Sagada tourism

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- It was an equally demanding and exciting three day and a half strategic planning workshop conducted by regional Department of Tourism senior tourism officers Mary Bilagot and Ar`mi Legaspina and resource persons Gina Gacusan, Paterno Laboy, and Aris Della from the regional National Economic and Development Authority.

With the initiative of Vice Mayor Richard Yodong delegated to handle tourism concerns in Sagada, talks with DOT authorities prospered to the holding of the planning session held Sept. 20-23 at St Jo Café here.

The workshop drew concerns and problems from 65 participants including sectoral representatives from tourist guides, inn and resto entrepreneurs, gift shop owners, elders, media, and local government unit concerned personnel, about tourism in Sagada.

For one, the short stay of tourists and having no more reason to stay means lesser income for the community. Where tourism is a major source of income especially for residents located in the central part of the town, there is no reason not to make the industry improve.

Tourists in most cases, both local and foreign stay in Sagada for two days most times during the weekends, then leave on the third day having seen projected tourist spots to see.

The question is what else is there to see and what else is there to do. Exploring Sagada goes beyond more than the natural spots and this is where the tourism planning drew what else is there to see and experience. The planning session went to identifying agricultural activities where visitors interested can take a dip in the rice fields and plant rice seedlings or do some harvesting when its ani (harvest) time.

Or it may be the Begnas (agricultural festival) season and it may be interesting to a tourist to attend an agricultural festival and be part in the dancing and playing of the gongs. And this happens at least thrice a year- one in July, October and March.

Or take this: some skills sharing and hands- on feel on how pottery is done by local potters is quite interesting offered by two pottery workshop spots in Danonoy and along Mapiya-ao road. Or getting a feel of the dagdagay (traditional massage) would be quite a relaxing experience as indoor activities especially during the rainy season when going out is not advisable unless the visitor would love to walk under the rain then that would be quite an experience walking under the rain in Sagada. Or be transported to the ages of history and hear stories from long ago legends and folklores, or why an agricultural ritual is being done from an elder.

A lengthened stay for at least four to five days would take the traveler to different levels of experience in Sagada. While nightlife is very much limited with only a couple of music joints which offer canned music and some live guitar jamming with some local folksingers occasionally, the traveler is treated to some reggae music from Bob Marley or some golden 70’s or 80’s hits of folk or country music played by a local. What more, the locals jam with the tourists and know their stories too, where they come from and what brought them to Sagada.

But watch out. With a place where curfew hour is strict and where neighbors do not like noise beyond 10 o’clock at night makes music and jamming a no no. Otherwise, a scheduled music or cultural interaction among tourists and the locals once a week on a Friday or Saturday night could be tolerable .

In a tourist town with a number reaching up to some 24 thousand in 2010 and 30 thousand in 2008 brings to a question if this number can reach up to a 40 to 50 thousand visitors a year.

Visitors from Manila and other parts of the country top arrivals in this tourist town for the first four months of year 2011 with April registering the most visitors. January to April 2011 arrivals note 81% or 10,020 of 12,343 visitors, records from the Sagada Tourist Information Center reveals.

Also for the year ending 2010, local tourists topped arrivals in this tourist town. Of the total 23,944 tourists who visited the country last year, 78% or 18,735 came from different places of the Philippines.

For year ending 2010, the French are the second highest arrivals totaling 713; followed by Koreans with 647 arrivals; 527 from the US, and 419 from Germany.

The peak season starts mid November, moves on December during the yuletide season and heats up February during the town fiesta or what is now called Etag festival on to April during the Holy Week.

Tourists slow down May during the rainy season on to June to October. They begin arriving again during the weekends in trickles. This brings to question what activities or other attractions the community can offer during the rainy season. In a fairly conservative remote town north of the country where farming is still a major source of livelihood, and where rituals play a strong factor in the planting and harvest of crops, tourism activities could only play within the cultural acceptance of the community and what is considered environmentally protective of sustainable agriculture.

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P260 million package subject to gov’t accounting: P-Noy-CPLA ‘closure’ deal backed by peace advocates

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army leader Arsenio Humiding and his closure agreement with President Aquino as an initiative of peace for CPLA to cease its armed image and turn into an economic force has gained support among ‘bodong’ peace pact holders of Kalinga, Abra, and some binodngan parts of Mountain Province.

This was bared by peace advocate and former mayor Thomas Killip of this tourist town who joined other peace advocates to the 25th anniversary of the ‘sipat’ (cessation of hostilities) entered between the CPLA led by its founder rebel priest ConradoBalweg and former President Corazon Aquino Sept. 13, 1986.

The anniversary was commemorated at Mt. Data in Bauko, Mountain Province.

Killip, also is an adviser of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process said the closure agreement is best implemented with the initiative of Humiding for the government to provide livelihood assistance to affected Cordillera communities.

Said memorandum of agreement as stamped in the President’s Administrative Order 49 is currently under review as instructed by President Aquino following a petition from the Cordillera’s Regional Development Council calling for a review of said agreement in response to a petition forwarded by CPLA faction leaders Michael Sugguiyao and Cordillera Bodong Administration chairman Andres Ngao-i questioning ArsenioHumiding’s legitimacy.

Ngao-I and Sugguiyao said the closure agreement was only economic appeasement and derailed the essence of autonomy which was the intent of the ‘sipat’ between former President Corazon Aquino and Balweg.

While the closure agreement between the CPLA’sHumiding group and the government is being eyed for another agreement following opposition from other factions of the CPLA like the Sugguiyao group, the financial package dangled for the closure agreement apparently still stays good.

Sheryl Datinguinoo, projects development officer of the OPAPP said the P260 million represents an indicative figure and open to proposals from interested groups.

Eighty five percent of the amount shall be devoted to livelihood projects for the community wherein funds shall be channeled to the respective agency who shall be doing the concerned community project.

If it is a health project, the funds shall be channeled to the department of health and its related units following regular accounting and disbursing procedures of the government, Datinguinoo said.

The economic package is projected to be dispensed over a five year period.

Interviewed here at Radyo Sagada, Datinguinoo said 18% of the package fund shall be directly provided for livelihood projects to the CPLA which shall transform itself into a nongovernment or people’s organization.

Mountain Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen, said he didn’t care much about who implements the P260 million as long as the funds are used for what it is intended for and follow regular accounting and disbursing procedures of the government.

Mountain Province gets P59 million of the economic deal where P51million is allotted for Sadanga, P7 million to Bontoc and P1 million to Paracelis.

The rest of the P260 million goes to the rest of 57 barangays of Kalinga, Ifugao, Abra, and Apayao aside from Mountain Province where there are CPLA members or which have CPLA operations.

Asked whether other barangays which don’t have CPLA presence shall also benefit, the OPAAP projects development officer said other villages will also benefit via inter-barangay linkages such as building of roads and bridges.

Datinguinoo said development funds represent the “dividend” of the people’s struggles having been part of a war for years which wrought havoc to their communities.

In a separate press conference, Vice Mayor Richard Yodong asked OPAPP for an update of the resolution which the respective Sangguniang Bayan submitted to OPAPP September last year, requesting support for community projects in furtherance to OPAPP’s program on providing aid to communities having conflict with peace.

Sagada suffered the atrocities of war between the New People’s Army and the military government forces with two minors killed in the crossfire in 1989 .

Due to said incident, the community of Sagada declared that Sagada be demilitarized and forwarded a petition addressed to both the military and the NPA, the office of the president of the Philippines, which eventually landed in the offices of the Coalition for Peace and the Peace Commission .

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon then sponsored Senate bill 435 declaring Sagada as a peace zone along with seven special development areas of the Philippines following a conference by the National Unification Commission in May 1993.

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Mayor nixes IRA cut

FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga – The national government must have considered the various “peculiarities” of each Local Government Unit before it decided to cut next year the budget of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of all towns and cities nationwide.

In an interview, Mayor Eddie Guerrero reiterated his concerns on the announcement made by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who recently said the national government is set to cut by 4.8 percent the IRA budget of cities and towns next year.

“Each town has its own peculiarities, which is why fiscal autonomy is important most especially when it comes to the IRA budget allotment,” Guerrero said.

The mayor said each LGU must be allowed to use its IRA budget “according to the town’s respective needs and concerns.”

“What if my municipality is located in a flood prone area? How can I work around a 5 percent budget allotted for my IRA if my town is hit by more than just one typhoon?

Considering the effects of global warming today, our country is hit with several typhoons in a year,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero added a fixed budget allotment for the IRA runs contrary to the fiscal autonomy of each LGU.

The mayor also said he hopes the national government would provide LGUs an option or an alternative that would allow them to tailor-fit their IRA budget according to their needs and priorities.

Earlier, Robredo met with Pampanga Governor Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda, who gathered all mayors from the province for a dialogue with the DILG secretary.

During the meeting, Robredo said the 4.8 percent budget cut on the IRA next year will be “a big challenge” to LGUs.

He explained that taxes collected for 2009 are 4.8 percent lower than those collected in 2008.

In anticipation of the budget cut next year, Robredo encouraged mayors to prioritize upcoming projects and focus on intensifying local revenue mobilization.

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Tornado destroys 20 houses in Pangasinan

UMINGAN, Pangasinan – At least 20 houses as well as several hectares of rice fields were destroyed in Barangay Lubong in this town when a tornado hit the area afternoon of Sept. 11.

Chief Insp. Jesus Manalo, officer-in-charge of the town police station said the tornado also felled electric posts and uprooted some trees.

No one was reported injured but affected families said they were traumatized by the tornado.

Affected folk were still repairing their homes at press time even as local officials had yet to pledge help.

Workers from the province’s electric firm were also restoring the posts at press time while Environment workers cut the felled trees.

Locals said the tornado was the first of its kind in this town at the eastern part of the province where farming is the main source of constituents’ livelihood.

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P.5 million MJ bricks found at checkpoint

KAPANGAN, Benguet – Town police intercepted and confiscated nine marijuana bricks worth half a million pesos in a passenger bus bound for Baguio City on Sept. 9 at about 6:30 a.m.

Prior to the operation, troops set up a check point along Lomon Junction, Paykek in the town where they flagged down a Dakiwagan View Bus Liner that came from Sapdaan, Sagpat, Kibungan town.

Police said the bus had plate number AYR 700 and driven by Peter Dalocdoc, 46, of Balakbak, Kapangan.

He was with his conductor identified as Javier Kantala when police asked the conductor if it was alright to open the running board compartment to check the baggage inside as part of routine checkpoint procedure to which the said conductor agreed.

As a result, operatives discovered the nine marijuana bricks wrapped in red plastic and sealed with transparent packaging tape placed inside a cardboard box.
The contraband weighed nine kilos.

The driver and conductor together with the passengers of the bus, said they did not know the owner of the marijuana bricks.

The confiscated marijuana bricks were brought to the town police station.

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Plunder charges filed vs 2 ex-Abra mayors; incumbent sued

LAGAYAN, Abra -- Two former mayors of this town were charged are facing a P133.9-million plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman even as the incumbent mayor was also charged in relation to the case.

Bernadine Joson, municipal planning and development coordinator and concurrent Sangguniang Bayan secretary also filed graft, technical malversation, forfeiture, and violation of the Government Procurement Reform Act cases against former Lagayan mayors Cecilia Seares Luna and her son Jendricks for allegedly stealing millions from government coffers from 2003 to 2010.

In a 25-page affidavit, Joson accused the former mayors of failing to account government funds for the salary and other benefits of municipal employees, calamity funds and funds intended for development projects among others.

Joson also filed graft charges against incumbent Lagayan Mayor PurificacionPaingan, “for grave misconduct, dereliction of duty and gross negligence” for allowing Jendricks to take over the helm of the municipality and continue his plunder of the town coffers as a barangay captain.

She said Paingan should be held liable for technical malversation for allegedly consenting, through abandonment or negligence to the irregular acts of the former mayor and her son.

“I also charge Vice Mayor Lara HayaSeares Luna for grave misconduct, dereliction of duty and gross negligence for her chronic absenteeism from her duties as vice mayor and as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Bayan,” she said.

Municipal treasurer Marissa Donato, municipal accountant Meno Dickenson and municipal engineer Osborne Dolaoen were also named respondents in the cases.

In filing the plunder complaint, Joson said she is “exposing a story of how key members of a political family in a small far-flung, underdeveloped town in Abra, over a period of a little more than a decade, in the absence of a viable system of checks and balances, has been raiding and plundering the town’s coffers.

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DENR ultimatum on 'trashslide' probe out

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY— The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has set a one-week ultimatum on the fact-finding team to complete its investigation on the circumstances surrounding the trash slide at the Irisan open dumpsite recently.

Six people were killed after being buried in tons of garbage that flowed down the dumpsite when its retaining wall collapsed at the height of rains spawned by typhoon “Mina.”

Cordillera DENR regional director Clarence Baguilat issued the directive to the fact-finding team composed of technical people from the different bureaus of the agency
upon the instructions of Environment Sec. Ramon Paje.

The DENR Secretary, Baguilat said, wants a swift probe to pave the way for the formulation of appropriate policies that will govern the operation and subsequent closure of open dumpsites in the country.

The team was also tasked to come out with its general and special recommendations on the vital measures to be undertaken to protect the open dumpsite from further collapse that will pose a serious threat to life and limb below it.

“They are already on the ground. We want to make a comprehensive report relative to the trash slide so that our central office will be able to craft the appropriate policies that will govern the operation and closure of open dumpsites nationwide,” Paquito Moreno, Jr., regional director of the Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau here said.

Moreno said the report, which will be generated from the investigation, will be immediately submitted to the National Solid Waste Commission, the body tasked to decide on the imposition of penalties against local governments who continue to refuse to close their open dumpsites.

On the filing of administrative charges against local officials who refuse to close the operation of their respective open dumpsites pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Moreno said it is the NSWC that it is empowered by law to determine the liabilities of local officials considering that there is no explicit sanction to be imposed against public officials who refuse to close their open dumpsites.

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Ifugao gov leads ritesin WW2 Jap surrender

By Vency D. Bulayungan

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- The provincial and municipal local government units here gave tribute to living veterans and officers of the military and the police during the celebration of the 66th Victory Day here Sept. 2.

Gov. Eugene Balitang led the rites saying this was a simple way of giving recognition to efforts of men in uniform from the 11 municipalities here who had the rank of colonel to general. “We would like to give homage to our roots of gallantry and heroism.”

Balitang called on awardees to develop their positions to become assets in the country which will help much in the development of our province and the country as a whole.

He also acknowledged past military officers who also served the province such as Gen. Ildefonso Dulinayan who also served as a governor of the province.

“We would like to solicit your advices on what we can do in order to perform our duties well for the welfare of our province mates,” Balitang said n his speech adding that ‘may this activity inspire each and everyone as he is looking forward to improve as the years go by.’

In response, police Senior Supt. Laurence Mombael, said with the honor accorded to them, they will do their best in performing their duties so that the expectation of the Ifugao people will not go in vain.

“We will work as one in fulfilling our duties as peace officers in order to meet our objective of a peaceful place for our people to live and that the efforts of our veterans who fought bravely for the peace which we are enjoying right now will not be meaningless and that we all can live where there is justice and freedom’, Mombael said. “As we continue serving our province, let us not forget the lessons of war so that we will not anymore experience the pains it brings to everyone.”

Meanwhile, board member Frederick Dulnuan, organizer of the said event, said paying tribute to living veterans and officers of the men in uniform who hail from this province is a “way of expressing our gratitude to them because if not of them, we cannot enjoy the freedom and peaceful place we are enjoying today.”

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CPLA, execs commemorate Mount Data peace accord

By Angel Baybay

BAUKO, Mountain Province – More than just a gathering of former red fighters to memorialize the 25th year of the Mount Data peace accord, the Sept. 13 silver anniversary here turned out to be a show of force drawing together the biggest star studded crowd in the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army’s history.

On hand to commemorate the occasion were CPLA members and Cordillera Bodong Administration officials who compose the political arm of the armed group which more than 25 years ago were members of the Lumbaya Company, an elite NPA unit operating in the Cordillera under the leadership the late ConradoBalweg.

CPLA chairman ArsenioHumiding, said the number of participants, estimated to be more or less five hundred, could readily prove which among the different CPLA factions has the legitimate claim over the organization and dispel suspicions that their group is membered by recruits of questionable character.

Among those in attendance were known former NPA personalities and individuals.

Also gracing the affair were political leaders led by Mountain Province governor Leonard Mayaen, Bontoc Mayor PascualSacgaca, Sadanga Mayor GabinoGanggangan, Paracelis mayor AvelinoAmangyen, Conner mayor Leonard Dangoy, Pudtol mayor BataraLaoat, and Luna mayor Betty Verzola who enlisted their support to the CPLA’s agenda for peace and development.

Also seen in the crowd were former Sagada mayor Tomas Killip and OPPAP representative Nanette Quilenderino.

In his welcome speech, Mayaen assured his unconditional support to the programs of the CPLA as he urged them to find other ways by which the group could be of help to the communities.

The CPLA was formed in April 7, 1986 when ConradoBalweg announced his group’s split from the communist New People’s Army. He later on accepted the offer of then President Corazon Aquino for peace talks which resulted to the historic exchange of Sipat on September 13, 1986 at the Mount Data Hotel. As a gesture of peace, Balweg handed to Aquino a shield, spear, head ax, and a bolo while the president gave an armalite rifle, rosary, and a bible.

Differences among the CPLA leaders however divided their ranks that slowed down their efforts to implement the peace and development agenda as spelled out in the peace accord. Except for the issuance of EO 220 establishing the Cordillera Administrative Region and the enactment of the IPRA Law, many CPLA members feel that the government failed to deliver what has been agreed.

More than two years ago, the CPLA asked for a joint review of the peace was accord but was snubbed by the national government. They were relieved however with the victory of Benigno Aquino with the thought that he will fulfill what was started by his late mother.

True enough, a ten month consultation and meetings between the government and CPLA officials bore fruit with the signing of an agreement for the realization of the Mount Data accord. In essence, the agreement shall allow failures and discontent to be left behind and ushers in a beginning of a new era of harmonious co-existence and collaboration that will hasten development in the region. In the spirit of peace, the agreement shall cause the transformation of the CPLA as an armed group into a socio-economic force.

The agreement also provides livelihood program for CPLA members, development packages for CPLA controlled areas, and the documentation of the CPLA in its struggle for self-determination.

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PNP rules out ‘kidnap’of 56 females in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY September 16 – Police authorities here ruled out kidnapping as the reported reason behind the 56 females aged 12 to 25 who were reported missing by their respective families from January to the present.

Based on the records of the women and children protection center of the Baguio City Police Office, it was uncovered that only 11 of the reported missing females are not yet reunited with their parents or guardians, thus, the reason for their sudden disappearance is not in any way related to kidnapping or abduction in the city.

Senior Supt. David Q. Lacdan, BCPO city director, said most of them run way from home or eloped with their lovers and some of the reported missing persons were tourists.

From January to the present, BCPO only recorded one kidnapping incident where the individuals were allegedly abducted in Metro Manila but were recovered in this mountain resort city, thus, there is no clear connection of the incident to the missing females.

Moreover, Lacdan explained the 11 females reportedly reunited with their families earlier but they again ran away from their families for still undisclosed reasons.

Investigation showed the most common reasons why the children run away from home are peer influence, broken family or serious family problems, parents lack time to spend with their children which deprives them the need for love and belongingness thereby resulting to them staying with their peers where they find love and belongingness and some elope with their lovers.

According to Lacdan, the BCPO is exerting all efforts in performing their duties and responsibilities to maintain peace and order through the conduct of routine mobile and foot patrols as well as curfew for minors.

“We are also responsive to reports of missing persons wherein we pass the vital information and alarm to all units immediately for possible location of the missing persons,” he stressed.

The BCPO official emphasized it is unfair for some quarters to conclude that the 56 reported missing females since the start of the year was due to the presence of a syndicate involved in the abduction of minors in the city, saying that such syndicate does not exist and the reports on the missing children are purely missing and not connected with kidnapping.

Lacdan reminded parents to be more responsible in caring for their children and that they must be the ones protecting and guiding them because discipline and character building starts at home and within their families.

He admitted the police cannot guard and secure each and every youth in the city considering that comparing the total number of policemen of the city with its population, one policeman is guarding 1,380 persons during the day while one policeman is guarding 1,279 persons at night.

However, the aforesaid number does not include the transients and tourists visiting the city daily, thus, it is impossible that the police will be able to secure each youth and it is even more impossible to control the thinking and decision-making of today’s youth and it boils down to the responsibility of the parents over their children. -- Dexter A. See

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Koreans building P1.2-B Porac hotel

PAMPANGA — Korean investors recently started construction of a five-star hotel in Baranggay Cutcut here, priced at P1.2 billion.

The construction of the Royal Hotel began with simple ceremonies attended by its president and CEO, Mr. Yun Jea Park, and Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda.

In her speech, Pineda expressed optimism that once the multi-billion peso investment of the Korean group of investors is in full operation, more jobs will be offered in the province.

In consonance with the establishment of the Royal Hotel, Pineda said the development of the DiosdadoMacapagal International Airport Terminal is expected to go full-blast.

The next five years will see the development of infrastructure and other support facilities around the DMIA which will enhance travel and trade in the area.

Park said having the DMIA and Clark Freeport gives Pampanga great prospects to be a booming area for business, investments and tourism in Asia.

He said his firm sees this potential and that they want to be one of the first to benefit from this by establishing the multi-billion peso hotel project.

“The DMIA in Clark Freeport, which the airport is now being developed to be the country’s premier international gateway,” said Park.

He said this means that there will surely be an expected increase in the number of both local and foreign tourists visiting Pampanga.

He said that since Porac town is just a few kilometers away from the DMIA, it is a “very good place” for investment and holiday destination for tourists.

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Survey:More folks want MP declared a peace zone

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Officials and constituents are divided of declaring this province a peace zone but a recent survey bared more now approve of the concept as proposed by Gov. Leonard Mayaen.

The governor said if Mountain Province is declared a peace zone, the province would be free of operations by the New People’s Army and government military forces or any armed group.

Operations, he added, included recruitment and having physical presence or maintaining headquarters.

The provincial peace and order council chaired by Mayaen, is in favor of the declaration so it would be the job of the police to maintain peace and security.

Barangay officials of the western municipalities of Bauko, Besao, Sagada and Tadian categorically said Yes favoring a peace zone, with no one saying No while six were undecided.

Barangay officials of eastern Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis; Bontoc, Sabangan and Sadanga also registered an overwhelming Yes of 76 votes as against 15 who said No while 10 were undecided.

In Sadanga town, folks were undecided following a consultation led by Mayaen here Sept. 7.

Results of a survey by the provincial government bared 232 persons of Sadanga were undecided of favoring a peace zone, 51 said Yes while 27 said No.

In Sadanga where some 300 Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit members each receive at least P2,700 stipend a month, folks said they were hesitant of a peace zone since their allowance would be stopped.

Senior citizen Cabfiling of Sadanga said there should instead be further recruitment for CAFGU members.

Some folks however were not supportive of the idea.

Barangay captain Ian Lawagon of Belwang said the NPA would go to Sadanga if the province would be declared a peace zone since there would be no government military forces.

Some of Sadanga folks were also hesitant considering an infrastructure project being implemented by the military at the Belwang- Sacasacan Road, saying such project would be discontinued should the province be declared a peace zone.
In Sabangan town, folks said in a consultation said there was no assurance the NPA will leave the province with such setup.

Mayaen said if the province would have no armed groups, village folks would peacefully and freely attend to their farming activities.

Statistics noted 15 incidents of armed fighting between military forces and NPA forces the past five years in the province which dislocated villagers.

Bontoc folks earlier called for a peace zone in Mountain Province in response to heavy fighting between the NPA and the military forces in the recent years within the municipality resulting to folks fearful of going to the fields.

The survey done in Bontoc noted 68 persons in favor of a peace zone and 16 saying No.

No one was undecided in their answers.

In Sabangan during a recent consultation, 51 wanted a peace zone while 33 said No.

The next peace zone consultation is set to be held in the northern barangays of Sagada where both armed groups have been having encounters near Abra.

Heavy fighting between government military forces and the NPAs in the late 80s which resulted to the death of two minors caught in the crossfire, in Sagada which led officials and the community declare the municipality a peace zone in the early ‘90s.

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Relatives of dead OFWs in Baguio, Benguet get money

By Lito Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration released last week financial assistance to the families of three deceased Overseas Filipino Workers in Baguio and Benguet.

OWWA regional director Manuela Peña handed P120,000 cheques each to families of the late OFWs Reynaldo Nijaga, a carpenter in Dubai and Pamela Kinao, a household service worker in Hongkong, both from Baguio.

A P220,000 cheque was also turned over to the family of Bonifacio Landingin Jr. who worked as heavy equipment operator in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Nijaga died of acute heart attack May 11 while Kinao died of acute myocardial infarction last May 27.

Landingin, a native of Mankayan, Benguet, died in a vehicular accident in October last year.

According to Peña, the financial assistance covers the death and burial benefits of the deceased OFWs for being active OWWA members.

She said Landingin’s family received P200,000 death benefits compared to the P100,000 received by the other two families as the cause of his death was accidental.

Meantime, P25,000 each were also released to OFWs Simeon Fawagan and Caesar Pal-og, both residents of Baguio City to cover their disability claims.

Fawagan, a junior (equipment) operator in South Africa needs a physio-theraphy while Pal-og, also an equipment operator in South Africa, needs an ACL reconstruction.
Both OFW suffered work related injuries in their jobsites.

Peña, in an interview, reminded returning OFWs in the region to visit their office so that they can learn about OWWA programs that their family members, may avail of, being active members of OWWA.

Peña also reminded OFWs who will return to their jobsites not to forget to renew their membership saying any uncalled or untoward incidence that they may encounter, OWWA’s assistance and programs will be readily available for them, aside from the skills trainings and scholarship programs of OWWA that can be availed by their immediate family and dependents.

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Nat’l tribal assembly urges gov’t: Address our concerns

BAGUIO CITY — Representatives of indigenous people nationwide cited here last week urged government to address their concerns such as ill-effects brought upon their livelihood, health, food security, cultural integrity, and lands by extreme weather events.

Sen. Loren Legarda, speaking on climate change, said during the meet at Teachers Camp here, “It is lamentable that despite the fact that indigenous peoples contribute the least with respect to carbon emissions due to their simple and sustainable lifestyles and practices, they are most affected by the consequences of climate change.”

Legarda, chairperson of the Senate committees on cultural communities and climate change, said during the assembly of representatives from indigenous cultural communities all over Luzon held at the Teachers Camp here that climate change is also aggravated by irresponsible mining operations.

She echoed the concern of IP leaders who said that aside from the effects of climate change, their ancestral domains are being exploited by some irresponsible local and foreign mining companies who promise livelihood, sow disharmony over their communities and leave them in the end in abject poverty, environmental destruction and, worst, with toxic wastes.

“There is an urgent need to assess the implementation of existing laws that protect the environment and the welfare of indigenous communities. Environmental laws have long been enacted and are in place. All we have to do is implement these existing environmental laws,” she said.

Legarda said that based on the sentiments of the Luzon indigenous peoples during the assembly, she will look into the compliance of existing mining firms with their obligations to protect the environment and the communities where they operate.

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Mayoyao town creates its local housing board

By Dan B. Codamon

MAYOYAO, Ifugao -- This municipality recently created its local housing board called Mayoyao Municipal Housing Board to provide rural poor communities, people’s organizations and non-government organizations more direct participation in planning and implementation of local housing programs.

This is in consonance with Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992 spelling out local government units as its implementing entity for socialized housing.

The MMHB is composed of the municipal mayor as chairman, the vice mayor as vice chairman and the chairperson of the Sangguniang Bayan committee on housing development, municipal planning and development office, municipal engineer, municipal assessor and a representative from the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, and private or business sector as members.

The board is tasked to advise the municipal mayor on matters of sourcing funds for socialized housing on schemes such as build-operate-transfer, bond floatation and other credit financing arrangements, availment of foreign or local grants for which the board is authorized to receive, loan packages from government financing or lending institutions, joint venture projects with private sector or developers and pooling of resources with other LGUs, the private sector and non government organizations.

It is also tasked to oversee the implementation of Section 28 of RA 7279 for eviction and demolition provided that just and humane eviction and demolition procedures are made in the rural areas and shall oversee and coordinate government activities relative to consultation, relocation and resettlement of underprivileged and homeless rural poor dwellers in cases when evictions and demolitions affecting them are necessary and allowed by existing laws.

The municipal government has appropriated one percent of its annual internal revenue allotment for the operations and activities of the MMHB. – PIA

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Ifugao general enjoins folks in nation building

By Vency D. Bulayungan

KIANGAN, Ifugao -- As the veterans and the public commemorated the 66th anniversary of the informal surrender of General Tomoyuki Yamashita to Philippine and American authorities Sept. 2, 1945 in this town, a young Ifugao military officer enjoined the public to participate in nation building.

Speaking to his province mates and visitors from adjoining provinces of Nueva Vizcaya, Mt. Province, Kalinga, Benguet and Baguio City during the opening program, Gen. Francisco Uyami Jr., guest speaker, said “what we can do for the moment is to enjoy our freedom and promote our theme , ‘freedom reigns’ and let us join in nation building by simply being good citizens.”

“Let’s obey the laws and pay our taxes; let’s be good to our neighbors; let us help those who are in need; let us be responsible by not throwing our wastes everywhere; let us not pollute the rivers and engage in destructive cutting of trees, because today our lives are no longer threatened by an invading army but by pollution, soil erosion, lack of water and flood.”

He encouraged the public to take care of the environment and make it a habit to plant one tree at least once a week. “The trees are our sources of water that we drink and the oxygen that we breath, we need water for our homes and for the fields from which we grow our food,” he said.

He also urged the public to help leaders promote good governance saying they have good intentions to guide all citizens into a direction where the province and the nation can achieve peace and progress. “Let us not be the obstacle to all the good programs and projects that our leaders have laid down for us, instead, let us cooperate and support them.But while we stand as one and be united to achieve our vision for a progressive community, let us be vigilant and follow the line that our President Benigno Aquino III is advocating, “Patungo sa Daang Matuwid at landas ng pagbabago.”

He also mentioned the value of education and preservation of the rich culture which should be taught to the younger generation. “It is in education where we gain knowledge, of wisdom and it is through this knowledge or wisdom that will guide us to our future and let us be proud of our customs and traditions and continue to practice and preserve it,” he said. May the 66th victory day anniversary continue to inspire us and to make us understand that we can only be great if we love and defend our country and may we learn from the sacrifices and the heroism of our living and fallen heroes and may we value the freedom that we gained and continue to protect and preserve it.”

Uyami, 51, a lawyer whose parents are from Hingyon and Lagawe, is the first general in Lagawe town.

He is currently the Executive Officer, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon.

He graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1982 and finished law at the Baguio Colleges Foundation in 1989, took up his Masteral Degree at the Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Maynila in 1997 and finished his doctoral degree at the Bicol State University in 2001.

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25 OFW dependents avail of OWWA loan

By Larry Lopez

TABUK, Kalinga -- Twenty five dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers in the province applied for loan assistance after undergoing a two-day orientation given by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

The assistance under OWWA’s Reintegration Program to OFWs grants collateralized loan would be used as start-up capital of OFW dependents for livelihood projects.

OWWA’s reintegration program aims to develop families of OFWs to become self-reliant and lessen their dependence on their OFW relative.

OWWA has a tie-up project with the Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines under a “50-50” capital share scheme for the loans.

DBP and LBP grant a loan amount from P300,000 to P2M, depending on the business proposal and collateral of borrowers, with a maximum paying period of six years and an annual interest of 7.5% to 9% .

Lourdes Canseco of the Labor and Employment Provincial Office here said through the program, OFW dependents are trained to engage in income generating activities, at the same time saving the earnings of their OFW relative. This way, OFW families would not go back to their previous economic state when the work contracts of their relatives end, Canseco explained.

An OWWA study has shown how families of OFWs just squander their money on consumable items and therefore should be oriented on the reintegration program.

During the orientation, OWWA made it clear that borrowers needed to submit land titles as collaterals of the loans, saying this wasdifferent from the grant OWWA was giving to displaced returnees amounting to P10,000 which was collateral-free.

Other conditions for the loan included business plan of the borrower which states his feasibility study and financial statements and certificate of entrepreneurial training showing his capability to run the started business.

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Bontoc road project to start; kinks worked out

By Pamela F. Dungala

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- The 21milion Bontoc-Cadre Road rehabilitation project here will start soon after problems such as traffic and rights of way were ironed out by stakeholders.

Officials of the Mountain Province District Engineering Office led by engineer Benedict Matib, Barangay Caluttit, Bontoc government, Sta. Rita Cathedral, Winifred Ananayo representing the Bontoc General Hospital and representatives of the construction firm agreed rehabilitation of the road was a need.

Provincial district engineer John Marquez who organized the Sept. 14 meeting said an alternative route for the water system traversing the road particularly below the provincial police office compound would have to be re-routed before the start of the project to ensure water supply particularly at the hospital.

Matib said representatives from the construction firm made a plan to prevent closure of the road since it is the only feasible access road to the hospital and to other key offices at Sac-angan, Bontoc.

It was noted some of the properties within the Saint Vincent’s High School will also be affected but affected properties such as fences and water tank would be upgraded.

A groundbreaking ceremony was conducted for the project on Aug. 31but activities were delayed as engineer Jose Banggawan, representative of the Mountaineer’s Engineering and Construction Services, requested during the pre-construction conference that a meeting be scheduled with affected individuals to avoid interruptions during implementation.

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DA allots P10 million for Kalinga rice proj

By Dexter A. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga— The Department of Agriculture allotted P10 million for Kalinga’s rice mechanization program to improve production in the province.

Provincial Agriculturist Gerardo Jose said the allotment will come from the region’s Rice Mechanization and Post Harvest Development Fund aimed at boosting rice production in the Cordillera to help sustain the province’s identity as the rice granary of the region considering the vast track of agricultural lands being used for abundant rice production.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist has submitted its funding proposal to the DA regional office for fund sourcing under the AgrikulturangPinoy program for 2011, in order that funds could already be used by rice farmers in addressing the problems of rice production to sustain the government’s goal of being rice self-sufficient.

Before the expected release this quarter, OPAG is now validating the list of beneficiaries coming from farmer organized groups duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Labor and Employment and Cooperative Development Authority, where deserving rice farmers will be the ones to benefit from the funds.

According to Jose, DA targets farmer groups as beneficiaries because of the 25 to 30 percent equity required from recipients of farm implements to be distributed under the mechanization program, which has been recently adopted by agriculture industry stakeholders to sustain sufficient rice production.

Since the program targets rice sufficiency, Jose said the four major rice producing towns of Tabuk, Rizal, Pinukpuk, and Tanudan in Kalinga are identified as recipient areas so that farmers will be able to realize improved rice production in the coming cropping season, compared to the previous cropping season following the release of the financial assistance from the national government agencies and concerned local governments.

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Mystery shrouds slay of rich bizman, tanod

BANGUED, Abra – Mystery still shrouds the recent shooting to death of a rich businessman here whose wife was allegedly collecting money from his clients without his knowledge and a barangay tanod in Villaviciosa town even as police are conducting investigation to unearth gunmen in both incidents.

A police report said businessman Julius G. Elefante, 44 of Barangay Gabao, Santiago, Ilocos Sur and resident of Barangay Sagayad, San Fernando City, La Union was killed Sept. 7 at about 5:10 p.m. by unidentified suspects at Smart Car Klinik here along Actividad-Economia Street, Zone 1.

Prior to the incident, the victim with his brother identified as Roque, 43, helper and a resident of Imus, Santiago, Ilocos Sur were unloading motor lubricants, battery parts and car tires when two men riding a Fury Kawasaki motorcycle with no plate number suddenly stopped and the back rider shot the victim several times then fled.



The victim was shot in the head and right shoulder and was immediately brought to Abra Provincial Hospital but expired while undergoing medical treatment.

A police team found seven fired bullets.

Police said the victim was sole proprietor/manager engaged in buy and sell of automobiles, dealer of auto parts and lubricants and had several account receivables from various customers amounting to hundreds of thousands in Bangued, Abra, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

His brother RoqueElefante described the gunman as slim built, sporting straight hair, with brown complexion and about 5’3” to 5’5” in height, wearing white T-shirt while the driver of the motorcycle was wearing a black T-shirt with dark complexion.

He said his brother and his wife were arguing lately regarding the collection of debts because the wife allegedly was collecting money without the knowledge of the victim.

Belinda Valdea Elefante, the wife of the victim told police she was with her husband and brother-in-law prior to the incident but alleged that they dropped her at the Jollibee fast food located along Taft Street, Zone 5.

She added when she went to the Smart Car Klinik to see her husband, it was there that she discovered that her husband was shot.

The wife stated in her affidavit that she was not interested in subjecting the cadaver of her husband for autopsy.

Meanwhile in Villaviciosa town, a police report said David P. Sagudang, 27 a resident of Barangay Callao here was shot to death by unidentified suspects Sept. 10 at about 6:30 in the morning.

Investigation bared the victim went to water their rice fields when suddenly five armed men appeared from the creek whom the victim tried to evade but one of the suspects shot him from behind.

The victim sustained a lone gunshot wound on his left back and exited on his left shoulder causing his instant death.

The suspects immediately fled after the incident.

A police team found a spent bullet from a Cal. 5.56 mm.

Police are now trying to determine the motive and identity of the suspects.

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