NEWSBRIEFS

Sabangan holds ‘pinikpikan’ contest during Gagayam fest

SABANGAN, Mountain Province —” Kaiimisan ay Pinikpikan” contest, one of the highlights of Gagayam Festival, sponsored by Roberto “Buboy” Loy-od Mencion, has drawn more spectators curious on how the most common delicacy in the Cordillera is cooked for competition.

Bernard Batong, practicing Engineer at Alabama USA who was home and  Edmunda Litilit, retired Texas Instrument personnel in Indonesia, both from Sabangan, joined government officials in Sabangan as judges for the contest.  

Batong and Litilit who were active during their college days in the celebration of then Sabangan Town Fiesta, praised the outcome of the event because after the contest, the cooked pinikpikan was served for lunch to guests, judges, Gagayam committee members and contestants, boodle fight style.

A fireworks display evening of March 28 was also sponsored by Mencion. A For the pinkpikan contest, a Barangay Losad contestant bagged second place with P5,000 cash prize while P7,000 was given to first placer. Barangay Namatec was third placer with P3,000 cash prize..The rest got 2,500 each as consolation prizes. In streetdancing competition, Barangay Lagan bagged first place.  They will automatically represent the Municipality of Sabangan in the celebration of Lang-ay Festival Celebration Streetdancing competition this April.

Ifugaos benefit from Army-led outreach mission

ASIPULO, Ifugao — The 54th Infantry Battalion recently held free medical and dental mission in  Barangay Pula serving more than 300 people.

Residents of Pula and other nearby barangays were provided health care on cyst operations, circumcision, tooth extraction, medical consultation, free medicines and haircut. These were made possible  through efforts of doctors, dentists and nurses from the 5th Infantry Division medical and dental detachments, Adventist Hospital Santiago City and Office of  Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat.

Free medicines from 54IB, local government of Asipulo and Department of Health-Cordillera were also distributed to patients.

The soldiers gave 110 pairs of slippers to the children and 100 copies of books to Pula Elementary School.

Lt. Col. Nicolas Quemado, 54IB Commander, expressed his appreciation to sponsors and partner agencies that helped team Magilas to make the mission successful. — Marcelo B. Lihgawon

JHMC gets ISO certification 

BAGUIO CITY  - The John Hay Management Corp. is now ISO certified.

Dr. Jamie Eloise M. Agbayani, JHMC president and CEO,  a subsidiary of state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority bared this saying the agency was conferred ISO 9001:2008 by the AJA Registrars, Inc led by its vice president Paul Bagatsing,  at the Bell House in John March 16.

AJA Registrars is an independent third party certification body operating worldwide offering registration for industrial and commercial sectors. ISO 9001 is internationally recognized for  providing  a framework for a Quality Management System (QMS) and has met the requisite of international standard of good service to clients.

AJA Registrars has a framework of monitoring and measuring process performance and operations ensuring increased efficiency and improved customer satisfaction that results to customers  confidence of a consistent and improved quality of products or services.

 Under the leadership of Agbayani,  JHMC worked on putting efficient and effective systems in place in the administration of the Camp John Hay Reservation Area (CJHRA).

They partnered with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) for the ISO QMS training  which commenced in March 2015 and undertaken over a period of 10 months,  until JHMC completed its QMS certification for ISO 9001:2008 Standards last Feb. 20, 2016 from AJA Registrars, Inc.  Said audit was led by Laureen Calmerin.

 ”The public is assured that we will continue to compete with ourselves to bring quality services to our stakeholders, especially the 14 barangays in the John Hay Reservation,” Agbayanio said.

She added that the ISO Certification is a categorical statement of JHMC s passion for public service, good governance and the discipline, which it is required to achieve. 

 AJA Registrars was founded in 1995 by seasoned and qualified professionals. It operates across a diverse range of industrial and commercial sectors having diverse clients with single site operators ranging from 1 to 20,000 employees,  to multi-site multi-national companies, the largest of which has in excess of 1,250 sites.

Tabuk City’s real property tax collection up

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The city s real property tax collection performance in 2015 increased by 13percent  compared  to the previous year.

Olivia Mendoza of the City Treasurer s Office reported total collection of P6, 000,756 for the period over the P5, 268,956 in 2014.

Real property taxes of the city come from four major sources that include taxes on agricultural property posting the top with P2,669,109, residential   P1,848,977, commercial - P1,473,649 and industrial with P9,019.

According to Mendoza, the city has sustained annual growth in real property tax collection because of improved efforts on massive tax mapping, intensified tax campaign at the barangay level and massive information-education drive.

She admitted though there is still high need to educate people on taxation which  is considered as government s life blood. Real property taxes accrue to the government s general fund while the other half goes to Special Education Fund.

Mendoza urged eal property tax payers to avail of the 20% discount for advance payments made every December of the preceding year and the 10% discount for payments made in the first quarter of the year. Late payments are charged additional 2% monthly penalty fee.  — Larry T. Lopez     

     PSA Baguio Serbilis outlet  serves 1,410 clients daily

BAGUIO CITY - -  The Philippine Statistics Authority s Baguio Serbilis Center  is already experiencing influx of clients getting civil registration documents especially birth certificates.

PSA data showed since January, the center was averaging 1,410 clients a day and going as high as 1,608 clients compared to the 914 daily average clients for the year 2015.

Center manager Gerard Tolito, in interview, explained that  

the shift in school calendar is the first reason in the rise in the number of daily clients. Second semester starts this January many parents and students are getting birth certificates for enrolment purposes.

 Another reason is for local employment especially in the application for Philippine National Police recruits. Applicants are getting seven authenticated copies of their birth certificate, he added.

Tolito assured that PSA Baguio Serbilis outlet is always ready to respond to the challenge with the hiring of eight new staff to augment the personnel manning the six client/public assistance computers.

He also informed that PSA has six collection officers with two assigned to the priority lane to assist senior citizens, person with disabilities and pregnant/nursing mothers.

Tolito advises the public to plan ahead and come on lean days or months as birth certificate has no expiration if it will be used for enrolment purposes. He also appeals to those getting their civil registration documents not to bring companions especially children so that they will not add-up to the crowd inside the center.

Tolito also calls on the public to utilize the PSA s BREQS (Batch Request Entry System) partner wherein for a little added amount, they can save travel time or avoid the long line at the Baguio Serbilis outlet.

PSA-CAR s BREQS partners   provincial offices in Abra and Ifugao, and the  local government units of Paracelis, Bontoc, Tadian, Bauko and Barlig in Mountain Province; Balbalan and Tinglayan in Kalinga; Dolores Abra; Pudtol and Kabugao in Apayao,  and Kabayan, Buguias, Bakun and Tublay in Benguet. 

The public can also get their civil registration documents in SM City Baguio, he added. — Carlito Dar

DA allots P630M 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

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

    

Earthquake drill held to prepare Baguio residents

BAGUIO CITY   Various sectors joined an earthquake drill in here in 128 barangays Thursday.

In support for the Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill, Mayor Mauricio Domogan earlier issued an administrative order “activating and implementing the incident command system as well as testing the city s preparedness and response scheme.”

The citywide earthquake drill on March 31 from 10:30 to 11:30 weasimplemented by the Office of the Civil Defense CAR headed by regional sdirector Alexander Uy and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council with city administrator Carlos Canilao as action officer.

During the drill, a one-minute alarm simulated a 7.2 magnitude earthquake scenario based from July 16, 1990 earthquake.

Julius Santos, operations and warning officer of CDRMMC said unlike typhoons that can be predicted, this would prepare citizens for worst case scenario.

All barangay officials were earlier directed to disseminate information to their constituents.

Barangay officials were also urged earlier to prepare and test equipment needed and to identify evacuation areas within the area of responsibility prior to the given date of the drill. — Carlito Lacanlale

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

Medical mission serves Abrenios

BANGUED, Abra — The provincial government in partnership with Far Eastern University Medical Alumni Association of Northern Illinois, USA carried out a three-day medical mission at the Abra Provincial Hospital  here recently.

Cataract, hernia, cholecystectomy, thyrodectomy, parotidectomy, and excision of mass were some of the different ailments and disorders treated.

They also gave free eyeglasses to senior citizens and others who were examined with visual impairment. Dental extraction and treatment served children and adults with tooth decays and enamel defects.

To accommodate and make sure that all patients were attended, Gov. Eustaquio P. Bersamin s wife Ruby who planned and organized the medical mission, invited 23 specialists from different fields of medicine from the US to be part of the medical mission.

Bersamin said all patients who undertook major and minor operations were advised to visit the hospital for follow-up check-up. — Ginalyn B. Brioso

Baguio contractuals to enjoy SSS benefits

BAGUIO CITY  — Some 83 police auxiliary workers and job order contractuals of the city government here will soon avail of benefits given by the Social Security system (SSS).

Said informal workers of the city government registered to be members of the AlkanSSSya program of the SSS.

The SSS headed by Baguio manager Nancy Umoso, the city government of Baguio headed by mayor Mauricio Domogan and the informal workers of the city represented by Julie Laureta recently signed the MOA at the Baguio City multi-purpose hall.

The MOA covers the mechanics for the implementation of the program which is aimed at facilitating an easy and more convenient remittance of the SS monthly contribution payments of the job orders.

In the MOA, the city government, through its duly authorized and bonded representative will deduct the monthly contribution of the informal workers and remit the monthly contributions together with its monthly collection report.

On the other hand, the SSS will provide information updates and other relevant literature to enhance the informal worker s knowledge on the SSS and the e-AlkanSSSya implementation such as but not limited to collection, posting reports, periodic issuance of flyers among others.

The city council passed resolution numbered 277, series of 2015 authorizing mayor Domogan to enter into a MOA with the SSS for the implementation of the e-AlkanSSSya program which is beneficial to job orders and police auxiliary workers of the city who are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and with no SSS registered employers.        

Based from the MOA, SSS reserves the right to modify and/or enhance the program, provided that in case the SSS consider that the changes in the program will significantly alter the services offered under the same, the SSS shall advise the city government and informal workers of the changes at least 30 days prior to the date of its implementation.

The MOA may be terminated by the SSS in case of violation o the terms and conditions in the agreement by the informal workers and/or the city government.

The AlkanSSSya program is a micro savings program that aims to attract informal sector workers seeking access to social protection.   — Jho Arranz

Poverty alleviation programs highlight Apayao anniversary

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

Lease contract signed:

Century-old mini hydro power plant in John Hay activated

By Melody Brawner

BAGUIO CITY    The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and its subsidiary John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC) has contracted out  rehabilitation, reconstruction and operation of the old hydro power plant inside Camp John Hay.

This, the government firms  officials said, was pursuant to government s commitment to continue to  provide clean energy from renewable sources while providing revenue for the state, 

The BCDA and JHMC signed the lease contract for  rehabilitation, reconstruction and operation of the Mini Hydro Power Plant located along Kennon Road, with representatives of the Riverflow Ventures and Power Energy Corp., a consortium of Isabela Power Corporation and Vendeka Bilgi Teknolojileri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, created for this purpose.

BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano Cassanova,  said “The BCDA is one of the government owned corporations that advocate and push for renewable sources of power, championing the cause through the help of partner private corporations. We are looking forward to a productive partnership in the John Hay Economic Zone (JHEZ) through the mini hydro power plant project”.

 JHMC president and CEO Dr. Jamie Eloise M. Agbayani said the agreement will bring in some P440 million investments on the first year of the pre-development stage of the project.

“The contract will not just provide revenue in terms of lease rentals but revenue from taxes and the after effect of the project which will provide investment and jobs to the local community, Agbayani said

The contract also provides that in case the consortium declares a bankruptcy, subjects itself to insolvency proceedings, rehabilitation which would lead to a delay in the payment of rentals or failure to comply with its obligation,  will regard the party to be in default, giving the government the right to recover the property after notice, and vice-versa.

A performance bond of 10 percent of the P440 million will also be paid to the government within seven days from the notice to proceed. This amount can be forfeited if lessee-developer fails to start within the period.

In the event the lessee-developer raises revenue from other activities within the leased premises, an additional lease rental shall also be paid to the government by the lessee-developer power consortium, which is five percent of the gross revenue.  The contract covers an area of 38 hectares from the 625 hectares of the Camp John Hay Reservation Area (CJHRA), now owned by the BCDA as identified under Republic Act 7227, the law that created BCDA, and under the implementation of the JHMC.

 The mini hydro was developed and utilized by the US government in the early 1900s.The area, covering parts in Baguio City and parts in Tuba town in Benguet will be used to accommodate the diversion dam or the weir, headrace, penstock, power huse and the tailrace.

For 25 years, the Riverflow Ventures and Power Energy Corp. will develop the area and commercially produce clean-energy while securing the necessary government permits.

The consortium shall “apply for Renewable Energy Service Operating Contract (RESOC) under the Department of Energy (DOE) as well as secure the DOE certificate of recognition.”

JHMC on the other hand will be responsible for providing a certification and come up with the documents to be submitted to the DOE.

Upon issuance of the RESOC, the JHMC will assign part or all of its rights and obligations under the RESOC.

The contract provides that on the first year following the signing of the contract, the developer will conduct the feasibility studies needed for the pursuance of the project and will only start the development stage on the second year.

On the fifth year of the mini hydro plant s operation, the government will receive not less  than five percent lease rental based on the gross revenue derived from the operation.

 The lease is good for 25 years,  renewable with the mutual consent of both parties not earlier than three years and not less than one year before its expiration.

However, the contract can be vacated with the government taking over the area in case the lessee-developer fails to make good its obligation, and vice versa, after written notices.

The developer declaring bankruptcy, insolvency, subjects itself to rehabilitation which leads to the suspension of payment of rentals under the contract are considered default in obligation which can make the non defaulting party either rescind or claim damages.

The contract also specifically mentioned locals as preference in hiring employees as well as giving preference to competitive local contractors when there is a need to obtain their services.

Also included in the contract is for the consortium to assure the greenness of the environment and protection of nature. It will be part of the responsibility of the lessee-developer to plant pine trees or other species applicable in the area.

Agbayani said, “This project is in consonance with JHMC s stewardship of the CJHR which comprises 53 percent of the forest cover in the entire City of Baguio. Renewable energy,  sustainable forest and environment management are projects that JHMC can be truly proud of as it contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change in our country.”

 Present during the signing were Casanova, BCDA chairman Ma. Aurora  G. Garcia, Agbayani, JHMC chairman Silvestre C. Afable Jr., Vendeka Bilgi Teknolojileri Ticaret Limited president Bilali Nadir Uzum, Isabela Power Corp. executive vice president Carlo Ma. L. Fernandez who is also president of the Riverflow Ventures and Power Energy Corp., the consortium that will rehabilitate and operate the John Hay mini hydro power plant.