P’que intensifies campaign versus smoking
PARAÑAQUE CITY Feb 21 (PIA) –-Parañaque City Council enacted City Resolution No. 11-001 (065) which regulates smoking in public places and enclosed private places in the said City.
Entitled, “A resolution approving the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Ordinance No. 10-09, series of 2008 otherwise known as an ordinance regulating smoking in public places and enclosed private places in the City of Parañaque and providing fees and penalties for violation thereof”, the ordinance identifies areas into which smoking is absolutely prohibited.
Among the “Absolute Smoke-Free Areas” mentioned in the resolution are as follows: 1) Government structures and premises; 2) Elevators and stairwells; 3) Locations in which fire hazards are present; 4) All centers of youth activity; 5)Within buildings and entire premises of public and private hospitals; medical, dental and optical clinics; health centers, nursing homes, dispensaries and laboratories; 6)Other places such as transportation terminals, offices and buildings, recreational places, shopping malls, movie houses, hotels and restaurants; 7) All places of worship; 
Inside museums, libraries, auditoriums and coliseums both public and private; 9) Inside groceries, supermarkets and convenience stores; 10) Inside markets both public and private; 11) Inside public comfort rooms; and 12) Public outposts.
Establishment of smoking and non-smoking areas in places not mentioned above shall be left to the discretion of the owners, proprietors, possessors, managers or administrators of the said places.
However, designated smoking areas must comply with pertinent provisions of the National Building Code of the Phil. (P.D. No. 1096), New Fire Code of the Phil. (R.A. 9514) and the Phil. Society of Mechanical Engineers Code. Also, it must meet local standards among them, floor area and signage requirements and the need to secure a Smoking Permit.
The ordinance’s implementing offices are the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO), while apprehending offices include the Parañaque PNP, Liga ng mga Barangay; and the City Health Office.
Individual violators shall be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 and P1,500 for the second and third offenses.
Moreover, establishments who is caught violating ordinances will be meted with a stiffer penalty – P2,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second, and P5,000 or closure of the business establishment for the third violation.
Parañaque City Mayor Jun Bernabe said, “Cigarette smoking is clearly hazardous to health, not only of the smoker but also of any person who gets exposed to cigarette smoke including the smoker’s family even the baby yet to be born.”
He added that cigarette smoking also compromises fire safety, pollutes the air and river, dirties streets and clogs drainages and contributes to flooding.
He lamented that people actually know the ill effects fully well yet they choose to disregard the prudent advices of immediate family members and friends and ignore health, safety and related warnings.
“Sometime, it becomes necessary to protect people from themselves. For the general welfare of our citizens, we are fully implementing Ordinance No. Ordinance No. 10-09 and Resolution No. 11-001.”, Bernabe added. (Paranaque PIO/PIA-NCR/jpl)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011 132 couples in Taguig exchange “I do’s” on V-day
TAGUIG, Feb. 15 – The local government of Taguig City sponsored yesterday a “Valentine Wedding Special” wherein over a hundred couples tied the knot on Hearts’ Day.
The event was attended by 132 couples whose marriage was witnessed by their family, friends and other loved ones.
Mayor Cayetano said the Valentine Wedding Special was her Valentine’s Day gift to unmarried couples from different barangays in the city.
“This program is a special one, I believe that in order for us to have a better community we should start first in our family. This is another chance also to make their relationship as husband and wife official and legal and for the sake of their children,” Cayetano added.
The city government provided the couples with wedding essentials such as bridal bouquets, aras, wine and wine glass, wedding cake and a wedding photo. All that the couples brought on their own were their respective wedding rings.
During the event, Mayor Lani Cayetano gave out special awards as Oldest couple, Best dressed couple, and earliest couple to arrive at the venue. Each got P2,000 as cash prize. All couples also received 25 kilos of rice each.
Lawyer Darwin Icay, Mayor Cayetano’s spokesperson, said that mass weddings is just one of the programs that the mayor would like the people to engage in for their benefit.
“The mayor values the importance of family as the basic social institution. That’s why he has lined up various programs geared to uplift their living conditions,” said Icay, a former city councilor. (NCR)
PNRC, Coast Guard, Marines hold cross training exercise on water and search rescue
by Jell E. Guzman
MANILA, Feb 8 (PIA) – The Philippine National Red Cross, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine Marines rescue personnel held on Thursday, February 3 a cross training exercise on water search and rescue and evacuation procedure.
The Philippine Coast Guard sent 10 divers from the Special Operations Group (SOG) for underwater rescue operations. Marine Corps personnel meanwhile manned the two newly acquired amphibian vehicles of the Philippine National Red Cross. The amphibian vehicles were launched at the PCG headquarters slipway facility.
Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo was impressed with the capability of the new amphibian vehicles. Tamayo said the amphibian vehicles will be a very good option should rescue personnel be prevented from proceeding to an emergency situation because of flood and traffic.
Admiral Tamayo cited the experience during typhoon “Ondoy” in September 2009 when Coast Guard personnel were stuck in traffic and had to negotiate with Pasig and Marikina River Banks personnel just to reach its rescue destinations.
Meanwhile, Philippine National Red Cross chairman Dick Gordon later joined the exercise near the US Embassy compound in Roxas Boulevard. Gordon beamed with pride on the successful launch of the new amphibian vehicles.
Chairman Gordon said Coast Guard and Red Cross personnel may jointly operate the new water equipment especially during rescue operations in flood prone areas in Metro Manila.
Gordon who pushed for the acquisition of the amphibian vehicles cited its importance especially during rescue operations. (PCG/PIA-NCR/Jell E. Guzman)
DSWD adopts 4Cs in implementing 4Ps
by Oliver T. Baccay
Tuguegarao City, Feb. 3 (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWD) Region 2 has adopted new scheme in implementing effectively the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to 16,000 poor families in Cagayan Valley.
Yanco stated that the department is challenged and even criticized of having 21 billion pesos fund to serve the underprivileged through 4Ps and the integration of the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) and the Self-Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K), which are intended to help poor families as poverty alleviation program of the present administration.
Speaking in front of different officials of government line agencies, non-government organizations, media practitioners, academe and local chief executives, Yanco said DSWD cannot outlive the challenge of eradicating poverty alone, working as team with different line agencies, private or public, can achieve the government’s thrust of improving life status of every Filipino.
“Thank you for your valuable contributions that you have shared for the betterment and empowerment of our client,” Yanco said.
At present, DSWD- 2 serves 17 municipalities as 4Ps beneficiaries covering 16,000 poor families in the whole Cagayan Valley region. (PIA 2)
Paranaque RC to hold bloodletting
by Jell E. Guzman
PARANAQUE CITY, Feb 1 (PIA) – The Parañaque Branch-Rizal Chapter of the Philippine Red Cross will hold a bloodletting program on Friday, February 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Parañaque Sports Complex.
The blood donation project is in line with the birthday celebration of Parañaque City Mayor Jun Bernabe and in tradition of his famous line, “Ang pinakamagandang regalo ay serbisyo!”
Bernabe said, blood sharing is a gift of life to others. He also called on eligible citizens to contribute to the cause.
The blood donation is open to 18-65 years old, with a minimum body weight of 110 lbs or 50 kg, and with suitable blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin.
Those who wish to donate blood are encouraged to get enough rest and sleep for at least six hours, with no alcohol and medicine intake within 24 hours. Donors are also reminded to eat only light meals, avoid fatty foods, and increase fluid intake (water or juice).
Blood donors will undergo a series of tests and physical check up. Qualified blood donors will get donor cards from the Philippine National Red Cross.
For more information, please call Parañaque Red Cross Branch hotline numbers: 392-6890; 836-4790, or 09175809526. (Parañaque-PIO/PIA-NCR/Jell E. Guzman)
Phl economy posts record performance in 2010
by Jerome Carlo Paunan
MANILA, Feb. 1 (PIA) — The country’s economy grew 7.3 percent in 2010 — the highest in more than two decades — the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reported Monday.
The NSCB said that the Philippine’s record economic growth was influenced mainly by the world economy recovering from the global financial crisis.
“The global economic recovery which resulted in record growth rates of foreign trade contributed to an economic performance in 2010 that well surpassed the government’s target of 5 percent to 6 percent,” it said.
Meanwhile, in 2009, the economy grew at just 0.9 percent, the NSCB noted.
The strong growth last year came during a period of peaceful political transition when President Benigno Aquino III succeeded then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, it said.
Likewise, millions of Filipinos working abroad yielded higher remittances all year round, it added.
Moreover, the board said the conduct of the national elections in 2010 pumped extra money into the economy in the second quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, a report by the AFP news agency cited John Forbes — an investment advisor with the local American Chamber of Commerce — as saying that the promise of further political stability during Aquino’s six-year term offered hope for a sustained period of strong growth.
The advisor cited Aquino’s anti-corruption campaign, social welfare spending and multi-billion-dollar infrastructure upgrade plans as other reasons to believe the Philippines could finally start to match its dynamic Asian neighbours, it reported.
“What this figure (2010 GDP growth) demonstrates is the potential of the Philippine economy to grow almost twice as fast (as 5.0 percent),” Forbes was quoted in saying. (PIA-NCR/jerome carlo r. paunan)
MMDA launches bayanihan flood control alliance in Sampaloc
MANILA, Jan. 20 (PIA) – In line with its commitment to mitigate the effects of flooding in the metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) launched the first-ever Flood Control Bayanihan Zone Alliance (FCBZA) at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Sampaloc, Manila on Tuesday.
Anchored on the principle of shared social responsibility for the common good, the FCBZA is concrete example of public-private partnership (PPP),composed mainly of key representatives from various sectors such as civic and business establishments, religious groups, academe, non-government organizations, and government agencies.
FCBZA aims to propose projects and other measures which are geared towards flood mitigation; to alert the residents of the community during times of disaster and emergencies; to monitor government projects; and to execute formulated guidelines in times of crisis.
The first zone alliance is composed of the different communities from the Sampaloc district, mainly España, Blumentritt, Lacson, Dapitan, and its immediate vicinity, which are identified as perennially flood-prone areas. It will serve as the model zone and will be replicated in other flood-prone areas located in Mandaluyong, Makati, San Juan, and Quezon City.
The FCBZA’s main responsibility is to provide assistance in flood control preparedness and mitigation, emergency response operations, and in restoration and rehabilitation works.
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino stressed that the FCBZA is a kind of PPP which has been done and proven effective in addressing from the community level.
“FCBZA is specifically designed to encourage all sectors of society to join hands, as government cannot do everything alone,” Tolentino said.
The MMDA chief said the agency will provide training on disaster preparedness, coordination and response, and evacuation procedures.
Furthermore there will be a review on road designs, street levels, flood control projects, and other essential factors to address flooding problems. This will be conducted by the MMDA along with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other relevant stakeholders.
Each bayanihan zone will be responsible in conducting information campaign and advocacy outreach program to eradicate causes of flooding in their respective areas.
“The MMDA will try to extend help as much as possible, even beyond flood control but active participation from the community is important to ensure the success of this project. We need to address the problem soon, as we have seen the adverse effects of flooding even on first world countries,” Tolentino pointed out. (MMDA/PIA-NCR/Jayson P. Leguiab)
DOT eyes rural tourism vs poverty
by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan
MANILA, Jan. 21 (PIA) — Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto Lim is eyeing community-based tourism as a means to fight poverty.
This, after he addressed more than 600 governors, mayors, and local tourism officers during the opening of the three-day National Conference on Planning and Developing Community-Based Rural Tourism held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) recently.
Lim said that with local community support, community-based rural tourism (CBRT) could be a big boost to local economies.
“We are going to build a lot of emphasis on product development in the rural areas where poverty is at the highest levels,” he said.
He added that President Benigno S. Aquino III is putting tourism on top of his agenda because of the potential of the industry to help reduce poverty.
Local executives and stakeholders around the country, meanwhile, expressed their support to the government’s program on community-based tourism to counter poverty.
Lim said that the DoT, over the years, has granted some P55 million to about 123 rural communities to help develop and improve indigenous tourism products and facilities, as well as for trainings on tour and trek guiding, native craft making, and local food catering.
The fund was granted through the Grassroots Entrepreneurs Employment and Tourism (GREET) program, which aims to generate employment and livelihood with balanced ecology and environmental protection to promote eco-tourism sites and develop tourism at the community level.
Based on the report of the National Statistics Office, Lim said that although the tourism industry ranks number four as foreign exchange earner, it is now number one in creating jobs.
“These jobs are jobs in the rural areas, where most of our most beautiful attractions can be found,” Lim added.
The CBRT conference was organized by the Subic-based International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST), in collaboration with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), and the DoT. (PIA-NCR/jerome carlo r. paunan)
Pasil barangay energized
by Gigi Dumallig
TABUK, Kalinga, Jan. 17 (PIA) – The Kalinga Apayao Electric Cooperative (KAELCO) power distribution efforts in Pasil town is making headway with the energization of another barangay in the locality recently.
KAELCO manager Corazon D. Tomas said that last December 29, 2010, some 33 households from the targeted 100 households in Barangay Dalupa , Pasil were initially energized during a light switching program held in partnership with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Pasil.
The electrification of Dalupa was a partnership endeavor where each barangay gave a P30,000 counterpart while the LGU sourced out the other funding from the national government for the installation of power posts and wires.
Asked why not all of the households in Dalupa were energized, she said that only the 33 paid and applied for the program.
“We are encouraging the other households to take advantage of the opportunity and apply for connection,” she said.
Considering its distance from the National Power Corporation Grid, Pasil she said is sourcing its energy from the Napocor generator in the municipality of Lubuagan located south of Pasil.
The cooperative is conducting a house connection campaign in the municipality where at least six barangays including Dalupa are already enjoying electricity. These barangays enjoying electric power are Amdalao, Cagaluan, Malucsad, Dangtalan, and Pugong.
According to Tomas, through the same partnership scheme with the Department of Energy (DOE), installation of electric posts and wires are also completed for the Barangays of Balenciagao Sur, Balenciagao Norte, Ableg, and Magsilay. These barangays are set for electrification this year.
The LGU is also looking forward to the electrification of Bagtayan and Galdang including the nearby sitios of Pasil.
Pasil is a fifth class municipality with 14 barangays all located in the upland areas of Kalinga. ***Gigi Dumallig/PIA-Kalinga
NFA assures enough rice supply in Cagayan
by Oliver T. Baccay
TUGUEGARAO CITY,Jan. 18 (PIA) – The National Food Authority-Cagayan (NFA) assured that there will be enough supply of rice for the whole year 2011 and it needs not import rice.
Provincial manager Armando Rey C. Villacorta said Cagayan has about 50,000 bags of rice stocked in their warehouses ready to be dispatched anytime it is needed.
Aside form this, Villacorta also stated that there are 260,000 sacks of palay stored in the province that is ready to be utilized in case rice stocks will not be sufficient for Cagayanos consumption.
“We are rice surplus. In fact the production of rice here exceeds the expected consumption and we even send rice supplies to other provinces especially to our neighbors”, Villacorta stated.
Last week, President Benigno Noynoy Aquino III announced that government will import rice for the next few months to augment the needs of other provinces.
Villacorta said the imported rice will be distributed to areas that suffer severe devastations due to a series of calamities especially in southern Luzon and in the Visayas region.
But for Cagayan, Villacorta said there is enough supply to be used even in the face of calamities. (with Jingky B. Dingayan/PIA 2)
