La Trinidad mayor cites Cordi group for volunteerism

By Augustin Dao-anis

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Mayor Romeo K. Salda cited the Cordillera Comprehensive Action Team (CCAT) for volunteerism in implementing the IATF protocols during Covid-19 operations during a meeting here at municipal hall on Jan. 15.
    Since the start of community lockdowns in March until December 2020, the CCAT aided the municipal IATF (MIATF) in ensuring the community follow IATF protocols like observing social distancing, wearing face masks and face shields, liquor ban and curfew hours.
    “Without you (CCAT), the municipality would not have achieved this far the implementation of IATF protocols in the municipality,” the town chief executive said during the event for CCAT members and officers.
    “As the municipality’s way of thanking you, we will be giving you gift packs. We know that those gifts would never equate the value of the services you rendered,” he said.
    In March 2020, the La Trinidad MIATF deputized the CCAT through a municipal order authorizing the said group to implement IATF protocols, no smoking ordinance, liquor ban and curfew.
    The CCAT joined the Land Transportation Office and La Trinidad police force in apprehending car owners for illegal parking and road obstruction.
    The group headed by its chairman Gabriel Francisco had been visiting barangays, homes, business establishments and schools to ensure proper observance of IATF protocols.
    Salda said the deputization of the CCAT has expired but he was studying whether to renew said memorandum of agreement.
Francisco said the CCAT was formed solely for volunteer work without expecting any payment.
    “CCAT has been helping in crowd control during Strawberry festivals in La Trinidad and Panagbenga civic parades in Baguio.
    It had also been working with the PNP and LTO during Summer Vacation (SumVac) operations along major roads and checkpoints in Baguio and Benguet,” Francisco said.

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200 take oath as Cordillera PNP cops

 CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad— Only 200 out of more than a thousand applicants passed the screening process for new police officers in Cordillera.

Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, Cordillera police chief, administered the oath to the 165 male and 35 female officers Monday at Camp Major Bado Dangwa.

“The profession you have chosen is one of the most challenging jobs. You must render service to the community putting the general welfare above and beyond your personal interests,” Nana told the new officers in his welcome message.

He thanked the families of the recruits for supporting their children, spouses and friends to enter the police service.

“With you as additional force, I know we can do so much in giving protection which the people’s need in ensuring their safety and security,” Nana said.

The new recruits went through a series of physical exercises to determine if they really are fit to be part of the PNP.

They were turned over to the Cordillera Administrative Region Training School for the six-month Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) followed by another six months of field training.

A Patrolman will receive a basic monthly salary of P29,668 aside from allowances and non-cash benefits.

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Network organized to protect abused kids

by Joseph B Zambrano

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet-- The Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Network was recently formed here to support exploited children.

The project was conceptualized after sentiments had been expressed by various agencies and citizens regarding repetitive investigative process and handling of an abused child.

Professional child caregivers have observed this manner of investigation can be traumatizing to a child.

The Child and Family Service Philippines, Inc., has taken the initiative to spearhead creation of CAPIN and strengthen it with creation of a consultative body composed of all agencies involved in investigations, interviews, medico-legal examinations, filling of the case, to referring the child to care giving agencies.

Deliberations have been set in place and through the concerted efforts of all the collaborating agencies, the CAPIN has been refined and their respective expertise and services committed.

La Trinidad Mayor Greg Abalos Jr. said agencies have specific roles where it is clearly defined so there will be no overlapping or duplicating of task.

To avoid trauma to the abused child where recurring questions or interrogations are asked, the delineation of functions of agencies is made clear to all concerned agencies handling the case of the abused youngster, Abalos explained.

The CAPIN headed the La Trinidad Local Government, has for its members the municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, La Trinidad Police Office, Department of Education district office, Ligang Barangay, Benguet General Hospital, Commission on human Rights- CAR, Provincial Prosecutors Office, Regional Trial Court 9, Child and Family Service Phillippines and the Philippine Mental Health Association-Baguio-Benguet.

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La Trinidad mayor orders cops: Stop carnival games

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Mayor Artemio Galwan ordered last week town police to stop ongoing operations of a mini-carnival here due to mounting complaints of residents.

“I have instructed the police stop the carnival operations at Barangay Betag,” Galwan told local media.

Earlier, the municipal council asked his office to order a stop to the mini-carnival operations, saying this lured minors to engage illegal gambling.

Councilors said most of those who went to the carnival were minors who dropped by before or after attending classes.

Councilor Jim Botiwey said carnival operations were not good social activities, as these involved games of chance.

Barangays allow carnivals to operate as a fund-raising activity. This are however, allowed only during occasions like barangay fiestas.

The barangay council of Betag, in an earlier request for a permit to operate a mini-carnival said the activity is aimed at raising funds to be used to pay additional police force auxiliaries and to finance the repair of dilapidated streetlights there.

The carnival operator was given a permit by the barangay last June 7 to operate legally for two months.

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BENGUET

‘Salad bowl of the north’ opens landfill dumpsite
BY SUSAN C. ARO

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The sanitary landfill of this town located in barangay Alno will be gradually opened pending a memorandum of agreement between the barangay and this town’s local government unit to make the “Salad bowl of the north” cleaner.

Governor elect Nestor Fongwan said the sanitary landfill will be gradually opened while the open dump site in Wangal will be gradually closed.

The P60 million solid waste management facility sourced out from local funds is in line with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law otherwise known as Republic Act 9003 mandating local government units to establish its own solid waste management system.

Fongwan, former La Trinidad mayor said even before enactment of the law, as early as 1994, the LGU started conceptualizing a comprehensive ecological solid waste management system.

The facility includes a sanitary landfill, material recovery facility, leachate pond, and bio-reactor equipment for composting.

Although it took years to materialize, Fongwan said this was an orchestrated effort of the community, stakeholders such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Economic and Development Authority, Benguet State University, barangay and municipal officials.

Another vital component of the program was to train people who will operate the facility Fongwan said.

He urged constituents to segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes and if possible to recycle and sell non-biodegradable wastes to lessen the bulk of wastes that will go into the facility thereby increasing its life. He stressed the need for information campaign as one of the vital component.

The mayor said the people should be reminded daily on the importance of waste segregation.

Fongwan said the municipal government could no longer accommodate the bulk of vegetable waste in the La Trinidad Trading Post.

The traders and farmers are being encouraged to do their own composting. Vegetable wastes reportedly accrue a daily average of 30 tons per day to a high of 60 tons per day during peak season.

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Benguet ordinance bans pre-arranged marriages

BY DEXTER A SEE

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The provincial government has declared illegal the pre-arranging of marriage by parents while their children are still young.

The newly approved Benguet Children’s Code prohibits pre-arranging of marriage to give children the freedom to choose their partners in life.

The provincial ordinance bans parents from forging an agreement on the marriage of their children.

The ordinance also prohibits the enticement of minors to enter into live-in arrangements in exchange for money or other consideration.

Pre-arranged marriage is a local practice that grossly violates children’s rights, officials said, adding the measure was aimed at protecting children from such practices.

The provincial government in the ordinance said children are important assets of society and that it is only when they arte able to exercise their rights that they develop their full potentials as citizens of the country.

For many decades, parents had been pre-arranging the marriage of their children especially in far-flung communities to make them feel secure when their children reach the age of maturity.

Although, the practice is accepted by some groups, the provincial board said this arbitrary tradition must be stopped to allow children to choose their life’s partners.

The measure urges parents to guide their children so that they become productive citizens. The parents are also asked not to waste the youngster’s talents and skills due4 to wrong decisions early in their life.

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Backers of Abra politician shot, hurt

BY DEXTER A SEE

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet - Two supporters of a well- known politician in Abra were in critical condition after they were shot several times by armed men at Sitio Kemmel, Barangay Lubluba in Dolores, Abra.

Supt. Armie Dean Emock, regional police public information officer identified the victims as Dan Salimbay, 28, single, security aide of Dr. Robert Seares and Jason Barona, 21, driver, both residents of Sitio Corapo, Poblacion, Dolores, and political supporters of mayoral candidate Dr. Seares.

Also killed was Lito Zapata y Talledo Awweng, a known supporter of mayor-elect Alberto Paking Guzman, and a brother of barangay chairman Celso Zapata y Talledo of Lubluba,. Dolores.

Initial investigation showed Salimbay and Barona escorted Dr. Seares to his residence in Mudiit, Dolores.

While riding an XRM motorcycle on their way back home, they were met by Lito Zapata at Kemmel Bridge.

Police said Zapata shot them with a Cal. 45 pistol. As a result, Salimbay suffered a bullet wound at his right chest, while Barona was shot in the left leg.

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Bank collector robbed in Trinidad

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A collector of the of Summit Bank here was robbed of P22,000 in cash by two still unidentified men at around noon on June 23 after he went to collect the regular daily deposit of a store in Barangay Buyagan.

Police identified the collector in a belated report as Renel Costales Esquivas, 25 who resides in Barangay Gabriela Silang in Baguio City.

Esquivas reportedly went to the store of a certain Sarah Rivera to collect the storekeeper’s cash deposit around 12:30 p.m. that day.

He noticed two men drinking softdrinks when he went to talk to the storekeeper when one of the suspects later approached him and told him not to resist.

The victim said he held tightly to his gray shoulder bag, which the suspect tried to grab, but the other suspect came to aid his companion and hit the victim on the head with the handgun of still unknown caliber.

As a result, the suspects were able to take his bag containing cash collection amounting P20,000 from the front pocket of his pants, before they fled to an undisclosed direction.

The victim claimed that he will able to recognize the suspects when he sees them again.

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