PNP predicts peaceful and orderly elections in Ifugao
by Dan B. Codamon
Lagawe, Ifugao (6 March) — The Philippine National Police(PNP) here bravely predicted that there will be no election-related violence or disturbances that will disrupt the election in the province this coming May 10, 2010.
The police also noted that there are no Private Armed Groups in the province that can initiate threats, intimidation and violence against the people.
Ifugao is adjudged as the most peaceful province of the Cordillera for 2009 and the police aims to maintain and sustain this reputation even with the coming 2010 automated election, said Police Chief Inspector Rudy Viernes of the Ifugao PNP Command during the recent Ifugao Provincial Peace and Order meeting held at Camp Joaquin Dunuan here.
They also reported that almost all of the local candidates are very cooperative in abiding with the election laws and instructions imposed by the Commission and Election (COMELEC) such as attending meetings called for the purpose of designating the common poster areas, conduct of candidates forum and other activities needed for an orderly and peaceful election.
The COMELEC together with the police and other member agencies deputized by the COMELEC have been massively conducting information, education and information campaign with regards to the automated election and election laws so that the people will be aware and also cooperate to the effort of having a peaceful, honest and orderly poll in Ifugao.
Before the campaign period starts for the local candidates, the COMELEC and the police also plan to have a peace covenant signed by all the provincial and municipal candidates running for the different elective positions. (PIA-Ifugao)
DA pushes for backyard dairy farming
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (6 March) — Giving a push on backyard dairy farming, the Department of Agriculture (DA-CAR) in coordination with the National Dairy Administration and the provincial government of Benguet held a two-day “Dairy Production in the Cordillera: An investment and Organizational forum” at the Hotel Supreme last week.
According to Agri-business and Marketing Division head Pat Ananayo, DA-CAR has been supporting the region’s dairy industry and will continue to push for it until an institutionalized backyard dairy farming is established.
Ananayo pointed out that the region has a big potential in dairy farming, especially Benguet and Mt. Province because of their weather. The problem he said is that livestock growers do not have vast lands for pasture.
Despite the problem on the availability of land requirements for livestock pasturing, the region could still catch a part of the country’s dairy market, DA-CAR information officer Robert Domoguen said. “Through zone or clustered dairying we can also catch a part of the country’s dairy market, as what the Livestock Resource Center in Puerto Princesa Palawan has been doing,” he explained.
The LRC in Puerto Princesa, Palawan has demonstrated that small farmers in the villages when organized and assisted by government can run viable meat and milk industries that benefit their families and village communities in many ways than one, Domoguen added.
Ananayo explained that after thorough assessments of the stakeholders who are interested to venture into the industry, the DA will tap the NDA and the other industries who can help boost backyard dairy farming.
Ananayo also stressed that promoting backyard dairy farming side by side with vegetable farming and even coffee growing would not only give farmers additional income but will also help in preserving the environment.
In the said forum, participants were presented with the Dairy Industry situationers in the national, regional and provincial level. They were also given presentations on the present technology in dairy farming and the possible opportunities in dairy farming by dairy experts like Mt High Livestock Multi-purpose Cooperative; PCC Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija and Alaminos Goat Farm in Laguna.
The DA will also conduct a similar forum in Mountain Province. (PIA)
Jeepney drivers to pay royalty fee for playing music
by Redjie Cawis
Baguio City (6 March) — It seems like nothing in this world is free anymore.
Even the jeepney drivers will soon have to be paying royalty fees to the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (FILSCAP) for playing music.
FILSCAP General Manager Debbie Gaite said that the FILSCAP, a collective management association for composers in the Philippines, collects royalty fees and performance fees from business establishments making use of music as part of their business.
Gaite said that they are already collecting fees from bus lines, ships and airlines in Manila. They will soon be collecting from the city’s public rides too.
Here in Baguio, business establishments are very hostile with the collection of FILSCAP of fees from hotels, restaurants and malls. Hotel associations here are questioning the legality of the FILSCAP to collect such fees.
FILSCAP legal officer head lawyer Thursday Alciso cleared issues that their group is a licensed and legal group that is mandated to collect fees from establishments and they have all the right to do so. We are just implementing the law pertaining to the Intellectual Property Law.
Gaite advised establishment owners and even the transport sector to just put off their music if they do not want to pay any fees collected by the FISLCAP.
Gaite added that they have forged memorandum of agreement with the Bars and Restaurants Association of Baguio City Incorporated headed by Michael Balanza. This MOA gives all the right to the FILSCAP to collect royalty fees from member establishment of BRABI starting this March 2010.
Meanwhile, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Baguio headed by president Anthony De Leon filed a case against the FILSCAP questioning the legality of the organization in collecting fees. They asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and an injunction which would stop FILSCAP from collecting fees from their establishments. (PIA)
Mt Province officials, residents thank PGMA for rehabilitated Halsema Highway
by Andrew Doga-ong
Bauko, Mt. Province (6 March) — Local officials and residents of this landlock province openly expressed their gratitude to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the rehabilitation and improvement of the once humpy- bumpy Halsema high way.
President Arroyo motored to Mount Data, Bauko from the Lepanto Mines airstrip on March 1 to inaugurate the 50.4 kilometer Mount Data to Bontoc road stretch or which is referred to as the Phase II of the Halsema Highway Rehabilitation project.
Phase I of the Halsema Rehab project starts from La Trinidad, Benguet up to Mount Data, Bauko which was completed in 2006 while phase III starts from the capital-town of Bontoc to Banaue, Ifugao which is under construction and is expected to be finished by April.
In his welcome remarks at the Boga bridge where the short program was held, Governor Maximo Dalog thanked President Arroyo for pouring in billions of pesos for the improvement of major roads leading to the Cordillera Heartland. He said the crucial concreting of the road trunklines will usher in the development of the people and the communities not only in Mt. Province but the whole of the Cordilleras.
The Halsema rehabilitation project including that of the Bontoc – Tabuk road and the Sabangan – Cervantes road are part of the President’s flagship projects in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle to hasten economic development in this part of the region.
The Provincial Chief Executive also thanked President Arroyo for being the number one tourism promoter saying the President’s frequent visit to Mt. Province perked up the tourism industry in the province. The President usually made a working visit to Mt. Province during the Christmas holiday season and Holy Week.
Noting the many programs and projects the province received from the present administration, Dalog concluded that Pres. Arroyo is the only the incumbent President that showed much concern and sensitivity to the needs of the people of Mt. Province.
Road users and commuters in thanking the President said the concreted road would now allow them to experience the basic convenience of traveling. They said travel time is significantly reduced such that they can reach their destination much earlier as compared to when the road is still unpaved.
A road worker in his interaction with the President said the Halsema rehabilitation project gave him the opportunity to be employed like hundreds of local residents in the province.
The improved Halsema road will be one of the legacies of President Arroyo to the people of Mt. Province and the whole of the Cordillera. (PIA MP)
Kiangan farmers provide free labor to repair irrigation
by Vency D. Bulayungan
Kiangan, Ifugao (27 February) — In a bid to source out water to irrigate nearly dried up rice fields, farmers here joined hands and provided free labor to repair existing irrigations.
Farmer Amadeo Baod said that the farmers here decided to do something to help the government save their palay from the onslaught of the El Nino phenomenon. “We are afraid of the impact of the long dry spell on our ricefields and we have to act on it in order that our efforts and the money we spent in the preparation and planting of the palay will not go to waste,” he said.
According to Baod, all the farmers here joined hands and repaired a destroyed irrigation just to let water flow in their rice paddies which are getting dried up. He disclosed that the “bayanihan” (free labor) they provided in the repair of the irrigation was supported by the Municipal Government which provided food for work for the farmers.
Baod added that the land owners who are beneficiaries of the said irrigation also contributed money to buy materials and other needs in the repair of the irrigation system. The farmers tapped the water from a nearby river since the other sources are slowly drying up.
The farmers just planted their palay last January and according to Provincial Agriculturist Raymond Bahatan, it will take at least four months for the palay to yield a bountiful harvest if the ricefields has water for at least three months.
Baod said that they need not to wait for the government to act on their plight but should do their part to solve the problem. “If we keep on depending on the government for help then we will be at a loss. (PIA-Ifugao)
NFA Ifugao assures enough rice supply even with El Nino
by Mhars B. Lihgawon
Lagawe, Ifugao (27 February) — Amid fears of rice supply shortage due to the long dry spell, the National Food Authority (NFA) assured that its rice grain stock is enough to sustain the needs of the people here.
Galvez stated that NFA has enough rice grain stock to meet the demand of the public most especially the indigents who could not afford to buy commercial rice.
“At present, there are 10,000 sacks of rice stocked in our warehouse enough to supply the needs of consumers despite the dry spell,” she said.
Galvez also announced that the province is expecting an additional 10,000 sacks of rice to be delivered in the coming days to augment the current stock pile of NFA.
Meanwhile, NFA is currently accrediting additional Institutionalized Bigasan Sa Palengke (IBSP) outlets to sustain rice sufficiency most especially in the far flung barangays of the province.
Galvez explained that the accreditation of IBSP will end on March 13 to give chance to those who want to avail of the outlets.She said that there were only seven outlets in the province that selling NFA rice. (PIA Ifugao)
350 graduate from DepEd-ALS livelihood skills training program
by Lito Dar
Baguio City (27 February) — The Department of Education (DepED) Baguio City Division’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) in coordination with the city government of Baguio held a simple graduation program for the 350 learners who finished their Livelihood Skills Training Program, last week.
The 350 graduates finished various Livelihood Skills Training program of ALS-Baguio from November 2009 up to January of 2010 which courses include Reflexology/Massage, Beauty Care/Hair Science, Food Processing, Cooking/Culinary, Carpentry, baking and Welding.
Congressman Mauricio Domogan and Mayor Reinaldo Bautista who served as guest of honors lauded the DepEd ALS livelihood program and expressed their support for the sustainability of the program and to provide assistance to the graduates, individually or as a group, to those who want to venture into livelihood projects or open up a small business.
According to Domogan, education is the best empowerment the government can give to its people for their progress. He advised the graduates who want to start their own business or livelihood programs, to submit their proposals to the City Social Welfare and Development Office, wherein his office is also funding livelihood programs.
Bautista on the other hand expressed his support for the DepED ALS program, not only on its livelihood skills training but also on its Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) program, which provides chance to elementary and high school undergraduates to pursue their studies.
There is always a chance for everybody and with the ALS program, people are not only given a chance to learn but also an opportunity of employment and livelihood, Bautista said. He also stressed to the graduates that the city government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office is willing to provide them livelihood assistance.
ALS Baguio head Art Tiongan stressed that with through its Livelihood Skills Program, they are not only providing livelihood opportunity but they also give a chance for the elementary and high school undergraduates, in every barangay, the chance to continue their studies and pursue a higher goal in life, by also bringing in their A&E program. In the same manner, the ALS learners are also given a chance to acquire livelihood skills through the program.
Tiongan also stressed that ALS-Baguio holds the highest passing rate of 41 percent, in terms of A&E passers in the past five years and provides livelihood skills training to about 180 individuals in a year.
In the same program, DepED ALS-Baguio also gave plaques of recognition to the institutions, trainers, barangay officials, government officials, volunteers, trainers, facilitators, school ALS coordinators and administrators, who in one way or another fully supported, participated, cooperated and contributed to the success of their programs.
Also present were DepED Baguio Division Superintendent Dr. Ellen Donato, DepED District I – PSDS Dr Revelina Abarquez, ALS Regional Head Gloria Felipe. (PIA)
Gun-less police join Panagbenga parades
by Redjie Cawis
Baguio City (27 February) — Anti-gun campaign rules over the city’s Panagbenga Festival as Mayor Peter Rey Bautista has ordered the police force not to bring guns in the parades.
Bautista announced in a press conference that the police force will be gun less during the street dancing and float parade. He said showing of guns in festivities and gathering of people creates a bad image of the place.
“We do not like to spoil the parade by showing off guns and arms.” Bautista said. He stressed that guns are not necessary since there is no threat of violence in the city. He added that the impression should not be of arrogance but a friendly people.
According to Baguio Flower Festival Executive Committee Chairman Anthony De Leon, he has witnessed several festivals in the south where the police and the military forces are carrying long firearms like ready to go to war. It is improper to place these men in the middle of a celebration, he said.
Baguio City is a tourist destination so the Baguio people should always be tourist- friendly. “The displays of marshals with long firearms are very much intimidating and prohibitive to tourists,” De Leon said.
Bautista explained that there would be other uniformed men stationed on strategic locations around the city that would be allowed to bring firearms.
De Leon added that the BFF is confident with the peace and order situation during the festivities with the Baguio City Police Office in the lead.
The Baguio police force is set to protect the expected two million or more tourists in the city for the annual Panagbenga street dancing and float parade this weekend. (PIA)
DA assists typhoon-affected Abra farmers
by Maritess Benas
Bangued, Abra (27 February) — The Department of Agriculture while to bracing the farmers for the El Nino which is now affecting parts of the country, is fastracking its quick recovery program for farmers gravely affected by typhoon Pepeng last year.
In a report by OIC Provincial Agriculturist Jesus Villamor, Jr., the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAG) has distributed to 25 municipalities the certificates of entitlement to about 5,000 farmers who have been gravely affected by Typhoon Pepeng last year. Only the municipalities of Lacub and Boliney were not included in the distribution.
The said program is the Department of Agriculture’s Quick Recovery Program in the form of fertilizer subsidy to the farmers who have not recovered from the adverse effects of the strong typhoon.
About 3,442 hectares of ricelands have been directly affected by typhoon Pepeng in the province. A total of 17,210 bags of fertilizers were provided for the quick response program of the DA. At least three bags of complete fertilizer and two bags of urea per hectare are given to the farmers.
A farmer who has only a half hectare of land is given one bag each of complete and urea. If the land is only ¼ hectare and below, only one bag of complete fertilizer is given.
The fertilizers are given to the farmers in the form of certificate of entitlement. The payment of the fertilizers are reimbursed directly to the individual farmers in the form of check.
Aside from the fertilizer subsidy, seed subsidies were also given to those affected by typhoon Pepeng.
Erlinda Burton, OPAG information officer said a total of 2,017 hectares with 2,558 farmers were benefited by the said seeds distribution. This was handled by the National Food Authority with the supervision of the OPAG and the municipal agriculture offices as regards the identification of affected areas and the individual farmers. (PIA-Abra)
PGMA to inaugurate Mt Data-Bontoc road section
Baguio City (27 February) — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to inaugurate the Phase II or the Mt. Data-Bontoc Section of the Halsema Highway Road improvement project on Monday, March 1.
The President is expected to be briefed of the project and make a drive thru at the Boga Bridge in Mt. Data, Bauko.
The concreting/widening of Mt. Data-Bontoc Section of (Halsema Highway – Phase II) project with a total length of 50.49 kilometers started in March 2006 with a project cost of P1,094.85 million.
The Halsema Highway covering an approximate length of 180 kms is the only accessible road for vehicle travel from the premier city of Baguio City to the productive agricultural highlands of Benguet, and Mt. Province. It extends further to Banuae, Ifugao, a major tourism destination in the area.
The Bontoc-Banaue section is Phase III of the Halsema Highway and is expected to be completed by April.
With the completion of this Phase II project, the travel time from Baguio to Bontoc is reduced from seven hours to four hours which reduces fuel consumption. It is also expected to enhance agricultural and tourism development and will definitely increase transport mobility and accessibility within and outside the region.
The improved road provides for easier transport of products to the market and lessens occurrence of slides and roadcuts that have been the causes of spoilage of some products like vegetables.
The Halsema highway is a SONA project of the President which she badly wanted completed before she steps down in June. This is her legacy to the people of Mt. Province and the Cordilleras.
This is part of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s Super Regions tour with an inspection of projects in the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ), the fifth and last of the regions identified in her 2006 development strategy which set up five growth corridors to spread development away from Metro Manila.
The other SONA project in CAR is the Bontoc-Tinglayan Tabuk Road which is presently under construction. (PIA)
