MORE NEWS, BAGUIO CITY

Palace aide hits backautonomy critics

BAGUIO CITY – A Palace official hit back at autonomy critics saying multi-dimensions of autonomy is making it difficult for regional constituents to grasp the importance of self-governance which could be instrumental in speeding up the development of the region as a whole.

Presidential Assistant for Cordillera affairs Tom Killip bared this adding, there is a need to continue objectively discussing the concept of autonomy until such time that people would realize that self-governance is far better than the present set up where the region is in.

According to him, it is unfortunate the autonomy is being projected by biased sectors as disadvantageous to the region since they only focus their attention to the political aspect of the issue and not autonomy in its whole context.

He said the Regional Development Council of the Cordillera has adopted a work program for the renewed pursuit of cordillera autonomy with the aim of determining the voter inclination for a third attempt for self-governance as well as capacitating the local government units to be self-sufficient since fiscal autonomy is a major breakthrough in attaining political autonomy.

Even without an autonomy law, Killip said there are some practices being observed by the indigenous communities which are considered to be self-governance and they are far more advantageous than the policies being imposed upon by the national government in terms of settling conflicts, maintaining peace and order, enhancing indigenous knowledge and skills among others.

The Palace official likened the attainment of autonomous status of the region to the hatching of an egg which requires a certain degree of heat before it could hatch and then grow into a beautiful rooster.

In autonomy debates, Killip said people must objectively discuss the issue until they are independently capable of coming up with a knowledge-based informed choice and not just gossip or rumor-based decision.

He said in an autonomous set up, the region could be in a better position to receive fair share from the development and exploitation of its resources by multi-national companies.

“Ironically, the present set up does not allow that to happen because the benefits that the region had been deriving from the utilization of its rich natural resources just came in trickles and had left numerous areas lagging behind the development thrust of the government,” he said.

Juan Ngalob, interim chairman of the RDC and regional director of the National Economic Development Authority in the Cordillera, said the region could initially opt for limited or selected autonomy whereby it could attain autonomous status in certain fields of governance, hence, it could expand its coverage if the region’s ability to handle a wider area would be demonstrated.

Killip said the struggle for autonomy must go on with the support of people who are knowledgeable and have deep inclination on the issue so as not to bungle the third attempt for self-governance. – Dexter A See


Two cancer-stricken men plead for help
By RAMON DACAWI

BAGUIO CITY -- Two single men in their 30s are pleading for help to enable one to undergo surgery for spinal injury and the other to be cured of stage 3 cancer. Both are unemployed - one forced to quit gold panning after a bad fall, the other unable to renew his contract as a salesman when it was too painful for him to walk.

Still, James Jose Andrada, a 35-year old orphan, recently limped his way to the city social welfare and development office for a report on his plight to enable him to seek assistance for his chemo and radiation therapy.

Pablo Langpawen, 39, couldn’t move his legs so his elder sister, Mary An Benito, had to provide the answers for his own social case study needed to support his own appeal for help.

James was born in Quezon City but he never saw his parents. After he was born, his mother left him to an aunt (a neighbor, James said). Unfortunately, he was unfairly treated by his aunt’s family, thus, he left at the age of 12, social welfare officer Florecita Tul-an said in her report.

He stayed in Boy’s Town, Manila until he finished high school. He was on his own when he turned 18. He worked as server in a fast-food shop and then as student assistant at the Philippine Christian University where he earned a degree in social work.

He eventually joined Nestle as salesman and was assigned to Baguio in late 2003. In December, 2006, he started having frequent stomach pains and feeling malaise. A check-up confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma. His ailment affected his performance, prompting the company not to renew his contract.

James rents a space at No. 8 Zamora St. here. He has lost all his savings and relies on help from his former fellow employees and friends. A colostomy bag is attached to his side

Doctors set his second chemotherapy session on Feb. 9, which, from his first treatment, is estimated to cost over P11,000.

James can be contacted at cell phone number 09186200485, owned by a fellow boarder who leaves it with the patient when he goes to work.

He hopes his two bank accounts are still active so donors can course their support through them - Metrobank account number 3238259712 or UCPB account number 1181383538.

“All my life I struggled to be successful and all of a sudden I’m here in pain,” James said, embarrassed having to depend on the kindness of others.

Langpawen, on the other hand, is the seventh of 12 children of a farmer-couple from Gonogon, Bontoc. Mt. Province. He was panning for gold in Itogon, Benguet when he accidentally fell late last March.

He recovered, only to have another fall last November. Tests, including magnetic resonance imaging, revealed compression fracture in his spine and degenerative disc disease. The pain gets unbearable sometimes.

Now he is confined to bed, in the house of his elder sister, Mary Ann Benito, at 116 Evangelista St., West Bayan Park here. Orthopedic surgeon Tirso Oloan recommended surgery to maximize his recovery and potential of being able to walk again and work.

Like James, however, Pablo can’t shoulder the costs, estimated at P30,000. Mary Ann is the sole bread-winner in her own family as an ambulant vendor.

Her husband Benito is also disabled, according to the report of social welfare officer Jacqueline Tupong.



Baguio execs protest IRA cut: Other cities join nationwide protests; cite services effects
By DEXTER SEE

BAGUIO CITY – Local officials here, advocates of Charter Change, are now having second thoughts on supporting drive to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution through people’s initiative due to negative effects of the conversion of municipalities into cities.

The conversion resulted in sharp reduction in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the existing cities, officials said.

The city government here joined the nationwide protest by the League of Cities of the Philippines of the sharp reduction in IRA brought about by the creation of 16 cities.

As a gesture of protest, the Philippine flag was raised at half mast, and the city officials and employees wore black arm bands.

Vice Mayor Daniel T. Farinas said that if the reduction of IRA is an adverse effect of federalism, he and leaders are now having second thoughts on supporting Charter Change being pushed by the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines because it would be eventually changing for the worst, not for the better.

In the creation of new cities, he said, the national government must ensure that they have sufficient sources of IRA so that the IRA of the existing cities is not compromised.

Supposedly, the existing cities should get a maximum increase of 18 percent in their IRA from the national government this year, but the creation of the 16 cities resulted in the reduction of the increase to only five percent.

Farinas urged Congress to amend the provisions of the Local Government Code relative to the IRA and the creation of cities and provinces, saying these are now outdated as shown by what happened to the existing cities.

The vice mayor said that they are not opposed to the creation of new cities provided they have sufficient sources of funds.

He said the silent protest by the city government officials and employees nationwide will continue until the authorities ensure the return of the sliced IRA.

In case their appeal is not heeded, the city governments will not remit their contributions to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) as well as their withholding taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as a sign of protest of the sharp cuts in their IRA, he also said.

This year, Baguio City is supposed to receive P348 million in IRA but this was reduced to only P319 million as a result of the creation of the additional cities which divided among themselves the P210 billion IRA allotted by the national government.

Meanwhile, Santa Rosa City (Laguna) Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno announced at a flag-raising ceremony here last week her solidarity with the League of Cities of the Philippines which is asking Congress to declare a moratorium in the conversion of towns into new cities.

She said the cut in IRA will adversely affect the delivery of basic services in the cities nationwide.

"We are not against the development of towns into cities per se, but rather, we are against the undue conversion of these 16 towns into cities without complying with requirements on population, area and income. This leads to the sharp cuts in the IRA of cities nationwide," the mayor said.

In Santa Rosa’s case, the IRA cut of P12 million will force the city government to adjust its funds for services in 2008 and, at the same time, may reduce the number of casual employees.


More activities slated for Baguio Panagbenga fest
By Gerry A. Evangelista Sr. and Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – More activities were set by city officials even as personnel of the Public Order and Safety Division this afternoon started removal and dismantling work on about 10 food and refreshment stalls at the south end of Abad Santos Drive in Burnham Park to give way to booth awardees of the Market Encounter of Panagbenga 2008.

Earlier, Flower Festival co-chairman Anthony de Leon made strong representations for the eviction of the food stalls which will be relocated elsewhere to pave the way for the erection of booths of the festival’s market encounter.

The need to have this portion of Abad Santos Drive to be vacated is deemed necessary in view of the scheduled formal opening of the market encounter early in the afternoon tomorrow.

Also scheduled to be opened tomorrow is the landscape area of the festival at the skating rink.

The Abad Santos Drive market encounter area is to accommodate some 150 booths to house exhibits of Cordillera products of diverse forms.

The landscape area will showcase the various flowers grown or is endemic to the highland region.

Panagbenga 2008 officially reels off tomorrow with the parade of drums and lyres by public schools elementary students of Baguio. There are close to 20 distinct drum and lyre contingents where at the end of the day, eight will be chosen as finalists in the later festival contest in this category.

Tomorrow’s opening parade will also include street dancing participants. The route of the parade will follow Session Road and ends at the football grounds in front of Melvin Jones grandstand.

Aside from officials of Panagbenga 2008 led by De Leon and co-chair Freddie Alquiros, top city officials led by Mayor Peter Rey Bautista, Vice-Mayor Daniel Fariñas and members of the City Council are also expected to attend.

A program at Melvin Jones grandstand will follow the parade and street dancing affair.

After the grand opening, street dancing and drum and lyre elimination round, and, opening of the Market Encounter last Friday, Panagbenga activities shall go on in other venues in celebration of the 13th version of the flower-inspired festival.

A merging of traditional and innovative activities for the festival include, Blooms and Brews at the Event Center SM, Feb. 1 to March 2; Dog and Cat show, 3 p.m., at Abad Santos Drive, Burnham Park on Feb. 3; Baguio Fil-Chinese Spring Festival Parade, 3 p.m. Feb. 8, along Session road; Lion and Dragon Dance, at SM City on Feb. 9; Parada ng Mga Gulay, Prutas at Iba Pa-Kids Mascot show at Abad Santos Drive, Feb 9; Japanese Culture Days at SM Baguio, Feb. 10-11.
Other activities are those involving fashion and clothing, sports and leisure, and business know-how lectures.

A competition on personal floral decoration of shirts is open at SM City and would go on until Feb. 21; a series of fashion shows on varied categories include; Touch of Cordillera Children’s Casual Wear, at Abad Santos Drive, Feb. 2; Masferre Fashion Show, Event Center, SM, Feb. 16; and Touch of Cordillera Children’s Sunday Wear, at Abad Santos Drive, Feb. 16.

Sports activities lined up are; Basketball tour in Baguio and Benguet Schools, Feb. 3 to March 26; Balloon flying ritual, Abad Santos Drive, Feb. 7; and Arnis de Mano, Malcolm Square, Feb. 10.
Concerts and events lined up: Lala Tour, SM City, Feb. 2; Blue Grass Band at Abad Santos Drive, Feb. 13; Soothing Music, Events Center, SM, Feb. 14; and Sadiwan Disco Revival, Abad Santos Drive, Feb. 14, 15.

Lectures scheduled for socio-economic and business know-how are: Information Campaign on Good Governance, Good Environment and Good Citizenry, at People’s Park, Feb.1 to 29; How to Start Your Business by Department of Trade and Industry and Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 5 and, Basics of Franchising, Feb. 12; both at the Abad Santos Drive, Burnham Park.

During an earlier press conference, the Panagbenga Secretariat, private supporters and coordinating city officials assured the general public that all details are looked into as the festival progresses. This would include security measures and police presence, traffic and transportation plan implementation, guideline issuances for concessionaires, waste management measures, and proper coordination between and among volunteers and legitimate coordinators.

The secretariat also announced the participation of foreign delegation; sister cities Taebaek of South Korea and Hanyu of Japan, and the Filipino-Chinese community in Baguio, to all activities. Said countries shall showcase their culture and socio-economic contributions to the city as a whole.

Upcoming activities for the second week of February are: Ipitik and Pony Boys week; Feb. 11 to 17; Barangay activities, Fluvial parade with ballet performances on the lake, Feb 14; Philippine Military Academy Alumni Homecoming, Feb. 14-17.

The much-awaited Grand Parade shall be in the morning of Feb. 23 while the Parade of Floats and Bands will be on Feb. 24.

The theme of the festival is “celebrating 13 years of caring.” It shall serve as inspiration to carry the flower festival tradition through, and a challenge to the general public to support all of Panagbenga activities, this year’s festival and future ones, as well, the Panagbenga secretariat said.


Experimental Baguio traffic scheme set for Feb to March

BAGUIO CITY -- An experimental one-way traffic scheme around city hall from Feb. 2 to March 2 has been enforced in consonance with an administrative order issued by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr.

This is due to need to alleviate urban traffic congestion, particularly in the vicinity of City Hall, the order stated.

With the city hall as center, and Yandoc, Shuntug and Abanao streets carrying vehicle traffic counter-clockwise, City Engineer Leo Bernardez proposed the scheme. Reviewed by the Traffic and Transportation Management Committee, it was recommended for approval through a resolution.

All vehicle owners and the public were urged to comply with the one-way traffic scheme which started last Friday, as vehicle traffic direction should go through: Yandoc street from Quirino highway junction to Legarda road junction; left turn to Shuntug street up to Abanao street junction.

Vehicles from Shuntug street may go one-way down to Otek street, through Rizal Park, or go up one-way also from Otek street, merge with the traffic up to Abanao street junction.

Vehicles at the end of Shuntug street may either go down Abanao street, or go up one-way, passing along the Baguio Jail Management and Penology Office, Baguio City Police Office, up to Camp Henry road junction; back to Yandoc street-Quirino highway junction.

Vehicles may then go up Camp Henry Allen or pass by a temporary barricade at the Yandoc street - Quirino highway junction, on to the main Quirino Highway.

The perimeter roads lateral to the BCPO entering city hall frontage and from Kayang street to Justice Hall are also considered one-way only.

Signs, pavement markings and temporary barricades, as to the enforcement of the order have been prepared by the City Engineers Office for the guidance of the public, while the Traffic Management Branch of the Baguio City Police Office have assigned personnel to man the junctions in the implementation of the scheme.

Another traffic advisory on a one-way scheme along Session road for implementation in March 2008 shall also be released soon.

The scheme is seen to decongest traffic in portions of the Central Business District. – Julie G. Fianza