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<center>[[Catanduanes Province, Philippines|<font size=4>'''Province of Catanduanes'''</font>]] - [[Catanduanes Archived News|<font size=4 color=green>'''Archived News'''</font>]]</center>
<center>[[Catanduanes Province, Philippines|<font size=4>'''Province of Catanduanes'''</font>]] - [[Catanduanes Archived News|<font size=4 color=green>'''Archived News'''</font>]]</center>
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==Gov't gives priority to Catanduanes==
==Catanduanes to host 9th Regional OSY Encampment==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/334888/govt-gives-priority-catanduanes
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841336486212
*By: BEN R. ROSARIO
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*''September 19, 2011''
*''Friday, May 11, 2012''


Government has strongly moved to swiftly upgrade the country’s poor provinces by prioritizing them in the budgeting process.
BATO, Catanduanes- The Bato Central Elementary School in Bato East District, Catanduanes will host the 9th Regional Alternative Learning System (ALS) Out-of-School Youth (OSY) Summer Encampment 2012 of the Department of Education (DepEd) from May 21 to 25.


Typhoon-beleaguered Catanduanes is among the provinces that will receive huge funding for its national roads.
The event with the theme, “Kung ALS Learner Ka, Naiiba Ka," will be participated by 13 divisions from Bicol region.


Rep. Cesar Sarmiento disclosed that the P682.7-million concrete paving of the Catanduanes Circumferential Improvement Road, project is under way.
According to Mayor Rodriguez, the hosting of the said camp is part of the preparation on being a Hall of Famer of their town in the National Literacy Awards.


Sarmiento and Gov. Joseph Cua recently led the groundbreaking ceremonies in Baras town to signal start of the project that will pave a total 29 kilometers of national road covering the towns of Bato, Baras, Gigmoto, Panganiban, Viga, Caramoran, and San Andres.
The activity aims to: (a) equip OSYs with life skills (LS) and lifelong learning (LLL) necessary to become effective, efficient, and responsive citizens; (b) inculcate in the minds of OSYs spiritual and moral values; (c) strengthen self-reliant, dynamic, and creative future leaders to become effective catalysts/agents of change; and (d) acquaint the OSYs on ALS programs and projects.


The P682.7-million outlay is part of three-year plan to upgrade by 2014 all the 315 national roads in the province.
Participants in the activity are ALL OSYs enrolled in ALS learning programs.


Sarmiento said Catanduanes expects another P500 million in national funds next year for similar concreting projects as it anticipates releases from P1.4 billion committed by the Japan International Cooperation “Agency for the provincial highway.
There will be a registration fee of P550 per participant for training materials and food for resource speakers. Around 500 are expected to participate in the camp.


The solon said the bidding process for the Catanduanes Circumferential Road Project under the JICA Road Upgrading and Preservation Project has started.
==Virac to hold Chess fest==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841336542214
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*''Wednesday, May 09, 2012''


Acquisition of road right-of-way on lands to be traversed by the highway has also begun.
VIRAC, Catanduanes- Virac is spearheading a chess tournament from May 26-27 to be held at Virac ABC Hall.


Willy Galang of the DPWH Environmental and Social Safeguards Office said the distribution of road rights documents to landowners along the Viga Pandan national road is ongoing.
The activity aims to develop and promote sports awareness of the participants especially the youth. It intends to bring out youth excellence in sports as a way to divert their attention from unconstructive and harmful activities that could ruin their lives and future.


Payment of government obligations will start in the first quarter of 2010.
The tournament offers P5,000 for the first placer in the open category, with the age 16-under champion and age 12-under champion to earn P2,500 and P2,000, respectively. A Eureka chess set will also be given to champions in the three categories.


Sarmiento lauded the Aquino administration for including the province in the priority list of developmental projects.
According to tournament coordinator Bonifacio Molina, those who are interested must bring a valid ID or photocopy of birth certificate. A registration fee of P200 for the open category and P100 for the age categories will be required per participant.


==Rep. Sarmiento calls to care for the environment==
Deadline for the registration of enthusiasts is on May 25.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=54362
*By: Edna A Bagadiong
*''September 15, 2011''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- Amid reports from local tabloids in the province regarding the rampant illegal cutting of trees in Catanduanes, Cong. Cesar V. Sarmiento has called on his constituents to show care to the environment.
==6-hr brownouts plague Catanduanes==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/189165/6-hr-brownouts-plague-catanduanes
*By: Fernan Gianan
*''Monday, May 07, 2012''


"Illegal cutting of trees in our place is getting rampant (again) according to newspaper reports. This is alarming and disturbing because if these activities remain unabated - that will lead to great destruction of our island", Sarmiento said.
VIRAC, Catanduanes–Just three days after President Benigno Aquino III led the ceremonial switch-on of the much-touted mini-hydroelectric plants of Sunwest Water and Electric Co. here, the entire Catanduanes grid began experiencing six-hour brownouts beginning Saturday when a bunker-fuel generating set conked out and the three hydro power plants on stream failed to deliver due to low water levels.


Moreover, the congressman said that everyone must take part in solving such problem and it can be done by reporting any incident of illegal cutting of trees to the concerned authorities.
The First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ficelco) began implementing “load shedding” in all 11 towns after the 3.6-megawatt generator set of the Catanduanes Power Generation Inc. (CPGI) broke down.


He also urged the (multi-agency) Task Force Anti-Illegal Logging to be more aggressive in tracking down these illegal activities via filing of charges against the violators and making your accomplishments known to the public.
This immediately took out 2.5 MW from the grid, resulting in a deficiency of 2 MW during peak load and 1 MW during off-peak hours.


"Do your share in saving our province from landslides, floods and disasters - in doing so you are protecting the lives and properties of our kababayans (who may be your relative and/or friend)", he added.
Despite its admitted lack of funds for the continued operation of its genset, CPGI recently resumed power generation, although for 10 to 11 hours daily, after shutting it down for a few weeks.


It can be noted that the government has implemented total log ban to reduce forest and other environmental destruction.
An official of the cooperative, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to disclose details, told the INQUIRER last weekend that the company sent technicians from Manila to repair the genset.


==NSO Catanduanes gathers data on energy use of households==
“The CPGI plant was repaired Sunday night but it operated for only two hours while unannounced, short duration brownouts continued to be experienced,” said this coop official.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=53960
*By: PIA
*''September 13, 2011''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- The National Statistics Office (NSO) provincial office here will conduct the 2011 Household Energy Consumption Survey (2011 HECS) this month NSO Catanduanes stated that the 2011 HECS is a special survey that gathers information on households’ utilization of fuels, supply systems and the pattern of energy use and other variables that may be useful to assess the current energy profiles of different households and communities in the country.
Edwin Tatel, plant supervisor of the National Power Corporation’s (Napocor) Catanduanes grid, revealed that Sunwest’s three mini-hydro power plants–Solong, Hitoma I and Balongbong–have been contributing barely 25 percent of its nominal capability due to low water levels in their respective reservoirs brought about by the lack of rain in past weeks.


The data collected from this survey, according to the office, shall provide the Department of Energy (DOE) with updated and reliable bases for an effective household energy strategy for the Philippines.
The trio account for 80 percent of the total power demand during rainy days when they deliver a total of 5.4 MW.


The primary goal of the 2011 HECS is to generate comprehensive and reliable data/information on household energy consumption, and analyze end-use energy consumption and preferences in the residential sector. The survey results will be used for formulating and implementing policies and programs that aim to improve the quality of life of the Filipinos.
Part of the slack is taken up by the Monark mobile gensets which is rented by Napocor at high cost and operating for at least 12 hours daily as per contract.


Like all censuses and surveys undertaken by NSO, the conduct of these two surveys is authorized by various legislative acts and presidential directives including Commonwealth Act No. 591, Presidential Decree No. 418, Executive Order No. 121, Executive Order No. 352, Executive Order No. 5.
Napocor officials have said that should CPGI’s genset be sidelined, the Monark gensets would be operated beyond the contracted hours but this would severely impact Napocor’s budgetary allocations for the Catanduanes grid.


Furthermore, the survey aims to provide detailed information about the changing energy consumption patterns in Filipino households, as well as socio-economic conditions affecting energy use; establish the fuel/energy mix of the residential sector based on tis energy consumption; determine the most energy consuming appliances, devices and equipment for household activities;
Among the issues presented to Malacañang officials for possible consideration by the President during his May 2 visit here were the possibility of the Department of Budget and Management’s restoring the budget for the aborted purchase of three new diesel gensets for Napocor’s Marinawa plant and funding for the 69-KV transmission line.
assess the current energy efficiency and conservation techniques in the residential sector vis-à-vis government programs for implementation of energy consumption regulation for household appliances and equipment; measure and analyze the incidence of inter-fuel substitution in the households and; determine awareness and/or perception of the household on major energy issues (i.e. nuclear energy) and developments (energy labeling program, renewable energy, natural gas) in the energy sector.


The reporting unit is the household. Pursuant to the provision of Section 4 of Act 591, information obtained from the respondents shall be held strictly confidential and shall not be divulged to any person except authorized NSO personnel acting in the performance of their duties and Section 3 of the same law provides the penalty clause for non-compliance of the survey.
The request for the restoration of the genset funding was allegedly set aside but Governor Joseph Cua said he was able to ask the President to reconsider the provision of P250 million for the transmission line, with the matter referred to Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras during Cua’s brief conversation with Mr. Aquino during the latter’s visit in the province for the inauguration of the state-of the-art Doppler radar in Bato town.


In the province, five (5) sample barangays, will be ivisited in the municipalities of Baras- 2 barangays, Caramoran- 1 barangay, Pandan-1 barangay and San Andres-2 barangays.
The island grid has around 35,000 member-consumers paying probably one of the highest power costs in the country at about P12 per kilowatt hour despite the operation of the three hydro plants.


==Sanggunian to conduct forum on power system reliability and sustainability==
==2010 Catanduanes PGR lower than 2000 - NSO==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=53489
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841335793779
*By: Edna A Bagadiong
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*''September 10, 2011''
*''Friday, May 04, 2012''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- The Provincial Government through the SP Committee on energy chaired by Hon. PBM Roger F. Pereyra will be holding a "Forum on Catanduanes Power System Reliability and Sustainability" on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 8:00 in the morning at the Provincial Capitol Dome.
VIRAC, Catanduanes- President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 362 on March 30, 2012 declaring as official the 2010 Population of the Philippines by Province, City/Municipality and Barangay based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (2010 CPH) conducted by the National Statistics Office.


The forum aims to clarify issues regarding the power and electricity supply in the province.
The total population of the province of Catanduanes as of May 1, 2010 was 246,300 based on the 2010 CPH. The 2010 population is higher by 30,944 compared to the 2000 population of 215,356. In 1990, the total population was 187,000.


A program will be held in connection with the activity. Governor Joseph C. Cua is expected to deliver his message during the opening program. A Bird's Eye View of Catanduanes Power Outlook will be given by Hon. Roger Pereyra.
This translates to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 1.35 percent for the period 2000 to 2010 which is slightly lower by 0.07 percent than the 1990-2000 PGR of 1.42 percent.


Engr. Rodolfo G. Mendoza, OIC-General Manager (FICELCO) will give a talk regarding FICELCO then and Now Gaps and Current Concerns.
Virac has the largest population with 66,951, followed by San Andres with 35,779 and Caramoran with 28,063. The combined population of these three areas comprised 53.1 percent of the province of Catanduanes population.


Moreover, First Catanduanes Electric Cooeprative, Inc. (FICELCO), Catanduanes Power Generation, Inc. (CPGI), Sunwest Water and Electric Power Co. Inc. (SUWECO)and National Power Corporation (NPC) will present solutions to power problems- short and long term action plans.
Four municipalities had an average annual PGR which is higher than the provincial average for the period 2000 to 2010. These are Caramoran (1.66 percent), Bagamanoc (1.62 percent), Virac (1.61 percent), and San Miguel (1.46 percent).


After the Presentation of Proposed Compromise Undertaking Agreement by Engr. Serafin Marcaida, SPUG-Catanduanes, an open forum will be held.
Among the top five barangays with largest population are San Isidro Village (4,262), Cavinitan (3,484), Cabugao (2,989), Bigaa (2,777), and Cabcab (2,750).


A Memorandum of Joint Undertaking will takaplace after with NEA, FICELCO, CPGI, SUWECO, NPC, LGU and LCE as signatories to be witnessed by Business Sector, Church Academe, PNP, UKAG, PWEE PMA, Catanduanes Chapter Hotel and Rest. Ass., NGOs and POs.
==Gas Find At Recto Bank To Address Energy Woes==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/358623/gas-find-at-recto-bank-to-address-energy-woes
*By: MADEL R. SABATER
*''Thursday, May 03, 2012''


==Rep. Sarmiento allocates P1.5M for TESDA Scholarship==
BATO, Catanduanes – President Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday said the Philippine government will exercise its rights at the Recto Bank, noting it would help the country in its goal towards energy sufficiency.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=53252
*By: Edna A Bagadiong
*''September 08, 2011''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento of the lone district of Catanduanes announced last week an additional P1.5 million allocation for scholarships in technical and vocational courses for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
“We will exercise all of our rights,” the President assured.


The allocation is for scholarship slots at the newly-started training centers in Viga and Pandan, while some will be given to the TESDA-operated Cabugao School of Handicraft and Cottage Industries in Bato.
Business conglomerate Manny V. Pangilinan had said the standoff between the Philippines and China may affect oil and gas explorations at the Recto Bank, which was discovered to contain more natural gas than the Malampaya natural gas field in Palawan.


According to Sarmiento, the additional funding will make the scholarship program more proportionate and balance with those from the northern towns requiring less expense in studying closer to their home.
The Malampaya natural gas field currently supplies about 40 percent of Luzon’s energy needs.


He likewise urged scholars to be diligent and creative in learning and using their skills in preparation for the job opportunities that will come their way from considerable number of vital infrastructure projects set to be implemented in Catanduanes.
“There are realities, they’re a very big country economically, po¬litically, and even population-wise when there is no comparison with us. But that doesn’t change the fact that we believe we are in the right and we are obligated to fight for that which is right,” he stressed.


Of the P1 million charged to Sarmiento's Priority Development Fund (PDAF) and the P1.5 million released from he Private Education Student Fund Assistance which is allocated to congressional districts nationwide, a total of 349 scholarships slots have been opened for Catanduanes Youths.
The President added there are other oil and gas finds within Philippine territory that would help the country in its goal towards energy sufficiency.


The scholarship slots are divided in the following courses: Massage Therapy (37), Bartending (54), Computer Hardware Servicing (70), Commercial Cooking (70), Food and Beverage Services (30), Housekeeping (52) and Front Office Services (36).  
He said 66.8 percent of the country’s energy requirements are met by indigenous resources.


==5 cops wounded in NPA attack in Catanduanes==
“But we expect that to increase as we go along,” he said.
*Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/09/03/11/5-cops-wounded-npa-attack-cantaduanes
*By: Dexter Ganibe
*''September 03, 2011''


Five policemen were wounded in an ambush by suspected members of the New People’s Army on Saturday in Catanduanes province.
President Aquino said the country continues to conduct a dialogue with China to resolve the territorial dispute, but insisted that the Recto Bank is part of Philippine territory.


Radio dzMM reported that the five police officers sustained bullet wounds on their arms and legs. They are all out of danger.
“Sumama ‘yung problem sa Recto (Recto Bank became part of the problem) because of the nine dash theory that was espoused publicly in 2009,” he said.


Among those wounded is the deputy chief of police of Caramoran Police Station, Inspector Rene Bea.
“The UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) gives us, we believe, certain rights together with China who is also a signatory, amongst them the exclu¬sive economic zone. This is clearly within our exclusive economic zone. Recto (Bank) is about 150 kilome¬ters from Palawan, and China’s closest island or territory is Hainan at 570-plus kilometers. The UNCLOS gives us 200 miles which will not be equivalent to 500,” he stressed.


Bea and his men were on board a patrol car transporting a shooting victim when they were attacked by an unknown number of rebels along Barangay Mabini.
It can be recalled that a service contract owned by Pangilinan discovered that Recto Bank contains some 16.612 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.


The policemen said some of the suspects were possibly wounded in the incident.  
Malacañang had said it is a welcome development, particularly to secure the energy needs of the country.


==Refund of reconnection fee from Virac water service provider sought==
==Japan finances upgrade of Philippine weather stations==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=52115
*Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/35407/japan-finances-upgrade-of-philippine-weather-stations
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*By: Jerry E. Esplanada
*''September 02, 2011''
*''Tuesday, May 01, 2012''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- The United Katandungan Against Graft and Corruption (UKAG) urged the Virac Water District (VIWAD) to cease and desist from imposing the P600 reconnection fee and to refund customers who have been charged the fee.
Japan financed the modernization of the government’s meteorological radar stations in Catanduanes, Cagayan and Samar to the tune of 3.35 billion yen (about P1.77 billion), according to the Japanese Embassy.


UKAG president Eddie Rodulfo in his letter dated August 22 described the implementation of VIWAD Board Resolution No. 33, series of 2010 which increases the reconnection fee from P100 to P600 effective last January as immoral, unreasonable, arbitrary and illegal.
Consul General Motohiko Kato, the embassy’s deputy chief of mission, is scheduled to attend Wednesday’s inauguration of the refurbished radar station in Virac, Catanduanes.


The anti-graft group noted that the increase did not undergo public hearing, which it said is a mandatory requirement pursuant to Sec. 63 of Presidential Decree 198. It also cited Letter of Instruction No. 700 which states that such hearings shall be conducted prior to any proposed increase in water rates.
“The project, funded by a Japanese government grant amounting to 3.35 billion yen, aims to effectively prevent damages that tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena may cause by enhancing the weather monitoring and information dissemination capability of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,” the embassy said in a press statement.


VIWAD board and management has come under fire from consumers for implementing the recconection fee of P600 which they described as unconscionable and excessive compared to FICELCO's P50.
It said the project included the “installation of meteorological data display and satellite data communication systems and the replacement of old meteorological radar systems in Virac, as well as in Aparri, Cagayan and Guiuan, Samar, with Doppler (S-band) radar systems.”


UKAG is still waiting for the immediate response of VIWAD on the issue.
The embassy said “this project is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, as well as consolidate the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.”


==Typhoon Mina's death toll reaches 29; 5 still missing==
Last weekend, the embassy announced the release of an additional 600 million yen (about P315 million) in fresh development aid to the Philippines.
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=722668
*By: Angelo L. Gutierrez
*''September 01, 2011''


The death toll from Typhoon Mina (international name Namnadol) has increased to 29 with five more people still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported today.
The grant will go to the rehabilitation of an undisclosed number of roads and other public infrastructure damaged by recent typhoons, the embassy said.
 
The NDRRMC said in its 6 a.m. update that the three additional fatalities were recorded in La Union, Baguio City and Abra.
 
The five missing people were Fred Nantes Sr., a fisherman from '''Catanduanes'''; Roger Marqued, who was swept by Buaya River's strong current at the height of the typhoon; Apolonio Licupa of Liwan West, Rizal in Kalinga province; Antonia Tacio, who was buried by the pile of garbage in Benguet; and Dagul Joaquin from Abra.
 
The NDRRMC said that a total of 348, 473 were affected by the typhoon in seven regions in Luzon and at least 44,300 remained in evacuation centers.
 
The damage to agriculture and infrastructure from the typhoon, the strongest so far to hit the country, has been pegged at P1.409 billion.
 
==Tagalog news: Mga kawani ng pamahalaan sa Catanduanes, handa sa pagdiriwang ng anibersaryo ng Serbisyo Sibil==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=51677
*By: EABagadiong
*''August 31, 2011''
 
VIRAC, Catanduanes- Pangungunahan ng Catanduanes Association of Chiefs of Government Offices (CACGO) at ng Catanduanes Council of Personnel Officers (CCPO) ang pagdiriwang ng Serbisyo Sibil na may temang: "Championing R.A.C.E.: Public Service Excellence at Full Speed" (Responsive, Accessible, Corteous and Effective Public Service.
 
Sa isang memorandum na ipinalabas ni Governor Joseph C. Cua,nanawagan sa mga kawani ng pamahalaan na makiisa sa iba't-ibang aktibidad ng pagdiriwang.
 
Sa Setyembre 5, 2011, maraming Health and Wellness activities ang isasagawa katulad ng Walk For Fun kung saan inaasahang lalahok lahat na public workers at Hataw para sa mga empleyado ng pamahalaan.
 
Sa Setyembre 9 naman ay isasagawa ang isang Environment Awareness and Protection kung saan isang Beach Clean-Up at Family Day ang isasagawa. Ayon sa mga organizers ng mga aktibidad, ang mga naturang gawain ay mahalaga upang mapanatili ang malinis na kapaligiran. Mahalaga rin umano ang family day upang magkaroon ng pagkakataong makapagrelax ang mga empleyado kasama ang kanilang pamilya.
 
Isasagawa naman sa Setyembre 23 ang Orientation on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, CACGO Business Meeting at Government Workers Fellowship Night.
 
Ang pagdiriwang ngayong taon ay nakapokus sa adhikain ni Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III na daang matuwid sa kanyang pakikipaglaban sa korapsyon sa pamahalaan.
 
Umaasa naman ang mga organizers na magiging matagumpay ang naturang selebrasyon.
 
==‘Mina’ death toll climbs to 22–NDRRMC==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/50251/mina-death-toll-climbs-to-22-ndrrmc
*By: Kate Evangelista
*''August 30, 2011''
 
The death toll due to typhoon “Mina” (international name: Nanmadol) has climbed to 22 while 12 others remain missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.
 
In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC said that 70,820 families or 300,959 persons were affected by Typhoon Mina in 16 provinces in Regions 1(Ilocos), 2(Cagayan), 3(Central Luzon), 5(Biicol), 6(Western Visayas), the National Capital Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
 
In its latest tally, the NDRRMC identified the casualties as Mark Errol Colipano, 23 of Quezon City who died after being buried under a collapsed concrete wall; John Rey Bautista and Reajen Bautista from
San Fabian Pangasinan who were buried in a mudslide; Andes Calaro, 82, of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte and Pablo Lazaro of Piddig, Ilocos Norte who both drowned; Rome Ping-ilin from Mt. Province, Romeo Dang-alan, Jr. of Gregorio del Pilar, Rustom Paul Joaquin or Quirino and Mark Lester Agdeppa of Sinait, all in Ilocos Sur and who all died due to drowning.
 
In Benguet province, eight people were confirmed dead all due to various landslide incidents and were identified as Apolinario Flores, Gefonie Cael, Revillar Flores, odolfo Gagucas, Alex Magno, Floro Sulliven, Franco Flores and Noemi Cael.
 
Meanwhile, casualties from Abra were identified as Dindo Candido and Bragas Domingo.
 
In Zambales, the lone fatality was identified as Ruel Cabalic Soria of San Marcelino town, who died due to drowning.
 
In '''Catanduanes''', one person was also confirmed dead due to drowning and was identified as Nelson Vergara of Baras town.
 
In Zamboanga del Sur, Jerffrey Entag Pagatpat of Bayog town was also confirmed dead due to a landslide incident.
 
Several others remain missing in La Union, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga, Benguet, Abra, including five fishermen from Infanta, Pangasinan, the NDRRMC said.
 
Mina has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was moving towards Taiwan, the NDRRMC said.

Latest revision as of 14:36, 11 May 2012

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Province of Catanduanes - Archived News

Catanduanes to host 9th Regional OSY Encampment

BATO, Catanduanes- The Bato Central Elementary School in Bato East District, Catanduanes will host the 9th Regional Alternative Learning System (ALS) Out-of-School Youth (OSY) Summer Encampment 2012 of the Department of Education (DepEd) from May 21 to 25.

The event with the theme, “Kung ALS Learner Ka, Naiiba Ka," will be participated by 13 divisions from Bicol region.

According to Mayor Rodriguez, the hosting of the said camp is part of the preparation on being a Hall of Famer of their town in the National Literacy Awards.

The activity aims to: (a) equip OSYs with life skills (LS) and lifelong learning (LLL) necessary to become effective, efficient, and responsive citizens; (b) inculcate in the minds of OSYs spiritual and moral values; (c) strengthen self-reliant, dynamic, and creative future leaders to become effective catalysts/agents of change; and (d) acquaint the OSYs on ALS programs and projects.

Participants in the activity are ALL OSYs enrolled in ALS learning programs.

There will be a registration fee of P550 per participant for training materials and food for resource speakers. Around 500 are expected to participate in the camp.

Virac to hold Chess fest

VIRAC, Catanduanes- Virac is spearheading a chess tournament from May 26-27 to be held at Virac ABC Hall.

The activity aims to develop and promote sports awareness of the participants especially the youth. It intends to bring out youth excellence in sports as a way to divert their attention from unconstructive and harmful activities that could ruin their lives and future.

The tournament offers P5,000 for the first placer in the open category, with the age 16-under champion and age 12-under champion to earn P2,500 and P2,000, respectively. A Eureka chess set will also be given to champions in the three categories.

According to tournament coordinator Bonifacio Molina, those who are interested must bring a valid ID or photocopy of birth certificate. A registration fee of P200 for the open category and P100 for the age categories will be required per participant.

Deadline for the registration of enthusiasts is on May 25.

6-hr brownouts plague Catanduanes

VIRAC, Catanduanes–Just three days after President Benigno Aquino III led the ceremonial switch-on of the much-touted mini-hydroelectric plants of Sunwest Water and Electric Co. here, the entire Catanduanes grid began experiencing six-hour brownouts beginning Saturday when a bunker-fuel generating set conked out and the three hydro power plants on stream failed to deliver due to low water levels.

The First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative Inc. (Ficelco) began implementing “load shedding” in all 11 towns after the 3.6-megawatt generator set of the Catanduanes Power Generation Inc. (CPGI) broke down.

This immediately took out 2.5 MW from the grid, resulting in a deficiency of 2 MW during peak load and 1 MW during off-peak hours.

Despite its admitted lack of funds for the continued operation of its genset, CPGI recently resumed power generation, although for 10 to 11 hours daily, after shutting it down for a few weeks.

An official of the cooperative, who requested anonymity as he was not authorized to disclose details, told the INQUIRER last weekend that the company sent technicians from Manila to repair the genset.

“The CPGI plant was repaired Sunday night but it operated for only two hours while unannounced, short duration brownouts continued to be experienced,” said this coop official.

Edwin Tatel, plant supervisor of the National Power Corporation’s (Napocor) Catanduanes grid, revealed that Sunwest’s three mini-hydro power plants–Solong, Hitoma I and Balongbong–have been contributing barely 25 percent of its nominal capability due to low water levels in their respective reservoirs brought about by the lack of rain in past weeks.

The trio account for 80 percent of the total power demand during rainy days when they deliver a total of 5.4 MW.

Part of the slack is taken up by the Monark mobile gensets which is rented by Napocor at high cost and operating for at least 12 hours daily as per contract.

Napocor officials have said that should CPGI’s genset be sidelined, the Monark gensets would be operated beyond the contracted hours but this would severely impact Napocor’s budgetary allocations for the Catanduanes grid.

Among the issues presented to Malacañang officials for possible consideration by the President during his May 2 visit here were the possibility of the Department of Budget and Management’s restoring the budget for the aborted purchase of three new diesel gensets for Napocor’s Marinawa plant and funding for the 69-KV transmission line.

The request for the restoration of the genset funding was allegedly set aside but Governor Joseph Cua said he was able to ask the President to reconsider the provision of P250 million for the transmission line, with the matter referred to Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras during Cua’s brief conversation with Mr. Aquino during the latter’s visit in the province for the inauguration of the state-of the-art Doppler radar in Bato town.

The island grid has around 35,000 member-consumers paying probably one of the highest power costs in the country at about P12 per kilowatt hour despite the operation of the three hydro plants.

2010 Catanduanes PGR lower than 2000 - NSO

VIRAC, Catanduanes- President Benigno S. Aquino III signed Proclamation No. 362 on March 30, 2012 declaring as official the 2010 Population of the Philippines by Province, City/Municipality and Barangay based on the 2010 Census of Population and Housing (2010 CPH) conducted by the National Statistics Office.

The total population of the province of Catanduanes as of May 1, 2010 was 246,300 based on the 2010 CPH. The 2010 population is higher by 30,944 compared to the 2000 population of 215,356. In 1990, the total population was 187,000.

This translates to an average annual population growth rate (PGR) of 1.35 percent for the period 2000 to 2010 which is slightly lower by 0.07 percent than the 1990-2000 PGR of 1.42 percent.

Virac has the largest population with 66,951, followed by San Andres with 35,779 and Caramoran with 28,063. The combined population of these three areas comprised 53.1 percent of the province of Catanduanes population.

Four municipalities had an average annual PGR which is higher than the provincial average for the period 2000 to 2010. These are Caramoran (1.66 percent), Bagamanoc (1.62 percent), Virac (1.61 percent), and San Miguel (1.46 percent).

Among the top five barangays with largest population are San Isidro Village (4,262), Cavinitan (3,484), Cabugao (2,989), Bigaa (2,777), and Cabcab (2,750).

Gas Find At Recto Bank To Address Energy Woes

BATO, Catanduanes – President Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday said the Philippine government will exercise its rights at the Recto Bank, noting it would help the country in its goal towards energy sufficiency.

“We will exercise all of our rights,” the President assured.

Business conglomerate Manny V. Pangilinan had said the standoff between the Philippines and China may affect oil and gas explorations at the Recto Bank, which was discovered to contain more natural gas than the Malampaya natural gas field in Palawan.

The Malampaya natural gas field currently supplies about 40 percent of Luzon’s energy needs.

“There are realities, they’re a very big country economically, po¬litically, and even population-wise when there is no comparison with us. But that doesn’t change the fact that we believe we are in the right and we are obligated to fight for that which is right,” he stressed.

The President added there are other oil and gas finds within Philippine territory that would help the country in its goal towards energy sufficiency.

He said 66.8 percent of the country’s energy requirements are met by indigenous resources.

“But we expect that to increase as we go along,” he said.

President Aquino said the country continues to conduct a dialogue with China to resolve the territorial dispute, but insisted that the Recto Bank is part of Philippine territory.

“Sumama ‘yung problem sa Recto (Recto Bank became part of the problem) because of the nine dash theory that was espoused publicly in 2009,” he said.

“The UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) gives us, we believe, certain rights together with China who is also a signatory, amongst them the exclu¬sive economic zone. This is clearly within our exclusive economic zone. Recto (Bank) is about 150 kilome¬ters from Palawan, and China’s closest island or territory is Hainan at 570-plus kilometers. The UNCLOS gives us 200 miles which will not be equivalent to 500,” he stressed.

It can be recalled that a service contract owned by Pangilinan discovered that Recto Bank contains some 16.612 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Malacañang had said it is a welcome development, particularly to secure the energy needs of the country.

Japan finances upgrade of Philippine weather stations

Japan financed the modernization of the government’s meteorological radar stations in Catanduanes, Cagayan and Samar to the tune of 3.35 billion yen (about P1.77 billion), according to the Japanese Embassy.

Consul General Motohiko Kato, the embassy’s deputy chief of mission, is scheduled to attend Wednesday’s inauguration of the refurbished radar station in Virac, Catanduanes.

“The project, funded by a Japanese government grant amounting to 3.35 billion yen, aims to effectively prevent damages that tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena may cause by enhancing the weather monitoring and information dissemination capability of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration,” the embassy said in a press statement.

It said the project included the “installation of meteorological data display and satellite data communication systems and the replacement of old meteorological radar systems in Virac, as well as in Aparri, Cagayan and Guiuan, Samar, with Doppler (S-band) radar systems.”

The embassy said “this project is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines, as well as consolidate the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.”

Last weekend, the embassy announced the release of an additional 600 million yen (about P315 million) in fresh development aid to the Philippines.

The grant will go to the rehabilitation of an undisclosed number of roads and other public infrastructure damaged by recent typhoons, the embassy said.

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