NEWS BRIEFS

Bridal expo held in Country Club

BAGIO CITY – “Summer Weddings,” the biggest bridal expo here, was held May 4-6 at Baguio Country Club.

This event was organized by Team DC Manila headed by national designer Don Cristobal in partnership with Viva La Events and Audio Enhance to promote local and national designers, make-up artists, wedding photographers, videographers, and event organizers to husbands and wives-to-be in the Cordillera.

This 3-day day event also showcased seminars and workshops on bridal hair and makeup, social media marketing by Models Net TV, “Mix It Right” seminar by KQUENTOR Multimedia, Wedding Photography, “Styling your Wedding” seminar by Sancho Bernardo and Cake and Pastries Demo.

Fashion shows also were held during the event by national designers Don Cristobal, Red Zurbano, Nereku, Richie Bondoc, Cathy Capistrano  and Frederick Berches with local designers namely, Karu Villanueva, Jheo Rapanan, King George Bueno, Lester Bulao, Andrew Visaya, Nicole Rodriguez, Karla Calderone, Julienne Paran, and Joey Sadsad. – Trizha Ocampo

 Students’ employment starts in Sabangan

SABANGAN, Mountain Province – The “special program for employment of students (SPES) started  May 8 in this town and will end June 2.

Mayor  Venancio E. Lipawen said 50 SPES beneficiaries  employed by the Sabangan  town government will work for 20 days with a P250 salary per day or total  salary of P5,000 .

Students who are hired will work to implement clean and green program of the local government. Some were assigned in the barangays and will be monitored by the Public Employment Service Office.  

 Lipawen said he would propose additional funds to increase SPES beneficiaries next year to take advantage of new implementing rules and regulations (IRR) which qualifies Sabangan, being a fifth class municipality to pay 40 percent of the total salary of the students and the Department of Labor and Employment will shoulder the remaining 60 percent  which would be downloaded to the student’s respective ATM cards.

Environment plans for business pushed

BAGUIO CITY – The city council has passed on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring all persons operating or doing business in the city for the mandatory submission of environmental sustainability action plan upon securing or renewing business or mayor’s permit.

Authored by councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr., the measure said it is State policy to afford full protection and advancement of the right of the people to a healthful and balanced ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

“To ensure environmental sustainability, balance is required between ecological system and economic development, it is for this reason that there is a dire need to prepare a program to heal the ailing Earth by encouraging business sectors to create sustainable programs for the protection and preservation of the sources of life, minimizing the effects of global warming and climate change and programs that are less harmful to the ecosystem,” it states.

If finally be approved, the measure shall be known as the “Sustainable Development Ordinance of the City of Baguio” and tasks the city environment and parks management office to strengthen, integrate, consolidate and institutionalize environment initiatives to achieve coordination in the implementation of plans and programs to address climate change and preservation of the sources of life in the context of sustainable development. -- Gaby Keith

 Coops’ call to retain tax exemption backed

BAGUIO CITY – Vice Mayor Edison Bilog supported the call of cooperative members here to oppose a move in Congress to lift the tax exemption privileges accorded cooperatives in the country.

Bilog last week proposed a resolution in the city council “strongly opposing the passage of any proposed bills lifting tax exemptions on cooperatives.”

He said there is a current move in both houses of Congress to repeal the law granting tax exemption privileges to cooperatives.

“Pending before the House of Representatives and the Senate are proposed bills on the Rationalization of Fiscal Investment Incentives which seek to repeal Articles 60 and 61 of Republic Act No. 9250 or the Philippine Cooperative Code of 2008 which extends cooperatives tax exemption privileges,” Bilog said.

Section 61 provides that cooperatives with assets of not more than P10 million are exempt from all national, city, municipal or barangay taxes as well as from custom duties, advance sales or compensation taxes on their importation of machineries, equipment and spare parts used by them.

Bilog said removing the tax exemption privileges of cooperatives “would defeat the role and purpose of having cooperatives likewise the intent of the 1987 Constitution on the creation of the Cooperative Development Authority as provided in Section 15 Article XII of the Constitution which states that it shall be the policy of the state to promote the viability and growth of cooperatives as instruments of equity, social justice and economic development.”

“The City Government of Baguio being a cooperative-friendly local government unit supports the vision, mission and objectives of the cooperatives thus (we) strongly oppose the passage of any proposed bills lifting tax exemptions on cooperatives as it will greatly interrupt the growth of the cooperative and affect its members,” Bilog said.

Cooperative members led by the Baguio-Benguet Community Credit Cooperative, the biggest cooperative in the area, staged a rally recently to air their opposition to the proposed bills which they said will adversely affect the ideals of cooperativism in the city.

Bilog’s measure will be tackled in the city council’s next session. – Aileen P. Refuerzo

Water seminar as business permit requirement pushed

BAGUIO CITY – The local legislature has passed on first reading a proposed ordinance mandating all business owners, operators or their authorized representatives in the city to attend a seminar on waste water management as a prerequisite for the issuance of business permits.

Authored by councilor Lilia Farinas, the measure designates the Zero Waste cluster of “The Baguio We Want” to be the lead agency in conducting the seminar at the Baguio City Multi-Purpose Hall for about one hour on a schedule fixed by the General Services Office.

The entity is a citizens’ volunteer group working to promote waste management anchored on sustainable consumption, waste reduction, reuse and recycling, and waste diversion from landfills and incineration in order to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pressure on constrained natural resources.

Among the group’s duties are to determine and justify the required amount a business applicant has to pay for certificates, honoraria of speakers, and other expenses relative to the conduct of the seminar, subject to the city council’s approval.

It shall also do the necessary activities to insure the seminar’s efficiency and effectivity.

The proposed ordinance warns that business applicants will not be issued business permits without the latest proof of their attendance in the seminar which is a certificate signed by the issuing agency.

 “The need for our communities, including institutions and business establishments to be educated on the pressing issue of waste and water management cannot be emphasized enough.  We need proper legislation and enforcement to ensure that local businesses are informed enough to adopt environmentally sound ways of managing their general waste,” it said – Gaby Keith

738 hired in Baguio jobs fair

BAGUIO CITY – Some 738 applicants were hired during the Labor Day jobs fair here at Baguio Convention Center.

Eighteen were hired for overseas employment while 720 were taken for local employment. 

A total of 2,811 registrants came to the jobs fair, wherein 1,675 applied for local employment and 1,136 for overseas employment.

 There were also 273 job applicants that were referred to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for skills training or upgrading.

DOLE Cordillera regional director Ronie  Ezequiel Guzman read Labor Day greetings of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III citing Filipino workforce for their dedication and commitment to serve their families and the country.

Guzman also relayed Bello’s assurance that the government, through DOLE, will continue to intensify effort in protecting rights of Filipino workers and in training highly skilled Filipino work force.

He said the Labor Department has 8 – point labor and employment agenda that includes addressing unemployment and underemployment; bringing in more labor – related laws; ensuring the protection and welfare of Filipino workers especially those working abroad; bringing in more livelihood programs, and ensuring harmonious relationship between employees and employers.  

 113 infested, dangerous trees felled in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- The city environment and parks management office (CEPM0) felled a total of 113 trees in the first quarter (January to April) of this year upon request since these were either infested, dangerous or obstructing roads.

The office has also issued 103 cutting permits implemented with its supervision within 83 private and three government properties during the same period.

This was reported by CEPMO head Cordelia Lacsamana in flag-raising ceremony at city hall before officials and employees headed by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

She said that 15,000 seedlings have been propagated while a carryover stock of 20,000 seedlings are ready for planting this year with Camp 7 and Santo Tomas as priority planting sites.

Her office also inventoried and tagged 200 live trees at Bayan Park as part of forest protection.

Lacsamana added that two rain harvesting facilities have been implemented at Busol and Botanical Forest nurseries with funds from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“CEPMO is preparing the development of another forest nursery at Ambuclao Road pending the resolution of emerging issues,” she said.

Lacsamana revealed that 502 tree planting activities as prerequisite for marriage is now in place and 45 building owners have been required to plant 670 trees as an occupancy requirement.

She said replacement planting garnered 3,480 seedlings planted or collected from 89 complying permittees. – Gaby Keith

 Migrants Day set in Sabangan 

SABANGAN, Mountain Province -- Overseas workers Welfare Administration Cordillera Administrative Region regional director Evelyn Calica Laranang, will grace the first Migrant’s Day celebration in this town on June 7.

Mayor Venancio E. Lipawen said  coordinators and presidents of  organizations of Overseas Filipino Workers families and former OFWs in this municipality agreed Thursday to celebrate Migrant’s Day at the municipal plaza with the theme: “The Survivors”.

 The event will start with a parade from Nakagang, Tambingan to the municipal plaza.  Aside from inspirational message of the guest speaker, presentations from organizations and a thank you speech from a mother whose child is now an active scholar of OWWA will highlight the event. A sumptuous meal and rice wine will be prepared by the local government which is hosting the celebration. Lipawen added.

According to Doris Ledsey, former OFW  in Hongkong and now  president of Poblacion Former OFW and OFW families organization, they selected “The Survivors” as their theme because it is the most fitting word that describes them who sacrificed to work overseas far away from their families and friends just to uplift the living condition of their families.  June 7 was chosen by the group since it was Nov. 14, 2016 when OWWA sponsored an organization meeting when then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 8042 also known as the Migrants Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995. 

The event is expected to be attended by almost 300 hundred former OFWS and OFW families. Ledsey said. 

DOLE gives P2.5-M to four Abra groups    

BANGUED, Abra -- Four people’s organizations in the province were  recipients of  P2.5 million Kabuhayan Assistance from Department of Labor and Employment.

DOLE-Abra provincial head George G. Lubin, Jr.  said 507 members of the three organizations will directly benefit from livelihood assistance in the form of production equipment, tools and materials.

Lubinsaid the Rural Improvement Club of Tangadan, San Quintin was given P334, 530.00 for the procurement of sewing machines and materials and for their catering.

The Association of Dalit OFW Returnees and Dependents in the municipality of Pilar received P378, 750.00 for their farming project.

The municipality of Lagangilang has two PO-beneficiaries. The Lagangilang Farmers Irrigators’ Association that serves eight barangays was given P1, 441,450.00 for its farming project while the Lagangilang Women’s Food Processors Association received P377, 100.00 for the food processing projects of the women members.

The local government units of Pilar, San Quintin and Lagangilang serve as conduits of the project funds. As such, they are in charge of the procurement of production materials and facilities and also in the provision and delivery of these to the project beneficiaries.

The projects are expected not only to benefit the direct project beneficiaries through increased production and profits but also to generate employment for their families and communities. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas

Kalinga govt’s  urged to put up PWD rehab centers

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- National government agencies directly concerned  with welfare of  Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)  are urging   local government units to establish their own rehabilitation centers for said sector.

Remegio Basilan of the Department of Health provincial office said with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and   Lin-awa Rehab Center personnel, they are going around the province to orient local government units on establishment of rehabilitation centers for PWDs. 

They also monitor health facilities if they are complying with the PWD access law and are giving discounts on drugs and medicines.

The PWD access law provides establishments should be PWD -friendly and barrier-free   with built-in ramps, holders and safe passages.

“LGUs should consider in their budgets the needs of this sector and look at intervention programs for PWDs not on the side of charity but rather a public service since they are a constituent sector in the community that needs government assistance,” Basilan stressed. -- Peter A. Balocnit

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 the 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   lectured to participants on animal husbandry, issues on bio-organic inputs and good agricultural practices.

Gilbert Caclini, also of PVET, demonstrated the preparation of the feeds using the indigenous materials with the hands on participation of the farmers  so that they can learn and experience on the spot organic feed formulation.

The ingredients and materials used during the actual preparation of  50 kilograms (kgs) of organic feed include 20 kilos rice bran, 5 corn grits, 5 corn bran, 3 chopped banana stalk, 3 chopped camote trunk and leaves, 3 ofipil leaves, 10 ofazola, a kilo of brown sugar, another kilo of indigenous micro-organism (for fermentation) and two liters of rice wash.

The farmers said were happy with what they learned and promised that they will immediately start preparing their own feed supply. -- Daniel B. Codamon

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.

 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