NEWS BITS

Echague teacher gunned down on way to school 

ECHAGUE, Isabeal  – A public elementary school teacher was shot dead by motorcycle-riding men as she was on her way to school here  Nov. 28.

Twinkle Gario, 37, and her husband were on a motorcycle when she was shot at around 12:45 p.m. in Barangay Cabugao, said Chief Insp. Gerald Gamboa, town police chief.

Gario died while being rushed to the Echague District Hospital due to two gunshot wounds in the body.

Investigators recovered two bullet shells for a caliber .45 pistol at the crime scene.

Gamboa said Gario’s husband told investigators that his wife’s debts could be the motive for the killing. – Raymund Catindig

Baguio starts December with 3 grand Christmas events

BAGUIO CITY  — A Mardi Gras-style children’s parade, a Christmas tree-lighting, and a lantern parade marked this city’s welcoming of the Yuletide season, dubbed “Silahis ng Pasko” (Christmas beam) yesterday.

At least 2,000 day care children in colorful garb that depicted the first Christmas in Bethlehem set the festive mood here Tuesday.

Following a dance contest, two kids chosen as the event’s “Little Mr. and Miss Silahis ng Pasko” took to the stage for the “Putungan” (crowning) ceremony.

In the evening, Saint Louis University’s lantern parade followed the Christmas tree-lighting on Session Road which wowed the crowd with a fireworks display.

Former councilor Nars Padilla who organized the three events with the City Social Welfare and Development Office said a crowd of 30,000 turned out for some early Christmas cheer.

Mobile passporting set in Ifugao  Dec. 13

LAGAWE, Ifugao - - A mobile passporting sponsored by the Provincial Local Government Unit in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)  is  scheduled Dec. 13 here.

A total of  680 people  applied for the said activity to held at the provincial capitol in Lagawe town. This is  aimed to help minimize expenses of people in processing their passports by traveling to  DFA  offices  in  Tuguegarao, Baguio, Manila, or La Union.

All applicants are advised to present the original copy of the photo copied documents submitted for verification  together with the P1,200.00 for the payment of the passport. -- Marcelo Lihgawon

SM opens Cabanatuan mall

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) marked a milestone last week when it opened SM store here,  the business capital of Nueva Ecija.

Everyone was in a celebratory mood when Cabanatuan City mayor Julius Caesar “Jay” Vergara together with SM retail group president Jorge Mendiola opened the mall to the first wave of shoppers.

Locals quickly crowded the mall, which was in a festive spirit. Located on a building formerly occupied by Mega Center the Mall – four-level mall will serve customers in 4 cities and 27 municipalities in the province.  -- Sheen Crisologo

LTO-Kalinga ups drive vs unregistered vehicles  

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Land Transportation Provincial Office  here  intensified its  drive on unregistered vehicles in the province.
LTO-Kalinga provincial office head Jenelyn  Angog said  their office has coordinated with the Tabuk City Public Order and Safety Office for assistance in monitoring and apprehension of all unregistered vehicles.

According to Angog, there will be teams to be deployed along the province’s major thoroughfares for maximum results.

She urged vehicle owners to cooperate and comply with their obligation to avoid additional charges from penalties due to late registration.

Angog  also reminded bus companies with out-of-line units operating in the province of the November 30 moratorium set by the LTO. The deadline was supposed to be August 30 but it was  extended  for two months after bus operators sought extension.

After the November 30 moratorium, LTO  will be forced to apprehend violators and will have to  face a P200,000 penalty, Angog said. -- Larry Lopez

Mt Prov early taxpayers to be given discounts

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- - Early taxpayers in Mountain Province will enjoy discounts from municipal treasury offices.

As in the past years, the provincial government grants discounts for taxpayers who will settle their real property and business obligations ahead of the deadlines set next year.

Provincial Treasurer Cawed A. Gamonnac said that for real property taxes (RPT), a 20 percent discount will be granted to those who will pay their taxes for the year 2015 in full before January 1, 2015.

Gamonnac added that a 10 percent discount of total current tax is granted to those who pay in full from January 1 to March 31, 2015.

The provincial treasurer said real taxpayers are given an option to pay their tax in four equal instalments, without interest, provided that payments are made within the allowed period.

The first instalment shall be on or before March 31, 2015; second instalment is on or before June 30, 2015; third instalment is on or before September 30, 2015 and the fourth is on or before December 31, 2015.

However, a two percent interest shall be charge of the amount of delinquent tax, for each month of delinquency until the tax has been fully paid, but not to exceed 36 months.

With this, Gamonnac is encouraging tax payers to pay their obligations earlier not to be charged with interest.

Meanwhile, Gamonnac relayed that their office has been conducting forum on Real Property Taxation to the different municipalities in the province. --Alpine L. Killa

Singing group commended for winning a cappella tilt

BAGUIO CITY – The city council in a resolution commended the Baguio Pinopela Group for winning the 2nd Akapela Open, a nationwide search for the finest contemporary a cappella group, held recently at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.

The group composed of St. Louis University Glee Club members JJ Pimpinio, Kenneth Castillo, Ryan Lamazora, Timothy Go, Jessalyn Doldol, Charmaine Suyu, Zsaris Mendioro and Ingrid Payaket emerged as grand champion in the competition spearheaded by the Music School of maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

“The accomplishment of the Pinopela group is worth commending as it gives pride and prestige to the city and its constituents,” the city council noted in Resolution No. 307 series of 2014.

The group’s victory proved that the city’s youth can shine in any form of performing arts including singing without any instrumental accompaniment.

Pinopela was coined from the word “pino,” a Filipino word that means fine which according to the resolution “suitably describes the pitch perfect and first-rate sound produced by the Pinopela group.”

“It also stand for Pine referring to the pine trees that grow abundantly in the city being the  group’s hometown.” – Aileen Refuerzo 

Vigan pushed as ‘new seven wonder cities’

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Ilocanos are pushing for Vigan as one of the New Seven Wonder Cities (N7WC) of the world by getting global support for the heritage city to win the contest. Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson turned over P1 million to the city government here Tuesday, in support to the campaign of Vigan for the N7WC search.

“The provincial government of Ilocos Sur is overwhelmingly supporting the quest of Vigan for the N7WC because this is not only an honor for Vigan and for the province but for all Filipinos in the world,” he said. Ilocos Norte also joined the campaign.  -- Freddie Lazaro

SNAP, Inc. provides P1.8M assistance to Ifugao town

LAGAWE, Ifugao  -- The SN Aboitiz Power, Inc. (SNAP) has  granted P1.8 million  financial assistance to the local government unit here to fund  an environmental protection project in one of  its barangays.

Municipal administrator Marcelo Banhan  said the  amount was  requested through a project proposal  last year  for the safe closure plan of the Montabiong dumpsite here.

The Montabiong dumpsite is the temporary garbage area of the capital town while the municipality is looking for a permanent sanitary landfill.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, however, has ordered the safe closure of the dumpsite.

“The granted amount will be used for the purchase of one unit garbage truck and concreting of critical portion of the access road approaching the dumpsite in preparation for the final closure of the facility,” Banhan said.

The safe closure aims to prevent waste from littering, minimize offensive odors emitting from the garbage area and improve access road surface along the approach of the disposal site. By the end of the project, the LGU expected that parcels and access road of the dumpsite have been stabilized and sufficiently covered with soil and planted with vegetative covers and concreted and  slopes have been leveled and stabilized. -- Marcelo Lihgawon

BFAR lifts ban on ludong fishing

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The ban on the catching of ludong, the country’s most expensive fish, has been lifted.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the 45-day ban on ludong fishing was lifted last Nov. 15.

The ban was imposed starting Oct. 1 to allow the fish to spawn.

Ludong can be found only in the ri-vers of Cagayan Valley, the Cordillera and Abra.

The BFAR has banned the catching, purchasing, sale, transport, export and possession of ludong from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15 of each year.

This is when female ludong migrate from the waters of Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya provinces to the ocean to lay eggs.

Fishermen take advantage of this period to catch ludong, prompting the government to order the ban. Catching ludong before the fish can reach the saltwater prevents reproduction, the BFAR said.

Max Prudencio Jr. of the BFAR regional office said no one was caught violating the ban this year.

Penalties for violating the ban range from six months to eight years imprisonment or a fine of P6,000 to P80,000.

Known as the President’s Fish or Pacific Salmon, ludong is sold for at least P5,000 a kilo. – Charlie Lagasca

MP gov allots P2M for building for elderly, persons with disabilities

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen has appropriated P2 million to partially fund the construction of a structure to provide an office for persons with disabilities.

Mayaen said the amount will fund  construction of the Senior Citizens Building at Sac-angan, Calluttit in the capital town with the condition the Senior Citizen’s Organization agree to share the structure.

Mayaen said the provincial government also allotted an amount for persons with disabilities. -- Erwin S. Batnag

Ilocos Norte eyes long-term water management plan

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — The provincial government here is aimed at formulating a long-term water management plan to anticipate the emerging effect of climate change in the future.

This developed as the Ilocos Norte government and the Ilocos Norte Water District held provincial water summit Nov. 27 at the Laoag City Auditorium.

The forum addressed the call of Gov. Imee R. Marcos for the need to better manage the local water resources for the sake of the next generation.

Considering Ilocos Norte has rich agricultural lands, Marcos said the farmers will be seriously affected if water management system will not be mapped out for implementation.

“If we can manage our water resources, we will surely be the best little province in the country in the future,” she said.

Engineer John Teodoro, the INWD general manager, said that various groups composed of policy makers, farmers, students, academe, private and public organizations are expected to attend the event to discuss several measures for effective provincial water management to avoid the looming water crisis in the province.

The water summit is expected to be graced by National Irrigation Administrator (NIA) Florencio Padernal, who was appointed last July 2014 and was tasked to irrigate more than 1.3 million hectares of land in the country. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

PMA cadets visit historic Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — A total of 195 cadets from the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City toured this town to learn the vital role it played in history, particularly in World War (WWII). The tour is part of the PMA “Salaknib” Class of 2017’s Interdisciplinary Tour from November 24 to 28, during which they will visit provinces and towns in Luzon that played a vital role in WWII.

The cadets visited Pangasinan’s Veterans Park where the memoirs of the landing of Allied Forces led by Gen. Douglas MacArthur to liberate Luzon Island from the Japanese occupation are displayed, and paid a courtesy call on Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. – himself, a PMA alumnus – who hosted their lunch. -- JojoRiñoza

DA packaging highland  veggies  forintl market

By Carlito Dar

BAGUIO CITY - - Ready to eat “Chopsuey” dish and processed “Sayote” byproduct and as meat extender  readily available in groceries and supermarket and  possibly in the international market.

These  are  just among the post-harvest processing products on Benguet vegetables that the Department of Agriculture is planning, as bared by DA Secretary Proseso Alcala in a press conference  last week.

Alcala  said  that DA is set to implement the Philippine Rural Development Program, whose  primary purpose is for farmers to maximize their income from their agricultural produce.

He  disclosed the plan to process Benguet’s semi-temperate vegetables  into chopsuey dish in  ready-to-eat tetra-packs. 

He said there  are already talks  with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to include it  in their family packs for their relief operation in times of calamities or disasters.

Another Benguet agri-product the DA is  looking into is the “Sayote”. According to the Secretary,  the sayote has a very big potential in entering the international market as what  seen in the supermarkets and groceries of Dubai and Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“We are looking into the market and processing of Sayote which is a very good meat-extender, whether on chicken, pork or beef,” Alcala said.

“At the end of the day, aside from the additional market that ASEAN Integration 2015 will bring, our population of 100 million is already a very big market so what we need to do is to increase the productivity of the farmers, improve the quality of their agricultural produce and look into other byproducts that we can process at the Agri-Pinoy Trading Center”, he said.

The Agri-Pinoy Trading Center in La Trinidad, Benguet  which is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2015, include a processing center  so that farmers from Benguet and even Mountain Province can maximize their income from their yields.

Alcala was on official visit here in Baguio and nearby La Trinidad last week for the anniversary of DA’s Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Program and for a site inspection and  meeting with  local partners and stakeholders  of the P600 Million Agri-Pinoy Trading Center. (JDP/CCD – PIA CAR)

DTI pushes  cacao industry in Abra

BANGUED, Abra -- Efforts to level up the cacao cottage industry in Abra is being pushed by the Department of Trade and Industry to cope with ASEAN 2015.

DTI-Abra director Arell F. Banez,  regional coordinator for cacao industry promotion in the Cordillera, invited DTI cacao industry national coordinator Director Edwin Banquerigo  and Valente Turtur, Executive Officer of the CACAO Industry Development Association in Mindanao  to conduct training on cacao  development Nov. 19 – 21.

The training was attended by the cacao producers and processors from the provinces of Abra, Apayao and Kalinga.

The first day was forum on cacao investment promotion at Coopmart of the  Abra Diocesan Teachers and Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Bangued.

The second day was the hands-on training on production in Bucay where   cacao production is a cottage industry for many residents there.  They have been growing cacao and producing the popular tablea, a locally-produced chocolate out of cacao.

The third day was  planning workshop where the local producers planned activities to promote the industry and adopt it as their alternative livelihood on a commercial scale guided by the challenges of ASEAN 2015 to be able to cope with the demands of the world market.

Other municipalities in Abra are now involved in growing cacao to sustain this future industry in Abra. – Maria Teresa Benas

Kalinga agri extension  ‘worker wins national award  

PASIL, Kalinga--  An employee of Pasil Municipal Agriculturist Office won this year’s top award in the search for National Agriculture Extension Worker for Organic Agriculture Category by the Department of Agriculture.

Provincial rice program coordinator Joe Casibang reported Rowena Gunnay   bested other  55  national nominees  for the award which  recognizes excellent performance of agriculture extension workers under DA’s program in promoting organic farming in the country.

Gunnay received her trophy  and  P30,000 cash incentive  during the National Organic Agriculture Convention in Davao City, recently.

What made Gunnay won the prestigious award, according to Casibang, were her efforts in organizing, training and empowering upland farmers in Pasil on organic farming technology that boosted their production of Kalinga’s vaunted upland Unoy Rice.

Because of her efforts, Pasil Unoy farmers had increased and sustained their export of Kalinga’s pure organic upland Unoy Rice to the US. She maintains a library of all her works, which she shares as reference materials to farmers.    

Alternative organic farming technology advocates use of indigenous and natural inputs, which are proven environment-friendly and less cost in place of commercial inorganic implements, Casibang explained.

The technology applies in the production of rice, corn, high-value crops and adapted in the integrated farming system now practiced by many farmers in the province.

In 2013, eleven agriculture extension workers from Kalinga had won national awards from DA.  – Larry Lopez

Ifugao PCPC trained on non-violent  discipline

LAMUT, Ifugao--  Twenty five members of the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children were trained last week for the promotion of positive discipline through non-violent communication.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said  CPC members, being lead implementors in children related laws, must realize that positive discipline through non-violent communication, and not the infliction of pain or fear work best.

Infusing non-violent communication helps children develop appropriate thinking and behavior;  it guides them to develop their self-discipline and confidence in harmony with self and other, the PSWDO added.

Participants were  oriented on   non-violent communication, its process and barriers; the Department of Education’s protection policy, Lagawe town’s ordinance on positive discipline, handling disclosure.

The second day was devoted  the simulation of the non-violent communication process by groups and planning for the council’s activity in terms of information advocacy for the promotion of  NVC province wide.

The 25 trained PCPC members will act as trainers and communicators on positive discipline or no corporal punishments in the society.

Based on  PSWDO  reports, from January to June this year, three cases of child abuse were committed by teachers, 28 were sexually abused by various perpetrators and 12 are children in conflict with the law.  -- Marcelo Lihgawon

Kalinga is Cordillera’s bet in  nat’l rice achievers award

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Kalinga province  is  once  again  Cordillera region’s entry to the 2014 National Rice Achiever’s Award of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-CAR.

Kalinga is the only province in the Cordillera Region that has posted positive growth rate in rice at 3.99%, according to Kalinga Rice Program Coordinator Joe Casibang.

DA holds annual search to promote the country’s rice industry as component under the National Food Sufficiency Program.

Winners in the annual search are given cash incentives to finance projects that enhance rice production growth.
For Kalinga, the P4 million cash incentive it received in 2012 was used for the improvement of the farm-market-road leading to the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist’s (OPAG) demo-farm  while that for 2013  was  allocated for the planned construction of the farmers’ academy at the OPAG compound. – Larry Lopez

Six Ifugao schools vie for nutritionally friendly school

LAGAWE,Ifugao -- Six schools in the province are vying for the 2014 search for Best Nutritionally Friendly School.
The search for BNFS is one of the local initiatives of the provincial government to ensure safe, nutritious snacks to pupils. It advocates for nutritious foods for Filipinos, and promotes the choice of selecting native delicacies with high nutritive value.

According to Provincial Nutrition Office,  contest aims to encourage school management help provide supplemental feeding to identified very low nutritional status as part of the process of the canteen.

Members of the PNC technical working group will be going to the different schools  from  December 1-8.  Three  of these  schools are for elementary category and three for central school category.

The criteria for the contest are : school canteen (nutrition) -  30 percent;  school garden – 40% and health and sanitation of the school -  30 percent. -- Marcelo Lihgawon

Kinuday Burger’’ wins  in Adivay cooking competition

LA T RINIDAD, Benguet -- The Benguet people  showcased their innovativeness in  cooking their traditional smoked  meat  called “kinuday”  in the on-going Adivay Festival  with the “Kinuday Burger” setting its own identity.

The Department of Agriculture and Benguet Provincial Veterinary Office  awarded best in Kinuday cooking award to Mila Opino from Pipingew Women’s Association of La Trinidad, Benguet   for her  “Kinuday burger”   recently here at Wangal Sports Center here.

Other winners included Freddie Basilio  from Topdac Multi Purpose Cooperative in 2nd place,  Rebecca Noces  from Taloy Sur Farmers Association of Tuba, 3rd place, and Victoria Flores from Tawangan  Agrarian Reform Community Cooperative of Kabayan,  Benguet, 4th.

Meanwhile,  the top five awardees for the “Kinuday” making competition were the municipalities of Bokod, La Trinidad, Kabayan, Tuba and Atok.

The criteria for judging for the cooking competition were:  presentation (10%), Texture (10%) Flavor ( 10%) and taste 20 (%). In the kinudaymaking  contest,  criteria were  aroma ( 10 %), color (10 %), packing (20 %), and presentation  (10 %) .

Dr. Ruben L. Cayad-an, Provincial Veterinarian  head,  said the  Kinuday cooking competition   was aimed to highlight the capability of Benguet people to showcase the native product of the province. It was  set to promote the product and to organize market outlet as a way to assist livestock backyard farmers in the province.

This year’s Kinuday making contest was co-sponsored by the Provincial Government of Benguet, and Solane Gas.  -- Sonny Cosme