TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Commission on Human Rights has filed murder charges against a junior Army officer in connection with last month’s killing of a farmer in Lasam, Cagayan.
Aside from the murder case, Lt. Johnny Calub, along with some of his men from the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion based in Alcala town, is also named in a petition for writ of amparo before the regional trial court in Ballesteros town for the disappearance of another Lasam farmer.
Maj. Gen. Melchor Dilodilo, chief of the Isabela-based Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said they would also investigate the incident, vowing they would sanction any of their men who are proven to be responsible.
Dilodilo said his command – which covers the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera regions – values and respects the rights of every individual.
Calub was tagged in the killing of farmer Romy Caguia in Barangay Sicalao, Lasam town and in the disappearance of one Jovito Domingo.
Domingo, together with three others, was abducted by armed men believed to be members of the 17th IB last Oct. 10. The incident resulted in Caguia’s killing.
The other three, identified as Marcos Academia, Randy Miguel and Johnny Alburot, were released after two days.
The CHR alleged that Calub’s group was also responsible for the disappearance of Pablito Costano, a member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit in the area, who reportedly witnessed the alleged Army atrocities.
Army officials, however, denied the allegations, saying they were efforts to find the missing farmer, who they believe was abducted by the New People’s Army. -- CL
Showing posts with label Cagayan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cagayan. Show all posts
Monday, November 17, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Drunk dad kills son; another man beheads daughter
ABULUG, Cagayan – Bothered by his conscience, a resident here gave himself up to authorities for shooting dead his own son while heavily drunk.
Police said Mario de Guzman, resident of Barangay Santa Filomena here also surrendered the Cal. 38 revolver he used in shooting his child, Angel, a Grade 4 student, in the shoulder.
De Guzman went into hiding for days until he turned himself in to barangay officials this week.
The incident came some three weeks after another father, Remegio Dacquigan, 52, of Pamplona town, beheaded his 12-year-old daughter.
Policemen fatally shot Dacquigan after he refused to give himself up and attacked them. He was said to be mentally ill.
Regional office police said the two cases were oddities but added liquor aggravates crime. – CL
‘Influential people’ behind illegal logging in Cagayan
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The provincial government is set to form a multi-agency task force aimed to end the age-old problem of illegal logging, which reportedly had gone worse, even invading a national government protected forest areas here.
Gov. Alvaro Antonio Thursday tagged those behind the rampant illegal cutting of trees here as “influential top-level people.”
Antonio said he expects to finalize the composition of the anti-illegal logging task force soon to show to those behind the raping of the environment that “we mean business.”
“Hopefully, the (task force), which will be deputized and tasked to enforce the laws protecting our environment, especially our forest lands, would already be in place (soon),” he said.
The creation of the said task force came in the wake of reported unabated illegal cutting of trees, including within the foreign-assisted Peñablanca National Park and other government protected forest areas here.
Only recently, authorities had intercepted more than 15,000 board feet of common hardwood like molave, tindalo and narra in Pamplona, Peñablanca, Solana and Lallo towns, bolstering reports that timber poaching was very much active in the province.
The provincial board led by Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto came out with a proposed ordinance prohibiting the transport of lumber products during night time.
Earlier, environment officials said they were having a hard time securing the province’s remaining 110-hectare of forestlands, including Cagayan’s Sierra Madre Mountains from timber poachers with only 14 government forest rangers.
Antonio said that most people in the province know who are those involved in the illegal activity as belonging to the so-called “influential top-level people.”
“These people belong to the top (echelon) of society and it is our plan to talk to them,” he said, adding however, that this would be more in the manner of warning them to stop their illegal activities.
ABULUG, Cagayan – Bothered by his conscience, a resident here gave himself up to authorities for shooting dead his own son while heavily drunk.
Police said Mario de Guzman, resident of Barangay Santa Filomena here also surrendered the Cal. 38 revolver he used in shooting his child, Angel, a Grade 4 student, in the shoulder.
De Guzman went into hiding for days until he turned himself in to barangay officials this week.
The incident came some three weeks after another father, Remegio Dacquigan, 52, of Pamplona town, beheaded his 12-year-old daughter.
Policemen fatally shot Dacquigan after he refused to give himself up and attacked them. He was said to be mentally ill.
Regional office police said the two cases were oddities but added liquor aggravates crime. – CL
‘Influential people’ behind illegal logging in Cagayan
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The provincial government is set to form a multi-agency task force aimed to end the age-old problem of illegal logging, which reportedly had gone worse, even invading a national government protected forest areas here.
Gov. Alvaro Antonio Thursday tagged those behind the rampant illegal cutting of trees here as “influential top-level people.”
Antonio said he expects to finalize the composition of the anti-illegal logging task force soon to show to those behind the raping of the environment that “we mean business.”
“Hopefully, the (task force), which will be deputized and tasked to enforce the laws protecting our environment, especially our forest lands, would already be in place (soon),” he said.
The creation of the said task force came in the wake of reported unabated illegal cutting of trees, including within the foreign-assisted Peñablanca National Park and other government protected forest areas here.
Only recently, authorities had intercepted more than 15,000 board feet of common hardwood like molave, tindalo and narra in Pamplona, Peñablanca, Solana and Lallo towns, bolstering reports that timber poaching was very much active in the province.
The provincial board led by Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto came out with a proposed ordinance prohibiting the transport of lumber products during night time.
Earlier, environment officials said they were having a hard time securing the province’s remaining 110-hectare of forestlands, including Cagayan’s Sierra Madre Mountains from timber poachers with only 14 government forest rangers.
Antonio said that most people in the province know who are those involved in the illegal activity as belonging to the so-called “influential top-level people.”
“These people belong to the top (echelon) of society and it is our plan to talk to them,” he said, adding however, that this would be more in the manner of warning them to stop their illegal activities.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Despite TRO extension, ban stays on used car imports at Port Irene in effect
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Unless a new management directive is issued, the ban on the entry and registration of second-hand foreign vehicles at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority here remains in effect despite a court action against the ban.
Engineer Julian Gonzales, operations manager of the CEZA-managed Port Irene, said they still have to wait for the issuance of a new order from CEZA higher-ups lifting an earlier directive banning the issuance of gate passes for the entry to and exit of used foreign cars from the freeport.
“Without a gate pass, any car imported into CEZA cannot be registered or allowed to be brought out of the port,” said Gonzales, also the port’s principal engineer.
Gonzales said the directive of CEZA administrator Jose Mari Ponce banning the importation of used cars into the freeport based in Sta. Ana town, remains in effect despite the 17-day temporary restraining order (TRO) the court issued the other day against the CEZA order.
Aparri Regional Trial Court Judge Rolando Velasco granted the petition of the Association of Rebuilding Industries of Cagayan (ARIC) for an extension of the 72-hour TRO he earlier had issued against the ban.
Ponce’s order complied with a Malacañang directive enjoining all ports in the country, including CEZA, to enforce President Arroyo’s Executive Order 156, which bans the importation of used foreign cars.
Jimmy Vicente, ARIC president, said the court heeded their argument that a halt to used vehicle imports would cause “severe and irreparable damage” to the livelihood of thousands of people benefiting from the industry.
ARIC members questioned the implementation of EO 156, arguing that CEZA was not included in the used car import ban, as there was no such trade at the port when it was issued.
With the TRO extension, Vicente said they would now go to the next level ‑ question the constitutionality of EO 156.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales earlier called for the enforcement of EO 156 in all ports in the country after the Office of the Solicitor General upheld its legality.
“I understand that the car importers are naturally jubilant about this TRO extension, but I personally think it is still premature for them to celebrate since we will not lift the ban until all the legal questions are resolved or when another order (from the CEZA administrator) lifting the ban has been issued to us,” Gonzales said.
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Unless a new management directive is issued, the ban on the entry and registration of second-hand foreign vehicles at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority here remains in effect despite a court action against the ban.
Engineer Julian Gonzales, operations manager of the CEZA-managed Port Irene, said they still have to wait for the issuance of a new order from CEZA higher-ups lifting an earlier directive banning the issuance of gate passes for the entry to and exit of used foreign cars from the freeport.
“Without a gate pass, any car imported into CEZA cannot be registered or allowed to be brought out of the port,” said Gonzales, also the port’s principal engineer.
Gonzales said the directive of CEZA administrator Jose Mari Ponce banning the importation of used cars into the freeport based in Sta. Ana town, remains in effect despite the 17-day temporary restraining order (TRO) the court issued the other day against the CEZA order.
Aparri Regional Trial Court Judge Rolando Velasco granted the petition of the Association of Rebuilding Industries of Cagayan (ARIC) for an extension of the 72-hour TRO he earlier had issued against the ban.
Ponce’s order complied with a Malacañang directive enjoining all ports in the country, including CEZA, to enforce President Arroyo’s Executive Order 156, which bans the importation of used foreign cars.
Jimmy Vicente, ARIC president, said the court heeded their argument that a halt to used vehicle imports would cause “severe and irreparable damage” to the livelihood of thousands of people benefiting from the industry.
ARIC members questioned the implementation of EO 156, arguing that CEZA was not included in the used car import ban, as there was no such trade at the port when it was issued.
With the TRO extension, Vicente said they would now go to the next level ‑ question the constitutionality of EO 156.
Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales earlier called for the enforcement of EO 156 in all ports in the country after the Office of the Solicitor General upheld its legality.
“I understand that the car importers are naturally jubilant about this TRO extension, but I personally think it is still premature for them to celebrate since we will not lift the ban until all the legal questions are resolved or when another order (from the CEZA administrator) lifting the ban has been issued to us,” Gonzales said.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Flash floods threaten 60 Cagayan Valley villages
TUGUEGARAO CITY – At least 60 villages in Cagayan Valley are in danger of being wiped out by flash floods if no preventive measures, which would cost the government at least P3 billion, would be undertaken soonest. According to a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, these flood-prone areas are all situated along the Cagayan River system, which stretches from Nueva Vizcaya’s mighty Magat River to the mouth of Cagayan River in Aparri, Cagayan.
The study cited need for massive construction of riverbank and flood control protection structures along Cagayan River and its tributaries to save the critical areas from being ravaged, if not totally wiped out from the country’s map.
But of the identified flood-prone areas in the region, the Department of Public Works and Highways said it is only capable of constructing riverbank and flood protection structures for eight towns and villages based on its present budget. “These are only the areas that can be covered by phase 1 of the program, wherein we have to construct dikes, revetment walls and other structures to protect the identified areas,” said engineer Eugenio Pipo, DPWH-Cagayan Valley director.
Pipo said the areas included in the first phase of the so-called Cagayan River Flood Control Project are Enrile, Cagayan; two sections in Roxas, Isabela; Cauayan City and Angadanan in Isabela; and several towns in Nueva Vizcaya.
At least P3 billion is needed to fully protect the critical areas along the Cagayan River, according to the JICA study.
Other flood-prone areas in the region are the towns of Solano, Bayombong, Bagabag and Bambang in Nueva Vizcaya; the northern towns of Isabela, including its capital town of Ilagan; and the downstream towns and southwestern part of Cagayan province.
Some of these identified areas are below sea level, making them natural catch basins of floodwater.
Aggravating the problem is the siltation of major rivers as a result of the 1990 earthquake and the continued denudation of forests in the region. -- CL
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Cagayan quarrying operations threaten RP’s most costly fish
TUGUEGARAO CITY – The rampant quarry operations along the mouth of the Cagayan river in this country’s northernmost Cagayan province threaten the existence of several fish species, including one of the country’s most expensive fish.
The government’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources expressed fear that if the quarry activities continue unabated, this might spell the doom of the already critically endangered ludong, considered to be a rich man’s delicacy, and other species endemic to the area such as the unnok (Delillia sp.) and the cabibi (Batissa violacea) due to the disturbance on their habitat.
BFAR said that the quarry operations might destroy the spawning patterns and migratory route of the ludong, probably one of Asia’s most delectable fish, which at latest spawning run sold for at P3,500 to P5,000 per kilo.
“Besides this threatening environmental tragedy, the indiscriminate quarry operations along the river, specially near its mouth, also pose risks to agriculture due to possible salt-water intrusion,” said Dr. Jovita Ayson, BFAR director for Cagayan Valley.
The ongoing sand quarrying activities, which has affected the northern coastal towns here, such as Camalaniugan, Lallo and Aparri, have been opposed by Church authorities for quite some time now owing to their negative environmental impact.
The apprehension of the Church and environmentalists here was bolstered by findings from BFAR experts, which show the quarry project affects the habitat of benthic organisms dwelling on the river bottom, like unnok and cabibi.
Further, even if an environmental compliance certificate had been issued for the quarrying activity, their proponents, reportedly financed by foreign nationals such as Chinese and Indonesian groups, have apparently failed to comply with additional requirements for them to engage in quarrying within the Cagayan river here whose silt is sold at a higher price than from inland sand.
Besides the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which issues the ECC, the proponent of the quarrying activity should also have obtained permits from other government agencies like BFAR, Departments of Labor and Employment, Health, and Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Coast Guard. -- CL
TUGUEGARAO CITY – The rampant quarry operations along the mouth of the Cagayan river in this country’s northernmost Cagayan province threaten the existence of several fish species, including one of the country’s most expensive fish.
The government’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources expressed fear that if the quarry activities continue unabated, this might spell the doom of the already critically endangered ludong, considered to be a rich man’s delicacy, and other species endemic to the area such as the unnok (Delillia sp.) and the cabibi (Batissa violacea) due to the disturbance on their habitat.
BFAR said that the quarry operations might destroy the spawning patterns and migratory route of the ludong, probably one of Asia’s most delectable fish, which at latest spawning run sold for at P3,500 to P5,000 per kilo.
“Besides this threatening environmental tragedy, the indiscriminate quarry operations along the river, specially near its mouth, also pose risks to agriculture due to possible salt-water intrusion,” said Dr. Jovita Ayson, BFAR director for Cagayan Valley.
The ongoing sand quarrying activities, which has affected the northern coastal towns here, such as Camalaniugan, Lallo and Aparri, have been opposed by Church authorities for quite some time now owing to their negative environmental impact.
The apprehension of the Church and environmentalists here was bolstered by findings from BFAR experts, which show the quarry project affects the habitat of benthic organisms dwelling on the river bottom, like unnok and cabibi.
Further, even if an environmental compliance certificate had been issued for the quarrying activity, their proponents, reportedly financed by foreign nationals such as Chinese and Indonesian groups, have apparently failed to comply with additional requirements for them to engage in quarrying within the Cagayan river here whose silt is sold at a higher price than from inland sand.
Besides the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which issues the ECC, the proponent of the quarrying activity should also have obtained permits from other government agencies like BFAR, Departments of Labor and Employment, Health, and Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Coast Guard. -- CL
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Task force formed to nab overloaded Cagayan trucks
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Regional authorities have formed a task force that will go after overloaded trucks to make paved roads last longer.
Eugenio Pipo Jr., Region II director of the Department of Public Works and Highways said the crackdown was in compliance with a directive of Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for the strict enforcement of Republic Act No. 8794 or the Anti-Overloading Law.
The task force, which will operate even on weekends and holidays, is composed of personnel of the DPWH, Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police.
"The rapid deterioration of our national roads is costing the government billions of pesos annually, and that’s why there is a need for the concerned agencies to apprehend vehicles violating the law on load limit," Ebdane said.
Pipo said that DPWH and its partner agencies are now apprehending overloaded trucks on Maharlika Highway in Cagayan, Isabela. and Nueva Vizcaya. The Region 2 DPWH office signed recently a memorandum of agreement with the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police and concerned local government units on the strict enforcement of the law prohibiting overloaded trucks from passing through major roads.
"Because our region is one of the food baskets of the country, most of the truckers are maximizing the loads of their trucks to save on transport cost, but this is causing the fast deterioration of roads," Pipo said. "Their cargoes should not exceed the per-axle load limit."
As one of the country’s major source of food supplies such as vegetables, rice, and corn, the upkeep of the highway traversing Cagayan Valley is important in the efforts to stabilize prices of goods coming from the region, he said.
In Nueva Vizcaya, police director Senior Supt. Pedro Danguilan said, the Highway Patrol Group is in close coordination with municipal police units and the highways and transportation offices in the enforcement of the law on load limit.
"We are active in the implementation of this directive, but we are asking the help of the citizens, particularly businessmen, who will be affected by unstable prices of their produce due to damaged roads," Danguilan said.
He said that communications lines of the police provincial office are always open to those who are willing to share information on the matter. -- BC
Illegal sand quarrying unabated in Cagayan
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Despite protest from the local Catholic Church and lack of permits, illegal sand quarrying continues along the Cagayan River, threatening to cause floods and affect irrigation due to the flow of sea water into the river.
The quarrying operations, reportedly financed by Chinese groups, go on unabated in the northern coastal towns in Cagayan up to the mouth of Cagayan River. Fr. Rex Singson, of Camalaniugan town, said the illegal activities, if not stopped, would eventually destroy thousands of hectares of farmlands and irrigation systems, especially those near the mouth of Cagayan River.
“We earlier had made formal complaints with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) on this matter but to no avail, since the contractors have not heeded our complaints,” Singson lamented.
Fr. Manny Catral, of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, echoed Singson’s fears, saying the continued quarrying could lead to the submerging of some villages in the northern coastal areas.
“What if the silt has become so deep, what if water from the sea will flow back and saltwater will begin to stream down, what will happen to our farms?” he asked.
Local contractors are reportedly being financed by Chinese groups to quarry sand from the Cagayan River delta because of its much higher value than inland sand. Lawyer Gil Aromin,
regional director of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, said the quarrying operators do not have any environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the government.
“Since this a violation of the law, we will be constrained to issue a cease and desist order against (them),” Aromin said.
But the church officials lamented the DENR’s alleged inability to stop the quarry operations despite being aware that they lack permits.
“I have seen it with my own eyes and we have already voiced out our complaints to the DENR but to no avail,” said Singson. -- CL
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
PNP denies coddling cop tagged in illegal logging
By Armand Tamaray
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Philippine National Police here denied it is coddling one of its men linked in last week’s illegal shipment of narra lumber, wherein his eight alleged cohorts, are now detained by authorities for illegal logging charges.
Provincial police director Senior Supt. Jude Santos said PO3 Richard Aguijo has been under their custody since his name was linked to the illegal transport of the more than P100,000 worth of forest products, stressing that they are neither hiding nor coddling him.
“In fact, the suspect cop is also facing investigation from our office to determine if he is involved or not in the illegal activity,” he said.
Aguijo, assigned with the 203rd Police Provincial Mobile Group here, was allegedly escorting the truck carrying the illegally-cut lumber using a motorcycle when they were accosted by operatives and village officials in Solana town.
But Santos said Aguijo, who was included in the illegal logging complaint filed by environment personnel here, along with eight others, had executed an affidavit belying his involvement in the case.
Based on initial accounts, Santos said that Aguijo only rushed to the area where the truck was flagged down after learning that one of those involved in the narra shipment was the suspect’s own brother.
Earlier, an Environment officer claimed Aguijo escaped while the lumber owners and truck employees were being interrogated at a checkpoint set up by environment operatives and local officials led by Tuao town mayor William Mamba.
“He (Aguijo) was able to escape (during the operation). He also suddenly disappeared during the preliminary investigation, that’s why we were not able to submit him for inquest,” said forester Andres Guiquing of the community environment and natural resources office based in Solana.
Besides the policeman, the eight others facing charges for alleged violation of PD 705 or the Anti-Illegal Logging Law were identified as Conchita Domingo, Nenita Leonilo, both of Baggao town, and councilman Benjamin Esloban of Aparri town, the contraband’s alleged owners; and Cristobal Galuno, the alleged truck driver; and his helpers, Villamor dela Cruz, Cris Aguijo and Ferdinand Tagao, all now under the custody of the authorities.
Environment officials failed to formally submit the suspect cop for inquest proceedings earlier this week for his alleged refusal to submit himself during the preliminary investigation conducted by the local environment office.
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – The Philippine National Police here denied it is coddling one of its men linked in last week’s illegal shipment of narra lumber, wherein his eight alleged cohorts, are now detained by authorities for illegal logging charges.
Provincial police director Senior Supt. Jude Santos said PO3 Richard Aguijo has been under their custody since his name was linked to the illegal transport of the more than P100,000 worth of forest products, stressing that they are neither hiding nor coddling him.
“In fact, the suspect cop is also facing investigation from our office to determine if he is involved or not in the illegal activity,” he said.
Aguijo, assigned with the 203rd Police Provincial Mobile Group here, was allegedly escorting the truck carrying the illegally-cut lumber using a motorcycle when they were accosted by operatives and village officials in Solana town.
But Santos said Aguijo, who was included in the illegal logging complaint filed by environment personnel here, along with eight others, had executed an affidavit belying his involvement in the case.
Based on initial accounts, Santos said that Aguijo only rushed to the area where the truck was flagged down after learning that one of those involved in the narra shipment was the suspect’s own brother.
Earlier, an Environment officer claimed Aguijo escaped while the lumber owners and truck employees were being interrogated at a checkpoint set up by environment operatives and local officials led by Tuao town mayor William Mamba.
“He (Aguijo) was able to escape (during the operation). He also suddenly disappeared during the preliminary investigation, that’s why we were not able to submit him for inquest,” said forester Andres Guiquing of the community environment and natural resources office based in Solana.
Besides the policeman, the eight others facing charges for alleged violation of PD 705 or the Anti-Illegal Logging Law were identified as Conchita Domingo, Nenita Leonilo, both of Baggao town, and councilman Benjamin Esloban of Aparri town, the contraband’s alleged owners; and Cristobal Galuno, the alleged truck driver; and his helpers, Villamor dela Cruz, Cris Aguijo and Ferdinand Tagao, all now under the custody of the authorities.
Environment officials failed to formally submit the suspect cop for inquest proceedings earlier this week for his alleged refusal to submit himself during the preliminary investigation conducted by the local environment office.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Graft suit filed vs Cagayan mayor
GONZAGA, Cagayan -- Graft and other charges were filed against the mayor and three other officials of this town before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged harassment of a developer and workers of a quarrying project in their town.
Municipal Mayor Rosendo Abad, health officer Dr. Louie Sanico, planning and development officer Emy Bucaneg and Sangguniang Bayan member Renee Salvanera, were accused of violating R.A. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and R.A. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act) after they supposedly forcibly destroyed fences and other properties at the quarrying site
of Unimasters Conglomeration Inc. in Barangay Pateng in March.
The respondents were also charged of the crimes of grave coercion and malicious mischief for allegedly threatening workers in the project to abandon their jobs.
In his eight-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman office for Luzon, UCI owner Wilson Chan also sought administrative sanctions for the municipal officials for what he described as “abuse of authority, oppression, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service.”
Chan said the mayor and other officials led protesters in forcibly destroying the fence of their quarrying site on March 6 even if UCI was holding necessary business and environmental permits from the national government.
“Mayor Abad and the other officials led protesters in destroying our fence. Barb wires and posts were uprooted and then thrown into the river along with spades, hoes and crowbars forcibly confiscated from workers. They even tried to destroy our equipment but police stopped them,” the complainant stated in his complaint, a copy of which was obtained.
Chan said the mayor also even threatened operators in the project to vacate the site immediately “or something would happen to them on the night of that day.”
Chan said they were prompted to seek assistance from the provincial command of the Philippine National Police because of that threat from Abad.
But the alleged harassment did not end there. The complainant claimed that the mayor even met with the workers one by one in their houses on March 9 and convinced them not to report to work anymore.
The UCI owner believes it was clear harassment and sabotage from the mayor to force them to abandon their quarrying operations near the Wangag River.
Abad has been supportive of protests from the Save Wangag River Movement and concerned residents against the quarrying operations of UCI. In fact, he met with Chan in February and raised environmental concerns of the groups.
Chan said he explained to the mayor that they have necessary quarry permit from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as well as environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. -- EP
Municipal Mayor Rosendo Abad, health officer Dr. Louie Sanico, planning and development officer Emy Bucaneg and Sangguniang Bayan member Renee Salvanera, were accused of violating R.A. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and R.A. 7942 (Philippine Mining Act) after they supposedly forcibly destroyed fences and other properties at the quarrying site
of Unimasters Conglomeration Inc. in Barangay Pateng in March.
The respondents were also charged of the crimes of grave coercion and malicious mischief for allegedly threatening workers in the project to abandon their jobs.
In his eight-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman office for Luzon, UCI owner Wilson Chan also sought administrative sanctions for the municipal officials for what he described as “abuse of authority, oppression, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service.”
Chan said the mayor and other officials led protesters in forcibly destroying the fence of their quarrying site on March 6 even if UCI was holding necessary business and environmental permits from the national government.
“Mayor Abad and the other officials led protesters in destroying our fence. Barb wires and posts were uprooted and then thrown into the river along with spades, hoes and crowbars forcibly confiscated from workers. They even tried to destroy our equipment but police stopped them,” the complainant stated in his complaint, a copy of which was obtained.
Chan said the mayor also even threatened operators in the project to vacate the site immediately “or something would happen to them on the night of that day.”
Chan said they were prompted to seek assistance from the provincial command of the Philippine National Police because of that threat from Abad.
But the alleged harassment did not end there. The complainant claimed that the mayor even met with the workers one by one in their houses on March 9 and convinced them not to report to work anymore.
The UCI owner believes it was clear harassment and sabotage from the mayor to force them to abandon their quarrying operations near the Wangag River.
Abad has been supportive of protests from the Save Wangag River Movement and concerned residents against the quarrying operations of UCI. In fact, he met with Chan in February and raised environmental concerns of the groups.
Chan said he explained to the mayor that they have necessary quarry permit from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau as well as environmental clearance certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. -- EP
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Cagayan declared in state of calamity dueto storm devastation
By Armand Tamaray
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Cagayan province has been placed under a state of calamity owing to crop and infrastructure damages caused by Typhoon Karen which lashed through Northern Luzon.
In a resolution, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in a special session last week called for by Gov. Alvaro Antonio for the purpose, declared a state of calamity throughout the province, noting massive devastation to life and property incurred by the typhoon.
“Damages to crops, livestock and property overwhelmingly compels a declaration of the entire province under a state of calamity to give way to immediate implementation of emergency measures and normalization procedures,” said the resolution dated Aug. 26.
Also, in the same resolution, the provincial board led by Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto approved the release of the province’s five percent calamity fund or an equivalent to P20 million for the implementation of emergency and relief schemes with priority efforts to be given to agriculture and social welfare.
The provincial disaster and calamity council said that the province lost at least P165 million worth of damage caused by the recent typhoon, of which 90 percent or around P164 million being damaged to agriculture, especially rice, corn, fishery and livestock.
Among the worst-hit areas were the province’s northern coastal towns where the eye of the typhoon passed through, which also claimed the lives of two residents in Santa Ana town as well as displaced more than 300 families in at least five towns here.
Buguey Mayor Ignacio Taruc said with the extent of damage to agriculture in his town, farmers would not be able to recover without outside assistance.
Search on for 8 missing boat passengers off Cagayan coast
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Search and rescue missions have been intensified to recover eight passengers who went missing off Cagayan waters while on board motorized bancas during the height of Typhoon Karen.
Reports said Coast Guard-Maritime police search and rescue personnel continued their search on the missing persons whose boats reportedly sank off the Calayan group of islands in this northernmost province where the eye of the recent typhoon passed through on Aug. 20.
Authorities identified the missing persons as Dennis Caraybe, Teofilo Capiz, Christopher Irece, Dexter Calapini and Ernie Payas, the boat captain of MV Saint Joseph which sank off Barangay Balatubat, Calayan town; and Nelson Bumgat, Alfredo Bumagat and Gil Manalo.
M/BCA Perpetual Help, also capsized off Barangay Camiguin in the same island town.
Authorities said they were still confirming information about another motorized boat registered as M/V AAA that also reportedy drifted in the same vicinity last week.
It was not known how many persons were on board the said boat.
The passenger-cum-fishing boats, one of them reportedly loaded with bags of copra and iron scrap, sailed at sea to ferry passengers and goods amid the stormy weather.
Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said their commandant, Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, ordered additional deployment of search and rescue teams to help recover the missing persons. -- CL
By Armand Tamaray
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Cagayan province has been placed under a state of calamity owing to crop and infrastructure damages caused by Typhoon Karen which lashed through Northern Luzon.
In a resolution, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in a special session last week called for by Gov. Alvaro Antonio for the purpose, declared a state of calamity throughout the province, noting massive devastation to life and property incurred by the typhoon.
“Damages to crops, livestock and property overwhelmingly compels a declaration of the entire province under a state of calamity to give way to immediate implementation of emergency measures and normalization procedures,” said the resolution dated Aug. 26.
Also, in the same resolution, the provincial board led by Vice Gov. Leonides Fausto approved the release of the province’s five percent calamity fund or an equivalent to P20 million for the implementation of emergency and relief schemes with priority efforts to be given to agriculture and social welfare.
The provincial disaster and calamity council said that the province lost at least P165 million worth of damage caused by the recent typhoon, of which 90 percent or around P164 million being damaged to agriculture, especially rice, corn, fishery and livestock.
Among the worst-hit areas were the province’s northern coastal towns where the eye of the typhoon passed through, which also claimed the lives of two residents in Santa Ana town as well as displaced more than 300 families in at least five towns here.
Buguey Mayor Ignacio Taruc said with the extent of damage to agriculture in his town, farmers would not be able to recover without outside assistance.
Search on for 8 missing boat passengers off Cagayan coast
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Search and rescue missions have been intensified to recover eight passengers who went missing off Cagayan waters while on board motorized bancas during the height of Typhoon Karen.
Reports said Coast Guard-Maritime police search and rescue personnel continued their search on the missing persons whose boats reportedly sank off the Calayan group of islands in this northernmost province where the eye of the recent typhoon passed through on Aug. 20.
Authorities identified the missing persons as Dennis Caraybe, Teofilo Capiz, Christopher Irece, Dexter Calapini and Ernie Payas, the boat captain of MV Saint Joseph which sank off Barangay Balatubat, Calayan town; and Nelson Bumgat, Alfredo Bumagat and Gil Manalo.
M/BCA Perpetual Help, also capsized off Barangay Camiguin in the same island town.
Authorities said they were still confirming information about another motorized boat registered as M/V AAA that also reportedy drifted in the same vicinity last week.
It was not known how many persons were on board the said boat.
The passenger-cum-fishing boats, one of them reportedly loaded with bags of copra and iron scrap, sailed at sea to ferry passengers and goods amid the stormy weather.
Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said their commandant, Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, ordered additional deployment of search and rescue teams to help recover the missing persons. -- CL
Sunday, August 17, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Cagayan tops rabies cases in Region 2
By Armand Tamaray
TUGUEGARAO CITY – Already at risk by outbreaks of dengue and other mosquito and water-borne illnesses, this country’s northernmost Cagayan province is also being plagued with rising rabies cases
Based on reports, at least 3,000 residents have already been affected with rabies since last year.
Of these, 11 persons have succumbed to it, the latest being 65-year-old Elena Palattao of Rizal town, making this province the region’s topmost in rabies cases.
As a result, the provincial health office here is now running out of supply of vaccines for rabies patients.
“We are trying to give even the first dose of anti-rabies vaccines to patients but even this, we could no longer afford to provide as our present budget is no longer enough, more so to complete the needed dosage,” said Dr. Danilo Alonzo, provincial health officer.
Rabies is a deadly viral disease which is spread through the bite of infected animals, mostly dogs, wherein infected people show various symptoms like hydrophobia, fear of bright lights and unstable actuations.
Alonzo said even the provincial government could now hardly afford to provide rabies patients with the first dose of anti-rabies vaccines for free as funds allotted this year for the procurement of said vaccines were already exhausted.
RP’s second windmill project set in Cagayan
By Armand Tamaray
TUGUEGARAO CITY – The Arroyo administration is also set to put up here the country’s second windmill project after announcing plans to build a P5-billion international airport in this northernmost province.
President Arroyo disclosed the plan to construct a multimillion-peso windmill along Cagayan’s northern coastline during the first regional peace and security assembly recently held here.
The President earlier also announced government plans to establish call centers at the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, now being strengthened as North-Luzon’s economic and tourism hub, and the continued rehabilitation of the Bagabag airport in Nueva Vizcaya, the threshold to Cagayan Valley.
The region also covers Isabela, the country’s topmost corn and rice-producing province, Quirino and the island province of Batanes.
The country’s first windmill project, which generates energy from wind, is located in Bangui, Ilocos Norte. It is a joint project of the Dutch and Philippine governments.
Globally, wind power generation has increased more than fivefold in the last seven years.
“Along with other projects being readied for this region is the construction of a windmill, which is part of our efforts to further develop the region’s capacity as the country’s food basket,” the President said.
She said the windmill project is also in line with the government’s thrust to increase the use of renewable fuels and save dollars from the importation of petroleum products.
Experts have recommended wind power as a cheap and renewable energy source. It is now one of the major sources of electricity in most developed countries such as Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Ireland.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Navymen abort lumber smuggling in Cagayan
STA. ANA, Cagayan – An attempt to smuggle cut lumber via this town was recently thwarted by Philippine Navy operatives off the town’s coast. Naval operatives of the San Vicente Naval Operations Base seized 600 board feet of lumber which lacked proper documents loaded in a motorboat bound to an unknown destination.
Residents said this proved that not only are luxury cars had been entering illegally through its ports but also precious lumber.
Major General Isagani Cachuela, commander of the Northern Luzon Command from where the Naval Forces North Luzon under Commodore Jose Alano take their orders said, naval soldiers spotted the suspicious “banca” midnight of July 18 passing by approximately 300 yards.
The authorities signaled for the vehicle to come closer for a search. Discovered from the boat were sawn good lumber of assorted sizes without proper documents.
The boats’s crew was named by Cachuela as Jessie Quindica, 40, the boat owner; Sammy Abanujat, 28, and Mark Bagasin, 26; all from Barangay Patunungan, Centro, also in Sta. Ana town.
Although all were released after investigation, the motorboat and illegal logs were kept for custody at the San Vicente Naval Operations Base. – CL
Sunday, July 20, 2008
‘Helen’ kills 2, displaces 19,000 in Northern Luzon
By Jerry Padilla and Armand Tamaray
Tropical storm "Helen" left two people dead and displaced more than 19,000 people in the Ilocos and Cagayan Valley regions, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported July 17.
NDCC Executive Director Anthony Golez identified the first casualty as 20-year-old Jonathan Dulay Saliming, who fell into a deep ravine at 9 a.m. while he was driving a dump truck along Balabag Road in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Office of the Civil Defense officials in the Cordillera said Saliming, who was on his way to Talubin from Barlig town, was trying to clean his truck’s windshield when he lost control of the steering wheel and fell off the road.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Ilocos Norte said a man was killed from snake bite while he was tending to his cow in Pasil, Paoay, Ilocos Norte Wednesday afternoon.
DSWD Ilocos Norte official Amelia Rico said 22-year-old Alex Lacamento ventured to the flooded fields near his home to save his cow at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday when an undetermined type of snake bit him.
Lacamento was taken to the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital in Batac City, where he died from his wound.
As of 12 noon July 17, the NDCC said that Helen adversely affected 4,606 families or a total of 19,150 persons in 82 villages in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan due to flooding.
Helen damaged R45,000 worth of livestock and agriculture in the municipality of Sta. Teresita, Cagayan.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
BFAR to revive lobster, sea urchin industry in Cagayan coastal towns
TUGUEGARAO CITY – After its tilapia production has made headway, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is now into reviving two high-value aquatic resources, whose supply has been depleted due to destructive fishing practices. The rolling waves of a beach at Barangay Taggat in Cagayan’s northernmost Claveria town served as venue for the BFAR here in providing a local fisher’s association with the needed technology to help them again propagate sea urchin (Tripneustes gratilla) and lobster, both high-value delicacies.
Also both highly priced favorites at fancy restaurants, the two are expected to make a comeback as the BFAR regional office awarded to the local fishers association here stock enhancement technology and culture medium intended to propagate both species.
“The booming recreation and tourism industry at the Cagayan Economic Zone at Santa Ana is a potential market for both sea urchin and lobster,” said Dr. Jovita Ayson, BFAR director for Cagayan Valley.
According to the Fisheries bureau, sea urchin, locally known as maritangtang, were once abundant in the area. But their populations started to dwindle due to indiscriminate gathering in the 1990s.
In order to jumpstart the natural regeneration of sea urchins, the agency in collaboration with the local government unit, awarded five pieces of half-cubic-meter cages with bamboo frame and plastic screen as culture medium for the said sea urchins, and stocked with 3,000 juveniles.
BFAR said the initial stock had come from produce of a similar project at Santa Ana, another coastal town here known for its delectable marine resources. For lobster production, meanwhile, the project uses a similar structure, but larger cage, with feed usually being trash fish and seaweeds.
Although still being gathered in the region, lobster is already rare, as most lobster produce is sent to the metropolis. Likewise, the stock of sea urchins will be fed with seaweeds (Sargassum) present in the area, until they are ready for harvest, which is within six to eight months.
The culture area for sea urchins doubles as mini-reproductive reserves are known as ‘free spawners,’ said Dr. Evelyn Ame, BFAR research head here. This means fertilization occurs in the water where eggs and sperm are released. Additionally, the lobster cage, will serve as temporary shelter for gravid or egg-bearing females to enable them to release their eggs in safety. “This will ensure regeneration (of species),” Ame said, since the fishermen will no longer harvest the pregnant females. – CL
Monday, April 7, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Four-day Northern Luzon environment caravan held
TUGUEGARAO CITY – North Luzon’s own version of people’s caravan for the environment kicked off Tuesday in Cagayan’s northernmost town and ended in Pampanga following a number of stopovers for environment-related fora along the way.
The four-day 500-km North Luzon leg of the motorcade, dubbed Lakbay Para sa Kalikasan para sa Buhay at Kinabukasan” was part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – led 18-day nationwide caravan leading to the world’s Earth Day celebration on April 22 with the country’s theme for this year “Tubig ay Buhay - Ating Pagyamanin at Linisin.”
DENR Cagayan Valley Director Clarence Baguilat said the region’s leg of the caravan started in Santa Praxedes, Cagayan and culminated at SM Pampanga on April 4.
The caravan featureed information dissemination on the government programs and activities that would mitigate the effect on global warming.
This year’s United Nations-initiated Earth Day celebration, he said, also aimed to generate further awareness for environmental protection and conservation.
The four-day caravan had its several stops for brief environmental fora in Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya before proceeding to Pampanga where the participants from all over Luzon and other parts of the country meet for the culminating activities, which featured an environment fair on climate change and global warming, solid waste management, wildlife conservation and the government’s Green Philippines program.
In his memorandum order to the DENR regional office, Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. said that the caravan intended to draw and encourage participation of various sectors to include local government units, national government agencies, the academe, non-government organizations, church, business sector and the public at large on the need to protect and conserve the environment. -- CL
Cagayan town wants 116-year-old lighthouse declared a historic site
SANTA ANA, Cagayan – Officials and residents of this northern coastal town, described as one of the “Boracays of the North,” want the national government to declare its 116-year-old lighthouse a cultural and heritage site to save one of remaining Spanish-era structures in the country from further ruin.
Mayor Norberto Victor Rodriguez said their long-pending bid for the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and National Historical Institute to declare Cape Engaño, one of the 27 lighthouses built during the 400-year Spanish occupation, a historical and heritage site, has again been brought to the fore in the wake of the edifice’s deteriorating state.
The lighthouse, now under the lighthouse division of the Department of Transportation and Communications, used to be the “guiding light” to sailors and fishermen, including Spanish and Chinese merchants plying the Batanes and Babuyan Claro seas and the Pacific side of Northern Luzon.
“The alarming state of the lighthouse has awakened our consciousness to find ways to preserve it not only as a part of our local history but also as a part of the country’s cultural heritage,” said Dindo Danao, who hails from this northernmost Cagayan town.
Though still sturdy, the lighthouse, also known as El Faro de Cabo Engaño, has been vandalized and many structures in its compound no longer have roofs, exposing them to the elements.
“The NHI was astounded by what they saw in the lighthouse and said that it would take at least P5 million to rehabilitate it. Instead, they suggested that the building’s present condition be maintained to prevent its further deterioration,” said Gloria Jamorabon, the town’s tourism operations assistant officer.
Earlier, the Santa Ana-based Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which is attached to the Office of the President, said there have been talks with the Spanish government for possible support in reconstructing the fortress-like structure, made of bricks of volcanic sources and which stands on volcanic rock. – CL
TUGUEGARAO CITY – North Luzon’s own version of people’s caravan for the environment kicked off Tuesday in Cagayan’s northernmost town and ended in Pampanga following a number of stopovers for environment-related fora along the way.
The four-day 500-km North Luzon leg of the motorcade, dubbed Lakbay Para sa Kalikasan para sa Buhay at Kinabukasan” was part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – led 18-day nationwide caravan leading to the world’s Earth Day celebration on April 22 with the country’s theme for this year “Tubig ay Buhay - Ating Pagyamanin at Linisin.”
DENR Cagayan Valley Director Clarence Baguilat said the region’s leg of the caravan started in Santa Praxedes, Cagayan and culminated at SM Pampanga on April 4.
The caravan featureed information dissemination on the government programs and activities that would mitigate the effect on global warming.
This year’s United Nations-initiated Earth Day celebration, he said, also aimed to generate further awareness for environmental protection and conservation.
The four-day caravan had its several stops for brief environmental fora in Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya before proceeding to Pampanga where the participants from all over Luzon and other parts of the country meet for the culminating activities, which featured an environment fair on climate change and global warming, solid waste management, wildlife conservation and the government’s Green Philippines program.
In his memorandum order to the DENR regional office, Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr. said that the caravan intended to draw and encourage participation of various sectors to include local government units, national government agencies, the academe, non-government organizations, church, business sector and the public at large on the need to protect and conserve the environment. -- CL
Cagayan town wants 116-year-old lighthouse declared a historic site
SANTA ANA, Cagayan – Officials and residents of this northern coastal town, described as one of the “Boracays of the North,” want the national government to declare its 116-year-old lighthouse a cultural and heritage site to save one of remaining Spanish-era structures in the country from further ruin.
Mayor Norberto Victor Rodriguez said their long-pending bid for the National Commission on Culture and the Arts and National Historical Institute to declare Cape Engaño, one of the 27 lighthouses built during the 400-year Spanish occupation, a historical and heritage site, has again been brought to the fore in the wake of the edifice’s deteriorating state.
The lighthouse, now under the lighthouse division of the Department of Transportation and Communications, used to be the “guiding light” to sailors and fishermen, including Spanish and Chinese merchants plying the Batanes and Babuyan Claro seas and the Pacific side of Northern Luzon.
“The alarming state of the lighthouse has awakened our consciousness to find ways to preserve it not only as a part of our local history but also as a part of the country’s cultural heritage,” said Dindo Danao, who hails from this northernmost Cagayan town.
Though still sturdy, the lighthouse, also known as El Faro de Cabo Engaño, has been vandalized and many structures in its compound no longer have roofs, exposing them to the elements.
“The NHI was astounded by what they saw in the lighthouse and said that it would take at least P5 million to rehabilitate it. Instead, they suggested that the building’s present condition be maintained to prevent its further deterioration,” said Gloria Jamorabon, the town’s tourism operations assistant officer.
Earlier, the Santa Ana-based Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which is attached to the Office of the President, said there have been talks with the Spanish government for possible support in reconstructing the fortress-like structure, made of bricks of volcanic sources and which stands on volcanic rock. – CL
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Cagayan Valley’s tilapia growers no longer need to content themselves in shouldering the ever-rising price of feeds and other inputs in their fishponds. This came as a result of a successful farm trial in Iguig town here which showed duckweeds to be an effective alternative diet of tilapia, also known as Saint Peter’s fish, in lieu of commercial feeds.
The results of this experiment conducted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Iguig’s experimental farm would redound to some 50 percent savings for tilapia growers in the region which is slowly becoming the tilapia capital of the country. Duckweeds (scientific name: Lemma spp) are small floating plants in fishponds which contain 40-45 percent of crude protein and are ideal as alternative feeds for tilapia, said researchers from the BFAR regional office here led by Dr. Jovita Ayson.
Romeo Pizarro, farm manager of the experimental farm, said that after a series of experiments involving different mixtures of dry and wet duckweeds with commercial feeds, it was seen that a mixture of 50 percent fresh duckweeds and 50 percent commercial feeds was the most economically viable mix for tilapia growers.
“Repeated experiments showed that a 50-50 mix of fresh duckweeds and commercial feeds offered the best possible economic return for fish farmers,” Pizarro said. Pizarro said that the said combination offered an even higher growth rate for tilapia than those grown purely on commercial feeds, signifying much greater revenue for the farmers in five to six months. He said the production expense using duckweeds is only 76 centavos per kilogram including labor costs compared to P25 per kilogram for commercial feeds.
Moreover, Pizarro said those interested in propagating duckweeds as alternative feeds for their tilapia in Cagayan Valley can just visit their experimental farm in Iguig to obtain for free the plant’s so-called propagules, or seedlings from the BFAR staff. Propagation of duckweeds, Pizarro said, merely means transferring them to the planting site, whether this is a pond, tank or secured body of water.
Five kilograms planting material can be enough to cover 1,000 square meters. Duckweeds propagate rapidly, doubling their volume in only two days, meaning one has to harvest them every now and then. Pizarro also said that when producing duckweeds in ponds, the water must be fertilized at a rate of 100 kilograms of chicken manure and 10 kilograms of ammonium phosphate (16-20-0) per month per 1,000 square meters for best results. Water must be totally changed every month.
Pizarro said that although duckweeds can be produced in the same pond with fish, this is not very efficient since any form of mechanical aeration of the water (i.e. paddle wheel, aerators) disturbs the growth of the plants. Likewise, their photosynthetic activity blocks oxygenation of the water which the fish need. -- CL
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Execs warn two Cagayan bridges may collapse too
BY ARMAND TAMARAY
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Cagayan showcase gets raves in
Quirino province offers visitors virgin forests rich in biodiversity, majestic waterfalls, rivers, and camping grounds.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Despite typhoons, dry spells persist in Northern Luzon
BY ARMAND TAMARAY
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- The series of typhoons that hit Northern Luzon, especially the Cagayan Vallley the past weeks have not been enough to officially signal the end of the dry spell, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Gumersido Lasam, regional DA director said rains brought by the typhoons, although a welcome respite for farmers and their crops, did not provide any substantial change in the water level at Magat Dam in Ramon town, Isabela.
As of August 20, the dam reportedly measured 162.09 meters, clearly still within critical level.
“In fact, typhoon “egay” only provided showers which barely raised the water level in the dam,” said Lasam, adding there had been no letup in cloud seeding.
Engineer Edwin Pasion, NIA’s flood forecasting officer at the Magat Dam, said the normal water level at the dam should be at least 180 meters.
“We are continuously conducting cloud seeding operations over the whole of Northern Luzon. We only stopped during the typhoons because the strong winds will cause difficulty to the planes,” Lasam said.
Previous reports said Philippine Air Force pilots were resuming cloud seeding operations targeting the clouds above Magat Dam, hoping to induce rain.
“This is not totally correct, since we have been continuously conducting cloud seeding over the area,” Lasam said.
There had been no letup in the operation to save the remaining rice and corn and other crops from further damage due to drought.
As of press time, crop losses were in the billions of pesos.
Some P2.3 million had been previously allotted for cloud seeding operations, DA officials said.
The Magat Dam is a major provider of irrigation to some 100,000 hectares of rice and corn land in Isabela and part of Cagayan and Quirino provinces, all declared calamity areas because of the drought.
The three mainland provinces and neighboring Nueva Vizcaya, which was also affected by the dry spell although its provincial leadership did not officially declare a state of calamity, produce some 40 percent of the rice and corn in the country.
Last week, the national government through the DA, granted P220-million assistance for the Isabela government to alleviate economic losses it incurred as a result of the recent prolonged dry spell.
According to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the assistance includes the P168 million allotted for rehabilitation of irrigation systems of the National Irrigation Administration, especially those under the Magat River Integrated Irrigation System.
In addition, the DA also approved the release of P55 million for the construction of small water impounding dams and shallow tube wells and other related agriculture facilities in the province.
Cagayan Valley, a major rice and crop-producing region, lost almost a billion pesos in damaged crops, including fishery or fresh water products, with Isabela, the country’s top rice and corn producer, suffering the bulk of agricultural losses due to the dry spell.
Isabela lost more than P650 million in damaged rice, corn, vegetable crops and fishery products; followed by Cagayan, P150 million; Quirino, P100 million and Nueva Vizcaya, P85,000.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education will undertake an assessment of the damage wrought by typhoons “Chedeng” “Dodong” and Egay in public schools throughout Luzon that had resulted in the suspension of classes most of the last week.
Kenneth Tirado, DepEd communications unit officer-in-charge, said as of August 20, DepEd had no information yet on actual number of schools affected by the three typhoons.
Tirado said they would gather reports from their regional offices on the extent of the damage in their respective jurisdictions in the next weeks.
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan -- The series of typhoons that hit Northern Luzon, especially the Cagayan Vallley the past weeks have not been enough to officially signal the end of the dry spell, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Gumersido Lasam, regional DA director said rains brought by the typhoons, although a welcome respite for farmers and their crops, did not provide any substantial change in the water level at Magat Dam in Ramon town, Isabela.
As of August 20, the dam reportedly measured 162.09 meters, clearly still within critical level.
“In fact, typhoon “egay” only provided showers which barely raised the water level in the dam,” said Lasam, adding there had been no letup in cloud seeding.
Engineer Edwin Pasion, NIA’s flood forecasting officer at the Magat Dam, said the normal water level at the dam should be at least 180 meters.
“We are continuously conducting cloud seeding operations over the whole of Northern Luzon. We only stopped during the typhoons because the strong winds will cause difficulty to the planes,” Lasam said.
Previous reports said Philippine Air Force pilots were resuming cloud seeding operations targeting the clouds above Magat Dam, hoping to induce rain.
“This is not totally correct, since we have been continuously conducting cloud seeding over the area,” Lasam said.
There had been no letup in the operation to save the remaining rice and corn and other crops from further damage due to drought.
As of press time, crop losses were in the billions of pesos.
Some P2.3 million had been previously allotted for cloud seeding operations, DA officials said.
The Magat Dam is a major provider of irrigation to some 100,000 hectares of rice and corn land in Isabela and part of Cagayan and Quirino provinces, all declared calamity areas because of the drought.
The three mainland provinces and neighboring Nueva Vizcaya, which was also affected by the dry spell although its provincial leadership did not officially declare a state of calamity, produce some 40 percent of the rice and corn in the country.
Last week, the national government through the DA, granted P220-million assistance for the Isabela government to alleviate economic losses it incurred as a result of the recent prolonged dry spell.
According to DA Secretary Arthur Yap, the assistance includes the P168 million allotted for rehabilitation of irrigation systems of the National Irrigation Administration, especially those under the Magat River Integrated Irrigation System.
In addition, the DA also approved the release of P55 million for the construction of small water impounding dams and shallow tube wells and other related agriculture facilities in the province.
Cagayan Valley, a major rice and crop-producing region, lost almost a billion pesos in damaged crops, including fishery or fresh water products, with Isabela, the country’s top rice and corn producer, suffering the bulk of agricultural losses due to the dry spell.
Isabela lost more than P650 million in damaged rice, corn, vegetable crops and fishery products; followed by Cagayan, P150 million; Quirino, P100 million and Nueva Vizcaya, P85,000.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education will undertake an assessment of the damage wrought by typhoons “Chedeng” “Dodong” and Egay in public schools throughout Luzon that had resulted in the suspension of classes most of the last week.
Kenneth Tirado, DepEd communications unit officer-in-charge, said as of August 20, DepEd had no information yet on actual number of schools affected by the three typhoons.
Tirado said they would gather reports from their regional offices on the extent of the damage in their respective jurisdictions in the next weeks.
MORE NEWS, CAGAYAN
Thousands stranded as Cagayan bridge collapses
BY ARMAND TAMARAY
ABULUG, Cagayan – Thousands of motorists and passengers were stranded when part of the more than three decades old Lucban bridge here in the northwestern part of this province collapsed night of August 18, following an attempt by an overloaded 40-ton truck to cross the bridge.
Traffic is now back to normal in the area after nearly two days of round-the-clock work by the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Cagayan engineering district and the provincial engineering office to construct a temporary bridge.
Chief Supt. Ameto Tolentino, Cagayan Valley police director, said no one was hurt in the accident, which happened when the overloaded truck carrying a bulldozer, tried to cross the bridge despite exceeding the load limit.
This caused the 50-meter span of the 200-meter-long bridge to collapse at around 6:30 p.m. that night making passage for all types of vehicles impossible.
The province’s northern towns west of Abulug leading to Ilocos were temporarily cut off from the rest of the province isolated from this capital town.
Built during the Marcos Administration, the bridge served as a vital link between this country’s northernmost mainland province and Ilocos provinces.
Gov. Alvaro Antonio and Rep. FLorencio Vargas, whose 2nd congressional district covers Abulug, went to the area to hasten rehabilitation of the bridge so as not to affect economic activities in the province.
BY ARMAND TAMARAY
ABULUG, Cagayan – Thousands of motorists and passengers were stranded when part of the more than three decades old Lucban bridge here in the northwestern part of this province collapsed night of August 18, following an attempt by an overloaded 40-ton truck to cross the bridge.
Traffic is now back to normal in the area after nearly two days of round-the-clock work by the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Cagayan engineering district and the provincial engineering office to construct a temporary bridge.
Chief Supt. Ameto Tolentino, Cagayan Valley police director, said no one was hurt in the accident, which happened when the overloaded truck carrying a bulldozer, tried to cross the bridge despite exceeding the load limit.
This caused the 50-meter span of the 200-meter-long bridge to collapse at around 6:30 p.m. that night making passage for all types of vehicles impossible.
The province’s northern towns west of Abulug leading to Ilocos were temporarily cut off from the rest of the province isolated from this capital town.
Built during the Marcos Administration, the bridge served as a vital link between this country’s northernmost mainland province and Ilocos provinces.
Gov. Alvaro Antonio and Rep. FLorencio Vargas, whose 2nd congressional district covers Abulug, went to the area to hasten rehabilitation of the bridge so as not to affect economic activities in the province.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
CAGAYAN
Luzon’s northern most town seen as alternative to Boracay
BY ARMAND TAMARAY
SANTA ANA, Cagayan – Investments have started pouring into this province’s northernmost town, which the administration is now marketing as the “Boracay of the North.
This has transformed this once sleepy town into a world-class tourism site and North Luzon ’s center for economic growth.
Now housing several online gaming facilities, it would also host P500-million hotel facilities.
Santa Ana, which is home to Cagayan Export Zone Authority, had just held its third Viray Festival, which began with a grand fluvial parade showcasing the town’s cultural heritage and tourism potentials.
Besides the multimillion-peso five-star hotel to be put by the Eastern Hawaii Leisure and Resort Corp., one of CEZA’s major investors, President Arroyo had also led the groundbreaking ceremonies last year for the construction of world class villas nearby to host both foreign and local tourists.
Mayor Norberto Rodriguez said this year’s recent festival was intended to further showcase this scenic and marine-rich coastal town, which has white sand beaches comparable to, if not even better, than the famous Boracay island in Malay, Aklan, as a major tourism destination.
Highlighting the festival was the yearly fluvial parade featuring the colorful wooden bancas or viray.
The three-day event also featured a grand carabao parade, depicting the residents’ diligence and hardwork.
Also seen were a deluge of colorful painted bodies dancing to the beat of native or improvised drums during the street dancing competition, as well as kites of various shapes and sizes during the Kite flying competition where the community renewed their solidarity and sense of community.
Viray, now synonymous with the town’s cultural heritage, is a large wooden flat boat used for transporting goods over long distances. It was also used for fishing by the early settlers in Santa Ana , which is almost 700 kilometers north of Manila .
A record holder for the longest flying fish grill at 4.06 kilometers, Santa Ana , besides having rich delectable seafood also boasts of unspoiled forests and mangroves, especially those located in scenic Palaui Island . The island, where the centuries-old Cape Engano Light House is also situated, is a government protected area.
BY ARMAND TAMARAY
SANTA ANA, Cagayan – Investments have started pouring into this province’s northernmost town, which the administration is now marketing as the “Boracay of the North.
This has transformed this once sleepy town into a world-class tourism site and North Luzon ’s center for economic growth.
Now housing several online gaming facilities, it would also host P500-million hotel facilities.
Santa Ana, which is home to Cagayan Export Zone Authority, had just held its third Viray Festival, which began with a grand fluvial parade showcasing the town’s cultural heritage and tourism potentials.
Besides the multimillion-peso five-star hotel to be put by the Eastern Hawaii Leisure and Resort Corp., one of CEZA’s major investors, President Arroyo had also led the groundbreaking ceremonies last year for the construction of world class villas nearby to host both foreign and local tourists.
Mayor Norberto Rodriguez said this year’s recent festival was intended to further showcase this scenic and marine-rich coastal town, which has white sand beaches comparable to, if not even better, than the famous Boracay island in Malay, Aklan, as a major tourism destination.
Highlighting the festival was the yearly fluvial parade featuring the colorful wooden bancas or viray.
The three-day event also featured a grand carabao parade, depicting the residents’ diligence and hardwork.
Also seen were a deluge of colorful painted bodies dancing to the beat of native or improvised drums during the street dancing competition, as well as kites of various shapes and sizes during the Kite flying competition where the community renewed their solidarity and sense of community.
Viray, now synonymous with the town’s cultural heritage, is a large wooden flat boat used for transporting goods over long distances. It was also used for fishing by the early settlers in Santa Ana , which is almost 700 kilometers north of Manila .
A record holder for the longest flying fish grill at 4.06 kilometers, Santa Ana , besides having rich delectable seafood also boasts of unspoiled forests and mangroves, especially those located in scenic Palaui Island . The island, where the centuries-old Cape Engano Light House is also situated, is a government protected area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
