NEWS BRIEFS

 3 found dead in Pangasinan

DAGUPAN CITY – Three persons were found dead in Pangasinan on Tuesday night.

         The bodies of the unidentified victims were dumped along the road in the boundary of Lucao and Binmaley towns, said Supt. Cristopher Abrahano, Dagupan City police chief.

Also on Tuesday night, an 18-year-old student identified as Julius Rabena was shot dead by unidentified men along the Tebeng-PNR Road in Barangay Caranglaan in this city. – Eva Visperas

CCTV cameras installed  in Kalinga’s main road     
TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The city-government installed closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the provincial road leading to the city proper to lessen crime and enhance traffic management.

City Public Order and Safety Officer Dionisio Falgui said 15 CCTV units were installed at strategic points of the 7-km road to help in solution of cases, mostly traffic-related, that usually occur in the area. 

The CCTVs are operational under two centralized monitoring stations at the police provincial command and city POSO.

Falgui disclosed that the city government approved additional fund for the extension of the project to cover the entire stretch of the road up to the farthest barangay in Balong.

He also revealed plan to install CCTV cameras near schools.

Police intelligence reports indicated that drug pushers were targeting schools in their illegal trade.

Other sites in the city earlier installed with CCTVs include public markets, landmarks, PNP compact posts, city hall compound and other crowded areas. 

In a related report, the provincial government recently held the blessing of the four-lane improvement project of the provincial road.  

Funds used for the project constructed in phases came from the province’s cash incentives on the Seal of Good Local Governance Award from the Department of Interior and Local Government for three years. -- Larry T. Lopez

Cagayan councilman stabs soldier dead

TUGUEGARAO CITY– A village councilman was arrested after he reportedly stabbed dead an Army sergeant in Tuao, Cagayan last week. Roderick Balurin was reportedly under the influence of liquor when he killed Sgt. Bobby Castro in Barangay Pata.

Chief Inspector Danilo Abalos said Balurin tried to escape, but was arrested in a follow up operation hours after the incident. -- RaymundCatindig

Kibungan passes gender equality ordinance

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet– Seeing need to ensure that both men and women will equally enjoy  economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights at the local level, officials of this town passed Gender and Development (GAD) Code.

Authored by Councilor Octavio Placido and coauthored by all members of the council, Municipal Ordinance No. 65 series 2016 known as the GAD Code of Kibungan was favorably reviewed by members of the provincial board.

Officials said they believe it is only by addressing the needs of men, women as well as their children, elderly, differently-abled persons and the indigenous people or being gender-sensitive that the quality of life will be improved and fully enjoyed.

The Code paves the way for a policy direction which accordingly will heighten advocacy in mainstreaming gender concerns in various sectors. 

It will also sustain LGU commitment in extending assistance to personal or social development of concerned sectors and to empower women in balancing their involvement in decision and policy making posts in the locality.

One of the provisions of the Code is the establishment of GAD programs incorporating benchmarking and gender studies with allocation of funds, budget for basic social services, community-based environment plans and programs, monitoring of the implementation of laws, policies on women and children, trainings and livelihood opportunities.

        The enactment of the code will ultimately aid in the formulation of programs and strategies at the local level. -- Susan C. Aro

NEA allots P7M for Tinglayan’s power lines  

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The Kalinga-Apayao Electric Coop. (KAELCO) is constructing a three-phase power lines to the municipality of Tinglayan.

Corazon Tomas, KAELCO general manager, said P7 million was allotted by the National Electrification Administration for the project which is targeted for completion this year.

Tinglayan is currently being serviced by the Mountain Province Electric Cooperative.

The project is a 13.2kVA power line that has larger load   for bigger user or number of consumers and has limited occurrence of brown out since it can withstand current disruptors unlike a single phase power lines that brings brown out at the touch of vegetation or flying objects.

Tomas said electric lines start at neighboring Lubuagan municipality.  In the process, Barangay Manangol in Lubuagan will also have power since the lines pass through that route.

With this development, the province is nearing complete energization. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Three scenic caves in Abra proposed eco-tourism sites

LAGAYAN, Abra -- Three caves in this town are being proposed as eco-tourism sites.

These caves are Kimmampana (bell-shaped), Simmimbaan (church-shaped) and Kimmatre (bed-shaped), all located at Mt. Gaco here.

Consultation took place among local government unit of Lagayan, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and stakeholders on proposed declaration of Mt. Gaco as protected landscape area and three caves as eco-tourism sites last June 16, 2016 at La Paz-Lagayan Parish.

Genesis Quiblado, NCIP legal officer, said since Lagayan is an ancestral domain composed of 100 percent indigenous people (IP), NCIP will be taking close monitoring of said project and will ensure elders and stakeholders approve the project.

Leonidas Seares, IP representative in Lagayan, cited support to accomplishment of the proposed project in behalf of LGU and stakeholders.

Engineer Ernesto Aton, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer also assured full support in this endeavor so that not only people in said locality will prosper but protection of the environment will be heightened, too.

Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Teresa B. Beñas of Philippine Information Agency AbraInfocen, a member of Protected Area Management Board, said  there are many things and preparations to consider before implementation of projects as tourist attraction such as concreting of roads going to the caves, establishment of inns or log cabins for tourists, socio-economic preparations, physical amenities like public toilets and security.

Beñas reminded locals to take good care of their environment.  Do not exploit it, she said. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

 Kalinga cops distribute free school supplies to  pupils

TABUK CITY, Kalinga --- One hundred seven pupils of the Gawidan Elementary School (GES) in Barangay Bagumbayan, this city, benefit from an out of camp outreach mission of the Kalinga Provincial Public Safety Company (KPPSC) today.

The “Blessing Ko, Share Ko” good practice of KPPSC and pet project of the Company Advisory Council (CAC) made 107 school children happy with school supplies given them out of voluntary contributions from personnel of said unit.

P/Supt. Jomarick Felina, KPPSC Company commander, said his company collected an amount each from the 14th month pay of the police force which was spent to buy assorted school supplies like writing pad, pencil, ballpen and colors.

“We will conduct another gift giving like this if we all share again and collect sufficient amount from our blessings,” Felina said quoting  a Bible verse: Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver (Psalm 9:7)”.

Before the gift-giving, a safety drill was conducted with demonstrations by the police on basic safety measures during an earthquake.

Mario Garcia, dean of the Kalinga State University Criminology department and member of CAC, also gave an inspirational message.

GES Principal Mark Malamnao extended the school’s gratitude to the police and CAC.  “This is the first gift giving we had and we are very thankful that we are selected as recipient school,” he said. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Cash, health benefits for  elderly proposed

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A proposed ordinance  granting  cash incentives  and health benefits  for senior citizens 80 year old and above is awaiting approval by  the Provincial Board.  

Scheduled for third reading, the measure entitled ‘Octogenarian, Nonagenarian and Centenarian Ordinance’  or  “recognizing, granting cash incentive and providing benefits and privileges to actual residents of the province” was  authored by Board Member Robert Namoro.

The measure provides financial benefits to senior citizens in recognition of their vital roles and contribution to the development of the province. They will be granted cash incentives and be accorded medical benefits.

The benefits: octogenarians (80 to 89 years old), P3, 000 cash; nanogenarians (90-99), P5, 000 cash and centenarians (100 and above), P10, 000. Each recipient will be awarded only once in the respective category but octogenarians and nanogenarians are qualified to receive a centenarian award once they reach 100 years old. They will also receive plaques of recognition which will only be given once.

Apart from the cash award, they are entitled to register for medical check-up in any medical health facility owned and operated by the provincial government. -- Susan C. Aro

 NFA calls on LGUs to ink MOA for rice during disasters 
TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The National Food Authority provincial station urged   incoming  local chief executives to sign memorandum of agreement with NFA on allocation of rice stocks during disasters.

This is to ensure the availability of rice supply in case of emergency or disaster.

NFA-Kalinga Manager Miguel Pecson explained that under the MOA, NFA can readily release rice to requesting local government (LGUs) for distribution to families affected by natural calamities.

LGUs can request for a stand-by rice buffer from NFA for ready supply of food in their areas in times of typhoons and other disasters.

The MOA allows recipient LGUs to pay the “rice loan” later when situation gets normal in the aftermath of the calamity, Pecson informed.

The move is part of the concerted disaster preparedness efforts of the province with the forecast on super-typhoons brought by the La Nina this rainy season.

In cases when far-flung barangays get isolated, local disaster councils have stand-by food to be distributed before aid from outside sources would arrive, Pecson stressed. 

It was noted that food aid usually is the initial and prime relief delivered to victims at the height of calamities in various parts of the province.

Meanwhile, Pecson reported their present inventory of 17,000 bags of rice and 13,000 bags of ready-to-mill palay, which he sees are sufficient for the coming typhoon months. -- Larry T. Lopez

   

DFA-Baguio sets online passport application system

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs has launched its Online Passport Application, to make passport application easier with appointment system.

The DFA Regional Consular Office in Baguio City started  Online Passport Application and Appointment System.

The application process was made easy in just three steps: provide personal information and contact details, choose a schedule – select where you intend to file an application and choose your preferred date for personal appearance and personal appearance

For scheduling and filing of online application, applicants can visit this website – https://www.passport.GOV.ph.

Applicants may choose to schedule individually or as a group and may also wish to resume a previously filled-up and saved application. A valid and working email address is also required to receive system-generated messages with file attachments.

The DFA reminds its applicants to be careful in filling up the Passport Appointment Application to ensure all entries provided are true and correct. Any error committed in the online form may result in delay in the application and any misrepresentation of information may be considered as ground for refusal or cancellation of the application.  All requirements necessary to the application should be ready and complete on the scheduled date.

Non-appearance on scheduled date of appointment will result in a “Time Penalty” or a 30-day ban.

According to the DFA, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and minor children 7 years old and below are excluded from the appointment system.

The passport application of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) may also be accommodated without a scheduled appointment by presenting a valid employment contract and other supporting documents as may be necessary.

Those applying for the replacement of their lost valid passport may also proceed directly at the Information Desk without an appointment. There will be an initial 15-day clearing period prior to the processing of application for replacement of a lost valid passport.

For further concerns and inquiries, you may reach DFA RCO Baguio at telephone nos. (074) 422 1465 or (074) 442 2258. You may also visit the DFA website for the latest updates and announcements at dfabaguio.wordpress.com. -- DFA

NTA ready to lend palay loans to tobacco farmers           

BANGUED, Abra -- The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is set to grant production loans for palay cultivation to Abra tobacco farmers.

NTA-Abra branch manager Esmeralda Gaerlan-Valera said while the NTA’s mandate is to help tobacco farmers, it recognizes the need to sustain their other economic activities hence the assistance in their palay production so they may have food supply when the tobacco season is over.

Valera said loans for palay cultivation will be given to the same tobacco farmer-cooperators whom they have been serving in terms of tobacco production loans and technical assistance.

 Meanwhile, the implementation of the college scholarship program of the NTA is stalled pending clarification from Central Office since the completers of the Junior High cannot go to college directly because of the K-12 curriculum of the Department of Education which requires two years   senior high school first entering college. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas

        

DPWH to cement 11 farm roads in Abra            

BANGUED, Abra -- Funds for the concreting of 11  farm-to-market roads have been released to the Department of Public Works and Highways during the first quarter of this year and will now  be implemented  with the lifting of  election ban.

District Engineer Loreto Dacoroon explained the implementation of the said projects was stalled as it was covered by the  election ban relative to the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections.

One of the prohibited acts   from March 25 to June 8, 2016 is the construction of public works and delivery of materials for public works.

Dacoroon said bidding process for the 11 FMRs are now being prepared.

The 11 FMRs: 1-km Calaba South FMR with project cost of P10 million;  BangbangarinBangued- P5M;  Carcariskis-Caupasan in Danglas-  P5M; the Las-ud to Tayawa Road in Barangay Buli, La Paz- P5M; Dugong-Quimloong-Abang in Bucay-P5M;  Lagaosian-Callao in Villaviciosa-P10M; Balaoang-Poblacion FMR in Lacub - P5M;  Basar-Sallapadan Barrio in Sallapadan-P5M; Cautit-Mongoc FMR  and Arab-Nagliksaban FMR, both in Pidigan, funded with P5M each; and the Bituen-Abobotoc  FMR in Licuan-Baay- P7M.

Dacoroon said funds for the 11 farm-to-market roads with a total length of 6.7 kilometers and with total funds of P67M came from Dept. of Agriculture. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas

Kapangan LGU to create PWD Affairs Office

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Town officials passed a measure for the establishment of Persons with Disability Affairs Section through Ordinance No. 101 Series 2016 authored by councilor WartonComila.

The PDAS will be under the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office which will implement Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, Accessibility Law and other related PWD laws.

In sustaining the welfare and promotion of PWDs, the office will serve as a structural organization tasked to do monitor and evaluation, data gathering, needs assessment, planning, establishment of production center, creation of job opportunities and advocacy services.

It is expected that the MSWD will appropriate and allocate funds for the PWD Affairs Office which will be manned by a personnel to be appointed by the LGU.

The measure is anchored on the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons   which directs national and local government agencies to implement programs and services which ensure full participation of PWDs in all aspects of community life.--Susan C. Aro