Tourist arrival in Albay up by 44%
by Sally A. Atento
LEGAZPI CITY, Jan 7 (PIA) –- Tourism Bicol regional director Susan Ravanilla has affirmed the impressive growth rate of tourist arrivals in Albay from January to June 2011 which so far is the highest in the past years.
Tourist arrivals in Albay has considerably increased to 234,081 tourists in 2011 compared to 162,506 in the same period in 2010 paving the way to a 44 percent growth as compared to the previous year.
Tied up with the 44 percent boost in the number of tourist arrivals is the 51 percent growth in foreign revenues for the first and second quarter of 2011, from P122 million revenues for 2010 to P180 million generated.
This growth also generated 836, 623 jobs for the 1st quarter of 2011.
According to Ravanilla, the first two quarters of the year were actually the peak season that’s why most tourists arrived at these months.
The people are the direct beneficiaries of this tourism boost,” the director furthered.
Most of the foreign visitors were from the United States followed by visitors from the United Kingdom which also comprised the biggest tourist arrival rate in Sorsogon.
Ravanilla also said that Donsol contributed a lot to the tourism growth rate in Albay since their foreign visitors usually stayed in this city for accommodation, bar hopping, shopping, and other stuff that they can try and enjoy.
Also boosting the number of tourist arrivals in Albay is Albay’s month long Magayon Festival in April including the nightly beer plaza and presentations at Albay Park and other festivities and events that appealed to both domestic and foreign tourists.
From the median term development plan, the tourist arrival target for 2012 is 2million which was already achieved in 2010 and is expected to be surpassed in 2011. The challenge then for 2012 is to go beyond the said target, the DOT Bicol director said. (MAL/SAA-PIA V/Albay)
PDEA supports “Stay Clean and Sober Act”
QUEZON CITY, Jan. 5 (PIA) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) supports a bill authored by Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago that seeks to eliminate the incidence and prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse among Filipino students by establishing comprehensive prevention programs in schools nationwide.
PDEA director general Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez Jr. said the agency supports Senate Bill 3085, or the “Stay Clean and Sober Act,” to help address the incidence of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse among students.
The proposed bill tasks the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to establish a comprehensive program that includes prevention, intervention, referral for evaluation, treatment, and aftercare for students in all secondary schools, colleges, and universities.
Gutierrez said the said the bill complements Section 43, Article IV of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which provides for the integration of “instruction on drug abuse prevention and control in elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools” nationwide.
“This highlights the significant role of the schools in promoting anti-drug education to keep students from abusing drugs and other substances like alcohol and tobacco,” Gutierrez said.
The PDEA chief mentioned the recent initiative of PDEA in collaboration with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and Rotary Club of North Balintawak District 3780, in tapping public school teachers in Quezon City as partners and trainers on drug abuse prevention.
“We facilitated a three-day training for 53 elementary and high school teachers to equip them with effective management skills in preventive drug education. The said training highlighted the role of educators, as mentors of the youth, in creating a drug-free country,” Gutierrez said, explaining that the activity for the selected Quezon City public school teachers is a pilot project that is expected to be replicated in other schools all over the country.
“I am encouraging other civic groups, like the Rotary Clubs, to partner with PDEA and adopt a school where we could tap teachers as our force multipliers in implementing sustained drug abuse prevention programs to protect our youth from the clutches of illegal drugs,” Gutierrez said. (PDEA/RJB/SDL-PIA NCR)
NSO to conduct Labor Force Survey
by EA Bagadiong
VIRAC, Catanduanes, Jan 3, (PIA)– The National Statistics Office (NSO) here will be conducting the quarterly Labor Force Survey (LFS) from the period January 9 to January 31, 2012.
Such survey is designed to provide statistics on levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment for the country as a whole and for each of the administrative regions.
The importance of the Labor Force Survey are as follows: It provides quantitative framework for the preparation of plans and formulation of policies affecting labor market towards: 1) the creation and generation of gainful employment; 2) reduction of unemployment and promotion of employment; 3) improvement of working conditions; and, 4) enhancement of the welfare of a working person.
Furthermore, it provides statistics on levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment for the country and regions; data will be used for the projection of future human resource, which when compared with the future manpower requirements will help identify employment and training needs; data will help in the assessment of the potential human resource available for economic development; and it will identify the difference in employment, unemployment, and underemployment according to the different economic, social, and ethnic groups existing within the population.
In the province, 10 sample barangays will be visited: in Virac: Gogon Centro and PLanab del Norte; in San Andres: San Isidro, Batong Plaoway and Putting Baybay; in Baras: Paniquihan, San Miguel; in Caramoran: Maysuram and Icanbato in Pandan: Libod. (EAB/PIA/NSO)
SSS reminds business owners to get clearance before renewing licenses
by Lito Dar
BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 3 (PIA) – - All business owners including sari-sari stores and public utility vehicles (PUV) such as jeepney or taxi, need to get a clearance from the Social Security System (SSS) before they can renew their local business licenses and permits for this year to ensure the registration of their employees.
According to Legaspi, in line with their mandate of achieving universal coverage, SSS has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the local government units (LGUs) and with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for such purposes.
“It is not for the collection of the SSS; what we aim here is to provide social benefits to all coverable individuals so that in time of their need they can avail of the various benefits they are entitled to as SSS members. In fact, we already have such members including market vendors that are already enjoying their pension,” Legaspi said.
She also explained that under the SSS Special Law, even sari-sari stores and jeepney/taxi operators should report the names of their employees within 30 days of employment, clarifying the issue that an employee needs to first work for six straight months to be registered to SSS.
According to Legaspi, they have a system in place for checking if business owners or PUV operators are not complying with such law.
“For active drivers, as a member of SSS they or their beneficiaries can also be entitled to work-related compensation in times of accident while plying their routes,” Legaspi explained.
Based on SSS data, from January to June 2011 alone, SSS has paid a total benefits of more than P41 Billion to its almost 30 Million members nationwide as compared to the almost P58 Billion revenue from membership contributions, investment and other income. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)
Iwas Paputok campaign yields remarkable result in Kalinga
by Larry Lopez
TABUK, Kalinga, Jan. 2(PIA) — The “Iwas Paputok” campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) yielded remarkable results, here, with only four recorded victims from firecracker blast from December 2, 2011 to January 1, 2012.
Jose Pardito of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported that three of the victims suffered from piccolo blast wounds, while investigation is on to confirm the case of one victim who was earlier reported hit by stray bullet during the revelry.
Rolando Bautista, 30, of Purok Uno, Barangay Bulanao in Tabuk was earlier reported hit by stray bullet on the forehead during the revelry but was later declared stable after relatives rushed him to the hospital.
Pardito said the number of firecracker blast and stray bullets victims is lower than the eight cases recorded last year.
Pardito attributed this decrease in cases to the continued campaign by the Department of Health (DOH) and the police on Iwas Paputok.
In the City of Tabuk, firecracker vendors were assigned a common space to sell as preventive measure to any untoward incident.
On the other hand, the police reported a generally peaceful welcome for the New Year with no untoward incidents except petty offenses.
On the firing of guns, Police Senior Inspector Perfecto Galong said there was relatively low firing of guns noted during the evening of New Year.
Police personnel strictly heeded to the order refraining them from making any indiscriminate firing of guns or face administrative charges that could be ground for dismissal from service, he said.
In a related report, sources from the Army said there were no violent encounters from the government and enemy sides with the ceasefire enforced during the holidays. (JDP/LL-PIA CAR,Kalinga)
Immigration to foreigners: Report immediately!
by Susan G. de Leon
MANILA, Jan. 2 (PIA) — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is advising all foreigners in the country to do their annual report to the Agency starting January 3 to avoid sanctions for being improperly documented aliens.
Based on the Alien Registration Act of 1950, all foreigners holding immigrant or non-immigrant visas to report to the bureau within the first 60 days of every calendar year, to avoid administrative fines or possible deportation.
Foreigners can report to the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila or any of its field or satellite offices around the country, a news release on the BI website stated.
They must bring with them their ACR identity card (I-Card) and certificate of residence, as well as pay for the annual report fee of P300 and a P10 legal research fee, the release added.
Alien Registration Division chief Ronaldo Ledesma also said that those who have old paper-based ACR will not be allowed to make their annual report until they apply for an ACR I-Card.
Parents of children below 14 years of age and legal guardians or representatives of adults 65 years old and above can make reports on their behalf, Ledesma added. (BI/RJB/SDL-PIA NCR)
PNoy leads 115th Rizal Day celebration
by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan
MANILA, Dec. 30 (PIA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III today led the nation’s observance of the 115th Death Anniversary of our National Hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.
Rizal, who is a patriot and the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, was executed via a firing squad in Luneta, formerly Bagumbayan Field, at the age of 35.
In a simple ceremony slated at 7:00 a.m., Aquino led the simultaneous, nationwide flag raising ceremony followed by a wreath laying at the Rizal Monument in Luneta.
The President was joined by Vice President Jojo Binay, Manila Mayor Fred Lim, National
Historical Commission of the Philippines Chairman Dr. Maria Diokno, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Jessie Dellosa and Acting Supreme Commander of the Knights of Rizal Rhegis Romero II in honoring the hero whose execution by the Spanish in December 30, 1896 was one of the causes of the Philippine Revolution.
The President, however, did not deliver any speech during the entire event. Likewise, the
observance was not made open to the public in order to maintain the tight security.
Aquino also led the unveiling of the Rizal Fountain historical marker at the Noli Me Tangere
Garden in Rizal Park.
The fountain, which was a gift of the German government to the Filipino people on December 30, 1964, received a major facelift this year as part of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Rizal. (RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)
NSO gears up for 2012 household survey
by Thelma C. Bicarme
TUGUEGARAO CITY, Dec. 28 (PIA) — This early, the National Statistics office is already preparing for the 100 percent household enumeration to be conducted next year
In an interview over Radyo ng Bayan here, Angelina Callangan, information officer, said NSO enumerators will conduct a national survey of Philippine business and industries in all households.
“Although there is no definite schedule yet for the survey, we are now preparing for the hiring and training of enumerators. Details will be announced as soon as we finalize everything,” she said.
Callangan said the survey aims to know the percentages of residents engaged in agriculture and fisheries, land ownership, economic as well as demographic characteristics.
She added that this survey is one of the most important but most difficult surveys, along with the census on population.
“It is being conducted every 10 years and it was last conducted in 2001. The result of which will be known within two years, after the approval of the National Statistics and Coordination Board,” she said. (TCB/PIA 2)
DOH pushes for legislated fireworks zoning
by Domingo B. Natividad V
QUEZON CITY, Dec 28 (PIA) — Health Secretary Enrique Ona is backing the institutionalization of firecracker zones – through Congress – in every district in the country where firecrackers and fireworks can be lighted, thereby, reducing the risk of human injuries.
Ona said he prefers a law that is nationwide in scope rather than local government unit (LGU) regulated. Aside from this, he sees the law, once in place, as a tool for the country’s fireworks industry to upgrade its capacity to produce safe and regulated firecrackers.
He pointed out that the issue on firecrackers and fireworks requires a multi-disciplinary approach. This means that laws related to health, manufacture of firecrackers, and smuggling of such must be implemented strictly.
For now, the health secretary is appealing to parents not to allow their children to buy and light up firecrackers. “Do not allow your children, even just to hold a firecracker,” he said.
Rather, he suggested that the nation celebrate the turn of the year with the use of noisy yet safe tools such as little trumpets.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, firecrackers containing more than a third of a teaspoon are considered unsafe, thus, prohibited for sale to the public. Among these are Pla-Pla, Super Lolo, Piccolo, OG, Cabase, Goodbye Philippines, Bin Laden, and Goodbye Bading.
The BFP is also warning the public against the use of home made gadget called ‘Boga’ which is prone to backfire and injure a person using it. (RJB/DBNV-PIA NCR)
PDEA proposes special courts for drug cases
by Precie Catherine C. Cuarto
QUEZON CITY, Dec. 20 (PIA) — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Jose Gutierrez announced today that PDEA, the main enforcement arm of Dangerous Drug Board (DDB), is proposing the installation of special courts exclusive for drug cases to shorten resolution processes.
According to Gutierrez, present drug courts concentrate on drug-related cases while handling other concerns.
“On the average, (court processes) take five to six years which still seems too long. That’s why we are hoping that we could systemize special courts with prosecutors also specialized in drug cases,” said Gutierrez.
Gutierrez said PDEA, DDB, and the Department of Justice have formed a cluster that will use the right approaches to disambiguate the judges and prosecutors’ appreciation on drug laws.
Gutierrez was guest during Talking Points radio program aired over Radyo ng Bayan and People’s Television-4, and sponsored by the Presidential Communications Operations Office and the Philippine Information Agency. (PCCC/PIA-GHQ)
