NEWS BRIEFS

New Baguio truck ban suspended anew

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the suspension of the implementation of the new truck ban in the city for an additional ten days reckoning from April 10 to allow concerned truckers to submit their proposals on how to grant exemptions from the coverage of the truck ban ordinance.

            The local chief executive directed the personnel of the Baguio City Police office (BCPO) during their regular Monday meeting to still adhere to the suspension of the new truck ban ordinance because he is still working on how to grant exemptions to truckers with valid reasons from the coverage of the ordinance.

            The city mayor issued the third extension suspending the implementation of the city’s new truck ban ordinance after receiving numerous complaints from truckers, particularly those delivering perishable goods from the local markets to the lowland and Metro Manila markets, and other industries involved in the delivery of items important to our country’s economy relative to the coverage of the truck ban.

            Under the provisions of ordinance known as the new truck ban, 6-wheeler trucks, trailers and units of heavy equipment are prohibited from travelling around the city from 6 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 9 pm daily to help ease the worsening traffic congestions around the city during rush hours.

            Officers of the Benguet Truckers and Traders Association Inc. requested the local government to grant them exemption from the coverage of the new truck ban by providing their trucks with stickers stating among others that their trucks are loaded with perishable goods.

            For its part, the Philex Mining Corporation also requested the local government to exempt their trucks from the coverage of the truck ban because unwarranted delays in the transport of the ore concentrate to the Poro Point shipyard in San Fernando City, La Union will result to the company suffering from excessive fines. -- Dexter A. See

‘Ilocos Rocks’ concert ushers tourist season

LAOAG CITY -- The provincial government through the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office held the second Ilocos Rocks Concert April 15.

For the second time, the concert was held at Pangil Rock Formation in Currimao, hence it was dubbed the “Ilocos Rocks” Concert. The venue is a popular spot among locals and visitors alike.

The show featured local bands, disk jockeys, and other performers, fronting the renowned pop-rock band Cueshe, which rose to national fame in the early 2000s for songs like “Ulan,” “Bakit?,” and “Back to Me,” among others.

Having welcomed 444, 980 day visitors within the Holy Week season of 2016 alone, the province anticipates an even greater volume of arrivals this year, especially with the weekly cruise ship docking at the Currimao Port.

Earlier, in preparation for this and other Holy Week activities,  provincial Tourism officer Ianree Raquel “deployed 300 tourism ambassadors and aides, mostly college students who have undergone a two-week brief training,” to different tourist sites in Ilocos Norte.

He said their tourist aide program now also includes senior citizens and retirees who will in turn be deployed in the province’s museums, churches, and other historical attractions.

Raquel also called for cooperation with Bakers and Restaurants Association of Ilocos Norte (BRAIN) together with hotels and accommodation establishments, as they brace for another boom in the tourism industry -- Ma. thristian A. Ramos

Eagle found in Baguio turned over to CENRO

BAGUIO CITY – A Philippine hawk eagle was turned over to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Department of Environment and Natural Resources here through the city government of Baguio.

            Eleno Lao-ing with children Roldan and Grace Lao-ing personally went to the office of mayor Mauricio Domogan, Monday, April 10 to report that they found an eagle along Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.

            Eleno narrated, his family attended a burial at Tabuk, Kalinga. On their way home going back to Baguio, it was very foggy along Kapaya, Nueva Vizcaya in the night of April 7, Friday when suddenly the headlight of their vehicle bumped to what they thought was a stone.

            However, when Roldan went out of the vehicle to check the headlight, he was surprised to see an eagle lying on the street.

            It was a struggle on the part of Roldan to get the said eagle in order to check his condition.

            Considering that it was a weekend and aware that it is prohibited to keep endangered species, the Lao-ing family took the responsibility to take good care of the eagle and fed the same with chicken’s intestines and waited for Monday to report the incident to the office of mayor Mauricio Domogan.

            In the presence of the Lao-ing family, executive assistant Rafael Tallocoy turned over the eagle to ecosystem management specialist Northemia Jarligao of CENRO-DENR.

            Jarligao expressed her gratitude to the Lao-ing family for their concern to the eagle and for turning-over the same.

            She said the eagle will undergo series of medical evaluation and assessment before the same will be release to its habitat.

            “The Philippine eagle is protected by Philippine laws. Hunting, collecting, and trading Philippine eagle is punishable by fine and imprisonment,” added Jarligao.

It has been reported that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed the Philippine eagle on their list of critically endangered species on 2008. Hence, they are calling the efforts of the Philippine government and the Filipino people to conserve the eagle because it is nearing extinction.  -- Jho Arranz

 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

Disaster execs press night earthquake drill

BAGUIO CITY – Disaster officials recommended an earthquake drill or simulation at night following earthquakes in the country that struck at night latest of which was the Batangas earthquake incident.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the idea is good and would be helpful in preparing people in handling an earthquake situation. He said it should be planned well before being disseminated to Baguio residents.

Domogan added he hopes people would be willing to participate  and barangay officials should be informed first so they would tell their constituents about the matter. -- Karen Valle Copa

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

 Baguio, satellite market vendors meet set April 21

BAGUIO CITY – The City Council Committee on Market, Trade, Commerce and Agriculture will be meeting with concerned stakeholders of the different satellite markets in the city  April 21, to thresh out issues and concerns regarding their operation and come up with solutions regarding the situation of the vendors.

            Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr., committee chairperson, informed the satellite market vendors that the city government has conducted an inventory of all the satellite markets which was reported during the Market Summit held last month and that some of the satellite markets are located within government properties and such markets are allegedly operating without an authority from the local government which means that such operations can be considered as de facto.

            The committee will be meeting with the vendors of the satellite market vendors at Bayan Park at around 10 am at the covered court beside the barangay hall which will be followed by a separate meeting with the satellite market vendors at the Alfonso Tabora satellite market at around 11 am.

            In the afternoon, the committee will be meeting with the vendors of the satellite market in Gibraltar at around 1 pm to be followed by another meeting with the satellite market vendors of Pacdal at the Pacdal covered court just beside the Pacdal barangay hall at around 2 pm.

            Yangot said the committee wants to sit down with the concerned stakeholders for them to discuss their predicament considering that the local government intended to develop the area being currently occupied by the vendors as modern day satellite market.

            According to him, among the innovations that the local government intends to introduce is to provide parking for the satellite market and that the stalls be compliant to the zoning requirements of the city.

           He said that the satellite markets in the different parts of the city are being envisioned to be one of the potential relocation sites of ambulant vendors in the city’s central business district area to help reduce the congestions in the city’s public market. --Dexter A. See

  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

293 join PMA Class of 2021

 FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) officially recently welcomed 293 male and female plebes at the Borromeo Fields, as they were about to undergo “rite of passage,” as military tradition dictates.

Brigadier General Gener Del Rosario said: “This day marks the end of your civilian lives and will be the start of your military lives and you will be learning to live regimented lives.”

Del Rosario told new candidates or PMA Class of 2021 now have the responsibility to endure two months of introduction to military discipline as plebes.

“Inside this institution, you will learn and develop courage, strength, and integrity which will be your motto in your future lives,” Del Rosario said.

Del Rosario told parents attending the reception that their sons and daughters will be in good hands, “After a few months, they will no longer be boys and girls but will be turned into gentlemen and women with the best moral character,” he said.

Lt. Col. Reynaldo Balido Jr. of the PMA public affairs office said the number of applicants who took the exam in August last year was 9,609.

But while there were 1,046 successful examinees, only 300 were accepted by the PMA and only 293 actually showed up to be plebes. -- Larry P. Fabian

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 recently graduated  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 throughlegislation 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