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.

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)

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.”

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.

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)

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.

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.

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)

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)

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)