POLICE ROUNDUP

Jealous lady hacks young housekeeper

BAGUIO CITY – A young housekeeper was hacked by an unemployed woman here Tuesday out of jealousy around 7:30 p.m. during a drinking spree. A police report said the incident happened at No. 60 South Central, Aurora Hill. The victim was identified as Kimberly Ann Ladines Quimson, 24 and resident of the house. She was allegedly hacked by Flordeliza Oliver Flores, of  No. 51 South Central, Aurora Hill.

Investigation disclosed both were having a drinking session with companions when the suspect accused the victim of having an illicit affair with her live-in partner. A heated argument ensued between them wherein the suspect threw a shoe on the face of the victim. The victim left and went inside her room but the suspect followed her with a bolo and hacked her twice. As a result, the victim was lacerated on her left hand and back. 

Police arrested Flores.

Attempted homicide lands man in jail

LAMUT, Ifugao – Cops arrested Tuesday Federico Munar Dela Cruz, 57here at Sitio Solang Barangay Pieza for attempted homicide. This, after warrant was issued against him by  Judge Gregorio Agapito P. Nuestro of 3rd MCTC of Villaverde-Quezon Nueva Vizcaya. Nuestro set bail for P12,000 for temporary liberty of the suspect.

Students to get reward for info on drug suspects

TUBAO, La Union – A P2,000-reward is being offered to high school students in this town for information on drug personalities.

Mayor Dante Garcia announced the reward during an anti-illegal drug symposium at the Tubao National High School recently.

“The reward for students is just an extension of the reward system we are giving to our policemen if they arrest an illegal drug suspect. I’ve been offering P10,000 each for our police,” Garcia said.

Garcia was included on a list of local officials suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade.  He denied the allegation, adding he is confident authorities would eventually clear him. – Jun Elias 

Woman arrested for estafa in Itogon 

ITOGON, Benguet – Police arrested here Tuesday Jinline Binwag Ullani, 41, single, native of Lagawe, Ifugao after warrant was issued against her by Judge Glenda T. Ortiz-Soriano, of MTCC, Branch 2, Baguio City for estafa. Suspect was nabbed at First Gate, Ucab here around 11 a.m. The judge set P20,000 bail for Ullanin’s temporary liberty.

Two women nabbed for estafa, another for bouncing checks

BAGUIO CITY – Three women were nabbed here in separate occasions Tuesday for estafa and bouncing checks.

Arrested at Purok 6, Upper Pinget was Adora Abuan Langbayan a.k.a Adoracion Langbayan, 40 after warrant was issued against her by  Leody M. Opolinto, presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court in Cities, First Judicial Region, Branch 3, Baguio City with bail set at P12,000.

Also arrested along Abanao St was Rosemarie Liwan Paculan, 49, Tapapan, Bauko, Mt. Province and Felicitas Gonzales Aquino, 71, businesswoman, of Caba. La union.

Bail of P30,000 for two cases each against Aquino was set by Emmanuel Cacho Rasing, judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 3, Baguio City.

Meanwhile, cops arrested Juliet Ventura Aglasi, 33 after warrant was issued against her by Delilah N. Gonzales-Munoz, presiding judge of Municipal Trial Court of La Trinidad, First Judicial Region, Benguet Province for violation of Batas Pambansa Bilang 22 two cases with bail of P5,000 for each case.

Bus, motorcycle  collide; two seriously hurt

SABLAN, Benguet – A vehicular traffic accident transpired here Tuesday around 2 p.m. along Quirino Highway in Amocao, Bayabas involving a Baguio City-bound Fariñas Bus  driven by Freddie Pascua Cortez, 51, of Calangcuasan, Salcedo, Ilocos Sur and motorcycle driven by  Nicklai Akia Gacay here of Salat Poblacion, who had back rider named Bobby Ladoana Contig of Palali also of this town.

 Investigation disclosed while the bus was traversing the road the motorcycle stopped on the other lane, suddenly maneuvered and encroached the lane of the bus that caused the accident. As a result, the occupants of the motorcycle were seriously injured and rushed by fire and health personnel of Sablan to Baguio General Hospital Medical Center in Baguio City. The motorcycle was badly damaged while the bus has broken windshield and dented bumper.

Man nabbed in hospital for shabu

BAGUIO CITY – Cops nabbed here Tuesday a certain Randy Caritativo Manaois, 35, resident of Holy Ghost Barangay for illegal possession of P32,040 worth shabu and drug paraphernalia at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center compound.

Also confiscated from the suspect in the 8 p.m. buy-bust operation were digital weighing scale, P1,000 buy-bust money and two cellphones.

Man arrested along Session Road for shabu

BAGUIO CITY – A man was nabbed here along Session Road Wednesday midnight for illegal drugs. Arrested was Christopher Reyes, 39, resident of km 4, La Trinidad, Benguet. Around 20 grams of shabu were confiscated from him.

 9-year-old girl hit by trike; seriously hut  

LAGAWE, Ifugao – A 9-year-old girl was seriously injured when she was hit by a motorcycle here Tuesday evening along Lumingay Road Poblacion North. A police report said the vehicle was driven by Brandon Tayaban Alindayo while the victim was identified as Atolba Tayaban, grade III pupil of Lagawe Central School.

Investigation disclosed while the vehicle described as “ulong-kulong” was speeding descending towards Lagawe Proper from Barangay Burnay it accidentally hit the victim injuring  her waist. The victim was rushed to Natuwolan Clinic for medical treatment and later referred by her attending physician to Panopdopan District Hospital, Lamut, Ifugao for further treatment.

Drug campaign lessens crime in Santiago

SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur-After launching a series of anti-illegal drugs campaign in this town, crime has been reduced to 90 percent, making Santiago peaceful and orderly.

Mayor Josefino Miranda bared this saying usual crimes committed in this town were brought about by drugs, saying 90 percent of troubles and crimes committed and vehicular accidents were traced to drugs.

While there were few negative feedback in other areas, "Operation Tokhang" got positive response and support from the public in this town, once percieved one of the most drug-affected towns in Ilocos Sur.

“Our town has become so peaceful after the police launched Operation Tokhang, making the hundreds of drug ushers and even pushers surrender out of fear perhaps."

Miranda said he was shocked to learn that more than 300 of his constituents dubbed as drug personalities yielded when the police started crack down on illegal drugs here.

But he said there was no climate of fear in his town, saying Santiago is one of the most peaceful towns in the province.

Senior Insp. James Calibuso, chief of police, also reported that 319 have surrendred voluntarily while one death was reported in a legitimate operation and another one was killed by unidentified armed men.

Store owner Vicky Gabuni of Barangay Sabangan also said that they can now say that their area is now so peaceful, orderly and silent during night time, compared, she said, to the past that even during wee hours in the night "several drug addicts roam the barangay causing fear among the public." -- Myds Supnad

Baguio shooting victim still in coma

BAGUIO CITY – A resident here is still in coma after he was shot here Monday around 11:55 p.m. in front of Rhenjells Eatery, Bonifacio Street.

The victim was identified as Patrick Ngaep Aclayan, 36, of Barangay Poliwes. Initial investigation disclosed that prior to the incident, the victim was eating at said eatery when suddenly unidentified suspect who came from behind shot the victim twice on his body.

The suspect went towards nearby overpass and boarded a white Crosswind vehicle with no license plate and fled to unknown direction. The victim who managed to walk, sought help from one Rudy Bacoco Layagan, 36, who assisted him to Benguet General Hospital and Medical Center for treatment.

Ralph Alcid, 57, security guard of Decibar Building, Bonifacio St., said he heard two gunfires and saw one male person wearing black bonnet, gray jacket, maong pants 5’6 to 5’7 in height hurriedly leaving the area and boarded said vehicle.

PUJ driver shot

BAGUIO CITY – A public utility vehicle driver is still in critical condition after he was shot around 6:50 p.m. here Monday in front of their residence at Purok 1, Holy Ghost Extension.

A police report said victim Hubert C. Coyoy, 37, arrived home driving his PUJ and parked it in front of their residence and went inside their house.

After few minutes later, the victim went outside to fix his vehicle. Later, the victim’s mother-in-law, Leona Ticagan heard two successive gun shots that prompted her to go outside and saw the victim lying beside his vehicle with blood oozing from his head.

The victim was rushed to a hospital and is now under observation. The victim was under city police drug watch list. Footage captured by CCTV camera installed near the crime scene is subject for review to identify the gunman.

2 nabbed in Tadian for forestry law violation

TADIAN, Mountain Province – Two men were nabbed here Monday for violation of forestry law Presidential Decree 705 and Chainsaw Act. They were identified as Noble Bai Soliken, 37 and Salvador Agarto Sapaw, 35, both residents of Barangay Bunga. Bail was set at P50,000 each by Judge Joseph Patnaan of RTC Branch. 35, Bontoc, Mt. Province who issued their arrest warrants.

Back hoe operator electrocuted in Tublay  

TUBLAY, Benguet – A certain Jun Agustin Mayos, 38, back hoe operator, employed at Tagle Corp., of Poblacion, Bokod town died here Monday after he was accidentally electrocuted at the TC parking area. 

Investigation disclosed Lemon Abance Banto, co-worker of the victim, saw the victim lying unconscious on the ground beside an iron pipe electric post that prompted him to help the victim.

When Banto held the victim’s hand, he felt a flow of electricity that caused him to call for help from their co-workers. They aided one another in pulling the victim from the place and rushed him to Benguet General Hospital for medical attention but he was pronounced dead on arrival by attending physician Ranilyn Lozañez.

The remains of the victim lies at the BeGH for autopsy as requested by his relatives and employer.

Sarona inaugurates Kalinga PNP buildings  

PASIL, Kalinga – Two new buildings, Pasil Municipal Police Station and Kalinga Provincial Headquarters were inaugurated by regional police director Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona last week.

The Pasil building was around P4.7 million while the Kalinga PPO building was more than P10.7 million of which the Kalinga provincial government donated P4 million.

Among the guests was acting provincial governor James Edduba.

After the inauguration, a meeting was conducted attended by different agencies, mayors and barangay officials.

The latter raised their concern on how to motivate their constituents to stop cultivation of marijuana and proposed construction of roads, irrigation systems  and immediate livelihood programs.

Abra ‘Illegal drug pusher’ shot dead

TAYUM, Abra – An alleged illegal drug pusher was shot here

Sept. 25 around 8:10 p.m. at  Poblacion. The victim was identified as Nestor Buenavista Lopez, 34, unemployed, listed under Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency  as pusher.

 Investigation disclosed that the victim was on his way to his residence when suddenly he was shot by the unidentified suspects. The victim sustained lone gunshot wound on the left part of his stomach and was rushed to the Abra Provincial Hospital, Bangued, Abra by responding cops.

‘Drug user’ surrenders

DOLORES, Abra – A certain Christopher Bunag Tordil, user, 42,  farmer surrendered to police admitting he was and illegal drug user.

Van goes down Sabangan ravine; driver jumps, unhurt

SABANGAN, Mountain Province -- A vehicle accident transpired here in Tabtabao, Camatagan Sept 25 around 6 a.m. involving a white Hi-ace van owned and driven by Rizaldo Andawey , 41, of Sitio Tabtabao  in the barangay.

 Investigation disclosed that while the vehicle was ascending towards Barangay Pingad, the vehicle suddenly lost its brake and moved backwards. The driver jumped out of the van before it plunged into the ravine of more or less 10 meters high. As a result, the vehicle incurred multiple damages with still undetermined cost while the driver was unharmed. Said vehicle is still at the place of incident.

Apayao motorcycle drivers, passengers hurt in collision 

STA. MARCELA, Apayao – Two motorcycles collided here  Sept. 25 along the national highway at Barangay Sipa in front of the DENR checkpoint resulting to serious injuries to both drivers and their passengers. The motorcycle owned and driven by Jefrey Macalma Sanut, 25 with his rider Cristine joy Abad Gilo, 24, was accidentally bumped by another owned and driven by Warlito Ibus Montanez, 66, farmer with passenger, Eugenia Malda Montanez, 65.

Investigation disclosed Sanut was headed to  San Mariano, Sta. Marcela while Montanez was traversing the opposite lane when the latter  encroached the opposite lane hitting the steering bar of the first motorcycle.. Both motorcycles crashed on the road. As a result, Sanut suffered left leg fracture while his back rider suffered was hurt on his left hand. Montanez’s left foot was fractured while his passenger suffered abrasions. 

They were all brought to Sta. Marcela District Hospital by the responding PNP personnel but the drivers were later transferred to the Far North Luzon General Hospital and Training Center in Luna, Apayao for further medical treatment. Both vehxciles were impounded. 

Brod-in-law kills sister’s husband

KIBUNGAN, Benguet – An alleged homicide happened here Sept. 22 midnight in Lebeng, Badeo, Kibungan, wherein the victim was identified as Theodoro Bacante, kagawad of Badeo while suspect was named as Joseph Anatel. Said incident was reported to police an hour later by Juliet Anatel, sister of the suspect and brother in-law of the victim.

Investigation disclosed that according to Ms. Anatel, the victim was allegedly hacked by the suspect with the use of bolo. Investigating team led by SPO2 Jacob M. Pantaleon proceeded to the place but didn’t report cause of the dispute. 

Man chased, shot dead in Abra

LAGANGILANG, Abra -- A cellphone call was received by police informing them a shooting incident transpired at the public market of Barangay Laang, here Sept. 21 around midnight. Cops immediately responded and found a male person lying on cemented ground beside the market. Victim was identified as Nolie Beng-ad Hermoso, 47 and listed as pusher on the watch list of town police.  

Investigation conducted disclosed a few minuteds earlier, the victim parked his motorcycle in front of Borje’s Store located along Abra-Kalinga Road.  According to Precilla Borje, owner of the store, she heard one gun fire then saw the victim running and entered her store being chased by unidentified male suspect and both exited at the backdoor of said store.

Later, Borje heard two successive gunfire. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on different parts of his body that caused his instant death. Unidentified perpetrator fled to unknown direction after the incident.

Police found three fired cartridge cases of Cal. 45 at crime site The cadaver of the victim was brought to Pineda Funeral Parlor for autopsy.

Tricycle driver shot in Tabuk

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – A tricycle driver was shot here Sept. 21 around 4:15 p.m. A police report said the shooting transpired  at Balacang Street, Magsaysay with the the victim identified as Efraim Danipog Dominguez, 28, of Dagupan West.

He was brought by a fellow tricycle driver to St. Peter Claver Hospital but later transferred to Kalinga Provincial Hospital. The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on his body. 

Investigation disclosed that the victim was driving his tricycle heading towards Barangay Casigayan, but upon reaching the place, two unidentified suspects onboard a motorcycle on the opposite direction suddenly blocked his way and the back rider got down and and shot the victim several times. After the incident suspects fled away going towards the direction of Barangay, Bulanao. Recovered from the crime scene were seven fired empty shells of Cal. 45 and one deformed slug. 

The police report didn’t say what happened to the victim at press time.

Hunter shoots hunter in Tinglayan mountain 

TINGLAYAN, Kalinga – A hunter was mistaken for an animal and was shot by another hunter here at Barangay Basao Sept. 21 around 7:30 a.m. Police, health and disaster personnel responded following text message by Mattek Sa-ing, resident of Basao. They chanced the victim being brought to the national road at Maswa, Basao by his relatives. Responders brought the victim to Tinglayan rural health unit for medical attendance.

Police investigation disclosed that at around 11 a.m. of Sept.  20, the victim identified as Amboy Dugay Owar, 28, farmer with two companions identified as Dao-wig Casingoy, 35 and Bobby Annaway, 27, both farmers and residents of Basao were at the mountain of Sasabbat, around 30 km away from the community hunting wild animals. The trio went on separate directions when Casingoy noticed a moving object in a bushy area around 30 meters away. Suspecting a wild pig and unaware of his companion’s location, he immediately fired once using a homemade rifle with M16 bullet.

Moments later, Dao-wig heard Amboy Owar shouting in pain that he was shot. The former immediately rescued the latter while shouting for help from their companion, Bobby Annaway. The two subsequently assisted the injured victim and applied first aid. Annaway immediately went home to inform their relatives while Casingoy was left behind to take care for the injured victim. At around 6 p.m., relatives and  community people went to the mountain and immediately brought the injured person arriving to Basao. He was later brought to Kalinga Provincial Hospital in Tabuk. The suspect escaped and went into hiding.

Farmer stabs farmer in Pudtol 

PUDTOL, Apayao – A farmer was stabbed by a fellow farmer here

Sept. 21 at about 8:30 p.m. here at Barangay Amado. The victim was  identified as Gilbert Ilayat Ulidan, 42, while his assailant was named as Romel Salvador Domingo, 29.

Investigation disclosed that the suspect together with his neighbors was having a drinking session at the house of Edmar Tabing when Mac-Mac Gammad and Benjie Ulidan arrived and joined them. After a few minutes, Mac-mac and Benjie went home and while on their way home, they were shouting and looking for trouble. Accordingly, the victim tried to pacify them and advised them to go home.

However, the suspect followed the duo and stabbed the victim on his left lower armpit. The suspect was allegedly hacked by unidentified person from behind. Both victim and suspect were brought to Amma Jadsac District Hospital at Pudtol by cops. The suspect sustained a hacked wound on his right back portion of his body. Both were released from the hospital after their medical treatment.

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Tourists warned: Stay away from minors in markets

BAGUIO CITY – Authorities warned  tourists in this summer capital to stay away from minors at the public and night markets as they have  been identified as culprits in many pickpocket incidents.  

Stakeholders in the city’s public market here raised concern on increase of minors roaming the areas saying they have become bolder as they do their illegal activities in the dead of night.

Representatives of several associations of market and night market vendors informed the officials who attended the recent inter-agency meeting held at city hall agencies must do something to prevent  proliferation of minor offenders in the market and night market areas to reduce pickpocket incidents.

The city council committee on market, trade and commerce chaired by councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. initiated an inter-agency meeting to gather inputs from stakeholders on how to improve the public market, a show window of the city.

 Supt. Lauriano Alexis Mariñas, city police deputy director for administration , said coordination is being done by police with City Social Welfare and Development Office to prevent minor offenders in the market and night market areas.

He said numerous minor offenders had been apprehended by law enforcers and turned over to to  Balenben, Irisan City Social Welfare and Development Office but offenders easily escape from the government facility and go back to their illegal activities in the market.

Officers of night vendor associations said offenders are usually the ones responsible for pickpocket incidents in the market, saying their presence beyond curfew hours should not be allowed to reduce robbery.                   The BCPO official said operatives will try to increase their visibility in the market and night market areas and exert efforts to reduce presence of minor offenders to minimize robbery.

He urged barangay tanods and marshals of associations to be on alert for presence of minor offenders.

Yangot  urged market vendor associations to raise  issues and concerns with city officials.

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Traffic obstructions taken out in Bontoc, Sagada; 48 fined

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Except for few obstructions such as parking on prohibited sections of the road, the main streets of this capital town and the tourist town of Sagada have been observed to be visibly free of parked vehicles on prohibited sections.

This, through strict implementation of traffic rules by town mayors and police with cooperation of drivers, business establishment owners and residents.

Some 48 violators of traffic rules of Bontoc and Sagada have been penalized last September.

In Sagada, the previous 15 days saw full implementation of the 2016 revised traffic rules since Sept. 12 after  the 10-day test  period Sept 1 to 11 showed  20 traffic law violators.

Of the 20 individuals penalized were eight who violated no parking rules, seven for driving motorcycle without  helmet, three for driving without license and two for not observing traffic signs.

Senior Insp. Domingo Gambican said signs were needed along  the road including no parking and  speed limit signs.

It was noted that some car drivers observed from outside Sagada drive fast along narrow streets of the town. 

The revised traffic code set P500 penalty for  all violations including obstruction and a separate penalty of P1,000 to P5,000 for reckless driving and under the influence of liquor.

Car drivers were directed to park in designated areas at the Mission Compound, in private lots and at  newly paved road along Sitio Nangonogan of Poblacion.

In previous years, roads of the main town starting at Nangonogan to the road section above Sumaguing cave had  been obstructed with parked cars for quite some time everyday resulting to accidents and traffic gridlock especially during weekends and heavy tourist arrivals.

Sagada Mayor James Pooten Jr during a meeting with the municipal tourism council said traffic aides to aid the police shall be deployed during peak tourist days including Lent, post Christmas and Etag Festival first week of February.  

In Bontoc, 28 erring drivers were penalized for violating the  2007 traffic code when it was implemented last month. 

It was noted that prohibited parking was the highest violation with 22 erring drivers topping the list, three for loading/unloading on prohibited areas and one for driving without license as noted by police.

Strict implementation of traffic rules led by Mayor Franklin Odsey and chief of police Richard Soliven showed the once congested Chakchakan section is now free from parked vehicles and tricyles, and double parking prevented along the main road.

One Chakchakan resident said she was happy that the road was free from parking to avoid accidents.

Cars in the main town are now parked at the backside of the town along the Lok-ong section and Riverside at Samoki.

Another  resident commented that vehicular plates of erring drivers should only be ripped off with the issuance of citation tickets. 

Soliven said plate numbers of vehicles carrying ore and lumber without permits are immediately taken.

He said the Land Transportation Office deputizes police officers to enable the latter to remove plate numbers of erring car drivers.

A seminar with the LTO  is being programmed with the local government of Bontoc, Soliven added.

Meantime, it was observed that passenger utility jeepneys are back to the unloading section in front of the government center of Bontoc.

Soliven said this usual practice went back following the complaint of  Sagada-Bontoc  passenger Marcy Piluden commenting on convenience of passengers  of PUJs to unload in front of the government center than at their terminal points. Public institutions including the Mountain Province State Polytechnique College, public market,Capitol and other offices are located near the government center.

Soliven said  the municipal traffic code provides unloading and loading  points should be at the terminal areas of PUJs  although  unloading may be in other sections of the road but not to go beyond15 minutes.

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Baguilat slams plan to show alleged De Lima sex video

IFUGAO Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat has slammed plans of the House majority to show the alleged sex tape involving Senator Leila de Lima during the hearing purportedly in aid of legislation to address the proliferation of drugs in Philippine prisons.

Baguilat said there was danger that the showing of the alleged video would be the current Congress’ “most infamous folly” as it would serve no legislative end, not to mention that there is no determination that the video is even authentic.
         "The only clear purpose of the showing is to humiliate Senator de Lima. We owe it to our people to conduct our public hearings according to the highest standards of proper behaviour. We need to be bound by guidelines of decorum and decency, and showing the video will violate those standards," said Baguilat.
Baguilat reiterated his stand that the courts are the proper venue for trying de Lima for alleged ties to drug lords.
          “If the administration is so sure that de Lima is involved in drugs and the alleged drug trade at the Bilibid, then the Executive should just file the proper charges in court. There, we have the mechanisms to make sure that her innocence is protected or her guilt proven," he said.

 "It is not Congress's job to prosecute these cases, and Congress should not allow itself to be a venue for trial by publicity to cover up for the Executive's inability to get a proper case to court," Baguilat said.

 Baguilat said that the mere showing of the alleged sex video violates de Lima's privacy and her right to due process. "Insisting on this exercise only wastes the people's money and causes Congress to violate the Constitution," Baguilat said. “Women and our other rights activists should speak out and be offended by this plan that will reduce the proceedings to a mere spectacle. It is unjust, unethical and a violation of laws," said Baguilat.
            “The bottom line here is that no legislation related to stopping the alleged proliferation of drugs at the Bilibid will come out of that video showing.

As stated by the Speaker, the purpose is to find the link between de Lima and her driver/bodyguard. If so, then I repeat that the proper forum for that is the courts," Baguilat said.

 "Congress should have better things to do with its time than waste the people's money and satisfy vile interests," Baguilat added.

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Erring Baguio City business establishments to be closed

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY  – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the grace period given by the local government to owners of business establishments that converted their allocated parking spaces to commercial spaces already expired and must adhere  to regulations to avoid being closed.

The local chief said existence of parking spaces in buildings is part of the conditions imposed by the local government for the issuance of their building and occupancy permits; the absence of such parking allocations will be a ground for the city to initially cancel the occupancy permits issued to owners of businesses and the subsequent withdrawal of their building permits.

“We have given the establishment owners sufficient time to remedy the situation and bring back the parking spaces that were converted to commercial spaces. We need the parking spaces in the buildings to decongest our major roads from being used as their parking spaces since the parking allocations were converted to commercial spaces by building owners,” Domogan said.

The city mayor directed city hall offices to inspect identified business establishments that violated conditions so their building and occupancy permits will be cancelled.

The mayor said violations had already been discussed with the concerned building owners three times and it was the business owners who requested for sufficient time for them to comply because they have existing contracts with their lessees who rented the parking slots and converted them to commercial spaces.

Under the National Building Code of the Philippines and other related local ordinances, owners of buildings are mandated to provide parking spaces for their lessees to avoid vehicle owners from parking on the sides of roads and in open public places.

He said time is already up for the building owners to start complying with what was previously agreed upon between the local government and their group to avoid the outright cancellation of their respective building and occupancy permits that will result to the closure of their establishments.

He urged building owners to start rectifying the anomalous situation by reconverting the commercial spaces into parking areas and not wait for the inspection by the concerned offices because it would mean the imposition of stiffer penalties against them aside from the closure of their operations until such time that they will comply with the restoration of parking spaces within their structures.

The non-existence of parking spaces in many buildings in the city had been criticized by the public after such parking spaces that paved the way for the approval of their permits were suddenly converted to commercial use.

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City gov’t to bid out operation of Asin resort

BAGUIO CITY  – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered concerned offices of the local government to prepare terms of reference for public bidding of operation of Asin  hotspring resort located in Tadiangan,Tuba, Benguet.

Domogan said the local government won the case it filed against the previous resort operator, thus  is now inviting qualified operators to bid in the operation of the Asin hot spring resort.

Eugene Buyocan, assistant City General Services Officer, revealed personnel of the local government already served the notice of eviction to Roger Sinot but the latter continued operating the facility after the city staff left.

Buyocan recommended assignment of permanent personnel to guard the government property from illegal occupation.

Domogan claimed the best remedy to the current predicament of the city is to formulate the terms of reference to justify the conduct of public bidding for the operation of the resort so that the operator will eventually vacate the area.

According to him, the city must already possess this property to maximize the use of the resort as venue for seminars and outdoor activities not only for city officials and employees but also for the paying public.

Earlier, a local court ordered the eviction of Sinot as operator of the Asin hot spring resort and ordered him to pay the local government the amount of more than P800,000 in alleged accumulated rentals and surcharges for having operated the city-owned property over several decades now.

While the local government is awaiting the conduct of the bidding process, the City General Services Office was advised to hire job order personnel who will be assigned in the area to guard the swimming pool and other facilities within the Asin resort from being willfully used by the former operator and other people living in the area.

The Asin hot spring resort is one of the most frequented places in the nearby town of Tuba because of its therapeutic properties and it serves as rest and recreation area for local residents considering its proximity from the city, being 16 kilometers away from the city proper or 45-minute drive along paved roads.

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NEWS BRIEFS

Mt Province emergency responders given training

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council conducted basic incident command system training here at Ridgebrooke Hotel and Restaurant last week.

This was to enhance skills of emergency responders and increase effectiveness and minimize slip-ups during emergency operations.

Resource persons were from the Office of Civil Defense -Cordillera Administrative Region led by assistant regional director engineer Jose Ignacio Valera.

Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. expressed his gratitude for the training opportunity given to the province saying , “Through this training, capability on DRMM are enhanced. There is no better armor against any eventuality than being prepared. This training will further enhance our disaster preparedness as we strive for a disaster resilient Mountain Province,” he remarked.  -- Laycha K. Marra

Baguio minors to be prohibited from pawning

BAGUIO  CITY-- A Baguio  councilor wants that minors will be barred from pawning or selling items to pawnshops.

According to councilor Edgar Avila, he filed resolution prohibiting minors below 18 years old from pawning or pledging or transacting with any pawnshops in the city. He said this will help stop youth find accessibility to drug abuse.

In his explanation, the prevalence of drug and other substance abuse among today's youth has spawned different ways and means by which they can sustain their  habit. "Just so they can raise the money needed to purchase drugs, alcohol, or other dangerous substances, or simply to maintain a carefree lifestyle beyond what their ordinary school allowance can be provide, many young people go to the extent of pawning or pledging property of value, whether obtained from legal or illegal sources," Avila.

The councilor said that the present wording of Presidential Decree No. 114 or the "Pawnshop Regulation Act" contains no prohibition of minors from transacting with pawnshops. He added that in practice, there is a marked laxity among pawnshop owners and operators when extending loans for property pawned or pledged. -- Aldwin Quitasol

Abra TESDA opens training for dropouts 

PIDIGAN, Abra -- Many have flunked and quit school because they are poor in English or Math. However, language, number and other mind intelligence are not the only options to earn for a living today but more on possessing skills and developing them.

 Rodulfo Bragas, administrator of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Provincial Training Center here, said this, as he urged individuals to enroll in their training courses.

There are many adults who have not completed their basic education and out-of-school youth who wanted to go to school but are embarrassed to do so. Because of that, they are left with no choice but become low-wage workers over strenuous labor, he said.

“But that was before. Now they can come here in TESDA. Learn new skills, enroll in courses, go abroad and make money.”

He added they have produced many graduates in Automotive NC1 and NC2, Welding NC1 and NC2, Electrical Installation and Maintenance and others who are now in Australia, Canada and other regions.

With availability of the center’s facility and equipment, Bragas said they expect to produce 1,500 course completers this year and more in the coming years.

“The wealthiest people in the world today are known for their skills that they developed to the utmost. Some even were college dropouts. That is why we encourage people to enroll in TESDA,” Bragas said. -- Ginalyn B. Brioso

Ifugao town reconstitutes local peace, order council

LAGAWE, Ifugao  -- The local government unit here has reconstituted its municipal peace and order council.

Mayor Martin Habawel, Jr. said   the reassignmentand designation of members affected performance of the council.

“The reorganization of the MPOC is to ensure the operation, accomplishment and execution of programs and projects for the constant maintenance of public peace and order as well as the safety of the citizenry,” Habawel said.

The MPOC is chaired by the municipal mayor with the vice-mayor as vice-chairperson. Members are some heads of municipal offices, representatives from government and non-government offices, religious sectors, barangay captains, and Sangguniang Bayan committee chairperson on peace and order.

The MPOC is tasked to formulate plans and recommend measures that will improve or enhance peace and order, monitor the implementation of peace and order program and projects and the operation of civilian volunteers, self-defense organizations and other counter insurgency programs, among others. -- Marcelo B. Lihgawon

Baguio trash hauling getting more expensive

BAGUIO CITY -- Councilor  Peter Fianza urged waste segregation and recycling or re-using of non-biodegradable materials to reduce solid waste production in barangays and lessen city government expenses on hauling of waste.

Fianza stressed this during the public consultation on proposed legislations of Environment and Natural Resources sector with Councilors Elaine Sembrano, Lilia Fariñas, and Mylen Yaranon.

According to Fianza, the city waste generation stands at 140 to 150 tons per day, and the city government pays P1, 350 per ton for the tipping and transport of the generated solid waste.

That is why the city council is reiterating its call for every barangay to continue to reduce waste production and strengthen recycling efforts and advocacies in your respective localities, he said.

He said the city has no integrated solid waste management system yet and that the 10 – year Solid Waste Management Plan(SWMP) approved by the Solid Waste Management Commission is up for revisit. This he said did not pass through the Sangguniang Panlungsod and public consultation before it was submitted to the Commission.  He assured that all the proposals in the consultation will be taken into consideration when they revisit the city’s 10 – year SWMP. -- Carlito Dar

29 individuals donate blood in Mt Province

BONTOC, Mountain Province --  Twenty nine individuals recently donated   13,050 cc of blood to help save lives.

Veronica Tactay, Chapter administrator of Philippine Red Cross here, said 26 of the donors were extracted at the Sagada rural health unit and the other three at the Sadanga RHU.

Tactay said extracted blood was used by patients undergoing dialysis at the Bontoc General Hospital. The rest are stocked at the Red Cross office here.

The bloodletting activity was conducted by Philippine Red Cross – Mountain Province Chapter in partnership with the Provincial Health Office, Department of Health Provincial Office, Sagada and Sadanga RHUs, Bontoc General Hospital and the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital.

 The Red Cross is intensifying its advocacy on blood donation with the increase in the demand of blood by patients from the province who are confined at the provincial hospital   as well as confined in the different hospitals in Baguio and Benguet.

Red Cross volunteers are  scheduled   to conduct training on first aid, basic leadership, water and sanitation hygiene for elementary pupils in Catao and Bagabag elementary schools in Buringal, Paracelis on Sept. 19 – 30. -- Juliet B. Saley

NFA-Kalinga assures rice supply for typhoon months

TABUK CITY, Kalinga  --The National Food Authority assured sufficient rice buffer in Kalinga during the typhoon months.

Provincial assistant manager Ric Baliang reported their latest inventory showed current stock of 8,000 bags rice and 11,000 bags ready to mill palay which when milled would yield a total stock of 17,000 bags of rice.

The provincial station had earlier supplied rice to its more than 80 bigasan outlets in various strategic locations to ensure available and affordable quality rice to people in far-flung areas during the typhoon months, Baliang said. NFA rice sells at P27-32/kg.

Meanwhile, in line with its “calamity rice loan program” allowing local government units to make rice withdrawals for distribution during calamities, Baliang informed that the NFA has already signed a memorandum of agreement with some LGUs.  He reminded other LGUs to follow suit.

The move stemmed from disaster response evaluations that showed the need to earlier dispatch basic needs like food to far areas which may be isolated because of landslides and related risks due to typhoons. -- Larry T. Lopez

Baguio congressman files bill to raise SSS pension

BAGUIO CITY --  Rep. Mark Go  has filed House Bill 1853  which seeks to amend the1997 Social Security Act by increasing the current minimum pension from P1,200.00 to P3,200.00

Go said the bill was filed with the private sector retirees in mind, “so that they can cope with the high cost of living expenses against inadequate financial source.”   

“It is sad to note that since the enactment of RA 8282 in 1997, SSS pensioners have not received any significant pension hike that will augment the meager amount they currently receive as monthly pension for their food sustenance, and maintenance medicines, especially senior citizens,”  he  added.

The lawmaker said while he understands that the SSS administration worries about the “SSS fund’s actuarial life, the fact is that the current pension rate is measly and hardly enough to protect against the hazards of disability, sickness, death and other contingencies, which results to financial   burden.” The  actual value of the P1,200.00 per month SSS pension is worth only around P500  because of the inflation. 

Go said  SSS fund’s life can be protected by better fund management.

Bauko ecological solid waste board reconstituted

 BAUKO, Mountain  Province -- Mayor Abraham B. Akilit   reconstituted the Municipal Ecological Solid Waste Management Board (MESWMB) to enhance its programs.

The MESWMB is composed of the mayor as chairman. Members include engineer Domingo E. Pilpilen, Sanitary officer of the Luis Hora Memorial Regional Hospital; Councilor Susan B. Awisan, SB chair on environmental sanitation; ABC president Faustino Sili; municipal health officer, Dr. Samuel Masidong; agriculturist Carolyn Wandalen; planning and development coordinator Walter Dalang; engineer Alfredo Diano of  Municipal Engineer’s Office; Christopher Bosaing of provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and Archie Pakipac of the Municipal Sanitary Office.

Secretariat of the Board includes Irene Pangpangdeo of the Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Corrdinator and Archie Pakipac of the Rural Health Unit. -- Juliet B. Saley

CRSHS heads La Trinidad Inter-school  press confab

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The Cordillera Regional Science High School headed the first  La Trinidad inter-school campus press conference here  at CRSHS Sept. 17 to enhance journalistic competence and orient  campus writers on trends in campus journalism, Said event was dubbed SURAT (strengthening and upgrading journalistic skills of writers and advisers of Trinidad.)

Keynote speaker Karlston S. Lapniten, a Baguio-based Correspondent of CNN Philippines, urged the 96 participants to go online as 21st century campus journalists.

“Go online. Use social media to globally tell stories in your own perspective as campus journalists,” he said.

Lapniten urged participants to make their school publication present in the internet saying through this, more people and the whole world would read their stories.

In consonance with the theme “21st century writers: the catalyst of change,” Lapniten said campus writers are agents of change in their respective schools, community, or neighborhood. “This is because student writers are the torch bearers who will shed light on issues affecting their schools and communities.”

One-hour lectures and competitions on different journalistic events were held wherein seven public secondary schools in La Trinidad participated.

Daniel D. Peredo, CRSHS principal, suggested this event could be an annual activity among secondary schools in this strawberry-producing town, which the school paper advisers agreed upon during their meeting. --- Augustin  A.  Dao-anis

Kiangan LGU  strengthens  moral recovery  program

KIANGAN, Ifugao- - The municipal government here is strengthening   its moral recovery crogram (MRP) initially with orientation and planning workshop among barangay chaplains and service providers.

The government has embarked on the MRP to “recover the moral deterioration and redirect the people towards righteous governance and good citizenry adopting the core values of Makatao, Makabansa, Maka Dios and Makakalikasan.”

Facilitated by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and the Municipal Human Resource Office, the workshop was venue for participants to know more about MRP and to prepare their action plan.

MSWDO head Mario Indopia told participants the MRP has a two-pronged focus which are the clients in the barangay local government units (BLGUs) and other institutions and the service provider groups or the Municipal Chaplaincy.

Chaplain, as explained by lawyer Leticia Morales, is a person of any status designated by the government, the governor or the mayor to preach or bring the good news or moral recovery in designated areas.  Chaplaincy on the other hand is the extended ministry outside the four corners of a church and its focus is moral or deals with the words of God and not of church doctrines.

Chaplain Albert Ngitit presented the code of ethics which is purely biblical and culturally accepted ethics in which moral attitude and values should be incorporated in biblical teachings but not church doctrines.

Chaplain Roland Dimog expounded on the principles of counseling saying counselors should never dictate on what people should do but to come up with the best decision for themselves by bringing out the good in every individual. They should never let the counselee feel threatened and guilty but act as the model of the love and grace of Jesus Christ exemplified on earth and taught in the Bible.

The group made their action plan that includes regular conduct of Bible exhortation in the Sangguniang Bayan, BLGUs, police, general assemblies and other occasions such as the Nutrition Day, Family Day and others.

They will also conduct training for barangay councils and employees, orientation of ministers and workers on chaplaincy, officially include Bible exhortation during the Family Development Sessions of the 4Ps, Interfaith Prayer Gathering, quarterly get together or fellowship and continuous monthly chaplaincy meetings and education. -- Daniel B. Codamon

Bangued mayor urges public: Help solve garbage problem

BANGUED, Abra -- Mayor Dominic B. Valera urged cooperation and patience of residents in this capital town to help in solving grbage problem.

Valera said the local government closed the dumping site along Abra River bank in BarangayCalaba following complaints from local officials of Ilocos Sur of garbage being washed out downstream when the Abra River swells.

The mayor said the LGU is trying to work out for the establishment of a municipal dumpsite that would meet the standards of the DENR to prevent further hazards to the environment.

In the meantime, the LGU put a halt on garbage collection and asked the households and establishments to segregate their wastes and put up their own compost pits in their backyards and not to dump their garbage in the rivers and creeks. -- Maria Teresa B. Benas

Nat’l Food Showdown set Oct. 19-21 in Baguio 

BAGUIO CITY - - Mark your calendar and  prepare to come up to  this Summer Capital  to witness    the   country’s culinary experts as they   battle it out for the 2016 National Chef War in the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (HRT) Week  from  Oct.  19 to 21.

Hosted by the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Baguio (HRAB), this year’s HRT Week   will showcase the National Food Showdown. This will be highlighted by the Chef War wherein the best culinary experts from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will display their talents and skills before local and international food experts.

HRAB president and Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony De Leon, in media forum here, said the 2016 National Food Showdown is themed|  “Agree to agri: Putting our best food forward”   to showcase the country’s agricultural produce.

Aside from regular culinary competitions for students and professionals in the hotel, restaurant and tourism industry, other activities line up include Search for Mr. &Ms. HRAB 2016 and HRAB’s Got Talent, trade fair and expositions, jobs fair, seminars and other learning sessions that will be held in three venues namely, Baguio Country Club, CAP – John Hay Trade and Cultural Center and the Baguio Convention Center. 

De Leon said they expect around 10,000 visitors for the events. He said security and safety of the delegates will be among their top priority.

There is no lean season anymore here in Baguio, travel time is now much shorter that even weekdays people come up. It is a good sign of economic activity, showing the spending power of the different classes, he added. -- Carlito Dar

Sibud-Sibud Cave in Abra now under DENR program

TINEG, Abra -- The Sibud-Sibud Cave  in this upland town is one of the 39 caves in the Philippines placed under protection and management of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recently.

Saturnina Miguel of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office said an area receives protection from DENR for its recognizable beauty and natural and cultural reserves.  This is  necessary to preserve the caves so the public could enjoy them.

Sibud-Sibud Cave is found along the road of Tineng.  An ideal place for nature lovers, it can be reached after travelling a distance of around 33 kms.  

It is categorized as Class III since it is less explored and visited.  Accordingly, Class III caves may also be utilized for economic activities like extraction or collection of guano or bird’s nest.

The local government units and residents are looking forward to developing the premises of the  Sibud-Sibud Cave  and establishing physical amenities and public utilities for the comfort of tourists and spelunkers.

Economic activities are expected to grow like tour guiding and collection of bird’s nest which is sold to foreigners as souvenir. Guano or bird’s nest is also made as soup and home remedy for certain illness.

Sibud-Sibud Cave is a threshold to all other potential natural and wildlife sanctuaries in Abra deserving protection, stressed Miguel.  -- Ginalyn B. Brioso 

Japanese Suzu City officials visit Ifugao

BANAUE, Ifugao --  Five Japanese officials recently visited the province  to see for themselves  the landscapes and hear from the implementers and local stakeholders the best practices in facilitating sustainable development in the Globally Important Heritage Systems(GIAHS)  site of Ifugao .

Suzu City Mayor Masuhiro Izumiya accompanied by the City’s Planning and Financial Division Chief Naoyuki Kaneda, Masako Koinuma, the Director of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Ifugao Satoyama Meister Training Program (ISMTP) Project Leader Koji Nakamura and his associate Dr. Rizalina Edpalina, were welcomed at the Ifugao State University (IFSU) in Lamut with a program.

Mayor Izumiya said that although this was his first time to visit Ifugao, he heard great stories about the culture of the people and the scenic spots such as the Ifugao Rice Terraces.  

He commended the twinning project between the Ifugao and Japan GIAHS stakeholders and expects that the ISMTP would continue to foster stronger relationships between the province and Suzo City. He shared that his city, like Ifugao, is also faced with the challenge of a decreasing population due to outmigration of the younger generation in search of better future outside the place.

ISMTP is a joint undertaking of the IFSU under president Serafin Ngohayon, Kanazawa University of Japan, University of the Philippines-Open University, JICA and the Ifugao Provincial Government that envisions to help maintain the World Heritage Sites in the province by identifying endeavors that the people may embark and support scholars that will be trained to spearhead such endeavors.

The program that began in 2014 and will end this year. The scholars after their training here and in Japan will help empower the people in the heritage sites improve their quality of life by harmonizing heritage conservation, environmental preservation and economic activities.  

The group   visited Banaue as part of their two-day itinerary in the province.  In their tour of the town, Ifugao Governor Pedro Mayam-o related stories about the culture, agricultural practices of the Ifugaos while Mayor Jerry Dalipog admitted that the conservation of heritage sites to be successful really needs the common efforts of all stakeholders hence appreciated very much this joint endeavor with the ISMTP.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces is the only GIAHS site in the Philippines.  -- Daniel B. Codamon

Mayor allays fears on shift to solar vehicles

BAGUIO CITY -- The transport sector has nothing to be afraid about the proposed shift from gas or diesel-powered motor vehicles to solar powered vehicles as alternative mode of transport, said Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

The mayor told a media forum the city government is still testing capability of said alternative mode of transport in the city.

If the pilot test will generate positive results, “then the next step will be to look into the actual cost of the vehicle to determine its affordability for the benefit of the members of the transport sector,” he explained.

The city government has approved the request of the Glad to be Green group led by businesswoman Gladys Vergara-de Vera to pilot test the use of the solar-powered bus in the city for two months. 

This tests   the vehicle’s ability to maneuver in the mountainous terrain which will determine its possible areas of operation as it might have limitations especially with the very steep roads around the city. Also included in the on-going pilot test is a study on the affordability of solar-powered vehicles which is a main consideration prior to its use by certain members of the transport sector.

Accordingly, solar-powered vehicles do not emit smoke which will result to cleaner air for the City, which will result to better health for the public that will in turn translate to lesser expense in terms of keeping themselves healthy thus improving productivity and quality of life.

Domogan said that the acquisition of franchise will only be applicable when the study on the use of the solar power vehicle will have been proven feasible and beneficial.

Benguet overshootsrabies vaccination target

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- The free massive anti-rabies vaccination campaign in the province was successfully conducted even overshooting its target.

An interagency collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government and municipal local governments, the anti-rabies campaign led by the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian, started in March as part of Anti-rabies Awareness Month observance and extended until June.

Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Miriam Tiongan said they have exceeded the target of the dog population by 7.34 percent which is above the national target of 70% and the region’s target of 80%.

Of the total dog population of 35,069 in the 13 towns of the province, 30,628 dogs were vaccinated.

The capital town of La Trinidad had the highest number of dogs vaccinated with 6,479 out of the   7,652 dogs.

Other towns that had high rate of vaccination are   Bakun, Kapangan and Buguias.  

The campaign is aimed to eradicate rabies by 2020. Fortunately, no rabid dog case is recorded this year so far, Tiongan said.

The OPVet is still doing vaccination  but already with a minimal charge. The Office  is also continuously conducting information education and administering spay and neuter as a means of controlling dog population. -- Susan C. Aro

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Sleepy town rises; now an industrial estate

By Ceasar Perante

KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya — What used to be the idle upland village of Didipio, this town, has been transformed into a dynamic industrial estate. Locals here attribute this development to Australian mining firm, OceanaGold.

Mining service roads establish by the firm connects the village to the lowland and the rest of the world. This prompted many farmers to engage in large-scale farming since it is easier for them transport farm products. The roads literally opened business to the community.

Last year, OGPI was awarded the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award (PMIEA) for exhibiting outstanding level of dedication, initiative and innovation in pursuit of excellence in mining operations, environmental, safety, health management and community development.

“One of the most significant contributions to its host communities over and above the mandated requirements under the Philippine Mining Act is the Didipio Community Development Corporation (DiCorp) which was established Aug. 11, 2011 to assist the local community in creating sustainable business partnership among enterprising locals,” Gozar said further.

DiCorp Chairman Henry Guay informed that his community-based business enterprise composed of 391 genuine Didipio residents, employs some 372 local workers who offer services like food catering for the OGPI Operations and take charge in maintaining the 22-kilometer service road developed by the mining firm from Dibibi, Cabarroguis, Quirino to the Didipio mine site. DiCorp is one of the two top tax-payers in Nueva Vizcaya, next to OceanaGold.

“DiCorp is the best corporate partnership that binds original Didipio dwellers that provides services of world-class standards,” Guay said.

The Didipio Operations employs more than 2,000 mining employees and feed them daily for free from breakfast to dinner.

“We are now part of the big majority benefiting from the gold-copper project in the upland village in terms of job employment. My three girls are now employed. Two of them work for DiCorp and one works for the OGPI operations,” said Rev. Pastor Efren Bulawan of the Lifeway Bible Church.

Bulawan is a mining advocate who describes sustainable development in the upland village since the construction phase of the Didipio Operations.

The mining firm has sent a number of university scholars to college and some have already landed as professionals who are now connected with the company.

The OceanaGold Sustainable Agro-forestry Inc. (OGSAI), the mining firm’s agro-forestry arm has already reforested over 1,300 hectares of land, planted more than 300,000 trees and donated more than 500,000 seedlings in support of the National Greening Program.

“Now that the Didipio Mine is in full-swing, we want to push  sustainable environmental compliance with our advance rehabilitation programs and keep OceanaGold institutionalized as a ‘Green’ environment-friendly mining company,” said OGSAI Chairman Jose Leviste Jr.

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Indigenous People’s Month events in Cordillera slated

October is Indigenous Peoples Month and the Cordillera Administrative Region, the only IP-dominated region in the country, has set activities lined up for this year’s celebration with the theme “IPs’ empowerment towards peace, unity and development.”

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-CAR director Roland Calde bared this during media forum here Tuesday on “state of regional development.”

He invited the public to be part of the celebration coordinated by NCIP-CAR.

According to Calde who is also chairman of the Regional Development Council committee on IP concerns, one of the major highlights of the celebration is the Gong Festival which will be held Oct. 30 at the Baguio Convention Center. 

The activity will highlight cultural practices in CAR’s six provinces and proper indigenous attires in the region. 

Aside from participating in activities, government and private organizations are also urged to hang the IP Month banner in conspicuous areas in their offices,  wear  Cordillera-accented attires and sing the Cordillera hymn during office meetings and events.

Signed in 2009, Proclamation No. 1906 declared every October National Indigenous Peoples Month based on constitutional mandate of recognizing and protecting the rights of indigenous cultural communities.  – Ming Gendaq

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21st National Press Congress slated in Tagaytay Dec. 2-3

By Jessica M. Bacud

Preparations are underway for the 21st National Press Congress, mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. 1187 and slated December 2-3 this year at the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City.

The 2-day annual media event under the auspices of the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI), will tackle issues related to the contemplated shift to federalism from the present presidential form of government.

Its theme is “The stakes and prospects of the community media under a federal government set-up.”

Among the topics up for discussion by experts are: Types of federal governments: Which model best suits the Filipino orientation?; Significant  differences in structural organization and political dynamics between the presidential and federal government systems; Inclusive growth prospects in a federal government set up; and 4) Opportunities for the community media under a federal government regime.

PAPI president Nelson Santos said they have opted to hold this year’s media congress at the DAP in Tagaytay City to provide its participants a good and absorptive learning atmosphere and ensue conviviality among them since the event is also a cherished delightful homecoming among community media players.

Santos said Tagaytay City is a haven for vacationists and tourists on account of its cool air and breath-taking sceneries, with Taal Lake and Taal Volcano in Batangas seemingly just a stone’s throw away.

 Tagaytay’s other inviting tourism assets include its People’s Park in the Sky situated on top of Mt. Sungay, Cavite’s highest elevation point; Tagaytay Picnic Grove, Tierra de Maria which is famous for its 50-foot tall giant statue of the Virgin of Manaoag; Museo Orlina; and Paradizoo which combines the charm of a farm and a mini-zoo.

 Regular participants in PAPI’s annual National Press Congress are its regular and associate members including community newspaper publishers, media executives, editors, broadcasters, reporters, public information and media relations officers, campus journalists and other communicators. For Inquiries pls call 5251990, 5274252 loc. 18, 09178498730 or 09278566977 email phpublisher74@gmail.com

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