NEWS BRIEFS

OPAPP issues warning against impostors  

The Office of Presidential Affairs on Peace Process warned certain individuals are doing the rounds reportedly offering persons and companies alleged OPAPP government projects and asking for "reservation fees."

 “We have not authorized anyone to peddle or sell projects nor are we into this unscrupulous and anomalous business. We are implementing our projects in the most transparent way and proper way bereft of corruption and anomalies,” the OPAPP said in a press statement.

“Please report to us directly such persons. We will expose and if appropriate run after them.”

The OPAPP urged the public to contact their numbers 02-6360701 local 823 or 824 / mobile 09173009346 or email to opapp.osec@gmail.com. Regarding unscrupulous activities for proper action.

Mini-hydro power plant to rise in Ifugao town

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- Another mini-hydro power electric power to be constructed in this tourist town soon.

Officials and technical personnel of the ALTERNERGY Company, a renewable energy firm, recently inaugurated their office at Barangay Poblacion so they can start work in partnership with the Kiangan local government for construction of two proposed mini-hydro-electric power plants in Barangays Bokiawan, Dalligan and Mungayang of this town.

ALTERNERGY was represented by its president and chief executive officer Eduardo Miranda who signed memorandum of agreement with the Kiangan Culture and Arts Council at the Community Heritage Center for social develeopemtn projects.

Brenda Saquing, executive secretary to the nayor, said the mini-hydro-electric power plant to be called the Kiangan Mini-Hydro Corporation can generate a total of 17 megawatts of power supply.

This is greater than the existing Ambangal Mini-hydro power plant at Munggyayang.

The  Ambangal Mini hydro Project was commissioned in 2010.  --  Daniel B. Codamon

19 hired in La Trinidad job fair

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Strawberry Festival job fair here conducted here recently in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency resulted to hiring of 19 jobseekers out of 496 applicants.

Elengy Polidi of the Public Employment Service Office said two were hired as skill workers overseas while the remaining 17 were hired as local service crew for local companies.

Polidi said for overseas jobs, thise wh were hired will undergo a process after their interview in the jobs fair. She narrated how a driver who was hired in last year’s job fair was so thankful of the opportunity.

Polidi urged parents  to let their children finish a course as employers prefer college degree holders even for a bagger. – Susan C. Aro

Baguio market summit approved

BAGUIO CITY – The city council passed a resolution calling for the conduct of a market, trade and commerce summit here to improve and further develop the present market, trade and commerce situation in the city.

It also envisions to make the Baguio City Public Market as the Summer Capital’s main tourist attraction that is safe, drug and crime-free, clean and orderly that may be achieved through an inter-agency and concerned stakeholders effort being established and interventions to be set up to deal with the “myriad of problems that have long been weighing down the area”.

Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., the measure’s author, revealed that as the chair of the august body’s committee on market, trade and commerce, he has held a dialogue with market stakeholders as an initial move for the conduct of a summit to gather and thresh out all the concerns to make business relations in the market thriving yet organized.

The resolution points out that the Baguio City Public Market, being the “face of the city”, is supposed to showcase best practices in market, trade and commerce to tourists and the community it serves and confident that workable plans could be achieved.

“There is a need to synergize all efforts in achieving this goal,” the approved measure said.

It stated the summit’s aim is to make the city market a world-class market.  “If not, at least make it presentable to Baguiotes including domestic and foreign tourists,” the measure added.

 “The conduct of a market, trade and commerce summit will allow various stakeholders to take active part in injecting their inputs relative to the multifarious issues and concerns surrounding the city’s market, trade and commerce industry, evaluate these concerns and come up with short-term, medium-term and long-term plans and solutions,” it stated.-Gaby Keith and Cassey Francis

Abra opens 100th anniversary rites with Centennial Bazaar

BANGUED, Abra -- The Abra Centennial celebration is on here with the hoisting of municipal banners by all local chief executives and launching of Centennial  Bazaar at the Abra Sports Complex.

A time to promote the bamboo industry, exhibits are designed bamboo products time like frog-like hamper, centennial cup and trophies, bamboo electric fan, bamboo kiosk for couples, recycle bins, vases and picture frames, tall bamboo lampshades, double-decked rocking chair with food tray and many more,  are exhibited for the first  earning the  admiration of  the public.

Gov. Maria Jocelyn V. Bernos cited exhibitors and bamboo advocates who made the Centennial Bazaar possible. She also asked the Department of Trade and Industry who partnered with them in this event to continually support all other government programs and projects to hoist up economic development of the Abrenios.

Special guest DTI regional director Myrna Pablo congratulated Abra for its 100 years and for the one- of- a- kind bamboo display she saw like the bamboo electric fan made in Tubo.

“Ang galing naman. It’s my first time to see something like this,” she commended as she switched it on.

As one of the top bamboo producing provinces in the country that  produce one of the best varieties of bamboos and quality bamboo products, Pablo urged the provincial government to invite experts from Manila to enhance their bamboo products so they can become world class and compete in the global market especially in ASEAN. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

BFP-Kalinga brings fire awareness drive to villages

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga– The Bureau of Fire Protection provincial office is bringing its fire safety education drive to the barangay level.

This is to give more focus on Fire Prevention Month’s  theme, “Buhay at ari-arian ay pahalagahan, ingat sa sunog ay sa sariling bahay simulan.”

Fire Chief Insp. Ramil Borja, BFP-Kalinga chief said   their office kicked-off the province-wide information-education sortie at Barangay Lanna, here, where barangay officials and residents were lectured and trained on fire prevention and response. More barangays will follow.

The celebration of Fire Prevention Month in the province also includes revitalization of Barangay Fire Brigades as community-based response teams while BFP fire fighters are called to the area in case of a fire.

The BFP-Kalinga also included in its activities literary contests on fire safety and prevention in schools to raise awareness among the students.

Borja said the IEC campaign should target students who are effective multipliers of information, enabling them to reach out to more homes in the community. 

Students and teachers of St. Tonis College in this city were already given lectures of fire safety and prevention.

The BFP is also getting ready for the regional fire Olympics to be held in Abra. This annual event is part of the Fire Prevention Month celebration every March. -- Larry Lopez

DOT, partners launch Project

‘Puraw’ village painting 

BAGUIO CITY -- The Department of Tourism and its partners formally launched project “Puraw” or the White Roofs Community Painting Project for Quirino Hill  here recently.

Heading the launching ceremony  and   memorandum of  agreement signing   were DOT officials headed by Undersecretary Alma Jimenez and  DOT Cordillera regional director Venus Tan,  Environment  and Natural Resources regional director Ralph Pablo, mayor Maurico Domogan, Rep. Mark Go and Boysen Philippines vice president for marketing Ruben Cueto.

Officials of the involved community barangays were  also  present.

Project “Puraw (an Ilocano term for white)” is part of DOT’s REV – BLOOM, an urban tourism redevelopment program and awareness campaign that aims to rev – up, revive, re – visit and revitalize potential destinations in Baguio and nearby Benguet towns.

Through Boysen paints, roofs of the houses in Quirino Hill numbering about 1,500 will be painted white to give the community a cool color.

A touch of green paint will also be used to give an artistic look to the community.

Tan said Project “Puraw” will not only make Quirino Hill a tourist attraction but it will be the first climate change – adaptive community in the country. 

The white paint she said, will help protect the eco –system in the area as it will also reduce the effect of heat brought by global warming

Cueto said the painting of the houses in Quirino Hill will start this month.

Project Puraw is the second community painting project of DOT under REV – BLOOM, an initiative of Tan. The first is the giant art mural for the community of STOBOSA in Km. 3 in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet. -- E. Sison

Free anti-rabies vaccination available  in Benguet barangays

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Pet owners may now bring their dogs and cats and avail of the free anti-rabies vaccinations in designated areas in respective barangays in Benguet.

Dr. Miriam Tiongan, Provincial Veterinarian Office chief, this is in line   declaration of every March as Rabies Awareness Month towards the attainment of a rabies-free status.   With the continuing activities on rabies prevention and awareness, it is hoped that rabies-free status will be attained by 2020.  

Governor Crescencio Pacalso hopes the province will attain a rabies-free status sooner. “Rabies even if fatal is 100 percent preventable through massive vaccination. We will rekindle the program so that everybody will help promote,” he said.

For an area to be declared rabies-free, it has to satisfy requirements such as at least 80 percent vaccination of dog population, existence of ordinance in municipalities on rabies prevention, consistent zero record of rabid cases whether dogs or humans, Dr. Arlene Sagayo of the Department of Agriculture said.

Last year, the province reached 87 percent accomplishment of dogs vaccinated or equivalent to 30,698 with the Department of Health focusing on the preventive aspect and allotting funding for the purchase of animal vaccines.

Rabies Awareness Program with the theme, “Rabies Iwasan, Alaga’y Pabakunahan”, was launched in the province through a motorcade, lectures, vaccination and briefing of vaccinators.   

Pacalso enjoined pet owners to bring their pets in designated venues of the barangays.  He likewise sought the help of barangay officials to help in its dissemination. -- Susan C. Aro

Kalinga Treasures Trade Fair rakes in P6.6-M sales

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Organizers of this year’s Kalinga Treasures Trade Fair recorded record-high sales of P6, 602,365.

Aurora Sanet of the Trade and Industry provincial office, lead organizer of the event, said they targeted P5 million in sales this year considering that   people of the province suffered massive losses from  super typhoon “Lawin”   October last year.

The comparative sales in the annual fair had remarkably risen from P4.8M in 2015 to P6.4M in 2016 and 6.6M, this year.

Sanet attributed the sales performance to the increasing innovative skills of producers with DTI’s continuing product development and marketing assistance.

This year, the top-selling sector was   furniture with  P2,305,605 followed by wearables-gifts-home-decors – P1,944,380; processed foods – P1,167,656; ornamentals – 738,414 and other sectors – P446,310.

Sanet reported that   19 of the 99 exhibitors came from the provinces of Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet and Baguio City.   

The fair was organized as part of the highlights of the annual celebration of the province’s founding anniversary.

Sanet lauded the Chamber of Kalinga Producers, Inc. (CKAPI) which is working for the development of micro-business in the province, for leading with DTI the organization and conduct of the annual trade fair. – Larry T. Lopez      

DOLE, PDEA join forces for drug-free workplaces

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment - Regional Coordinating Council  and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency - Cordillera are joining  hands against illegal drugs in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The RCC and PDEA-CAR will convene to finalize signing of the memorandum of agreement which is aimed at strengthening the fight against this social menace.

DOLE-CAR regional director Exequiel Ronie A. Guzman, chairman of the RCC and PDEA-CAR regional director Edgar Afalla agreed on provisions, roles and responsibilities of both agencies for programs and activities against drug abuse in the Cordillera especially in workplaces.

Guzman said under the MOA, the primary role of PDEA-CAR is to provide technical assistance to DOLE-CAR and the RCC such as resource speakers, information materials for information drives and activities and to assist on drug-related concerns.

DOLE Department Order No. 53, series of 2003 requires all establishments to adopt drug-free workplace policy and program to ensure a safe and healthy workforce. It is mandatory to all private establishments employing 10 or more workers to formulate and implement drug abuse prevention and control program in the workplace and also to adopt a policy against dangerous drug use and alcoholic abuse among its employees.

Workplace policies and programs on drug abuse prevention and control to be adopted by companies shall include, among others, advocacy, education, and training; drug testing program for officers and employees; treatment, rehabilitation, and referral; and monitoring and evaluation.  -- Patrick T.Rillorta

TESDA- Mt. Provincegives free haircut to inmates  

BONTOC, Mountain Province– The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) provincial office conducted free haircut for inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology here.

Christine Oliquiano of TESDA here said the “Gupit para kay Kardo” project was in partnership with the Mystique Touch Salon and Spa, Kellers Salon, Cres Parlor and the Thween’s Parlor. Some 19 inmates of  53 inmates  were beneficiaries of the project. -- Juliet B. Saley

Air monitoring machines to be put up in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau said the government plans to install ambient air monitoring machines in all urban centers in the country to closely monitor the air quality in the said areas.

Reynaldo S. Digamo, EMB-CAR regional director, said the installation of ambient air monitoring machines in urban centers is part of the medium-term development plan of the agency for the years 2017-2022 to help in the implementation of updated programs and interventions key to having clean air.

The EMB-CAR official said it is unfortunate that the earlier P300 million allocated by the agency for the purchase of air monitoring machines to be installed nationwide has reverted to the general fund as part of the capital outlay of their central office after the lapse of two years, thus, the need for them to re-strategize how to acquire the needed machines for the urban centers.

He claimed the EMB-CAR is eyeing the purchase of state-of-the-art ambient air monitoring machines to be installed in urban areas in the country instead of the traditional mobile monitoring stations to be able to continuously get the actual data on the prevailing air quality in the said areas. -- Dexter A. See

Tabuk collects P13M from business permits, licenses

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga – The city’s intensified regulatory drive on business operation had yielded P13, 898,999 in fees from applications and renewals of business permits and licenses.

Olive Mendoza of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) reported business accounted P13, 287,524 while tricycle permits contributing P611, 475.

CTO records show there were 1,407 business owners and 1,665 tricycle operators that applied for permit and license renewals.

Because of the high number of transactions, the city government  extended until Jan. 31 the “no-penalty” application and renewal of business permits and licenses  from its Jan. 20 deadline.  

Ralph Matammu, head of the City Business Permit and Licensing Section, said after the extension in application, late applicants are charged extra fees as penalty.

Under the revenue campaign of the city-LGU, business establishments and tricycle operators with no proper permits are dealt with accordingly, Matammu said. -- Larry T. Lopez

 NNC to put up 10 Nutriskwela community radio stations

LAGAWE, Ifugao- - More Nutriskwela Community Radio (NCR) stations  will be put  up in the country this year to empower the community through  dissemination of correct, relevant and up-to-date nutrition and health information.

Jovita Raval of the National Nutrition Council said part of the council’s plan for 2017 is the putting up of 10 new stations under phase 5 of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program (NCRNP).   Currently, there are 35 existing nutriskwela community radio stations nationwide.

Raval said the NNC will also support upgrading of 10 existing stations and conduct refresher training courses to selected stations. It will also conduct monitoring visits and other activities to help strengthen NCRs nationwide.

The NCRNP of the NNC was borne out of a need for a long-term and cost-efficient strategy to address the problem of hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines through the use of radio, the most available form of mass media.

The NRCNP involves the setting up of non-profit, non-partisan community radio stations and the training of broadcast personnel in areas of the country with high malnutrition prevalence and which do not have easy access to broadcast media.

Nutriskwela Community Radio aims to empower the community through the dissemination of correct, relevant and up-to-date nutrition and health information, as well as educational and developmental information from all relevant sectors of the community, government agencies, and non-government organizations.

The first phase of the project was implemented in 2008 with five community radio stations established.

In 2010, the second phase of the Nutriskwela Community Radio Network Program was implemented with the establishment of another 10 stations while in 2012, 10 stations were established under phase 3 and in 2015 another 10 stations were put-up under  phase 4.

In the Cordillera, NCR stations are Radyo Kiphodan, DZNC-FM 99.1 MHz in Lagawe, Ifugao;  Radyo Kabinnulig, DZNA-FM 99.7 MHz in Lagangilang , Abra,  and Radyo Kasaranay, DZNQ-FM 96.7 MHz, in Luna, Apayao . -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

May declared Farmers Month in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution declaring the month of May as Farmers Month in the city in recognition of the role of farmers in the overall development of the city for over a century now.

The resolution authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated with the technological advancement and agricultural modernization, the farmers and agricultural practitioners in the city can actively take part in the celebration so they could also benefit from the programs, projects, and activities of the government.

In the city, Yangot disclosed there remain many areas utilized for agricultural purposes that serve as the major source of livelihood particularly for the residents of outlying barangays like Sto. Tomas School Area, Sto. Tomas Proper, Bakakeng Central, Bakakeng Norte/Sur, Camp 7, Loakan Proper, Loakan Liwanag, Happy Hallow, Baguio Country Club, Gibraltar, Pinsao Proper, Pinsao Pilot Project, Ambiong, and other areas.

Under the newly approved city land use plan, several areas in the city had been identified as agricultural zones due to the presence of agricultural lands being tilled by farmers for domestic and commercial requirements.

 For several years now, Yangot said Baguio has not celebrated Farmers Month because the city was presumed to have no agricultural lands and farming is not being reportedly practiced. – Dexter A. See

OPVet to dog owners:

Inject pets against rabies

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Office of the Provincial Veterinary urged dog owners to have their pets vaccinated against rabies to eradicate the disease in the province.

Provincial Veterinarian Rodel Bagawi told government employees here the OPVet and the Municipal Agricultural Offices will conduct anti-rabies mass vaccination as one highlight of the observance of the National Rabies Awareness Month this March.

The yearly dog anti-rabies vaccination drive is in support to the national government’s campaign of rabies-free Philippines by 2020.

Bagawi said pet owners can bring their pets to their respective MAOs or to the OPVet for the free anti-rabies immunization. 

Barangays officials can also coordinate with their MAO for the scheduling of the anti-rabies vaccination in their barangays.

Veterinarians said mass vaccination of dogs is the most effective way of controlling and eradicating rabies, which is one cause of deaths among humans.They said rabies can be eradicated if all dog owners will have their pets three months old and above vaccinated. -- Andrew Doga-ong

DOLE urges employers to abide by Kasambahay law

BANGUED, Abra -- The Department of Labor and Employment - Abra urged families with kasambahay or domestic  workers  to abide with Republic  Act  No. 10361 known as Batas Kasambahay of 2013. 

DOLE provincial head George Lubin, Jr. cited rights and privileges of kasambahay in the Philippines of which the employers are bound to observe and comply with. 

Under the law, domestic workers are entitled to a minimum wage, daily rest period of 8 hours, 13th month pay, 5 days annual service incentive leave with pay, and weekly rest period of uninterrupted 24 hours. 

The kasambahay is likewise entitled to an employment contract, pay slips and certificate of employment, Lubin said.

Kasambahay should be provided with the mandatory coverage of Social Security System  and Philhealth and PAGIBIG.  Premium payments shall be paid by the employer. The kasambahay with monthly wage of P5, 000 and above per month however, will pay his share in the premium payment contributions. -- Maria Teresa B. Beñas

Abrañean Canada migrants sponsor 20 tech voc scholars

PIDIGAN, Abra --The Annak ti Abra in Canada has given sponsored 20 scholars in electrical installation and maintenance training at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority training center in this town.  The scholars graduated Feb. 28   from four-month training that started November last year.

Buenavic Q. Bersalona, head and founder of the Annak ti Abra-Canada, said the organization provided free tuition, assessment and certificate fees, two sets of uniform, complete set of tool kits, notebooks, pens and grocery items to all the 20 scholars from the municipalities of Lagayan, Licuan-Baay, Bangued, Manabo, Pilar, San Juan, Daguioman, and Tayum. 

The Annak ti Abra also paid for the dormitory of 15 students who came from far-flung municipalities.

Lawyer Marco M. Bautista, ex-mayor of San Juan and longtime partner of TESDA in its programs, urged graduates to be more responsible and responsive to needs of their own local communities by making use of their skills also for public service while waiting for opportunities for employment to hone their skills and earn a living.

Carmelita Bersalona urged graduates to apply their training for self-enhancement, uplift their families, help in the development of their communities and contribute to development of the country. 

In related development, Bersalona granted the request of Fely Balingoay, municipal coordinator of the Annak ti Abra in Canada for Manabo,   of seven plastic tables and 40 chairs to community of Sitio Tigtiggaak, San Ramon West, Manabo last March 3. -- Maria Teresa B. Beñas

North Abra inter-local health zone adjudged Cordillera’s best

DOLORES, Abra --  The  Department of Health  awarded the  Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ)  of  three municipalities of northern Abra   as the most functional ILHZ  in Cordillera during recent  Gawad Kalusugan  regional awarding.

The DOLASAN, which stands for Dolores, Lagangilang and San Juan, ILHZ, has been successful in discouraging home deliveries and promoting facility-based deliveries and in eradicating   mother and child mortality in the area.

The DOH defines an ILHZ as “clustering of contiguous local government units (municipalities, component cities of a province/s) with a core referral hospital (district or provincial hospital) wherein preventive primary public health care is integrated with hospital care.  It is a district health system in a devolved set-up in which the component local government units  cooperate in health operations to better protect the collective health of the catchment community, assure access of individuals in the catchment community to a range of services necessary to meet their health care needs, and to manage more efficiently and equitably the cooperating LGUs’ resources for health”

Support of local officials through legislation and funding coupled with  diligence of municipal health officers in implementation of the guidelines of mother and child health care delivery system, a tripartite program  of  DOH, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the local government units resulted to good implementation of ILHZ. 

The Dolasan ILHZ has a lot of good practices in implementation of mother and child care program particularly regular pre-natal check-ups, delivery in birthing facility, and post-partum care to ensure zero mortality among mother and child. 

The mother and child health care program expanded from programmed birthing only in birthing facilities to catering all sorts of health care services to ensure public health and safety and responsiveness of rural health units at all times. 

Dolores Mayor Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr., chairman of Dolasan ILHZ together with Mayors Patrocinio Abaya of Lagayan   and Meynardo Bautista of San Juan as co-chairs, have sustained support to their RHUs headed by Doctors Darbie Madriaga, Rubie Rose Orosco and Edgar Bernardino. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas