8,000 Capiz farmers turn landowners
by Jemin B. Guillermo
According to Planning and Monitoring Unit head Vivia Gelera of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Capiz, a total of 8,858 farmers here were granted Emancipation Patents (EPs) and Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).
Gelera said that since 2001 to June 2009, they were able to distribute a total of 9,399 CLOAs and EPs covering an area of 12,785 hectares.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her 9th State of the Nation Address (SONA) said that with the government’s determination to implement the CARP, millions of Filipinos have benefited from the land distribution program.
In particular, President Arroyo spelled out that about 700,000 ‘katutubo” and CARP beneficiaries are now proud land owners.
Land distribution to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from the CARPed lands has been one of the President’s long term contributions to progress.
With her remaining months as Chief Executive of the Republic, President Arroyo has urged Congress to immediately pass the extension of the CARP as well as the condonation of P42 billion agrarian liabilities.
Congress has recently approved the CARP Extension bill with Reforms. It is poised to ratify the harmonized version that resulted from the Bicameral Conference Committee meetings held by the House and Senate Panels on Agrarian Reform during the recess.
The President is scheduled to sign the CARPER bill into law on August 7, 2009 to coincide with the anniversary of the signing of RA 3844 or the Agricultural Land Reform Code in honor and as a tribute to the Father of Land Reform, President Diosdado Macapagal, the DAR online news disclosed.
Meanwhile, Gelera revealed that the Capiz DAR office has still about 12,000 hectares of CARPed lands for distribution to qualified farmer beneficiaries until 2014.
She said that with the approval of the CARP extension, more Capiceño farmers would be benefited. (PIA)
Student journalists urged to write about climate change
Jed Kilbourn and Amaraine Laven said Ilonggo readers get low exposure to media stories because local papers, including school publications, have not dealt much on stories which explain climate change or illustrate its occurrences.
Kilbourn and Laven were resource persons on climate change during the PIA-sponsored Basic Journalism workshop, July 27, attended by more than 250 campus paper writers in Western Visayas.
Kilbourn said, although the Philippines is not a big contributor to global climate change, it will be profoundly affected by it, hence, the people should prepare for the risks and uncertainties they have to face.
Kilbourn and Laven said that their interviews with people in the region revealed a lack of full understanding of the total effects of climate change Western Visayas can face, like increased flooding, typhoons, crop failures and others, that could intensify.
They also said that local evidence of climate change vary from place to place so localized stories can focus mitigation and disaster risk management.
Kilbourn said campus writers can do much to increase awareness of the public so that they can advocate for poverty reduction and a cleaner environment.
He said further that no country has so far been doing much about global climate change, but a country can always begin on its local scenario.
“Public information and education is the first step. Journalists can do much in this,” Kilbourn and Laven said. (PIA6/ESS)
Capiceños enjoy benefits of RORO routes rehab
by Jemin B. Guillermo
In fact, more Capiceños opted to take the RORO routes to easily bring their farm products to other areas in the country, particularly Metro Manila with lesser transport cost using the RORO bus.
They insisted that using the RORO transport system is more affordable, fast as well as safe.
Engineer Nilo Gavia, head of Capiz Second Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), revealed that the Capiz section of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway that runs for 50 kilometers from Sapian to Dumarao and links the province with Aklan and Iloilo is undergoing rehabilitation.
Gavia said that the rehabilitation of the national highway is part of President Arroyo’s Strong Arroyo’s SRNH major legacy project that she spelled out in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) in 2006.
He pointed out that the SRNH was conceived to support tourism development and promotion in the Central Philippines Super Region that has been designated by President Arroyo as the country’s tourism belt.
During President Arroyo’s 9th SONA which was delivered July 27, the President revealed that with the economic measures that her administration has implemented to boost government revenues, the country was able to develop critical infrastructures like seaports, airports, and roll-on-roll-off routes.
She cited as an example the development of the Subic-Clark Expressway that has helped create wealth for Subic and Clark, Pampanga.
Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza said that the programs and projects under the administration of President Arroyo are all focused on providing excellent services for the ordinary Filipinos.
He said that the advances in the transportation and infrastructure sector have productively benefited the poor Filipinos throughout the country.
Mendoza said that under President Arroyo’s term, the RORO project was put in place and three nautical highways which have linked the major islands in the country were established. (PIA)
Nat’l economic reforms felt in barangays
by Jemin B. Guillermo
Barangay Captain Lorenzo Mentino of Agcococ, Tapaz, Capiz said that because of the economic reforms implemented by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, particularly on revenue collection, their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) has significantly increased.
With more barangay IRA share, they can also provide more services to their barangay people, especially on social services and infrastructure support programs and projects, Mentino said.
He said that they are now ready to set aside augmentation fund to their elementary school to address the malnutrition problem of school children.
Mentino added that they can also utilize part of said IRA share for the improvement of their day care center and health station as well as other facilities for the benefit of their people.
Other barangays in Capiz also are investing on the health and accident insurance of their service providers such as day care worker, barangay health workers and barangay tanods.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, during her 9th State of the Nation Address (SONA) stressed that “our reforms gave us the resources to protect our people, our financial system and our economy from the worst shock that the best in the west failed to anticipate.”
President Arroyo said that the Philippine economy remains strong despite the global economic slump, attributing it to the bold fiscal and economic reforms she introduced when she took over in 2001.
She pointed out that among the fruits of said economic and fiscal reforms are better healthcare, surge in infrastructure, a strong education system, housing for the poor, food security and increased income for farmers and fisherfolk.
The said reforms also resulted to increased Internal Revenue Allotment for local government units, increased resources for social welfare and increase in the salary of state workers, among others. (PIA)
PNP-7 warns against prank texters on bomb threats
Silk Air flight delayed yesterday due to bomb scare
Cebu City (29 July) — PRO-7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations S/Supt. Marcelo Garbo warned prank callers or texters against pulling a joke such as a bomb scare and instilling fear among the public.
Garbo issued the warning as the Silk Air Airbus 320 flight bound for Singapore from Mactan Cebu International Airport was delayed for about five hours yesterday after a bomb threat was received by airport general manager Danilo Francia through text.
The text message received by Francia read “Mga kapatid, Allahu Akbar. Ipagdasal natin and kaluluwa ng kapatid natin namatay sa pagsabog ng Silk Air minuto ngayon patungo Singapore allahu akbar – JL.”
The flight due for takeoff at 1:45 p.m. yesterday was aborted and the 127 passengers and crew disembarked as airport authorities conducted a thorough inspection of the isolated aircraft including each baggage for any bomb presence. At 5:45 p.m., the plane was cleared for takeoff, this is reported.
Garbo during the ‘Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis’ (TSIP) Forum this morning said they are now investigating the source of the text. “There will be a closure at the end of the day as to the identification of the source of the text,” Garco stressed.
Garbo said those who pull prank jokes such as a bomb threat are liable under the law and must face the consequence of their actions. Even a careless remark jokingly issued by any air passenger that he or she carries a bomb in his or her luggage will not be taken casually as terrorism is not an issue to be taken lightly, emphasized Garbo.
The PRO-7 official appealed to the public to refrain from making prank text or calls that could create unnecessary anxiety and fear among the public. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
OSYs avail of DSWD’s Youth National Service Program
By R.G. Cadavos
Maasin City, Southern Leyte (29 July) — At least forty out-of-school youths availed the Youth National Service (YNS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Felisa D. Maturan, Social Welfare Officer I of the City Social Welfare Office here said in an interview Monday, July 27.
Youth National Service program is one of the priority projects of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in coordination with the National Youth Commission (NYC) to underscore the importance of the youth in community action in the wake of the global economic crisis.
Maturan reported that out of the 50 applicants, 40 of them passed the screening held at the CSWO Livewlihood and Training Center last Friday, July 24 by the DSWD Regional Office 8 Team led by Alice Severino, DSWD-8 YNS Focal Person with Virgie Idano Bebot Alapag and Clyte Estravilla, all from the DSWD Regional Office.
The qualifiers for the project will render services based on two components, one is the “skilled workers’ and the other is the ” less-skilled”. Skilled workers refers to out-of-school unemployed or underemployed youths who has reached college level or finished a technical or vocational course or can be an acquired skills on the job certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). While the “less-skilled” refers to those who are High School level/graduates only.
The OSYs will be hired for work for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 2 years. They will be paid a P250 per day, funds allocated by the national government, the report said.
Participating agencies involved in the program include the Department of Education (DepEd) that will provide skills training to the beneficiaries so that they will be ready for any livelihood opportunities; the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) through infrastructure projects like welding, carpentry, mason and others; the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through tree planting, potting and gardening services; the Philippine National Police (PNP) through computer encoding, draftsman, bantay dagat, among others.
Maturan further disclosed that the program’a requirements include 18-24 years old, medical certificate, certificate from the barangay, preferrably member of Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), and a memorandum of agreement signed by the youth, concerned agency and the DSWD.
As a whole, the service program will focus on the potential contributions of unemployed or underemployed skilled and non-skilled youths to education and community service programs.
It ws learned that Southern Leyte is one of the four pilot areas that will be initially implemented the Youth National Service program, other three are the provinces of Bukidnon, Pampanga and Cotabato City. (PIA-soleyte)
Capiz schools observe nutrition month
by A. Lumaque
Roxas City (29 July) — The importance of good nutrition was underscored in the prevention and control of diet-related lifestyle diseases during simple nutrition activities among schools in the province this July.
Traditionally, school-children brought foods like fruits, vegetables and root crops, among others, in a preferred date in support and observance of the celebration.
The school-based observance with the theme “Wastong nutrisyon kailangan, lifestyle diseases iwasan” was complemented by the distribution of community-based information materials by the Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC).
Capiz Nutrition Action Officer Salim Biclar said that tarpaulins, billboards and posters about proper nutrition were distributed to local government units (LGU) and barangay level ahead of the month-long celebration.
The local initiative to improve the quality of life and nutritional well-being of Capiceños is part of the government’s Accelerated Hunger Mitigation Program which is the Arroyo administration’s flagship program to reduce poverty.
President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo said that the children must get a healthy start in life as they are “our most cherished possession.”
“They must receive the right food for a healthy body, the right education for a bright and inquiring mind, and the equal opportunity for a meaningful job,” she said.
The President has also asked for support from the legislators in her address in view of the plan to invest anew in the hunger mitigation program. (PIA)
PGMA’s SONA boosts people’s morale, says Siquijor SMEDC chair
By Rizalie A. Calibo
Siquijor Province (29 July) — While it is true that the country is reeling from global economic and financial crunch, the State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivered MOnday will somehow boost the morale of the people, says businesswoman and chair of the Siquijor Small and Medium Enterprises Development Council Judy Uy Booc today.
She said Filipinos may have felt the effect of global economic downturn but President Arroyo’s recognition of some Pinoy achievements have boosted the people’s morale and pushed them to work even harder amidst all the economic challenges, she said.
Even President Arroyo’s achievement during her administration herself are notable, she said, while citing the continued pouring in of infrastructure projects and the much improved services of the government which she said were not so visible during the past administrations.
“Sa una kuli ang dalan ug uban pang mga projects moabot pero karon sayon ug dali na kaayo moabot nato ang mga basic services ug assistance gikan sa gobyerno,” she said. “This is because the government is keeping abreast with technology,” she also noted.
Meanchile, economic activity also gets a boost while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the island province of Siquijor have marked a significant rise in earnings following the development of the port and other infrastructure in the island.
SMEs are now enjoying the benefits of a modern port, complete with a roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ramp which ushered in the arrival of shipping lines that link up the province of Siquijor to other points in the Visayas. Added to this are the good road networks and other infras that the province are undergoing.
“My business is booming and I have reached out to nearby areas like Dumaguete and Bohol following the development of the Siquijor port”, said Butch Duran, proprietor of Duran’s Banana Products.
Starting out with a small capital outlay of only P2,000 in 1999, to include the purchase of cooking facilities, Duran said he is thankful to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for paving the way for increased business opportunities through the construction of a modern port facility in Siquijor.
“I am now looking at acquiring a delivery van so I can expand my business to other points in the region, and perhaps beyond that, now that we have a RORO ramp at the port,” said Duran.
The Siquijor port is one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s commitments made during her State-Of-The-Nation-Address in 2007 where she identified priority development projects in the Super Regions under the Strong Nautical Republic Highway.
Records from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in Dumaguete, which covers the Siquijor sub-office of the PPA, showed that the reclamation and RORO ramp project at the Siquijor port had a project allocation of more than P53.3 million.
While the project was originally scheduled for implementation and construction in 310 calendar days and targeted for completion February 7, 2008, the Siquijor port development project was finished ahead of schedule, the PPA said.
The slippage of about almost three months brought in more revenues to the province as shipping lines deployed fast ferries and RORO transport ships to the island.
According to Mario de la Peña, provincial director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Siquijor, the province’s economy received a boost following the expansion and development of the Siquijor port.
De la Peña disclosed that the DOST continues to provide assistance and training to local producers, such as those in the food processing and furniture businesses, as their marketing horizons have also broadened with the modern port facility in place.
De la Peña, who co-owns the Mar & Peck Souvenir Shop at the port, said local producers display their goods there for local and foreign tourists.
Guided tours organized by the island’s resorts also include the souvenir shop as part of their itinerary, he added.
“It’s a one-stop shop for the tourists to make it easier for them to buy their souvenirs and at the same time it also provides a venue for the producers,” De la Peña said.
Duran, one of DOST’s graduates in food processing, supplies on a regular basis banana chips and banana crackers to the souvenir shop.
At least nine regular employees of Duran are now enjoying a stable income as his business has already expanded, he said.
While agriculture still remains as the province’s main form of livelihood, Siquijor entrepreneurs are now slowly rising to the surface to explore other income opportunities.
DOST’s Mario de la Peña said the province and its constituents deeply appreciate the inclusion of the Siquijor port in the President’s SONA commitments to fast track development and progress in this still very peaceful but resource-rich island. (PIA)
Feature: Be your best, be a PMA cadet
Cebu City (29 July) — The Philippine Navy’s Naval Forces Central is pleased to announce that the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the premiere military institution in the Philippines, is in search of new cadets. The recruitment and qualifying examinations for cadet applicants will be on August 30, 2009 aboard Southwestern University in Aznar St., Urgello, Cebu City.
Further, the PMA entrance examination (PMAEE) will also be conducted simultaneously nationwide on the above-date. Examinations at the Visayas Region will be conducted at the following areas: in Tagbilaran City at Holy Name University; in Dumaguete City at Silliman University; in Bacolod City at West Negros College; in Iloilo City at Iloilo City National High School; in Tacloban City at Leyte Normal University; and in Catbalogan, Samar at Headquarters 8th Infantry Division, Camp Lukban.
Basic qualification requirements are the following: natural born Filipino citizen, of good moral character and physically fit, single and has never been married, has never sired (for male) nor given birth (for female) to a child, 5 feet 4 inches tall if male; 5 feet 2 inches tall if female, at least 17 years old but not a day older than 22 years on April 01, 2010, at least high school graduate with a general point average of 85% or higher, and able to perform the minimum requirements for Physical Fitness Test (PFT).
The pool of qualified cadet applicants for this year will compose the PMA Class 2014 and will undergo a four-year education in academics, military, character, leadership, teamwork and skills training for free. The Philippine Military Academy also offers a progressive military career to successful cadet applicants, competitive pay, job security, insurance and health care benefits and free medical and dental services. A PMA cadet shall likewise enjoy the rare privilege to serve the country, receive salary and allowances while studying, guaranteed job after graduation, opportunity to study abroad and a progressive military career as an officer in the Philippine Army, Navy or Air Force.
Interested applicants may get free application forms from any military camp, high school, and college near you. Application forms are likewise at www.pma.ph.
During the exam date, cadet applicants are advised to bring the following: photocopy of birth certificate (NSO authenticated), 3rd year or 4th year high school report card if senior student or high school graduate or transcript of records if college level, 2×2 ID picture, valid ID and at least 2 pencils (no.2).
For more information, write or call: Office of Cadet Admission, Philippine Military Academy, Fort del Pilar, Baguio City. Telefax (074) 446 8002 and mobile phones 09185872384, 09273810493.
You may also contact and visit the following Commands: Public Affairs Office of the Naval Forces Central, Philippine Navy at (032) 340-9401. Public Information Office of the Central Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines at (032) 233 9052 or the PMA Liason Office, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City or send email to oca@pma.ph, pio_pma@yahoo.com or visit the website: http://www.pma.ph for more details. (PIA-7/Navy)
PNP 7 exceeds monthly target for renewal of expired gun licenses
Cebu City (29 July) — In response to the directive of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for a three percent monthly reduction on the number of loose firearms circulating in the country through EO No. 817 or the National Firearms Control Program (NFCP), the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) has already reached beyond its three-percent monthly target relative to the renewal of expired gun licenses.
PRO-7 Firearms and Explosives Unit (FEU) Head P/Supt. Jacinto Cesar bared in this morning’s Talakayan sa Isyung Pulis (TSIP) Forum that out of the 20,370 guns with expired licenses in the region, 879 licenses have already been renewed as of July 22 accounting for 4.3 percent of the total figure.
Classification of loose firearms is those that are being carried by threat groups, criminal gangs or syndicates and those gun owners with expired license.
PRO-7 Regional Director C/Supt. Lani-O Nerez previously disclosed that there are an estimated 52,000 loose firearms in Central Visayas and 1.1M loose firearms nationwide.
With Pres. Arroyo’s marching order to reduce three percent a month the number of loose firearms nationwide, the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the forefront in the campaign against loose firearms needs to target 33,000 loose firearms by end of August as the EO officially takes effect on August 1 after the implementing rules and regulations of the NFCP have been signed last week.
Cesar said police chiefs in the provinces and cities have already been given a list of those gun owners with expired licenses based on the list provided by Camp Crame.
PRO-7 Deputy Regional Director for Operations S/Supt. Marcelo Garbo in the same forum said every police office has been ordered to set up a firearms control desk to assist those gun owners with expired licenses or unregistered firearms to renew or register their weapons.
Garbo said the applications for the general amnesty for the registration of loose firearms including those with expired licenses will start on August 1 but that they have already intensified their advocacy campaign for gun owners to avail of the last and final amnesty of the government.
A one-month amnesty from October 1 to 31 is likewise given for gun owners whose weapons have never been registered, according to Garbo.
Garbo urged gun owners to avail of the government’s amnesty as after October 31, those guns whose licenses were not renewed and those weapons that were not registered will face stiffer penalties. The PNP is coordinating with the legislative branch to provide stiffer penalties to those in possession of loose firearms after October 31, Garbo revealed.
Those gun owners whose license have expired only need to pay P650 for the renewal of the license under the amnesty program while a P1,000 fee is paid for the registration of those weapons that were never registered, this is learned.
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) in its report stated that they have accounted 36 loose firearms for the month, 19 of which have been confiscated with corresponding cases filed in court and five firearms surrendered while 12 weapons were recovered in separate cases.
Fourteen firearms, eight of which are high-powered weapons and six low-powered firearms were likewise confiscated by the Cebu City Police Office through search warrants.
Central Command Spokesperson Maj. Wilson Feria bared they have recovered 70 low-end powered firearms from threat groups or armed rebels in the Visayas Region for the first semester of this year and have disseminated to all line units not to carry personalized firearms and to register their personal weapon in response to the NFCP.
PRO-7 Regional Intelligence Division Chief S/Supt. Melvin Buenafe said that out of the 4,046 crimes that were committed in the region, 709 of the incidents were done with the use of firearms as he admitted that there is a need to intensify the campaign against loose firearms to maintain peace and order in the community. (PIA-Cebu/FCR)
