Up drive vs Omicron variant despite 80% vacs record

DILG to Cordi LGUs 

By Pamela Mariz T. Geminiano 

BAGUIO CITY -- Despite around 80 percent of targeted Cordillera constituents vaccinated, the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government Cordillera urged local government units in the region to strengthen precautionary measures, ramp up vaccination, including boosters, to prevent possible surge of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.
    "We are urging our LGUs to strengthen their existing precautionary measures and strategies on the possibility of local transmission of the Covid-19 Omicron variant following the reports from the Department of Health of the possibility of a fifth wave in South Africa due to an increase in the Covid-19 Omicron variant of concern sublineages BA.4 and BA.5," said DILG Cordillera regional director and regional inter-agency task force on Covid-19 (RIATF) chairperson Araceli San Jose.
    According to a letter sent by DOH to DILG Undersecretary for operations Epimaco Densing III, she said rising cases of Covid-19 in other parts of the world may have an impact on the country's current Covid-19 situation prompting the need for LGUs to strengthen their Covid-19 efforts.
    San Jose said that there was need for local task forces against Covid-19 to evaluate and strengthen strict implementation of minimum public health standards even in areas under Alert Level 1.
    "Our Cordillera LGUs should also establish, augment, and preposition systems, equipment, and personnel for referral, emergency, and possible surge response and encourage adoption of related measures such as ventilation by private business within jurisdiction", she said.
    She cited importance of LGUs strengthening their surveillance activities and reporting to the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit any rapid increases in cases or hospitalization observed in their areas.
     The DILG Cordillera being the co-chair of the regional vaccination operations center urged LGUs and the public to continue supporting the vaccination program of the national government.
    During the CODE Team Roadshow on March 11, in this city, the national government with DILG, Office of Civil Defense, and DOH Cordillera regional executives urged local chief executives and other functionaries to persuade their constituents that vaccines are safe and effective and that prioritizing public safety and health was a must.
    Based on the DOH regional Covid-19 case bulletin, as of May 11, 2022, 79.19 percent of the 80 percent target population in the region had been fully vaccinated, with 90.06 percent coverage of the target A2 population translating to 1,173,465 fully vaccinated individuals and 290,340 receiving booster/additional doses of vaccines. 

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Power rates up in Ilocos Norte

By John Michael Mugas 

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte––The rates of electricity in Ilocos Norte province have increased his May by an average of P1.87 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to an advisory released Wednesday by Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC).
    The total unbundle residential rate for May will be at P14.18 per kWh, compared to the P12.31 in April, reflecting the difference of P1.87.
    While the generation charge (GC) last month was at P8.45, it increased to 10.19 this month. The GC comprises 71.88 percent of the consumer’s electric bill, INEC said.
    INEC engineer Edwin Corpuz said in Ilocano that the increase in electricity costs was due to the rise in generation charges of independent power producers.
    The Energy Regulatory Board defines GC as the cost of power bought by distribution utility firms like INEC from the National Power Corp. and other independent power producers.
    INEC, meanwhile, defines GC as the “cost of power generated and sold to INEC by suppliers, Masinloc Power Partner Co. Ltd, WESM, and INEC Mini-Hydro Power Plant.”
    “The cost of buying from these companies were the ones that increased, and not the ones charged by the cooperative,” he said during INEC’s radio show called “Silaw.”
    INEC spokesperson Noel Andres also said during the radio show that the unbridled and erratic increases in oil prices have also affected the rise of GCs.
    “We can see that the cost of generation charges follow this trend,” he explained in Ilocano, adding that other charges such as transmission, distribution, and system loss are relatively unchanged this month compared to April.
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    On Wednesday, residents took to social media to complain about the “exorbitant” electric bills they received recently.
    “There are a lot of complaints at the [INEC] main office, but the co-op can’t do anything about it because it is the GC rate that is moving,” said Corpuz.
    INEC advised its members to look after their consumption this month to reduce their electricity costs.

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Baguio mayor Magalong bares projects for 2022

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong named projects lined up for this year designed to hasten the city’s economic recovery and arrest social problems contributing to urban decay.
    He said they have listed a total of 31 projects and 12 of which are considered as catalytic projects that have significant impact on the environment, economy, services, employment, social and health needs of the populace.
    He said the projects are expected to create around 4,000 employment opportunities and most are income-generating expected to shore up the city’s economy from the pandemic-induced slump.
Among the projects are:
*Market development which he said will continue to be pursued
*Intermodal transport terminal which is one of the catalytic projects to address traffic, high carbon emission and mobility concerns
*Slaughterhouse modernization with cold storage facility of triple A standard
*Multi-level parking and commercial building at the Baguio Fire Station site to fix parking problem at City Hall
*Continuation of parks development.  Bayan Park rehabilitation has started and next will be the rehabilitation of Aguinaldo Park at Salud Mitra, implementation of the second phase of arboretum and implementation of the P109 million Wright Park development
*Satellite market at Gibraltar worth P65 million to be implemented this year with relocation site
*Continuation of the barangay hall improvement projects 
*Construction of super health centers.  Out of 16 district health centers, 10 are already Philhealth-accredited.  Inspections are continuing to determine needs to make them primary health care facilitites and to convert the rest as Konsulta package providers
*Continuation of the youth convergence and indoor sports complex amounting to P380million
*P30 million athletes’ quarters has started
*Groundbreaking of the underground parking at the athletic complex will happen soon
*Tennis court rehabilitation
*Sidewalk rehabilitation projects to continue this time to cover 24 kilometers
*Satellite market modernization projects ongoing.  One project will soon be completed.
*More road widening projects in coordination with the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
*Liveable communities to start in Happy Hallow barangay
*Traffic control system costing P119 million with DPWH
*Smart mobility transportation system, a public-private partnership undertaking.  Feasibility study is ongoing
*Evaluation of unsolicited proposals received for monorail system
*Water system which is part of the bulk water project intended to produce recycled sewer water with a target of 10 million liters a day
*Waste-to-energy project.  The city will start evaluating a proposal along with back-up technology  refuse-derived fuel (RDF) technology to lower garbage produce (possibly reduce wastes being hauled out from 200 tons a day to 60 tons a day)
*Phases 2 and 3 of eco-park for implementation this year
*Digital transformation center project costing P890 million is set for implementation this year.  Review of design is ongoing under a design and build mode in collaboration with the Dept. of Information Communication Technology (DICT)
*Project Lightning to increase bandwidth from 100 mbps to 1-4 gig ongoing
*Segregation of barangays from Camp John Hay to start this year with four barangays Country Club, Upper Dagsian Greenwater and Sta. Escolastica and other barangays to follow.
 

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Nominations for Asia InLife Shero Awards of the Year now open

By Karen L. Plata

Nominations for the InLife Young Shero of the Year Award are now open to honor women who made exemplary strides or achievements in society. 
    “The future is female,” InLife executive chairperson Nina D. Aguas said as she addressed the audience during the recently-held Women Economic Empowerment Forum hosted by Asia CEO Forum at the Manila Marriott Hotel.
    Aguas said women will shape the future, a bold assertion that she said was not meant to disparage men’s role in the society. “It is a statement of certainty that women will chart their own future because in the last decade or so, women have made remarkable strides in the sciences, technology, engineering, business, politics and governance and many more. The greater the power of women, the greater a country’s economic success.”
    This fueled InLife to establish its biggest women economic inclusion program called the InLife Sheroes Advocacy and Movement (InLife Sheroes) in 2019, in partnership with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, after the latter invited Aguas to be part of its Gender and Development Council in 2018.
    To date, the InLife Sheroes has reached 7.6 million Filipinos through its four pillars of financial literacy, health and wellness, women-specific solutions and business and social networks.
    Aguas said it plans to concentrate on financial inclusion and access to business networks and health protection coming from the economic dislocation most women faced because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “There will be more initiatives to support women entrepreneurs including providing possible alternative sources of income, technical support, capacity building, access to capital to women-led businesses and affordable health and insurance products.”
     One of InLife Sheroes’ partners in advancing its advocacy is the Asia CEO Awards where it sponsors the InLife Young Shero of the Year Award.
    The Award aims to honor young Filipino women aged 40 and below who are creating waves of change and impact in their respective fields. Last year, the award was given to Maginhawa Community Pantry founder Ana Patricia Non.
    The Award also honored ten Circle of Excellence women whose advocacies are helping to shape a better world for the people and the planet, and thus, have become catalysts for change and progress.
    They were: Malou Perez of Pawssion Project, Maureen Ledesma of Vesl, Charlene Tan of All Vision Solar, Anya Lim of Anthill Fabric Gallery, Nina Opida of Humble Sustainability, Karen Jane Salutan of Pinoy Indie Films Roadshow, Therese Clarence Ruiz of Rags2Riches, Ray Alyannah Ysabel Lagasca of Youth for Mental Health, Jenica Dizon of Waves for Water Philippines, and Atty. Therese Guiao of Parabukas. 
 To know more about the InLife Young Shero of the Year Award, go to https://www.asia-ceo-awards.org/criteria/5cb440d83b95550010364f68. Interested parties may nominate by filling out the nomination form at https://www.asia-ceo-awards.org/nominations. Nominations are open until August 15, 2022.
 
 
 

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Local Ilocos Sur biz thrives anew

By Elmer Navarro Manuel 

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur -- More new businesses in Ilocos Sur sprouted following the opening of a world-class farmer’s market here.
    According to a certified report on economic data of the municipal government, latest records showed in 2021, some 916 new businesses got registered in Narvacan, bringing the total number of businesses that year to 2,338 or a 64-percent increase from 1,422 business renewals in 2020.
    The new businesses consisted of food and non-food stalls at the public market including other businesses in the information technology, tourism, and agriculture sectors, among others.
    “The economic boom in Narvacan provided an increase in capital investments and more employment opportunities for the locals,” said mayor-elect Pablito Sanidad Sr.
    Amid the pandemic, Narvacan is among the fastest-growing municipalities in the Ilocos Region with its aggressive infrastructure development and modernization program.
    Last April, the local government unit launched its pioneering digital palengke app which introduced cashless transactions to locals.

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Baguio gov’t aids 5,034 Covid-afflicted residents

BAGUIO CITY --  The CITY government extended assistance to some 5,034 individuals reportedly afflicted with Covid-19 during the first quarter of this year.
    City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) officer-in-charge Liza Bulayongan said assistance included psychological first aid with the assistance of partner offices, such as the City Health Services Office (CHSO) and Outstanding Women Leaders (OWLs).
    Some families of afflicted individuals were given family food packs and other support services, like financial assistance, for them to cope with the difficult situation, she added.
    The CSWDO official said psychological first aid was being done to ensure Covid-afflicted individuals and their families are ready for their temporary separation as the sick will have to be isolated in the existing health facilities in the city for a certain period of time pursuant to established guidelines by the health department and the inter-agency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases.
    Bulayongan said family food packs have also been given because most families were not ready for granular lockdowns in their places and that they deserve to be given such assistance having qualified under guidelines of the city government.
    According to her, this assistance to Covid-afflicted individuals will continue because there are still Covid-19 cases that being recorded on a daily basis although the situation is manageable at this time because of the low number of cases that caused the lowering of the city’s alert level.
    She reported that social workers are ready for any eventuality in the coming months with the projected surge in cases caused by the presence of certain more transmissible variants of the virus.
    Earlier, health authorities warned people of possible surge in Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks because of numerous gatherings in parts of the country due to the ongoing campaign period for the upcoming May 9, 2022 synchronized national and local elections and the seemingly complacency of the public in adhering to the minimum public health standards such as the wearing of face masks, observance of physical distancing and the practice of personal hygiene and disinfection both in the homes and workplaces. - Dexter A. See

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Baguio major source of revenue in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY -- The Cordillera Bureau of Internal Revenue regional office said Baguio City remains to be the source of bulk of the revenue collected by the bureau from taxpayers.
    BIR-CAR regional director Douglas Rufino claimed that the city accounts for approximately 70 percent of the taxes that are being collected by the bureau from the different types of taxpayers annually depending on the tax collection target that will be fixed by the central office.
    He said of the more than P5.9 billion taxes that were collected by the bureau in the region last year, more than P2.95 billion was collected by the Baguio City revenue district office.
    For his part, Baguio Revenue District Officer Wilfredo Reyes stipulated that last year’s tax collection in the city was more than the tax collection goal imposed by the central office which was P2.85 billion.
    Despite having exceeded the tax collection goal last year, BIR-CAR officials remain committed in sustaining the efforts to collect more taxes that will contribute in the overall efforts of the bureau to generate the needed revenue that will be sued to improve the delivery of quality basic services and implement development projects beneficial to the welfare of the greater majority of the populace.

    According to Rufino, the city remains to be the region’s flag carrier in terms of revenue generation because of the huge amount of taxes being collected from individual and corporate taxpayers that is why efforts are being done by the bureau to ensure that the taxes due to the government must be collected at all cost.

    The BIR-CAR official stipulated that most of the taxes that are collected in the city and the region are value added tax, income tax, percentage tax, excise tax and other forms of taxes that are authorized by the central office through various revenue memoranda. – Dexter A. See

 

 

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Ilocos, Cagayan valley wage hike approved

Minimum wage earners in three more regions in the country will receive an increase in their daily take-home pay, the Department of Labor and Employment reported Thursday.
    Rolly Francia, DOLE Information and Publication Service director, said the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Caraga granted petitions for salary hike.
In Ilocos Region, the wage board approved daily wage increases ranging from P60 to P90 to be given in tranches.
    Francia said this means the minimum wage in Ilocos will range from P372 to P400 from the current P282 to P340.
    He said the wage board also granted an increase of P500 to P1,500 in the monthly salary of house helpers in the region.
    Domestic helpers in cities and first class municipalities will receive a minimum salary of P5,000 while those in other municipalities will receive P4,000.
    DOLE regional office director Evelyn Ramos said both management and the labor sectors are amenable to the wage increase, which was described as ”substantial.”
    Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan and La Union comprise the Ilocos Region.
    In Cagayan Valley, Francia said the regional wage board approved pay hikes ranging from P50 to P75 to be given in two to three tranches. This will increase the daily take-home pay of workers in the region from P345 to P370 to P400 to P420.
    Workers in Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino as well as the cities of Cauayan, Ilagan, Santiago and Tuguegarao are covered by the wage order.  – Eva Visperas
 

 

 

 

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Baguio suspends hike in night market fees

BAGUJIO CITY -- The City Treasury Office suspended the implementation of the increase in the fees paid by night market vendors along Harrison Road following concerns raised by the affected vendors on the timing of the said regulatory fees.
    Earlier, the city council passed Resolution No. 176, series of 2022, which requested the City Treasury Office for a status quo on the collection of weekly night market fees.
    City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias informed members of the local legislative body, during its regular session last Monday the office reverted to the collection of the P350 weekly night market fees from the participating vendors that took effect last May 9, 2022 in response to the resolution and the clamor of the night market vendors.
    Last March 14, 2022, the city started collecting P500 weekly night market fees from the participating vendors from the previous P350 regulatory fees collected from the vendors over the past several years.
    The night market groups that sent separate letters to the city government requesting the deferment of the increase in night market fees claimed that the vendors are still recuperating from their heavy losses brought about by the Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 pandemic that is why it is still best for the city to maintain the P350 weekly regulatory fees being collected from them.
    At present, there are 12 groups of night vendors participating in the city’s night market operations on an alternate basis as part of the implementation of the minimum public health standards to contain the spread of the deadly virus that might cause another surge in cases.
    The night market operation has been one of the major tourist attractions in the city since its transfer to a stretch of Harrison Road because of the availability of affordable items sold by the participating vendors. – Dexter A. See
 

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BIR warns poll bets: Submit tax clearance

BAGUIO CITY – An official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in the Cordillera Administrative Region (BIR-CAR) on Wednesday expressed hope that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will submit a tax clearance in the filing of candidacy, starting with the next polls.
    BIR-CAR regional director Douglas Rufino said the additional requirement will make future candidates appreciate the need to pay their taxes, along with the Comelec-required submission of the statement of contribution and expenditure (SOCE).
    "There are some who submit SOCE for compliance purposes and nobody knows whether the declaration is correct or accurate based on their actual contribution received or their expenses," he said.
    "Some of those who lose in the election no longer bother to submit a SOCE. But if a tax certificate becomes a requirement, candidates will have to make sure they pay taxes that will be reflected in their SOCE," Rufino added.
    Rufino said aside from a tax clearance, the Comelec should also require the payment of an environmental fee which, later on, could be used to pay personnel who will take down election materials.
    “This will not only assure that the election paraphernalia will be removed, but will also allow the government to hire workers for the purpose,” he said. – Liza Agoot/PNA

 

 

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Burnham, sewerage projects on hold due to funds; TIEZA

ON HOLD – The P400-million improvement project of Baguio City's Burnham Park was put on hold due to the lack of funds amid the pandemic. – PNA/ Liza T. Agoot

By Liza Agoot 

BAUKO, Mountain Province – The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) said the big-ticket projects they had committed to financing before the pandemic are still suspended due to lack of funding.

    "They are suspended but we are not canceling the assistance to the projects," said Mark Lapid, chief operating officer, in a press conference on the sidelines of the formal re-opening of the Mount Data Hotel here on Thursday.

    The official said that with the travel of people being scarce, TIEZA was unable to receive travel taxes, the agency's main source of funds.

    "There is no money. The funds of TIEZA have been used for the pandemic response of the government at the height of the (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic," Lapid said.

    In 2019, TIEZA approved funds of over PHP400 million for the rehabilitation and improvement of Burnham Park, aside from the city's sewerage treatment plant.

    The whole Burnham Park reservation used to be under the management of the TIEZA but was ceded to the city government in early 2000.

    Lapid said TIEZA is in the process of filing a loan to finance its various projects.

    "Baka maisama ang Baguio projects (We hope that the projects in Baguio will be included)," he said. -- PNA

 

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New Banaue road done; boosts towns economy

By Elvy T. Estacio

BANAUE, Ifugao -- A newly opened farm-to-market road in this tourist town is now 100% complete and projected to boost income of farmers in far barangays.
    Implemented under the Dept. of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project with the Banaue local government, the Anaba-Ducligan-Banao FMR, which spans eight kilometers with a 20-meter bridge, was earlier proposed to improved lives of folks of barangays Anaba, Ducligan, and Banao.
    For many years, residents of these barangays have been trekking to and from their farms/houses, as there was zero road access connecting barangays, especially Banao.
    Nelson Dogwe, a farmer from Barangay Ducligan, is tilling a land near the FMR subproject and according to him, the opening of the road has brought a lot of benefits to Ducligan residents who own agricultural lands along the area.
    Muddy trails and rice field dikes served as pathways for farmers and residents to reach the nearest access road, the Banaue-Mayoyao-Aguinaldo National Road, and because of the road construction, they can now travel to and from their houses or farms safely and in less time.
    Elizabeth Dulnuan, another farmer beneficiary from Anaba, said the road construction made them closer to the market in Banaue, which is a safer and faster route, as compared to muddy trails and dikes that they used to trek.
    “We were motivated to cultivate our lands when the road construction started and especially now that the road is completed where we can reach the center market area in less than 30 minutes,” added Dulnuan.
    Completed last April 25, the P245.64 million FMR is now benefiting more than adjacent 275 households.
    A final inspection was conducted last May 11 by a joint team of representatives from the national, north Luzon cluster and regional levels of the DA-PRDP with representatives from Alfalfa Construction and from the municipal project management and implementing unit of Banaue.
    Though the project was declared as 100% physically completed, the contractor still needs to rectify defects identified during final inspection prior to turnover.
    Banaue municipal engineer Antonio Gayumma said a turn over ceremony is set on June 15.
    Meanwhile, construction of more slope protection structures and guard rails, including additional warning signs among other side structures and maintenance work, will be included in the LGU’s operations and maintenance plan for the FMR.
 

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Tabuk City gives Mayor Estrañero fresh mandate

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Majority of the city's electorate has given Mayor Darwin C. Estrañero a fresh mandate to serve as the local chief executive during the May 9 elections.
    Estrañero was proclaimed by the City Board of Canvassers last week after garnering 24,718 votes, way ahead of his closest rival Vice Mayor Bernard Glenn Daoas who got 18,038 votes and Macario Balanggao Jr. who received 16,079 votes.
    Josephine Odsey, who earlier withdrew from the city's mayoral race, ended up with 102 votes.

"We are grateful to the people of Tabuk for giving us a fresh mandate to serve them and pursue the city's growth and development. We still have a lot of unfinished business that we have to pursue during our next term for our city to be elevated to greater heights," Estrañero said.

For his second term as mayor, Estrañero city public market, construction of a local government-operated hospital and a solar farm.

He also promised to entice more investors to establish their businesses in the city to generate more jobs for the residents and enhance other economic activities and sources of livelihood of the people.

He said Tabuk has great potentials of becoming onevowed to pursue high impact development projects like the ongoing upgrading and improvement of the  of the well-developed local governments in the north because of vast tracts of land that could be developed into industrial zones without compromising its identity as rice granary of the Cordillera Administrative Region where it plays host to more than 10,000 hectares of rice farms.

Estrañero said significant increase in investments in the city will boost efforts of concerned government agencies and local government to increase availability of existing jobs for the people to be able to recover from  heavy impact inflicted by the pandemic after having been displaced from their work and other economic activities over the past two years.

Tabuk is being promoted by the Regional Development Council in the CAR as the future growth center in the region with establishment of the Eastern Kalinga Growth Center to up the city's development.

For the city's vice mayoral post, lawyer Dick Bal-o was declared winner after garnering 23,230 votes. Councilor Zorayda Mia Wacnang received 18,849, incumbent Liga ng mga Barangay president and Councilor Henry Tubban Jr. collected 15,132 and Gladelina Ottao got 195 votes.

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Drowned father, son's bodies found in Natonin river

By Vince Jacob Visaya

NATONIN, Mountain Province -- The bodies of a father and son, who both drowned on May 14, were found at a river in Sitio Parokok, Banawel village here the next day, police and education officials said Monday.
    Fatalities Rindo Charwasen and his son Renz Ardel Charwasen, a Grade 4 student at Layog-Ogtong Primary School, went to the river after having lunch at their hut in Sitio Nambatuwan in Banawel village to take a bath and fish on May 14 but did not return home, police reported.
    Volunteer rescuers found Rindo's body in a five-meter-deep water while his son Renz Ardel was found two meters away on May 15.
    They were lifeless and lying down when found, police added.
    Although lifeless, the victims were brought to Anastasia Rafael Sagel Memorial Hospital in Poblacion where they were officially declared dead.
    They were later brought to a funeral parlor for autopsy.

 
Trike driver killed in La Union road crash

ARINGAY, La Union -- A tricycle driver was killed in a vehicle crash along the national highway here in Barangay Poblacion Thursday.
    The trike driver, identified as Roel Yaranon, of Poblacion, was declared dead on arrival at a hospital after his tricycle collided with an L300 van driven by Rodolfo Solomon, of Barangay Asan Norte Sison, Pangasinan.
    Aringay police said the trike’s driver lost control and spun before colliding with the approaching van.
    Due to the impact, the motorcycle was detached from the sidecar while the victim was thrown a few meters to the ground.
    The victim was rushed to La Union Medical Center in Agoo, La Union but did not make it due to multiple injuries.

Car rams acacia tree in Ilocos Sur; 2 dead

SAN INDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur --  Two persons died when their car rammed an acacia tree along the highway here in Barangay Gongogong before 5 a.m. on May 14.
    Floresto Tulali, 40, a resident of Barangay Magnuang in Batac, Ilocos Norte, and Federico Pascual, 29, of Barangay Gongogong died at the scene.
    Khimberly Estabillo, 26, also from Batac, was injured.
    Police said the car driven by Tulali was heading north when the accident occurred.
    Rescuers had a hard time extracting the victims as the vehicle was a total wreck.
    Probers are looking into reports the passengers were drunk.
 

2 teens dead in lightning strikes

By Eva Visperas

    SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan -- Two teenagers died when lightning struck in this town and Bulacan on May 15.
    Joana Domantay, 15, was bathing in the rain outside their house in Sitio Taew, Barangay Cobol here when lightning struck.
    Domantay’s sister Joyce, 8, was brought to the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital for treatment.
    In Bulacan, Reniel Buela, 17, was swimming with his relatives in Bustos Dam’s Ecopark when a thunderstorm occurred at past 2 p.m., reports reaching Col. Charlie Cabadrilla, acting Bulacan police director, showed.
Buela was declared dead on arrival at the Bustos Community Hospital.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Cordillera rebels warn Marcos of strong force

CPDF ups recruitment of fighters 

THE Cordillera People's Democratic Front warned that it will greet President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s presumed administration with a bigger and stronger force of the New People's Army (NPA) in the countryside.
    The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) armed units' statement came Wednesday as it called for new NPA recruits.
    It stressed that an armed revolution is the only way towards what it described as an "unimaginable presidency" of Bongbong Marcos, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
    "Head farther up north and deeper into the peasant communities to reaffirm that there never truly was a Solid North. Instead, what lies ahead is the people's determination to resist reactionary rule and govern themselves under a proletarian leadership," the CPP's armed unit said in a statement Wednesday.
    "For progressive and revolutionary individuals and groups, it is literally a fight for life itself. The regime of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. is most known for its summary executions, torture incidents, arbitrary arrests and illegal detentions. Similarly, it is a literal fight for survival for the rest of the impoverished masses," it added.
    It claimed that the "insatiable Marcoses" aggravated widespread poverty by emptying public coffers into their own secret accounts and using it to bankroll their immoral lifestyles where it alleged the national government accumulated such "tremendous debts" that the public is paying until today.
It also emphasized the spawn might take the presidency, where it argued that Marcos will never obtain the full confidence of the public.
    "His supposed victory is mired with irregularities, from the dubious Commission on Elections allowing his candidacy up to the incredibly questionable ballot-counting," it said. "His family's history, his own complicity and a disreputable election overshadows any triumph. Thus, an uprising against their family will always be looming over his rule."
    It also mentioned the lesson on what it described as "civil disobedience" of 1986 or the four-day uprising now known as the EDSA People Power Revolution on Feb. 22 to 25, 1986, which led to the collapse of the Marcos presidency.
    "It must be recognized that FM's overlords in the US provided his getaway vehicle to Hawaii. Their family escaped unscathed, even taking with them wealth and assets that belong to the country. They are the biggest daylight robbers in history and the US government facilitated their breakout," it said.
    It proved that Martial Law generals like former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and former president Fidel Ramos seemingly redeemed themselves when the Aquino camp compensated them with national positions in the new administration.
    "This is their reward for turning against FM when the people's uprising already has him backed into a corner. Like their superior, Enrile and Ramos were not held accountable for their crimes," it said.
    It also argued that Marcos' win is a result of both fraud and the campaign to revise history through systematic disinformation, which it described as something that has gone inadequately addressed over the years.
    "It must be underscored that fact-checking becomes instinctive when the people are taught critical analysis," it said. "For starters, critical thought counters black propaganda vis-à-vis red-tagging and vilification. It goes hand in hand with the right to express opinions and to participate in an action or organization sharing that opinion."
    "It teaches the vast masses about the superiority of revolutionary change over reforms and the role of armed revolution to weaken the most despotic regimes. It opens people's minds towards alternative politics, even to the ideals of the Communist Party of Philippines," it said.
    It also stressed that a good and many things has become uncertain for the Filipino people with a Marcos presidency in sight.
    "But what is unquestionable is that the fight is far from over. It is an uphill battle but the revolutionary forces and the Filipino people have at its disposal various lessons to continue asserting economic and human rights, civil liberties and social justice," it said.
    The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines.
    The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the anti terrorism council or ATC on June 23, 2021, citing it as "an integral and inseparable part" of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973 through the leadership of exiled communist leader Jose Maria "Joma" Sison.
    Marcos imposed martial law on the nation from 1972 to 1981 to suppress increasing civil strife and the threat of a communist takeover following a series of bombings in Manila.

 

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Mayor urges support for Baguio Charter

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY -- Reelected Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Thursday said the Summer Capital's officials and residents should be in full support of the Baguio City Charter that was recently signed into law by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte.
    He said no charter or system is perfect, but this year's Baguio Charter as compared to the 1909 original, is more responsive to the need and call of the times.
    "Since the charter is already a law, we should all might as well give it our full support. Besides, it is already a law," the mayor noted.
    He advised those opposing the approved charter to also try opening their eyes and instead help in fixing it via Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) that is currently being studied by city managers.
    "It is through the IRR that we can cure whatever we believe that the Charter is lacking or need to be corrected," Magalong explained.

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Cordillera dengue cases increase by 332 percent

 By Liza Agoot 

BAGUIO CITY – Dengue cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) during the first four months of 2022 were at 332 percent higher during the same period last year, according to the region's Department of Health (DOH).

    Alexander Baday, an entomologist at the DOH-CAR, said on Friday that 883 cases were recorded from January to April this year, higher than the 204 cases logged during the same period in 2021.
    Of all the cases in the past four months, three resulted in deaths, the same as last year.
    According to the DOH, Apayao recorded a 1,620-percent increase in cases, with 10 cases in 2021 and 172 cases this year.
    Kalinga logged a 636-percent increase with 19 cases from January to April last year and 140 cases during the same period this year; Mountain Province recorded a 383-percent increase from six cases last year to 29 cases this year.
    Ifugao had a 341-percent increase in cases at 12 last year and 53 this year; Benguet logged a 228-percent increase with 312 cases this year versus the 95 cases last year; and Baguio City with 184-percent increase recorded at 44 cases in 2021 and 125 this year.
    Records further showed an 87-percent increase in cases involving non-Cordillera patients seeking medical assistance in Cordillera hospitals, with 10 cases in 2021 and 52 cases this year.
    The DOH record also showed that only Abra recorded a decrease in cases with zero. The province had eight cases last year.
    He also said that with face-to-face classes returning, students aged 16 to 20 - who make up 13 percent of the population - are the most vulnerable.
    “We are advocating for the elimination of cases which focuses more on cleanliness that will lead to the destruction of possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes,” Baday said.
    He added that because insects are very difficult to control and are highly adaptive to the environment, the public must treat all mosquitoes as dengue-causing and must be eliminated.
    Baday stressed the importance of destroying the breeding grounds of mosquitos immediately as they can thrive and become adult mosquitos in a matter of seven days. (PNA)
 
 
 

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POLICE ROUNDUP

Couple shot dead in  Cagayan cemetery

By Liezle Basa Inigo

APARRI, Cagayan — A couple was shot dead by unidentified motorcycle-riding attackers in front of public cemetery here along Rizal Street, Barangay Maura this town on Thursday, May 19.
    The Cagayan Provincial Police identified victims as Samuel Soliven, 73 and his wife Teresita Soliven, 69, both engaged in business.
    Police said around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday, the victims were on board their tricycle (kulung-kulung) and traversing Maura when they were shot by gunmen amid heavy rain.
    The perpetrators allegedly overtook and fired gunshots towards the victims several times using unidentified firearms.
    Both sustained multiple gunshot wounds on their bodies.
    The perpetrators fled towards the east direction.
    Responding police officers rushed the victims to Charles W. Selby Memorial Hospital (Christian Hospital) here in     Barangay Punta but were declared dead on arrival by attending physician.
    Members of the Aparri Police Station immediately conducted pursuit operations to arrest the suspects and requested SOCO assistance to process the crime scene, according to Corporal Marvin Diaz, investigator-on-case.

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Baguio sets protest vs firm’s water permit application in Tuba

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved a resolution requesting the city legal office to file a protest against the conditional water permit of EKP Spring Water Corporation.
    In a resolution, city legislators stated that the filing of a timely protest against the conditional water permit will prevent the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) from giving a full-pledged water permit to the company to prevent the available sources of potable water supply for the city residents from being compromised.
    Earlier, a verified protest was filed by Barangay Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet against the EKP Spring Water Corporation which is now pending before the NWRB signed by some1,001 residents in a petition letter dated March 16, 2022 addressed to the NWRB chairman with regard to their affected area of jurisdiction.
     The EKP Spring Water Corp. is a third-party service provider with office address at Bomasgao, Poblacion, Tuba, Benguet which applied for a water permit over many water sources in Tuba town, including the Irisan water source and is a recipient of a conditional water permit No. 05-19-21-059 issued by the NWRB on May 2021 which will expire on May 19, 2022.
    The council said the water permit applied for by the EKP Spring Water Corp. is within or covers the territorial jurisdiction of Baguio and that there was no clearance secured by the company from the city government prior to the filing of the water permit application which resulted in the issuance of the conditional water permit which is now being questioned.
    The council adapted as a policy for the city government to be an automatic intervenor in water permit applications being filed by companies before the NWRB to ensure that the city can protect the various water sources from being awarded for exploitation to private companies without the consent of the city. – Dexter A. See

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NPA guerilla surrenders in Cervantes

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union — The Police Regional Office 1 reported the surrender of an individual believed to be a member of the rebel group Platun Dos, KLG AMPIS (Antonio Licawen Front Operational Command) at the 102nd Maneuver Company Headquarters, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1, Barangay Rosario, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur.
    According to PRO1 regional director Police Brigadier General Westrimundo Obinque, the rebel — identified as alias Ka Ben — also yielded one Cal. 5.56 mm Elisco M16 A1 rifle with serial number RP 24042, two short magazines, one bandolier and one fuse for improvised explosive device (IED).
    Obinque lauded the soldiers for exerting their efforts in negotiating and facilitating the surrender.
    “This is a clear manifestation of the government’s sincere efforts towards peace and progress. We will take this accomplishment as a milestone in intensifying our information campaigns and tactical operations with the active support of the community and the local government agencies under the Whole-of-Nation Approach,” Obinque said.
    Ka Ben is now under the custody of Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1 headquarters for custodial debriefing and processing of his enrolment to E-CLIP.
 

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