NEWS BITS

Baguio has 875% less dengue cases

BAGUIO CITY -– The Baguio City Health Services Office reported huge decrease of  dengue cases here from January to June of 2017.

 Dr. Rowena Galpo, Baguio City Health Services Office chief, said their office recorded 64 cases of dengue from different barangays or villages during the period. This is an 875.34-percent decrease compared to the 703 cases on record for the same period last year.

 Galpo attributed the huge decrease to the participation and involvement of the different sectors of the community, including the city government.

 She said awareness of the community on the prevention of dengue contributed much, aside from the continuing program being undertaken by health officials to inform the public about the diseases and how to prevent it. -- PNA

P92-M road being built at Poro Point

 SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — A new road to is now being constructed inside the Poro Point Freeport Zone here, to facilitate the growing number of locators and economic activity in the area.

Speaking at recent groundbreaking ceremony, Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC) Chairman Sherwin Rigor said the new P92-million road project adheres to international standards to address the economic tourism needs of the Freeport Zone.

“This project is composed of two parallel three-lane road divided with another single lane in the middle, additional bike lane each in right and left and a walkway with a total width of 24 meters wide. The road is 1.4 kilometers long that stretch towards the baywalk (near the San Fernando bay),” said Rigor.

PPMC, a subsidiary of BCDA, will monitor the construction to ensure that the plans and specifications of the project will be done properly.

Meanwhile, PMPC President Felix Racadio said there are already some investors who sent letters of intention to put up businesses at the Freeport Zone but they are still in the process of negotiations. – Erwin Beleo

Built-in power houses required in establishments

BAGUIO CITY – All establishments here are now required to have built-in power houses to secure their electrical transformers within their premises instead of attaching them to electric posts.

This is by virtue of Ordinance No. 54 series of 2017 recently approved on final reading by the city council.

Authored by Councilors Benny Bomogao, Faustino Olowan and Michael Lawana, the measure aims to eliminate the dangers posed to the public by these transformers attached to posts especially during typhoons and calamities. 

They noted that the newly approved Environment Code of the City of Baguio mandates new buildings to have a space for public utility facilities like electrical transformers.

`As decreed, all existing sole-use power transformers attached to electrical posts along roads and alleys will be relocated to the premises of their users.

The ordinance mandates the Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. to refrain from providing power service to those that will not comply with the requirement and the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to ensure that all establishments will have a secured facility for its power transformer and that the facility will be incorporated in the building and electrical plans as a requirement in the issuance of building permit. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will also not issue a clearance to non-compliant establishments.  

The measure gives all establishments one year from the effectivity of this ordinance to relocate their power transformers.  

The CBAO will issue notices every quarter for compliance to covered establishments and electric distribution company.  After the deadline, BENECO will immediately cut off electric service to non-compliant establishments upon 60 days’ notice.    

Violators will be fined P5,000 and will face non-renewal or revocation of their business permits and closure of their establishments. -- Aileen P. Refuerzo

Council to LGUs: Give funds for PNP programs

BONTOC, Mountain Province --  A police advisory council  here urged local government units to allot funds for use of the Mt. Province Provincial Public Safety Company of the Philippine National Police in its peace and order programs.

In its regular council meeting, the MPPSC advisory council chaired by retired Philippine Army Col. Paulo Pagteilan came up with a resolution asking local government units to augment the ISO fund the MPPSC is receiving from its mother organization, the PNP.

MPPSC officials told members of the PAC that their operational budget is not enough considering   the many added peace and order programs their company is undertaking.

PO2 Martina Tumapang said aside from their primary ISO functions which are going after the insurgents and their illegal activities and serving of warrant of arrest to high value targets, the Company also supports other law enforcement operations such as the conduct of preventive patrols on vital installations, provide security to VIPs visiting the province, search and rescue operations, anti-illegal drug campaign, among other inherent police functions. -- PIA Mountain Province

 Tarlac police second best in Central Luzon

TARLAC CITY -- The Tarlac police provincial office is now second best in Central Luzon.

Tarlac Senior Supt Ritchie Medardo Posadas bared this result of the latest performance evaluation of the 9-unit police commands in Central Luzon.

The Philippine National Police Regional Office 3 is composed of the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Aurora, Zambales and Tarlac and police commands of Angeles City and Olongapo City.

“When I assumed office (Tarlac police provincial director) last February, TPPO was No. 8. Our determined efforts to improve our performance and our services to the people paid-off. We are now second best,” said Posadas.

Posadas replaced former provincial director Senior Supt. Wegrimundo Obinque last February who was sacked by PRO3 police director Chief Supt Aaron Aquino for “under performance”.

Tarlac police recently hugged the national news over the series of “commendable accomplishments” including the separate entrapment operation against two barangay kagawads in Concepcion who were both arrested selling shabu and the killing in a “bungled buy bust” of a Manila-based supplier of illegal drugs also in the town of Concepcion.

Concepcion Police is headed by Supt. Luis Ventura Jr.

Also the arrest recently of the so-called “Shabu Queen” in Moncada town under Chief Insp Palmyra Guardaya made  national newspapers and “trended” in online news.

The evaluation performance rating was Bataan – 52.48 points, Tarlac – 51.69, Zambales -50.92, Nueva Ecija - 37.59, Bulacan – 30.81, Angeles City - 28.29, Olongapo City - 26.22, Pampanga - 26.13 and Aurora - 25.27. -- Nelson Bolos

School teachers, staff required to undergo disaster trainings

BAGUIO CITY - All teaching and non-teaching personnel of private and public schools in the city will now be required to undergo disaster risk reduction trainings to empower them to handle and respond to emergency situations especially since they are catering to students. 

The city council approved Ordinance No. 62 series of 2017 authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. for this purpose.

“Trainings and seminars should be conducted to the faculty members of private and public schools since majority of the children and youth are inside campuses during daytime, should any disaster or emergency occur,” the measure notes.

“Parents will feel a lot safer knowing that when it comes to emergency situations, the faculty members are properly trained to provide immediate patient care.  Alongside the Barangay Emergency Response Team, the City Government can now count on the school faculty members to support the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, making it more efficient and responsive to the needs that may arise.”

As decreed, the city will give all schools six months to comply with the ordinance.

The CDRRMC is tasked to conduct trainings and seminars and monitor the implementation of the ordinance.  – Aileen P. Refuerzo

Baguio City allots 350 slots for SPES

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government has allotted 350 slots for the Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) program in two batches to accommodate all the students from schools with the regular calendar and those who started their summer break.

 Janna Vivien Elitan, Labor and Employment Assistant at the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) of the city government who is in-charge of the SPES program, on Monday said they divided the slot to two batches to accommodate the applicants whose summer vacation starts in April and those whose summer vacation starts in June.

 She said this year’s 350 slots increased by 50 after the PESO office recorded the big number of students applying under the program.

Out of the more than 700 applicants, there were over 500 new comers, the others belonging to what they call “SPES babies”, or who have been with the program more than once.

Each student qualifier works for a total of 30 working days. The first batch for this year completed the program from April 24 to June 5 and the second batch will start on June 13 and complete it by July 25. -- Liza T. Agoot/PNA

Ifugao communication network officers named

LAGAWE, Ifugao -- With President Rodrigo Duterte’s focus on information  and communication as imperative for good governance, the Philippine Information Agency recently   organized the Ifugao Communication Network (iComNet).

PIA Cordillera regional director Helen Tibaldo said the Development Communication Network (DevComNet), an initiative of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, is aimed at having a strong and powerful government information system that will bring down the programs of the national government which will also bring accomplishments of the agencies to the grassroots level.

‘We want to connect the agencies and help each other in coming up with timely, accurate and relevant information. This also includes the use of government media platforms as medium in informing the public about programs and accomplishments,” she added.

 More than 50 information and designated IOs   from the municipal and provincial local government units and national line including the uniformed personnel elected their officers to lead them and represent the organization in official undertakings.

The  iComNet’s officers are  as follows: president - Rosemarie Lindawan of the provincial government; vice president for national government agencies – Donald Jay Bulahao of  DSWD-SWAD; vice president for PLGU – Miriam Baguidudol; VP for LGUs – Gabriel Buyawe, LGU-Lagawe, treasurer – Peter Buhong, Jr., BIR-Ifugao and P.R.O – Kathlyn Abluyen, Provincial Tourism Office with PIA – Ifugao as secretariat.

The iComNet plans to craft its constitution and by laws before requesting for an executive order from the governor to strengthen functions of the organization that will help disseminate programs services of the government in the community. -- PIA Ifugao  

TESDA opens farm schools in Benguet

LA TRINIDAD Benguet -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority opened its scholarship program to farming communities with the Organic Farming NC II now being offered at three Department of Agriculture- accredited farms in the province.

TESDA Cordillera regional director Francisco Jucar Jr. and Baguio – Benguet provincial director Angela Gabriel led launching of the farm school at the Lily of the Valley Farm in Sitio Ampasit, Brangay Puguis here June 15.

Aside from Lily of the Valley Farm owned by Jefferson Laruan, the Cosmic Farm of Rogel Marsan in Beckel, La Trinidad and the Master’s Garden in Longlong, La Trinidad  under Ambrosio Acosta, all known organic farming experts, will host the first batch of 50  scholars who will  train for  29 days.

Gabriel disclosed that under the farm school program, TESDA aims to help ensure that there will be young blood that will continue to push for the country’s farming industry by providing access to technical – vocation education and skills training.

The farm school is TESDA’s response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy of rural development and ensuring food security, she added.

Gabriel also disclosed that TESDA’s initial allotment for the FSP was P7 million  with P2 million allotted for Benguet.

The scholarship covers P10,000 training cost, P800 entrepreneurship fee and P500 for the NCII assessment fee.-- PIA CAR

DepEd Benguet trains grade 6 teachers on K-12

BAGUIO CITY – The Dept. of Education’s K to 12 education program for grade six is now being fully implemented this School Year 2017-2018.

In line with this, the DepEd  Benguet Division conducted training on K to 12 Enhanced Basic Education Curriculum here at Brentwood Apartelle recently for teachers teaching grade six on K to 12 curriculum and teaching guides.

The seminar aimed to aid teachers to appreciate the K to 12 coded curricula and use curriculum and teaching guides including learning materials correctly and efficiently and to demonstrate understanding of issues and concerns relative to content on different instruction.

The 554 teacher-participants were also trained to identify appropriate pedagogies and to cite concrete measures or interventions to assist all types of students.

-- Mercedes S. Catacutan

Regulation on road use by driving schools pushed

BAGUIO CITY – The local legislature passed on first reading a proposed ordinance regulating the use of major streets in the Summer Capital by driving schools in giving lessons and by student drivers in practical driving instructions and lessons including providing penalties thereof.

Authored by councilor Michael Lawana, the measure states that all applications to operate a driving school must comply with the rules, regulations, procedures and standards for the accreditation requirements of the Land Transportation Office.

The proposed ordinance prohibits driving schools providing lessons and instructions and student drivers with student driver’s permit and taking driving lessons and instructions to pass through and use the city’s major streets for purposes of practical driving lessons and instructions from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Sunday.

It states that driving school cars shall be painted on both sides with the name of the driving school, its address and telephone numbers in addition to a caution sign of the danger of a student driver on the front hood and back compartment cover of the vehicles.  The sign and caution shall not be removable.

“Practical driving lessons and practices must be conducted in a privately owned race circuit or test track of the driving school during the prohibited time.  Driving schools and student drivers are prohibited to pass from 6 am to 8 pm in all major streets or thoroughfares in the city of Baguio,” the measure said.

A fine of P300 will be imposed for the first offense; P500 for the second offense; and P1,500 for the third offense and the revocation of business permit for the driving school.  The student driver’s license of the student driver shall also be confiscated immediately upon violation.- Gaby Keith

 Natonin  SB renames community hospital 

NATONIN, Mountain Province –The Natonin Community Hospital (NCH) was renamed Anastacia Rafael-Sagel Memorial Hospital in honor of its   former mayor who was instrumental in establishment of the facility.

In Municipal Ordinance No. 57, S. 2017, members of the Sangguniang Bayan here said they were unanimous in rendering the late Anastacia Rafael-Sagel, fondly called Mayor Tasing, a commemorative entity to publicly honor, recognize and deeply appreciate her instrumentality in the establishment of the NCH 1994 which has been playing vital role in the lives of every resident of the municipality.

They also acknowledged that during her term, she became the catalyst for establishment of facilities in the delivery of services to the people of this municipality up to present.

The late Sagel served for two consecutive terms as a municipal mayor of this municipality from 1992 – 1998.

The municipal ordinance was further approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through Resolution No. 2017 – 149.   -- PIA Mt. Province

AFPMBAI  gives ambulance, medical equipment to BFP   

BAGUIIO CITY --- The Bureau of Fire Protection Cordillera  under regional director  Maria Sofia B Mendoza expressed   gratitude to Armed Forces of the Philippines Mutual and Benefits Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI) for medical equipment and emergency service vehicle  it donated to the office.

The donation  included  one unit of ambulance vehicle with complete accessories such as Automated External Defibrillator, extrication device, trauma bag, trauma kit, spine board and one unit of dental chair with complete accessories .

The  AFPMBAI  represented by Brig. Gen Rolando M Aquino (Ret.),   head of  Area Branch Operations Division together with  the Chief, BFP Director Bobby V Baruelo   formally signed the deed of donations and led the blessing of the new equipment at BFP National Headquarters last May 15. 

PNP to DepEd, PTA: Provide security, CCTVs in schools

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Police Regional Office urged the Dept. of Education to provide security guards in schools to ensure safety of students and its facilities.

“Bad elements today do not choose what to rob so there is a need for schools to beef up their security not only to protect the teachers and students during school days but also to protect the school properties and facilities   with most schools already equipped with high tech equipment and gadgets,” said PRO-Cor regional operations division deputy chief Supt. Davy Limmong said.

 Limmong said PRO-Cor recorded  last year  at nine robbery incidents in Benguet and one in Apayao   where perpetrators took several computer units and other gadgets being used by teachers and students.

School officials and the Parents-Teachers Association officers were also encouraged to coordinate with police officers or station commanders in charge of their schools regarding security plans and other measures to protect the students, teachers and the schools.

Limmong suggested installation of    closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in school as additional safety mechanism.

Meanwhile, Limmong assured police presence and visibility in schools and areas of convergence as classes opened June 5 to ensure safety and security of students and teachers.

At least 3,000 police officers regionwide with the augmentation of other force multipliers including barangay peacekeeping teams and tanods were mobilized during the school opening in the Cordillera.

For safety tips, Limmong said students should be always careful and to safe keep their money, gadgets and other valuables. He also urged parents and teachers to discourage students from brining their prized possessions including their gadgets and other valuables to school for them not to be victims of criminals. -- PIA CAR

Entreps learn through DTI mentoring program 

BANGUED, Abra – Entrepreneurs here are leaning how to become successful with interaction and learning with fellow business persons under the “Mentor Me” Program of the Department of Trade and Industry.

DTI regional director Myrna P. Pablo and mentors launched the program here at provincial capitol last May 5.

The program  is a long and tedious learning process where entrepreneurs share success stories and failures to small medium scale entrepreneurs (SMSEs) to inspire them to persevere in their own business.

This is an 11-module training program where SMSEs learn business operation and management.

Tina Arestina Morados, owner/manager of Pamora Farm Inc., from Brgy. Garreta, Pidigan, and one of the mentors, cited need for hardwork and sacrifice in learning the process of the program. Commitment to share the gains acquired was alsol cited so everyone in the SMSE group would also benefit.

Some 23 out of 390 participants committed to participate in the 10-week program. – PIA Abra

Abra PAC reorganized    

BANGUED, Abra -- The Abra Provincial Police Office (APPO) recently reorganized its   Provincial Advisory Council to improve police services.

 Carmelita Bersalona, chair of the Abra Peace Conveners’ Group, was un-opposed during the election of the members of council.

The PAC is established for the purpose of providing support through technical/advisory assistance to the APPO especially in matters affecting peace and order program and the international police program dubbed as Patrol Plan 2030 that aims to improve police services.

It is composed of representatives from various sectors in the province with working committees to perform specific tasks on resource generation, health services, communications and community services. -- PIA Abra

Ifugao creates team for RH law

LAGAWE, Ifugao  - Gov. Pedro Mayam-o recently issued an executive order creating the Provincial Implementation Team to locally implement Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act.

The PIT will be a sub-committee of Ifugao Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Council that will focus on proper implementation of RA 10354 pursuant to President Duterte’ order on attaining and sustaining zero unmet need for modern family planning that requires a collective action from all sectors especially the local government units.

It will be composed of the Provincial Health Officer as the chairperson with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Chairman of the Committee on Health as the vice chairperson with members from the different national agencies operating in the province and the offices of the provincial government.

The PIT will manage dissemination and implementation of all issuances pursuant to the RH Law at the provincial and municipal levels, coordinate all actions of the provincial line agencies and provincial government departments who are implementing the law in the areas of policy development, capacity building, advocacy, education, information, health services delivery, field operations and monitoring and evaluation.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier Executive Order No. 12 for the strict implementation of the RH law.  It provides for the organization of structures at the local level for the enforcement of the law that recognize the right of Filipinos to decide freely and responsibly on their desired number and spacing of their children within the context of responsible parenthood and informed choice including the access of the needed reproductive health care information and services.

Implementation of this law will enable poor couples to make informed decisions and choices on their financial and family planning.  -- PIA Ifugao

DSWD releases P18M pension in Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Dept. of Social Welfare and Development recently  released more than P18 million in socialized pension to some 12,591 elderly in the province.

Lorna Lumiwan of DSWD-Kalinga reported the assistance covered the first quarter of the year with P1,500 per pensioner.

Based on DSWD-Kalinga distribution report, the top recipients are Tabuk City with P5 million,  Pinukpuk  with  P3.5M and Balbalan  with P2M.

DSWD-Kalinga closely coordinates with the Provincial Federation of Senior Citizens for the updated master list of members. The sector is included in the priority targets of the office. 

Under Republic Act  994, the government through DSWD extends monthly socialized pension of P500 to senior citizens, who have no other financial support. It is released per quarter.

In related report, some municipalities in the province extend additional benefits to the sector that include livelihood assistance and mortuary cash aid.

In Tabuk City, the city government provides mortuary benefits of P5,000 to qualified members of the City Senior Citizen Federation and P2,000 to non-federation members.  -- PIA Kalinga

Kalinga 4Ps get rice aid

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – More than11, 000 Pantawid Pamilya program beneficiaries in the province started receiving  rice subsidy from the program.

Under the Duterte Administration, Pantawid beneficiaries are extended additional P600 monthly rice aid.

Lorna Lumiwan, 4Ps Provincial Link, disclosed the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development released the rice assistance for January because the period was covered under the “suspension of evaluation on compliance” due to super typhoon ‘Lawin’.       

But starting February until end of the year, release of rice aid will be back as compliance-based, Lumiwan said.

Under the 4Ps program, indigent beneficiaries receive monthly cash benefits provided they comply with conditions set on health, education and attendance to family development sessions.

Pantawid families are required to have regular health monitoring at rural health units, qualified children should be in school and undergo regular family development sessions.  -- PIA Kalinga

 Kalinga farmers learn ratooning technology

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga --  The Provincial Agriculturist Office educates farmers on the ratooning technology to increase rice production.

Joe Casibang, Kalinga rice program coordinator, said ratooning could add at least 40 percent of the average yield per hectare to farmers.

Under the technology, farmers are taught to apply some interventions to palay plants left out during harvest and could still get additional yield. Farmers just apply additional two bags of urea per hectare compared to the usual 8-10 bags of fertilizer per hectare in the regular cropping.

Casibang said the ratooning period runs for about 60 days, which is actually the regular cropping interval, before the ratooned palay is ready for harvest.

The technology is applicable to both hybrid and inbred rice. Rice farmers get an average of 120 bags of palay per hectare.

A 50-hectare demo-farm is being used for the technology in this City, the province's major rice producing area.  -- PIA Kalinga  

 DSWD sets 30,000 family food packs for rainy months

BAGUIO CITY – Dept. of Social Welfare and Development in the Cordillera Administrative Region has set family food packs for disaster augmentation this rainy season particularly for  landslide-prone areas in the region.

 DSWD-CAR regional director Janet Armas said 30,000 food packs have already been brought to provinces for distribution in case of disasters.

She said 6,200 food packs are in Mountain Province; 5,000 in Ifugao; 2,642 in Abra; 1,500 in Apayao; and 15,601 at their warehouse in Puguis, La Trinidad town in Benguet.

A food pack contains 6 kilograms of rice, half dozen 3-in-1 instant coffee, 8 canned goods, brown rice bar (energy bar) and infant dry-cereals.

Armas said the goods will augment food supplies in cases of disasters in Cordillera as landslides frequently occur due to the terrain.

DSWD-CAR, she said, spent about P13 million for the family packs. About P21 million was also spent for non-food items like blankets and tents.

Cordillera the past days has been experiencing strong rains and thunderstorms brought by the southwest monsoon. A number of roads were closed to vehicular traffic due to landslides. -- PNA

 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 of ipil 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

DOST upgrades baking skills of Ifugao small entrepreneurs

LAMUT, Ifugao -- The Department of Science and Technology trained 30 young and old small entrepreneurs of the province to upgrade their skills and knowledge in making bakery products.

The DOST tapped expert chefs and bakers from the ACHIEVERS Food and Bakery Ingredients Corporation based in Quezon City as resource persons. The company offers wide range of locally manufactured and selected imported quality food ingredients to produce a wide variety of breads, cakes, pastries, dimsum and other confectionaries and also supply bakery equipment and tools.

Provincial Science and Technology Director Genna Jallorina said that the training  under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Project or SETUP  aims to enable the bakery operators in the province improve the quality and quantity of their bakery products by learning and using new and better ingredients, technology, equipment and facilities thereby making their business more profitable and  competitive.

Among the equipment introduced and demonstrated hands-on by the chefs and bakers from the ACHIEVERS Corporation to the trainees are the deck ovens, cake mixers, rack ovens, spiral mixers, chillers, proofers, dough machines, roasters, fondue machines, ice machines, bread slicer, bread racks and other machine products.

The participants learned proper processing and cooking of bakery foods like pastel rolls, pandesal with malunggay leaves, donut variety, hopia, chiffon cake and choco chiffon cake. -- PIA Ifugao