NVizcaya police nabs 3 loan scam suspects
Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya (11 September) — Local police authorities here have arrested at least three suspected members of a loan scam syndicate Wednesday night while preying on villagers in this town.
Police Supt. Pedro Danguilan, police provincial director here said Gerardo Reyes, 47; Horacio Santos, 48 and Suzette Arevalo, all of Cabanatuan City were caught at 10:00 p.m. after their victims lodged a complaint with the local police.
Danguilan said the three suspected members of a loan scam syndicate were posing as representatives of Banco De Oro(BDO) and offering loans from villagers in this town.
“When we inquired from the local government unit if their business permit is authentic, the local chief executive himself denied issuing such to them,” Danguilan said.
He said the three suspects were also requiring their clients to pay at least P3,000.00 as interest of their loan which prompted local policemen and clients to file a complaint leading to their arrested.
“We are asking our constituents not to be easily convinced with this kind of modus operandi which is now even circulating in cellphones. Always refer this to the police,” he said. (bme/PIA NVizcaya)
Malacañang welcomes Aquino’s bid for presidency
Manila (10 September) — Malacañang welcomed the decision of Senator Benigno Aquino III to run for president in the May 2010 presidential elections.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Aquino’s decision serves as a “motivation (for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD) to ensure it strategizes properly” in choosing its standard bearer.
He however downplayed the impact of the announcement, saying it has been overshadowed by Senator Manuel Roxas II’s decision to quit the presidential race in favor of Aquino.
“Senator Mar Roxas’ passing on the baton to Aquino two weeks ago made Aquino’s announcement unexciting,” he said.
Despite the alleged euphoria over Aquino’s bid for the presidency, Ermita said he still foresees a victory by the administration candidate based on qualifications and capabilities, and with the full support of the party’s mechanism.
The administration party however has yet to choose its standard bearer.
Ermita admitted Aquino possesses the qualifications of a presidential candidate but that his being popular now is more of an offshoot of the death of former President Corazon Aquino, the acknowledged democracy icon in the country.
He said it is interesting to see how long the euphoria over Aquino’s decision to run for president will last.
Aquino timed his announcement on the 40th day of his mother’s death, a significant Catholic tradition for the departed. (PIA)
Monsoon rains submerge Botolan anew, cut link to South Zambales
by Allen Villa
Zambales (8 September) — Ninety percent of Botolan, Zambales is now submerged in floodwater as monsoon rains enhanced by the tailend of Typhoon Labuyo battered the whole province, doubling the effect of the onslaught of tropical storm Kiko that hit the town almost a month ago.
Latest report from the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) revealed that nonstop rains that started 12 noon yesterday brought floodwaters reaching as high as six feet damaging a total of 1,197 houses and displacing some 2,000 families.
The national highway along Barangay Carael linking South Zambales to the North was also closed to traffic anew as the approaches to the newly constructed steel bridge were damaged by strong currents of floodwaters expanding as wide as 5 kilometers and depth of 2 feet.
The Bailey Type Bridge had just undergone repairs yesterday to avoid further damage but raging waters destroyed even the “Gabion mattress” or concreted boulders the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had placed to reinforce the bridge’s shoulders, according to DPWH District Engineer Hercules Manlicmot.
Relief operations and emergency assistance by the PDCC, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), Provincial Social Welfare and development Office (PSWDO), Philippine National Police Zambales Provincial Office (PNP-ZPO), and the 24th IB of the Philippine Army are on-going as of press time and is personally supervised by Governor Amor D. Deloso.
In an interview, Governor Deloso has announced his plan to call into a summit the Olongapo City Government and concerned national agencies to discuss massive dredging and desilting operations in the province to clear waterways and avoid aggravating the now escalating disaster. (PIA-Zambales)
DA Bicol turns over grains center to Tabaco City
by MR Ilan
Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA Bicol regional executive director, said the post-harvest facility is funded under the Bicol Calamity Assistance Rehabilitation Effort Program (B-CARE) thru the efforts of Cong. Edcel C. Lagman.
The facility is equipped with a multi-pass rice mill with a capacity of 25 cavans per hour; a re-circulating mechanical dyer that can accommodate 120 cavans of palay per batch, drying pavement, and a concrete access road.
Dayao said that obtaining quality rice means better price. He urged the farmers to patronize the grains center to sustain its operation.
He added that the DA is still implementing the 50 per cent subsidy on certified seeds and also the premium subsidy on insurance coverage from August 1 to December 15 planting.
He encouraged the farmers to avail these programs for them to increase production and obtain better income.
Dayao also said that a biomass-fed flatbed dryer would also be installed in addition to the existing facilities. The dryer could also accommodate six tons of palay per batch.
Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro on the other hand is grateful that said project was established in Tabaco City as the city has current 1,065 hectares rice area.
She said that she is also campaigning on the planting of hybrid rice to increase production and obtain rice sufficiency.
She believes that going into hybrid rice production will not only increase yield but also the income of the farmers.
She also cited that the city is also a recipient of several FMR projects that would link production area to market.
She announced that she gives priority to agriculture and they are now implementing the plant now pay later for hybrid seeds and also the 50 per cent discount on fertilizer.
Meanwhile, Rep; Edcel C. Lagman lauded the efforts of the city mayor and announces he is also pushing House Bill 330, which give importance to post harvest facilities.
He emphasized that providing post harvest facilities to farmers organization to be paid on a long-term basis without interest would surely help them increase their income.
Another project that he is now giving priority is the FMR which would link production areas to market.
He disclosed that good irrigation, coupled with post harvest facilities and FMR would surely give agriculture an added boost.
He wanted the farmers to sell rice not palay as he saw the economic advantage of selling rice.
He also mentioned the P250 million funds released to DA for the development of indigenous products of Bicol, which include pili, abaca and coconut.
He sees also the potential of these indigenous crops especially pili in terms of providing additional income to the farmers.
He envisions the establishment of a plantation of pili in the region that could sustain the increasing demand of pili nuts for processing. (DA/PIA)
Training on off-season vegetable production held
by MR Ilan
The training was conceptualized to introduce new technologies in producing off-season vegetables. It also aims to provide farmers with the knowledge and skills on how to produce quality vegetables even during off-season.
This activity is jointly sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Congw. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato of Camarines Norte lone district.
Vinzons Mayor Oliver F. Ferrer said trainings similar to this are important as more farmers learn new technologies to increase vegetable production.
He added that if more people were given the opportunity to attend similar training, our problem on poverty may be addressed.
He cited that right in their backyard, farmers could produce vegetables and other crops not only for their consumption but also for sale.
He lauded the efforts of Chato for spearheading the activity and for choosing Vinzons as one of the pilot municipalities for her project.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jose V. Dayao, DA regional executive director, said that the agency is always on hand to provide technical assistance to interested farmers or vegetable growers.
With the collaboration and linkages of national and local agencies more farmers will be benefited and vegetable sufficiency can be attained.
He emphasized that it is important for participants to learn the right technologies for them to produce quality vegetable, which is vital in getting market channels.
In addition, it is necessary for the group to be organized in order to sustain the supply after marketing agreement has been forged.
Chato, on the other hand, said that it only requires positive attitude and discipline for one to succeed.
She challenged the group to give their best and learn the different techniques so they could also produce quality vegetables throughout the year.
She said that nothing is impossible if you give your heart in whatever you do.
She urged the group to share whatever skills, technique or knowledge they acquire out of this training.
In addition, after the training it is important to practice what they learn for a multiplier effect.
She added that her office is willing to provide their assistance like seeds so they could start a backyard garden after the training.
The trainers came from DA RFU-5 and East-West Seed Company Incorporated. A combination of lecture and hands-on or actual field work was the methodology used. (DA/PIA)
Bicol rated number 1 in rice production in RP
by LA Gavino, S Nieves
Bicol posted a 17.3% palay production growth rate in the first semester of 2009 compared to the first semester of last year, the highest among the rice producing regions.
Camarines Sur, a consistent surplus rice producer, stood out among the provinces of Bicol in terms of volume in palay production which is an immense factor in the region’s number one ranking during the said period.
Ilocos region ranks second with 13.08 % growth rate for the same period, followed by Central Luzon which registered a 9.23 % net production growth.
Governor LRay Villafuerte has placed high premium on agricultural productivity, especially on palay production, because of his firm commitment that it is vital to the economic acceleration of the province.
The BAS report attributes the remarkable performance of Bicol to the use of quality seeds by most farmers, the additional use of inputs and better irrigation system. (MMEC/PIA)
Masbate police to search houses for guns
by EA Delgado
Masbate City (8 September) — In the event known politicians here failed to register their loose firearms under a new firearms amnesty program that began last Aug. 1, 2009, the Police Provincial Office here may embark on raids and search operations.
Chief Inspector Rodolfo Abella, PPO Masbate community relations officer aired this warning even as it urged owners of unlicensed firearms to avail themselves of the government’s amnesty on the registration of loose firearms.
“This is the ultimate amnesty for holders of loose firearms. After this, aggressive police operations will commence against firearms law violators and there will be no let up or sacred cows in this campaign,” Abella said, quoting from a press statement issued by PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa.
The amnesty program, approved by President Macapagal-Arroyo last month, aims to reduce gun-related violence in next year’s national and local elections. Part of the implementing rules incorporates a reward system to those who could lead police to anyone holding loose firearms.
Police pegged the number of loose firearms at 1.2 million, which are in the hands of organized criminals, the New People’s Army and civilians.
Although the final amnesty will be in October, Abella said the PNP opened the processing phase last Aug. 1.
The provincial command and police stations are all authorized to accept and process unregistered guns, he said.
Authorities here have noted that most crimes committed with firearms in the last few years involved loose guns.
In a recent forum, no less than Bishop Joel Z. Baylon of the Diocese of Masbate expressed alarm at the proliferation of unlicensed firearms in the province and asked the PNP to step up its campaign to recover these guns which he said were mostly in the hands of political supporters.
“There are lots of unlicensed guns around,” the prelate said. “Halos bawat bahay ay may baril.” (PIA Masbate)
PhilHealth offers extension services in Hongkong
Legazpi City (8 September) — Mobile officers of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) were dispatched since August this year to Hongkong providing access and information to Filipinos on the agency’s membership updates and renewal, claims and benefits, and premium remittance concerns.
The task of PhilHealth mobile officers is to attend OFWs gatherings or meetings and coordinate with Filipino organizations in Hongkong to facilitate information drives promoting the agency’s programs and services.
They may also receive claim documents from OFWs admitted to any hospital in the country to help facilitate the processing of their reimbursements.
A confinement of an OFW shall be paid based on the benefit rates of a Level 3 hospital, with the validity period of his contribution being the eligibility requirement.
For a start, mobile officers will be sent to Hongkong, for two weeks once every three months, to popularize PhilHealth programs and services as well as render assistance to various health insurance concerns of our members in the former Crown Colony.
Dr. Rey B. Aquino, PhilHealth president and CEO, stated, “This is just the beginning, after Hongkong (which also extends services to nearby Macau), we shall replicate this project in other OFW-dense countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.”
PhilHealth, complementing its extension services overseas, also signed and entered into a Collection and Remittance Agreement with Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Under the agreement, the two government banks were accredited as collecting partners for OFW premium contributions.
OFWs in Hongkong may pay their health insurance premiums through subsidiaries and remittance partners of the mentioned banks, ready to accept premium payments either for membership renewal, member re-activation or from new registrants.
Aside from Hongkong, DBP also has tie-ups in the Middle East, Singapore, USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Taiwan, Switzerland, Ireland, Cambodia, Australia and Korea.
According to Dr. Aquino, PhilHealth management will continue to evaluate and accredit institutional applicants for our overseas collection efforts to enable our two million OFW members update their contribution payments.
“Through updated premiums, they are assured of claims and benefits of accredited facilities in the Philippines or in hospitals abroad. It is our ultimate goal to provide more payment windows, especially for our OFW members,” he said. (PhilHealth V/PIA)
CALABARZON sectors ink covenant on road safety
Tagaytay City (6 September) — To minimize if not eliminate road accidents, regional and provincial officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Region IV-A, local chief executives in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (CALABARZON), business sectors, the academe, national and local agencies concerned, and the media personalities joined hands in the Second Round Table Conference of Peace and Road Safety held at the Kimberly Hotel, this city last September 4, 2009.
In this 15th year National Crime Prevention Week Celebration (Sept. 1-7) with the theme: Labanan Ang Krimen, Pamilya Patatagin,” the organizers focused on the safety of the family thru the prevention of road accidents in their respective communities.
Trece Martires City Mayor Melencio De Sagun who is the co-host of the event said the agreement reached by the participants in road safety measures should be implemented as soon as possible and with no exceptions.
“In the United States of America, even national and local political figures are not exempted when they commit traffic violation, police officer will issue them traffic violation receipt”, Mayor Sagun quipped to the delight of the participants.
Also, Mayor Ramon Ilagan of Cainta, Rizal presented to the body the on going programs and projects on effective traffic management in his town.
He explained that proper information and educational campaign on road safety should be the responsibility not only by the implementing arms of the local government, but the citizen itself.
Prior to this, P/C Supt. Perfecto P. Palad, PNP Regional Director of Region IV-A recommended that strict law enforcement, less political interventions, peaceful and law abiding citizens are essential for a successful road safety program in the region.
Director Palad also mentioned that media plays an important role by way of monitoring the traffic situation and guard against abuses committed by the law enforcers.
“Media people can lend respectability and clout to any road safety campaign and be an integral part in educating the public”, Director Palad said.
Presidential Proclamation No. 461, dated August 31, 1995, declares September 1-7 of every year as National Crime Prevention Week (NCPW).
The week-long celebration aims to promote community involvement and participation in crime prevention. Also, to build and maintain public commitment and participation in activities that effectively deters commission of crimes. (Ruel Francisco, PIA-Cavite)
Clark Museum now open on Saturdays
Clark Freeport (6 September) — The Clark Development Corporation has announced the opening of Clark Museum during Saturdays starting this month.
The museum, located in front of Clark’s Parade Ground inside the Freeport zone, will be opened six days a week from 8 am to 5 pm starting September.
The announcement came following the increasing number of local and foreign tourists, even school children, who frequent the Museum during weekends.
CDC President Benigno N. Ricafort made the announcement following the request of several sectors to open the Museum, which showcases Clark’s memorabilia from the Spanish, Japanese and American eras.
The Clark Museum is managed by CDC’s Tourism and Promotions Office (TPO).
The opening also coincided with the Aetas employment as tourist guide following the completion of their training on “Specialized Tour Guiding Seminar” which is part of CDC’s development program on tourism for the Freeport and the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).
The tour guiding seminar for the 20 Aetas was in conjunction with the regional office of the Department of Tourism in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga.
For more details contact Noemi Garcia, TPO Manager, at telephone numbers (045) 599-3222 or (045) 599-3854. (PIA)
