Difference between revisions of "Catanduanes News"

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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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==Telecom commission to serve public in Catanduanes==
==Catanduanes to host 9th Regional OSY Encampment==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=771333873274
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841336486212
*By: Marlon A. Loterte
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*''April 09, 2012''
*''Friday, May 11, 2012''
 
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==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841336542214
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*''Wednesday, May 09, 2012''
 
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==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/189165/6-hr-brownouts-plague-catanduanes
*By: Fernan Gianan
*''Monday, May 07, 2012''
 
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.


VIRAC, Catanduanes- The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) regional office in Bicol will conduct a one-day mobile registration and licensing for the year 2012 on April 18, 2012 from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. at Provincial Capitol Compound, Virac, Catanduanes.
The trio account for 80 percent of the total power demand during rainy days when they deliver a total of 5.4 MW.


The activity is aimed at registering, legalizing, and licensing all unregistered radio transceivers being used and operated by different government and private agencies ad individuals in the province of Catanduanes.
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.


NTC will accept and process all applications for license of new/ renewal radio communication network and operator certificates, registration and licensing of all types of two-way radio equipment including mobile phone (cell phone), dealer, retailer, service centers and they shall also be releasing corresponding permits and licenses on the same day.
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.


In this connection, an orientation seminar on radio laws, rules and regulation, licensing procedures and proper handling/ maintenance of radio equipment (RLM) seminar will be held on the same day. Participants may apply and shall be issued the restricted land mobile (RLM) radio operators certificate.
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.


Moreover, they shall also be receiving applications for blocking/ unblocking of SIM cards/cell phones and complaints on text scam, illegal, malicious text and text spam.
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 service is open to all radio communication transmitter/ trans-receiver equipment users; telecom, broadcast, cable TV operators; mobile phone- cell phone dealers, retailers, service centers; and all types of commercial, non-commercial radio operators license.
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.


==Catanduanes college's 2012 graduates biggest in 41 years==
==2010 Catanduanes PGR lower than 2000 - NSO==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841333353711
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841335793779
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*By: Edna A. Bagadiong
*''April 03, 2012''
*''Friday, May 04, 2012''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- The gymnasium was filled to the rafters as the Catanduanes State Colleges Main Campus mounted its 41st Commencement Exercises recently with the biggest recorded number of graduates at 1,212, according to the school’s Registration and Admission office.
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 traditional graduation highlights—investiture of hood and cap, presentation of candidates for graduation, recommendation and conferment of degrees and titles, commencement address, awarding of medals to honor graduates, and distribution of diploma—took over four hours.
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.


The graduates relished their proverbial 15 minutes of fame as they strode onstage to get their diplomas to the tune of Verdi’s “Triumphal March,” a staple musical score in graduation ceremonies.
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.


'''Honor Graduates'''
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.


Forty-five graduates finished with honors — two Magna Cum Laude, 42 Cum Laude, and one with Academic Distinction.
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).


John Michael T. Bernal, BS in Civil Engineering, led the honor roll as Magna Cum Laude with an average of 1.38, followed by Ian D. Lopez, Bachelor of Elementary Education, also a Magna Cum Laude, with an average of 1.42.
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).


The Cum Laude graduates were Michele M. Candelaria, BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude (1.6); Jimylen P. Garnica, BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude (1.6); Ma. Rona S. Guerrero, BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude (1.74); Sally B. Morales, BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude (1.66); Mariecris A. Sarmiento, BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude (1.73); Cindy S. Tapel, BS in Accountancy, Cum Laude (1.74);
==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''


Ma. Karla T. Avila, BS in Civil Engineering, Cum Laude (1.60); William V. Belmonte, BS in Civil Engineering, Cum Laude (1.63); Raymund M. Garcia, BS in Civil Engineering, Cum Laude, (1.72); John Aldren C. Molina, BS in Civil Engineering, Cum Laude (1.64); Jonathan V. Tulod, BS in Civil Engineering, Cum Laude (1.61);
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.


Julius S. Antonio, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude, (1.66); Aileen T. Bajaro, Bachelor of Secondary Education – English, Cum Laude (1.51); Jomar Cervantes, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Social Studies, Cum Laude (1.53); Carlito T. Gelito, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.5); Jecel S. Magdahong, Bachelor of Secondary Education - Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.73); Elizabeth T. Rances, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.63); Ma. Gherlyn S. Rebuya, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.65); Joan T. Talan, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.70); Ariel R. Tanael, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.73); Francis G. Timbal, Bachelor of Secondary Education – English, Cum Laude (1.48); Anjo G. Tugay, Bachelor of Secondary Education – English, Cum Laude (1.54); Cynthia T. Tuibeo, Bachelor of Secondary Education – English, Cum Laude (1.51); Rey P. Vargas, Bachelor of Secondary Education – Mathematics, Cum Laude (1.70);
“We will exercise all of our rights,” the President assured.


Charmaine Kaye C. Abrasaldo, Cum Laude, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.64); Aizel A. Cerillo, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.57); Joan S. Guerrero, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.57); Donna Nerisse S. Sapico, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude ((1.72); Jinky Lou T. Sarmiento, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.59); Jocele S. Sarmiento, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.70); Lucy Lyn T. Tapia, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.67); Rhea R. Tating, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.68); Rotchen D.Teves, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.58); Jamir A. Toledana, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.75); Yoly V. Tolod, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.67); Irene S. Torres, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude, (1.64); Claire T. Tribiana, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Cum Laude (1.72).
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.


Mark Anthony S. Flores, BS in Nursing, Cum Laude (1.73); Elaine Gay R. Molina, BS in Nursing, Cum Laude (1.67); Johnson M. Turado, BS in Nursing, Cum Laude (1.70); Kristel Mae V. Cervantes, BS in Nursing, Cum Laude (1.73), and James Andrew B. Bernal, BS in Information Technology, Cum Laude (1.69). Emlyn M. Lanon, Bachelor of Elementary Education finished with Academic Distinction award (1.58).
The Malampaya natural gas field currently supplies about 40 percent of Luzon’s energy needs.


'''Villar’s exhortation'''
“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.


Cynthia A. Villar, former congresswoman and trustee of the CSC Governing Board, was the Commencement Speaker. She exhorted the graduates to “use (their) education to help others.
He said 66.8 percent of the country’s energy requirements are met by indigenous resources.


“We believe that when we are able to provide them good education, we leave them valuable inheritance—something that can never by taken away from them, that cannot be diminished and something that they can enhance for personal advancement and for the betterment of society,” she told the families and teachers of the graduates. “That is the beauty of the gift of education,” she emphasized.
“But we expect that to increase as we go along,” he said.


'''Increasing trend'''
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.


The CSC Registration and Admission Office has noted an increasing trend in the number of graduates per year, with its respective in-charge of scholastic records recently handling above the normal ratio of students being served.
“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 Advanced Education program produced 15 graduates, comprised of: Doctor of Education – 3; Master in Business Administration – 2; Master of Public Administration – 1; Master of Arts in Education – 4; Master of Arts in Industrial Education – 1; Master of Arts in Teaching Biology – 1; Diploma in Educational Management – 2; Diploma in College Teaching – 1.
“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.


Moreover, the biggest number of graduates came from the Bachelor of Elementary Education at 122, followed by Bachelor of Science in Nursing – 97; Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – 92; Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology – 92; Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering – 77; Bachelor of Secondary Education – 68; Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – 64; Bachelor of Science in Office Administration – 63; Bachelor of Science in Information Management – 59; Bachelor of Science in Agriculture – 45;
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.


Bachelor of Science of Arts – 32; Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship – 24; Bachelor of Science in Biology – 21; Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics – 21; Bachelor of Science in Mathematics – 15; Bachelor of Science in Accountancy – 15; Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education – 1.
Malacañang had said it is a welcome development, particularly to secure the energy needs of the country.


The Two Year Trade Technical Education produced 187 graduates, while the Certificate in Agricultural Science had 57, and the Diploma in Midwifery program with 45 graduates.
==Japan finances upgrade of Philippine weather stations==
*Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/35407/japan-finances-upgrade-of-philippine-weather-stations
*By: Jerry E. Esplanada
*''Tuesday, May 01, 2012''


Likewise, the CSC Panganiban Campus had their graduation ceremonies on March 19, 2012 with Dr. Minerva I. Morales, CSC SUC President III, as its Commencement Speaker. It had 160 graduates -- 46 finished with the degree Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education, 43 earned Bachelor of Elementary Education, 31 with Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and 40 graduating with Certificate in Agricultural Science.  
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.


==DepEd approves extra P9M for schools' repair and rehabilitation==
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.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=841333353599
*By: PIA
*''April 02, 2012''


VIRAC, Catanduanes- The Department of Education (DepEd) recently approved P9 million additional fund request for the repair and rehabilitation of school buildings in the province.
“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.


DepEd’s move was in response to the request of Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento. With this, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) recently issued Sub-Allotment Release Order (SARO) for P9,079,165.50 to DepEd Catanduanes Division, charged to the Continuing appropriations of 2011 GAA.
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.


Last year, DepEd released P5 million for the repair and rehabilitation program.
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.


Beneficiaries of the said repair and rehab program are as follows: Hinipaan, Bacak, Suchan and San Rafael, Bagamanoc; Moning, Guinsaanan, Paniquihan and Putsan-Danao, Baras; Carorian, Batalay, San Pedro and Guinobatan, Bato; Panique and San Jose, Caramoran; Gigmoto and Dorotian, Gigmoto; San Isidro, Porot, Marambong and Catamban in Pandan.
Last weekend, the embassy announced the release of an additional 600 million yen (about P315 million) in fresh development aid to the Philippines.


San Miguel, Babaguan and Mabini, Panganiban; Yocti, San Jose, Bagong SIrang, Jose Rizal, Cabcab and Codon, San Andres; Pacogon, Sisay, Dayawa, Obo and San Marcos in San Miguel; Botinagan, Almojuela, P. Vera and Sagrada, Viga; and Simamla, Sto. Niño, Cavinitan and Magnesia in Virac town will also receive a portion of the additional funds.
The grant will go to the rehabilitation of an undisclosed number of roads and other public infrastructure damaged by recent typhoons, the embassy 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.