glass container.

             Before the event, Azalea Residences, Ridgewood Hotel and The Old Spaghetti House, demonstrated on how to cook their house specialties with a Cordilleran twist during their Flavor Fusion.

            Featured dishes were the famous etag (Cordilleran smoked meat), pinuneg (Cordilleran blood sausage), Bugnay wine and strawberries incorporated with national and even international cuisines.

During the event, these were called Etag Bicol Express, Pinuneg Wrapped in Bacon, Strawberry Turon, Etag Pomodoro, and a lot more.

             Free tasting was enjoyed by locals and foreign visitors. – Trizha Ocampo

 547 LGUs to get P8.15-B assistance

A TOTAL of 547 local government units (LGUs) will receive P8.15 billion under the assistance to disadvantaged municipalities program of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Interior Secretary Catalino Cuy Wednesday urged concerned LGUs to start implementation of the projects to be funded by the program.

               The LGUs comprise the first batch that received Good Financial Housekeeping marks of the DILG and complied with measures on public financial management prescribed by the Department of Budget and Management.

              The program, which has a total budget of P19.43 billion, covers 1,373 LGUs.

              The list of LGUs, their corresponding projects and funding can be viewed on the DILG website.

 Gov Marcos extends assistance to OFWs

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Note – Gov. Imee R. Marcos in a visit at Saudi Arabia as part of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s delegation, extended help and assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East.

Some 61 % of families in Ilocos Norte are being supported by OFWs, making the province one of the highest dollar remittance recipients in the country. However cases regarding employer abuse and illegal recruitment have not been uncommon.

            “Maraming kuwento ng pangaabuso, kahirapan ng trabaho, di kaya ay niloko ng recruiter at hirap na dinadanas ang ating mga kababayan dito,” Marcos said.

             During her visit, she coordinated financial and legal assistance with Saudi Minister of Labor, Labor and Employment Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III, and Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz.

             Marcos also visited the Philippine Embassy in Middle East to address concerns of Ilocanos applying for amnesty.

             She also urged the authorities to expedite processes regarding the case of Ilocano OFW Mario Oriol of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, who has not received his salary for 11 months.

             Marcos said she supports President Duterte’s commitment in increasing OFW assistance with creation of a national agency addressing OFW cases and concerns. -- Ma. Christian A. Ramos

 PNP chief cites MP for being ‘drug-free’

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa cited the provincial government for attaining a drug – free status and called  for  partnership among constituents in maintaining peaceful and drug – free communities  in the province.

Dela Rosa was here during the recent celebration of Mountain Province’s 50th foundation day and 13th Lang-ay Festival.

             Mountain Province along with Cordillera provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao and Kalinga were all declared as drug – free provinces by the police regional office recently.

             “I am appealing to you since we already declared your province as drug - free; please help your PNP maintain it to be so. Let us not let illegal drugs return here,” he said.

              “This is our golden opportunity as a Filipino people to prove to the whole world na kaya nating umangat, kaya nating disiplinahin ang ating sarili at kaya nating talunin ang problema sa droga” (This is our golden opportunity as a Filipino people to prove to the whole world that we can move forward, we can discipline ourselves and we can beat the problem on illegal drugs), Dela Rosa said.

              He cited importance of partnership with communities and the people. Even as the fight against illegal drugs and crimes is gaining ground, much still needs to be done that require sincerity, commitment, patience, endurance in the face of odds and danger that go with it.

              De la Rosa was adopted son of Mountain Province and given the name “Moling” which means firm and solid.

Baguio courts to dispose old records

BAGUIO CITY – The Municipal Trial Courts in Cities here is asking litigants and lawyers who have cases long disposed for at least five years or more, to retrieve documents they may have submitted in evidence to prevent these from being included in the records that will undergo disposal process.

           MTCC Executive Judge Glenda Ortiz-Soriano made this appeal during  flag-raising ceremonies at city hall before officials and employees led by Rep. Mark Go, Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Vice Mayor Edison Bilog.

            “In the courts, apart from the norm of due process in everything that we do, in all our hearings and decisions, we are in the process of doing justice as well to the papers that we have accumulated all these years.  Papers of decisions, of evidence, of documents that have aged for more than their years must now be laid to rest,” she said.

            Soriano said their courtrooms are lined with old records that are facing disposal and requires a long and tedious process.

             “The retrieval of your documents will undergo a process that our offices – the Clerk of Court and respective MTCC branches – can help you with,” she said. – Gaby Keith

La Trinidad ups waste segregation campaign

LA TRINDAD, Benguet -- The local government of this strawberry- producing town urged residents to help in solid waste management. Mayor Romeo K. Salda said waste segregation starts at home urging the public to bring out their properly segregated trashes only on their scheduled day of collection.

             ‘I appeal to each and everyone to help keep our municipality clean with a healthy and green environment,” he said.

             The municipality collects 40 tons metric tons of mixed wastes daily. The local government had appropriated P10 million from the general fund for solid waste management program and another P14 million for the purchase of additional trucks for hauling garbage.

             Recently, barangays have upped their solid waste management campaign. In barangay Cruz, barangay workers and volunteers are early in designated collection areas checking on garbage being disposed by  residents if these are segregated properly.

               Tarpaulins of garbage collection schedules are also prominently displayed in garbage collection areas and other strategic locations. 

             Municipal Councilor Teddy Quintos, president of the Association of Barangay Councils, shared that in his barangay Ambiong, they segregate their waste while usage of plastic bags and other plastic materials within their barangay is prohibited.  The barangay has also a common composting area and demo garden for organic gardening.

Composting as an alternative option of waste management at the local level is encouraged, Quintos said.  -- PIA CAR

Mt Pulag guides elect officers; reminded on tourism role

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Tour guides and porters were told they have  vital role to play in promoting tourism with constant reminders of their functions, and  how they carry themselves  towards delivery of quality service  

            This was emphasized during the general assembly and election of officers of the Akiki Mt. Pulag Eco-Tour Guides and Porters Association (AMPEGPA).

            There is need to update them considering  addition of new members, said Emerita Albas, protected area superintendent of Mt. Pulag, Kabayan.

            Mt. Pulag, the third highest peak in the country, is frequently visited by adventurists, hikers, trekkers with five entry points,  each having organized group of guides and porters to assist visitors.

            Tourism Operations Officer Ely Carias said as frontliners who stay everyday in the tourist site, they are taught on personal hygiene and how to display a welcoming and good attitude.

            They are also taught basic life support, solid waste management, and basic bookkeeping for their association, among others.

            Albas said their job is not merely guiding but they should do this with passion, with a heart and a responsibility to the family, locality and to the park where they get their keep.

           She cited heir role in protecting the environment such as assisting in fire suppression, maintenance of cleanliness, reporting tree girdling activities among climbers, and monitoring land use change and forest cover.

           They should always be conscious that smoking is not only health hazard but may cause forest fire, and that they should never get involved in illegal activities, she said.

          Instilling in them the impact of their failure or blunder in their role as guides and porters would not only affect them individually but the reputation of the country as a whole, Albas said.

           Meanwhile, the officers of the AMPEGPA who were inducted into office are: President- Belino Butil; Vice President – Crispin Naisod; Secretary – Benedict Guzman; Treasurer – Josie Aguinse; Auditor – Enersa Abag; Press Relations Officer – Roda Bastian; Business Managers – Marso Pokias; Winford Beliano; Abelina Petil; and Sario Catumpang.

            In a related development, Benguet Provincial Tourism Officer Clarita Prudencio said briefings and trainings will be conducted for guide and porter groups to level up their knowledge and skills to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) standards with the impending regional economic integration.  -- PIA Benguet

 Mayor okays public design tilt for convention center

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan approved a city council resolution calling on design firms, architects, engineers, urban planners and even students to participate in open public design competition for the Baguio Convention Center.

           Councilor Maria Mylen Victoria Yaranon broached the idea in line with the city’s plan to rehabilitate the city-owned convention facility which was built in 1977 and is now fast deteriorating.

           “The rehabilitation of the structure is long overdue and its modernization can go hand in hand with the preservation of its historical and architectural significance.  A well-thought-out financial strategy and marketing plan is vital to secure its economic sustainability,” Yaranon said.

            She said a design competition open to the public will enable the city to select and award the most suitable proposal for upgrading the convention center.

             The competition will run for five months and the design criteria will be anchored on finding the best balance among “preservation, modernization and costs” to achieve the following results:

            “An increased public interest for the structure and its current condition; a public discussion about its current use and future function; a fair and transparent competition leading to a widely accepted result and a design proposal selected based on professional assessment as well as public opinion.”

             The winning design will be given priority consideration in the repair and rehabilitation of the convention facility.  – Aileen P. Refuerzo

Banaue folks urged: Join community activities

BANAUE, Ifugao -- Village folks in this tourist town were urged to always participate in community-led activities during barangay assemblies for important updates and information.

             “I am enjoining everyone to always attend the activities of your barangays so that you will know personally the situation of your place in terms of good governance and other information from other government agencies,” said Board Member Clemente Bongtiwon who recently graced the barangay assembly of Bocos, this town.

Bongtiwon said the barangay assembly is a venue for village officials and other government agencies to present accomplishments, programs and activities for information of the public to help them in decision making.

             With the theme “Sulong Barangay Kontra Droga, Krimen at Katiwalian: Makiaalam! Makilahok! Makiisa!”, the recent Barangay Assembly Day started with a contested ethnic parade and program at the barangay open court.

Representatives of the national government like the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Information Agency and Banaue Police Station also joined in the barangay assembly and conducted information advocacy. -- PIA Ifugao

 DILG trains Abra LGUs on rural monitoring system    

BANGUED, Abra – The Dept. of Interior and Local Government recently conducted among local government units training on “data banking”   in planning development programs and projects to ensure responsiveness of such programs to real needs and problems of communities and effectiveness of implementation.

             This was main goal of the training program on community-based monitoring system (CBMS) accelerated poverty profiling (APP) being conducted by the regional DILG for local government units in the province.

              Here, participants in CBMS training were local employees of the municipalities of Dolores, Malibcong, Penarrubia and Danglas. 

            The first module was orientation on how to use the gadgets and how to administer the survey questionnaires conducted at the Origines Hotel at Barangay Calaba.

 This was followed by actual data collection using the CBMS software dubbed as CBMS Scan.  The data collection is expected to be carried out in one month.

The questionnaire is set inside the CBMS Scan, the software being used in the survey. The CBMS scan fast-tracks data collection and processing by encoding data while interviewing the household respondents. The location of the household is taken at the same time by getting the GPS data using android tablets.

It also features security measures to maintain confidentiality of information while facilitating census management.

The participants are likewise taught on how to install and open the CBMS Scan including the menu of CBMS app and the registration of the mobile devices.

The training is an activity among the DILG’s Bureau of Local Government Development, CBMS International Network Coordinating Team, and the four local governments. The training team in Abra was headed by Rolando Gonzales of DILG-CAR.

Hike in stipend of day care workers proposed

 BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance increasing the monthly compensation of day care workers in the city for them to be able to cope with the continuous increase in the prices of basic commodities triggered by the uncontrollable oil prices in the world market.

              The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated the local legislative measure shall be known as an ordinance increasing the monthly compensation of the day care workers in the city and providing rules for other purposes.

 Under the proposed ordinance, Yangot underscored the subsidized day care workers of the city shall be deemed employees of the city and shall be paid their regular salaries under existing appropriations of the local government.

Yangot added the monthly salary of the subsidized day care workers should continuously increase from the original P4,000 to P8,000, hence, subsidized day care workers will be further entitled to benefits and allowances to which regular employees are entitled.

On the other hand, the monthly participation fee of the parents shall not exceed the amount of P20 per month which will be utilized exclusively for the purchase and procurement of teaching materials only.

Based on available records of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, there are already 79 day care workers in the city wherein 12 of whom are regular employees of the local government and they are receiving a salary of at least P14,000 each while the 67 others subsidized day care workers from the city wherein they are receiving P4,000 monthly stipend. -- Dexter A. See

DOST-Abra checks hydromet devices   

BANGUED, Abra-- The Department of Science and Technology personnel led by provincial head Menandro Buenafe are going around municipalities of the province where hydromet devices were installed to check if they are functioning properly and ready for disasters.

          There are four kinds of hydromet devices- the automated rain gauge (ARG), automated weather stations (AWS), water level monitoring station (WLMS), and tandem or combination of ARG and WLMS (TDM).

           They save human labor by automatically recording weather-related information. Engineer Ingemar Zarate said the  ARG measures volume of rainfall. ARGs installed in different sections of Abra River, and almost all 27 municipalities have an ARG. The data collected by the instruments warn of flooding.

           The AWS provides timely weather condition of a certain area in its coverage. The data generated from the AWS are directly monitored by the Weather Bureau of the government for ready and easy utilization.

           The WLMS, measures water level in a particular area where the device is installed. This serves as an immediate warning device for the local people for their appropriate action to prevent dangers of flooding.

           The TDM is more effective as it is a combination of the ARG and WLMS. But not all municipalities have been installed with this device.

           Zarate urged the people to take good care of these hydromet devices so  these could last longer for their own benefit in terms of safety in times of calamities. -- PIA Abra

BGHMC inaugurates Cancer Institute

BAGUIO CITY --  People of Northern Luzon  better  now have better access to quality health care with opening of new Cancer Institute of the  Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).   Health Secretary Paulyn Rosell - Ubial joined by DOH Undersecretary Herminigildo Valle, DOH- Cordillera Regional Director Lakshmi Legaspi and BGHMC Center Director Dr. Ricardo Runez Jr. launched the Cancer Institute building on Holy Tuesday.

                Runez, expressed BGHMC’s gratitude to the health department for the expansion and modernization program on the hospital's cancer detection and treatment department.

                He said with their experiences from many cancer patients they handle, this project is very timely and will help ensure accessible and equitable quality health care.

                BGHMC not only caters to patients from Baguio City and Cordillera but also to nearby provinces of Regions 1 and 2.  They serve around 1,500 cancer patients every year, Runez said.

Ubial, in her message, called for continuing partnership in boosting the country’s health care program envisioned  to cater to all.

            She said under the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte, the DOH’s major focus is war against illegal drugs, corruption and poverty and ill health.