2 boats
held for illegal fishing in Cagayan
APARRI, Cagayan -- Two fishing vessels and
their 22 crewmembers have been held for illegal fishing in Cagayan waters.
The Philippine Coast
Guard (PCG) said a third vessel managed to escape as the agency’s personnel
were apprehending the F/B Rae Anne and F/B Alexandria.
The fishing boats were
spotted by monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) ships 3007 and 3010 on
April 6 in the waters off Aparri, Buguey and Claveria.
The PCG said the two
boats were caught using the Danish Seine fishing method, which involves the use
of a dragnet that hangs vertically into the water.
The net’s edge is held
down by weights, so it would catch a huge volume of fish.
The Rae Anne is
skippered by Remy Antonio and operated by Renato Alariao, both of Minanga in
Buguey town.
Based on
Administrative Order 246 of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the
use of Danish Seine and Modified Danish Seine fishing methods is prohibited in
the country.
The boats were towed to
Port Irene in Santa Ana town.
Contractors’ payments now accepted at DTI
BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Trade and
Industry – Cordillera Administrative Region and attached agency the
Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) has good news for
construction contractors in the Cordillera.
According to lawyer
Samuel Gallardo of DTI-CAR’s Consumer Protection Division, the DTI regional
office in Cordillera has started accepting over-the-counter payment of
CIAP-related fees starting March 16.
The CIAP Windows
Program according to Gallardo aims to bring services of the four implementing
arms of the CIAP: Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC),
Philippine Domestic Construction Board (PDCB), Philippine Overseas Construction
Board (POCB) and Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB), closer to
the provinces, thereby reducing costs related to licensing.
Other DTI regional
offices with their own CIAP Windows programs are: Region XI (Davao Region);
Region X (Northern Mindanao Region); Region VII (Central Visayas Region);
Region V (Bicol Region); Region III (Central Luzon Region) and Region I (Ilocos
Region).
Contractors will no
longer be required to get postal money orders for the payment of their
application fees and other assessments.
As of January 2016,
there were 355 licensed contractors in the Cordillera Region.
Of these 355
contractors, approximately 65% availed services of CIAP Window at the DTI
Regional Office in Baguio.
The agency hopes that
with the acceptance of over-the-counter payments, more contractors will be
enticed to avail of the services in the CIAP Window in CAR.
Ifugao
LGU to buy alcohol breathe
analyzer for lawmen
ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- The municipal
government here is set to purchase two units of alcohol breath analyzer to
address increasing incidents of vehicular traffic accidents due to drunk
drivers.
The Municipal Advisory
Council had requested the town officials to purchase said apparatus to be used
by police personnel in implementation of liquor ban and traffic code of the
municipality.
The traffic code
prohibits and penalizes drivers driving motor vehicles when under the influence
of liquor and prohibited drugs.
MAC members said
traffic enforcers and police officers have a hard time pinning down violators
due to absence of alcohol breath analyzers that will establish presence of
alcohol, intoxication of the said suspect or violator.
Mayor Glenn
Prudenciano said the local government allocated an amount for the purchase of
the requested alcohol breath analyzers. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon
Farmers
urged: Trade at BAPTC
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The BenguetAgriPinoy
Trading Center (BAPTC) project management office, with Mayor Edna Tabanda urged
farmers to trade at the facility saying it would benefit them in the long run.
On April 7, the group
went to the La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post to explain to farmers,
disposers, packers/porters and traders that BAPTC is open for them to trade
their vegetable products in the BAPTC.
Tabanda urged them to
try the facility and check and recommend improvements that may be done.
During the
consultation, it was also clarified that the disposers will not be removed from
the trading system.
Benny Hipolito,
officer of the Benguet Trader and Truckers Association said that the wide area
of BAPTC will help secure their commodities and will give easy access for them
to buy wholesale vegetables.
“The facility can monitor vegetable products
and can assure that these are of good quality and well packed vegetables for
transport,” he added.
Hipolito encouraged
the farmers to bring their products in the facility.
He added that BAPTC
will help farmers in farm inputs and do crop programming for better market
price.
Meanwhile, Dr. Danilo Daguio
BAPTC chief operations officer said policies, including the 25 centavos trading
fee, were formed based on several consultations made with stakeholders. --
Jerome A. Padilla
International
Balloon Festival held in Lubao
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — At least 41 colorful
hot air balloons from different countries were flown on the 3rd International
Balloon Festival on April 14 in Lubao, this province, the Department of Tourism
Region 3 said.
DOT3 Director Ronnie
Tiotuico said the balloon fest in Pradera Verde, Barangay Prado Siongco, Lubao
town showcased balloon designs different from those shown in Clark.
“Ninety-nine percent of them (balloons) have never been to Clark,” he said.
Tiotuico said this
year’s event was bigger, both up in the air and on the ground with about
100,000 visitors from all over the country. Aside from hot air balloon flights
and aerial exhibitions, there were street activities, land exhibits and musical
performances by Ely Buendia, Bamboo, True Faith, Sabado Boys, and Mitoy and
D’Draybers. – Franco Regala
DOH starts
anti-dengue vaccinations in schools
BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Health
launched last week the school-based dengue vaccination among Grade 4 public
students.
They cautioned
teachers and parents that children injected with dengue vaccine may experience mild reaction.
They may develop rashes, headaches or fever, and may cause students to faint.
According to the DOH,
fainting among students usually happens when children are afraid of injections
or they may not have eaten prior the vaccination.
Students who
experience headache or fever were advised to drink plenty of water and have
some rest. If students develop rashes, they should immediately be rushed to the
nearest health facility.
According to Health
Secretary Janette Garin, the immunization is a good program that will benefit
children and save lives. – KrishaDaniwes
Power in
IFSU satellite campus restored after SP hearing
AGUINALDO, Ifugao -- The disconnected
electric line supply of the satellite campus of the Ifugao State
University (IFSU) in Barangay Jacmal, this municipality, is
now restored after a public hearing initiated by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
The SP led by Vice
Gov. Pedro Mayam-o resolved the problem with the officials and
representatives of the Ifugao Electric Cooperative (IFELCO), IFSU and the
Aguinaldo National High School (ANHS), local officials and employees of the
municipal government.
The IFSU-Aguinaldo
campus caters to 55 students taking Associate in Computer Technology. It
is using for the meantime some of the ANHS buildings when it opened classes in
June 2015 while waiting for the construction of its own building.
It was learned that on
January 22, 2016, the power line of the ANHS was cut off by the IFELCO
due to the unpaid electric bill of ANHS incurred three years ago
amounting to P30,000.
The power cut off
which was also made without warning forced the students to study in dark rooms
and rendered their computers inoperational pushing IFSU
President SerafinNgohayon to condemn the arbitrary and unilateral
action of IFELCO and calling the assistance of the SP, the
Commission on Higher Education and other concerned government agencies.
The first
disconnection made by IFELCO happened on November 7, 2015.
Engineer Marcial Nahiwan
of IFELCO vowed to act immediately for the approval of IFSU’s earlier request
for the installation of a new and separate electric meter.
Taking the issues and
concerns discussed in the public hearing as a lesson and cue in aid of
legislation, the SP decided to come up with an ordinance regulating the
unilateral disconnection of services by all concerned public utility service
providers in Ifugao and provide penalties for its violation. -- Daniel B.
Codamon
DA
allots P630 million for Kalinga
TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Kalinga was recently allotted
P630 million for various agricultural projects.
Director Lorenzo
Caranguian of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit, Cordillera
Administrative Region (DARFU-CAR) said the
province deserves the big support to boost its rice, corn, and coffee
production industries.
He said bulk of the
appropriations will go to the concreting of three farm-to-market roads (FMR)
under the Philippine Rural Development Program in the amount of P501 million.
“P118M will go to the
concreting of the Banneng-Gumbowoy FMR in Tanudan, P180M to the Bulanao-Amlao
FMR, and P203M to Catabbogan-Wagod FMR in Pinukpuk,” Caranguian said.
The director also
announced that P32M is appropriated for the Kalinga Integrated Coffee
Processing Center, P8M total worth of livelihood projects to associations,
P35M to increase rice production, P20M for corn production, P12M for high
value commercial crops, P3.5M for livestock, P9.2M for Pamana projects, P3.1M
for bottom-up-budgeting, and other small projects. -- Peter A. Balocnit
DOLE
expects increase in CAR employment with K-12
BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Labor and
employment announced the K-12 program will enhance skills of upcoming first
batch of senior High School students even before they step into college.
The DOLE said key goal
of K-12 is to cater to what employers require of job applicants. These include
knowledge, right attitude and skills which give heavier weight in hiring of an
applicant.
DOLE urged Cordillera
students to take courses related to rising industries in the vicinity of the
region such as mining, farming, agribusiness and forestry. These are courses
that are far better to take than courses which have lower employment rate when
students graduate. – KC Bautista
Dengue
cases increase in Cordillera Region
BAGUIO CITY -- Dengue cases doubled first
three months of this year in Cordillera
Administrative Region.
According to
Department of Health Baguio, dengue cases increased from 138 percent in the
months of January to March unlike last year with the same months.
Last year, there were
448 cases of dengue for the first 13 weeks compared this year with 1,068 cases
of dengue.
Baguio City has the
highest cases of dengue with 351 recorded. Benguet had 332, Kalinga with 147.
Abra dengue cases
decreases from 94 to 44 this year. –Jethro Lagasca
Campaign
pushed to allow pets in parks
BAGUIO CITY – A signature campaign to amend
an administrative order of the city banning pets in public parks will held at
Melvin Jones grandstand here today.
Retired judge Del Claravall,
initiated the project for responsible pet ownership. Theme was “Walk for a
pet-friendly Baguio.” Activities include anti-rabies campaign, first aid for
dog bites, controlling population of stray dogs and cats, access of pet owners
to parks and public spaces.
The organizers adviced
participants to bring snacks, water, poo poo bags and rain gear in case of
unexpected weather. This event is open to all dog lovers. – Michele B. Gavanes
2,317
Abra folks employed under DOLE program
BANGUED, Abra -- The Emergency Employment
Program (EEP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Abra
benefited a total of 2,317 displaced workers, underemployed and unemployed
local folks in the municipalities of San Juan and Dolores last month.
George G. Lubin, Jr.,
DTI provincial head, said the EEP projects in the municipalities of San Juan
and Dolores were funded by Party Lists in the House of Representatives worth
P22.3 million.
The EEP is a special
employment generation program of the DOLE dubbed as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa
Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).
Funds for the special
employment program were given particularly as a support to the victims of
Typhoon Ineng that hit the province last August 2015 especially the farmers
whose crops were damaged during the typhoon.
For the municipality
of San Juan, Mayor Marco M. Bautista reported that the P20M EEP fund was given
by the Coop Natco Party List for the rehabilitation, improvement and
de-siltation of the communal irrigation canals and clearing of barangay roads.
On the other hand,
P2.3M funds for the municipality of Dolores from the Buhay Party List was used
for the rehabilitation of irrigation canals and barangay roads damaged by
typhoon Ineng, Mayor Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr. reported.
Aside from
typhoon-affected farmers, other beneficiaries include those that are willing to
help in the needed work in the fields. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas
Ifugao
pupils train on cultural practices
ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao -- A total of 30 pupils
of the Alfonso Lista Central School (ACS) were trained recently to help in
preservation and protection of rich culture and traditions of the province.
The five days School
of Living Tradition (SLT) training was conducted by the Fugato Cultural
Heritage Office (ICHO) of the provincial government with culture bearers
Antonio Pahigon and Carmen Dogwaon as subject experts.
Participants were
trained mainly on how to perform the three main Ifugao native dances with the
corresponding gong beats like Dinuyya/Dinuy-a, Bitangnguk and Hinggatut.
They were also briefed
about the in-school SLT training, target activities including the demonstration
on dancing the native dance by the culture bearers.
The SLT is a training
program of the provincial government through the ICHO in preserving and
conserving the Ifugao culture and tradition through the conduct of skills
trainings and cultural performances.
ICHO project
development coordinator Manifold Capuano said SLT will establish centers in
each municipality to conduct trainings on cultural performing arts, crafts and
indigenous skills.
Elizabeth Ognayon,
ALCS principal, lauded the ICHO who initiated the SLT, culture bearers,
Mt.
Province LGUs, school to employ 1,015 studes this summer
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- About 1,015
students are expected to work this summer vacation under the Special Program
for the Employment of Students (SPES) under the auspices of the Department of
Labor and Employment (DOLE).
The Provincial
Governor’s Office, Office of the Vice Governor, nine local government units in
the province and the Xijen College of Mountain Province pledged a total amount
of P6, 352,390.00 for the employment of these students.
Based on the data
provided by DOLE Provincial field Office Chief Samuel T. Lasdacan, Natonin LGU
pledged the highest amount of P2, 493,750.00 for the employment of some
285 students for 25 days.
The
Governor’s Office committed P1 million to hire 200 students for 20 days
while the Xijen College pledged P600, 000.00 for the employment of 50 students
for 40 days.
The Office of the Vice
Governor committed P170, 200 for 37 students for 20 days.
The other LGUs
that will participate in the SPES include Barlig which
pledged P420,000 for 70 students; Bauko – P414,400 for 112 students; Tadian –
P400,000 for 80 students; Sabangan – PP248,400 for 54 students; Bontoc –
P168,000 for 30 students; Besao – P80,640 for 24 students, Sagada – P32,000 for
8 students. These seven LGUs will employ the students for 20 days.
Paracelis LGU which
pledged the amount of P325, 000 shall employ 65 students for 25 days.
Lasdacan said the
daily wage of students who will be hired under the SPES varies depending on the
daily wage provided by each LGU. Sixty percent (60%) of the students’ salary
shall be paid by the employers in cash while the remaining 40% shall be paid by
DOLE in the form of education voucher.
Interested students
and out-of-school youth who intend to continue their studies are advised
to start completing the required documents ready for submission during
application period scheduled by the employers. They may visit the Public
Employment Service Office (PESO) in the different municipalities in the
province and the Provincial DOLE Office to get the required documents to be
accomplished.
The SPES is a regular
annual job creation program of the national government intended for the poor
but deserving students to augment their school fees by providing them work
during summer vacation. -- Juliet B. Saley
Poverty
alleviation programs set in Apayao
LUNA, Apayao --Gov. Elias Bulut Jr. said the provincial
government has launched province-wide anti-drug campaign, livelihood projects
and the “Pabahay” program.
The “Pabahay” program
is the main focus of the province’s anti-poverty campaign, and the provincial
government has identified the poorest barangays in each municipality as
intended beneficiaries.
The provincial
government allocated P8 million for the “pabahay” program with counterpart from
each municipality.
The governor explained
that lack of shelter is number one in the poverty indicator of the province as
of 2015, followed by income or livelihood then lack of sanitary toilets.
The number of houses
to be built will depend on the community-based monitoring system of each
barangay.
The goal for
livelihood is to strengthen the coffee production in the municipalities of
Kabugao, Calanasan and Conner. Other livelihood programs will be based on the
design to be created by each municipality.
“These programs are to
address the poorest of the poorest”, said the governor. Apayao is the second
poorest province in the Philippines in 2011, and the 4th on the list in 2015.. –
Jillie Ominga
Health
team serves far barangays of Abra
MALIBCONG,
Abra -- Health team composed of personnel from Provincial Health Office,
Municipal Health Office of Malibcong,
and the Philippine Red Cross
conducted medical mission in landlocked barangays of this
upland municipality March 21.
The team conducted
‘kilatiskutis’ to children, blood typing to adults, urine screening and medical
checkup to residents of far-flung barangays of Dulao, Mataragan, Bayabas and
Pacgued.
The group also
distributed hygiene kit to children, vitamins to pregnant women, medicines and
ointment for skin diseases and 14 sacks of used clothings donated by local
thrift shops in Bangued.
According to Rev. Fr.
Oscar Alunday, a native of said place, the medical team was the first- ever to
reach and serve the upland barangays of Malibcong.
“In my 64 years of
existence this is the very first time. We are also from Abra. Lowlanders may
have long forgotten that but you recognize that we are and thank you,” he said.
People there seldom
get medical attention because the place is very far from rural health unit.
Trails going up and down the mountains are risky, barely two feet wide near the
cliffs.
“This is not the first
and last time that we will serve the uplands. Slopes and tracks may be really
too difficult to trek but there is no amount of difficulty for a heart ready to
serve,” assured Dr. Lilibeth B. Martin, team leader.
The Philippine
Information Agency-Abra also joined the team.
-- Ginalyn B. Brioso
NFA-Kalinga
auctions 9,000 bags of rice
TABUK CITY, Kalinga --The National Food
Authority (NFA) provincial station here is auctioning more than 9,000 bags of
its current stock of imported rice to
unclog its warehouse for the new delivery of rice.
The auction is open
from Monday to Thursday, until supply lasts.
NFA provincial manager
Miguel Tecson said their office auctions the stock to NFA-licensed rice traders
in the province at P24/kg from the prevailing price of P30/kg. He assured the
rice is fit for human consumption.
As soon as their
warehouse is ready, 40,000 bags of new imported rice shall be delivered to the
province, Tecson disclosed.
Meanwhile, NFA-Kalinga
targets to establish 370 bigasan outlets throughout the province.
The move was made so
all of the province’s 152 barangays shall have bigasan outlets in line with
NFA’s mandate to provide accessible cheap and quality government rice to the
grass root.
At present, NFA
provincial station has 30 newly licensed retailers added to its original 80
licensed bigasan outlets, while application is open. NFA sells its rice
at regular price of P27-32/kg. -- Larry .T Lopez
Grass
fires burn power posts
TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Several instances of
brown-out during summer were caused by fallen power posts due to
grassfires.
The National Grid
Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) bared this as it appealed to the public to help
prevent burning of wild grasses that often leads to power outages.
Lilibeth Gaydowen of the
NGCP reported that Gaydowen recalled one case last year in Solana, Cagayan
where a wide service area including Kalinga, experienced power interruption
because of burned electric posts due to grassfires.
Wild grass fires are
common every summer when grazing lands are burned to generate fresh grasses as
food to cattle.
Another concern is the
continuing “slash & burn” practice in areas where NGCP power lines
traverse.
In a related
report, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office here warned that
wild fires do not only destroy electric posts but also impede the reforestation
program as trees planted on the National Greening Program sites are burned.
In Tabuk City,
greening projects including fruit tree orchards are not spared by the
destruction caused by wild grass fires because of these practices.
As prevention, the
CENRO recommended the putting-up of fire lines around the perimeters to prevent
wildfires from rapidly catching-up on the vegetation.
In the first quarter
this year, the Bureau of Fire Protection -Tabuk recorded five cases of
grassfires. -- Larry T. Lopez
1,028
Abra students set for employment
BANGUED, Abra -- Fifteen local government
units and five private establishments have committed to participate in this
year’s Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) in the province.
Department of Labor
and Employment Abra field office head George G. Lubin Jr. said pledge of
commitment had already been signed by partner agencies to accommodate 1,029
students under the SPES.
Lubin said 961
will be employed by the LGUs and 68 by the private establishments. They will be hired for a minimum of 20 days
to a maximum of 52 days within one year. The wages will be shared by DOLE and
the host agency on a 40:60 ratio with the 40% share of the DOLE and 60% by the
employer.
DOLE pays its share in
the students’ wages directly to the school where the students will enroll since
the SPES program is intended to defray school fees of the students.
The employers’ share
is paid directly to the students for their personal allowances.
This year’s
partner-agencies to the SPES program with the number of their commitment
are: Abra Mountain Development Education Center of Bucloc, 20; Chowking,
6; Divine Word College of Bangued,35; Jollibee, 6; New Commercial Trading, 1;
Provincial Government of Abra,53; the LGUs of Bangued, 40; Bucay, 100; Bucloc,
20; Dolores,150; Lagangilang,40; Langiden, 50; Luba,10; Malibcong, 60; Pidigan,
20; Pilar, 15; Sallapadan,20; San Juan, 300; San Quintin, 8; Tayum, 55, and Tineg, 20.
Lubin said there are
still available slots for SPES in LGU-San Juan. Interested applicants may see
Ms. Marietta Ta-a, the Public Employment Service Office Manager. -- Maria
Teresa B. Benas
MP Red
Cross members insured for accidents, hospitalization
BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Philippine
Red Cross (PRC) - Mountain Province Chapter has expanded benefits for Red Cross
members.
Veronica Tactay,
Officer-in-charge chapter Administrator of PRC here, said a minimal membership
of P60 to P1, 000 can provide a member with accident benefit package and
hospitalization benefit.
Being a member of the
Red Cross is also one way of helping others who are in need, Tactay added.
There are many options
for interested members to choose from depending on their age bracket and the
amount of benefits they want.
Tactay said classic
membership is open for people ages 6-25 years old. A one-year fee of P60
entitles a member to an accede nt medical reimbursement worth P5, 000 and P150
daily hospital allowance for a maximum of 60 days. The member is entitled to a
P12, 000 each for accidental death, disablement, dismemberment and unprovoked
murder and assault; and a burial assistance of P5, 000.
The premier bronze
with a P150 membership fee for one year entitles a member to P5,000 for
accidental medical reimbursement, and burial assistance; P150 daily hospital
allowance for a maximum of 60 days; and P5,000
for accidental death, disablement, dismemberment, and unprovoked murder
and assault.
If a member chooses
premier silver, he/she pays P300 for one year and is entitled to P10,000
accidental medical reimbursement; P200 daily hospital allowance for a maximum
of 60 days; P5,000 accidental burial assistance, and P100,000 for accidental death, disablement,
dismemberment, and unprovoked murder and assault.
The premier gold with
a P500 membership fee entitles a member P10,000 accidental medical
reimbursement; P200 daily hospital allowance for a maximum of 60 days; P5,000
accidental burial assistance; and P200,000 each for accidental death,
disablement, dismemberment and unprovoked murder and assault.
For premier platinum,
the membership fee for one year is P1,000 and this entitles a member to a
P10,000 accidental medical reimbursement; P200 daily hospital allowance for 60
days; P5,000 accidental burial assistance; and P300,000 each for accidental
death, disablement, dismemberment and unprovoked murder and assault.
Senior citizens can
also avail of this program. Under the Senior bracket, senior citizens aging
66-80 years old who are interested to be PRC members shall pay a membership fee
of P300 and under the Senior Plus bracket, senior citizens aging 81-85
years old shall pay P350. They are entitled to a P100 daily hospital allowance
for 60 days; P5, 000 each for accidental medical reimbursement and accidental
burial assistance; and P50, 000 each for accidental death, disablement,
dismemberment and unprovoked murder and assault.
Members of the Red
Cross need to renew their membership every year to be classified as active members.
Based on the data of
Red Cross here, there were 2,183 members last year. Of the total members, 1,392
chose classic, 564 premium bronze, 127 premium silver, 39 premium gold, 21
premium platinum, 36 senior and 4 senior plus.
As of this month, the
Red Cross national office released a total amount of P30, 196 as reimbursements
to 15 Red Cross members due to illness and one due to accident.
There are still 14
members who submitted their application for reimbursements which are on
process.
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