NEWS BITS

 DOJ creates CAR Anti-Trafficking Task Force

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has  created  the  Cordillera   Anti-Trafficking Task Force (CATTF) to  against human trafficking in the region.

Prosecutor Ruth Bernabe of the Office of the City Prosecutors (OCP)  bared this  during recent 3rd Quarter meeting of the Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking, Violence against Women and Children (RIACAT-VAWC).

The creation of the said task force is embodied in DOJ Department Order No. 809 dated Sept. 11, 2015.

The regional task force headed by Prosecutor Bernabe  is   composed of the following: Assistant Provincial Prosecutor (APP) Ferdinant C. Palma for Abra, APP Jurgenson W. Lagdao of Benguet, Provincial Prosecutor Golda C. Bagawi of Mountain Province, APP Bartolome A. Gamonnac for Kalinga, Deputy Provincial Prosecutor (DPP) Jhon M. Aguda for Apayao, DPP Rito B. Bugaoen for Tabuk City, Assistant City Prosecutors Maria Nenita A. Opiniana,  Ma. Lourdes Esperanza D. Soriano and  Bernabe for Baguio, and APP Marvin G. Ngayawan for Ifugao.

Bernabe announced that the CATTF will have its first meeting on Nov. 20. -- Maria Aprila Cruz

‘Chavit’ Singson conferred doctorate degree

BANTAY, Ilocos Sur – The officials of Ilocos Sur Community College (ISCC) conferred a doctorate degree of public administration (honoriscausa) to former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson in a special testimonial occasion here last Wednesday. Dr. Carmencita R. Paz, ISCC administrator, said the honor was given to Singson for being a public servant, civic leader, and philanthropist. Created to offer affordable vocational courses to poor but deserving students, Singson founded the college in 1975 under the operation and direct supervision of the provincial government with its campus located near Quirino Stadium in Bantay town. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Sec Alcala visits Bauko; farmers air veggie concerns

BAUKO, Mountain Province – Some 1,500 farmers farmers gathered Oct. 27 at Mount Data Elementary School to attend a forum with the Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala.

Mayor Abraham B. Akilit and Rep. Maximo B. Dalog with some councilors of the municipality welcomed the secretary’s entourage the night before at the Mount Data Hotel in a program that oriented the secretary of the agricultural and cultural concerns of the municipality.

Local folks welcomed the visit of Alcala saying they also felt fortunate that Bauko become the first community to be visited by newly installed DA Cordillera director Lorenzo Caranguian in the region.

The secretary talked on temperate vegetable farms, sustainability of heirloom rice, mushroom and organic vegetable production of the municipality.

Caranguian was given a local name “Kadangyan” during the event. Outgoing regional director Cipriano G. Santiago, who was assigned to Region IV-B, was part of the entourage.

The forum was also attended by Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen, Vice Gov.  Bonifacio Lacwasan, Board Members  Romeo Pagedped, Randy Awisan, Evelyn Taclobao, Alfonso Kiat-ong, Winston Calde and Mayor Anthony Wooden of Tadian. – Arsenia Addon

Ilocos Sur shares corn success story

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur – Gov. Ryan Luis V. Singson of Ilocos Sur said last week massive production of high-quality corn is now flourishing in this province and thanked the Department of Agriculture (DA) for recognizing this development through its “Corn Achievers Award.”

Five provinces were recently recognized by the DA for being top producers of corn at the 3rd Corn Achievers Awards given during the 11th Philippine National Corn Congress held in Central Luzon.

They are Occidental Mindoro, Isabela, Agusan del Norte, Nueva Vizcaya, and Ilocos Sur.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala who led the awarding of recognition thanked the farmers and stakeholders for their contribution in corn farming and as well encouraged them to continue planting corn as one of their crop.

Singson shared that he had launched the “Ryan Corn Assistance Program” as his flagship program upon assumption to office in 2013.

Under the program, the provincial government is giving free hybrid corn seeds, fertilizers, farm machineries and equipment support and technical trainings for the farmer to produce high quality corn products.

Initially, there were 14,000 hectares planted with hybrid corn in the province this year in which 2,000 hectares were planted with white corn and 12,000 hectares planted with yellow corn.

Through this corn program, Singson disclosed that the farmers produced at least five tons per hectare every cropping. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

‘Impakabsat’ features Cordillera products in Manila mall festival

After two decades of trade promotions in Baguio City and in the National Capital Region, Cordillera products were last week showcased at the Festival Supermall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City to end on the 11th in time for the yuletide season.

With its theme “Only the Best from the Cordilleras” which has become the mantra of this annual trade promotion activity, IMPAKABSAT will again display the products of the micro, small to medium entrepreneurs from the upland region of North Luzon.

Since its inception in 1991 through the facilitation of the Department of Trade and Industry-Cordillera Administrative Region, IMPAKABSAT, has generated employment, leveled up the competencies and helped hundreds of families improve their quality of lives. 

Coined from the acronyms of the six provinces namely Ifugao, Mountain Province, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra and Benguet by the late Armando P. Galimba, former DTI-CAR Director, the word IMPAKABSAT is completed with the Ilocano word “kabsat” which means brother or sister. Originally aimed to help boost and promote the calamity and disaster stricken region as a result of the 1990 killer earthquake, IMPAKABSAT has put Cordillera in the trade map particularly in the area of organic and natural products, fresh and processed food, gifts, housewares and décor, loom-woven products, bamboo and wood crafts as well as furniture and furnishings. 

This annual Cordillera products promotion which has generated millions of pesos in both actual sales and booked orders is expected to surpass its past sales records. The eight day fair will likewise showcase specialty coffee products from all over the country and beverage connoisseurs are invited to taste the different varieties available in the Philippines.

The fair’s opening program at 2:00PM of November 4 at the Carousel Court of Festival Mall will be graced by Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya of the DTI-Operations Group who will also deliver a keynote speech after which a ceremonial beating of gongs will usher guests and buyers to the fair. -- Art Tibaldo

Ilocos agri-dev’t projects

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – In its bid to strengthen programs for agricultural development in the villages in Ilocos Norte, the ManangImee’s Capitol Express started its newest project: “Paspas Dur-as Biag ti Away!” on Nov. 5.  The “PaspasDur-as Biagti Away!” – an Ilocano phase meaning “rapid progress in the rural villages, ‘aims to provide more agricultural support to farmers including distribution of seeds, machineries, and facilities. Edwin Cariño, head of the Ilocos Norte’s Millennium Development Goals  (MDGs) office,  said the project will focus on agricultural undertakings especially at the grassroots level.

“The program was launched as ManangImee’s Capitol Express part two. This month, we will be conducting various activities including planting, harvesting, and applying fertilizers to different crops,” Cariño said. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

DOLE awards  livelihood aid  to Kalinga beneficiaries

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provincial office here awarded recently two farm machines to farmers associations in Rizal and Malalao this city.

Dr. Alexander Gumabol, provincial DOLE head, said a hand tractor (kuliglig) was awarded to Gawa Farmers Association in Babalag, Rizal  and  another one to the  Malalao Farmers Association.  Beneficiaries are engaged in rice farming as  their main source of livelihood.

Meanwhile, two livelihood assistance are ready for release to two associations in  the municipality of Balbalan pending  the submission of some documents.

Two bakery projects will be released soon each for Pantikian and Balbalasang to organized parents of children at risk, Gumabol said. --  Peter A. Balocnit

Paoay Lake hosts its 3rd int’l regatta

PAOAY, Ilocos Norte — At least 76 foreign rowers participated in the international rowing competition in the famous Paoay Lake, here last week.

“Paoay Lake is now on the map (of international rowing events) and is already a part of the regatta circuit in Asia,” said Gov. Imee R. Marcos, citing the Paoay Lake International Regatta as the third such competition this year.

Just last year, Paoay Lake was proclaimed by the Philippine Rowing Association “as one of the three official rowing sites in the country” together with the La Mesa Dam and the Pasig River.

The Asian regatta circuit comprises of different popular countries in the Asian region like Hongkong, Singapore, Malaysia, United Kingdom, and Thailand that organize various regatta competitions participated by delegates across the world.

The Ilocos Norte Sports Development Office (INSDO) revealed that the Paoay Boat Club, the first ever group dedicated to rowing in Ilocos Norte, is competing in this year’s tournament.

The Paoay International Regatta 2015 was organized by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte together with the Manila Boat Club. -- Freddie G. Lazaro

Clark airport terminal completion ensured

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga – The P15-billion passenger terminal project at the Clark International Airport here will be completed in 2022 as scheduled, regardless of who wins in next year’s presidential race.

This was the assurance of Pampanga Rep. JosellerGuiao, who said that only a single National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) board approval is needed for the whole project.

“The government has to fund the project until it is completed. It’s important for us, people in Central and Northern Luzon, to monitor the project,” he said, adding the new terminal would complement the rail system jointly funded by the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Bases Conversion Development Authority.

The NEDA board, headed by President Aquino, recently approved the P15-billion project that would increase the Clark International Airport’s capacity from four million annually to 16 million by 2022.

The approval also paved the way for the release of an initial P1.2 billion budget for the project’s phase I, set to be finished beyond the Aquino administration in 2017.

Guiao said the rest of the P15-billion budget would be included in the national budgets for the following years, until the entire terminal is completed in 2022.

Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) president and chief executive officer EmigdioTanjuatco said the new terminal would add some 50,000 square meters to the floor area of the airport’s terminal. – Ding Cervantes

Senate lauds Ilocano artist

The Senate adopted a resolution commending an Ilocano public school teacher for his contribution in the preservation of Philippine history by documenting the culture of San Vicente town in Ilocos Sur.

Sen. Loren Legarda, who introduced Resolution 1447 last week, said Lorenzo Lucero Mata published a book called “The History of San Vicente,” which detailed the history and culture of San Vicente, a fifth class municipality in Ilocos Sur known for its artisans and intricate furniture.

According to the resolution, Mata “culturally documented San Vicente and its people to identify the community’s strengths and resources in a bid to tell its story and archive a snapshot of Philippine rural living for future generations.”

A prolific writer, Mata also wrote speeches, dramas, plays, poems in both English and Ilocano, including Zarzuelas, a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes. Mata’s works include “Gene or the love of an abandoned child,” “Lorgene,” “Virgille Prospero or my child! My brother!,” “Odette,” DiakImpagarup (I did not expect).

Mata also contributed to Philippine visual arts through paintings and carvings including the sculpting of hundreds of statues of saints and other religious icons for Ilocos churches and bust figures of past presidents, the resolution said.

Mata was born to master carpenter Melecio Mata and Maria Lucero on August 10, 1925 in San Vicente, Ilocos Sure. He got his degree in Fine Arts and Master of Arts in Education degree at the University of the Philippines. – Sammy Santos

Nominations for Mountain Province best employees open

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The provincial government through the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Search for the Best Performing Employees.

In a memorandum of Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen dated October 23, 2015, the search seeks to recognize and reward provincial government employees for their great contribution and achievement in the delivery of public service.

It covers all permanent employees belonging to first class of positions under the General Administrative Services to include clerks in the administrative section, accounting, budget, assessment, and other offices including cashiering technicians and statistician aides, engineering aides, draftsmen, drivers among others.

Qualified nominees must be at least five years permanent employee in the provincial government, no pending administrative and criminal charge, and never administratively charged and penalized since entering the provincial government, and has at least Very Satisfactory Performance rating for the last two consecutive rating periods covering July to December 2014 and January to June 2015.

Those qualified to nominate are permanent employees of the Provincial Government of Mountain Province, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Peoples Organizations (POs).

Resources Management Office advised the nominators to follow the nomination procedures. He explained that only nomination forms properly filled up, signed and with an article of not less than 100 words to justify the nomination will be honored. All nominations shall first be submitted to the office of the nominee for initial evaluation by his or her respective office’s screening body to be composed of at least two to three personnel, and be chaired by the head of office.

The validation report of the office concerned shall be submitted to the PRAISE Committee through the PHRMO.

Winners in the search shall receive a plaque of recognition and cash incentive, and shall enjoy a three-day special privilege leave.  They shall be recognized and awarded during the Retirees’ Mabuhay- Pasasalamat Program of the provincial government in December.

Previous best performing employees who maintained and exceeded their excellent work performance can be nominated and awarded three times and be conferred the Hall of Fame Award. --  Alpine L. Killa

Abra reports P65M in typhoon damages

BANGUED, Abra-- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  reported  more than P65  million cost of damages in the province caused by typhoon Lando.

PDRRMC report as of October 22 showed  estimated cost of damages to crops  at P29,131,905.00; P25,620,849.54  to infrastructure, P150,000.00 in fishery, P1,342,300 in livestock, and in land- P7,562,300.00.

Moreover, a total of 14,916 families were affected wherein 65 households had been forced to pre-emptive evacuation for their safety.

Among the affected municipalities, only Villavisiosa, Dolores, Lagangilang, Bucay and Peńarubbia had taken their food packs allocated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Although  there was one casualty identified as Ryan Tiglay, 24 who was drown, and another missing  (OlidoWanawan, 57), the intensive preparedness and management of the government and the council helped a lot  for the province  to withstand the severe weather condition. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

3 Ifugao towns receive Local Legislative Award

LAMUT, Ifugao -- Three towns of the province recently received the Local Legislative Award (LLA) from the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) of the Philippines.

Lamut, Kiangan and Asipulo were   conferred  the award  in recognition  of the  exemplary performance of their respective Sanggunian Bayan in  “legislating  measures that help built foundation of meaningful local administration and development.”

Lamut placed first rank with an overall performance rating of 94% while Kiangan and Asipulo are ranked second and third with ratings of 93.65% and 91.46%, respectively.

Gyda H. Namingit of the Department of the Interior and Local Government(DILG)-Ifugao said the LLA, a  joint undertaking  of the PCL  and  DILG,  aims to highlight innovations and excellence in the legislative process for better legislative performance and to institutionalize a system of recognition among “Sanggunians.

Aside from plaque of appreciation,  Lamut received cash pize of  P 6,000;  P4,000 for Kiangan and P2,000 for  Asipulo.

Certificate of recognitions were also given to five municipalities with performance ratings of above 80%  namelyHungduan- 88.19%, Tinoc-87.63%, Banaue-87.21%, Mayoyao-86.31% and Lagawe-83.50%.

The 11 municipalities were evaluated based on five criteria: effectiveness of the legislative agenda (35 pts.); effectiveness of the legislative tracking system (10 pts.); availability of legislative documents (10 pts.); efficiency of performance of the council (35 pts.); and quality of office set-up and staff complement (10 pts.)

Members of Provincial Award Committee went on field validation from August - September 2015 to determine the outstanding municipalities. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

Pangasinan town police stations get patrol cars

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- All 44 municipal police stations in Pangasinan have each received a brand new patrol jeep from the national government.

Senior Supt. Rolie Saltat, provincial police officer-in-charge, said the patrol jeeps would boost police capability in maintaining peace and order.

Saltat said Pangasinan’s four cities – Dagupan, San Carlos, Alaminos and Urdaneta – would also receive their patrol vehicles in another turnover ceremony.

The purchase of the police vehicles was funded under the capability enhancement program of the Philippine National Police.

All Pangasinan police stations have two motorcycles and foot patrol units each to enhance police visibility.

PCSO turns over ambulances to CAR, Cagayan provinces

At least 47 ambulances have recently been turned over by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to the provincial governments in Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region to help enhance the delivery of health services.

PCSO vice chairman and general manager Jose Ferdinand Rojas II, along with board of directors Betty Nantes and Francisco Joaquin III, earlier led the turnover of the ambulances in Tuao, Cagayan.

Local officials from the province of Isabela and CAR’s Apayao, Abra and Kalinga attended the event to receive their ambulances.

Rojas also inaugurated a new PCSO branch office in Tuao.

He said the charity agency would open two more branches this year, as part of its goal to establish an office in every province.

Three other CAR provinces – Benguet, Ifugao, and Mountain Province – received their ambulances from PCSO during a ceremony at the Baguio Convention Center last Friday.

Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said they could see the government responding to the needs of the local governments through the PCSO.

Mountain Province received five ambulances for its municipalities of Sabangan, Bauko, Natonin, Paracelis, and Besao.

Ifugao got 10 ambulances for the towns of Asipulo, Mayoyao, Hungduan, Lamut, Aguinaldo and Lagawe, and its health facilities – Public Health Office of Ifugao, Mayoyao District Hospital, Hungduan Municipal Hospital and Ifugao General Hospital.             

Pangasinan town officials declare October IP month

SAN NICOLAS, Pangasinan – The municipal council has passed an ordinance declaring October as the indigenous people’s (IP) month and every last Friday of same month as IP thanksgiving day.

The declaration was based on the history of Pangasinan, showing the participation of the indigenous cultural minorities or the indigenous people in local governance since the 1800s.

History also showed the IP resisted colonization and settled in upland areas.

The Constitution mandates the recognition and protection of the rights of the IP.

In passing the ordinance, the council cited Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act signed on Oct. 29, 1997.

The IP month will be marked by activities at a tribal house or any public place in the municipality. – Eva Visperas

50 mothers finish pop-dev seminar

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Some 50 mothers and teachers of Bontoc Ili and Ut-utan Primary Schools attended the Population and Development Education Seminar on Oct. 27 here.

Prior to this, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Bontoc Ili Primary School in their meeting discussed issues and concerns on proper upbringing and education of their children so that they will grow up to be upright, productive and civic minded citizens. It was decided that a seminar on responsible parenthood be conducted for the members, but the association lacked funding. 

With this, PTA Bontoc Ili Primary School president Maria P. Codeo requested the provincial government through Gov. Leonard G. Mayaen to allocate funds for the seminar to be headed by the Provincial Population Office in partnership with the PTA of Bontoc Ili Primary School. Recognizing the importance of the activity to the mothers, the governor approved the request. 

Provincial Population Officer Shirley Chiyawan said that the activity aims to make married young adults aware of their basic responsibilities as parents, awakening in them a sense of responsibility and commitment towards their family, neighbours and community. 

Tomasa O. Sangayab lectured on raising culturally aware kids and effective parenting. Dr. Imelda A. Sabog of the Bontoc General Hospital and coordinator of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (POGS) - Mountain Province Chapter discussed family planning.

Marites Agageo of the Provincial Population Office lectured on Maintaining Safety at Home and Healthy Lifestyle, and Faith Pec-ao of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian lectured on climate change.  -- Alpine L. Killa

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.