COMMUNITY BILLBOARD

‘Mt Province energy projects destructive’ 

At present, Sagada and Besao in Mountain Province are targets of two Renewable Energy (RE) projects owned by big corporations led by local bred executives. 

First is the Sagada-Besao wind farm, a wind mill project of PhilCarbon, Inc which will cover 624 hectares at the boundary of Sagada-Besao and will generate 15 MW of electricity through a series of 15 giant windmills.  Engr. RufinoBomas-ang of Besao is the chairman of the board of Phil Carbon, Inc.  Second is the Layugan Mini-hydro project of the Bimaka Renewable Energy Development Corporation, Inc (BREDCO) in partnership with the  Dutch firm, Royal HaskoningDHV, which will cover  Barangays Tamboan, Laylaya and Catengngan of Besao . 

They plan to build a series of four mini-dams along the Layugan River also with an output of 15 megawatt (MW) electricity.  Among the executives of BREDCO are Atty. EstonPooten of Sagada and EngrRufinoBomas-ang. 

To circumvent the strong opposition of affected indigenous communities against projects that will destroy their land, life and resources such as large dams and large scale mining firms, foreign and local capitalists alike in connivance with the national government are repackaging  RE projects in the form of mini-hydros, geothermal and wind-powered projects.  These capitalists hardsell their projects and aim to deceive the people into accepting such projects by using tags such as “environment friendly”.  Another part of their ploy is to use “kailians” to make these projects acceptable. 

This is the case of Engr. RufinoBomas-ang, a former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy, who is an executive both in BREDCO and PhilCarbon and former Sagada Mayor Tom Killip who is also a former Presidential Assistant for Cordillera Affairs and who now represents PhilCarbon in the on-going Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process in Sagada and
Besao.

In the process, the people eventually lose control over their resources and still suffer damages to the environment and their livelihood due to the pillage, while the companies romp away  super profits through imperialist schemes such as carbon trading and the feed-in-tariff (FIT). 

These mechanisms serve as cover-up for the responsibility of big capitalist countries whose industries have wreaked havoc on the environment which is now causing unprecedented calamities, ravaging the lives and livelihood of billions of people throughout the world. 

Through the proposed windmill project, PhilCarbon can earn as much as P6.9 million a year tax free through carbon trading and P1.1 billion a year through the FIT compared to the measly P5,133 a year share of each host community. 

At the Feb. 7 mass meeting at Langsayan ridge hosted by the NCIP and Tom Killip, the people from the different barangays of Besao clearly registered their strong opposition to the PhilCarbon windmill project. 

In the said meeting, the NCIP as expected clearly displayed its subservience to capitalist interest by forcing the people into accepting the PhilCarbon project.   

It is not surprising that the ongoing military operations in West MP has coincided with the ongoing FPIC process on  the windmill project of PhilCarbon in Sagada and Besao.  A day before the meeting held at Langsayan, the 54th IB positioned  its troops in the said area. 

This condemnable act clearly aims to intimidate and cow the people into submission.  No doubt, true to its mandate and under the Aquino regime’s anti-people OplanBayanihan, the AFP-PNP and its paramilitary units continue to serve as “Investment Defense Forces” for foreign and local capitalists who plunder the natural resources of indigenous peoples and other Filipinos through projects such as mining, logging, wide agricultural plantations and now through these  energy projects.

Leonardo Pacsi Command,

New People’s Army

Army deepens  Abra immersion  

LICUAN-BAAY -- The 41st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army based in SitioBaquero, Nalbuan, Licuan-Baay co-sponsored a recent mass wedding and christening here conducted by the Parish of St. Lourdes as part of its community program.
          

Father Louie Tungpalan, parish priest of the local community, solemnized the mass wedding of six couples and the baptism of 29 including six adults.

The officers and men of the Bravo Company under the command of 1Lt. Dionizer Mark Delos Santos facilitated the conduct of the said event in partnership with the Saint Lourdes Parish Church and support of generous people of the municipality to make the Valentine’s
Day celebration memorable.

Some of the sponsors were the officers and men of the 41st Infantry “Partner for Peace” Battalion, under the command of Lt. Col. Danilo R Domingo; Police Senior Inspector Benjamin de Leon, the chief of police of Licuan-Bay; Sangguniang Bayan Members Godfrey Panabang and Tabilin; former barangay captain Romulo Turalva; and Rafael Tejero, head teacher of the Baquero Primary School.

They hosted the lunch for the couples and the visitors who graced the occasion in the same venue.

The newlyweds, as well as those baptized, expressed their grateful appreciation of the efforts and initiatives and support of the organizers and sponsors in the said mass wedding and christening as they said, the sacraments made them feel closer to Christ. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas

 

OWWA gives grants to Cordillera OFWs

BAGUIO CITY -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Cordillera recently released P465,000 worth of livelihood grants to OFW groups, returnees, and dependents in the Cordillera region.

Two OFW Family Circles – the BagongBayani Family Association of La Trinidad Benguet and Simbaey Circle of Mt. Province got P100,000 grant each. Twenty-two OFW returnees, 20 from Baguio-Benguet and one each from Conner, Apayao and Lamut, Ifugao, also received P10,000 each from the DOLE-NRCO livelihood grant (individual category).

OWWA regional director Manuela Peña, in an interview, disclosed the livelihood grant is part of the reintegration services which aims to help OFW returnees especially repatriates displaced due to unexpected events such as political or economic turmoil in their place of work, on their livelihood endeavor that would help them have an alternative income for their family.

In addition to the cash grant, qualified beneficiaries are also given entrepreneurial skills development and financial management training upon assessment of OWWA in coordination with partner agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry and Land Bank of the Philippines.

In 2012, the said DOLE-NRCO livelihood assistance program benefited 87 OFW returnees and nine OFW Family circles in Cordillera or a total grant of P1.7 million.

Pena explained that for OFWs who want to expand their business or go into a bigger entrepreneurial endeavor, the national government has P2 billion OFW Reintegration program, a special loan program of the OWWA in partnership with the LBP and the Development Bank of the Philippines, wherein qualified beneficiaries can borrow from a minimum of P300,000 to a maximum amount of P2 million.

Meantime, simultaneous with the release of the livelihood grants, the regional OWWA also awarded P15,000 livelihood assistance each to three widows of OFWs under the Educational Livelihood and Assistance Program.

Surviving legal spouse of a deceased OFW (active OWWA member) is eligible for a P15,000 livelihood assistance and dependent children are also eligible for an annual educational assistance of P5,000 for elementary, P8,000 for high school and P10,000 for college. -- Carlito C. Dar

Comelec-Tabuk sets common poster areas

TABUK CITY, Kalinga-- The Commission on Elections in this city has started dismantling election campaign materials placed outside designated common poster areas.

This move by Comelec-Tabuk City started Feb. 12 during opening of campaign period for national positions .

Tabuk Election Registrar Reyman Solbita said the Comelec-designated common poster areas in Tabuk City are located at the provincial r5oad from the “White Carabao” monument in Barangay Bulanao to the Lua Shell Station in Barangay Magsaysay; from the Ramirez residence point to Barangay Laya junction; and at the junction points in Barangays Nambaran and Calanan.

“All election campaign materials displayed outside these areas are considered illegal and must be removed,” Solbita said.

Solbita said that the deliberate and continued violation of this Comelec ruling could be ground for disqualification proceedings against a particular candidate.

He added that the ruling is part of the Comelec’s move to ensure orderly elections in May.

Solbita also urged supporters of senatorial candidates and party-list groups coming to campaign in Kalinga to seek a copy of the approved common poster sites in Tabuk at his office. -- Larry T. Lopez

Ifugao strengthens drive against rabies

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- In its effort to make the province rabies-free by the year 2016, the Provincial Veterinary Office strengthened its information, education and communication  campaign against rabies by distributing information materials to the people for them to register their dogs and have them vaccinated against the disease.

PVET Agriculturist II Ferdinand Dunuan said that as they continue vaccinating as many dogs as they can in the 11 municipalities of the province, they are also distributing information materials such as flyers to the people to bolster their understanding and awareness about rabies.

To date, the PVET has vaccinated more than 8,000 dogs with anti-rabies and registered more than 5,000 dog owners in the province.

With the support of local government officials especially barangay captains, Dunuan is optimistic that by the year 2016 they will be able to accomplish their objective.

Rabies is a highly fatal viral disease which can spread from the saliva of animals infected with the virus to humans usually through a bite and can also be acquired if a scratch, wound or body openings such as mucous membrane of the eyes, nose or mouth are exposed to contaminated saliva.

In animals, the first sign of rabies is a change in behavior. Rabid animals usually stop eating and drinking and may appear to want to be left alone then likely to become vicious and show signs of paralysis and bite at the slightest provocation.Once the sign of paralysis is evident, the disease progresses and the animal dies.

The PVET advised that once bitten by a dog, wash the wound with soap or detergent under running water, disinfect the wound with alcohol or tincture of iodine and immediately consult a doctor or seek the nearest bite center in the locality.

For the biting dog, it must not be killed but be leashed or confined in a cage for observation for 14 days and if the dog dies within 14 days, seek the assistance of a veterinarian for proper submission of specimen for diagnosis . -- Daniel B. Codamon