NEWS BRIEFS

Ifugao receives P9 million from DOLE for projects

LAGAWE, Ifugao— A total of P 9, 139, 955.50 for livelihood projects was awarded to provincial organizations  here following flag ceremony of capitol employees and officials Oct. 10.

The Department of Labor and Employment headed by regional director Exequiel Ronie Guzman with his assistant Teodoro Delson with Rep. Teddy Baguilat and acting governor Jose Jordan Gullitiw led the awarding.

P6, 314, 996 was awarded to the provincial government as accredited co-partner of DOLE.

This will be implemented and monitored by the provincial governor’s Office with the Public Employment Service Office.

The provincial government had  eight  approved proposals: Community enterprise development, carpentry and masonry tools and equipment of Panubtuban Masons and Carpentry Association; post-harvest facilities of Viewpoint Senior Citizens Association;  swine-raising of Mohicans Organization; upgrading of farm facilities of Lubu-ong Bimmoble Organization; water bottling enterprise of Hungduan Bibinnayug Indigenous People’s Organization; acquisition of mini- organic feed mill facility and mixer for production of swine poultry and tilapia of Alupapan Farmers Organization; food processing and production center of Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista Women’s Livelihood Association; and soybean processing of Nahamad Women’s Organization.

While, the municipality of Alfonso Lista received two checks one of which was under DOLE integrated livelihood emergency employment program on muscovado processing worth P551, 259. 50 and under tulong panghanapbuhay para sa ating mga disadvantaged workers, an emergency employment, a labor counterpart of DOLE in one of their community projects in the municipality received P 624, 000.

Tthe municipality of Tinoc had two: Kalanguya Cultural Multipurpose Cooperative Incorporation amounting P 839, 700 and Tinoc United Gardeners Development Federation receives P 810, 000. 

Regional director Guzman reminded beneficiaries to take care of the materials and equipment.

He said money given did not come from DOLE but from the people through taxes and the government was just returning it through livelihood projects.

He said he hoped this would help in the betterment of the lives of the Ifugao people most especially to those who are unemployed.

Baguilat said it was his vision for Ifugao to strengthen and bring more funds for sustainable livelihood. 

He said he hoped in 2017, there will be more livelihood projects but for now, he added there was an agreement with Gov. Pedro Mayam-o that they will have a monitoring scheme to see and ensure the success of these livelihood grants.

Gullitiw thanked the DOLE and Baguilat for the checks awarded to Ifugao. -- Florida B. Robles

2 dead in Ilocos trainer plane crash

SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur --A pilot and his student died when a trainer plane crashed off the coast of Barangay Sabangan here Oct. 21.

The bodies of Capt. John Kaizan Estabillo, 21, and Paula Bianca Flores, 25, were recovered at around 7:10 a.m. Monday, said Eric Apolonio, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines spokesman.

The light aircraft with body number RP-C7838 reportedly took off from the Vigan City airport  at 3:24 p.m. It was supposed to arrive at the San Fernando airport in La Union at 4:24 p.m.

Initial reports said the plane tripped on the zipline of the Vitalis Resort.

An investigation is underway.

37 public school-based BHS to BE set In Mt. Province

BONTOC, Mountain Province --Three  government agencies have forged a partnership to establish 37  public school-based barangay health stations (BHS)  in the province to make quality health care more accessible to the poor and vulnerable population.

Known as Philhealth TSeKaP (Tamang Serbisyo para sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya) accredited Barangay Health Stations, this is a  partnership  among  the Department of Education (DepEd),  Dept. of Health (DOH) and the Dept. of Interior and Local Government.

This will be established within public elementary schools in barangays without an existing BHS to ensure that affordable health services are within the reach of every Filipino especially those poor and vulnerable sectors. This may also serve as a school clinic.

Under this partnership, the DepEd provides a lot or portion of the property not being actively utilized in public elementary schools in barangays without an existing BHS and other government health service units.

Primo Aligo of the DepEd-Mountain Province Division Office bared that the DOH has allotted 37 school BHS in the province. Eleven of these are allotted for the municipality of Bauko, 9 in Paracelis, five in Tadian, two each in Bontoc, Barlig and Sagada, and one each in Natonin and Sabangan.

Aligo said the BHS is a pre-fabricated structure worth P1.3million each. -- Juliet B. Saley

OFW one-stop shop service center to open in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – The city government and Dept. of Labor and Employment opened the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) one-stop shop service center at the executive lounge of the Baguio Convention Center here yesterday (Oct. 29).

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan  inauguration and formal opening of the center that will provide OFWs with easier access to the services of different government agencies in processing documents they need with lesser delays and inconveniences.

Earlier, President Rodrigo R. Duterte, in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), directed to all frontline offices to establish one-stop shop centers to ensure that all requirements needed by the public are housed in one location for public convenience.

Secretary Bello issued a memorandum to all regional directors of the labor department instructing them to spearhead the establishment of one-stop shop service for OFWs in the different regions.

Included in the Baguio OFW one-stop shop service center are representatives from government agencies like Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), Home Development Mutual Fund, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Social Security System, Philippine Statistics Authority, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, Commission on Higher Education and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority. – Dexter A. See

Ilocos Norte bags seal of good governance award

LAOAG CITY -- Ilocos Norte is among local government units (LGUs) to be awarded the Seal of Good Local Governance by the Department of the Interior and Local Government this year.

The DILG gives the award to LGUs that meet certain standards, including sound financial administration, human security, disaster preparedness, business competitiveness and peace and order.  The evaluation period was from March to September.

The award entitles recipients to access the Performance Challenge Fund, which they can use for development projects.

Coffee growers get boost

with BSU processing center

LA TRINIDAD Benguet -- The Department of Trade and Industry, in partnership with Benguet State University officially launched the Coffee Processing and Cupping Laboratory at the BSU Institute of Highland Farming System and Agro Forestry last July 7, here.

The P4 million Shared Service Facility (SSF) is set to benefit the over 3,000 Arabica coffee growers in the province and the rest of Cordillera  in terms of post – harvest processing and value adding that will help in increasing the growers’ productivity and better quality of products that will ensure better income opportunity.

Present during the launching of the Coffee Processing and Cupping Laboratory were DTI officials headed by Undersecretary for Regional Operations Zenaida Maglaya and Cordillera Regional Director Myrna Pablo and Benguet Provincial Director Freda Gawisan.

They were joined in the ribbon cutting, blessing and turn – over program by BSU President Feliciano Calora and Benguet officials headed by Governor Crescencio Pacalso and La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda.

Maglaya, in her keynote message, outlined the importance of DTI’s partnership with BSU for the SSF project. Aside from boosting the productivity of Arabica growers in the province, they can also ensure a certified quality coffee produce and by-products with the university’s coffee program and research and extension services.

The Coffee Processing and Cupping Laboratory is the 24th of the 120 SSF projects for Cordillera. -- Carlito Dar

Tabuk City to receive mobile dental clinic

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Delivery of dental services to poor and remote barangays in in this city is expected to be improved  with the turn-over  this month of a “mobile dental clinic” by the Department of Health to the city government.

DOH provincial field officer Bernadette Andaya said the dental van designed for outreach clinic is fully equipped including dental chair and generator.  The facility is provided under the DOH’s Pangkalusugang Pangkalahatan Program that aims to address quality health care to indigent communities in the country.

Tabuk City Mayor Ferdinand B. Tubban welcomed the DOH project saying this will help  the city government’s health program.

Tubban said the city government will share its counterpart and other necessary support to sustain the project to answer the dental needs of people in far-flung barangays where dental care and awareness is still a serious concern.

Trained CHO staff shall be designated to operate the facility to ensure proper handling and maintenance, he said.  -- Larry T. Lopez   

PVET teaches farmers organic feed formulation

HUNGDUAN, Ifugao --The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVET) here recently conducted skills training on organic swine and poultry raising and feed formulation to 83 farmer- recipients of native pig raising project of provincial government.

The training was to enable pig raisers gain more profit in their backyard livestock endeavor by formulating their own organic feeds using ingredients and materials that are abundant and indigenous in their places rather than relying on commercial feeds which are very expensive, said PVET training coordinator Ferdinand Dunuan.

By adopting organic farming  that  includes feed formulation to reduce feed cost,  they can produce not only animal meat products which are safe and fit for human consumption but also earn more profit because organically produced farm products nowadays are in great demand.

Dunuan told participants pointers on animal husbandry, bio-organic inputs and good agricultural practices.

Gilbert Caclini, also of PVET, demonstrated preparation of feeds using indigenous materials with participation of farmers.-- Daniel B. Codamon

Mountain Province dads enact volunteer nurses ordinance

By Juliet B. Saley

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Every year thousands of nurses graduate and pass the board examination, with great hope and expectation to land a job locally or abroad but local employment opportunities are limited and foreign employment requires work experience as a condition before hiring.

In their desire to obtain work experience, these nurses agree to work as volunteers in local hospitals and clinics even without remuneration and continue to be dependent on their parents or guardians.

With such a situation, the provincial government stepped in to help these nurses and their parents.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan here recently enacted Provincial Ordinance No. 232 known as the Mountain Province Volunteer Nurses Program Ordinance.

This program aims to provide an opportunity for new registered nurses to put into practice the skills and core competence they have learned in school and inculcate care enhancement qualities including core values for the attainment of quality health service. 

It also seeks to provide training and equal opportunity without discrimination to all qualified registered nurses to be of service to the people in the province and create a pool of good-performing nurses from which the national and local government units and other agencies (local and foreign) may recruit their staff.

Under this ordinance, each qualified volunteer nurse shall be entitled to a daily allowance of P100.00 while on duty-training.

It is also provided that the amount of not less than P1 million shall be appropriated in the annual budget for this purpose.

Kalinga crafts juvenile intervention program

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- This province is formulating its comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Program (CLJIP) founded on rehabilitation and reintegration of the child in conflict with the law rather than retribution.

The technical working group of the provincial council for protection of children (PCPC) composed of concerned  line agencies and provincial local government met recently  to start crafting the three-year plan  funded from one percent of the province’s Internal Revenue Allotment(IRA) and implemented through an enabling ordinance by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

One input to the plan is for the Department of Labor and Employment to design a project for children of Overseas Filipino Workers who according to the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office are vulnerable of becoming children at risk and in conflict with the law.

It was also recommended that youth representative from in-school and out-of-school be included in the soon to be reconstituted PCPC.

The formulation of CLJIP was  pursuant to  Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile and Welfare Act of 2006 as amended by RA 10630 or an Act Strengthening the Juvenile Justice and Welfare System. -- Peter A. Balocnit

DA distributes P2M vegetable  seeds in Abra

BANGUED, Abra -- The Department of Agriculture through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist dispensed assorted vegetable seeds amounting to P2 million to all the 27 municipalities in the province recently.

Seeds distributed were okra, tomatoes, white cabbage, eggplant, and squash, among others. OIC Provincial Agriculturist Gilbert Barbero directed municipal agriculture officers and farmers to plant the seeds immediately.

He said some municipalities like Boliney, Langiden and Licuan-Baay which did not submit their calamity report last year, but all municipalities were given their share. He said it is a need next time they submit their report for them to know how many seeds to allocate to each one.

He urged farmers to join in the Philippine Crop Insurance to even out agricultural risks like consequences of natural disasters. They will be able to get indemnity for the losses in their crops and farm lands. --  Ginalyn B. Brioso

Ifugao council commits help against illegal drugs

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- The anti-drug council has started plans against illegal drug use and trafficking in the province.

Gov. Pedro Mayam-o recently led the members of the Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Council (PADAC) in signing a covenant to wage war against prohibited drugs use and trafficking. PADAC consists of heads of national and provincial and non-government organizations.

The PADAC members committed to cause the immediate arrest and prosecution of all drug pushers by reporting their presence to law enforcement authorities or invoke the power of the citizen’s arrest.

They also pledged to help in the seizure or confiscation by law enforcement authorities of any illegal drug paraphernalia as well as personal properties and vehicles being used in the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Some 250 persons  have voluntarily surrendered to police and local authorities from July 6 – 17 under the intensified anti drug campaign of the  Philippine National Police  dubbed “Oplan Tokhang” or ‘Oplan Kulkughummangan’ of the PNP –Marcelo B. Lihgawon

IFAD conducts  SIS Mission for CHARMP2 in Ifugao

BANAUE, Ifugao -- The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) conducted its 7th regular supervision and implementation support (SIS) mission in the province last July 6-8 for  the Second Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resource Management Project (CHARMP2).

The mission recently assessed progress of project implementationand  preparatory activities for additional funding and resolve constraints.

The IFAD Team was led by Tawfig El-Zabri with Ed Questalin, an environmentalist and consultant, and Greg Aris from the NEDA.

They had a meeting with the Ifugao Project Management Group and other project provincial stakeholders.

Together with local counterparts, they visited the project beneficiary towns of Asipulo and Hingyon and inspected projects like farm-to-market road and reforestation and agro projects in the areas, had dialogue with the various people’s organizations and held meetings with the municipal officials and other project stakeholders.

Since 2010, the IFAD conducted six missions for the CHARMP2 projects.  One of the recommendations of last year’s mission was for the CHARMP2 to be extended for one year without additional cost to scale up target outcomes.

This was approved and so the Project completion was extended to December 31, 2016 and closure by June 30, 2017.

Implemented by the Department of Agriculture, CHARMP 2 aims to reduce poverty and improve quality of life of indigenous people in upland communities in the Cordillera. -- Daniel B. Codamon

Sibud-Sibud Cave in Abra under DENR protection

TINEG, Abra -- The Sibud-Sibud Cave in this upland town is one of the 39 caves in the Philippines placed under protection and management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently.

Saturnina Miguel of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office said an area receives protection from DENR for its recognizable beauty and natural and cultural reserves.  This is necessary to preserve the caves so the public could enjoy them.

Sibud-Sibud Cave is found along the road of Tineng.  An ideal place for nature lovers, it can be reached after travelling a distance of around 33 km.  

It is categorized as Class III since it is less explored and visited.  Accordingly, Class III caves may also be utilized for economic activities like extraction or collection of guano or bird’s nest.

The local government units and residents are looking forward to developing the premises of the  Sibud-Sibud Cave  and establishing physical amenities and public utilities for the comfort of tourists and spelunkers.

Economic activities are expected to grow like tour guiding and collection of bird’s nest which is sold to foreigners as souvenir. Guano or bird’s nest is also made as soup and home remedy for certain illness.

Sibud-Sibud Cave is a threshold to all other potential natural and wildlife sanctuaries in Abra deserving protection, stressed Miguel.  --Ginalyn B. Brioso 

DA pours P300M to heirloom rice industry

BAGUIO CITY--The Dept. of Agriculture will pour about P300 million assistance to  waning heirloom rice industry in 2017.

A recent visit of   Agriculture Sec. Manny Pinol resulted to positive developments and changes the separtment will do in the industry. Among these is the categorization of the heirloom rice as high value crop.

 DA- Cordillera regional director Lorenzo Caranguian said the assistance will include the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged rice terraces and massive training of farmers with the aim of adding other sources of income.

 Towards this end, the DA also plans to give two cattle to every farmer to milk for value adding.

DA also aims to mechanize some of the indigenous methods of farming employed without necessary altering the produce.

The assistance is part of the Government’s goal of rice sufficiency by 2019.

The 2015 Cordillera’s Economic Performance revealed that among the sectors contributing to economic growth, Agriculture is the only sector that poised negative growth which contracted by 4.1 percent.

Caranguian explained that the loss of 7000 hectares standing crop of rice in Kalinga and climate change that brought Two Typhoons in the country contributed to the negative growth.

He added that the heirloom rice industry which spans 12 hectares in the province of Ifugao is pulling the region “down in terms of yield”.

The P300M for the heirloom rice industry, which is on top of the regular DA   funding is seen to make positive growth for the agriculture sector in the region. -- Brenden Kim Quintos

 Parenting style and education are top teenage pregnancy predictors

BAGUIO CITY --Parenting style and level of education are among top predictors of early childbearing in the Cordillera.

This was revealed in a Population Commission- funded research conducted by University of the Philippines Professor Josefina Natividad which was presented during a dissemination forum held recently here at Prince Plaza Hotel.

The research titled “Predictors and Timing of Early Childbearing in the Cordillera Administrative Region” sourced its data from the 2013 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study 4 (YAFSS 4). The sample for the study is 262 women aged 20-24.

In the YAFSS 4, Cordillera had the highest proportion of young women aged 15-19 who had begun childbearing at 18.4 percent, much higher than the national rate of 13.6%.

Child bearing is defined as having given birth before reaching the age of 20.

Results of the study indicate that the proportion that had a birth before 20 is higher among non Cordillerans, rural resident and young women who were not raised by both parents compared with their respective counterparts.

By poverty status, there is no substantial difference between women classified as poor and the non-poor.

By completed education, high school undergraduates had the highest proportion with early childbearing experiences (57 %), followed by those with elementary level schooling (38%) and high school graduates (30%).The prevalence of early childbearing is lowest among those with college education at 16 %.

The study suggests that parenting styles may be protective against the risk of early childbearing, specifically, if the parents set clear standards for children to follow while growing up.

“The proportion that experienced early child bearing increases as the level of clarity of standards of the parents on the behavior of children decreases.”

On the time of early childbearing, it showed that the proportion of childbearing before 20 is higher among non Cordillerans with a sudden increase at age 19 and it is mostly accounted for by births at ages 18 and 19. However in terms of exposure to the risk associated with early childbearing, the Cordillera women may be more at risk because they started childbearing earlier having recorded the youngest to be 13 years old.

“By marital status, four in 10 of the currently married 20-24 year olds began childbearing before the age of 20. Similarly, four in 19 of the currently cohabiting also experienced early childbearing. A small proportion of four percent of the never married had experienced early child bearing.”

The study summarized that among 20-24 year old women in CAR, 25% percent or one in four had a birth before the age 20 or were teenage mothers. The risk of early childbearing is not affected by urban-rural residence, poverty status, ethnicity or being raised by both parents. All are equally at risk. Having a college education significantly decreases the risk of early childbearing. The timing of early childbearing shows that most teenage births happen in the late teen years ages 17, 18 and 19.

The research also recommended that interventions should be age- and gender specific noting that the reception of 13 years old varies from the reception of 19 years old. -- Brenden Kim Quintos

Employees in Abra town undergo drug test

DOLORES, Abra -- Government employees from the local government unit and line agencies in this town underwent drug testing initiated by Mayor Robert “JR” Seares.

 “This is not voluntary. This is compulsory,” Seares said, adding he can turn Dolores clean and drug-free by nabbing and turning over all drug personalities to the police.

Nine drug personalities in Dolores voluntarily surrendered to the police out of 393 in the whole province this month.

Seares said President Rodrigo Duterte personally advised him to run after drug personalities when he attended the president’s inauguration last June 30.

 “The president said I should look after my town and never allow it to cradle narco-politics. He personally told me to look after the future of the youth because if not today, then it will probably be too late.”

In line with Duterte’s strong anti-corruption campaign, Seares vows full support in the conduct of lifestyle check to all elected and appointed government officials.

“If we want change, let us be part of that change. If we are not hiding anything, why won’t we submit to lifestyle checking?”, he said. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

 Ifugao farmers groups train on livestock raising

ASIPULO, Ifugao -- Members of two farmers organizations from this town and  Hingyon municipality underwent a training on poultry and swine production and hands-on preparation of fermented feeds  conducted by the Provincial Veterinary Officer (PVET).

The farmers were given lectures on the health and economic significance of utilizing home-made or processed fermented feeds for their poultry and livestock industry, good animal husbandry practices, animal health management and the various animal diseases such as the New Castle Disease of poultry and fowls.

There was also hands-on demonstration on how to process their own organic feeds using   raw and indigenous foodstuff that abound in the area.

The 22 members of the Haliap Farmers Organization of this municipality who attended the training received 13 piglets as their animal dispersal while the 23 members of the Bitu Resource Cooperative and Development Association, Inc. given 19 piglets.

PVET training coordinator Ferdinand Dunuan said that the project was funded by the Department of Agriculture which is mandated to exclusively promote organic agriculture in the country pursuant to Republic Act 10068. -- Daniel B. Codamon

Kalinga DENR hires 194 forest guards

TABUK CITY, Kalinga --  The provincial office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here recently hired  194  forest guards under job order  to  patrol  existing forests and reforestation projects.

Dennis Daligdig, chief   administrative officer, said 169 were hired as “bantay gubat” and 25 as forest protection officers (14 for Pinukpuk CENRO and 11 for Tabuk CENRO).  They are tasked to protect the forests and reforested areas especially from man-made hazards.

Meanwhile, Forester Magdalena Buyugan informed that they are now on the planting stage   of the National Greening Program (NGP) project this year.

The NGP which started in 2011 is one of the commitments of the Philippine government under the Aquino administration on the global action to mitigate climate change and global warming, is now on its fifth year of implementation.

Bayugan admitted there are some projects under NGP that failed but   there are also model plantations citing Kapanikian and Kalbayan in Pinukpuk; Balong this city; and Sisim in Rizal.

“Since the community people are our partner through their membership to people’s organizations, we appeal for your help in their implementation and protection,” Buyugan said.  She added that contracted POs are continuing the restoration of some burned areas.

Bayugan said they have increased their target NGP area in 2017 to 4,644 hectares for planting to specific species like bamboo, high value crops and fruit trees.  She said they are now on site validation to determine the suitability of these tree species to the soil. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Benguet overshoots rabies vaccination target

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The free massive anti-rabies vaccination campaign in the province was successfully conducted even overshooting its target.

An interagency collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government and municipal local governments, the anti-rabies campaign led by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, started in March as part of Anti-rabies Awareness Month observance and extended until June.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Miriam Tiongan said they have exceeded the target of the dog population by 7.34 percent which is above the national target of 70% and the region’s target of 80%.

Of the total dog population of 35,069 in the 13 towns of the province, 30,628 dogs were vaccinated.

The capital town of La Trinidad had the highest number of dogs vaccinated with 6,479 out of the   7,652 dogs.

Other towns that had high rate of vaccination are   Bakun, Kapangan and Buguias. The campaign is aimed to eradicate rabies by 2020. Fortunately, no rabid dog case is recorded this year so far, Tiongan said.

The OPVet is still doing vaccination but with minimal charge. The Office  is also conducting information education and administering spay and neuter to control dog population. -- Susan C. Aro

Baguio posts 82% passing rate in 2016 A&E exam

BAGUIO CITY- - The Department of Education – Alternative Learning System(ALS) Baguio Division again registered the highest passing rate in the April 17 Accreditation and Equivalency examination in the region  with an average of 82.78 percent for the elementary and secondary levels.

ALS Baguio Education program supervisor Arthur Tiongan said 42 out of their 45 (93.33%) examinees for the   elementary level while 410 out of the 501 takers in the secondary level passed the exam.

Passers include eight of nine examinees from the Baguio City Jail.

 Ifugao was second with a passing rate of 62.44% with 11 out of the 24 examinees in elementary and 732 out of the 1166 in high school passing the exam.

Mountain Province followed at third with 58.92% passing mark with 13 out 39 in the elem.  level and 357 out of 589 in the high school level making it.

Abra and Benguet followed closely with 57.58 and 57.16%, respectively, then Apayao at 43.05%, and Kalinga at 27.25%.  The Schools Division of Tabuk City registered 36.49% passing rate.

Overall, there are 130 elementary passers and 5,906 high school level passers in the region.

Tiongan explained these A & E passers will get their DepEd elementary and high school diplomas equivalent to those who finished basic education and can enroll in higher level.

ALS A&E test is a paper and pencil examination designed to measure the competencies of those who have neither attended nor finished elementary or secondary education in the formal school system. Passers are given a DepEd certificate/diploma certifying their competencies as comparable graduates of the formal school system

“Those who passed the elementary level can now go to high school, while those who passed the secondary can either take technical – vocation education or college courses”, he  said.  -- Carlito Dar

CCTV cameras  installed in Kalinga’s main road 

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The city-government had installed closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the provincial road leading to the city proper in a bid to strengthen its anti-criminality and traffic management efforts.

City Public Order and Safety Officer (POSO) Dionisio Falgui III informed there are 15 CCTV units installed at strategic points of the 7-kilometer road to help in the 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 has approved an 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 the plan to install CCTV cameras near schools.

Police intelligence reports indicated that drug pushers are 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

Ifugaos sustain traditional forest management system

LAGAWE, Ifugao – This age when technology has invaded all aspects of life, Ifugaos are proud of still practicing the muyong, the traditional way of preserving the forest.

The “muyong” system   revolves around the concept of protecting the forest as watershed and preserving its flora and fauna, its wildlife and keeping the ecological balance. 

It is a private or clan-owned woodlot, which serves as a “forest zone where people can gather firewood and lumber for their house-building needs through selective harvesting.

The ‘muyong’ is one of Ifugao’s living tradition that is passed from generation to generation,” he said.

The vital water systems that irrigate the province’s famed rice terraces come from watersheds and headwaters, which traditionally have been maintained through the muyong approach.

Local officials said the muyong system should be replicated in other parts of the country as a solution to water shortage, floods, landslides that kill thousands of people every year. -- JDP/JBZ

Tabuk City shifts to high-tech waste management system

TABUK CITY, Kalinga- - This city is now going high tech in its waste management system.

The local government unit   has shifted to Technology for Waste Diversion Facility and installed a granulator “Markell” machine for the processing of bio and non-bio waste materials at its Dilag open dump site in Sitio Bayabay this city.

Salud Lammawin, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said the machine worth P6.5 million will reduce the garbage disposed at the site. She said the supplier has already conducted training on the operation of the diesel fuel-run waste processing equipment.

Other facilities currently being constructed in the area are a materials recovery facility (MRF) and a composting unit amounting to P1 million and P500, 000.00, funded respectively by the LGU.

The installation of these facilities is in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

 Lammawin  also bared  rehabilitation of   dump site is underway with the  city government  providing P3 million funding for the first quarter this year particularly for  initial perimeter fencing, leachate pond, high density polyethylene (HDPE) liner, retaining wall,  guard house, gate, billboard, and  gas vent among others. -- Peter A. Balocnit

DOLE allots P6 million for 16 Kalinga groups

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Sixteen associations are set  to  receive financial assistance for livelihood projects from the Department of Labor and Employment.

Dr. Alexander Gumabol, DOLE provincial office head here, said they are preparing the checks worth around P6 million for distribution to livelihood proponents, mostly farmer groups needing post-harvest facilities.

Organizations to be given post-harvest facilities are San Isidro Farmers Asso. of Magabbangon (P352,700.00); Lumawig Clan of Pinukpuk (P481,000); Talac Yellow Corn Upland Rice of Gogbgog(P350,000); Matagoan Lapata of Tabuk(P350,000); Mengawisan Association of Masablang(P500,000); Bulitnao Tourism Manggayadan Farmers of Magnao(P353,000); Purok 3 Matayog Farmers(P200,000); Saltan Organic Farmers(P50,000); Amlao Farmers(P450,000); Guringad-Tope Clan(P350,000); Sumadel 1 Livelihood(P420,000), and Pakawit Pumiyaan(P350,000).

Others with different livelihood are Tuga National High School (P403, 050) for bakery and pastry making; Tabuk Ornamentals, Landscaping and Nursery Livelihood (P485, 000); Purok 3 Bulanao Indigent, Tourism, Handicraft Asso. (P383, 000), and Naneng Rural Improvement Club on red rice processing (P326, 000).

These projects  will have immediate impact on employment of members and additional income for their families, Gumabol said. -- Peter A. Balocnit

Doc pushes diabetes prevention among children

BAGUIO CITY -- Diabetes is now a global concern and intensive education among young ones who are potential victims, is still best prevention,

Dr. Domingo Solimen of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC)   said  during the Department of Health media forum last week.

The World Health Organization figues said  350 million people with diabetes around the globe, and disease is the direct cause of around 1.5 million deaths.

Solimen said diabetes, a non-communicable disease that is due to high blood sugar level, is the number one cause of kidney failure.  

At BGHMC, 60 percent of their dialysis patients are due to diabetic complications, he bared.

Diabetes is also considered risk factor to heart attack, blindness and traumatic amputation.

Diabetic complications can be fatal but the disease is also highly preventable and treatable especially if detected early on.

As a preventive measure, Solimen said their intensive information and education campaign is focused on orienting elementary pupils of healthy lifestyle given that obesity, a risk factor for diabetes, is now prevalent among children.

Obesity in the younger ages is related to the manifestation of diabetes in their adulthood, he said.

Solimen advised the general public to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have a balanced diet which includes avoiding salty foods, too much sweets and frozen foods, as well as smoking.

He also advised  diabetic family members and those feeling the symptoms (that include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased hunger) to have their blood sugar checked.

This year’s   World Health Day on April 7 focuses on diabetes with the theme, “Beat Diabetes” to scale up diabetes prevention, strengthen care and enhance surveillance. --  Leo  and G. Montecastro

Kalinga barangays, schools set

sites for pre-fab health stations

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Recipient barangays and schools of pre-fabricated barangay health stations (BHS) in the province are now busy identifying and preparing the sites.

Dr. Bernadette Andaya of the Center for Health Development reported that    barangay Dangtalan in Pasil was the first to prepare and concrete the site.

Andaya bared that the pre-fab BHS is 12x18 feet or 50sq.m. in dimension and   worth P240, 000.00. 

The pre-fab BHS project is funded under the Department of Health’s (DOH) Tamang Serbisyo sa Kalusugan ng Pamilya or TSeKaP .

She said a joint memorandum of agreement was forged between DOH, the Department of Education and barangay local government units. 

The nationwide construction of said BHS projects is contracted by a single contractor. An engineer will be hired per province to supervise project implementation, she added.

TSeKaP  strengthens  health systems; increase the efficiency and effectiveness of delivery of basic health services and enable a more equitable distribution of national health programs through the government’s Daang Matuwid Program

In another development, Andaya announced that DOH Sec. Janette Garin will visit Kalinga in April to distribute medical equipment packages to rural health units, and barangay health stations. – Peter Balocnit

NFA-Kalinga urges bigasan outlets to renew permits

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial operation center here  urged bigasan operators to renew their permits in order to continuously to provide accessible and cheap rice.

Assistant  Provincial Manager Ric Baliang informed their office is open to renewal of 2016 permits to NFA-bigasan retail outlets and licenses for grains traders. 

NFA   is also accepting  new applications for its rice retail service especially in remote areas of the province where there is problem on accessibility.

There are at least 80 bigasan retailers stationed in various sites in the province selling NFA cheap quality rice at P27-32/kg, Baliang disclosed.

Baliang cleared there is no price adjustment in government rice but NFA allows minimal add-on cost to defray transportation expenses by retailers from far-flung barangays.

Meanwhile, the provincial NFA warehouse has a current inventory of 23,000 bags of rice, which according to Baliang is sufficient until the next quarter.

In the last cropping, NFA procured only 2,000 bags of palay due to the province’s low palay production arising from the irrigation crisis. 

Baliang hopes  their procurement operation would be back to normal with the resumption of regular operation of the National Irrigation Administration’s service in the province this cropping. -- Larry T. Lopez

DOST provides baking tools to women’s group

PINUKPUK, Kalinga -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provincial office here recently  provided  bakery equipment to Barangay Dugpa Kalipi (Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina) Organization this town for  its bakery project.

The Kalinga Science and Technology Center said their office provided P149, 000.00 for the purchase of one set oven, one set dough roller, one set dough kneader, and a blender while the proponent shared P140, 000.00 counterpart.

The group aims to produce baked products enriched with vegetables.

Raw material for the manufacture of baked products is not a problem since local raw products like malunggay and root crops are found in abundance in the place. Members of the organization will undergo training on good manufacturing practices from January 27-28.

 Meanwhile, Alfonso Berto, provincial DOST officer,  said they are processing approval of other proposals under the community-based program on Science and Technology Enhancement for the Advancement of Municipalities or STEAM. -- Peter A. Balocnit