Baguio execs want Black Hole waste technology tested

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city council has agreed to request the inventor of the Black Hole Technology to present the waste processing scheme to the city for possible consideration as an option to solve the city’s garbage problem.

The body adopted the proposed resolution of Councilor Elmer Datuin for said purpose.

The body as per recommendation of the committee on health and sanitation chaired by Councilor ErdolfoBalajadia also resolved that the scheme be studied by city general services officer Romeo Concio who heads the city’s solid waste management division for his recommendation.

Datuin said the Black Hole Technology is presently used in La Trinidad municipality for solid waste disposal for both biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes with the used of Japanese-made magnetic garbage decomposer using low temperature plasma.

“The Black Hole technology appears to have proven its effectivity as it can process both biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes without any by-product that still needs to be disposed or transported to other areas,” Datuin noted in his resolution.

He said the scheme also “appears to be cost-effective as it is cheaper to operate as the cost of fuel and electricity are practically inexistent and the wasteful cost of transporting the by-product is entirely eliminated.”

“The technology is best described as superior to other technology and it is to the best interest of the City of Baguio to welcome the inventor of the (said technology) to present (it) for possible purchase and inclusion to the long-term solid waste disposal solution of the city,” Datuin said.

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Sablan execs craft program to promote town’s tourist sites

By Susan C. Aro

SABLAN, Benguet – Town officials here have crafted its Tourism Code to promote scenic sites here while protecting the environment.

Provisions of the code includes regulatory and promotions program, creation of policy-making bodies and empowerment of authorities, crafting of a tourism development plan, establishment of a tourist information and assistance center and capability enhancement.

It also specifies administrative provisions in the effective performance of duties and responsibilities of concerned authorities.

The technical provisions detail the regulatory fees, scope and designation of tourist attractions, compliance to other rules as to organization of tourist activities, respect to culture and traditions, and protection and maintenance of the area.

It also includes a provision on tour guides and porters.

Tourist attractions scattered in the barangays are waterfalls, springs, rivers, caves, mountains, and panoramic attractions.

Some of the town’s mountains with good vantage views when climbing their peak include Mt. Dakes or “Shekes,” Mt. Esbo and Mt. Pokgong.

Some provide scenic views of South China Sea and coastal areas in La Union and Pangasinan and other mountain ranges.

One can be awed with the panoramic view of China Sea and Lingayen Gulf along Yagyagan.

It also has several waterfalls such as Towing, Sabdang, Asal, Agsit, Budahaw, and Tagiew and a spring called Sacdol.

Its rivers namely Aneng and Ambacwag are ideal for picnic areas. It also has potential cave privately owned called Perel.

Dubbed, “Fruit Basket of the Province,” it boasts of its fruits such as banana, pineapple, mango, star apple, santol or lolly fruit and other fruits. It also produces tiger grass used to make soft brooms.

The Sablan Tourism Code is forwarded to the the provincial board for deliberations.

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Abreco undergoes rehab as power cut off looms

BANGUED, Abra - Financially troubled Abra Electric Cooperative (Abreco), which has incurred heavy debts from its power supplier and other obligations, will undergo a three-month rehabilitation plan to avoid power cut off problems that the cooperative faces.

The plan includes the deferment of payment to the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) for the first year then pay PSALM P2 million per month for 13 years.

The rehabilitation plan is the best and most legal way of resolving the cooperative's problems, Abreco general manager Loreto Seares Jr. said.

Abreco is set to reduce its current monthly P5.4-million administrative costs to P3.5 million and also trim down its operating expenses from the present P5 million per month to P2.5 million.

The step is seen to result in a P1.2-million monthly surplus for the cooperative.

The rehabilitation plan, said Seares, has the blessings of the Energy department as the agency presided over a meeting last February 4 to determine the cooperative’s problem.

Following the meeting of Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla of the Department of Energy with top-level inter-agency officials and Abreco, new arrangements with various stakeholders including power supplier Aboitiz Power Renewables Inc. (APRI) have been sought.

These arrangements, among others, direct Abreco to pay APRI the entire P16 million in four equal installments of P4 million each on the 18th, 22nd, 26th and 30th or end of the month.

Abreco has also agreed to pay the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) its monthly fees estimated at P6 million in three installments of P1.5 million due on the 20th; P1.5 million due on the 23rd; and P3 million due on the 25th of each month.

The fiscal solutions however necessitate trimming down Abreco’s personnel from over 400 to 190 or 140 to attain a cash surplus of P2.5 million.

Abreco incurs a monthly deficit of P3.4 milion.

With the rehabilitation plan however, separation pays of “to be retired” employees
is pegged at P10 million.

With the deficit and the P189 million capital expenditures of the cooperative, the Energy Regulations Commission (ERC) has suggested a power rate increase for Abreco’s 47,000 member-consumers, Seares bared.

“But I struck it down because such an option is anti-people,” he said.

The DOE has designated an observer to ensure the proper implementation of the rehabilitation plan.

In case a disconnection notice is issued either by the APRI or NGCP within the three-month period, the DOE will intervene to avert the disconnection.

In case DOE steps in, an Abreco insider who is competent and familiar with the operation shall be designated as rehabilitation manager, while the DOE and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) will act as consultants. The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) will monitor the takeover.

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Laoag City, 5 Ilocos Norte towns eyed as poll hotspots

By Charlie Lagasca and Teddy Molina

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte -- Police and poll officials in Ilocos Norte are now considering declaring five towns in Ilocos Norte and this capital city “areas of special concern” in the run-up to the May 13 elections following the Feb. 23 killing of a mayoral candidate in Marcos town and the earlier slay attempt on its mayor.

Supt. Jeffrey Gorospe, spokesman of the Ilocos Norte police, said this matter will be discussed when the joint panel headed by Senior Supt. Gerardo Rautita, provincial police director, and lawyer Joel Gines, election supervisor, convenes this week.

Gorospe said the police and the Commission on Elections are alarmed over the rash of violence in the province, which is not among the 15 provinces earlier tagged as election hotspots by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Last Feb. 23, motorcycle-riding men gunned town village chief Alfredo Arce, 64, who was running for Marcos town mayor as an independent. Two bystanders were hit by stray bullets.

Days earlier, Marcos Mayor Salvador Pillos survived a similar gun attack at a construction site near the Marcos Agro-industrial School.

Police believe the assaults were related.

Besides Marcos town and Laoag City, Gorospe said the towns of Sarrat, Dingras, Pagudpud and Pasiquin have heated political rivalries and have a history of politics-related violence.

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Two female swindlers victimize Bontoc stores

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Police warned the public particularly business establishments on presence of two unidentified Tagalog-speaking females roaming around Poblacion here cheating store owners.

Senior Supt. William Viteño, provincial police chief said, the strategy of the swindlers is that one of them buys goods from a store then pays with a P1000 or P500 bill.

While the owner/storekeeper is preparing the change, the other female arrives and pretends not to know each other, inquiring from the store owner or seller about prices of commodities to distract the attention of the owner/storekeeper while getting the change.

The first customer after receiving the change complains that the owner/storekeeper gave short change which will be confirmed by the partner which convinces the unsuspecting owner/storekeeper to give the reported shortage.

This happened to a Generic Pharmacy who lost more than a thousand pesos from the two unidentified female swindlers.

Following this, police advised business establishments to be cautious when they encounter this type of cheating from swindlers and immediately report any similar incident to the nearest police station.

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Massive army operations in Mountain Province hit

SAGADA, Mountain Province --The Leonardo Pacsi Command of the New People’s Army assailed widespread military operations in the western towns of Mountain Province even as the rebel groups said it supports opposition against “anti-development renewable energy projects” under the guise of being “environmentally friendly” and “pro-people”.

“From January 30 up to the second week of February, we have witnessed massive deployment of elements of the 54thIB in several barrios and mountains of Sagada, Besao, Tadian, Bauko and Bontoc,” the NPA said in a statement.

In barrios, army soldiers reportedly encamped in public places such as the barangay clinic of Suyo, Sagada and forcibly took over and stayed at people’s houses in Balili, Bontoc.

“They parked their military vehicles and trespassed on the school grounds of the elementary school in Kin-iway, Besao. They also occupied the workplaces of gardeners in Lake Danum at the boundary of Sagada and Besao and set up encampments all over the said agricultural area. The people of Sagada and Besao including those in other places in MP have complained that the mere presence of these soldiers in such public places and production areas are instilling fear and disturbing the peace and order and agricultural production of farmers and gardeners.”

The NPA quoted RadyoSagada that last Feb. 6, 2013, the military announced that 300 of their troops occupied Lake Danum, which prompted local executives and personalities to ask them to vacate the area because of the complaints of gardeners and the people of Sagada and Besao.

“The military, in token response, simply shifted to nearby areas only to return after a few days,” the NPA said. “Their maneuvers to enter and occupy positions inside the barrios were done under the cover of darkness to dissimulate troop movements. This further terrorized the people who were shocked to wake up to swarming troops and military vehicles in their barrio.”

According to the NPA, these acts were gross violations of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) signed by the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front (NDFP).

The said agreement prohibits armed troops from occupying public places and using these as barracks, depot and other military purposes.

The same is stated by the UNICEF to protect children who are the victims when the military use schools and other public places.

“The military’s overbearing behavior shows that they do not obey laws, these be the international law on the conduct of war and the protection of children, the ordinances of the local government (LGU) or the traditional customs and regulations of indigenous peoples.” the NPA said.

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Libel case against BCDA dismissed, recon denied

After last week’s suspension of warrants of arrest issued against its directors, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority again finds itself in the winning side of its battle against Camp John Hay developer, CJH Development Corporation, led by Robert John Sobrepeña, when the City Prosecutor for Baguio denied CJH DevCo’s motion for reconsideration of the dismissal of the libel complaint against BCDA’s directors.

In an 11-page resolution, Acting City Prosecutor for Baguio Gerald D. Eala stated that “CJH DevCo … failed to show sufficient evidence to support their conclusion that the BCDA in fact entertained serious doubts as to the truth of their publication.” In contrast, stated the resolution, “the evidence of [BCDA] show that they acted in good faith and were duty bound to inform the
public of the current state of affairs of CJH DevCo.”

To drive home the point further, Prosecutor Eala said that “The inclusion of [of BCDA’s estafa complaint against CJH DevCo] in the “Notice” was not meant to insult, embarrass, or degrade Robert John Sobrepeña and the other officers of the CJH DevCo. Its only purpose is to inform the public that CJH DevCocommitted what the BCDA perceived to be wrong and it does not matter whether the [Estafa] case of CJH DevCo has already been resolved or not.”

It will be recalled that last April 2012, BCDA published a notice stating that, among others, CJH DevCo owed the government P3-Billion and that BCDA filed an estafa complaint against CJH DevCo because the latter paid BCDA a property which it has previously already sold to another. Based on this notice, CJH DevCo filed a libel complaint against BCDA directors in the City Prosecutor of Baguio. A few months after, Sobrepeña filed another libel complaint in Pasig City, alleging the same facts and citing the same law.

BCDA President and CEO Arnel Paciano D. Casanova welcomed the news. “Suits like this, though obviously baseless, are a necessary hazard of our jobs as public officers”, Casanova said. “We cannot shirk away from our duty to protect government property and the investing public just because there is a threat of legal action against us by a disgruntled party. We must perform our public duty without fear.”

Baguio City Acting Prosecutor for Baguio City Elmer Surot dismissed the first libel complaint. CJH DevCo filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied by Prosecutor Eala. On the other hand, the City Prosecutor of Pasig City Jacinto Ang found probable cause in the complaint filed by Sobprepeña and filed the case in the Regional Trial Court of Pasig. Upon BCDA’s motion for reconsideration and inhibition of Prosecutor Ang, the investigation was forwarded to the Department of Justice. Based on the Prosecutor Ang’s inhibition, Pasig City RTC Judge AmorfinaCerrado-Cezar stated that, “this Court, in the interest of greater justice, is inclined to grant the suspension of the issuance of warrant of arrest against the afore-name accused.”

Currently, BCDA and CJH DevCo are embroiled in a legal conflict over the government-owned Camp John Hay in Baguio City. CJH DevCo’sobligations to government has now ballooned to a staggering P3 Billion because of its refusal to do good on its obligations to the government. BCDA also filed various criminal cases against CJH DevCoand its directors for the latter’s questionable business practices.

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MGB allows Philex to resume operations

By Thet Mesias

TUBA, Benguet --Philex Mining Corp. is set to resume operations here after the Mines and Geosciences Bureau gave the go-signal last week.

“We thank the MGB for this decision involving the urgent remediation measures for our tailings pond,” Michael Toledo, senior vice president for Corporate Affairs at Philex Mining, said. “We are even more inspired to work harder in Padcal.”

MGB ordered resumption of operation shall run for four months from receipt of its order, dated Feb. 26, and that Philex Mining shall hire a third-party team to monitor its remediation and rehabilitation plan in areas affected by the tailings-spill accident last Aug. 1.

“We thank the government regulators for listening to us and our stakeholders,” Philex Mining president and COO Eulalio Austin, Jr. said. “With this development, we are even more inspired to work harder toward the immediate remediation and rehabilitation of the affected areas.”

He added: “We thank our investors, who stood by us over the past seven months, as well as our employees who remained committed to our values of environmental social responsibility.”

Officials of Philex Mining, MGB and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had agreed in a recent public presentation that science must be the basis for government regulators to whether allow Padcal to operate again.

Philex Mining had the support of stakeholders, including miners and local government units, among others, in asking government to allow the resumption of Padcal operations.

Mike Gowan, of Australia’s Golder Associates, an engineering and environmental consultancy, told the forum held at the MGB offices in Quezon City last Feb. 6 that Padcal needed 3.5 million tons of fresh tailings to fill up the conical void in and create a beach at its Tailings Pond No. 3.

The filling and beaching process, he said, would push the accumulated water away from the pond’s embankment and into an open spillway.

He said that having too much water in the pond, which is designed to hold solids and not water, was more dangerous as this could destroy the embankment and prompt water and sediment to overflow.

“Wherefore, the foregoing premises considered, Philex Mining Corporation is hereby authorized to resume operation in order to undertake urgent remediation measures for Tailings Storage Facility No. 3 under its proposed Rehabilitation and Cleanup Plan,” MGB said in its directive.

On Feb. 18, Philex Mining paid government, through MGB, P1.034 billion in fees over the Aug. 1 accident, even if this was caused by force majeure, as it shared the concern of government for the environment.

It said the money would cover the costs of remediation and rehabilitation activities as a result of the accident, which has affected the Balog Creek and its convergence area with Agno River.

Philex Mining had voluntarily stopped its Padcal operations on Aug. 1, when nontoxic water and sediment discharged accidentally from its tailings pond in Itogon following historically unprecedented heavy rains brought about by two successive typhoons.

There were no reports of fatalities or injuries, and the affected households along Agno River had already been fully compensated.

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Caltex gives away Apple gadgets daily in promo

“An apple a day” took on new meaning when when Caltex, the only fuel brand with Techron that keeps engines cleaner, started giving away five Apple gadgets per day, from Mondays to Fridays.

For a minimum purchase worth P500, single receipt or accumulated, made within the promo period from participating Caltex stations nationwide, a customer will receive a thermal receipt indicating on-the-spot if customer wins any of the following Apple gadgets: iPhone 5 16 GB, IPad Mini 16GB, iPod Touch 5th Generation 32GB, and iPod Nano 7th Generation 16Gb.

Customers can also fill in their coupon with their contact details to join the raffle draw on March 27, 2013 for another chance at winning Apple gadgets. Raffle winners will be displayed in posters at various Caltex stations and informed through registered mail.

Participating stations are in the following areas: select Caltex stations in Metro Manila, North Luzon, South Luzon, Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro. Promo runs from February 18 – March 15, 2013. Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 0821, Series of 2013. See posters and flyers for more information or, for updates on other Caltex promos and activities, visit www.facebook.com/CaltexPhilippines.

Chevron Philippines Inc., owns and markets the Caltex brand of fuel and lubricants.

Chevron Philippines Inc. has been operating in the country for more than 85 years under its retail brand, CaltexTM, offering high quality products and services.

There are close to 800 service stations and strategically scattered throughout the Philippine archipelago and employees working in several areas of business such as Marketing, Lubricants and Terminal operations.

The Chevron products that are available in the Philippines include Caltex with Techron ® fuel and Caltex Diesel with Techron®D, Havoline® and Delo® oils. More information on Chevron Philippines Inc. is available at www. Caltex.com/ph

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Sillag Festival big boost to tourism, economy: BCDA

PORO POINT, San Fernando City, La Union -- The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority said the annual staging of Sillag–the Poro Point Festival of Lights–is seen to give a boost to tourism and business sectors in Region I as all roads will lead here during the two-day festival every year.

BCDA president and CEO ArnelPaciano D. Casanova said the 2nd Sillag Festival that is slated on March 9 and 10 is La Union’s counterpart to Baguio City’s Panagbenga and Clark’s International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

He noted that Sillag is not merely the newest tourist attraction in Region I, but more importantly, it showcases one of BCDA’s freeport zones—Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) as a premier tourist destination and investment hub. PPFZ is being managed by the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC, a member of the BCDA Group.

Strategically located in San Fernando, La Union, the PPFZ is the country's gateway in Northern Luzon. The Freeport has twin infrastructure jewels—the San Fernando International Seaport and the San Fernando Airport. The PPFZ has a six-hectare lighthouse property which serves as a vital component of an Integrated Tourism Complex. Plans are also underway to redevelop the San

Fernando Airport to include an airport mall.

“The Freeport has yet to reach its full potential as it has yet to maximize the presence of both seaport and airport in attracting investments and generating tourists,” Casanova said.

He said BCDA has set its sights on more innovative big-ticket projects to vigorously push the government’s national development thrusts and this includes PPFZ as part of the equation.

According to Casanova, the key is to create different economic hubs in all BCDA areas that work in synergy through carefully master-planned communities in Central and Northern Luzon such as Poro Point in La Union, John Hay in Baguio, Morong in Bataan, and Clark in Pampanga and Tarlac. These economic hubs will complement and strengthen each other and increase business, tourism, trade and investments.

“BCDA’s centerpiece infrastructures consisting of the San Fernando Seaport and Airport in Poro Point, Clark International Airport, and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will be further developed and harnessed to bring the greatest impact to
the national economy,” Casanova said.

Casanova pointed out that ultimately, PPFZ and BCDA’s other areas are to become beacons of globally competitive and sustainable centers of economic activities that shall ripple and spread throughout their respective regions. “Consequently, these economic hubs, taken together would serve as a tipping point for national economic development which is sustainable and inclusive,” he said.

Sillag will officially start on March 9, 2012 at 4:00 pm with a performance of marching bands starting at the PPMC main gate to the Thunderbird Amphitheater. Other activities set for the afternoon and onwards include a fun run, Un-Identified Flying Object (UFO) formation, and the ceremonial lighting of the Sillag village.

The following day, March 10, 2013, among the activities include an air show, street dancing competition, pyro musical show, and a concert/variety show.

The festival will be highlighted by the Lantern Fluvial Parade and the releasing of Hope Lanterns on the evening of March 10.

The Lantern Fluvial Parade is a parade of illuminated and decorated boats from various participating agencies/companies The parade of boats represents boats coming back to shore guided by the light emitted by the lighthouse.

Sillag is an Ilocano word which means moonbeam or illumination from the moon. The festival is jointly organized by the PPMC and BCDA with partners that include the Province of La Union, and Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels and Resorts.

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Recruitment of army soldiers on

By Myds Supnad

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur– The 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, (7ID) of Philippine Army headed by Maj. Gen. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr., urged young men to join the army saying registration and pre-screening for first batch of applicants this year has been started.

The office of the Assistance Chief of Staff for Personnel headed by Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva facilitated processing of more than 400 applicants on its first day of registration at the 7ID Grandstand, Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City.

Catapang said interested applicants should bring legal documents (original copies) placed in a green folder with proper tabbing containing the following:

A whole body picture (3R in white background) bio-data with 2x2 ID picture, birth certificate (NSO copy), marriage contract of parents (NSO copy), high school/vocational/college diploma, transcript of records, certificate of employment (if any), Philippine Army aptitude test battery (PAATB) result, clearances (barangay/police/mayor/ regional trial court/NBI),
certificate of legal beneficiaries, affidavit of disinterested person of being single and tax identification number.

The newly-promoted major general said applicants must be 18-26 years old and at least five (5’0”) feet in height.

Waivers are not allowed for the above-mentioned requirements.

“Only those with complete supporting documents will be registered as candidate soldier.

Applicants with lacking documents are advised to complete their supporting papers for before they can be registered,” added Catapang.

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‘BCDA, John Hay lessee tiff affecting city tourism’

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week said the conflict between the Bases Conversion Development Authority John Hay Management Corp. and Camp John Hay Development Corp, has hurt not only the city’s tourism industry but the plight of the Camp John Hay Special Economic Zone workforce.

“Camp John Hay is no doubt one of our best tourism come-ons and the conflict between the parties definitely affects the operation of the center and also affects the welfare of the employees working in the zone,” the mayor said.

He urged parties to exercise diplomacy in resolving their conflict to avoid causing further harm.

“I hope the parties will deal with the matter with tact and diplomacy. The court has issued (orders relative to the legal dispute) and I hope they will respect those (court orders) to avoid creating confusion and avoid adverse effects on the tourism business and on the livelihood of their own employees,” the mayor said.

Last Feb. 5, CJH Leisure Inc. locators which include The Manor, The Forest Lodge, CAP John Hay Trade and Cultural Center complained of JHMC’s alleged “act of obstructing” their operations after the JHMC allegedly prevented them from bringing in goods and business implements into the zone purportedly due their lack of permit to operate from the JHMC.

In a letter to the mayor, CJH Leisure managing director Heinrich Maulbecker said the JHMC ignored their permit issued by the city government, an act that Maulbecker said “constitutes open defiance of the sovereignty and police power of the Local Government of Baguio City.”

Maulbecker recalled a regional trial court decision which sided with the city on the permit issue.

The said court decision is however currently on appeal before the higher court.

Maulbecker asked the city government to enforce its authority in issuing said permits and to provide them police assistance to bring in the goods to the zone but city police director Jesus Cambay however denied the request saying the matter involves a “controversy that is purely civil in nature” and which is not under the ambit of the police.

“While such enforcement of the Permit to Engage in Business may have a legal implication on the pending case between CJHDevCo and BCDA, we note that an Injunction Order has been issued. Hence, any request for the implementation/enforcement thereof should comply with the requirements of our Police Operational Procedures which provides police assistance shall be granted only upon written request of the Sheriff and accompanied by a valid order issued by a competent court.

The court recently issued an injunction order preventing a JHMC takeover of the Camp John Hay thus maintaining a status quo for CJHDevCo to continue operating in the zone.

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PLDT, Globe experiencing outages
We wish to inform our customers that PLDT is experiencing multiple outages on local interconnection in several parts of Northern Luzon. As a result, Globe landline customers will not be able to make local calls to PLDT in the following areas: La Union, Baguio, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija.

Globe is currently coordinating with PLDT for the immediate restoration of these points of interconnection. For more information, please contact:

Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom, Inc.
Tel. No. 7302627 │ Fax. No. 7393075
Email Address: globe.corpcomm@gmail.com
Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph

BSU's College of Agriculture celebrates 27th year

The College of Agriculture celebrated its 27th CA Week from Feb. 18 to 22 with the theme, CA: Supporting Global Competitiveness.

The celebration was graced by top University officials along with CA alumnus now businessman Norvy A. Abyadang.

BSU president, Dr. Ben D. Ladilad congratulated the College of Agriculture and referred to it as a catalyst in the development of other curricular programs in the University as early as when BSU was still the Mountain State Agricultural College.

He related occasions when people like Sen. Edgardo J. Angara would tell him how efficient BSU graduates of agriculture were.

“As we try to develop our college in terms of facility, I am persistent in encouraging younger faculty members to apply for Master’s and or Doctorate degree programs.”

The University president assured the college that he will work for upgrading of its laboratories.

Other activities series of fora, the first of which is the Drawing CA’s Pathways to 2022 held on Feb. 18 and participated by student leaders and the CA dean, Dr. Leoncia L. Tandang followed by a seminar that featured lectures from CA alumni, Dr. AjambarRai and Dr. Jang Woon Yoon.

The CA students PalaCAsan was held Feb. 22 at the BSU gymnasium where students competed in vegetable salad preparation, flower arrangement, and for the CA Henyo, followed by the faculty, staff, and students CAsayahan and awarding of certificates to achievers.

Dr. Leoncia L. Tandang, in her State of the College Address, reported that the college started celebrating the CA week every third week of February in 1986.

She added that from 1986, the College of Agriculture continues to evolve. For School Year 2012-2013, the College of Agriculture sustained its status as the Center of Development (COD) for Agriculture Education which was awarded to BSU by CHED on December 21, 2009 and one of the National Universities and Colleges of Agriculture and Fisheries (NUCAFs) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Abyadang, a graduate of BS in Agriculture, was the guest speaker in the opening of the CA week.

Now proprietor of NS Northern Organic Fertilizer and a number of other businesses, Abyadang gave credit to the university for molding him.

Addressing the students, he asked them to love their work or at least try to.

He added industriousness, patience, persistence, and style as some basic principles on the road to success, adding success comes with a lot of failures.-- Jennelyn S. Tabangcura


Mountain Province places second in Panagbenga fest
BAGUIO CITY -- The Litangfan Cultural Group of Guina-ang, Bontoc, Mountain Province was adjudged 2nd placer in the street and cultural dancing competition during the Panagbenga Festival last Feb 23.

The Kabayan Youth Cultural Dance Troupe regained its crown being the champion of last year’s Panagbenga.

The ranking are as follows: 1. The Kabayan Youth Cultural Dance Troupe (Kamora National High School); 2. Litangfan Dance Group, Guina-ang, Mountain Province; 3.ApayaoIpasindayaw, Apayao Province; 4.Sakusak Traditional Ensemble (Pinsao National HS); 5.TanghalangTeatroPinoy (Pines City National High School); 6.TabukMatagoan (City of Tabuk); 7.Tribu Ari-tau (Aritao High School of Nueva Viscaya); 8.Cordillera Cultural Performing Group (St. Louis University); 9.TeatroMiPangantaanPagey (Baguio City Nat’l High School-SPA); 10.Bumabanga Ti Kalinga (St. Theresita’s School Tabuk); 11.Philexian (St. Louis High School Philex); 12.Bampkabia Cultural Dance Troupe (Baguio City Academy); and TsinakhonCutltural Ensemble (SLU-Laboratory High School).

In the afternoon of February 24, 2013, the same group presented their winning piece at Camp John Hay.

The Litangfan Cultural Group is composed of barangay officials, elders, students and teachers of Guina-ang National High School and community.

Guina-angpunong barangay and president of the group Ninian Lang-agan and members of the delegation were so happy when the rankings were announced thru text from the Panagbenga Cultural Society. According to them, they didn’t expect to land 2nd placer. The price of P150,000.00 shall be released on March 3, 2013.

According to Lang-agan, the invitation to regional contest such like the Panagbenga was a blessing in disguise because this has been his dream when the cultural group was organized.

Lang-agan, in lieu of the group, is extending his gratitude to Regional Director PurificacionMolintas of DOT-CAR, the Provincial Government of Mountain Province headed by Gov. Leonard Mayaen, Sanggguniang Panlalawigan members chaired by Hon. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr., Rep. MaximoDalog, Jupiter Dominguez, Jet Dominguez, Franklin Odsey, SB member Wilbur Padngaran and members of Guina-ang organizations based in Baguio City and others for their financial and in kind assistance.

In a separate development, the Provincial Tourism Office of Zambales invited the Litangfan Cultural Group to perform in Zambales soon. -- Francis B. Degay


Kaigorotan Youth Week

The Kaigorotan Youth Week (KYW) traces its roots in 1983 from the collective actions of the Cordillera youth when they marched in the streets to show their opposition against destructive projects, such as the Chico Dam project and the massive logging project of the Cellophil Resources Company, in their indigenous community back home.

This year, the celebration of the Kaigorotan Youth Week will focus on the role of the kaigorotan youth in the politics of change and good governance through a series of events from March 3- March 10.
March 3 (Igorot Park, 1-6:00pm)

This day will mark the formal opening of the KYW accompanied by a Slogan & Poster Making Workshop from 1:30-3:00; followed by a Quiz Bee on Indigenous Knowledge from 3:30-6:00pm.

March 10 (Malcolm Square, 5:00-10:00pm)

This will be the culminating activity of the KYW celebration, holding the annual Search for Mr. and Ms. Kaigorotan who will showcase the proper and appropriate traditions of the Cordillera. Candidates will be wearing their indigenous attires while showing distinct indigenous talent/ skills. They will also be tested on their knowledge on Cordillera history, traditional practices, knowledge and culture.

For reference contact: 0919-214-1110 09176324066 and/or (074) 446-2106

DTI-Kalinga awards ‘best’ in Ullalim fair

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Trade and Industry provincial office had chosen 14 best exhibitors as winners of special awards in the recent Ullalim agro-industrial trade fair here.

Eighty seven of the more than 100 exhibitors in this year’s Ullalim Fair vied for the special awards.

Benita Mangadap of DTI-Kalinga said the award is part of the “come-on” given to participating micro-small and medium entrepreneurs in the province to the annual Ullalim fair.

The special award had four categoriesL best exhibitor, best booth, best products, and on-the-spot contests.

Best exhibitor sward went to Jaja’s Handicrafts & Gift Shop owned by Jajie A. Bula-ay while best booth was won by Non-Food, owned by KinwaEtnika; Processed Foods and Beverages owned by Elda’s Homemade Products and Ornamental Plants &Agri-tech of Ashley Ornamentals.

Best products were gifts, house wares & décor by the Tabuk Basket Weavers Association;wearables& fashion accessories of Kinwa Etnika handicraft; processed foods of BITICK Women Association; traditional wines of Garcia’s Sugarcane Products; furniture & furnishings of LKC Furniture Shop and recycled plants &agri-tech of Ashley Ornamentals.

Organizers of this year’s Ullalim fair also included on-the-spot contests and had chosen four winners. Guinamat Embroidery was won by Charlie Baguiwan of Lubuagan municipality; fashion accessories making by LhotaDumatog of Nessaj’s Weaving; rattan tray making won by Paulino Magan-gan of Balbalan municipality and floral arrangement by Imelda Vecaldo of Jam’s Floral Garden.

All best award winners received cash incentive of P2,000 each, while P500 was given as consolation to other finalists.

The Ullalim fair is an annual event of the theKalinga founding anniversary and Ullalim Festival to promote the products of small and medium entrepreneurs. -- Larry T. Lopez

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Comelec to unseat bets \violating campaign rules

EDITORIAL

The Commission on Elections yesterday warned that winners in this year’s elections will not be able to assume their posts if they violated campaign rules.

Comelec Chairman SixtoBrillantes said the poll body would not hesitate to unseat politicians who violate campaign and other election laws and campaign regulation violators, including party-list groups, can be charged with election offense.

“Yes, they can be unseated. Why not? Under the rules of disqualification, even after the elections, disqualifications can still be applied,” Brillantes said.

The Comelec Law Department is getting ready to file election offense cases against Piston Land Transportation Coalition, Inc. (Piston) and Kabataan party-lists after they failed to heed the notices to remove unlawful propaganda materials.

Under Comelec Resolution 9615, parties and candidates may post campaign materials only in designated common poster areas in public places and in private places with consent of the owner.

Violators could face one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and prohibition to occupy public office.Comelec said it would cancel the registration of a party-list group if “it violates or fails to comply with laws, rules or regulations relating to elections.”

Brillantes though admitted that election offenses are considered criminal cases and would thus go through a long and tedious process.

Aside from Kabataan and Piston, the party-list organizations that received notices from the Comelec include Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay); LPG Marketers Association; PuwersangBayaningAtleta; 1 Joint Alliance of Marginalized Group; Sanlakas; Anak Mindanao; Anakpawis; and Magdalo.

Senatorial candidates Risa Hontiveros; Rep. Teddy Casiño; Rep. Sonny Angara; Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV; Edward Hagedorn; Rep. Juan Ponce Enrile Jr.; Juan Miguel Zubiri; Nancy Binay; Sen. Koko Pimentel; Sen. Francis Escudero; Jamby Madrigal; and Benigno Paolo “Bam” Aquino also received notices from the Comelec.

The militant Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), on the other hand, criticized Comelec for allegedly harassing progressive groups while allowing pro-administration bets to violate election rules.

“The Comelec is harassing progressive party-lists who are enjoying growing support from the public for their advocacies. It clearly wants pro-administration candidates to dominate the 2013 elections,” KMU chairman Elmer Labog said.

Labog said the Comelec has allowed traditional politicians to run thinly disguised ads on television even before the campaign period.

“Now, it is going after marginalized groups who do not have huge resources to run television ads and only have posters as campaign materials,” he added.

Labog said the Comelec even defended President Aquino for distributing PhilHealth cards in the sorties of the administration’s senatorial candidates.

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‘Another AFP abuse, source of trouble between two tribes’

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- A council of tribal elders is acquiring jurisdiction of a murder case that police filed against an Army soldier for the fatal shooting of a member of the Tinglayan tribe in Kalinga last Feb. 1, according to a police official.

Senior Supt. Froilan Perez, Kalinga police director, told newsmen the elders would hear the case against Pfc.

Ringold Benedict Gomez of the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion, who reportedly shot dead Abe Tiggangay in the remote mountain village of Butbut in Tinglayan town.

Perez said there is a “sipat” (peace pact) recognized by villagers that constitutes part of the country’s legal system inherent with the practices of indigenous groups.

Gomez, who belongs to the Lubuagan tribe, alleged that Tiggangay tried to escape from the hospital after marijuana bricks were found in his possession.
Gomez though earlier had figured in a minor motorcycle accident with Tiggangay who he rushed to the hospital before the marijuana was allegedly found.

In relation to the incident, we give way to a letter from Ka Raya Bannawaganin behalf of Ka TiponGil─ayab, spokesperson of the New People’s Army’s LejoCawilan Command based in Kalinga.

Those who feel alluded to may email us at northphiltimes@yahoo.com for comments for inclusion in the next edition of the Northern Philippine Times.

The letter from the LPC-NPA:

The LejoCawilan Command, NPA─Kalinga condemns the shooting and killing by a member of the 21st Infantry Battalion Philippine Army of Abe Tiggangay, a civilian from Buscalan, Butbut, Kalinga and the wounding of Edwin Daligdig, also from Butbut.

Abe was shot by Pcf Ringold Benedict Polittud Gomez inside the doctor’s office of the Kalinga Hospital in Lubuagan while the former was visiting his companion Edwin whose foot was injured after the motorcycle they were riding was bumped by a 6x6 truck of the PA.

On Feb 1, 2013, two platoons of the 21st IB PA riding in two 6x6 trucks went to Tinglayan to launch a brutal operation there. They again used the medical mission as their excuse. At 11 p.m., they were at Manangol, Mabilong speeding and because of their arrogance did not follow the lane which was the reason why the other truck hit the motorcyle Abe and Edwin were riding. Edwin being injured, was rushed to the Kalinga Hospital.

Abe was worried so he followed Edwin to the hospital. When he was inside the doctor’s office, Pcf Gomez entered and shot Abe’s feet. Because the people inside the hospital were shocked and terrified, they fled and when they returned saw a bleeding Abe who could not be saved anymore due to loss of blood.

“Abe ran,” this was Pcf Gomez’s reason. What was Abe’s fault, if ever, and was it right to shoot and kill him? He was inside the hospital and there was the police who should arrest, if indeed he had committed an offense, and let due process take its course. This civilian was already hit by a truck, wounded, then killed. It speaks of the AFP’s terrorism and violent lawlessness.

This is the common practice of the AFP. They do not observe the laws of the government they belong to and they do not recognize human rights and due process if anyone commits an offense.

With these practices, have they been punished? It is even the victims who are blamed. Where is justice for these victims? Where is punishment for the individual, unit and PA officials responsible for this kind of crime? This AFP practice has worsened as a result of the ongoingOplanBayanihan being implemented by the AFP and the government.

The AFP and the government are deaf and blind to these incidents. They instead blame and pass on the burden to the tribes of the victims and the perpetrator. The Bodong is rendered useless between two tribes and could even possibly be a source of tribal war.

Why put the burden of the AFP’s offenses on the tribes? The AFP must be accountable for these, they should be castigated and meted punishment, not the tribe of the perpetrator.

This is not legal and it is not the Bodong and the tribe’s teaching to kill; as it is the practice of the AFP not to respect human rights and tribal rights. Because it is what they teach and what they do, it is the AFP that should pay, not the tribe of the perpetrator.

If the AFP passes the blame on the tribe, thus evading responsibility, it is the tribe that bears the burden of the offense or wrongdoing. The bodong loses its significance and oftentimes is severed as it is not possible to integrate the laws of the bodong into government laws, worse, the AFP and the oppressive government do not recognize customary laws and tradition.

This incident is only one of the continuing violations of the government, the AFP─PNP─CAFGU of human rights and rights of national minorities. The oppression of national minorities like us is proven by the government’s and the capitalists’ grabbing of our ancestral lands and plunder of our resources.

They have tainted our honor, and abused our culture. They have destroyed our environment and are obliterating our race. This is the primary objective of the exploiting classes and their puppet government. They sow confusion among the people to easily divide them, sow terror so they can implement their objectives.

To the kakailians from Lubuagan and Butbut, we must carefully analyze what had happened, who was responsible and the reason for this. The tribe we come from do not wish this to happen. No tribe is at fault but the AFP. Because it is the AFP’s fault, the bodong between the two tribes must not be affected. What must be done is for the two tribes to help each other demand that the AFP, the individuals guilty, the unit and AFP officials be punished to attain justice. Let us work for the unity and strength of the two tribes to get justice from the government and the AFP. The tribes must avoid trouble so as not to be involved in the AFP’s misdeeds. Tribal wars must be avoided.

As your armed forces, we members of the New People’s Army led by the Communist Party of the Philippines uphold and defend the interest of the people, the rights of the national minorities and the democratic classes. Thus we are one with you in condemning and demanding justice for the victims of military abuses.

We mourn with you the death of Abe Tigganangay and the wounding of Edwin Daligdig. Let us direct our sorrow in the pursuit of what is right and let us strive for the continuing strong unity of the poor classes so we can advance the people’s revolution, the armed struggle and achieve true freedom, democracy and justice.

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What is Sabah worth?

PERRYSCOPE
Perry Diaz

To the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu, Sabah is only worth 5,300 ringgits (the equivalent of US$1,500), the annual rent the Sultanate has been receiving from the Federation of Malaysia since 1963 when the federation was created from a group of former British colonies including Sabah. But with Sabah’s large quantity of natural resources including oil and gas, the revenue generated is out of proportion to the rent paid to the Sultanate of Sulu. It’s cheap… obscenely cheap!

But the Federation of Malaysia has enormously benefited from Sabah. Figures from FACTS Global Energy show that Sabah has about 1.5 billion barrels of oil and about 11 trillion cubic feet of gas in its reserves, which represent about 25% and 12% of Malaysia’s oil and gas reserves, respectively.
***
In November 2011, Reuters reported the discovery of oil offshore of Sabah of which initial estimates put the well’s oil reserves at 227 million barrels. It didn’t take the giant Petronas long to infuse billions in investments. Petronas began five major projects: Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP), Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal (SOGT), Kimanis Power Plant (KPP), Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre (KTC), and Kinabalu NAG (non-associated gas) upstream development. The SOGT has a daily capacity to handle up to 300,000 barrels of crude oil and one billion cubic feet of gas.

But while Sabah is the sixth biggest contributor to Malaysia’s national economy — contributing more than 25% of the total oil and gas produced in the country – it is the poorest state with the highest unemployment rate in the country. Is it probably because the money generated from tapping its natural resources is being funneled out of the state into the coffers of the national government and pockets of out-of-state companies; thus, leaving the state – and its people — mired in poverty?

Sabah, with an area of 76,115 square kilometers, is the second largest of the 13 states in the Malaysian federation. With a population of more than 3.2 million — the majority of them are Tausugs from Sulu — it has a large number of overseas Filipino workers. Of the 600,000 Filipinos working in Malaysia, most of them are in Sabah. Filipinos come and go and nobody would pay any attention… until now.

It did not then come as a surprise to Malaysian authorities in Sabah when about 250 Filipinos slipped into the town of Lahad Datu. But when they found out who they were and why they came, all hell broke loose!

The group of Filipinos turned out to be members of the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu. Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, the brother of Sultan Jamalu Kiram III, leads the group. And they want their ancestral land back.

The question is: Does the Sultan of Sulu have any legal claim to ownership of Sabah?
***
Records show that Sabah was originally part of the Sultanate of Brunei. In 1658 (1704 from other sources), the Sultan of Brunei ceded Sabah to his cousin, the Sultan of Sulu, to compensate him for helping the Sultan of Brunei quell a rebellion in Brunei. From that time on, that territory became part of the Sultan of Sulu’s domain, which came to be known as the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.

In 1878, Sultan JamalulAhlam of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo leased North Borneo — which became known as “Sabah” — to Gustavus Von Overbeck, an Austrian, and Alfred Dent, his British partner. The written agreement used “padjak,” the Tausug word for “lease.” However, the lessee interpreted it to mean, “grant” or “cede.” The annual “lease” amount was 5,000 Mexican gold pieces (called Mexican dollars). The agreement also specified that the rights to Sabah couldn’t be transferred to any other person or country without the Sultan of Sulu’s express consent.

In 1881, Dent formed the British North Borneo Company (BNBC), which was chartered by the British government. Subsequently, BNBC assigned the lease contract to the United Kingdom. That was the beginning of the colonization of Sabah.

In 1885, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain signed the Madrid Protocol, which recognized the sovereignty of Spain over the Sulu archipelago in exchange for Spain relinquishing all her claims to Sabah in favor of the United Kingdom. However, the Sultanate of Sulu and Sabah was not a party to the tripartite agreement.

In 1888, Sabah became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. This is one step closer to colonization.

In 1936, BNBC stopped paying the rent when Sultan Jamalu lKiram II, the 32nd sultan of Sulu, died. The reason for the suspension of rent was because of President Manuel L. Quezon’s refusal to recognize Kiram II’s heir, Sultan Punjungan Kiram.

In 1946, British North Borneo Co. transferred all its rights over Sabah to the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom’s colonization of Sabah was a fait accompli, although BNBC continued to exploit her natural resources… and pocketed the profit.

In 1950, Kiram’s heirs filed a case in the Sessions Court of North Borneo, which ordered BNBC to resume paying rent. BNBC complied with the court’s order.

In 1962, the Sultan of Sulu ceded sovereignty of Sabah to the Philippines, which empowered the Philippine government to pursue to claim Sabah.

In 1963, when the United Kingdom granted independence to Malaya and created the Federation of Malaysia, Sabah was made part of that federation. To protest the inclusion of Sabah in the Federation of Malaysia, the Philippines severed diplomatic relations with Malaysia. Malaysia took over the responsibility of paying the annual rent to the Sultanate of Sulu through the Malaysian Embassy in Manila. It’s interesting to note that Malaysia insists that the amount is an annual “cession” payment while the Kiram heirs consider it as “rent.”

In 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed, which included the Philippines and the Federation of Malaysia among its charter members. It was at this point that the Philippines ceased to actively pursue her sovereignty claim over Sabah.

In February 2013, the Royal Army of the Sultanate of Sulu entered Sabah to reclaim their ancestral land.
***
The $64,000 question is: Would the Federation of Malaysia willingly return Sabah to the Philippines or the Sultanate of Sulu? Or would the standoff lead to bloodshed?

With multi-billion economic developments going on right now, it’s doubtful if Malaysia would pack up and voluntarily leave Sabah. There is just too much money, infrastructure, and resources already invested in Sabah.

However, like anything else, nothing is impossible if all parties would compromise to make everybody happy. Could it be possible that the Philippines, Malaysia, and the Sultanate of Sulu form an economic consortium divvying up the profits from the revenue generated by the companies doing business in Sabah? With the Philippines retaining sovereignty, Malaysia driving the economic growth, and the Sultanate of Sulu receiving royalty or franchise fee, they might all turn out to be winners – a trifecta!

What is Sabah worth then? To the Philippines, Sabah is all about sovereignty. To Malaysia, Sabah is all about money. But to the Sultanate of Sulu, Sabah is worth dying for.
(PerryDiaz@gmail.com)

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Bolting and screwing signs on Baguio’s trees

BENCHWARMER
Ramon S. Dacawi

BAGUIO CITY -- The signs of the times are hurting, visually to us and literally to trees on which they are being nailed, bolted or strung. Such acts are in violation of an ordinance the city council passed 23 years ago.

We can talk and complain over the eyesore, but trees can’t protest, not even moan in pain. That prompted a team from the city council staff to talk for them.

The team led by local legislative staff officer Dan Ricky Ong proposed more teeth given to the ordinance through amendments that would penalize not only the person installing signs on trees but also the agency, be it private or government, that dispatched such person for the job.

The original ordinance, adopted on motion of then councilor and now vice-mayor Daniel Farinas, was amended last year through councilor ErdolfoBalajadia who moved to up the penalties from five to 20 days imprisonment or P200 to P800 fine to P5,000 fine or 30 days imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court.

Ong’s team found that even government agencies had nailed signs on trees at the Burnham Park, the city’s main picnic and recreation area. Obviously unaware of the ordinance, well-meaning students doing community work had also wired and wrapped around trees “No Littering” tarpaulin signs.

A sign with the text “No Parking BWD” was wired to a tree while a black plastic trash bag was also wired to another tree.

Bicycle-for-hire concessionaires at the main park removed their respective come-on signs and other attachments on trees, including a wall clock, after the team handed them copies of the ordinance, Ong said in a report.

“While the trees have been cleared of signages, trash bags, etc., it is suggested, however, that the City Environment (and) Parks Management Office remind the biking concessionaires to also clean their area,” the report said.

The report comes in the wake of a plea from environment officials for wannabes seeking senatorial, congressional and local positions, together with party-list representation in the May polls to spare trees of their campaign posters and to make their bids “environment-friendly”.

The report also serves as a warning to candidates who face fine and imprisonment under the ordinance, or voters’ censure that may spell their defeat in the polls, especially if they are ironically running on a pro-environment platform.

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BCBC yesterday and today

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO
March L. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY --For a few hours on February 26, 2013, Baguio and Benguet were considerably peaceful. This was because the media trooped to the Philippine Information Agency office at Lualhati Barangay across The Mansion to vote for a new set of officers for the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club, Inc. that is more popularly known as the BCBC.

Once in a while, the acronym is claimed to stand for “Baguio Characters Before Christ.” I heard this from the late PeppotIlagan and from City Hall apologist Ramon MondacsDacawi. No one can predict what could possibly happen to the BCBC after its elections as it is indeed an unpredictable animal. What with changing its coat for at least two or more times?

It was conceived as an association of Baguio-based news persons many years after World War II and called itself the Baguio Press Club. Proof of this is an invitation program to an induction ceremony at the old Baguio Auditorium. The induction program invitation with its pages that yellowed through time was given to me as a relic by then Courier editor Cecil Afable in 1997 when I was president of the media organization.

I cannot remember where I kept it but I remember some names that were printed in Auntie Cecil’s memento such as Silvestre Afable, Ben Rillera, Oseo Hamada, Sinai Hamada, Lucio Dixon and a few others.

The late Steve M. Hamada used to relate a story that before Martial Law was declared in 1972, the press club opened its arms to fellow newsmen belonging to radio outfits, hence, the formation of the BCBC. And before newspapers printed stories about presidents being impeached, the BCBC before Martial Law already impeached its president whose name we do not have to mention here, for dragging the press club into a shameful controversy about the allocation of home lots for members of the Baguio press.

The impeached president eventually formed a new press club with him being the perpetual president of a press organization that has less than 10 members. And for some reasons, the BCBC president’s impeachment that was initiated by club officer HilarionPawid forced the late Sid Chammag of The Bulletin to resign from the club. The BCBC at more than 60 has now become the oldest and biggest organization of media practitioners North of Luzon.

A few days after the BCBC election last week, I felt like I was put on the spot as a member of the BCBC Comelec when a few questions were raised regarding the conduct of the voting. I really did not mind it until presidential candidate EdongCarta told me that some guys were asking why the ballots had numbers on them that corresponded to the numbers across the voters’ names listed on a log book. I told him, that has been done in the past and the log book together with the ballots are kept by the Comelec.

The other question that was raised was why were the votes of some members who voted online were not included in the counting. While I knew that there were other reasons for that aside from the fact that the emailed votes did not re-appear online for technical reasons that were beyond the control of the Comelec,

I told the guys that anyway, the voting trend of most of the candidates did not change, meaning, they still won the elections, with or without the online votes. There were 140 ballots cast, 1 was disqualified from voting for not paying BCBC annual dues, one did not drop his ballot, there were four who dropped their ballots in advance because they had to meet their early appointments on the day, and there were two texted votes. The truth is, the BCBC election was more credible than the PCOS voting of the government.

Elections are held to uphold a democratic tradition and to allow a country or an organization to evolve into a better entity. Maybe, some sort of a “moral recovery” process. And so, with the elections over, I just wish the new set of officers rethink of the club’s situation and change whatever needs to be changed and fix whatever needs fixing.

Before the elections, the BCBC held a candidates’ forum to remind whoever won the elections that the club is “sick” and needs to be cured back to its healthy status. By the way, when will the officers of the jueteng press corps hold their elections? During the special Kapihan where the panel consisted of the BCBC candidates and past presidents, the topic about the issuance of a BCBC ID was again raised. BCBC past president Mondacs said he opposed the idea then, thinking that the ID might be used to solicit other things.

And so, I suggested that we can print at the back of the ID the statement that goes – “Please do not extend any assistance to the holder of this card. Thank you” or “any assistance extended to the holder of this card will NOT be honored.”

It was timely that as the BCBC members were familiarizing themselves with this year’s candidates in the special Kapihan, and were discussing about issuing IDs for journalists who already have press IDs issued by their outfits, I came across the article of Neal Cruz, a columnist of a national daily paper, and he talked about ID cards being flaunted by bogus newsmen.

Allow me to assume the personality of a senator and “plagiarize” what the columnist said in his article: “Be wary of people claiming they were sent by journalists. They may be impostors. No respectable journalist would do that. If they show you a press ID, ignore it. If it is a National Press Club ID, the more you should be wary. The NPC is not the respectable club it used to be. And the bigger the press ID, the bigger a fake the holder is. Legitimate journalists don’t even need press IDs.”

Part of his article said that the pseudo journalists eat free, drink free coffee and follow guest panelists in the restroom and “ask something for the boys.” I totally agree to everything Neal Cruz stated in his column. Actually, he described an experience that has already happened to the BCBC and continues to happen. But what makes BCBC sicker than ever is its involvement in money that is “missing.”

It is not actually missing because the club knows where it is, who got, whose term did it went missing and those involved do not seem to care to put it back where it rightly belongs. We are talking about P250,000 that was solicited from the DOLE for livelihood projects of the BCBC during the term of past president Liza Agoot. Congratulations to the new set of officers led by president-elect Rod Osis of Baguio SunStar, vice president Frank Cimatu of Baguio Chronicle and the rest of the officers.

They should exert efforts to recover the fund that was deposited by a scheming treasurer under his private account, maybe with the help of some officers at that time. In fact there are conversations going around that the amount may no longer be found because it was already shared among certain media personalities. Now do we really want to be a serious organization that helps its members in need or do we only want to be a social club? Only a social club? – marchfianza777@yahoo.com

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Mountain Province ore, mine tailings transported overseas

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- The Chinese, Koreans and Bangladeshis are buying mine tailings and mine ore from small scale miners in Mountain Province. Mine tailings find their way inside the country where processing plants are found.

Some are transported all the way to Poro Point. Some mine tailings and mineral ores find their way to China for processing, a small scale miner- mine tailings dealer said. In order to avoid getting questioned in police checkpoints because he does not have an ore transport permit, he transports the mineral ores and tailings at night time and travels via farm to market roads where there are no police.

With illegal business starting from the mining site due to illegal mining activities, the goods find their way to open outlets posing irresistible questions on why these are getting smuggled out of the country without being taxed.

Mine tailings and mineral ores getting out from Mountain Province may be one of those undeclared and untaxed wealth getting out of the country to China.

Asia Sentinel reports in “China’s Filipino Gold Rush, Chinese mining companies, many of them operating illegally, have been exporting gold, nickel and other precious minerals out through the island - country’s coastal ports, where there are no customs officials while plenty of officials are bribed to turn their eyes the other way.”

Miners extract gold and copper operating without any permit issued by the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board. There are no fees to be declared for mineral taxes in the province where the minerals and mine tailings come from.

And yes, in coastal towns where the Bureau of Customs is nowhere to be found, there goes the wealth of the country going bye bye to China. No mineral taxes, no export taxes, no taxes whatsoever while money is flowing out from proceeds of mine tailings and gold ore said to be legally owned by the State.

As of now, of the gold registered as leaving the Philippines, only 3 percent of the exports are registered with customs officials. The other 97 percent arrives in Hong Kong without being taxed by the government in Manila, resulting in a massive tax loss”, Asia Sentinel reports.

The 97% of gold leaving the Philippines illegally is somehow legally entering Hong Kong as HK trade statistics showed that “gold consignments imported from Philippines into Hong Kong had been declared,” the Sentinel added.

And back in the Mountain Province where large scale mining is banned, the Chinese, Koreans and Bangladeshis are having their heyday dealing with local small scale miners, buying gold ore mined from the ancestral domains by indigenous peoples -miners themselves who are paid for their labor by ore dealers. A small scale miner said one bag of mine tailings cost P75 each and P400 per sack of raw gold ore.
Do our miners ever know how much the gold and copper concentrates cost when these are finally extracted?

And do foreigners buying gold ores and mine tailings need applications for mining permits like Financial or Technical Assistance Agreements and exploration permits? If you can get the gold by telling local miners to mine their nava and pay them for their labor, do you need stringent requirements and protocols dictated by Philippine law?

Based from the Pacific and Strategies Assessment in their study, “Exploitive Chinese Mining in the Philippines”, Chinese `mining firms are not playing by the same business ethics, rules and practices which Western mining firms are expected to follow.

PSA reports, Chinese firms hide “under the cover of domestic small-scale miners to bypass Philippine mining laws and protocols as well as avoid the large capital requirements, fees and taxes associated with large-scale mining.”

Registered or not with the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board, foreigners are dealing anyway with small scale miners and buying their gold ores and mine tailings.

This loose and unjust mining industry is not right. As long as the mine tailings and mined ores illegally get out of the country and foreigners process these inside the country and export the products under illegal ways while Philippine authorities are helpless, stupid, naïve or are into smuggling and extortion big time, the wealth of the country and the minerals “owned by the State” shall not give Juan de la Cruz a decent meal, housing and clothing for his family in exchange for the sweat and capital he has poured in the mine sites which he considers as his ownership.

Surely, this country should be able to provide the necessary support as processing equipment and technology to maximize the wealth that Mountain Province miners, Cordillera miners and Filipino miners in exchange for their labor and capital to mine gold or copper from the underground tunnels of the earth and eventually sell mine tailings or ore in order to bring home decent food for their families.

As it is, this mineral- exploited country has lost at least 3 million metric tons of untaxed various mineral ores brought to China, as noted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in 2008.

Meantime, Mountain Province maintains a NO stand on large scale mining entering their territories manifested in resolutions of officials of mineral rich municipalities of Bauko, Tadian, Sagada, Bontoc, Sadanga against mining applications and further supported by the SangguniangPanlalawigan in a couple of resolutions.

What gives these resolutions and the peoples stand against large scale mining?

Chinese leader Deng Xiao Ping’s guiding principle, “black cat or white cat, it doesn’t matter as long as it catches the mice”! is a living practice in Chinese mining in the Philippines.

And while that is so, pollution and geo-hazard threats due mining are other issues for another story.

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Local development councils

PUNCHLINE
Ike Señeres

There ought to be a law that would punish those who would not implement the law. If that does not make sense to you, that is the best I could do in expressing my frustration about good laws that are passed, but are not implemented. I think Filipinos are uniquely gifted with the talent of crafting laws that are written in superb English, but it seems that we do not have the gift of implementation, and that is why our laws hardly go beyond the written form, probably just waiting to win literary awards. One law in particular is the Local Government Code of the Philippines (LGCP), not perfect as it is, but good enough until the next revision perhaps.

As I understand it, it should be the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that should implement the LGCP. Either that or each of the respective Local Government Units (LGUs) should be implementing it. Either way, very few LGUs seem to be serious enough in convening the Local Development Councils (LDCs) that are supposed to meet at least twice a year at the barangay, municipal, provincial and regional levels. Even the LGUs that do meet seldom meet more than twice a year, thus showing that they are simply just paying lip service to the legal requirement.

In theory, these LDCs are supposed to be the venues for planning the distribution of the Internal Revenue Allocations (IRAs) in a democratic, transparent and participatory manner. Apparently what happens is that many LGUs are just fabricating fake minutes of their meetings, to make it appear that council meetings were actually conducted, and that way the corrupt local officials are able to use the funds as they please, without anyone knowing how and why it was used. If you ask me, this not only amounts to bastardizing democracy, it also amounts to killing it at the local level.

As the LGCP stipulates, local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are supposed to be represented in the LDCs with complete voting rights, and these NGOs are supposed to vote among themselves as to who among them should become the representatives. As it is happening now however, the corrupt local officials are just appointing their own allies to sit as the NGO representatives, and no one even knows if they are legitimate NGO leaders or not, because there is no proper election conducted at the local NGO sector. Strike two, because this also amounts to killing democracy at the local level.

Also in theory, the LGUs are supposed to have a local medium term development plan that should become the output of the LDCs, a plan that should serve as their roadmap. Without such a roadmap, no one would really know how the money from the IRAs would be used, not even the local people who are supposed to benefit directly from these funds. Even if these corrupt local officials could get away with submitting fabricating minutes of their meetings, I could not see how they could get away with submitting fake development plans. Either way, they would be liable for the crime of falsifying public documents.

In most cases, the traditional mass media at the local levels have not been successful in mobilizing the local NGOs so that they would participate actively in the LDCs. Either that, or the corrupt local officials have been successful instead in deploying their own fake NGOs and in keeping the legitimate NGOs out of these councils. The good news now is that these legitimate NGOs now have the alternative option of using the new social media in working for them. The truth is, the traditional mass media could be bought in some cases, but no amount of money could buy the new social media.

Perhaps one reason why the legitimate NGOs are not so active in the LDCs is that they do not have a well defined development framework to begin with. To address this apparent vacuum, I am pushing for the adoption of the Human Development Index (HDI) as the common development framework that could be used by all NGOs all over the country, in all levels all the way up to the regional level. Doing so would actually be an innovation, because no one seems to be using HDI now as a framework for measuring development success at the local level. The HDI was originally developed by the United Nations to measure development success at the national level.

Illiteracy rate, mortality rate and poverty rate are the three major areas of development success or failure that are measured by the HDI. By way of correlation, the way to ensure success in these measures is to implement development programs in education, health and livelihood, in that order. As I see it from my perspective, these programs could be enhanced by e-Learning, e-Health and e-Commerce, respectively. In 2012, the United Nations introduced the Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index (MPI), an index that specifically measures deprivation of floors, assets, cooking fuel, electricity, toilets and safe water (FACETS) among the poor.

All told, HDI and MPI are already available for all NGOs everywhere, for them to become actively involved in the LDCs. They also have social media that they could use to mobilize local citizens to participate, aside from the usual email messages and text messages. In short, there is really no excuse now not to get involved in the LDCs. In other words, their own future is already in their own hands, and it is up to them now to take action.

For feedback, email iseneres@yahoo.com or text +639083159262

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