Kalinga projects on in ‘NPA barangays’

PINUKPUK, Kalinga – There are 16 barangays in Kalinga according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Due to this, government through “Pumiyaan” anti-poverty convergence project is initially implementing projects and services in four municipalities infiltrated by the NPA in the province.

These include improvement of the Catabbogan-Wagod road and completion of the Wagod vehicular bridge to pave way for economic activities for residents of this municipality where five of its barangays are NPA- influenced.

                These infrastructure projects also directly benefit the municipality of Balbalan where six of its barangays are NPA-affected,  as  the road traverses  that direction forming a circumferential road to connect  Balbalan and Pinukpuk with Apayao via Conner, Cagayan via Tuao, Abra and the rest of Kalinga.

                The Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earmarked P50 million for the continuation of the concreting of said road by Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office and another P50M also for the same purpose in the Upper Kalinga District Engineering Office side.

                The road link was also proposed by Rep. Allen Jesse Mangaoang in Congress as a national highway to be named the Abra-Kalinga-Apayao road to ensure its completion, regular funding and maintenance.

                 DPWH also implemented two flood control projects in Ammacian, another two are on-going in Wagod while one was completed in Apatan, all in Pinukpuk.

                The Dept. of Science and Technology trained members of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina members in Ba-ay, Pinukpuk on coffee and cacao processing in partnership with the local government unit.

DOST also provided Starbooks to the Balbalan Agricultural and Industrial School (BAIS) and Balbalan Central School where many of the students come from the NPA-affected barangays. A 4-weeks review on science scholarship examination was also conducted at BAIS.

Another kiosk or e-library was also established in Guina-ang, an affected barangay in Pasil.   DOST also distributed 120 packs of complementary food to Maling.

                The municipalities of Balbalan and Pasil were  also awarded each P2.6M under the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Hanapbuhay Para sa Ating Disadvantaged program where residents are employed for 10 days with P320 wage per day.

On the part of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Provincial Fisheries Office, 28 individual small fishpond owners in 7 of the 16 affected barangays were given tilapia fingerlings.

To deter NPAs from infiltrating other communities, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) conducted training on manicure, pedicure and basic hair cutting to female members and organic mushroom production to male members of the Ballayangon Farmers Association. Ballayangon  is a  land-locked barangays in Pinukpuk  surrounded by NPA-influenced neighbors.

Early next year, TESDA will conduct training on coffee processing, packaging and labeling including provision of equipment. Coffee production is a major livelihood of the people in those insurgency-affected villages.

A training on masonry will also be conducted at Poblacion with some participants coming from those influenced barangays. Coordination is on-going with other barangays to plan out the conduct of some more trainings on other technical-vocational courses.

Plastic crates and net materials will also be given to the Balbalan Orange Growers. Balbalan is famous for its sweet native “gayunan”.

There are 16 NPA-influenced/less influenced barangays in Kalinga according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. In Balbalan are Mabaca, Poswoy, Balantoy (Sitio Ligayan), Gawaan, and Ababa-an; Pinukpuk are Ba-ay, Apatan, Ammacian (Bonnong), Wagod (Bonnong), and Limos; Lubuagan are Western Uma, Upper Uma, Lower Uma and Tanglag; in Pasil is Guina-ang; and Tabuk City is Dupag. Influenced are Mabaca, Poswoy and Tanglag. The rest are less influenced. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)

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Mountain Province among high complying LGUs in road clearing operations

BONTOC, Mountain Province —  The   municipal  government  units  in the province implemented the   presidential directive to clear all public  roads  in their jurisdictions  of obstructions  making  Mountain Province   among the high complying provinces  nationwide  based on the assessment released by the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government.

With all the ten LGUs complying, the province has 100 percent compliance rate. LGUs are rated with high compliance if   91-100% of   their primary and secondary were cleared as validated by a validation team led by DILG.

                 In the province, DILG Provincial Director Anthony Manolo Ballug led the Provincial Validation Team   composed of Mountain Province Police Provincial Office (MPPPO),   Bureau of Jail Management and Penology,   Bureau of Fire Protection   and the Philippine Information Agency. 

The team focused their   validation on five major areas - the presence of municipal ordinance on road clearing and banning of illegal constructions; presence of inventory of national, provincial, municipal and barangay roads; roads (including sidewalks) are cleared of obstruction, illegal structures, and illegally parked vehicles; implementation of displacement strategies (if any or applicable), and the rehabilitation of recovered public roads (to include greening and beautification).

During the validation, the concerned municipal monitoring team and some local officials and department heads of the municipal offices joined the provincial validation team.

Common   obstructions which LGUs were faced with and have to clear were aggregates and junked vehicles along the road and   structures that encroached along the road or sidewalks .There were also some electric posts that encroached along the road and the sidewalks.  

For the illegally parked vehicles, n the municipalities of Bauko and Paracelis, the chief executives authorized their local policemen to issue tickets and confiscate plate numbers .

In the municipalities of Barlig, Besao, Sagada, Sadanga and Sabangan, the representatives from the Land Transportation Office (LTO)   and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) issued tickets and confiscated plate numbers of illegally parked vehicles, motors and tricycles.

In the capital town of Bontoc, representatives from LTO, HPG and the Bontoc Traffic Task Force issued tickets and confiscated plate numbers of illegally vehicles, motors and tricycles.

Personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Bontoc Water District and  PNP helped in the clearing of road obstructions such as aggregates, steel, mixer, and stones along the roads.   

After the road clearing validation  in each of the municipality was the conduct of an exit conference  where  Ballug explained that  the road clearing activities do  not mean that it will end after September 30 as   this is just the deadline  the DILG  has given in its  Memorandum Circular No. 2019-121  for mayors to comply with the presidential directive . Road clearing is not only on roads but it includes sidewalks, widening blocks and shoulders. Anything that is put on these is illegal.   

“I hope this is not a ningas cogon, hopefully the cleared roads will be sustained. This will be the primary responsibility of the organized Municipal Monitoring Team to conduct regular monitoring to sustain the road clearing activities,” Ballug said.  

He also asked the local municipal police stations to sustain the monitoring. This should become a routinary patrol on their part until such time the information will sink in the minds of the people.

The responsibility of barangay officials is also to monitor roads in their area of responsibility. We should all participate in this endeavor, he added.

Ballug suggested to all the LGUs to amend their traffic code to include roads management which can be titled as traffic and roads management ordinance. He also    suggested    to include in their ordinance an impounding area where they will put vehicles that are confiscated; parking area; flow of traffic; route plan; designated events area or market area to accommodate small vendors not on the road because roads are not meant for business; a 10-minute or 15-minute emergency parking for loading or unloading and it should not go beyond 15 minutes; road clearing; road safety; and provisions  on no encroachment of sidewalks for business purposes, no encroachment of roads for structures, and provision of displacement even if it is not applicable at the moment; then the penalties.

“Our enemy in road clearing and other clearing activities is the attitude of the people, it is not really the vehicles or the obstructions. Our immediate goal is to clear the road and our ultimate goal is to instill discipline in our people’’ Ballug said.

Interviewed residents are thankful to President Duterte for directing the local governments nationwide to clear the roads.

“ Now, we have clear roads. Vehicles, motors and tricycles are no longer allowed to park on the road and vendors are not allowed to sell their goods at the sidewalks. We hope that this will be sustained not just for a short period,” they said. (JDP/JBS-PIA Mt. Province)  

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Cordi cops ordered: Up ops vs illegal small-scale mining

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — The Police Regional Office – Cordillera ordered police to strictly intensify operations against illegal small-scale mining activities in the region as the stop order issued by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu last year remains in effect.

Cordillera police director Brig. General Ephraim Israel Dickson said Cordillera police, in coordination with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau – Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, should strengthen their campaign and operation against all illegal small scale mining operations which is still being done covertly.

Recently, the Philippine Military Academy Headquarters Support Group apprehended and brought to the Tuba Municipal Police Station at least four individuals for small scale mining activities at Basa, Camp 6, Camp 4 in Tuba, Benguet while patrolling the area.

At least 30 sacks of gold ore including mining equipment were also confiscated from the four.

                The Itogon Municipal Police Station earlier arrested four individuals who were caught in the act of illegally processing gold at Goldfield, Poblacion, Itogon.

MGB-CAR Mine Management Division Chief Engineer Alfredo Genetiano reported during the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee meeting  that  technically, there is only one legal small scale mine in the Cordillera region but  is not yet in operation and all other small scale mining operation are illegal.

The Benguet Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board approved and gave a permit to the Minahang Bayan applied by the Loacan Itogon Pocket Miners Association (Lipma) in Loacan, Itogon.

However, the   group cannot operate yet since they are still applying for an Environmental Compliance Certificate which will be issued by the DENR, he explained.

MGB Legal Officer Francisco Bilog said police do not need to be deputized to conduct operations and even arrest those involved in small scale mining operations since the activities are illegal in nature.

Genetiano thanked the Cordillera cops and other law enforcement agencies who have been actively conducting activities to monitor and stop operation of illegal small scale mines in the region.

In September last year, Environment Secretary Cimatu banned small-scale mining activities in Cordillera after a massive landslide triggered by Typhoon Ompong killed more than 100 people, mostly pocket miners, in Itogon.

                The National Task Force Mining Challenge composed of PNP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement, government agencies and even local government units had been established to crack down on illegal mining operations. — JDP/RMC- PIA CAR

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Baguio sets demolition of illegal waterway structures

By Julie G. Fianza

BAGUIO CITY – Notices have been given to constituents in different barangays for the recovery of river and tributaries’ easement, Mayor Benjamin Magalong said in his 100th day report during the city hall flag raising ceremonies last week.

These were issued to owners of structures encroached on waterways in Camp 7 and Brookside barangays based on inspections conducted in the said areas.

We continue to recover the three-meter easement, mayor said. An assessment can be done however if two meters can be considered, depending on the situation.

In an earlier management committee meeting, the issue of ownership for titled residential areas which are uninhabitable due to naturally redirected water flow cropped up.

These it was known, are then considered as public domain.

               Three-meter river easements which are public lands with illegal structures,

 face outright demolition.

                The move is part of the administration’s 15-point agenda in revitalizing the environment, especially river ways, hounded by reports of high Coliform level as measured by the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources.

               A second notice may be given after several days, or if occupants voluntarily demolish their illegal structure.

The City Buildings and Architecture Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office and the City Engineering Office were directed by Mayor Magalong to start the process of removing illegal structures to start at Camp 7 and Brookside barangays. Coordination, however with punong barangays of said barangays should be done.

                A champion team on the protection of rivers, waterways and sewer lines was formed headed by Engr. Stephen Capuyan of the CBAO and composed of personnel from the three offices.

Inspection is systematized and the eviction procedures and will employ due process, CEPMO head Diwas said.

The campaign covers all rivers and their tributaries particularly Sagudin-Balili, Galiano, Bued, and Ambalanga rivers.

               “We aim to revitalize our rivers by sustaining not only the clean-up but also the clearing them of encroachments that contribute to their pollution,” Diwas said.

               He said the easements have to be free of incursions as these will later be used in the expansion and upgrading of its sewerlines.

Apart from Camp 7 and Brookside, target barangays of the clearing will be Gibraltar, Trancoville and others traversed by the rivers and their tributaries where encroachments are rampant.

             The revitalization of the environment is one of the priorities of this administration’s 15-point agenda.

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54% Abra youth for Cordillera autonomy in mock plebiscite

By Marlo Lubguban

BANGUED, Abra – Students of this capital town participated in a mock plebiscite where 54 percent voted in favor of Cordillera autonomy. 

The voting was held when the national Economic Development Authority Cordillera in partnership with the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government gathered college and senior high school students of Bangued for a one-day forum on Cordillera autonomy and infographics workshop here on Oct. 22.

Philip Tingonong, CCAGG chairman and Cordillera autonomy advocate, discussed the legal basis for the region’s pursuit of autonomy and Abra’s historic role in this.

Michael Paredes of the Divine World College later shared the basics and tips on creating infographics.

Tingonong, also a private sector representative of the Regional Development Council Cordillera, said failure of the past two attempts at Cordillera autonomy was due to a lack of information dissemination.

He said proper information dissemination is key in helping people decide and that the RDC is focused on educating Cordillerans on regional autonomy.

“Infographics is more about the information and less about the graphics,” said Paredes, who lectures at the Divine World College on Information Technology.

Paredes cited importance of combatting misinformation in the age of the internet.

The students created infographics themed Cordillera autonomy, its history, core concepts and salient features.

They learned to transform the knowledge they acquired during the discussion into visual graphics, NEDA officials said.

It was reportedly an exercise on how much they understood the topic and on how well they can communicate them.

One of the students discussed Cordillera autonomy as they understood it and said, “Regional autonomy makes it easier to spread socio-economic development especially to the poorer sectors and marginalized people in the community.”

Bangued is a priority municipality of the Regional Development Council for information, education, and communication. This is based on the 2017 Pulse survey on Cordillera autonomy which showed that awareness on the advocacy in the municipality was low.

The NEDA-CAR engages partners in both the private and government sector to raise awareness and gain support for Cordillera autonomy.

The youth sector is one of the top priorities for information, education, and communication-based on the priorities under the RDC Cordillera autonomy communication plan 2019-2022.

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Tarlac City gets ‘Seal of good governance award’

By Nelson Bolos

TARLAC CITY — The Dept. of Interior and Local Government  announced that this city, for the first time, will be awarded the “Seal of Good Local Governance” (SGLG).

SGLG is “meticulous performance evaluation” conducted annually by the DILG to all local government units, towns, cities and provinces.

The evaluation covers “3 core or basic aspects and 3 essential elements on local government management” foremost of which is the “good financial housekeeping”.

                It was launched in 2010 by the late DILG secretary Jessie Robredo as a “means to deter LGU officials from mismanaging their finances and minimize graft and corruption and to professionalize the administration of local gorvernance”.

“When I took over in 2016, the city financial condition is a big mess. The fiscal deficit is more than P103 Million, loans payable around P600 Million, tax collection is very low, assets of the city are not earning and many were ‘sold out’ thru irregular contracts. Many records are missing. Funds are released for other purpose without the approval from the SP (Sanggunian Panlungsod). Basic services to the people are not adequately provided, etc, etc. Thus we worked very hard to correct the total mismanagement of the city”, said Mayor Cristy Angeles, the first ever lady mayor of the city.

Reports say the administration of former mayor Gelacio Manalang obtained P587 Million loan from banks a big portion of which was used in the renovation of the Uptown Public Market.

“Saan ka naman nakakita na ang pambili ng electric fans ng munisipyo inutang sa bangko at ang halaga ng isang buckhoe-loader P14.7 Million”, commented a barangay official on Manalang administration who requested to be anonymous.

According to the Commission on Audit (COA) 2016 Report, Manalang has almost P30 million disbursement disallowances or questionable expenses.    

The budget reportedly allotted for financial assistance to senior citizens, scholarship funds, Philhealth card for indigents, among others, were diverted to other purposes without the approved re-alignment resolution from the SP.

“We are very proud of the SGLG award. This is the fruit of decent, prudent and corruption-free management of the city today”, said lawyer Joselito Castro.

Castro, the chief of the city legal office, led the filing of several cases in courts against the “anomalous contracts” executed during the previous administration and a corruption case against Manalang among which is the petition to invalidate the “onerous” lease contract of Paliparan Central Market Corporation over the Uptown Market.

                The SGLG award makes an LGU eligible to avail of special projects and programs funded by the national government.  Meaning, LGUs without SGLG are not allowed to be recipients of some national projects.

“The SGLG award is proof that we are in the right track. Now we are able to provide more services to the people and more projects and programs without resorting to loans. The employees of the city are now much more responsive and professional. But we shall still strive to be more efficient, prudent and competent to better serve the city populace”, added the feisty lady mayor.

According the local DILG office, the formal awarding of SGLG will be held on November 5.

Last year only six towns of the province’s 18 LGUs were awarded the SGLG.

This year nine Tarlac LGUs were SGLG recipients: Tarlac City, Gerona, Moncada, Sta. Ignacia, Capas, Pura, San Clemente, San Jose and Victoria.

A DILG notice says “national recognition plus a higher cash awards, to finance development projects, await SGLG recipients.”

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P1.6-B Isabela road to open soon

By Leander Domingo

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela — With the opening of the more than P1.6-billion Ilagan-Divilacan Road, the coastal towns of Isabela will no longer be considered isolated from the rest of Luzon, according to Gov. Rodolfo Albano 3rd.

Albano said the road

 project, which is nearing its completion, will be fully opened to all types of motorists by early 2020 to connect Cagayan Valley (Region 2) and the rest of Northern Luzon to the Isabela’s coastal towns of Maconacon, Divilacan,

 Palanan and Dinapigue.

He added that a very small percentage of the 82-kilometer road project WAS being completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 2 with final touches.

“The construction of this road project which is expected to be completed earlier than scheduled will certainly boost the economy of the coastal areas in our province,” Albano said.

The DPWH in Region 2 said the road that passes through the foothills of the 359,486-hectare Northern Sierra Madre mountain ranges will connect Ilagan City to the coastal towns of Isabela.

The road starts in Barangay Cabisera 10 and Barangay Sindon Bayabo in Ilagan City and ends in Dicatian village in Divilacan.

The road project has improved the old logging road that then Acme Logging Corp. used until the 1990s. The road construction started in March 2016 and was expected to be completed in four years.

“Once fully opened to all types of motorists, we will expect a boost in the economies of the towns of Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan and Dinapigue including the whole province of Isabela,” Albano said.

Earlier, former Isabela Third District representative Napoleon Dy, brother of former governor Faustino Dy 3rd, now the vice governor, has questioned the construction of the Ilagan-Divilacan road due to alleged overpricing with P39 million allotted for every kilometer.

Despite a case pending with the Ombudsman, the road project is all systems go and will soon officially open to facilitate transportation of goods and services to and from Ilagan City and other parts of the province and the Cagayan Valley region.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry, prices of commodities in said coastal areas have already dropped because of ease of access as a result of the construction of the said road project.|

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Mt Prov bags nat’l accounting award; Bontoc,Bauko, Besao, Sadanga win LGU category

BONTOC, Mountain Province — Once again, the Provincial Accounting Office of Mountain Province was awarded one of the nation’s Outstanding Government Accounting Office by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines, Incorporated (AGAP, Inc.) during the week-long AGAP convention held at the Atrium of Limketkai Center, Limketkai Drive, Cagayan de Oro City last Oct. 23.

In 2018, the PAccO of Mountain Province LGU was the lone awardee from Cordillera and one among the only three PLGU-awardees nationwide which also included the provinces of Albay and Quirino. 

This year, the PLGU-MP was once again one of three awardees under the PLGU category, together with the provinces of Quirino and Albay.  Mountain Province and Quirino garnered their second win while Albay got its third straight win.

The PLGU MP was joined by four municipal LGU awardees: Bontoc, Bauko Besao and Sadanga. Bauko was accorded its second AGAP award while Bontoc LGU has now entered the AGAP Hall of Fame with the latter bagging its third award this 2019.

“We are very happy and proud that all awardees from CAR are from Mountain Province. We hope that other LGUs in the province will be with us next year,” Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. said.

In his message, Commission on Audit Commissioner Roland C. Pondoc said that only 41 out of 45 nominees nationwide made it to this national awards.

He added only 41 out of 45 nominees nationwide made it to the national awards after having been able to comply with standards set by AGAP, Inc. The criteria included: 1. Accuracy;

2. Timeliness; 3. Compliance to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and other COA Rules and Regulations; and

4. Rendition of an Unqualified/ Unmodified Opinion on the Financial Reports by the Auditor.

According to AGAP, Inc. president Tina Rose Marie L. Canda, the selection was based from the accounting offices’ financial reports for the Fiscal Year 2018.

Awardees received their respective plaques of recognition donned by COA and AGAP, Inc. officials.

Meanwhile, Provincial Accountant Theodore B. Marrero acknowledged the efforts of the staff of the Provincial Accounting Office.

He said that their collective efforts in maintaining high professional standards in the workplace was very essential for the award.

“We will maintain that high professional and ethical standard and will aim for the same award as we continue improving our services,” Marrero said. — NDRA

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Baguio public cemetery congested; dead’s stay in burial lots set 5 years

BAGUIO CITY – The City Environment and Parks Management office (CEPMO) admitted the city’s 9-hectare public cemetery along Naguilian road is already congested and the city government continues to explore  measures for operation of the same as burial site.

Engineer Nico Parado of the CEPO, said aside from encouraging relatives of dead persons to use the condo-tombs for repositing the remains of their loved ones, the city government is now mandating them to sign waivers that the rental of the lot where their loved ones will be buried will only be for five years.

After the expiration of the 5-year period, Prado said relatives of the dead will have the option to renew the agreement, or take the bones of their love ones and have it placed in a bone vault, among other measures to free the area for use of others as burial site.

He said a programs of the city government is to have a detailed survey on the actual number of the dead buried in the public cemetery and input the same to a geographic information system to enhance the city’s database on the real number of dead people buried in the city’s largest public cemetery.

The city government is also working out the development of the access road leading to the proposed expansion site of the public cemetery on a 4,000-square meter property purchased by the city over two decades ago to prevent the further congestion inside the existing cemetery.

Based on the data retrieved by the CEPMO from relevant offices of the city government, there are more or less 11,000 dead that are buried in the public cemetery since year 2000 with an average of 4 dead being buried in the cemetery every month and still counting.

Parado said the city government continues to explore doable interventions for implementation in the city public cemetery to ensure its continuous operation amidst the congestion while efforts are being done to start using the expansion site adjacent to the existing public cemetery and for people to use the condo-tombs or the cremation of the bodies of their departed love ones.

Parado said there are over 2,000 square meters in the public cemetery that can still accommodate burials while only 25 percent of the existing condo-tombs have been used up, there is still available limited space in the city’s public cemetery.

The previous administration had been looking for other suitable areas outside the existing public cemetery to serve as the new site of another public cemetery but the same was not realized considering the limited land that is available within the jurisdiction of the city, thus, the need to explore other available areas outside Baguio but within nearby areas in Benguet. — Dexter A. See 

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Ifugao forms prov’l task force vs commie forces

LAGAWE, Ifugao – A provincial task force was recently formed to end communist insurgency in Ifugao.

              The Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) was formed after the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Development Council (PDC) recently passed Joint Resolution No. 2019-01 forming the PTF-ELCAC that will implement Executive Order No.70  or the  administration’s  Whole-of-Nation approach  to end the long running to end the long running  conflict between the government and the communist terrorists groups  in the country.

“Whole of the National approach addresses the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions, and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government,” the resolution stated.

The PTF-ELCAC is chaired by the governor and commanding officer of the 54th Infantry Battalion as the vice chairperson.

Members are the provincial directors/heads of 19 government offices and two non-government organizations in the province.

                The task force  will take  the lead in localization of the 12 clusters/lines of effort and the implantation of provincial plans in coordination with the relevant national government agencies, local government units, civil society and other stakeholders guided by the whole-of-nation approach driven National Peace Framework.

                It will ensure compliance to the monitoring and evaluation system provided by the Regional TF and implement the same at the municipal level to help track performance and analyze results for continuity or improvement; provide technical assistance to MTF-ELCAC as needed and to perform other functions.

It  is tasked to ensure the creation of Municipal Task Force which will complement E.O No. 70 and organize ad hoc inter-agency and multi-sectoral clusters, councils, committees and groups at the provincial level mirroring the 12 clusters/lines of effort. (JDP/MBL- PIA CAR, Ifugao)

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PMA cadet dies of cancer

BAGUIO CITY - A cadet passed away on Monday due to serious illness, the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) said here at Fort Del Pilar.

PMA spokesman Capt. Cheryl Tindog confirmed the passing of Cdt. 2nd Class Cedrick Gadia who succumbed to a stage 4 esophageal cancer with liver and lung metastasis. Gadia, 23, died at 5:15 a.m. on Monday at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Medical Center in Quezon City.

He was first admitted at the Fort del Pilar Station Hospital on August 29. On September 5 he was transferred to the AFP Medical Center for further treatment where he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. “PMA is deeply saddened for this unfortunate loss and extend our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Cdt. 2CL Gadia,” Tindog said in a statement.

Gadia’s remains will be brought to Candon, Ilocos Sur. “We will continue to assist him and his family to accord one of our own sons and members of the AFP with the due honor that befits him,” Tindog added.

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Huge 12 parking buildings in city parks, lots to ease traffic

Metro Manila developers propose plans

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The city government is planning to put up twelve parking structures in prime areas of the city to address increasing number of motor vehicles and ease worsening traffic jams, especially in the central business district.

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong said the city government is planning initial three huge parking structures in strategic areas of the city to jumpstart the proposed additional private and public parking structures to address the parking needs of residents and tourists.

He added that developers of big parking terminals in Metro Manila have already signified their intention to build some of the city’s proposed parking terminals outside the central business district area to help decongest the city proper by bringing to the outskirts some of the parking terminals.

Aside from the proposed parking structures in the Ganza pay parking site, the old city auditorium and the Baguio Athletic Bowl, other sites where the parking structures are proposed include the back of the Baguio Convention Center, the existing property of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the Slaughterhouse Compound, a private property in Irisan, a portion of the ceded property to the city government in the Baguio Dairy Farm, the proposed 8-storey city hall expansion building and some private properties within the central business district area.

The construction of multi-level parking structures has been a long-standing proposal of the city government and some sectors to help address the worsening traffic congestions around the city, especially the central business district area, but the areas where the parking structures will be erected had been a major hindrance to the realization of the project in the previous years.

The city government is contemplating to undertake the construction of the parking structures through public-private partnership (PPP) as the city does not have sufficient funds to simultaneously implement the said projects aside and there are several private companies  interested to partner with the city for the construction of parking structures in strategic areas in the city.

Based on the data obtained from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Baguio City field office, there are already over 64,000 private and public motor vehicles that are registered in the city and these  contribute to daily traffic congestions in major roads aggravated by the inadequate parking spaces.

The put up of parking structures in strategic areas in the city is one of the programs, projects and activities of the city government to implement the present administration’s 15-point collective agenda on aggressive traffic management. 

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14 nabbed for drugs; P780-K marijuana confiscated in Cordi

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Fourteen persons were arrested while P780,000 worth of marijuana leaves were confiscated by police in the Cordillera on Oct. 21 to 25.

The regional police office based here at Camp Dangwa bared this saying in Baguio City, seven individuals were separately arrested in buy-bust operations. 

On Oct. 21, Roderick Corpuz Carisma was arrested beside the skating rink at Burnham Park, Legarda Road while Ariel Malabed Pescador, 19, was arrested along Mission Road, Bakakeng Central. 

Misuari P. Bara-acal aka Opaw, 39, was arrested along Sunshine Park on Oct. 23.

The following day, Jhon Carlo Abuan Caridad Aka Carlo Jay Carreon, 25, and Jomar Hermosa Villanueva, 26, were arrested along Access Road, Old Lucban, Happy Homes.

Three more drug suspects were separately apprehended on Oct. 25.

They were identified as Christopher Agilando, who was arrested at MH Del Pilar, Burnham Legarda, while Jomar Navarro Gamboa and Kenneth Marana Natividad were arrested along Paraan Street, Barangay Victoria Village.

                Five sachets of suspected shabu, P4,000 buy-bust money, P2,000 boodle money, drug paraphernalia, and Yamaha Mio motorcycle were confiscated from the suspects.

                In La Trinidad, Benguet, police caught Ryan Cabinta Lino in Barangay Puguis on Oct. 21 while Carmenchu Milagros Salvador, a.k.a. “Cheche” was arrested at Galiega Building.

In Buguias, Benguet, Alfredo Milagros Salvador, Jr. a.k.a. “Bojong” was arrested at Zandro Bentadan Building in Barangay Abatan during implementation of search warrant on Oct. 22, 2019.

Fourteen sachets of suspected shabu, P1,000 cash and drug paraphernalia were seized from the possession of said suspects.

Meanwhile, three more individuals were arrested in the provinces of Ifugao and Kalinga. 

Two Eritrean national students identified as Saffi Mohamednur, 28, presently residing at Veraville, Las Pinas City and Negash Abede Natnael, 23, a resident of Leveriza St., Asiawealth, Pasay City were both arrested at Poblacion West, Lamut, Ifugao on Oct. 22.

Jovenal Linggayo Banisal was arrested in Purok 2, Bulanao Norte, Tabuk City, Kalinga on Oct. 25.

Confiscated from the possession of the two foreigners were 6.5 kilos of dried marijuana leaves 6.5 valued at P780,000.

Two plastic sachets containing suspected shabu and P2,000 buy bust money were seized from Banisal.

                Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson said that these were the result of crackdown on illegal drugs in the region. “This should serve as a stern warning to all other persons who continuously involve themselves in illegal drugs. The police regional police will not stop arresting all drug suspects or violators.”

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Gunmen in slay of ex-PNP officer in Ilocos unknown

By Mar T. Supnad

STA MARIA, Ilocos Sur – Police said they are still trying to identify  suspects who shot dead a 61-year-old policeman here in broad daylight  afternoon of Oct. 22 along the Poblacion highway.

Police identified the victim as Reynaldo D. Castro, retired PNP officer and resident here of Barangay Baliw Laud.

Investigation conducted by the police disclosed the victim was sitting at the west bound lane of said provincial road when he was shot successively by unidentified suspects.

The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds on parts of his body and was rushed by his son Ryan Castro to Ilocos Sur District Hospital in Narvacan town but was pronounced dead by the attending physician.

The incident was immediately flashed to nearby PNP stations for the conduct of dragnet operation to arrest suspects.

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Ban on vs entry of pigs, pork products in MP

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province - Following the prevalence of African swine fever (ASF) that caused the death of hogs in north central Luzon, a temporary ban was declared on the entry of live swine, fresh and frozen pork and products in the Province.

Executive Order No 21 by Provincial Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan ordered the temporary prohibition of entry of live swine and swine products “until such time that a declaration is made by the Bureau of Animal Industry, Department of Agriculture of the assurance of the safety of the swine industry.”

Said EO enjoined the Provincial VeterinaryOffice,Provincial   Disaster   Risk    Reduction   and   Management   Office, Municipal   Mayors, Department of Trade and Industry and Philippine National Police to strictly enforce the quarantine control protocols and food safety measures.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture imposed a temporary ban on the entry of pork coming from various countries as one of the strategies to prevent the introduction of the ASF virus in the country. Malacañang has directed all government agencies to implement measures to manage, contain and control the transmission of ASF.

This, as DA officers confiscated some samples of an undisclosed brand of processed meat products of hotdog, tocino and longganisa tested positive for ASF.

The ASF has not been proven to be harmful to humans, though humans who eat swine infected with ASF could be carriers of the virus.

ASF has caused the death of a number of pigs especially in the north-central provinces of Quezon City, Rizal, Bulacan and Pangasinan.

Hogs hit with the deadly ASF virus causes hemorrhagic fever among pigs and could kill the country’s swine industry as there is yet no known cure for it.

In Sagada, entry of pork products and live pigs is banned in the municipality here to protect the public and local hog growers from economic losses.

Sagada mayor James Pooten Jr in Executive Order No 56-19 said only those with veterinary health clearances and shipping permits that have specific actual dates of delivery issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry quarantine services will be allowed entry.

In a related resolution, the Sangguniang Bayan of Sagada called for the public to avoid purchasing fresh pork, frozen foods made of pork coming from outside of the municipality and protect the local swine industry.

Avoidance include the non-purchase of ‘etag’ with machine-cut slices.

It shall be recalled that pork purchased from Baguio had been a point of complaint from some etag retailers that some etag sold in the market are made from pork purchased from Baguio thus harming the local swine industry of the town.

Said resolution was forwarded to barangay officials for their immediate information and the municipal mayor for his executive order to implement the same.

This, as comments from netizens asked for implementing rules and penalties on violations such as confiscation and establishment of check points.

Sagada resident Florence Umaming asked for the need of check points to regulate entries of questioned pork goods.

Sagada is entered via four road-entrance-exit points namely the Dante Sagada Road from the Bontoc-Baguio Road, Balili-Suyo Road from the Bontoc- Baguio Road, Sabangan-Sagada Road from the SAbangan-Bauko Road and the Besao Sagada road via Nakawang-Tadian Road. This emphasizing the need for joint municipal operations.

Sagada resident Zsazsa Omengan-Timpac forwarded the need for an abbatoir which shall serve to inspect meat products being sold in public.

The Consumer Act of the Philippines or RA 7394 calls for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure protection against hazards to public health and safety.

This aside from protection against deceptive, unfair and unconscionable sales acts and practices; provision of information and education to facilitate sound choice and the proper exercise of rights by the consumer; provision of adequate rights and means of redress; and involvement of consumer representatives in the formulation of social and economic policies.

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Olowan is Vice Mayors League Cordi chairman

BAGUIO CITY – City Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan was elected by his fellow vice mayors from the different cities and municipalities in the region as the chairman of the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines – Cordillera chapter for the term 2019-2022.

The City Vice Mayor will serve as the region’s representative to the Board of Directors of the league.

               “We are grateful to our fellow vice mayors from the different parts of the region for giving us a chance to lead our prestigious organization. We will try our best to support key legislations that will have an impact in the overall development of the region,” Vice Mayor Olowan stressed.

He said that one of the proposals of the group is to pursue the earlier proposal of Besao Vice Mayor June Lopsoten for the organization to have a representation to the Regional Development Council (RDC), the region’s policy-making body, considering that whatever development projects, programs and activities that will be cascaded to the local level will require legislations from the concerned local legislative bodies.

According to him, the group will also work out the needed support to the region’s quest for regional autonomy by passing the appropriate legislations supporting the proposed filing of the autonomy law by the different Cordillera congressmen in the 18th Congress.

He stated that local legislators must be aware of the various development initiatives that are being undertaken in their areas of jurisdiction so that they will be able to formulate the appropriate legislations required by concerned government agencies to ensure the smooth implementation of their programs, projects and activities beneficial in improving the quality of life in the different parts of the region.

The presiding officer also claimed that the organization will try to work out the provision of added trainings for its members for them to be updated on the latest trends in the crafting and formulation of local legislations that will contribute in efforts to spur development in the rural areas.           

The other officers of the organization are Villaviciosa Vice Mayor Marjorie L. Lagen – regional vice chairperson, Conner Vice Mayor Jorico F. Bayaua- regional secretary, La Trinidad Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan – regional treasurer, Lacub Vice Mayor Estelita B. Bersamina – regional auditor and Lamut vice Mayor Victomar H. Bunnol – regional Public Relations Officer (PrO).           

The members of the organization’s Board of Directors are Besao Vice Mayor June T. Lopsoten, Sablan Vice Mayor Arthur C. Baldo, Kiangan Vice Mayor Michelle Alice B. Baguilat, Bucloc Vice Mayor Eugene C. Cillo and San Juan Vice Mayor Ari Lucas B. Bautista.

The organization recently conducted its regional convention following the organization of the different provincial chapters in the different provinces and cities comprising the Cordillera Administrative Region to elect the new set of regional officers and formulate their programs, activities and projects during the current term, especially in helping advance the government’s major initiatives in trying to improve the quality of life in the countryside towards a developed country in the next decades. – Dexter A. See 

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Carnival operator ‘gunman’ in Pampanga journalist’s slay

ARAYAT, Pampanga – The Presidential Task Force on Media Security announced the suspected gunman of a tabloid columnist and his companion in Pampanga has been identified.

                  Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who co-chairs the PTFoMS, said the gunman was identified as Armando Maglaya Velasco, who works for a local carnival operator in Barangay Cacutud in Arayat.

                Citing a report from PTFoMS executive director Joel Egco, Andanar said the gunman had initially sent surrender feelers through his wife.

“I commend the Task Force, the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) Region 3 and the Arayat Police headed by Lt. Col. Dale Soliba for a job well done. This proves that this administration will stop at nothing to hold perpetrators of violence against media workers to account,” Andanar said in a recent statement.

              “They can run and hide but the long arm of the law will eventually catch up on them,” the Palace official official said.

               On Oct. 20, journalist Jupiter Gonzales and his companion, Christopher Tiongson, were shot dead inside their car after what appeared to be a heated altercation with the gunman.

Tiongson was killed on the spot, while Gonzales died before reaching Arayat District Hospital.

Andanar said closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) footage showed Velasco attempting to grab the steering wheel from the wounded driver in an attempt to commandeer the vehicle.

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500K reward now raised to informant on Kiltepan arson

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mountain Province ---Last year’s arson on two buildings here at Kiltepan peak on November 8 cannot be forgotten.

            Property owner Wilson Capuyan said the initial P200,000 reward raised to P300,000 is now half a million pesos.

            With no suspect yet arrested and no positive findings yet from investigation, reward to anyone who can give valid information on who burned the two structures at scenic Kiltepan Peak here has been raised to P500,000.00

            Capuyan heavily condemned the incident being highly offensive to culture and morals of the people of Sagada.

            Two structures at Kiltepan Peak, a resto-café and a residential cottage were intentionally burned night of November 8 last year with the use of explosives. 

             Police investigation then revealed exploded improvised exploded devise were found at a room and concrete flooring of the restaurant while four sets of explosives were found at two concrete posts and in between the beam and wall of the residential cottage.

              Also found in the vicinity were unused 13 dynamite sticks and accumulated burned commercial safety fuse.

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