Bicol revs up economic engine

INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

By Fernan Gianan, Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Mar Arguelles

In this Year of the Water Dragon, Bicol is poised to take off. The optimism stems from the region’s economic growth in previous years as most of its provinces turned to tourism and services to boost their standings. Some, however, were hobbled by challenges brought about by high power costs.
“Last year, Bicol shed off its ‘poorest’ image with a leaping growth rate of 8.2 percent, the highest so far among the other regions and even surpassing the national growth rate,” says Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who is also current chair of the Regional Development Council (RDC).
The economic landscape, Salceda says, “looks different, and the momentum of growth it had taken had been decisive.”
In Albay, the official says he needs to focus on addressing high power costs, which he describes as “the biggest single stumbling block to faster, more sustained and more inclusive economic growth.”
Rising power costs have emerged as the biggest disincentive to more domestic and foreign investments, he adds.
“While provinces like Albay have been providing Luzon with cheap geothermal energy of almost 464 (megawatts) while getting virtually nothing, under Epira (Electric Power Industry Reform Act), (Albay) is now compelled to purchase the same power at WESM (Wholesale Electricity Spot Market) for P7.8 per kilowatt-hour (kWh),” he says.
Salceda says the RDC would endorse flagship infrastructure developments, particularly on multimodal transportation infrastructure and the Bicol River Basin Project which are both under way, and the P3.4-billion Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Daraga town.
“The SLIA is seen to uplift the economy and position of Bicol on the global tourism map,” he says.
CamSur-driven
In the first-class province of Camarines Sur (annual income: more than P450 million), which is embroiled in a politically charged “partition” issue, a sustained boost in the economy fueled by steady tourist arrivals is expected.
Provincial administrator Fermin Mabulo, who spoke in behalf of Gov. Luis “LRay” Villafuerte, says that aside from tourism, the financial standing of the largest province of Bicol was fed by a boom in the housing industry.
The entry of real estate giant Ayala Land in the property adjacent to the Capitol complex would be complemented by the improvement of the facilities of the capitol, including the Camarines Sur Watersports Complex (CWC), he says.
“The improvement of the CWC is included in the overall development of 9,000 square meters of provincial land near the capitol, which would be turned into a convention area as Camarines Sur poises to market itself as the convention hub of the country,” says Mabulo.
While CamSur would be harshly affected by the cut in the internal revenue allotment from the national government this year, he says it would remain an affluent province—even if the proposed Nueva Camarines province materializes. He says the partition could hurt growth plans, but he remains hopeful it would not push through.
In Naga, planning and development coordinator Wilfredo Prilles says the city’s economy did very well amid continuing challenges, mainly coming from a slowdown in the property sector.
Last year, the total number of registered firms grew by 33 percent in terms of new business and renewals, says Prilles. “For 2012, we expect this trend to continue,” he adds.
“We see more businesses opening at the same pace, especially with the PNR (Philippine National Railways) services to Bicol now restored. Tourism will continue to be a sunshine industry, with at least two hotels expecting to operate next year,” he says.
In Iriga, tourism is expected to provide an “additional shot in the arm in the short term” as Iriga stages the second “Gayon Bikol” Festival in February, says city information officer Francisco Peñones Jr.
Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesperson of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur, sees “improving peace situation” as the government’s anti-insurgency program that was implemented starting last year “was slowly harvesting its fruits.”
He claims that more communist rebels will go back to the fold of the law because of dwindling mass support.
Sick man no more
For Camarines Norte, Mayor Tito Sarion of Daet expects a booming year for Bicol’s longtime sick man as the capital town welcomes businesses that provide amenities taken for granted by more urbanized areas.
The “newcomers,” Sarion says, includes Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which has started installing facilities.
Daet is also undergoing an urban renewal program, including the construction of an integrated terminal, a well-lit plaza, and a renovated government center.
Evelyn de Leon, chair of the small and medium enterprises council of the province, says the entry of McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, Liberty Commercial complex and other investors augurs well for Camarines Norte.
She says the inactive Bagasbas Airport in Daet is being refurbished starting 2013.
The influx of tourists in the Calaguas group of islands is another boost, along with the growing popularity of the province as a water sports destination.
But De Leon says a slowdown is expected in the mining industry because of the nonissuance of permits to small-scale miners by the provincial government.
Looking bright
In Sorsogon, Gov. Raul Lee expects an improved situation, pinning the fortune of the province mainly on tourism.
“On the peace and order side, we are relatively peaceful. On the economic side, business in the province is relatively slow.” Lee says.
He says he is hoping that 2012 will be a year of less crime and improved economy for the province famous for the butanding or whale sharks that feed off its shores.
In Masbate, Placer Mayor Joshur Judd Lanete, son of Gov. Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, sees a rosy future despite the province being put in bad light due to political violence and criminality.
“The economy and peace and order situations are looking bright. With the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, it seems that the people feel safer already. It bodes well for the tourism industry in the province,” he says.
Prospects are up in Catanduanes despite a significant drop in the buying prices of abaca fiber and a steep rise in power rates beginning this month, according to Ireneo Panti, Jr., provincial director of the Departmentof Trade and Industry. The island produces 20 percent of the country’s annual production.
Panti says the plunge in the price of abaca fiber has kept businessmen worried even as the trade in abaca bacbac (dried leaf sheaths) continues to expand.
Over 20,000 farmers and their families depend on the abaca industry for subsistence.
Catanduanes is also burdened by the unreliable and expensive cost of power, with the Energy Regulatory Commission recently approving six petitions to increase power rates filed by National Power Corp. to recover losses in fuel costs and foreign exchange fluctuations.
The increases, which will bring the cost of residential power to over P12 per kWh, will be implemented over the next four years.
Bishop Manolo delos Santos and Provincial Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council chair Rene Abella have appealed to Malacañang to defer the power-rate increases. They suggested that these be stretched over six years to cushion their impact on consumers.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

DA Sec to distribute agri fund to 200 beneficiaries in Sorsogon

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon, Jan. 25 (PIA) — Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, Proceso J. Alcala will be awarding checks, including agricultural comprehensive scholarships to farmers, fisher folks and irrigators, a total of 200 beneficiaries on Jan. 26 at the Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium under the “Agrikultura: Kaagapay ng Bayang Pinoy (AKBAY)” program.

The beneficiaries were previously identified and have undergone validation by the four different attached agencies of DA as those that need immediate intervention to implement programs here in the province.

From the Fiber Development Authority (FIDA), 30 farmers will receive assistance on abaca development. Forty coconut farmers from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will be granted funds while 30 fisher folks from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and 100 irrigators from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) shall also benefit.

The AKBAY program is a mechanism for poverty alleviation given to identified provinces through the provision of livelihood and employment opportunities and augmenting the source of income of the farm households.

It also aims to strengthen the capabilities of marginalized sectors to involve and empower them in decision making processes.

This program was conceptualized by the National Agriculture and Fishery Council which is under the DA and will be implemented in tandem with the DA regional offices, the local government units and the local agriculture and fishery councils.

Alcala, assisted by Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee, will be handing in checks and award the Agricultural Comprehensive Enhancement Fund (ACEF) Scholarship to farmer beneficiaries.

Sorsogon has been identified as one of the AKBAY beneficiaries and was awarded P2.09-million assistance through the implementation of the different programs of the several attached agencies.

Ten more beneficiaries identified through the AKBAY will be awarded P10,000 each for agri-business.

Together with Alcala are DA-5 regional director Dr. Jose V. Dayao, PCA-5 regional manager Eduardo Allorde, DA-5 regional technical director for Research and Regulations Edgar R. Madrid, who will present the programs and project of DA.

Expected to attend are the mayors their municipal agricultural officers and heads of offices of the attached agencies under the DA here. (MAL/IAG/PIA-5)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

A Touching Story of a Doctor

Guys, I came across this Touching story of a Doctor. Please read this story and I hope it will inspire your day too! Dios Mabalos po saido gabos!

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father going and coming in the hall waiting for the doctor. Once seeing him, the dad yelled:
“Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have the sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled and said:
“I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came the fastest I could after receiving the call…… And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??” said the father angrily

The doctor smiled again and replied: “I will say what Job said in the Holy Book “From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”

“Giving advice when we’re not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy,
“Thank goodness!, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any question, ask the nurse!!”

“Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state” Commented the father when seeing the nurse minutes after the doctor left.

The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: “His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Heart Attack Symptoms You Are Most Likely to Ignore

Source: Yahoo Health
Melanie Haiken

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Pay Attention to Your Ticker

Heart attacks don’t always strike out of the blue — there are many symptoms we can watch for in the days and weeks leading up to an attack. But the symptoms may not be the ones we expect. And they can be different in men and women, and different still in older adults. Last year, for example, a landmark study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Institute found that 95 percent of women who’d had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms in the weeks and months before the attack — but the symptoms weren’t the expected chest pain, so they went unrecognized.
Don’t let that happen to you. Here are 10 heart symptoms you’re likely to ignore — and shouldn’t.
1. Indigestion or Nausea

One of the most oft-overlooked signs of a heart attack is nausea and stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild indigestion to severe nausea, cramping, and vomiting. Others experience a cramping-style ache in the upper belly. Women and adults over age 60 are more likely to experience this symptom and not recognize it as tied to cardiac health.
Most cases of stomach ache and nausea aren’t caused by a heart attack, of course. But watch out for this sign by becoming familiar with your own digestive habits; pay attention when anything seems out of the ordinary, particularly if it comes on suddenly and you haven’t been exposed to stomach flu and haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary.

2. Jaw, Ear, Neck, or Shoulder Pain

A sharp pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is an indicator of heart attack, but many people don’t experience heart attack pain this way at all. Instead, they may feel pain in the neck or shoulder area, or it may feel like it’s running along the jaw and up by the ear. Some women specifically report feeling the pain between their shoulder blades.
A telltale sign: The pain comes and goes, rather than persisting unrelieved, as a pulled muscle would. This can make the pain both easy to overlook and difficult to pinpoint. You may notice pain in your neck one day, none the next day, then after that it might have moved to your ear and jaw. If you notice pain that seems to move or radiate upwards and out, this is important to bring to your doctor’s attention.
3. Sexual Dysfunction

Having trouble achieving or keeping erections is common in men with coronary artery disease, but they may not make the connection. Just as arteries around the heart can narrow and harden, so can those that supply the penis — and because those arteries are smaller, they may show damage sooner. One survey of European men being treated for cardiovascular disease found that two out of three had suffered from erectile dysfunction before they were ever diagnosed with heart trouble.

4. Exhaustion or Fatigue

A sense of crushing fatigue that lasts for several days is another sign of heart trouble that’s all too often overlooked or explained away. Women, in particular, often look back after a heart attack and mention this symptom. More than 70 percent of women in last year’s NIH study, for example, reported extreme fatigue in the weeks or months prior to their heart attack.
The key here is that the fatigue is unusually strong — not the kind of tiredness you can power through but the kind that lays you flat out in bed. If you’re normally a fairly energetic person and suddenly feel sidelined by fatigue, a call to your doctor is in order.

5. Breathlessness and Dizziness

When your heart isn’t getting enough blood, it also isn’t getting enough oxygen. And when there’s not enough oxygen circulating in your blood, the result is feeling unable to draw a deep, satisfying breath — the same feeling you get when you’re at high elevation. Additional symptoms can be light-headedness and dizziness. But sadly, people don’t attribute this symptom to heart disease, because they associate breathing with the lungs, not the heart.
In last year’s NIH study, more than 40 percent of women heart attack victims remembered experiencing this symptom. A common description of the feeling: “I couldn’t catch my breath while walking up the driveway.”

6. Leg Swelling or Pain

When the heart muscle isn’t functioning properly, waste products aren’t carried away from tissues by the blood, and the result can be edema, or swelling caused by fluid retention. Edema usually starts in the feet, ankles, and legs because they’re furthest from the heart, where circulation is poorer. In addition, when tissues don’t get enough blood, it can lead to a painful condition called ischemia. Bring swelling and pain to the attention of your doctor.

7. Sleeplessness, Insomnia, and Anxiety

This is an odd one doctors can’t yet explain. Those who’ve had heart attacks often remember experiencing a sudden, unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month or weeks before their heart attack. (Note: If you already experience insomnia regularly, this symptom can be hard to distinguish.)
Patients often report the feeling as one of being “keyed up” and wound tight; they remember lying in bed with racing thoughts and sometimes a racing heart. In the NIH report, many of the women surveyed reported feeling a sense of “impending doom,” as if a disaster were about to occur. If you don’t normally have trouble sleeping and begin to experience acute insomnia and anxiety for unexplained reasons, speak with your doctor.

8. Flu-like Symptoms

Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling light-headed, fatigued, and weak, leads some people to believe they’re coming down with the flu when, in fact, they’re having a heart attack. Even the feeling of heaviness or pressure in the chest — typical of some people’s experience in a heart attack — may be confused with having a chest cold or the flu.
If you experience severe flu-like symptoms that don’t quite add up to the flu (no high temperature, for example), call your doctor or advice nurse to talk it over. Watch out also for persistent wheezing or chronic coughing that doesn’t resolve itself; that can be a sign of heart disease, experts say. Patients sometimes attribute these symptoms to a cold or flu, asthma, or lung disease when what’s happening is that poor circulation is causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs.

9. Rapid-fire Pulse or Heart Rate

One little-known symptom that sometimes predates a heart attack is known as ventricular tachycardia, more commonly described as rapid and irregular pulse and heart rate. During these episodes, which come on suddenly, you feel as if your heart is beating very fast and hard, like you just ran up a hill — except you didn’t. “I’d look down and I could actually see my heart pounding,” one person recalled. It can last just a few seconds or longer; if longer, you may also notice dizziness and weakness.
Some patients confuse these episodes with panic attacks. Rapid pulse and heartbeat that aren’t brought on by exertion always signal an issue to bring to your doctor’s attention.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Imposition of higher city realty tax, alarms landowners

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 20 (PIA) — Landowners here in the city of Sorsogon are alarmed by the higher imposition of realty taxes that were implemented starting the first day of this year, 2012.

According to most of these landowners, the imposition of higher taxes was enacted by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan in the Provincial Ordinance No 01-2011 last July 18, 2011 and once implemented this year, would mean a very high mark up in their payments.

Landowners are reacting and would like to request for a dialogue with the local officials since abaca, coconut, and other agricultural products do not provide high profit since there is little value added to these products; also, there is the issue of high cost of farm inputs.

A total of 54 landowners who attended the committee hearing said that the increase seems to be high.

On top of this, homeowners have to pay the realty tax of their houses, which they consider as non-profit assets thereby making the payment of taxes for agricultural land and for their residences as exhorbitant.

The increase in the realty taxes range from 38 percent and above as compared to that of the previous rate of previous years.

Sorsogon City councilor Nestor J. Baldon, author of the said ordinance, said that under the local government code of 1991, the city of Sorsogon is mandated to enact an ordinance providing for the fair market value of all real properties based now on its assessed fair market value.

He also explained that since the city was established in 2000, it has implemented a tax moratorium, meaning that no increase in realty tax was implemented for the past 11 years.

He said that with the current market value of real property here in the city, there is also a need to upgrade the tax increase implementation to enhance the eroding tax base for realty taxes.

Baldon explained that the preparation of the tax revenue code is guided by the rules and regulations issued by the Department of Finance and that under the local government code, local government units has to undertake a general revision of property assessment once every three years.

The city of Sorsogon is almost on its eleventh year and based on the Local Government Code it should have undergone a three time increase in taxes.

The five-year grace period of tax moratorium has been made and according to councilor Baldon, the increase in realty taxes this year will also become an economic mechanism for development since the lifeblood of any local government is the generation of taxes. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Siltation of waterways down Mt. Bulusan alarming, says DOST

by Danny O. Calleja

SORSOGON CITY — There is an alarming state of siltation in the major river and all its tributaries that serve as receiving ends of volcanic debris swept down by rain waters from the slopes and crevices of Bulusan Volcano, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

All smaller tributaries of Cadac-an River, the main river system that traverses the municipalities of Juban and Irosin are now heavily silted even as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had recently conducted dredging operations, Gerry Asuncion, the DOST provincial chief said here on Wednesday.
The huge volume of lahar and other volcanic debris stored at the slopes of Mt. Bulusan during its series of eruptions starting since about three years ago and cascaded with rain waters into these river system brought about these siltation, said Asuncion as he warned local disaster management authorities and residents against its consequences.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Newborn care program sought in Sorsogon

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Sorsogon Rep. Deogracias Ramos Jr. is seeking the implementation of mother and newborn care programs in the province, saying that this would help reduce deaths in childbirth.

“Bicol faces a great challenge in lowering maternal and infant deaths. There is an immediate need to identify barriers, standardize maternal and newborn care services and strengthen the health system in the region so expectant mothers and newborns receive the highest standard of care in government and private hospitals,” Ramos said in a press statement.

The lawmaker noted that hospitals that have implemented the program have reported savings, improved birthing experience for the mother, lower neonatal intensive care unit admissions and higher breastfeeding rates.

He also said that local government officials should allocate resources properly to ensure that the public receives the best health care possible.

The statement said an estimated 82,000 Filipino children die every year before they even reach 5 years old. From this number, almost a half are newborns or less than 28 days old.

In the Bicol region alone, infant deaths per 1,000 live births rose to 11.1 in 2010 from 8.61 in 2009.

A team of doctors practicing Essential Intrapartum Newborn Care held a maternal and newborn care training from January 11 to 13 in the second district of Sorsogon.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Mild quake hits Catanduanes

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

MANILA — State seismologists on Wednesday recorded a magnitude 4 earthquake in the island province of Catanduanes but no damages or aftershocks are expected.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake occurred 27 kilometers southeast of Virac town at 1 p.m.
The quake had a depth of 30 kilometers, the agency said as Intensity 4 was felt in Cabid-an, Sorsogon City; Intensity 3 in Juban, Sorsogon; and Intensity 2 in Virac, Viga, and Bato, Catanduanes and Legaspi City. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Local gov’t optimistic on Gubat tourism development

by Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, January 10 (PIA) -– The municipal government of Gubat is determined to develop and promote their tourism industry to both domestic and foreign tourists to prove that it is more fun in the coastal town of Gubat.

Municipal tourism officer Rebecca Ermino said that they are currently in the process of conducting dialogue to resort owners as well as to local officials of barangays in Gubat with potential tourism sites so as to know their respective tourism development plans and to give them assistance, if needed.

Ermino said they have already established resorts and other tourism sites where tourists, local and foreign have frequently visited already, but they wanted to make sure that best services will be offered to them so tourists would get beyond what they have spent.

Among the tourism destinations that Gubat takes pride with are Rizal Beach in Brgy. Rizal located 5 kms south of the town, which hosted the 9th edition of Philippine Hobie (PhilHobie) Challenge on February 2009.

“It is famous because aside from its fine-off-white and gradually sloping beach along a still very intact coast, its shoreline is also best for campfire and beach games,” she said.

Ermino also said that aside from the numerous resorts, they also promote their Liang Caves found in Brgy. Togawe, Kalayukai Beach, Dankalan Beach located at the south eastern cove of the town in between Brgy. Pinotingan and Ariman, Gubat Cadaop Spring in Brgy. Bentuco and Handawan Island in Brgy. Cogon.

Gubat town is now also being recognized as the Surfing Capital of Sorsogon gaining positive feedback from local and foreign tourists due to its big surfing waves that could thrill both swimmers and surfers. The sand bottom beach breaks of Brgys.

Ariman and Buenavista which produces 2-5 feet waves is also considered as a beginner friendly surfing spot especially during the months of September to May.

With the formation of Gubat Bay Surfers by Bidge Villarroya and surfboards donated by the Local Government Unit under Mayor Ding Ramos, surfing is more accessible to the local population and tourists alike.

Aside from the invigorating beaches, Gubat town also offers tourists with scrumptious native delicacies such as baked “Timitim”, which is similar to cassava cake made up from grated cassava, mixed with coconut milk, sugar, vanilla and pili nuts and the steamed “Kinagang” made of crayfish meat mixed with strips of young coconut and leaves of mint (herba buena) and wrapped in a very special type of leaves known as “hagikhik” which is believed to be the secret of the delicacy.
Gubat is a 2nd class municipality with 42 barangays. (MAL/BAR, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Ordinance on standards for low cost typhoon resistant housing mulled

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, January 10 (PIA) — Warned by the impact of typhoons and how to promote awareness among people in typhoon prevalent areas, the Sangguniang Panlungsod here is mulling to pass an ordinance to institute standards on typhoon resistant low cost housing.

Tito Fortes said the city government through the assistance of the UN Habitat Foundation Urban Planning (UNHFUP) has already piloted here several houses that have been retrofitted according to the standards of typhoon resistant housing following set by the UNFUP.

These houses are located in the six pilot-barangays here in the city that has been constructed/ retrofitted and have become the proto-type model for low cost housing typhoon resistant houses.

The Sanggunian Bayan through the assistance of the UN Habitat Foundation will formulate the criteria that will be followed as a pioneering accomplishment of the city to mitigate the effects of natural calamities and will be contained in a tool kit that will be the basis for assessment of houses specially those located in the shorelines of the different barangays here.

Fortes also explained that the thrust of the city now is to make people more aware in the style of houses that will be more resistant and assess location where houses should be built that will be contained in the city urban planning mechanisms in creating resilient communities.

The city engineering office here, according to Fortes, is conducting the rapid assessment and profiling of communities within the areas indicated as highly vulnerable to certain kinds of climatic conditions and the proper mitigation will be part of the city ordinance housing standards.

He also explained that the standards set for the creation of typhoon resistant houses will partly be provided funding coming from the international funding agencies of the CCAM program, from the disaster risk reduction fund assistance projects and local government budgetary allocation for urban planning.

He also said that hand in hand all other departments have forge their efforts to arrive at a city action plan and cascade it to the community action plan so that necessary implementable doable projects can be cooperatively accomplished specifically along housing standards.

The identified highly six vulnerable areas here under the UN Habitat program will be constantly provided capacity enhancement trainings on governance skills, bench markings of environmental situations and the vigilance mind set especially in promoting disaster risk reduction efforts within the confines of their homes.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Massive mangrove project to bring fireflies to Donsol

By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer

A shower of flying “stars” will soon accompany whale sharks in Donsol, Sorsogon province, thanks to a massive mangrove planting project on the coast of one of the country’s top tourist draws.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines started to plant 10,000 mangrove seedlings in Donsol’s Sibago village last December to enhance and protect the ecosystem that is shared by whale sharks and tiny organisms like plankton and fireflies.

The mangroves enrich nutrients along the coast and in the water, attracting both whale sharks and fireflies, the WWF said.

“Whale sharks congregate in Donsol because of the plankton. Plankton consume nutrients discharged by Donsol’s still-healthy rivers, one of the few habitats where fireflies still thrive,” said WWF-Philippines project manager Raul Burce.

“Remove mangroves and the fireflies shall be driven off. Without the healthy rivers needed by fireflies, plankton populations cannot bloom and the whale sharks will migrate elsewhere. If one component crashes, the others follow suit. This can be catastrophic for the people of Donsol,” Burce said.

The project in Donsol came on the heels of the government’s new tourism campaign with the slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”

The WWF said Donsol was an example of how good environmental management and tourism programs could improve the lives of communities.

WWF-Philippines CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan said: “The key here is balance. Without it, the productivity of our natural systems will crash. Strike a balance between conservation and development, and we can ensure sustainability.”

Donsol’s economy has boomed as tourists flock to its waters to see the whale sharks.

A total of 24,191 local and foreign visitors swam with the gentle giants from December to June 2011.

Donsol’s municipal tourism office estimated that the 2010 season alone generated more than P100 million from transportation, food, lodging, registration fees, and whale shark, mangrove and firefly tours.

Around P20 million was retained by the local government, bolstering incomes and improving lives.
Known in Filipino as “bakawan,” mangroves are considered to be one of the most productive of marine habitats—able to generate 500 kilograms of seafood per hectare annually.

The roots of the trees provide shelter for marine life, and their fallen leaves are used for food.

The roots of the mangroves also absorb heavy trace metals, minimizing coastal erosion and preventing inland saltwater contamination.

Mangroves also protect the soil from erosion and the communities from storm surges caused by typhoons. This is important for the residents of Donsol as they live in a region frequented by tropical storms.

The importance of mangroves in the Philippines, with its 36,289 kilometers of coastline and a largely shore-borne population, has been recognized by the environment and agriculture departments.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture earmarked P237.5 million for the planting of new mangroves and the setting up of “aquasilvi” projects in coastal communities.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also included mangroves as a priority area in its national greening program.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

40 Bicol towns identified as geo-hazard areas

By Media Solutions

LEGASPI CITY, Philippines – Forty municipalities in Bicol Region are highly susceptible to natural disasters with the provinces of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes being on top of the lists, the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau office here revealed. Of the number, 26 municipalities are high risk for flooding while 14 towns are highly susceptible to landslides. Luis Loyola, MGB regional director, said these areas were identified following the completion of the 50,000-scale Bicol geo-hazard mapping done by his office under the Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Project (GMAP) A more detailed 10,000-scale map is now being undertaken with the province of Albay as the primary focus, he said. Arlene Dayao, supervising geologist and head of the Geosciences Division, said geo-hazard maps had been distributed to LGUs, including barangay officials since they are the ones on the front lines. “We have already informed the local government units of these hazard areas and MBG had conducted series of seminars to explain the details of our findings,” she said in an interview with Media Solutions. Dayao said it was crucial that local officials of these hazard areas consider the data contained in the maps in coming up with their disaster-risk reduction plans as well as their land use maps to avoid disasters that might hit vulnerable areas. Local officials should no longer allow human habitation on areas that had been identified as high-risk for flooding and landslides, she stressed. Based on the geo-hazard mapping conducted by the MGB, almost half of Camarines Sur’s municipalities are classified as high risk areas for flooding, which include the towns of Baao, Bato, Bombon, Buhi, Bula, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Gainza, Libmanan, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Nabua and San Fernando which are mostly part of the Bicol River Basin. Dayao said the Bato- Baao areas serve as catch basin of flood waters from Albay before it flow north up to Naga City and San Fernando. Three towns in Albay- Libon, Oas and Polangui are also classified as flood-prone areas together with the municipalities of Bato and Viga in Catanduanes, Juban in Sorsogon, Mercedez, Talisay and Vinzons in Camarines Norte. The cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Naga were classified as moderately susceptible to floodings. Meanwhile, Catanduanes has been identified as the most landslide-prone province in the region based on the same study conducted by MGB. “Mainly it’s because rock formations in that province are already old and cracked and many of its mountains are covered with thick soil which erode during heavy rains” Dayao explained. She also attributed the hazard to the past commercial logging activities that occurred in Catanduanes wherein illegal cutting of trees still happens until now. Dayao identified the towns of Caramoran, Gigmoto, San Andres and Viga as the most flood-prone together with Manito, Sto Domingo and Tiwi in Albay, Capalonga and Labo in Camarines Norte, Pasacao and Sangay in Camarines Sur, Baleno in Masbate and Juban and Magallanes in Sorsogon province. The cities of Ligao and Sorsogon were listed as moderately prone to landslides. Aside from the flooding and landslides, Dayao also warned of another geohazard especially in the province of Sorsogon. The MGB official said ground subsidence or sink holes are observed in at least three areas in the province, the towns of Gubat and Prieto-Diaz, in the district of Bacon in Sorsogon City and in Guinobatan, Albay. She said sink hole, which vary in depths, usually occurs when lime stones underground are dissolved and carried away by underground water or when the roof of an underground cave collapses.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Snorkeling with whale sharks

By Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos

Cebu Daily News

Two of our children had the distinct privilege of experiencing what they described as an incredibly “amazing” dive with whale sharks, also known as butanding and tuki (in Cebuano), at Donsol, Sorsogon. The place is world-famous for the abundance of the gentle giants in its waters, from November to May. Whale sharks are also spotted at Sogod Bay in Leyte. Apparently, warm seawaters teeming with planktons and krill attract whale sharks to said areas. The Philippines is identified as one of the fourteen whale shark hotspot countries in the world. (www.whalesharkproject.org)
The news about the tuki’s presence in the municipal waters of Oslob, in Cebu, stirred a lot of excitement in not a few residents, this writer and our clan members included. Having the chance to snorkel with the gentle giants of the tropical seas was an unexpected dream come true during the holiday break. However, while it was unforgettable, the possible effects of the manual feeding of whale sharks, and the unregulated numbers of tourists and bancas converging in the area is worrisome.
The whale shark is listed as “vulnerable” in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List (www.iucnredlist.org). It faces real danger of extinction, if conservation measures are not undertaken.
Our country committed to conserve and protect wildlife, including whale sharks, as a signatory of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Bonn Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Republic Act No. 9147, the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, penalizes killing, trading and any form of maltreatment and/or inflicting injury upon whale sharks and wildlife. Under the CMS and RA 9147, we are duty-bound to conserve and protect the whale sharks and their habitats “to promote ecological balance and enhance biological diversity” and “to pursue, with due regard to the national interest, the Philippine commitment to international conventions, protection of wildlife and their habitats.”
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has jurisdiction over all declared critical aquatic habitats, all aquatic resources including but not limited to all fishes, aquatic plants, invertebrates and all marine mammals, except dugong. For the implementation of International agreement on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and fora, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the DA is entrusted as the management authority for aquatic resources (section 19, RA 9741).
To provide advice to BFAR as a management authority, the designated scientific authorities for aquatic/marine species are the BFAR, the University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Science Institute, UP Visayas, Siliman University and the National Museum and other agencies as may be designated by the Secretary.
Former president Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo issued Administrative Order 282, where the Philippine Navy, the Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Command, the DA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and concerned local government units were directed to “coordinate with academe and marine fisheries expert to locate, monitor, and protect the whale sharks’ pathways in Philippine waters.” In addition, the National Bureau of Investigation and National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice were ordered to step up the investigation, filing, and prosecution of criminal cases involving violation of laws, rules and regulations on the protection of whale sharks.” (www.mb.com.ph/node/ 250830/gma-move)
Is feeding of the whale sharks in Oslob detrimental and a violation of our laws? BFAR and the aforementioned scientific authorities must already intervene and coordinate with the local government units on this issue. Hopefully guidelines will soon be issued for all stakeholders to comply.
Many scientists believe that whale sharks should not be manually fed as this will impact their behavior, foster dependency, apart from consequences that are not safe to both the tuki and humans.
“Whale sharks are passive creatures and can be agitated by aggressive behavior such as being touched, or chased. It is as much a diver’s responsibility as anyone’s to ensure the survival of Whale Sharks for future generations. This means causing minimal disturbance to the sharks when approaching by boat or when diving. Although whale sharks are harmless, their sheer size makes it necessary to exercise caution around them, especially at the tail end.” (www.whalesharkproject.org)
It is most important that stakeholders be educated on what constitutes responsible behavior in the inter-action with whale sharks. A Whale Shark Code of Conduct was developed by The Shark Trust, the Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management and PADI and the Project AWARE Foundation, both for the safety of divers and of the whale sharks, and also by Donsol, http://tourism.albay.gov.ph/butandingnotes.html, as follows:
1. Do not attempt to touch, ride, or chase a whale shark.
2. Do not restrict normal movement or behavior of the shark.
3. Maintain a minimum distance of 3 meters from the whale shark and at least 4 meters from its tail.
4. Do not undertake flash photography.
5. Do not use underwater motorized diver propulsions.
We cannot over-stress the importance of respect for the whale sharks. Noise should be avoided and the required distance maintained. Feeding and touching the may cause harm. While it is normal to be stupefied by their humongous but gentle presence, our over-excitement might just drive them away, or worse, cause them and the swimmers harm. It is a big loss on “environmental, ecological, genetic, scientific, aesthetic, recreational, cultural, educational, social and economic” grounds, if the whale sharks chose to change their migratory route and by-pass Cebu, should our behavior threaten their tranquil existence.
The tuki’s charm might just make political authorities more conscious of the need to conserve and protect our biological wealth and implement our long-languishing environmental laws, coinciding with the UN Decade on Biodiversity (2010-2020).

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Sorsogon City children’s park and wellness center in the pipeline

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 6 (PIA) — Sorsogon City will be uplifting the landscape of the area by including a Children’s Park and Wellness Center beside the city hall by 2012.

According to Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic R. Deoneda, the proposed Children’s Park will have a more environmentally sound feature – the existing trees will be retained, more greenery will be provided, and there will be more open space to allow children to play in a safe area.

Deoneda said that the open space in front of the city hall has become a favorite spot for families; it has become one of the best areas most visited.

People who love to brisk walk in the mornings and even in the evenings, those who exercise, or just to stroll have been using the open space near the city hall.

“I have seen that there is still a need to have more open space to allow people within the city enjoy their morning or afternoon walks and I have also seen the park in front the city hall now become a family bonding place especially during Saturdays and Sundays,” he said.

“The need to have additional separate park for the children where they can enjoy and at the same time be safe is now part of the urban planning mechanism to address the need to create safer cities and Sorsogon City is one of the emerging cities now that has heeded this call,” he said.

“The Wellness Center will also allow people of all ages to have physical exercise in an area big enough to accommodate people who would like to flex their muscles for stamina and health development and maintenance,” he said.

The direction of the city is now towards the human development and environmental conservation so that all facilities and structures that will be constructed will conform to address wellness and the effects of climate change.

He also said that there are still other projects in the pipeline for 2012 to include smoother traffic flow, management of solid wastes, creation of safer facilities for work, enjoyment and other activities, and development that conforms to the global needs as a way to implement good governance.

He also said that such infrastructure or development like parks and centers will always be in synch with the climate change adaptation and mitigation mechanism as this is now the in thing in developing cities.

He also underscored the need for the constituency to help him in becoming aware of how to safeguard these facilities being provided by the city government and take good care of them as if its their own.(MAL/IAG-PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Sorsogon City to implement synchronized barangay patrol system

by Bennie A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Jan 6 (PIA) –- Sorsogon City police chief PSupt Edgardo Ardales said that the city police is now in the process of synchronizing the barangay patrol system among barangay tanods and the Philippine National Police (PNP) force to ensure peace, order and security in all barangays here.

“The responsibility of ensuring peace and security in the barangay lies primarily on barangay officials and barangay police (tanod), and men of PNP is at all time available to render service to the general public according to their mandate and ensure that the whole community is secured and free from all forms of harm.”

Ardales bared that among his plans and priorities for 2012 is to hold dialogue with all barangay officials across the city to discuss with them some crime mitigation efforts and forge partnership with them in order to make sure that the efforts as planned and implemented will not be put to waste.

“I am planning of entering into an agreement with barangay officials and tanods in terms of a systematic implementation of a patrol system where tanods and policemen assigned in the area will take turns ensuring that no areas will be left unattended to,” the official said.

He also specifically mentioned that electrification in dark areas and the visibility of barangay tanods through the assistance of PNP personnel in the area are a must in all barangays.

He likewise said he wanted to know the difficulties experienced by the barangay police in patrolling or conducting rounds especially that reports have reached his office that some barangays in the city do not really have existing barangay tanods.(MAL/BAR, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Gubat National High School popondohan ng mahigit P20-M

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, January 5 (PIA) – Naghayag ng malaking kasiyahan si Gubat Municipal Mayor Ronnel Lim matapos na mapaglaanan ng pondo ang Gubat National High School.

Ayon sa ulat, aabot sa P27-M ang inilaang pondo para sa personal services habang aabot naman sa P2 milyon ang pondong inilaan para sa maintenance at iba pang operational services ng nasabing paaralan ngayong taon.

Ayon sa alkalde, ang nasabing pondo ay galing sa General Appropriations Act na magbibigay ng malaking tulong para sa nasabing paaralan.

Matandaang ilang ulit na ring napatunayan ng Gubat National High School ang galing ng kanilang mga mag-aaral sa larangan ng pakikipagtagisan ng kaalaman sa ibang mga paaralan hindi lamang sa bayan ng Gubat kundi maging sa labas ng lalawigan.

Isa na dito ang pagkakapanalo ng mga mag-aaral nito sa isinagawang final showcase ng Project Citizen: Promoting Democratic Values in Sorsogon.

Ang Project Citizen ay isang research-based project para sa mga kabataan na tinutulungan ng Spanisg government. Sinasanay nito ang mga mag-aaral sa larangan ng policy development at art of lobbying.

Mula sa mga natutunan nila ay maaari nang sila na mismo ang gumawa ng policy advocacy o di kaya’y alternatibong solusyon na maipiprisinta nila sa kani-kanilang mga opisyal sa barangay kung saan sila kabilang. (PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

HAPPY NEW YEAR SORSOGON

Yes,,,in just a few hours from now. New Year Eve is one of the happiest celebrations where in we give our best wishes, messages and quotes to our families, friends and love ones.

It’s the time for us to look back from the past and reflecting on the changes we want to make for ourselves. Most importantly, this is the best time for us to give thanks to Father God for all the blessings we have received for this year 2011.

Have a happy and prosperous New Year 2012. May the blessings of the Lord enrich your family and friends, not only in wealth but in health, love and happiness!!

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Top 12 Cool Interesting Facts About 2012

By Brian Fieldstone

Aside from the obvious Mayan Calendar and Biblical references, there are also some interesting factoids spawning all over the web that would really add up to the end-of-the-world scenario. Some are interesting, some are funny, and most are just weirdly connected. Want to know them all?

1) The 2012 Olympics will be held in that great city of the World London.

2) NASA predicts that a great meteor will narrowly miss the earth in 2012.

3) The Vatican holds very closely to the Prophecy of St. Malachy. This Medieval Monk had described, one by one, a total of 112 popes until Doomsday. The current Pope, Benedict XVI is the 111th named Pope. Only one Pope remains. And he has a name: Peter the Roman.

4) There are exactly 2012 days between the June 20 2007 Summer solstice and the December 21 2012 Winter solstice.

5) It is anticipated that the last son of the KGB, Vladimir Putin, will return to rule Russia in 2012.

6) The Times News Network predicts that global financial markets will crash in 2012.

7) An elder of the New Zealand Maori reports that the Maoris have taught for centuries that the great curtain over the world will be “torn” in 2012.

8) According to numerology, every number has a corresponding letter associated with it. Reading the date as a number, 12-21-12, it translates into A-B-B-A-A-B. Reading it from left to right, it becomes BA ABBA. In Hebrew, a language read from left to right, it means “Father comes / Father is coming”.

9) Did you know that the Earth has a heartbeat? Yes! It is called the Schumann Cavity Resonance, the frequency of the Earth. Since its discovery up ’til 1986 the Earth’s “heartbeat” was a constant 7.8 Hertz per second. Since then it raised dramatically up to 10 Hertz per second, up to 1998. After that, magnetic properties of the Earth dramatically dropped and is expected to reach its zero point on… 2012.

10) When viewed from above, the layout of the three Giza Pyramids in Egypt coincides with the shape that will be assumed by the three stars which make up the belt of the constellation Orion on December 21, 2012.

11)World oil consumption is beginning to peak through the abuse and misuse of the earth’s natural resources, and it is predicted that oil consumption will peak in 2012.

12)The alignment of Sun, Moon and the earth on December 21, 2012 is significant because gravitational release of hidden asteroids can take place.

Feel free to visit for more Cool Interesting Facts About 2012.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Fieldstone

Filed under: Upcoming Events , 2012, 2012 Apocalypse end of the world, 2012 isn't the end of the world, 2012 phenomenon, December 21 2012, Earth, Facts About 2012, Maya calendar, Maya civilization, Mayan year 2012 stirs doomsayers, NASA, Times News Network

Mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan nagbigay babala sa publiko ukol sa paggamit ng mga paputok

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

LUNGSOD NG SORSOGON, Disyembre 22 (PIA) – Nagkakaisa ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan dito sa pag-abiso sa publiko ukol sa dapat gawing mga pag-iingat kaugnay ng paggamit ng mga paputok ngayong pasko at bagong taon.

Babala ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sorsogon Provincial Office alinsunod na rin sa panawagan ni DENR Bicol Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada at DENR Secretary Ramon Paje na dapat na mag-ingat ang publiko sa mga naiipong alikabok mula sa mga paputok na sumasabay sa hangin sapagkat napakamapanganib nito sa kalusugan.

Naglalaman din umano ang mga paputok ng sulfur, uling at iba pang mga materyal na nakabubuo ng greenhouse gases kapag nakahalo na ito sa hangin. Kung kaya’t dapat na maiwasang malanghap ito ng mga taong may asthma, bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, rhinitis, at sinusitis.

Suportado din ng DENR Sorsogon Provincial Office ang panawagang dapat na magtalaga ang bawat lokal na pamahalaan ng isang lugar na pagdadausan ng pagpapaputok sa darating na pasko at bagong taon.

Mahigpit din ang kampanya ng Department of Health at ng Provincial Health Office kaugnay ng inilunsad na programang Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR) upang mabawasan ang bilang ng nabibiktima ng mga malalakas na paputok. Umaasa ang ahensya na maiiwasan at mababawasan ang pagkalagas ng buhay ng tao at bilang ng mga nasusugatan lalong-lalo na ang mga kabataan na may edad mula sampu pataas.

Sa tala ng DOH umabot ng 200 porsyento ang itinaas ng bilang ng mga naputukan noong taong 2010 kumapara noong taong 2009. Sa kampanyang APIR, higit pang palalakasin ng ahensya ang pagpapaalala sa mamamayan tungkol sa dapat at hindi dapat gawin sa pagsalubong ng pasko at bagong taon.

Maging ang Philippine National Police at Bureau of Fire Protection ay mahigpit din ang payo sa publiko na pag-ibayuhin ang pag-iingat laban sa mga paputok lalo’t kadalasang naitatala ang mga disgrasya at malalaking sunog sa panahong nagdiriwang ng bagong taon.

Paalala din ng BFP sa publiko na huwag gumamit ng mga malalakas at ipinagbabawal na paputok sa pagsalubong sa bagong taon upang maiwasan ang disgrasya at pagkawala ng buhay bagkus ay salubungin na lamang ito sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng mga bagay na hindi mapaminsala.

Sa bayan ng Bulan, mahigpit na ipinag-utos ni Senior Fire Officer IV Tomas Dio sa kanyang mga tauhan na pag-ibayuhin ang inspeksyon sa mga tindahan ng paputok upang matiyak na walang magbebenta ng mga ipinagbabawal na paputok.

Dagdag pa ng opisyal na magsasagawa din ang Bulan Fire Station ng Fire Truck Visibility kung saan mag-iikot ang mga bumbero sa kabayanan at mga kalapit na barangay upang patuloy na mapaalalahanan ang publiko ukol sa kampanya sa iwas-paputok. (PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , Bureau of Fire Protection, DENR, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health (Philippines), Executive director, Philippine national Police, Ramon Paje, Sorsogon

Sorsogon general new military chief

By Christine O. Avendaño, Dona Z. Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Aquino presides over the change of command between outgoing AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr (Left) and incoming Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa (right) at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday. Ralph Joel

Lt. Gen.  Jessie D. Dellosa, a former aide-de-camp to the late former President Corazon Aquino, has been named chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replacing General Eduardo Oban Jr., who retires Tuesday at the age of 56, three Cabinet officials and two senior military officers disclosed Sunday.

It was Dellosa who implemented “Oplan Daybreak” that led to the rescue of American missionary Gracia Burnham and the killing of Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya nine years ago in Mindanao.

President Benigno Aquino III is expected to announce Monday the appointment of Dellosa, the head of the Northern Luzon (Nolcom) Command, to the top AFP post when the Commander in Chief addresses the troops during turnover rites at the AFP general headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Both Dellosa, who was born in Bacon, Sorsogon, and Oban, who is also from Sorsogon, belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1979.

“It’s Dellosa. He’s been the choice for some time now as far as I know,” a key Cabinet official said, speaking on condition that he not be identified as he was not authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

The official said Dellosa was a great choice because of his reputation for “righting the wrongs” in the units he had led.

Another Cabinet official on Sunday night confirmed that Dellosa, described as mild-mannered and quiet, was the next AFP chief of staff.

“That’s what I hear unless there are changes at the last minute,” said the Cabinet official, who also did not want to be named for lack of authority to speak about the matter.

Still another Cabinet official, who is known to be close to the President, said Dellosa’s new appointment was “actually an open secret now within the AFP.”

Two military sources, both officers who serve under Dellosa’s command, said reports about the assumption of their commander to the top AFP post reached them on  Sunday. They, however, declined to say how they got the report or who circulated the information.

43rd chief

Dellosa becomes the 43rd chief of staff of the 130,000-strong military in a formal change of command ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo Monday.

Malacañang deferred announcing the incoming AFP chief of staff until the day itself of the turnover ceremony, keeping most of those in the AFP in suspense.

When Mr. Aquino appointed then General Ricardo David in July 2010 and Oban on March 7, Malacañang made the announcement before the formal turnover.

A decorated Army Scout Ranger officer, Dellosa is a recipient of numerous awards topped by a Distinguished Service Star, two Wounded Personnel Medals, two Gold Cross Medals, 39 Military Merit Medals, six Bronze Cross Medal, Long Service Medal, Marksmanship Badge Expert and Outstanding Achievement Medal.

Dellosa was appointed chief of Nolcom, which is based in Camp Servillano Aquino in Tarlac City, on July 22. As Nolcom chief, he commands all the military forces in northern and central areas of Luzon.

Before that, he was the commander of the Army’s 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal, that was responsible for the capture of top New People’s Army commander, Tirso Alcantara, on July 28, 2010.

He also served as deputy commander of the AFP Central Command based in Cebu City, among his many command posts.

Special commander

From 1988 to 1992, Dellosa was group commander of the special reaction unit of the Presidential Security Group that defended Malacañang from a series of deadly coups d’etat.

He later became junior aide-de-camp to then President Corazon Aquino. The democracy icon took him as personal escort on critical occasions, including her peace pact with the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army on Mt. Data in 1987.

Dellosa served as commanding officer of the 16th and 14th Scout Ranger (SR) Company, commandant of the SR Training School and commander of Task Group “Panther” from 1992 to 1997. He was commander of the 1st SR battalion in Basilan from 1997 to 1999.

As deputy task force commander and operations officer of Joint Task Force “Comet,” he implemented “Oplan Daybreak” that led to the rescue of Burnham from Abu Sayyaf bandits and the killing of Sabaya.

According to an officer, Dellosa sees “no victory” when the enemy suffers fatalities because in the aftermath, the killings “do more harm than good.”

The officer said Dellosa believed that using arms should be the last resort of any soldier. “He’s a soldier of peace,” the officer said.

From 2004 to 2007, Dellosa was the chief of staff of the 4th Infantry Division.

Then he served as deputy commander of the First Scout Ranger Regiment and concurrently group commander of special Task Group Sulu that was instrumental in the neutralization of Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Solaiman in January 2007.

Dellosa was named the PMA commandant of cadets in August 2007.

He underwent extensive military training as an infantry officer, intelligence officer, scuba diver, hostage rescuer, Scout Ranger and in airborne and antiterrorism courses.

First assignment

After graduation from the PMA, Dellosa was assigned in Jolo, Sulu, where he fought Moro rebels for three years and earned the coveted Outstanding Achievement Award for Military Operations awarded by the PMA Alumni Association in 1988.

Dellosa was born in Sorsogon on Jan. 20, 1957, but grew up in Lucena City.

Oban will step down a day ahead of his mandatory retirement on Dec. 13.

Only the fifth Air Force general to be the AFP chief of staff, Oban assumed office on March 7 at the height of the pabaon scandal that exposed multimillion peso slush fund enjoyed by former top military officials.

He vowed to stamp out corruption in the military and made fiscal and logistics reforms the cornerstone of his term. He also promised to hold himself and all officials accountable for the proper use of funds in light of allegation that funds were diverted for cash gifts or pabaon of retiring top officials.

His focus was on reforms, peace, modernization and morale and welfare.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates, Sorsogon Outstanding Achievers , Dellosa, Lt. Gen. Jessie D. Dellosa

DA-HVCDP tugon sa pagpapaangat ng kabuhayan ng komunidad

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Lungsod ng Sorsogon, December 9 (PIA) – Limang mga organisasyon sa lalawigan ng Sorsogon kabilang na ang Rural Improvement Club (RIC) ang tatanggap ngayong araw ng mga kagamitan para sa paggawa ng Pili Shellcraft.

Pangungunahan ng Department of Agriculture (DA), opisyal nang ipamamahagi ang limang set ng mga kagamitan kasama na ang mga makina sa mga ay dentipikadong benepisyaryo ng Pili Development Program sa ilalim ng High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP).

Ang HVCDP ay isa sa mga prayoridad na programa ng DA na binuo upang matugunan ang seguridad sa pagkain, pagbabawas ng kahirapan at sustenableng pag-unlad ng komunidad.

Tinutulungan din nitong maisulong ang produksyon, proseso, bentahan at pamamahagi ng mga matataas na kalidad ng produkto at mapataas ang kita, makabuo ng oportunidad pangkabuhayan at makaambag sa pag-papaunlad ng pambansang agrikultura sa Pilipinas.

Inaasahang dadalo sa aktibidad sina Dr. Jose V. Dayao, Regional Executive Director ng DA-Bicol Regional Field Unit, HVCDP regional Coordinator Rose M. Imperial, Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council (RAFC) Chair Alfredo Rillo, Provincial AFC Chair Godofredo Ditan, Sorsogon Provincial Management Office Executive Director Sally A. Lee at Asst. provincial Agriculturist Dr. Ma. Teresa V. Destura.

Ang opisyal na pamamahagi ng mga kagamitan ay isasabay din sa gagawing 178th Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting kung saan tatalakayin ang mga naging kaganapan sa isinagawang 3rd Bicol AFC Summit 2011 at mga impormasyong nakuha mula sa ginanap na “Local Government Unit (LGU) Consultation on the Formulation of Agri-Fisheries Modernization Plan for 2012-2017”.

Nakatakda ring magbigay ng ulat ang mga Municipal AFC alinsunod sa National AFC monitoring/accomplishment forms at pagususmite ng PAFC secretariat ng mga kopya ng ginawa at ipinasang Municipal at City AFC resolution ngayong taon at paglalahad ng mga aksyong ginawa ng mga kinauukulang ahensya. (PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , Agri-Fisheries Modernization Plan, DA-HVCDP, High Value Crops Development Program, RAFC

Aquamarine project in Casiguran town under National Convergence Initiatives underway

SORSOGON CITY, November 21 (PIA) — Programs for the fishing industry sector in Casiguran town, including an on-going training on aquamarine culture, are underway through the National Convergence Initiative (NCI), according to Mayor Maria Esther Hamor in an interview here last week.

Hamor said that the careful selection of the beneficiaries was a big consideration since the success of the project depends on their attitude, active participation and commitment to make the project profitable, sustainable, and the full cooperation to follow the local government’s fishery rules and policies should be addressed.

“As local chief executive it is my desire to alleviate poverty in our town but at the same time fully implement the sustainable conservation of our environment from land to sea and inland water resources,” she said.

Benigno Bejison, municipal agriculture officer of Casiguran, and Gil B. Ramos of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have conducted the trainings and the identified fishermen from Barangay Somal-ot were provided the needed materials to include five fishnets, four bundles of nylon rope, and 150 bamboo poles for their crab production.

According to Ramos, BFAR has provided the hands on training to on aqua-silvi culture technology to 61 fisherfolks in the said barangay.

It has also conducted the validation of the site selection process and most of the areas identified were mangrove area sites, a very good potential for the sustainability of the project.

Demonstration on the actual preparation of the area was done according to Bejison while the construction of crab cages were shown and process of harvesting were also explained.

The topics that were discussed included feeding management of crabs, record keeping, harvesting and post harvest activities, marketing, and the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Ramos said that mud crab production will only take four months to wait and that proper management should be followed so that the quality, quantity, and price of the produce will be competitive in the market.

Mayor Hamor explained that the LGU in partnership with the three converging agencies, the Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Agrarian Reform will continually coordinate in the implementation of the NCI projects in their municipality. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Energy corporation highlights corporate social responsibility programs

SORSOGON CITY , NOVEMBER 21 (PIA) — Anchored on a five- pronged community development agenda, the Energy Development Corporation (EDC) through its Community Partnerships Department (CPD), has laid down their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program component focusing on Health, Education, Livelihood, Small Scale Contract and Environment.

Engr. Liberato S. Virata, plant manager in his signed report provided their company’s commitment to provide social prosperity and environmental stewardship through the implementation of a comprehensive, responsive and sustained program under their CSR program in partnership with their stakeholders and in keeping with the company’s objectives.

Senior Supervisor of the EDC-CPD, Eduardo Jimenez explained that under the CSR-CPD, 43 primary partner barangays with 17,680 households, 121 community associations, 71 schools and 47 health center in their host barangay-communities are beneficiaries of their CSR programs.

Under their Health Services Program, 47 health centers were continuously supported with trainings like drug abuse prevention with the enhancement of knowledge and capabilities of 65 health workers, medicine supply assistance, 36 medical and dental outreach conducted, improvement of several Barangay Health Centers..

Their health promotion support included trainings also of households on responsible parenthood,proper nutrition and health and sanitation practices while improving community access to basic medical facilities and services.

Total intervention under this program amounted to P5.7 M with 8,972 beneficiaries.

Jimenez cited that their environment programs focused on information education campaigns on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, promoting the BINHI program that diversify the planting of trees in four categories.

Their environmental protection enhancement is zeroed in on their continuous planting and reforestation of the 250,000 ha reservation area as their legacy of greening and their commitment to promote geothermal projects sites as eco-tourism destinations by maintaining their butterfly garden, bat sanctuary, wildlife park, twin falls and boiling pond sites.

Under their Livehihood Program, 44 livelihood projects are maintained under the Social Development Project (SDP) assisting farmers in rice production, vegetable gardening, fertilizer assistance, mud crab production, aquasilvi farming, and lambaklad project benefiting both land and sea based beneficiaries within the host communities

Jimenez said that their CSR beneficiaries under the livelihood component totaled to 7,528 with 122 organized farmers association.

Education has been one of their CSR pilot programs were host barangays’ pupils and students were provided yearly school supplies including bags, miscellaneous fees payment assistance, and scholarships where 25 students in the secondary schools every year are chosen and sponsored with provisions of tuition fee, book allowance and monthly stipend.

A total of 26,330 individuals benefited from the regular education projects with a total amount of P 11.4 M intervention.

Meanwhile their Small Scale Contracts amounted to P43.2 M and this was awarded to cooperatives in the local communities for labor contracting.

Jimenez underscored that the total amount of intervention provided by the company in their CSR program amounted to P 99.5 M from 2005-2009 that benefited 41,244 individuals and group beneficiaries..(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

SCWD co-opting with environment agencies, plans to develop an eco-tourism park

Propose eco-tourism park of Sorsogon City Water District

By Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr.

SORSOGON CITY – After the installations of water pumping stations and the construction of water impounding structures, the Sorsogon City Water District is focusing to develop an eco-tourism park in their 631 hectare watershed area along the Macabog Pangpang Mountain Range that traverses the barangays of Capuy, Ticol, Basud, Guinlajon, Pangpang, Macabog, San Juan (Roro) and Bibincahan.

The plan was conceptualized back in 1994 when the Sorsogon Watershed Development Council, a multi-partite group formulated plans and programs to develop and protect the watershed area.

But unforseen events overcome the implementation of the project which according to Engineer Ronaldo Barboño, SCWD general manager,they hope to implement with the assistance of the provincial government of Sorsogon. They are readying the blue print of the eco-tourism park including the detailed plans they will present to Governor Raul Lee estimated to cost 2 million pesos covering basic infrastructure expenditures and operational expenses.

Funding constraint limited SCWD watershed protection programs to develop portion of the area as eco-tourism park showcasing the flora and fauna endemics in the area intended primarily for rest and education tours. It will include a botanical and animal zoo which are in-demand by nature enthusiast. Upon its completion, a management council will oversee the eco-tourism park aiming for self-liquidation through package tours and similar strategies of eco-tourism parks.

To protect the watershed, it initiated a proposal for the inclusion of the Sorsogon City Watershed in the Billion Trees Program for a three year period seeking funding from local and international environmental sources. They have likewise appealed to the city government of Sorsogon to spearhead the finalization of the Memorandum of Agreement among concerned agencies and the covered barangays regarding watershed development and protection.

Reference: BicolToday.com

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , Basud, Bibincahan, Capuy, eco-tourism park, Engineer Ronaldo Barboño, Governor Raul Lee, Guinlajon, Macabog, Pangpang, San Juan (Roro), SCWD, Sorsogon City Water District, Ticol

Little-known college tops engineering exams

source: Juan Escandor Jr./Inquirer Southern Luzon

SORSOGON CITY—Wanting in laboratory facilities but blessed with dedicated teachers, a little-known state college here has proven it can equal the finest engineering schools in the country. Its recent graduates have topped successive engineering board exams.

Sorsogon State College (SSC), some 500 kilometers south of Manila, has produced the likes of Joseph Cyril R. Gredoña and Daniel E. Forteza, who ranked first and second, respectively, in the mechanical engineering board exams last month.

Gredoña—a son of a tricycle driver—garnered a grade of 92.70 percent, while Forteza—a son of a farmer/fisherman—got 92.65 percent in the exams.

In April, another SSC graduate and a son of a shellfish vendor, Jhonrey Aguirre, topped the electrical engineering board exams with a grade of 89.65 percent. A college mate, Leandro Salamatin placed 10th with a grade of 87.05 percent.

SSC first made its mark among engineering schools in 2006 when its graduate, Emmanuel Liwag, placed eighth in the electrical engineering board exams.

One of the oldest trade schools in the country, SSC became a state college in December 1993 with three national vocational high schools in the province integrated to it.

“We don’t have Ph.D.s in our faculty, which we still dream of until now. But we could say our instructors are good teachers while we see a high number of students with talents,” says Felino S. Jasmin, SSC director of branding and communications.

He says most of the college instructors have at least 20 years of teaching experience.
Jasmin points out that the school’s performance is measured by its passing rate in board exams, which must not go below the national passing rate.

Against the national passing rate of 62 percent, SSC’s feat in the mechanical engineering board exams has become more meaningful because of the school’s 79 percent passing rate. Nineteen out of its 24 mechanical engineering graduates last school year passed the board exam.

P150 per unit

He says SSC only charges P150 per unit and a student here needs at least P5,000 for one semester.

The state college received a budget of P93.64 million from the national government in 2010 while the fees collected from 8,570 students totaled P44 million.

Jasmin says 260 personnel are paid from the budget given by the national government, while 147 personnel are subsidized by the income SSC derives from the fees it collects.

Noel Benavides, program chair of the engineering and architecture department, says SSC is still wanting in laboratory facilities, which are shared by 40 to 45 students in every class session.
He says the ideal class size in a laboratory is 25 to 30 students but the students have to make do with what they have.

This limitation, however, did not prevent the students from delivering very satisfactory performance in the board exams.

Jasmin says SSC caters to students from low-income groups whose parents cannot send their children to universities outside of Sorsogon, like Legazpi City, Naga City or Metro Manila.

Although SSC charges the lowest rate compared with those collected by other engineering schools, many students still have difficulty paying tuition and other fees.

Jasmin cites Gredoña and Aguirre who both struggled hard financially before topping the mechanical and electrical engineering board exams, respectively.

From Aroroy, Juban
The eldest among six siblings, Gredoña hails from the far-flung village of Aroroy in Juban, Sorsogon.

His parents were able to ask a landowner in Sorsogon City to allow them to build a small house in the city while Gredoña was in college.

Gredoña recalls that when he was in elementary school, he walked 2 kilometers to reach the school from their house.

Forteza, who placed second to Gredoña, also comes from a low-income family. His father, the only breadwinner, makes a living from farming and fishing in the village of Macabari in Barcelona town.

He was a consistent honor student from elementary to high school and found the questions in the board exams familiar. Still, he was surprised he made it to the top two.

Forteza says he hopes that his achievement will be a life-changing experience for his family, especially since a big company has offered him a job.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

School principal shot dead in Sorsogon

source: www.sunstar.com.ph

UNIDENTIFIED men shot dead a school principal in Castilla town in Sorsogon, a police official reported Friday.

Thirty-three-year-old Ariel Nebreja was riding a passenger motorcycle when two suspects blocked the vehicle’s path around 4 p.m. Thursday at Barangay Miluya.


One of the suspects then asked the driver if he had a passenger named Ariel, and then shot the victim using a caliber 45 pistol, said Superintendent Wilson Asueta, spokesperson of the Bicol regional police.

Nebreja, the principal of Miluya Elementary School who lives in Sorsogon City, died upon arrival at a local hospital. (VR/Sunnex)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started My First Business

source: fitzvillafuerte.com

Starting a business can be tough, but I think nothing will ever be more difficult than putting up your very first venture.
Without the advantage of experience, your tools are usually just textbook knowledge, observed wisdom and generous advise.
So let me help you today by giving you one of those… generous advise.

It was in 2004 when I registered my very first business – a computer network gaming station in Makati.
Unfortunately, after almost a year, me and my partners decided to close it down. Our reasons are not important, but the lessons I learned in that small venture are certainly something worth sharing today.

Here are 5 things I wish I knew before I started that very first business.

Your business plan can turn out to be useless.
Read any business book and they’ll tell you that a business plan is essential when starting a business. What many people tend to skip or miss reading is the part written in the end that you may have to ditch your business plan along the way. I was one of those people.

Don’t get me wrong, having a business plan BEFORE starting is important, after all – it is your roadmap to success. But understand that unexpected things are bound to happen and you will need to adjust your business plan, or make a new one at worst.
When the map becomes irrelevant or unworkable, don’t hesitate to find alternative routes that will get you to your destination.
Self-employment is a necessary initial cost.

Several months before I started that venture, I learned from a book the difference between the self-employed and the business owner – one works for the business, while the other lets the business work for him.
I wanted to be the business owner.

But I learned later on that one cannot be a business owner without being self-employed first. Businesses are like children, you have to nurture and take care of them until they become independent.
Good employees are REALLY hard to find.

I thought since a lot of people are unemployed, then it will be easy to find someone to work for you.
I was partly right… what I didn’t know was that it will NOT be easy to find someone who will do a good job. People working in Human Resources will agree – a person’s resume cannot guarantee his work ethics. And from experience, even those who shine in their interview can be quite sloppy at work.

So again, take some time to work on your business so you’ll know exactly what it demands from a person. This will help you screen applicants better – and you’ll be able to hire the right people fit for the job.

Marketing is essential in every business – big and small.
My first business was just a rented space in a small barangay. Being the first and only computer gaming shop in the area, I was confident that I wouldn’t need to do marketing and advertising after the grand opening.
“It’s just a small and simple business,” I thought. But then I learned that some of “my kids” are going somewhere across town because there’s a new shop that’s cheaper but with faster computers.

Relying simply on walk-in customers and word-of-mouth can be risky. And when business is good, expect competition to appear. A continuous marketing campaign will not only allow you to reach new customers, but it will also establish your brand and keep the trust and loyalty of your clientele.

It’s more than just about the money.
My primary reason for starting my first business was because I wanted passive income. Who wouldn’t want to “make money while sleeping” right? And one of the reasons why we decided to close it down was because it wasn’t making enough.
Then several months after, I realized that one of the reasons why we really closed down the business was because we were only after the profits – we were in it for the wrong reason.

It’s true that your business should make money, but more importantly, it should be able to take you closer to a noble goal – a mission and a vision that becomes the prime motivation for starting any business.
Learn more life and business lessons from a real entrepreneur, subscribe to Ready To Be Rich.
———
Photo credits: doug88888 and Harald Groven

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Philippine Red Cross Sorsogon campaigns support to the Million Volunteer Run

Philippine Red Cross Sorsogon campaigns support to the Million Volunteer Run

by Irma A. Guhit
SORSOGON CITY, November 17, (PIA) — The province of Sorsogon will lend support to the international statement vision of of the Philippine Red Cross in making the Philippines as the Red Cross Volunteer Capital of the World.
This was the agenda taken up by the members of the board of the PRC Sorsogon chapter here during their regular monthly meeting held last week to highlight the Red Cross 143 program in the campaign for support to the Million Volunteer Run scheduled this December 4.

The Philippines in 2009 was identified as the top ranking highly vulnerable disaster prone country and in 2010, it ranked third among countries frequently hit by disasters and natural calamities, thus, PRC to address this concern has engaged the mobilization of millions of RC volunteers through the RC 143 program here in the Philippines.
Atty. Arnulfo Perete, chair of PRC Sorsogon explained that the Philippine has a highly organized PRC 143 program where 44 volunteers (1 leader and 43 members) in each of the 42,000 barangays in the country who are now highly trained to cope with and reduce the risks of disasters, enabling them to respond accordingly to any catastrophic event in their respective communities.

With the declaration of the United Nations of the year 2011 as the International Year of Volunteers via Resolution 52/17, the PRC seeks to awaken the spirit of volunteerism in every Filipino through the Red Cross Million Volunteer Run.
This ground breaking event will be held in all key cities and 1,494 municipalities nationwide on December 4.

Here in Sorsogon, the approved plan is a 5km fun run around the city on the said date at 5:30 a.m., assembly will be at the Provincial Capitol Park and at exactly 6 a.m. the fun run starts.

A registration fee of P500.00 is required and funds derived from this activity will be given to countries as assistance specially those areas affected by natural calamities.
The Red Cross vision is to engage all first aiders, blood donors, health and welfare volunteers in every home school, business and community all over the Philippines to join in this event to make a statement of making the Philippines as the Volunteer Capital of the World through this activity.
In the meeting, the board committed to show solidarity in this PRC vision and will campaign here for various sectors to join and support this undertaking.
Dr. Alfred Adrian O. Lopez was designated as chair of the activity while Zita D. Hababag was chosen as chair of the Fund General Committee. (PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates

Sorsogon dads ask EDC to redefine corporate social responsibility

Source: Philippines News Agency

SORSOGON CITY, Nov. 4 (PNA) – Irked by numerous complaints on the water pollution being rendered by the operations of the giant geothermal energy project here, the Sorsogon provincial legislative board is looking into the possible accountability of its operator over the reported environmental maladies.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) had passed over the week a resolution requesting Energy Development Corporation (EDC) to provide the Board an abstract of its corporate social responsibility to the province “for us to determine what reparations are expected for the damages incurred”, its author Board Member Vladimir Frivaldo on Friday said.

The resolution, Frivaldo said, is also calling the attention of the EDC on their social responsibility to protect and preserve the watersheds and provide livelihood to families in host communities affected by its operations.

EDC, a Lopez-owned company runs the Bac-Man (Bacon-Manito) Geothermal Production Field (BGPF) that generates about 120-megawatt power within the 250,000-hectare energy field covered by the territorial jurisdictions of this city and Manito, Albay.

The SP had received verified reports through Frivaldo that EDC had been ignoring the complaints of local fishermen and farmers whose farms and fishing ground have been affected by floods, landslides and alleged toxic fallout of the geothermal plant operations, the resolution said.

The farmers, it said, alleged that their farms are being destroyed by the pollution caused by the geothermal wastes that end up into Cawayan River, the main river channel serving a source of irrigation waters for the vast rice fields in at least six barangays here that are situated down the energy field.

Cawayan is a major river descending from the foot of the mountains playing host to the geothermal operations to the Sorsogon Bay, the main fishing ground for around 8,000 fisher folks residing around the Bay covered by this city and the municipalities of Casiguran, Juban, Magallanes and Castilla.

This fishing ground has been under siege by red tide for the past four years starting in 2007 virtually killing the P100-million-a-year “tahong” (green mussel) industry of the province. The fishermen have accused the geothermal operations as a contributory factor to the red tide phenomenon although it was downplayed by fishery authorities.

The SP is still confident that EDC will continue to undertake initiatives towards environmental protection and delivery of health and other social services to the host communities as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Nonetheless, Frivaldo said “we wanted to find out what exactly these social responsibilities are that is why this legislative measure entitled “Resolution requesting Energy Development Corporation to provide an abstract of its Corporate Social Responsibility to the province of Sorsogon” has been unanimously approved by the SP.

The resolution is also requesting the EDC to provide for an integrated inland, community-based resource and coastal management program which should be a comprehensive and long term undertaking in coordination with the affected barangays through the city government here as the prime mover.

The program would seek to manage the inland, upland, coastal and marine resources of this part of the province in the long term as well as help rehabilitate the Sorsogon Bay towards total recovery from the red tide infestation which economically displaced thousands of families that used to rely on the fishing ground for their livelihood, Frivaldo explained.

This program would also reduce the vulnerability of these families to the impacts of climate change, he added. (PNA)
LAP/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , EDC, Frivaldo, Geothermal Production Field, Sangguniang Panlalawigan

A FATHER’S MESSAGE FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE

4 days ago by

Ever wondered what it is like to have Death staring straight in your eyes? Is there anything you will like to do or change before you draw your last breath? What if you have a family with young children and perhaps some precious time left? What would you do?

Here’s a sad but true story to be shared, about a loving dad and husband, who did what he could in the little time he was left for his family. From their country cottage filled with memories of Mandy Flanagan’s late husband Paul, she shared with us their story.

Paul, a teacher, who died of cancer at the age of 45 in November 2009, passionately believed his children, Thomas and Lucy, should have more than just fading photographs to remember him by. For the children were only five and one-and-half years old at the time of his passing. “There was nothing more important to Paul than being the best father he could be,” says Mandy.

 

“When he knew he was dying, there was no time for self-pity. He became absolutely focused on doing whatever he could to continue being a good dad to them throughout the years, even though he wouldn’t be here in person.”

Amongst his preparation included letters, filmed messages, future birthday presents and his personal chest of favorite books. “Each book is accompanied by a note to Thomas and Lucy explaining why Paul loved it, and how much he hopes they will too when they’re old enough to read it,” explains Mandy.

But perhaps all these gifts pales in comparison to a document titled “On finding fulfillment”, accidentally discovered on his laptop by Mandy. “I opened it and, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I discovered his bullet-pointed code to living a good and happy life,” says Mandy. And this list of 28 instructions was the very way Paul lived his life.

Addressing his children who were too young to understand the tragedy that was unfolding, Paul writes, ”In these last few weeks, following my terminal diagnosis, I have searched my soul and heart to find ways in which I can reach out to you as you grow up.

“I’ve been thinking about the matters in life that are important, and the values and aspirations that make people happy and successful. In my view, and you may well have your own ideas by now, the formula is pretty simple.

“The three most important virtues are: Loyalty, integrity and moral courage. If you aspire, friends will respect you, employers will retain you, and your father will be immensely proud of you. I am therefore giving you several pieces of advice. These are the principles on which I have tried to build my life and they are exactly those that I would have encouraged you to embrace, had I been able to.” “I love you very much. Never forget that.”

“He also wrote that they should never give up, and he certainly never did. He fought so bravely, so courageously, right to the end.”

 

Having been first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2004, where a birthmark on his chest had become malignant. The cancer was removed in November that year when their son Thomas was only a few months old. And after years of regular follow-ups, he was given the all clear in January 2008 when Mandy was expecting Lucy.

However a swelling that appears in May 2008 proved the cancer had spread to his lymph glands in his arms and neck shortly after. Even surgery and radiotherapy was not able to halt its progression. By March 2009, the cancer had spread to his brain and his condition was terminal.

“He never pitied himself,” says Mandy. “The diagnosis, and perhaps the drugs he was on, triggered a sort of mania. He suddenly had so much energy. While I lay awake upstairs worrying, Paul would work through the nights, determined to get his affairs in order.”

Having meticulously organized the family finances, arranged his own funeral, buying presents for their children, their dining room was soon filled piles of shoeboxes filled with paperwork, hand-written letters and DVD messages for his family and friends.

With Lucy christened last summer, she now has one godmother and nine godfathers. “He wanted his friends to have a permanent tie to his family, I think,” says Mandy. “And if Lucy couldn’t have her father, a fantastic team of godfathers was the very least she deserved.”

With his passing at home, some eight months after his terminal diagnosis, Mandy was certain he’ll be able to rest peacefully knowing that he had left the best legacy any father could. “When some people are told they have just a few months to live, they decide their life won’t be complete until they’ve bungee-jumped off Sydney Harbor Bridge or seen the Grand Canyon. But that wasn’t Paul. All that was important to him was right here. He lived and died by his own rules, and I know he had found his fulfillment.”

We all have a finite amount of time in this world, some less than others. And it is not the amount of time, rather how we use it which truly matters. Ever so often we get absorbed by our daily rat race and tend to take our loved ones for granted. Perhaps it is time we slow down and re-examine ourselves before it is too late.

A FATHER’S RULES FOR FINDING FULFILLMENT

Be courteous, be punctual, always say please and thank you, and be sure to hold your knife and fork properly. Others take their cue on how to treat you from your manners.

Be kind, considerate and compassionate when others are in trouble, even if you have problems of your own. Others will admire your selflessness and will help you in due course.

Show moral courage. Do what is right, even if that makes you unpopular. I always thought it important to be able to look at myself in the shaving mirror every morning and not feel guilt or remorse. I depart this world with a pretty clear conscience.

Show humility. Stand your ground but pause to reflect on what the other side are saying, and back off when you know you are wrong. Never worry about losing face. That only happens when you are pig-headed.
Learn from your mistakes. You will make plenty so use them as a learning tool. If you keep making the same mistake or run into a problem, you’re doing something wrong.

Avoid disparaging someone to a third party; it is only you who will look bad. If you have a problem with someone, tell them face to face.

Hold fire! If someone crosses you, don’t react immediately. Once you say something it can never be taken back, and most people deserve a second chance.

Have fun. If this involves taking risks, so be it. If you get caught, hold your hands up.

Give to charity and help those who are less fortunate than yourselves: it’s easy and so rewarding.

Always look on the upside! The glass is half full, never half empty. Every adversity has a silver lining if you seek it out.

Make it your instinct always to say ‘yes’. Look for reasons to do something, not reasons to say no. Your friends will cherish you for that.

Be canny: you will get more of what you want if you can give someone more of what they desire. Compromise can be king.

Always accept a party invitation. You may not want to go, but they want you there. Show them courtesy and respect.

Never ever let a friend down. I would bury bodies for my friends, if they asked me to . . . which is why I have chosen them carefully.

Always tip for good service. It shows respect. But never reward poor service. Poor service is insulting.

Always treat those you meet as your social equal, whether they are above or below your station in life. For those above you, show due deference, but don’t be a sycophant.

Always respect age, as age equals wisdom.

Be prepared to put the interests of your sibling first.

Be proud of who you are and where you come from, but open your mind to other cultures and languages. When you begin to travel (as I hope you will), you’ll learn that your place in the world is both vital and insignificant. Don’t get too big for your breeches.

Be ambitious, but not nakedly so. Be prepared to back your assertions with craftsmanship and hard work.

Live every day to its full: do something that makes you smile or laugh, and avoid procrastination.

Give of your best at school. Some teachers forget that pupils need incentives. So if your teacher doesn’t give you one, devise your own.

Always pay the most you can afford. Never skimp on hotels, clothing, shoes, make-up or jewellery. But always look for a deal. You get what you pay for.

Never give up! My two little soldiers have no dad, but you are brave, big-hearted, fit and strong. You are also loved by an immensely kind and supportive team of family and friends. You make your own good fortune, my children, so battle on.

Never feel sorry for yourself, or at least don’t do it for long. Crying doesn’t make things better.

Look after your body and it will look after you.

Learn a language, or at least try. Never engage a person abroad in conversation without first greeting them in their own language; by all means ask if they speak English!

And finally, cherish your mother, and take very good care of her.

I love you both with all my heart.
Daddy x

 

Filed under: Encouragement, Inspiration, Motivation , A FATHER'S MESSAGE FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, father message, Mandy Flanagan

Provincial Inter-Agency Anti Child Labor committee reports accomplishments

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, JULY 29 (PIA) — In a special meeting held here today at Mango Grill, the Sorsogon Provincial Inter-Agency Anti Child Labor Committee (SPIAACLC) and Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team reported on the accomplishments and activities conducted for the first two quarters of this year.

The Department of Labor and Employment through its provincial field officer, Imelda Romanillos convened the members for the reporting and assessment of activities and interventions provided by member agencies to see where the SPIAACLC is now in terms of the resolution of concerns and issues regarding anti- child labor practices observed and reported to the committee.

The concerns that were ventilated were the identification of the anti-labor practices observed in some areas or local government units where the interventions of the SPIAACLC like the children divers in Matnog, some children employed as domestic helpers and some children who are also being exploited by parents in asking for alms in the streets.

According to Romanillos the concerns raised by some member- agencies in the identification of where these children are used as child laborers were discussed and the interventions to be provided were also taken up during the first quarter meeting.

The first quarter meeting of the SPIAACIC according to Romanillos was attended by 15 members member agencies comprising of the Deartment of Education Sorsogon City, the Provincial Planning and Development Office, National Council for the Welfare of Children, Public Employment Service Office, LGU Pilar, Department of Justice, Green Valley Development Inc., Philippine Ports Authority -Bulan, Sorsogon Provincial Management Office, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine national Police, National Statistics Office and the Department of Labor and Employment held here at the City of Sorsogon.

Here the objective and activities were planned up to December of this year and how this plan was to be implemented.

The second quarterly meeting was held in Matnog. It gave the newly organized Matnog Inter Agency Anti-Child Labor Committee (MIAACLC) an orientation on the guidelines provided and stipulated in the Philippine Program Against Child Labor (PPACL).

Meanwhile according to Romanillos, because of the prevalence of child labor in the municipality of Pilar specially in the port, way back 2005 the local government through its Sanggunian Bayan has enacted a municipal ordinance on the regulation of employment of children which is the Municipal Ordinance No 007, series of 2005 and the creation of the Pilar Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team created through the Executive Order No.05, series of 2011 which also took effect June 14, 20ll.

During the discussion on the PPACL frameworK, this ordinance was taken up so as to provide the Pilar Inter Agency Anti-Child Labor Committee a more thorough complementation in terms of enforcement and was shared to the member agencies for replication in other municipalities.

An advocacy on PPACL with the members of the barangays was also conducted last June 24 at barangay Binanuahan, Pilar, Sorsogon with the same topics discussed.

In the evaluation meeting, Romanillos solicited the member agencies inputs as to the other activities scheduled this August. (PIA-SORSOGON)

In the local government of Pilar the same local counter part of the SPIAACLC was organized and they were also provided orientation on the basic topics like the PPACL Framework, RA 9232, RA 9208 and this was presented through the assistance of the Visayan Forum Foundation Inc. headed by Evely Ubaldo.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , Deartment of Education Sorsogon City, Department of Justice, Green Valley Development Inc, LGU Pilar, Matnog Inter Agency Anti-Child Labor Committee, National Council for the Welfare of Children, National Statistics Office and the Department of Labor and Employment, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine national Police, Philippine Ports Authority -Bulan, Philippine Program Against Child Labor, Pilar Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Public Employment Service Office, Romanillos, Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team, Sorsogon Provincial Inter-Agency Anti Child Labor Committee, Sorsogon Provincial Management Office, SPIAACLC

Just privatize PNR

By Boo Chanco (The Philippine Star)

The current PNR general manager should probably be given a medal for his heroic efforts to make the government-owned railroad company run its trains again all the way to Bicol. He is most probably of my generation, albeit a few years younger, to feel so passionately about the Bicol Express. There is something romantic about the PNR in those days… it wasn’t the Orient Express but it served our needs.

So now we are being told that after years of neglect and abuse, PNR will once again run a Bicol Express service. According to newspaper reports, they apparently conducted the test-run the other weekend and it covered more than 400 kilometers through a newly refurbished locomotive train with several hand-me-down tourist class coaches donated by the Japanese government.

“In my assessment, the Bicol test-run we conducted was 95 percent successful and we are nearing our objective to put back in operation the commercial PNR trips to Bicol region,” said PNR general manager Junio Ragragio Jr. The Manila-Naga trip took nine hours, shorter than the usual 10-hour travel time through bus, Ragragio said. He added that all train coaches for the “Bicol Express” will be air-conditioned.

“We also have two types of sleeper coaches. One is a family suite that is good for a family or barkada of four to six persons. And we also have the executive class for passengers who would like extra privacy and the inclusion of a dining car with the ambiance of a first class restaurant,” he added.

“In the tourist class we have reclining chairs with more leg room compared to commercial buses. This includes a wide screen LCD with state-of-the-art sound system to comfortably watch movies during the long trip,” Ragrario said. We didn’t even have it this good in the good ol’ days.

They will also renovate several train stations traversing along the provinces of Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Sur and Albay. I also heard that they will try to get back the historic Paco Station and restore it to its old grandeur. They are also thinking of putting up railway connections to Batangas, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon. Definitely too good to be true!

Back to reality… the coaches are 30 years old. . . the Japanese gave us train coaches they have already junked. Maintenance costs will be high… for ‘brakepads’. (common source for PNR graft), aircon/engine repairs and extraordinary expenses for regular mishaps and accidents (diskarel) will plague this band-aid solution. . . expect the usual landslides along the old tracks resulting from typhoons and continuous rains during the rainy season.

I e-mailed Ray Altarejos, Ragragio’s high school classmate and fellow Bicolano about this development. Altarejos is a New York-based entrepreneur who is now in Brazil looking for business opportunities. Here is his comment:

“I told Jun Ragragio to focus on changing the narrow-gauge PNR tracks to wide-gauge and make it run freight trains all the way to Sorsogon. In the 1930’s, PNR (then known as the MRR or Manila Rail Road) was extended to Albay to haul abaca to Manila. Manila hemp was a major dollar earner.

“But a PNR for freight has no political constituency. Warren Buffet is now making tons of money with his big bet on Burlington Northern. With the high price of oil, Burlington Northern has stolen the business of long-distance trucks. Brazil has a great train system into the interiors hauling soybeans, corn and iron ore bound for China.

“Bicol despite the usual typhoons could have a dynamic agri sector.”

At least they are doing something to resuscitate the PNR rather than pillage what is left of PNR assets, which politicians in the past apparently did quite well. The next 12 months will show whether the P500M P-Noy gambled on these old coaches running on the old PNR tracks will be worth it. . .

Worthy of praise as these current efforts are, I think there is a better way: privatize PNR. The faster they do this, the better before more of PNR’s assets get dissipated. Somebody in a past administration even sold its air rights over the tracks!

It isn’t as if there isn’t any private sector interest. San Miguel made a proposal to buy 51 percent control of PNR and still have government as a partner in its development. At no further cost to taxpayers, San Miguel offered to develop a national railroad system starting with the Luzon line of PNR that will run slower trains on at-grade level and fast trains on top.

Ramon Ang told The STAR last year that they have commissioned a group that includes international companies with experience in bullet trains to study the possibility of building a bullet train railway that will run from the north to the south end of Luzon. San Miguel proposes to run the bullet train railway on the Laoag-Manila-Bicol route. SMC’s top executive expressed optimism about the possibilities that this venture… a high-speed train service is also expected to help boost the economy in general.

I asked Ramon how he expects to make money considering the large amount of capex he must invest on it upfront. He said he is looking at PNR not only as a train company but a general logistics company. Consumer goods marketers will find the railroad the more efficient way to do Luzon wide distribution of their products… exactly what Altarejos was suggesting. San Miguel will run telecom, water, electricity lines along the right of way. He will develop the adjacent real estate and make money on malls and other property ventures near train stations.

Ramon said he has made a pitch to Secretary Ping de Jesus who just gave him a polite “we will study” kind of reply. But from the discussions, it was clear that the bureaucrats, specially the powerful usec that Ping depends on, do not want anything that does not require ODA financing. They also want to keep government control over PNR even if the past decades have shown government is totally incapable of running it, except to run it to the ground.

It is stupid to ignore a proposal like this. What is there is lose with taking Ramon Ang on his word? PNR isn’t exactly the epitome of operational efficiency and profitability. If Ramon Ang fails, the attempt would still have generated economic activity and the failure will cost PNR and the taxpayers nothing. But if the venture succeeds, the government and the people benefit tremendously.

ODA will only get us so far in rehabilitating PNR. In fact, ODA has failed to do anything for PNR for years now. If San Miguel is willing to stake its money and its reputation on reviving a dead duck like PNR, they should be given the chance to do so. We need bold measures like what San Miguel has proposed.

San Miguel would not give me a copy of their proposal out of respect for Secretary Ping who promised to study it. But such proposals should be made public if only to put pressure on unimaginative bureaucrats that they have to think boldly to move this country onward. Or could it be that the bureaucrats are afraid of losing lucrative rackets imbedded in ODA-financed projects? Secretary Ping should not forget how to think like a private sector manager. Right now, he is allowing his usec to repeat proven failures… the old bureaucratic way.

We are spending money on international road shows supposedly to entice foreign investors to invest on our PPP initiatives. But here, we have a local investor ready and willing to invest big bucks on a major infrastructure program and all our government could tell them is that they “will study it”. This is absolutely ridiculous. The earlier P-Noy cracks the whip to get his people moving and thinking boldly, the better for his credibility rating and for our country’s future.

Related articles

• Bicol Express making a comeback (sorsogoncity.wordpress.com)

Filed under: Government, Information, Innovation, Invest in Sorsogon, Sorsogon News Updates, Technology , Bicol Express, Junio Ragragio Jr, philippine national railways, PNR

Sorsogon nat’l high school offers open secondary school program this year

by Irma a. Guhit/PIA Sorsogon

SORSOGON CITY , May 30 (PIA) — Sorsogon National High School is offering the Open High School Program (OHSP) that will allow students who graduated from the elementary and who were not given the chance to proceed and finish secondary education due to some reasons or circumstances

“The new learning program is very different from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) since this will be more of a structured learning program and students will be in a modular system, home-based but is also more patterned on the basic education scheme or principles “, Dr. Blanca Rempillo, principal of the SNHS explained during the interview in the radio program, Sararo Sarabay this morning.

SNHS is inviting students who graduated from the elementary and who would like to finish their secondary level education but can not go to a regular class yet still wish to graduate by just reporting once a week and can study by bringing home structured modules that will provide them a comparative education same as that of a regular class but will be more flexible and home-based.

According to Joan Lagata, OHSP program coordinator, announced that those who would like to enroll will undergo examination and pass the test that will show that they are independent learners and are independent readers and has the capacity to study on their own.

Lagata said that in the OHSP, the student who passes the examination will be enrolled in a modular class equivalent to the regular 8 subjects offered in the basic education scheme. The student will bring home these modules, study and answer the questions and will report once a week or may schedule a meeting with teachers who are handling the subject.

A student may finish the module depending on his capacity to pass the given module. They will also be given summative test and other needed tests required as a requirement to pass aside from the 8 modules equivalent to the eight subjects offered equivalent to a year level.

According to Lagata one can finish within 6 months the first year of high school depending on the student’s capacity to pass the modules and examinations given. If the student pass the 8 modules within the six months period, the student will be promoted to the next year level just like being promoted in a regular class.

The OHSP has a maximum of six years to finish and should the student needs more time.Students who are more advanced and can really prove that they are able to do the modular system of learning may finish it on a four year schedule.

“This scheme that the SNHS is offering is really part of the academe’s thrust to provide everyone, specially those who needs a high school diploma to pursue college education and will be provided the chance to finish their secondary level education and go to a university and have a degree”, according to Lagata.

“What is very important here is the attitude of the student enrolling to really be an independent learner. The OHSP will ensure less expense on students specially if they are having families and if they really can not attend a regular class because of other constraints, usually because of age too or other circumstance. This program of the SNHS willl give them the chance to finish their secondary education aside from the ALS “, according to Rempillo.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Education, Sorsogon News Updates , Alternative Learning System, Dr. Blanca Rempillo, Joan Lagata, OHSP program, Open High School Program, Secondary education, SNHS, Sorsogon City, Sorsogon National High School, Student, Test (assessment)

Mount Bulusan spews ash anew

By Danica Marie Hermogenes, Mar S. Arguelles
Source: INQUIRER.net, Inquirer Southern Luzon

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – (UPDATE) Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon spewed ash accompanied by rumbling sounds heard up to five kilometers away at 12:25 a.m. Friday, a state volcanologist said.

The height of the ash colum could not be observed, however, due to a thick cloud cover, said Crispulo Diolata, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) in Sorsogon.

He described the event “as an explosion” that lasted for around 10 minutes.

He said the explosion indicated that steam pressure was building up at the volcano’s vent. Seismic instruments detected at least 10 volcanic quakes, six of them short-duration harmonic tremors, during the past 24-hour observation period, he added.

Initial field investigation showed that ash deposits up to 2.5 millimeters deep blanketed a dozen villages in the municipalities of Juban and Irosin on the northwest and southwest flanks of the volcano.

Eight villages in Juban were affected, namely, Calaadgaw, Rangas, Puting-Sapa, Sangkayon, Bacolod, Buranburan, Gurayan and Aniog. The affected villages in Irosin were Cogon, Bolos, Umagom and Gulang-gulang.

Alert Level 1 remained hoisted over Bulusan, according to Phivolcs.

Residents have been warned not to enter the four-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone around the volcano.

Bulusan is among 23 active volcanoes in the Philippines, which is located in the so-called Ring of Fire of volcanic activity around the Pacific.
Bulusan last erupted between March and June of 2006.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , Bacolod, Bolos, Bulusan, Bulusan Volcano, Buranburan, Calaadgaw, Cogon, Crispulo Diolata, Gurayan and Aniog., Juban, Mount Bulusan, Phivolcs, Puting-Sapa, Rangas, Ring of Fire, Sangkayon, Seismic instruments, Umagom and Gulang-gulang, volcanic quakes, volcanologist

Organ Donor Card ipamamahagi sa May 6

Ni: Bennie A. Recebido

Sorsogon City, May 10 (PIA) – Nakatakdang mamahagi ng Organ Donor Card ang National Kidney and Transplant Institute – Human Organ Preservation Effort (NKTI – HOPE) dito sa Sorsogon sa May 6, 2011.

Sa impormasyon na ipinaabot sa PIA Sorsogon ng NKTI, itataon ang pamamahagi sa isasagawang Advocacy on Organ Donation Program kung saan ilang mga kinatawan ng NKTI ang darating dito.

Ipamamahagi ang organ donor card upang makahikayat ng mga Sorsoganon na nagnanais na makatulong na mapahaba pa ang buhay ng ibang tao sa pamamagitan ng kusang pagbibigay ng bahagi ng kanyang katawan.

Ang organ donor card ay kulay yellow na may blue border line at may nakasaad na “I would like to help someone to live after my death”.

Makikita sa likuran nito ang ilang bahagi ng katawan ng tao na maaaring mai-donate tulad ng kidney, mata, puso at baga, atay, pancreas at iba pang mahahalagang bahaging maaaring kailanganin para sa transplantation, pananaliksik at mga pag-aaral.

Maaari anilang maging donor ang kahit na sinong may edad 18 pataas. Maging ang mga menor de edad ay maaari ding maging donor, kakailanganin lamang nito a ng pahintulot ng magulang o guardian nito. (PIA Sorsogon)

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates , NKTI, NKTI - HOPE Sorsogon, Organ Donor Card, PIA Sorsogon

Beautiful seas, ugly basura | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

Beautiful seas, ugly basura | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features.

Filed under: Sorsogon News Updates, Travel Advisory, Travel and Lifestyle, What's Happening Here?

Tired of the beach? Go to this town in Sorsogon

By Jose Carretero, ABS-CBN Bicol

MANILA, Philippines – A town in Sorsogon offers a one-of-a-kind summer adventure to holidaymakers who are tired of going to the beach.

Pilar, located at the southeastern part of Luzon island, is only an hour away from Legazpi City in Albay. Here, visitors can explore a cave’s wonderful rock formations which can give a feeling of stepping into a different planet.

The cave, home to thousands of bats, also played a part in the country’s history. During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, soldiers reportedly sought refuge here.

After visiting the cave, visitors can go to Pilar waters, home to rich marine life, or to the Egret Sanctuary where they can watch magnificent birds in flight.

“First time ko po makakita ng ibon na marami tapos magaganda,” one tourist said.

Another added, “Pagdating namin ikukuwento ko sa mga friends ko, relatives, kasi maganda ang lugar ng Pilar, Sorsogon.”

Vacationers don’t have to pay a king’s ransom to experience exotic locations. Pilar’s tourism office is offering affordable tour packages to make traveling hassle-free.

The only thing you have to worry about now is how to squeeze fun and relaxation in one day.

“We are promoting it at a cost of P2,900,” said tourism officer Joel Navora. The fee is inclusive of the guide and boatmen’s services, boat rental, and snacks.

Filed under: Hobbies and Recreation, Promote Tourism , Pilar Sorsogon, sorsogon summer adventure, summer adventure, tourism officer Joel Navora

Masacrot spring, Palogtok falls & Bulusan lake in Sorsogon is inviting you!!

There’s no better time to relax &  explore the  Town of  Bulusan in Sorsogon  than right now.  It’s an amazing place with a breathtaking scenery and some of the most hospitable people in the country.  Biyahe na!!

If you are  Foreigners, you may contact the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council for further info.

Here’s the video clip for  the heads up..

Filed under: Expat Living in Sorsogon, Promote Tourism, Sorsogon News Updates, Travel & Adventures, Travel and Lifestyle , breathtaking scenery, bulusan sorsogon, palogtok falls, sorsogon hospitable people, Sorsogon Whales

Finally, cases related to Fertilizer Fund Scam reach court

abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – The seven-year old Fertilizer Fund Scam is finally moving, with the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to file before the Sandiganbayan two cases related to it.

Two graft charges were filed last April 7, naming as respondents incumbent Sorsogon Provincial Governor Raul R. Lee, accountant Raul G. Hernandez and provincial treasurer Ofelia D. Velasco.

A 22-page resolution recommending indictment was submitted to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez by graft investigation and prosecution officer II Judy Anne Doctor-Escalona way back November 24, 2008.

It stemmed from the complaint of Sorsogon provincial board member Rebecca De Leon Aquino, who accused the officials of undue injury to the government by approving the purchase of 2,133 liters of Bio Nature Liquid Fertilizer from supplier Feshan Philippines Inc. in 2004.

The fertilizer was bought at P1,500 per liter against a prevailing market price of only P180/L or an overprice of more than 800 percent.

Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro finally approved the indictment resolution last March 29 “pursuant to delegated authority”.

Interestingly, page 21 of the resolution also showed it was Casimiro who “recommended approval of Escalona’s resolution” after Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Bureau (PARB) Director Mary Antonette Yalao signed her concurrence on the document.

According to graft investigators, the purchase was accomplished through two separate transactions involving payment for 133 liters of liquid fertilizer on May 6, 2004 for P189,525 and another 2,000 liters for P3 million on June 28, 2004.

Auditors noted the officials approved the purchases via “sole or exclusive distributorship” even if there were other comparable substitutes in the market.

“It is evident that the province proceeded to purchase the fertilizer without conducting any price canvass and evaluation report…thereby making it perceptible that the acquisition of the Bio Nature Liquid Fertilizer was tailored for Fershan Phils. Inc. which appears to be the exclusive distributor of the said brand,” the Ombudsman resolution pointed out.

The disbursement vouchers for both transactions were signed by all three accused. Auditors noted the money came from a P5 million allocation extended to the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit V (DA-FRU V) under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).

Auditors also noted only P3.25 million of the purchase has been accounted for. Details of the P1.75 million balance are unclear.

Auditors also noted the type bought is “not the appropriate” one for the province because its prime product is ‘pili.’ A foliar/liquid fertilizer was suitable mostly for ornamental hanging plants like orchids.

Prosecutor Escalona recommended that bail bond for the accused be set at P30,000 for each count of graft.

Cleared were Feshan executives Ma. Eunique Galang and Redentor Antolin due to insufficient evidence against them.

Filed under: Agriculture, Sorsogon News Updates , Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Unit V (DA-FRU V), Fertilizer Fund Scam, Governor Raul R. Lee, Judy Anne Doctor-Escalona, Ofelia D. Velasco, Raul G. Hernandez, Rebecca De Leon Aquino, Sorsogon provincial board member

Convergence Benefits Four Municipalities

by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY , April 11 (PIA)– The four municipalities of Juban, Casiguran, Magallanes and Sorsogon City were recipients of several projects during the project launch of the Sorsogon Convergence Initiatives on Rural Development held here at Paradise Hotel last week.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over the Agrarian Reform Communities Project (ARCP) 2 which includes rural infrastructure projects, community development programs, survey and agro-enterprise development projects to the municipalities of Juban, Casiguran and Sorsogon City.

USEC Gerundio C. Madueno together with DAR Region 5 regional director Maria Celestina M. Tam turned over the manifesto and description of projects to Mayor Ester Hamor of Casiguran, Mayor Olivia M. Bermillo of Castilla and Mayor Leovic R. Deoneda of Sorsogon City who are the focus of the convergence initiatives..

These three local governments are the pilot areas of the convergence initiative program to run for 5 years from 2011 to 2016.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headed by Secretary Ramon Paje and region 5 regional director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada turned over to the three local government units under the convergence program the DENR program component which is the Integrated Agroferestry Production /Support to the National Greening Program.

The project includes the establishment of agroforestry farms and maintenance of the existing assisted natural regeneration project in their areas.

In support to the national greening program which these three municipalities will support as stipulated in the memorandum of understanding which earlier during the launch they have signed will include the production of forest and fruit trees for distribution to their identified areas for planting.

DENR have also turned over to these municipalities titles of alienable and disposable lands, the title of issuance of free patents for agricultural lands and issuance of patent for school site.

The programs and projects also given to these three local governments from the Department of Agriculture was turned over by USEC Bernadette Romulo-Puyat together with DA Region 5 regional director Jose V. Dayao which includes Livelihood Projects Facilities, equipments, and other interventions by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

The project includes tilapia , bangus fingerlings, prawn, post larvae, tilapia breders, seaweed seedling dispersal; distribution and establishment of the Municipal and City Tilapia Hatchery, Mariculture Zone, Post Harvest Facility, Aquasilviculture Project, Fishing Gears Distribution, Seaweed Input Assistance and the re assessment of the Fish Sanctuary in these three local government units.

These three municipalities also received from the DA small water impounding projects from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) which was turned over by Dr. Silvino Q. Tejada.

Two units of pump and engine sets were also turned over by Dr. Tejada to Congressman Salvador H. Escudero III.

The local government of Casiguran, Castilla and the City of Sorsogon also received Communal Irrigation Project and Communal Irrigation Service Extension from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) thru Engr. Antonio S. Nangel , NIA administrator.

Mayor Roque L. Carranza of the municipality of Magallanes also received the Farm Mecahnization and Post Harvest Program Retrofitting of Mechanical Dryers thru PHILMEC as a separate program from the convergence initiative program implementation.

This project includes provision of farm machineries and dyying facilities such as hand tractor, thresher, flatbed dryer and multi-purpose drill pump in together with the three cluster local government of Castilla, Casiguran and Sorsogon City.

Additional project also turned over includeed the retrofitting of the existing kerosine fed mechanical dryers with rice hull furnace in the City of Sorsogon.

Other projects turned over to the three municipalities, as pilot LGUs of the convergence initiatives program were projects from the Fiber Indusry Development Authority, the Organic Demo Farm by the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Project Standards (BAFPS), the Nursery Developmet, Cassava Development Project in Casiguran and Castilla, the farm to market roads in Burabod-Palanas- Road, distribution of Irrigation pumps and the Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) project in support of the Credit Programs by the Agricultural Credit Facility.

The project launch was a success and the three municipalities piloted will be monitored closely and regularly according to the two congressmen of the the province of Sorsogon, Hon. Salvador H. Escudero III of the 1st district and Hon. Deogracias B. Ramos of the 2nd district.(PIA-Sorsogon)

Filed under: Agriculture, Environment, Get Involved, Government, Sorsogon News Updates , agroforestry farms, Convergence benefits four municipalities, DENR Sorsogon, Hon. Deogracias B. Ramos, Hon. Salvador H. Escudero III, Irma A. Guhit, Joselin Marcus E. Fragada, Mayor Ester Hamor, Mayor Leovic R. Deoneda, Mayor Olivia M. Bermillo, Mayor Roque L. Carranza, PIA Sorsogon, Secretary Ramon Paje, USEC Gerundio C. Madueno