Pagcor to stop Baguio e-games

BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. is set to revoke or cancel operations of electronic or e-games here along Marcos Highway after Tuba mayor Ignacio Rivera told Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan he will not issue business permit to the operator since the area where the establishment is located is not within Tuba.   

Rivera visited Domogan last week to inform him of this because the site is within Baguio. Domogan cited Rivera for this saying it will enhance relationship between Tuba and Baguio governments.

Earlier, the city council told Pagcor its earlier Resolution No. 133, series of 2015 requesting the state gaming corporation to revoke, cancel and stop the operation of the electronic games along Marcos highway because the operator erroneously secured its endorsement from the Tuba municipal council and its business permit from the Tuba municipal government instead of the city government which has jurisdiction over the area.

Pagcor officials who appeared before they city council said they will immediately work out closure of the e-games outlet along Marcos highway because the local government that has jurisdiction over the area where it operates was not the one that issued the required endorsement and the business permit.

Under Pagcor rules and regulations, operators of amusement games, bingo outlets, electronic games among other Pagcor- regulated games must first secure the endorsement or certificate of no objection from the Sanggunian concerned and business permit before  processing of their license to operate.

Rivera said it is but proper to correct whatever defects that were created when the previous Tuba municipal council made an endorsement for the operation of the electronic games in the area that rightfully belongs to the city government to help improve our inter-local relations to be able to achieve better partnerships for robust economic growth in the future, particularly in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay area which is being pushed as one of the new growth centers in the north.

The barangay council of Sto. Tomas Proper and City Assessor’s Office have also declared the area where the electronic games outlet was established is within Baguio and boundary of Tuba municipality was distant from location of the e-games establishment.

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Four killed, 8 cops fired, 1,000 surrender in Baguio drug war

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY-- Killings are still rising in this tourism resort as the government intensified its war against illegal drugs.  

This, as more than a thousand drug pushers and users surrendered or were arrested here, with four killed in legitimate police operations.

City police director George Daskeo bared this saying other killings are being investigated.

He added eight of his personnel were also relieved as part of “internal cleansing.” He did not say if relieved cops, who were not named, were involved in extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.

Unsolved heinous crimes committed in the city in recent months are all being monitored and investigated, Daskeo told Mayor Mauricio Domogan in a meeting after the city’s chief executive ordered him to probe rising killings in the city most of which have been done in broad daylight.

Crime rates have decreased and 24 drug-affected barangays are on the process of being delisted, the Baguio City Police Office reported during the 3rd quarter Peace and Order council meeting last week at city hall.

A 38.21% crime volume decrease was noted, with 1,943 crimes committed January to August 2016, as compared to 3,145 January to August last year. 

A hike in crimes in February was due to activities of the annually celebrated Panagbenga.     

Lowering crime rate was attributed to police visibility, coordination with barangay officials, police substations and lambat-sibat activities, a BCPO report said.

In cases of children in conflict with the law; those caught were referred to their respective barangays, CSWDO, school guidance counselors; received by their parents or guardians, ferried home; rendered community service; paid the violation dues or admitted to counseling.

Earlier, all 128 barangays were identified as drug-affected.

Drug suspects in 24 barangays: Kabayanihan, Campo Filipino, Lourdes Proper, San Roque Village, Quezon Hill proper, Guisad Surong, Guisad Central, Camdas, East and West Quirino Hill, Pinsao Pilot Project, Holy Ghost Proper, Upper Gen. Luna, Country Club Village, Apugan-Loakan, Happy Hallow, Upper Dagsian, Imelda Marcos, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Aurora Hill Proper, AZCKO, Lower Gen. Luna, Happy Homes and ABCR, are now undergoing “clearing.”

Suspects have to get certifications from barangays and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, it was known. 

In a PDEA report, information officer Joseph Calulut said shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and marijuana (Cannabis sativa) remain the most used by nightspots partygoers as recreational illegal drugs.

Public and private offices, schools and pharmacies are constantly monitored.

PDEA director Gil Castro said there were accidental discoveries of marijuana being grown in pots during joint operations with police wherein drug personalities including foreigners were arrested.

On jail space needs, it was known that the number of male and female inmates ballooned due to drug-related arrests, though still manageable according to jail authorities.

Domogan said Shalom house may be used for non-violent cases, and coordinated with the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

The meeting was attended by the mayor, councilor Mike Lawana and representatives from police, Dept. of Interior and Local Government,  National Police Commission, City Prosecutor’s Office, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Information Agency, PDEA, Highway Patrol Group and CSWDO. 

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Sony Experia phones debut in Sony Erickson Baguio expo

18 November, 2011 BAGUIO---Visitors to the three-day Sony Ericsson 3D Expo in SM Baguio will be the first in the country to preview two new Android smartphones from the Xperia™ range.

Making its debut at the 3D expo are the Xperia™ arc S and the Xperia™ neo V, two high-performance smartphones boasting of the best in Sony entertainment experiences. The Xperia™ arc S has an 8.1-megapixel camera featuring 3D sweep panorama, a Sony Cyber-shot™ innovation where panoramic 3D images can be captured and then viewed by connecting the phone to a 3D TV using the HDMI output. The smartphone also runs on the powerful 1.4GHz processor that speeds up media conversion and camera start-up to 25% more against its predecessor. Web page rendering is also up to 20% faster.

The Xperia™ neo V offers Google Talk with Video Chat right out of the box, as well as 3D sweep panorama camera technology. With its 5-megapixel camera with auto focus, geo-tagging and 16x digital zoom, the Xperia™ neo V also records and plays back video in HD quality. One can use its front-facing camera for video chats and self-portraits.

Both phones offer the best of Sony imaging and entertainment with their brilliant Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine. This brings vibrant and sharp image viewing and playback. Sony’s award-winning Exmor-R mobile image sensor enhances still images and videos even in low light conditions. The HDMI connector links the phones to HDMI-capable TVs for widescreen viewing enjoyment. For greater sound, Sony’s xLOUD feature enhances loudspeaker volume.

The full range of new Android smartphones is showcased in the Sony Ericsson 3D Expo which runs at the SM Baguio from today until November 20 (Sunday). The bestselling Xperia™ line of smartphones has sold over 22 million units worldwide to date.

“We offer beautifully designed smartphones – including the Xperia™ arc S and Xperia™ neo V – that also provide the consumer with a unique experience of the Android system. Our latest Xperia™ smartphones all run on the latest version of Android, and are packed with Sony technology, features and content that can only enhance their communication entertainment experience,” said Dennis Manzano, Sony Ericsson General Manager.

The expo also highlights the Sony Ericsson Christmas in 3D promo which gives consumers a chance to win one of three Sony 3D showcases and over P1 million worth of prizes. Buyers can get as much as three raffle tickets for the purchase of Xperia™ arc, Xperia™ ray, Xperia™ PLAY, Xperia™ neo V, Xperia™ pro and Xperia™ arc S. Prizes to be won in the Sony 3D showcase include a Sony Playstation™ 3, 1.2-m Full HD 3D Sony Bravia LCD TV, four Sony 3D glasses, P25,000 worth of Sony 3D Blu-Ray and Sony Playstation™ titles and a Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc smartphone.

To learn more, join the Sony Ericsson PH community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sonyericssonph.

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Nobody cares because nobody goes to jail

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY -- Just like a painful hangover after a night out, finger-pointing and backbiting are expected after an incident that results to death. That, despite statements from public officials in news articles to stop the nitpicking or fault-finding, after the Irisan dumpsite disaster that killed five residents.

Nobody seems to accept the blame. All the discussions about the tragedy were fruit stuff on top of the ice cream. The major incident which is the death of innocent people and the looming danger above the Asin Road community are being sidetracked.

First things first, no one has even come forward to apologize for what happened except for a few sympathy notes made through the press. Instead, those from City Hall were “acting like busy” as shown by their body language – all trying to say “I am not to blame” while protecting their public image at the same time.

They are trying to be concerned although their brains are afloat and occupied with their visit to Hawaii and Vallejo tomorrow. To be fair although unfortunately, the US trip has been scheduled earlier not knowing that a disaster would come.

They still waste time trying to talk about how to properly construct or repair the garbage retaining wall – something that every new set of officials talk about, although that could be left for discussion by technical men who know best what to do.

No one is asking where the victims’ families could be buried even as I was told that the burial ground of one of my grandma’s close relatives at Km.5 Asin Road was now under tons of trash. That is double jeopardy.

I also learned from residents below the dumpsite that a City Hall official visited the site and was met by them. They were expecting words of compassion from the official but none. Instead, they were told: “apay gamin nga agbalay kayo dita…!” (why did you build houses there).

Only those familiar to the beauty of the rock formations at Irisan know that there were camote garden patches below, above and around the spot that were tended by residents along Asin Road, when there was no dumpsite to talk about then.

It means, there were old time residents below even before the area was started to be utilized as garbage dumpsite. And the public official had no right to say “why did you build your houses below the dumpsite.” In other words, the community was older than the dumpsite.

More houses built by scavengers sprouted like mushrooms in that area when the dumpsite grew and grew.

As early as the late 70s, residents of Barangay Tadiangan, Tuba already felt the fear that the mountain of garbage would disintegrate and flow down to their community. But even without the trash avalanche, there were already signs of “neighborhood bullying” in the form of foul-smelling black leachate and cellophane bags that reached as far as Km 8, SitioPacac, Tadiangan.

Barangay Tadiangan, Tuba is located below the dumpsite at Irisan, Baguio.

Residents of Tadiangan, km 5 and km 6 already doubted that the retaining wall would not be able to hold the volume of garbage dumped at the site everyday.

With fear as their driving force, they began protesting in 1989 for the dumpsite’s closure and relocation, although garbage was seen spilling over the crest of the dumpsite due to continuous rains only in 2009.

On several instances, the protesters claimed the officials never listened to them. That to me is a politician’s attitude – “haan da met ngabotantesti Baguio” (They are not Baguio voters).

The fear was not superficial or something that was moved by politics, considering that those who began the protests were residents of Irisan in Baguio and Tadiangan in Tuba. On August 27, what they feared more than five years ago actually happened.

It’s not “too late the hero” for Mayor Florencio Bentrez, but news reports say he is ready to support protests over Baguio waste that has spilled over to Barangay Tadiangan and caused health problems to its residents.

Reports said water sources around the Tadiangan area have been contaminated since garbage spilled over.

The Kagaling River, which flows to barangays Nangalisan and San Pascual in Tuba could have been possibly contaminated too.

Residents said aside from damaging the water hose which supplies portable water to the Tadiangan area, more than 300 families and households do not have safe water supply. People living near the affected areas were now found to be suffering from cough and colds, bronchitis and acute gastroenteritis.
***
The attitude of public officials in executing and violating laws is affected by the justice system. No one has been sent to jail for throwing trash into one’s neighboring community. That is so because nobody knows who should be filing the cases against the violators of RA 9003, also known as the “basura” law.

That is why the officials have the nerve to simply promise to close the Irisan dumpsite everytime an emergency arises but do not say when. That is why they can dilly dally on where to locate an ESL (engineered sanitary landfill) because nobody is running after them.

As a long-term solution to the basura problem, Baguio mayor Domogan said the city will still pursue an engineered sanitary landfill deal with Benguet province at a site situated between Kias and Philex mines which is within Itogon.

The good mayor has announced to the press that he has already signed an agreement with Benguet province on the ESL project which will be undertaken by a Korean proponent. He said the Itogon town council was set to deliberate on a resolution that would endorse the project.

I accidentally came across Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles last week and asked him if there was any truth to the Itogon ESL mentioned by Domogan. He denied that the Itogon municipal council would endorse the proposed ESL near Kias.

He said, he found out that the documents that were obtained for the proposed Antamok ESL were the same documents for Kias. He found out that the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) obtained for Antamok was never discussed by the municipal council and no Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that needs public consultation ever happened. The ECC were obtained without Itogon being consulted.

It looks like the Korean proponent is being misled to believing that everything is running smoothly. Mayor Camantiles further said, before entertaining any proposal for an ESL by other LGUs, Itogon is keen on making one for their own use. If ever an ESL would be built in Itogon, it would primarily be for Itogon, not for another LGU, he said.

Today Tuba, tomorrow Itogon. Aray! – marchfianza777@yahoo.com

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