Tuguegarao City celebrates Pav-vurulun Festival 2009
Among the major activities is the 2009 Pav-vurulun Trade Fair on August 10–16, 2009.
The Trade Fair aims to promote the emerging entrepreneurs from the livelihood projects of the city and to exhibit the different products of local producers.
There for this year’s trade fair is “Kultura Ibanag” and this will be opened to the public on August 10, at the Paseo Reale Grounds, Tuguegarao City.
Other highlights of the celebration on August 10-14 include distribution of PhilHealth cards to indigent families; pancit festival; healthy lifestyle exercises and food technology demonstration; a variety show, business management seminar and the battle of the bands.
On August 15, there will be street dancing, mass wedding, games for children, and a cultural show with the “maskota” dance competition. (PIA 2)
Landslides block commuters in NVizcaya, NEcija
The landslides, disaster council officials here said were triggered by strong rains brought by typhoon ‘Kiko’ which lashed out northern Luzon starting yesterday.
Sta. Fe town mayor Florante Gerdan whose town serves as the gateway to Cagayan Valley said vehicles have filled a 20-kilometer stretch of the national highway since some of the 5 landslides that occurred outside the boundary of Nueva Vizcaya were huge ones.
Several commuters, upon learning the landslides since yesterday backed out from their travel and returned to their respective provinces as local officials cannot ascertain the completion of clearing operations being undertaken in the said areas.
“We are requesting our commuters to stay put in their provinces for the meantime so that immediate restoration works can be done. Equipments cannot enter to landslide areas unless we have sufficient space for them,” said Police Supt. Pedro Danguilan, police provincial director here.
Strong rains also triggered rivers in Bambang town to overflow, causing traffic problem among ordinary commuters.
A portion of the national highway in barangay Macate in Bambang town has been under strong river flow which prevent light vehicles to pass through, local policemen here said.
A portion of the Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya–Benguet road, which also serves as an alternate road for commuters coming and going out of Cagayan Valley was also blocked by landslides, police officials from Kayapa town in Nueva Vizcaya bared.
Officials of the Provincial Disaster Council in Nueva Vizcaya have advised commuters to stand by for developments as clearing operations within the two reported areas devastated by landslides are going on.
“Works are being done jointly by Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya inorder to fast track the restoration of the national highway as well as on the Aritao, NVizcaya-Benguet road,” Evaliza Agamata, provincial disaster management office said. (PIA NVizcaya)
NVizcaya-NEcija road now passable
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya (10 August) — Local commuters can now continue to travel coming and going to Cagayan Valley with ease as the Department of Public Works and Highways(DPWH) and local government units have restored the national highway after it was blocked by a series of landslides since Thursday (August 6) afternoon.
The reported landslides blocked hundreds of commuters along the national highway in barangay Pungkan in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija as it was triggered by strong rains due to typhoon ‘Kiko’.
“It is now over and our commuters can now travel safely and comfortably,” said Police Supt. Pedro Danguilan, provincial director here.
Danguilan said the clearing operations became fast since the two provinces jointly undertook earth moving operations within the landslide areas.
The national highway was opened at 4 P..M. Friday(August 7), bringing relief to stranded commuters which filled the national highway. Some of the stranded commuters since Friday have opted to walk, braving the intermittent rains while other waited for more than 24 hours, relying on bread and biscuits as food, according to disaster coordinating council officials here.
Danguilan said the closure of the national highway in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija was due to a huge vehicle that was hit by a major landslide including minor landslides in other areas which totally blocked the road. (PIA NVizcaya)
DA, NIA ensure food sufficiency thru FIELDS
by JB Zambrano
Baguio City (8 August) — The FIELDS, which stands for Fertilizer, Irrigation, Extension, Loans, Dryers and Seeds, which is the government’s centerpiece for food program, is gaining headway in the region.
According to Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Cesar Rodriguez, DA-CAR together with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA-CAR) released nearly half a billion pesos for the realization of the FIELDS and rural infrastructure, irrigation and postharvest projects in the Cordillera Region.
NIA spent P 272,966,000 for its pump priming SONA project for the year 2009 for a total of 3,167 hectares for rehabilitation, 3,707 hectares for restoration and 81 hectares to be irrigated. The DA added an amount of P 34,999,997.00 for the construction of seven small scale irrigation projects.
To further assist the farmers in the Cordilleras for their postharvest needs, 24 multi-purpose drying pavements costing P2.4 million are set to be implemented in the various provinces in the region. 12 flatbed dryers with a total cost of P 8.4 million for rice and corn farmers are also up for bidding.
Rodriguez also informed that DA funded the construction of 63 farm to market roads with a total amount of P152 million distributed all over the region with Abra, Apayao, and Kalinga with seven each; Benguet, 22; Ifugao, 12; and eight in Mt. Province.
In her 9th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 27, one of the main concerns of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is to have a high growth in agriculture and guarantee long term food security and sufficiency in the country. (PIA-CAR)
16 rebel-returnee dependents get scholarship grants
by L. Lopez
Tabuk, Kalinga (8 August) — Sixteen children of former rebels got scholarship grants this schools year, bringing to 29 the current number of scholarship grantees under the government’s rebel returnee program in the province.
Rebel Returnee Program Coordinator Bing Haddac of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) said the grantees are provided scholarship under the Study Grant Program of the Office of Presidential Assistance on Peace Process (OPAPP) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The students who are now enrolled in various colleges and universities get P5,000 cash stipend per semester, Haddac said.
Haddac clarified that the scholarship is limited only to direct family members of former rebels such as wives and children. She noted that many wanted to apply but were found out to be relatives of rebel returnees.
The Study Grant Program of OPAPP and CHED aims to provide educational support to family members of rebels who returned to the fold of the law, as part of the government’s Social Integration Program.
Haddac said since the start of the program, many beneficiaries successfully finished college and are now employed in government agencies.
Last April, two grantees graduated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at St. Toni’s College here, while some expect to graduate from other courses this year.
As additional support, the PSWDO offers food-allowance to student-grantees who render extra-work during their free time at the office, to augment their needs, Haddac said.
Government’s program for rebel returnees has been so effective in the campaign against communist insurgency in this part of the country. (PIA-Kalinga)
Binodngan policemen cited for effectiveness
Tabuk, Kalinga (8 August) — The notion that ‘binodngan’ policemen are ineffective is a farce, according to National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Provincial Officer Fernando Cosidon.
“Like any other ethnic law enforcer, ‘binodngan’ (identity given to a person covered by a peacepact) policemen are effective in enforcing the law”, reveals an assessment made by the NAPOLCOM provincial office.
Cosidon revealed that policemen belonging to sub-tribes in Kalinga and covered as subjects of the ‘bodong’ (bilateral peacepact recognized by law) are doing their job well. “With the exception of a few ‘bad eggs’, the findings show that they discharge their duties as state policemen and not of a selected few”, he said.
Contrary to the notion that binodngan policemen are ineffective because of their affiliation to the customary practice, they discharge their duties according to their mandate as state police, Cosidon said. Bodong is not an obstacle in the discharge of a policeman’s duty, it only comes in to settle disputes if the involved parties accede to it, he clarified.
The fact that they are from the place is an advantage since they are oriented on the psyche of the people and as members of the binodngan tribes allow them to settle conflicts through the bodong, Cosidon added.
Napolcom further gathered from their assessment that the enforcement of the law also depends upon leadership. “If the PNP leadership is active, the men down will follow. Binodngan Policemen are by nature good followers and this attribution can be exploited if properly motivated by their leader”, Cosidon, who is a binodngan himself said.
“At one time when the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted raids against loose firearms, binodngan policemen were at the forefront of said operations”, Cosidon cited.
Meanwhile, Cosidon said policemen in Kalinga had so far met the parameters of the assessment set by the Commission. However he admitted that law enforcement was not highly complied with because of the topography of the province wherein far-flung villages could not be monitored.
The periodical assessment gauges the performance of the police on law enforcement, personnel disposition, education and training.
According to Cosidon, all policemen, including the binodngans, hired after year 2000 are college graduates. “They can not be hired on the absence of the required eligibility or get promoted without undergoing the necessary training,” he added.
Cosidon informed that Napolcom has already acted on the disposition problem wherein more policemen are assigned at Camps than in the stations.
The present disposition is now 84% of the total PNP personnel are assigned on the field while the remaining 16% is at headquarters for administrative functions. Policemen are also directed to maintain a 24-hour police visibility. He expects that more improvement will come out after a follow up assessment this month. (PIA-Kalinga)
DOH presents AH1N1 pandemic preparedness, mitigation and preparedness plan
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (8 August) — The Department of Health (DOH), presented the region’s A H1N1 Pandemic Preparedness, Mitigation and Response Plan last week to members of the Cordillera Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (CRDCC), the local media and World Health Organization (WHO) representative to the Philippines Dr Soe Nyunt-U.
In a statement, CRDCC chair and Philippine National Police (PNP) Cordillera Director Orlando Pestaño explained that in facing the A H1N1 pandemic, DOH is the head department that is leading the CRDCC in the preparedness plan.
According to the DOH, the A H1N1 pandemic alert remains at phase 6. In the Philippines the total number of positive cases recorded is 3,207 with 6 deaths as of July 30. In Cordillera, there are already 187 positive cases and four deaths recorded since May.
In her presentation, DOH-CAR Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje reported that the region’s pandemic preparedness, mitigation and preparedness plan is already in place, though not yet in full capacity. The plan is composed of five components namely: Command system, Surveillance, facility preparedness, public health intervention and communication.
Although the cases recorded in the country remain to be mild as majority of the patients recover even without medication or hospitalization, again the DOH appeals to the public, who are otherwise healthy and have only mild influenza symptoms to stay at home and away from work, school or crowded areas until symptoms have passed. If symptoms worsen, they should immediately seek medical attention.
On the other hand, those who show influenza-like-illness and have pre-existing health conditions, including the very young, the old and pregnant women who are considered to be more vulnerable to serious complications of the disease, should seek medical consultations immediately.
According to Dr Soe Nyunt-U, the WHO expects that the A H1N1 virus to continue spreading in the next two years, so they are now looking for a more innovative solution and focusing on identifying high risk patients so as to reduce mortality. “WHO is not going after the number of cases but on the geographical spread of the virus, on (mapping) – where the virus is spreading,” Dr Nyunt-U said.
Dr Nyunt-U also outlined the importance of having a plan, as the virus (outbreak) is here to stay and could spread to other regions and even on every part of Cordillera. “It is also important to emphasize health safety measures, like good personal hygiene and animal husbandry practices, to the public,” he added.
Pestaño also expressed optimism that we can overcome this (A H1N1) threat, as he also assured that the PNP is ready to mobilize and give its full support, in any eventuality. (PIA)
DepED to pilot on-line education program in Baguio City
by Lito Dar
According to BCNHS Principal, Dr. Elma Donaal, the existing Drop-Out Reduction Program of BCNHS consists of two components, the Effective Affordable Secondary Education or EASE and the Open High School.
Donaal explained that under the EASE component, they provide a modular program to currently enrolled students, who for some reasons (such as getting sick for a month) would experience a hard time coping with his studies, so as to prevent the student from dropping out.
In the Open High School, drop-out students who are not currently enrolled for some reasons (like marriage, having children or because of work) could be able to continue their studies through this program, wherein they need not need come to class daily but could continue studying by attending class once a week.
Donaal also proudly announced that they have already 56 graduates under the said program. “We have been proud of helping people who are enthusiastic to finish high school,” she said.
The “on-line education,” Donaal explained is an added innovation under the Open High School program. Drop out students can continue their studies through the internet. Instead of attending class once a week as in open high school, they do their lessons on line.
In the same forum, Donaal lauded the government’s effort, under the initiative of the President, for including education in its primary focus. Donaal is also grateful for the new salary increase given to teachers.
Donaal also affirmed that the state of education in Baguio, especially in BCNHS, is better today, not only in terms of teacher’s salary but also in terms of equipment. BCNHS is also a beneficiary of new classrooms/buildings under DepED’s School Building Program, aside from the on-going renovation of its oldest building in its main campus.
Donaal also stressed, that they are lucky in BCNHS because their teachers and even their non-teaching staff are involved in massive trainings, as part of the government’s effort to standardize everything in the education department, under its Basic Education Sector Reform Agenda. (PIA)
BONLAG meets to discuss role in 2010 elections, environmental issues
by Vency D. Bulayungan
Bontoc, Mt. Province (8 August) — In an effort to attain a clean and honest elections in 2010, and to help preserve the environment, the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe (BONLAG), conducted recently a three day tongtongan (dialogue) here with the theme, “Nation building through Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs)”.
Bishop Rodolfo Beltran said that like in the past, the vicariate will actively be involved in the 2010 elections. One of the issues he said which the vicariate minimize or even eliminate is vote buying. “This has been a long problem which we are trying to address,” Beltran said.
Beltran admitted that in the past he would advise the people to accept the money given by politicians and not vote for them. However, this time he said he will advise them not to accept the money anymore. We are not retreating from this effort and we will imbibe fear to the people not to sell their votes.
On the other hand, retired Bishop Francisco Claver, who was one of the speakers, said that the people in the different BECs have a role to do in the 2010 elections. “We Christianize the culture of politics, Claver said.
Still active in his obligations and various advocacies, Claver said that BECs have big participation in nation building. “If you want to build the nation, go to the BECs. He also believes that poor people take part in nation building.
“BECs are a community of communities and we believe that a community plays a major role in social change,” Claver said. Although there is a slow change, Claver challenged the participants to act now and do their share in attaining this goal.
Meanwhile, Beltran disclosed that one of the pressing concerns that the vicariate is facing right now is environmental issues. He said that cutting of trees should be minimized because due to rampant cutting of trees, disasters such as landslides occur and the illicit activity also lessen water supply. He enjoined all sectors of society to come together and join hands in the preservation of the environment.
Participated by about 270 representatives from the 21 Mission Stations of BONLAG, Beltran described the BECs here as alive and that the tongtongan this year is very good since this is an opportunity to remind everybody in the vicariates the moves in building the nation through the BECs. “The BECs make me happy because even though they are not perfect, they are alive,” he said. (PIA-Ifugao)
PNP continues to confiscate loose firearms
Tabuk, Kalinga (8 August) — The Philippine National Police (PNP) continues to conduct aggressive interdiction operations to confiscate loose firearms in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements, civilian gun holders, and delinquent licensed firearms owners.
According to PNP Provincial Director Virgilio Laya, Executive Order 817 issued by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered for a continuing implementation of the National Firearms Control Program which seeks to account for all firearms in the possession of the general population.
He said aside from police operations, the PNP asked Congress for stiffer penalty to make possession of three or more firearms a non-bailable offense particularly against offenders who are members of organized crime groups.
“To this effect, the PNP is offering a final general firearms amnesty for loose firearms holders and an opportunity for them to surrender or register their firearms”, Laya said. He called on all loose firearm holders in the province to come and avail of this last chance offer of amnesty in order not to find themselves in conflict with the law.
Provincial Operations Chief Jeremias Oyawon said that processing of application started August 1 this year until October 31, the final amnesty period.
He said July record estimates show 1,478 loose firearms in Kalinga – 35 on the possession of wanted persons, 1,002 with civilians, 66 with the New Peoples Army, and 375 unregistered or un-renewed.
Oyawon said application forms are downloaded to the municipal police stations and concern groups and individuals are advised to visit the district offices. “Expired licenses for 5-years is estimated to cost P3,374.00 and registration of loose forearms ranges from P840,00-P1,200.00″, he said. (PIA-Kalinga)
