MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Kennon Road dangerous to public, says MGB execs
BY DEXTER A SEE

BAGUIO CITY – The regional Mines and Geosciences Bureau here bared almost 80 percent of the stretch of Kennon road is prone to landslides and dangerous to the public. The road is the shortest route from Manila to the city. The city proper to Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet is susceptible to landslides, thus, mass transport vehicles should always be careful while traversing the historic highway, especially during rainy days, MGB officials said.

The MGB-CAR’s geology division, in a landslide susceptibility mapping from Baguio City to Camp 4, found the studied stretch of the road is geologically hazardous especially during bad weather due to the reported occurrence of landslides. Earlier, the Cordillera office of the Department of Transportation and Communications prohibited inter-regional public utility vehicles from traversing the 34-km road especially during rainy weather to ensure safety of the commuting public.

However, the directive drew negative reactions from affected transport groups including local officials of the municipality of Tuba and Benguet province. In 1999, a garage van carrying 18 passengers was buried by tons of mud and rocks along Kennon road killing the driver and all of the passengers.


TUCP seeks P75 wage increase in Cordillera
BAGUIO CITY – After the grant of several wage increases in the different regions of the country, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines filed a P75 daily wage increase for workers in the private sector in the Cordillera to ease the serious effects of increase in oil prices and basic commodities.

In a petition filed before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board in the Cordillera, the group said the P75 daily wage increase is needed by all employees and workers receiving not only the minimum wage but also for those getting higher than the minimum wage, all of whom are equally disadvantaged by the price and wage developments.

The petition added workers in the Cordillera, regardless whether they receive minimum wages higher are subject to the same prices in the market and the same increase in prices of commodities, thus, the P75 daily wage increase must be given across the board.

The continuing increase in oil prices, automatic adjustments in the rate of utilities (water and electricity among others), and the resulting general increase in consumer prices between August and December this year, which is expected to rise by another five percent before the end of this year greatly affects the living conditions in the region.

If the wages of workers have to keep up with the unabated rise in prices, given the P235 daily rate in the Cordillera, the difference between P315 and P235, or P80 should be added to the minimum wage for the agricultural workers.

However, the petition appreciates the negative effects of an immediate P80 increase in the region’s minimum wage, thus, the group asked for an increase of only P75 in the daily minimum wage.

The TUCP added the P75 is essential if workers are to cope with the increasing prices of commodities and cost of living in the region if they are to meet the basic needs of their families, even if only partially and if the country is to give meaning and substance to the policy of equitable distribution of income and wealth.

In 2006, the RTWPB granted a P10 increase in the daily wage and integrated the P50 per day cost of living allowance into the basic wage of workers.

But the TUCP asserted that the increase is too small as it was already overtaken by the increases in the prices of petroleum products, transport fares, and basic good and services.

Before the filing of the P75 daily wage petition, the RTWPB has scheduled several public hearings on minimum wage adjustment after it initiated an inquiry to determine whether or not a wage order shall be issued. – Dexter A See


New Baguio barangay captains to assume post
BY AILEEN P. REFUERZO

BAGUIO CITY – The newly elected officials of the city’s barangays will assume their posts on December 1. The city government through the city community affairs division and the city field office of the Department of Interior and Local Government are presently making arrangements for the oath-taking ceremonies on November 23. The list of the new barangay captains follows: Rodolfo Benitez of ABCR; Romualdo Ulatan Sr. – A. Tabora; Arthur Willy – Ambiong; Jose Abrera – Andres Bonifacio; Peter Dumapi – Asin Road; Ernesto Lardizabal – Atok Trail; Aida Reyes – Aurora Hill Proper; Vicente Pinlac – AZCKO; Alicia Pacsi-Dizon – Bakakeng Central; Jessie-Jacob Palos Jr. – Bakakeng Norte/Sur; Baldo Sotero – Balsigan; Antonino Cortez Jr. – Bayan Park Village; Angelo Calpotura – BGH Compound; James Doligas – Brookside; David Puguon – Brookspoint; William Hamada – Burnham-Legarda; Jaime Rillorta – Cabinet Hill-Teacher’s Camp; Clarence Domilies – Camdas; Rodolfo Ocon – Camp Allen; Marvin Binay-an – Camp 7; Leonardo Abaya—Camp 8; Mohammad Canil Asalaho – Campo Filipino; Joel Alangsab – City Camp Central; Aurora Abellera – City Camp Proper; Dencio Almag – Country Club Village; Augustus Valdez – Cresencia Village; Joselito Ochoa – Dizon Subd.; Remedios Laigo – Dominican-Mirador; Henry Figueroa – Dontogan; Narcisa Laguitan – DPS Compound; Alberto Pilongo – East Bayan Park; Narita Trinidad – East Modernsite; Matthew Bayao – East Quirino Hill; Jerry Sales – Engineer’s Hill; Domingo Jimenez – Fairview; Remedios Cabe – Ferdinand; Andres Ricerra – Gabriela Silang; Rocky Aliping – Lower QM; Orlando Flores – Gibraltar; Lucio Bagyan – Greenwater; Ferdy Bayasen – Guisad Central; Orlando Soriano – Guisad Surong; Soriano Palonan – Happy Hallow; Eva Marie Fianza – Happy Homes-Old Lucban; Helen Medina – Harrison-Carantes; Renato Hafalla – Hillside; Pio Rosape – Holy Ghost Extension; James Mastinggal – Holy Ghost Proper; Charles Ancheta –Honeymoon-Holyghost; Ernesto Laguardia – Imelda Marcos; Arturo Rapelo Jr. – Imelda Village; Thomas Dumalti – Irisan; Michael Karl Flores – Kabayanihan; Mary Lou Heruela; Corazon Mendoza – Kayang Extension;Joselito Cruz – Kayang Hilltop; Orlando Bayasen – Kias; Martin Anglog – Loakan-Apugan; Fred Fangonon – Loakan-Liwanag; Jesusa Vizcaya – Loakan Proper; Carlos Asiatico – Lopez Jaena; Benjamin Macadangdang – Lourdes Subd. Ext.; Leonida Bernal – Lourdes Subd. Lower; Bonifacio Quicho III – Lourdes Subd. Proper; Daisy Layao – Lower Dagsian; Virgilio Manzo – Lower General Luna; Jose Amagen Jr. – Lower Magsaysay; Peter Wasing – Lower Quirino Hill; Carlos Ananayo – Lower Rock Quarry; Norma Bustarde – Lualhati; Faustino Olowan – Lucnab; Herminio Dumaguin – Magsaysay-Private Road; Rogelito De Vera – Manuel Roxas; William Domogen – Malcolm Square; Ramon Enriquez – Marcoville; Adelaida Espenilla – Middle Quezon Hill; Murphy Bugtong – Middle Rock Quarry; John Palaleo Addag – Middle Quirino Hill; Edmundo Gundran Jr. – Military Cut-Off; Antero Buswilan – Mines View Park; Catherine Quinones – MRR-Queen of Peace; Lourdes Teliaken – New Lucban; Guillerma Francisco – North Central Aurora Hill; Virgilio Orca Jr. – North Sanitary Camp; Catherine Arnaiz – Outlook Drive; Godofredo Flores – Pacdal; Claver Alisto – P. Burgos; Antonio Tamayo – P. Zamora; Alberto Reyes – Palma-Urbano; Sarah Almenar Mina – Phil-Am; Perfecto Jose – Pinget; Arsenio Amdengan – Pinsao Pilot Project; Horacio Willy – Pinsao Proper; Juana Labador – PMA-Fort Del Pilar; Leticia Baldo – Pucsusan; Joseph Del-ong – Puliwes; Gloria Corazon Dalisay – Quezon Hill Proper; Leo Sabado – Rizal Monument Area; Nida Galace – Salud Mitra; Remedios Nialla – San Antonio Village; Benedicto Casilen – San Luis Village; Gerry Uy – San Roque Village; Alfredo Cong-o – San Vicente; Zenaida Monteclaro – Session Road; Emmanuel Luis Bacungan Jr. – Scout Barrio; Jose Galinato – SLU-SVP; Cesar Munar – South Drive; Michael Perez – South Central Aurora Hill; Rufino Panagan – South Sanitary Camp; John Dongla – St. Joseph Village; Jaime Bugnosen Jr. – Sta Scholastica Village; John Abat – Sto. Rosario Valley; Ramon Ramos Sr.—Sto Nino Slaughterhouse; Godofredo Cawaing – Sto. Tomas School Area; Miguel Kiswa – Sto. Tomas Proper; Romualdo Labausa – T. Alonzo; Rey Millare – Trancoville; Raymond Ruivivar – Upper Dagsian; Julita Sagun – Upper General Luna; Danilo Camacho – Upper Magsaysay; Ma Teresa Caracas – Upper Market Subd.; Amado Romero – Upper QM; Lourdes Pedroso – Upper Quezon Hill; Johnny David – Upper Rock Quarry; Lilian Somera – Victoria Village; Zenaida Torres – West Bayan Park; Mario De Guzman – West Modernsite; and Peter Busaing – West Quirino Hill.


Samaritans enable kid to spend Xmas in hospital
BY RAMON DACAWI

BAGUIO CITY -- Since they were told of her condition, Roderick and Rhea Briones had been praying for their only child – three-year old Rheanne Derricke - to be admitted to a hospital. When people heard, they made the young couple’s wish come true.

Rheanne, who was born with a hole in her heart, can now spend Christmas at the Philippine Heart Center. Doctors have set her next appointment on Dec. 7 to finalize the schedule to mend her ailing heart.

Samaritans from all over made sure of that, as they overshot a P200,000 goal needed for her surgery, a month ahead of the deadline set by barangay officials of Scout Barrio here who launched a fund drive late September.

“The barangay council has decided to end the fund drive as the target has been reached,” barangay chief Ramon Corpuz said Thursday afternoon. “The response to this community effort has been tremendous, leaving us all inspired.”

The week before his announcement, the fund was at P124,000, as marked by a red arrow pointing up on the side of a black and white pole graph the barangay council had set up along Loakan Rd., beside the barangay hall, so the public could monitor the progress of the fund-raiser.

A big break came last Monday, when the toddler and her parents were guests at the taping of “Game Ka Na Ba?”, the television game show hosted by Edu Manzano over ABS-CBN. The cast of the sci-fi comedy “Super Inggo” led by Bobby Andrews played for Rheanne, winning P90,000 for her family.

Of the amount, the game show producers will deposit P50,000 at the PHC where the kid will be operated on, her father said. As per the show’s “Pangkabuhayan” showcase, the remaining P40,000 will be in grocery items to stock up her mother’s mini-store at Kias Barangay here where the family stays at the house of Rhea’s father. When the couple returned to Baguio, Roderick, who grew up in Scout Barrio, learned the graph’s arrow had shot up to P130,000, excluding the TV show winnings.

Roderick said he first saw the graph in early October, while plying the Scout Barrio jeepney route. He saw on top of the pole her kid’s picture, together with an appeal: “Please help bring color to my life.”

“I stopped and just cried, overwhelmed by the effort of the barangay council and the community to help save our daughter,” he recalled.

Last Thursday, Enrique Sobrepena, director of the Camp John Hay Development Corp., invited the family so he could meet the girl. When he learned from the couple the drive was still P20,000 to go, he wrote a check for P30,000 that exceeded the target.

The total amount raised will be known this week, after the donation cans have been opened, support coursed through an in-trust-for Rheanne bank account has been updated and pledges have been received and counted.

“The P200,000 goal will cover only the couple’s counterpart for the surgery,” Corpuz noted. “It’s heart-warming that people just responded spontaneously so other expenses can be shouldered, as the kid will have to recover in the hospital for over a month.”

Doctors diagnosed Rheanne’s condition as ventricular septal defect. The hole in her heart is on the ventricular septum, the wall dividing the left and right ventricles. Because of this, oxygen-rich blood, which the left ventricle pumps to the body, also seeps into the right ventricle, mixing with oxygen-poor blood.

The doctors advised surgery as soon as possible, before serious complications would develop. Told surgery would normally cost P600,000, the couple took the long charity line of the Heart Center which whittled down the cost to P200,000. To try to raise 200 grand, Roderick and Andrew Pagasiway, president of the John Hay United Operators and Drivers Association, asked the barangay council for a permit to install donation cans in their members’ units. Instead, the barangay council adopted a resolution to spearhead the drive, making it a community effort. The officials wrote friends and institutions and installed the pole chart on the highway. The fund drive was on.
An anonymous donor paid for 20 donation cans from a P7,000 charity he coursed through bank vice-president Rolly de Guzman of RCBC. Newsman Gani Liporada designed the label and a local printer ran copies of the sticker wrapped around the cans.

Kids of the Camp John Hay Elementary School were some of the first to respond. They scrimped on their allowance spending to be able to fill up and submit the first can in a week’s time. “We will acknowledge the latest donors, as we did the earlier contributors, when we turn over the amount to Rheanne’s family,” Corpuz said.

The turn-over will coincide with his vowing out as barangay chief. He and friends toasted the completion of the fund drive yesterday, his 54th birthday.