NEWS BITS

Sokoken heads DPWH Ifugao 2nd District

AGUINALDO. Ifugao – engineer Charles Cheren Sokoken is now District Engineer of Ifugao 2nd District Engineering Office here after DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson issued his designation Oct.  29.

Sokoken started his professional career in the DPWH with the lowest position as Survey Aide II of the Mountain Province District Engineering Office (MPDEO) in 1988. After passing as civil engineer, he became casual Engineer II before he took his oath of duty as permanent engineer II. In 2003, Sokoken was assigned at DPWH-CAR regional office where he was promoted as Engineer III in 2010.

In early 2010, Sokoken was assigned at the DPWH Central Office in Manila before he was designated as OIC assistant district engineer of the MPDEO in July of the same year. In 2012, Sokoken was assistant district engineer.

Sokoken graduated his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree at the Baguio Colleges Foundation now University of the Cordilleras in 1987.

He finished his Masters in Public Administration in the Cordillera College in 1999 and Doctor of Philosophy at the Baguio Central University in 2006. He was bestowed by the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) with the degree Master in Development Management when he attended the Public Management Development Program (PMDP) at Tagaytay City as a scholar of the DPWH from  2013 to 2014.

Sokoken belongs to the first batch who passed the nationwide DPWH promotional examination institutionalized by Singson as a requirement for managerial position in the department.

Sokoken assumed his designation as OIC-District Engineer of the 2nd District Engineering Office of Ifugao on Nov. 11 replacing engineer Romelda Bangasan who was re-assigned.

Meanwhile, engineer Apolonia D. Malingan assumed as OIC- assistant district engineer of the MPDEO on Nov. 13, 2015 which Sokokenvacared when he was reassigned to Ifugao. -- Pamela F. Kayachen

San Fernando City wins PCCI  award

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — The city government led by Mayor Pablo C. Ortega was adjudged “Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU)” for the City Category Level 3 in the 41st Philippine Business Conference (PBC) and Expo 2015 held recently in Pasay City. The city bested 12 other cities in the same level for the coveted award given by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). The PCCI cited the LGU for its outstanding achievements in creating or enhancing economically-viable and vibrant communities. “We the officials, employees and residents, are very grateful for the trust that PCCI has given us,” said Ortega, who accepted the award in behalf of the city. -- Erwin G. Beleo

New hospital to rise in Nueva Ecija

PALAYAN CITY – A new hospital with an 80-bed capacity will be built in this city to serve the poor.

The P100-million project to be implemented through the public private partnership (PPP) scheme will be constructed in Barangay Caimito, according to Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas.

The project cost includes funding for the hospital operation and maintenance.

Since the facility will be implemented under the PPP scheme, Cuevas said she would undergo a seminar on how to operate and manage the hospital.

The city has an emergency hospital in Barangay Caimito, but it only serves as a lying-in clinic with a three bed-emergency room. The facility is not enough to meet the growing needs of the residents.

Cuevas said the city government has acquired two ambulances, one of which was provided by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. – Manny Galvez  

    

DA awards 13 M typhoon assistance to Kalinga

The Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region handed over certificate of award to the Provincial Local Government Unit of Kalinga worth P13 million.

This is assistance to farmers affected by Typhoon Lando according to Dept. of Agriculture regional executive director, Lorenzo M. Caranguian. The certificate of award was signed by the DA secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

Typhoon Lando damaged around P44 million rice, corn, high value crops and livestock in the province.

The P13 million assistance is composed of 276 bags of certified seeds, 18,461 vegetable seeds, 100 sets of pumps and engines, and 19 heads of various livestock.

Gov. Jocel Baac assured the farmers the assistance will directly benefit farmer groups.

The award was given during the launching of the Kalinga Farmer’s Academy at Tabuk City, Kalinga on November 12. -- JPotectan

Weakened serpent eagle saved at city plaza

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — A wild young serpent eagle which had lost its strength and wandered at the city plaza here last Saturday was saved by a good-natured resident and then turned over to authorities last Monday.

Mayor Pablo C. Ortega said the eagle, with a wing span of 47 inches and height of 26 inches is now in the custody of the La Union Botanical Garden.

Resident Donald Sotelo said his family was driving by the plaza when they spotted the weak bird, which has yellow eyes and feathers colored brown with white spots.

“I caught it and decided to take it home first to give it food. Then, we turned it over to the mayor,” said Sotelo.

City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Candy Miguel said the four-year-old serpent eagle, which feeds on meat, will be cared for at the La Union Botanical Garden until it gathers enough strength to be released back into the wild. – Erwin Beleo

Sagada  student writers club formed

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Student writers from secondary schools of this municipality elected their officers and named their organization Ganduyan Young Writers Circle.

One objective of GYWC was to prepare young writers for division press conference to be held December this year.

Participants from St. Mary School, Sagada National High School and  Bangaan National High School  identified other topics  for training this  November  before the division press conference shall  be held including  broadcasting.

Other secondary school writers from  high schools  Ankileng, Balugan and Antadao were urged to join the training this  Nov. 21 and  join the organization.

The training-workshop sponsored by the social concerns committee of the Church of St Mary the Virgin  was delivered by SCCom members  and  writers  Alma Bawing-Bagano, Celia Penaflor and  this writer who shared tips on news writing, feature writing and photojournalism.— Gina Dizon

Aeta scholars get cash assistance

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, – About 100 Aeta college students from various towns of Floridablanca, Porac, and Mabalacat City recently received P5,000  to P10,000 each as part of their educational assistance from the provincial government.

Acting Governor Ferdinand “Dinan” Labung said the provincial government released a total P590,000  intended for the educational aid of the tribe students.

Labung  said the distribution was part of the Gov. Lilia Garcia-Pineda’s Educational Financial Assistance Program (EFAP), which  aims to provide basic social services and quality education to the Capampangan indigenous people.

The acting governor said education was the key for poverty alleviation and an important way for the Aetas to dream and work for improved quality of life.

“If they could finish their college education through the help of the provincial government, they could help their respective families and indigenous communities, then we could say that we are successful in helping the Aetas,” he said.

Pangasinan cited for fishery program

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The provincial government received another award from the national government for its contribution to the fishery development, protection and conservation.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources conferred Gawad Pasasalamat sa mga Kabalikat sa Pangisdaan 2015 award on the provincial government during last Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at the capitol grounds.

BFAR regional director NestroDomenden said Pangasinan is among the provinces that lead in fish production.

Domenden said last year, the province’s fish production hit 87.7 percent.

The agency cited the provincial government’s coastal resources education program.

Gov. Amado Espino Jr. thanked the BFAR for recognizing the program, which aims to develop the fishing sector in coastal areas. – Cesar Ramirez

‘Rakenroll’ restaged

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – The provincial government stages a bigger production of the musical play “Rakenrol” at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena here Friday evening to entertain tourists who spent APEC-week holiday vacation in the province.  “Rakenrol,” which premiered at the TeatroIlocandia in Mariano Marcos State University in Batac City last September, was praised for its production and performance of its actors. It follows the story of Martin, Yolly, Mayang, Lola Skarlet and Manong Romy as they recall the wonderful events during 1970s – the “the golden age of rock and roll, Original Pilipino Music (OPM), of indeed film, art and of all that was best in the Philippines,” according to Gov. Imee Marcos. Director Jeremy dela Cruz earlier encouraged Ilocano youth to watch as “it is a retrospect of the 1970s and serves as guide to the future generation.”  -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Mountain Province weavers attend Iloilo study mission

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Some 18 weavers and weaving entrepreneurs from Mountain Province recently attended a two-day local study mission in Iloilo City. Planning Officer IV Brenda R. Tabbang who is also a member of the Provincial Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council said the activity aimed to improve productivity and efficiency of weaving sector in the province for them to be competitive. 

She added participants  established market linkages, familiarized themselves on the use of sewing machine accessories, explored other materials that could match with their  woven products and developed new products through the infusion of other materials aside from woven cloth.

Tabbang said participants had a first-hand experience on how the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) particularly the weaving sector in Iloilo City produce their woven products.  These included how the woven products were sawn with the use of proper sewing machine, production of woven rags into useful products such as foot rags and souvenir items, and interaction with the weavers in Iloilo City.

Participants visited establishment of sewing machines in Iloilo City. The proprietor lectured on kinds of sewing machines and accessories to be used in different kinds of fabric, and demonstrated how their woven product is sewn into a dress. The participants were also challenged to try new product line and be receptive to new trends.

The study mission was funded and headed by the Provincial Government and Department of Trade and Industry – Mountain Province in coordination with DTI- Iloilo City. -- Alpine L. Killa

BSU dominates colleges’ culture, arts festival tilt

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Benguet State University (BSU) yet again emerged as the over-all champion in the recently concluded Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State Universities and Colleges (CARASUC) Regional Culture and the Arts Festival held at Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) last Oct. 25-27.

With their 137 points BSU brought home the bacon winning gold in the on-the-spot painting, choral singing, instrumental solo, hip hop dance, essay writing and short and sweet plays. Also in the pageant night held at the Eyeb Gym, Mr. BSU Istvan Joe S. Quiamco, an engineering student of BSU College of Engineering and Applied Technology (CEAT) was crowned as Mr. CARASUC 2015.

Quiamco along with his partner miss CARASUC 2015 Sarah Sta. Ana of MPSPC will be representing the region in the National State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Games in Cebu City this coming 2016.

Dr. Norma Mayos BSU’s Center for Culture and the Arts (CCA) extended  outmost gratitude to the host MPSPC.

Sitting as over-all second place is MPSPC after scoring 132 points as they secured gold in quiz bowl, charcoal drawing, indigenous dance, radio drama and live band. At third place, isAbra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) who was able to bagged golds in vocal solo, contemporary dance, pop solo and vocal duet. Landing at fourth place is Apayao State College with its lone gold in folk dance. Ifugao State University got three golds in extemporaneous speaking, storytelling and pagkukwento and stayed in fifth place while the Kalinga-Apayao State College fared well in pagsulat ng sanaysay and dagliang talumpati and landed in sixth place.

Winners now have less than a month to prepare as they will once again be competing, this time as representatives of Cordillera in the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) National Culture and the Arts Festival on November 29-December 2, 2015 at the Bicol University in Legazpi City, Albay. -- Sara Axelrod

Farming aid for Pangasinan farmers

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – About 37,000 Pangasinan farmers devastated by the onslaught of super-typhoon “Lando” were given rice seeds from the Department of Agriculture Region 1 Office (DA-1) and the provincial government last Thursday. DA-1 Regional Director Valentino C. Perdido, together with Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr., distributed 30,635 bags of inbred and hybrid rice seeds that will allow farmers to cover around 30,000 hectares of typhoon-wrecked farmlands. The DA also distributed assorted vegetable and mungbeen seeds to different vegetables growers associations adversely affected by Lando. -- JojoRiñoza

Greenpeace gives seeds to Benguet farmers

TUBLAY, Benguet – Greenpeace, with its partners, gave seeds to farmers here last week to help farming communities recover from impact of Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu). 

More than 200 farmers received seeds, in the event organized with Cordillera Organic Producers Association and students from Benguet State University and Saint Louis University. Farmers were supplied with temperate organic vegetable seeds, vermicast, bokashi fertilizer, and organic concoctions to help them replant crops hit by Typhoon Lando.

“Our nation’s farmers face many problems, from poverty issues, non-existent health benefits, to a lack of government support. Climate change has also taken a toll, rendering farmers even more vulnerable as we have seen with Lando and other previous typhoons,” said Virginia Llorin, Food and Ecological Agriculture Campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines.

 “Farmers need help and like the seed response we carried out for farmers in Dolores, Samar after Typhoon Ruby, we immediately tapped into our ecological agriculture network to help us pool the resources needed for the farmers in Benguet.”

Lando, the worst typhoon to hit the country this year according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, caused a total of P9.8 billion in damage to central, northern and southern Luzon, with P8.6 billion damage attributed to agriculture  

The response package was sourced from various groups including the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry, Kahariam Organic Farm, Cosmic Farm and an ecological agriculture farmer from Gerona, Tarlac.   

Experts from the Rice Watch Action Network (R1), a network of non-government organizations promoting sustainable farming, fair trade, and community resilliency, also advised farmers on the impacts of El Nino and increasingly frequent and stronger typhoons in agriculture. Benguet farmers were also taught ways to diversify their farms and increase their livelihood opportunities through organic fertilizer production and raising organic livestock.

"We are very excited and we feel fortunate to join this activity because we will learn more about ecological agriculture,” said Jaya Marsan, a student of Benguet State University and one of the #IAmHampasLupa youth who participated in the seed response. “We believe that ecological agriculture can help our farmers become climate resilient, and this seed response is one important step towards promoting ecological agriculture in Benguet."

Greenpeace is calling for improved investments in agriculture to boost the resiliency of the nation’s farming system. The government should focus on programs that will enhance the capacity of farmers, empowering them to become self-sufficient. There is also a need to formulate and implement a comprehensive food policy that will resolve agricultural inadequacies and guide adaptation to climate change.

“Our farmers should have access to climate resilient farming practices to prevent future losses due to extreme weather events such as Typhoon Lando. The seed delivery and skillshare that we helped conduct are vital steps toward that. We are confident the #IamHampasLupa youths who participated in the seed response will become ecological agriculture practitioners who will carry our torch in the future,” Llorin added.

Imee unveils proud mural of Basi Revolt

PIDDIG, Ilocos Norte — Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos inaugurated recently a 10-foot mural of the Basi Revolt, titled Mga Mandirigma ng Basi” inside the municipal hall, here, to relive the legacy of the 1807 uprising that inspired the “one great Ilocano nation.”

Marcos said the mural represents the history and unity of the great Ilocanos, which highlights the heroism of Ilocano Pedro Mateo and the great Tinnguian warrior Saralogo Ambaristo, who strategized, trained, and brought forth the first Ilocano army.

“Truly, this Basi Revolt is something that we must often reminisce; no matter how many forces try to pull apart the lowland, upland and even midland Ilocanos; the truth is we are one great Ilocano nation and this pure Ilocano- initiated uprising should we uphold its legacy until today,” Marcos said at the ceremonial unveiling of the mural last Wednesday. – Freddie G. Lazaro