NEWS BITS

Abra officials clarify ‘red tagging’ vs NGOs

VILLAVICIOSA, Abra -- Tamac barangay officials here led by village chairman Carmelo Bayod clarified the red-tagging incident against Tulong Katribu, Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services and Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera during their first relief operation last week. In a community meeting prior to the distribution of goods, Bayod apologized to the group and also to Alliance of Concerned Teachers Provincial coordinator Ariel Solomon Martes for being wrongly accused as rebels and promised to issue a barangay resolution affirming that the group and teacher Martes are not New People’s Army rebels. Martes is a grade 5 and 6 teacher in neighboring Bol-lilising elementary school and is also among the evacuees from Barangay Tamac and was forced to take a leave due to the incident.

"All's well that ends well. Now that the issue has been clarified, I hope that it will not happen again. We are aware that the red-tagging statement was not from anyone from the barangay council. We are thankful that they gave us a chance to air our side and clarify on the matter,” said Martes

The group is eyeing for another round of assistance to the community, this time for the rehabilitation of the makeshift Tamac elementary school. -- Ronald Gustilo

Still no ‘bio’ for 91K Pampanga voters 

City of San Fernando, Pampanga — Some 91,896 voters in the province have no biometrics data while 5000 more have yet to complete their biometric requirements for them to be able to vote in 2016 elections, the Commission On Election (Comelec) said.

Lawyer Lydia V. Florentino-Pangilinan, Pampanga provincial election supervisor, said the Comelec will not be complacent in encouraging the remaining voters to validate their records until the deadline on Oct. 31, 2015.

“We are requesting them to complete their biometrics so that they will be able to exercise their right of suffrage. They will have to comply in order to be allowed to vote on May 9, 2016,” she said.

The province has 1,136,002 registered and validated voters as of August 31, 2015. Of this, 7.45 percent of the voters were found without biometrics, and 0.44 with incomplete of biometrics.

 La Trinidad  intensifies anti-smoking  campaign

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – This capital town has upped its campaign   for a smoke-free environment.

The local government last week oriented stakeholders on provisions of the La Trinidad Tobacco Control Ordinance particularly on functions of the Municipal Tobacco Control Board and smoking control enforcement unit.

The Tobacco Control Ordinance regulates smoking in public places, selling or distribution of tobacco products to minors  and advertisement of tobacco products in the municipality. 

San Gabriel, La Union Mayor Divina Velasco whose municipality has been  a Red Orchid awardee or recognized for its non-smoking efforts shared her town’s experience during the orientation.

San Gabriel  was also awarded by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Health as the Best LGU Implementer of Smoke-Free Program in Region 1. It is also   the cleanest, greenest and safest municipality in the region.

Velasco said their town implemented total ban in smoking in all public places based on a municipal ordinance with the strict imposition of penalties for violators.

She also created the Smoke Free task force and the municipal coordinator of tobacco prevention and control and a smoking cessation program.  Smoke-free advocacy activities were also created such as the Healthy Lifestyle and smoke cessation lectures for municipal officials and employees.

Velasco encouraged La Trinidad officials to step up its efforts in having a tobacco-free environment by having advocacy activities and strengthened policies towards anti-smoking.

Meanwhile, Mayor Edna Tabanda, who chairs the  MTCB, urged residents and stakeholders to show their cooperation and active involvement for the successful implementation of the ordinance in order to make this  capital town  a healthier place to live especially for senior citizens and children. -- Redgie Melvic Cawis  

Bontoc dog owners urged: Vaccinate pets

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Agriculture officials called on pet dog owners in the province to have their dogs vaccinated to lessen rabies.

Dr. Cameron Odsey, OIC assistant regional director for research of the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera, said the dreaded rabies is very much preventable through vaccination.

Odsey said responsible pet owners should have their pets three months old and above,  vaccinated yearly.

Veterinarians said rabies in humans is caused mostly by dog bites which are transmitted through the saliva of the infected dog.  Person bitten by dogs are advised to wash the wounds thoroughly with clean water and soup then go to the nearest hospital or clinic for treatment,

Odsey, together with the provincial veterinarians  of Abra, Apayao, Ifugao and Beguet and the city veterinarians  of Tabuk and Baguio and some personnel from DA-CAR,   joined  in  the  celebration of the “World Rabies Day”  last September 29  at the provincial plaza here.

Bontoc mayor Franklin Odsey and provincial sports coordinator Arnold Petten who represented Gov. Leonard Mayaen, urged more responsible pet ownership. They said dogs as “man’s best friend” should be protected and given proper treatment.

A highlight of the celebration was a dog walk which started at the front of the municipal plaza and ended at provincial plaza. – Andrew Dogaong

Ifugao town grants vigil, death benefits to officials, employees

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- The Sanguniang Bayan (SB) here recently enacted an ordinance granting vigil service and death benefits to past and incumbent officials and employees of the municipal government effective next year.

Called the “Municipal Death Benefit Ordinance,” this covers past and incumbent municipal officials, whether elected or appointed,  and  retired and current permanent employees hired by the local government unit.

 In the event that an incumbent job order employee who rendered at least six months of service  passed away, the relatives or immediate family members may avail of the death benefit and not necessarily of the vigil service.

The vigil service at the municipal compound shall be  limited to  one day and one night at a scheduled time agreed upon. The vigil service  however, may not be conducted when the family of the deceased does not allow  for personal reasons, when the  home of the  deceased is far  and transporting the cadaver is  impractical,  when there are major government activities that  LGU has to attend or prioritize or when there is calamity or disaster.

For the death benefit, the immediate family of the deceased is entitled to receive  P15,000.

Implementation of the measure takes effect next year  after inclusion of  its financial requirements in the annual LGU budget. -- Daniel B. Codamon

DOT invites  local producers to  Makati Christmas bazaar

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The provincial tourism office is inviting local producers to consign their products for sale in Makati during the Department of Tourism Christmas sale.

Lorraine Ngao-i, provincial tourism officer, said this is a rare  opportunity for local producers to have their crafts and products  displayed in the premier  business center of the country.

The Department of Tourism- Cordillera Administrative Region will serve as coordinator as well the contact between local producers and consignees.

“There are consignees ready to sale local products. The Christmas bazaar will run until Christmas day,” Ngao-i said. – Peter A. Balocnit

Pupils in  Abra village  hold classes in tents

VILLAVICIOSA, Abra -- Pupils of remote barangay of Tamac here are now attending classes in tents in Mt. Paraiso.

Their families have been relocated to the mountain after their community was affected by a big landslide during Typhoon Ineng last month.

Classes are being conducted in makeshift classrooms in their relocation site facilitated by two teachers -- Didith Escobar and Monalisa Buis.

“Our situation here is very hard. But we have no choice. We cannot go back to our old place because it’s dangerous,” Escobar said.

“Sometimes when it rains I just feel so helpless.” Buis said. “Water drips from the tent and we have no place to keep the books and materials safe. But when I see these children so gay and eager to learn, I just keep going.”

According to John Peña, spokesperson of the Department of Education in Abra, informal classes in the relocation sites  are  conducted under tents  until they could   build concrete classrooms for the children.

Peña stated said in order to construct  classrooms sooner, DepEd-Abra needs the support of other agencies and stakeholders because the agency does not have enough funds for school building construction.

Relative to this, the  Department of Education- Abra has started implementing “Piso Alay sa Tamac” Project ( per Memorandum No. 107-series of 2015) at the Abra High School Main, Abra High School Extension at Calot, and at DepEd Division Office. It will also reach out to others schools and offices  as all public school district supervisors and elementary and secondary school heads have been informed about the project.

One peso from each stakeholder could change the lives of people in need especially the youth in Tamac. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

St. John Paul II statue planned at Burnham Park

BAGUIO CITY -- The Senior Citizens Organization here is planning the construction of a monument of Pope John Paul II at Burnham Park in honor of His Holiness’ momentous celebration of the mass at the city’s premiere park in 1981.

Narciso Padilla, who served Senior Citizen Official of a Day (SCOFAD) as mayor, wrote to Department of Tourism Undersecretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. to allow the construction of the monument beside the present Igorot Grandstand at the right side facing the Melvin Jones Grandstand.

“We are requesting the DOT and the PTA (Philippine Tourism Authority) in cooperation with our City Government Officials to kindly designate at least three-by-three square meter area for the proposed project with the National Correspondents Club of Baguio (NCCB) and the Cordillera Broadcaster Alliance (CBA) as lead project coordinators,” Padilla said.

He said the project is being supported by parish priests from several churches and a community development volunteers.

The monument is one way to “perpetuate and immortalize the historic activities of His Holiness, most particularly for having offered the Holy Eucharist at the city’s main park.”

Baguio was included as one of the late Pope’s destinations in his historic evangelical journey to the Philippines on Feb. 17-24, 1981.

Ilocos Sur dengue cases triple this year

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur — Health workers have intensified the information and education campaign against dengue as Ilocos Sur recorded a tripling of cases of the mosquito-borne disease this year.

Records from the Provincial Health Technology Office (PHTO) of Ilocos Sur showed that from January to September 29, the province had 1,995 dengue cases as compared with only 665 dengue patients in the same period last year.

Among the top six cities and towns in the province having the greatest number of dengue cases were Vigan City – 219; San Juan – 162; Magsingal – 157; Cervantes – 136; Candon City – 131 and Narvacan – 128.

PHTO’s Sanitary Inspector Oscar Frio said the only good news is that no dengue fatality has been recorded in the province this year. -- Freddie Lazaro

IP festival set in Pampanga

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – An indigenous people’s festival in this province called Dayaw 2015  seen as the largest gathering of the country’s cultural minority groups has started here.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) has partnered with the provincial government for the holding of Dayaw 2015 from Oct. 15 to 27 in the cities of Angeles and San Fernando.

The event’s theme Katutubong Kaalaman para sa Kalikasan at Kapayapaan (indigenous knowledge for environment and peace will focus on traditional and local knowledge on environment protection and peace).

The event aims to showcase the uniqueness of each IP tribe.

Al-Anwar Anzar of the National Committee on Southern Cultural Communities said Dayaw aims to highlight the importance and richness of indigenous cultures, discuss issues being faced by indigenous peoples and facilitate interactions with other groups.

Marichu Tellano, chief of NCCA plan and policy formulation, said the opening ceremony was held in Bayanihan Park on Thursday.  – Ric Sapnu 

               

Abra dev’t workers deliver aid for evacuated community

VILLAVICIOSA, Abra -- Tulong Katribu, in Partnership with Cordillera Disaster Response and Development Services (Cordis-RDS) and Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera (CDPC) delivered last week its second wave of relief operations for evacuees here of Baranggay Tamac.

Tulong Katribu is a disaster relief and rehabilitation support group based in the province of Abra. It aims to mobilize and empower disaster victims.  The group is composed of Kakailian Salakniban Tay Amin a Nagtaudan (KASTAN CPA-Abra), Sulong Katribu Partylist, Anakbayan and Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

A total of 182 families were provided with relief packs consisting of rice, monggo beans, sugar, salt, canned goods, laundry and bath soaps and toothpaste. They were also given polyethylene sheets for tent reinforcement. 

"This is part of our commitment to serve the people of Abra. We promised not to leave them behind and we are back to fulfill our promise" said Aguida Darisay, chairperson of Sulong Katribu Partylist-Abra. – Ronald Gustillo

P7M given to fund Ilocos rain harvester 

LIDLIDDA, Ilocos Sur – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) awarded a check worth P749, 892.00 to this town for the establishment of rainwater harvester.  Lidlidda Mayor Jesus Sagay received the check from Emmanuel Hagad, the head of the DOLE-Ilocos Sur Field Office earlier this month. DOLE Region 1 Director Grace Ursua said Wednesday the assistance package will also cover the wages of 124 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and farmers affected by recent flooding from the town’s 11 barangays who will be tapped to work on the project. She said the amount comes from the labor agency’s “Tulong Panghanapbuhay” para sa ating Disadvantaged Workers. The rainwater harvesters’ project, which will be excavated structures with 6,520 cu. m. capacity capable of recharging groundwater during dry spell, was realized to help mitigate the effect of the El Niño in the town. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

DENR issues special free patent  to 10 school sites in Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga --Ten school sites in three municipalities of this province were  issued this year special patent by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for titling by the Register of Deeds.

Severino Dalutag, provincial DENR officer,  said almost  136,000 square meters under alienable and disposable lands were surveyed and segregated for disposal of ROD to  ten schools -    four each in  Tabuk   C and  in  Pinukpuk and two in Rizal.

From sub-total of 29,175 sq.m. for this city schools, 9,727 sq.m. was allotted for Bulo East Elementary School; one hectare for Calanan Elementary School; 3,269 sq.m. to Bulanao East Elem.  School; and 6,179 sq.m. to Nambaran Elem. School.

 In Pinukpuk, 36,751 sq.m. was segregated for Allaguia Elem. School; 30,789 for Aciga Elem.  School; 11,247 for Calbayan Primary School, and 3,984 to Pinococ Elem.  School for a sub-total of 82,781 sq.m.

 In Rizal,  of  the  sub-total of 23,906 sq.m , Alibangbang Primary School was allotted 798 sq.m. and 23,108 for Bagbag Elem.  School.

 “Other school sites maybe surveyed for free patent under DENR per request of school heads,” Dalutag said. Raymund Mabazza, OIC Land Management Officer, said ROD will release the respective school site’s title after their registration in Manila. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Lamut in Ifugao receives Seal of Good Local Governance award

LAMUT, Ifugao -- This gate way municipality of the province received the 2014 Seal of Good Local Governance award conferred by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for passing criteria of SGLG.

DILG provincial chief Rosario Dumelod said Lamut was one of four municipalities in the Cordillera and the only municipality in Ifugao that passed the 2014 SGLG.

The local government unit met all criteria of the award  which  included  good financial housekeeping, social protection and disaster preparedness and also accomplished the requirement of the essential components of seal namely  business-friendliness and competitiveness, environment management and peace and order.

Mayor Mariano Buyagawan, Jr.  said the award was great accomplishment of the LGU. The mayor commended all LGU employees particularly the department heads for their hard work and other partner agencies for their full support and thanked also the  DILG that their efforts are being recognized.

With the award, the LGU is entitled to access the Performance Challenge Fund with cash incentive of Php 3 million which  they intend to use for the improvement of the public market

Lamut bagged the Seal of Good Housekeeping  in 2012,  and   recognized with its good performance in internal housekeeping in 2013. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon and Gyda H. Namingit