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==DA to pilot Bicol for ‘supercrops’==
*Source: http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/business/agri-commodities/36902-da-to-pilot-bicol-for-supercrops
*Sunday, August 10, 2014
:By Alladin S. Diega
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Sunday that the Bicol region, specifically Albay province, would be the pilot area for climate change-resistant or -adapting crops.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala was quoted in a statement as saying the move is “in line with government’s climate-change resiliency program.”
“The region will also serve as the laboratory for the DA’s quick-turnaround-planting-and-production-after-a-typhoon initiative,” Alcala said,  adding that the regional share of Bicol in the proposed DA budget of P48.4 billion will be P1.9 billion.
The secretary said the region “deserves” the additional funds considering its share in agricultural production last year was worth P57 billion.  “That is why even if the land area of Region 5 is small and it is often visited by typhoons, the  Oragons [an endearment for local residents of the region] ranked sixth in rice production, eighth in hog production and seventh in coconut and corn production,” Alcala said.
Latest DA estimates on the damage wrought by Typhoon Glenda on the agricultural sector in Bicol is valued at P3.98 billion, the aggregate total for crops, livestock, agri-infrastructure, abaca and fisheries.
Meanwhile, the DA’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. recently distributed indemnity checks worth nearly P285,000 to 22 farmers from Naga City, Canaman, Pili and Baao, the statement said.
On Friday Alcala and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda spearheaded the distribution of a similar assistance, valued at P5.9 million, to farmers and fishermen in Albay in turnover rites in Legazpi City.
Last week  the DA has launched the government’s rehabilitation plan for the agricultural-fishery sector in the region.  “Starting with the distribution of initial assistance valued at nearly P6 million to affected farmers and [fishermen] in Sorsogon,” Alcala said.
He added that the first batch of livelihood and production support to beneficiaries in Bicol aims for the swift and timely delivery of aid to the devastated farmers and fishers.
The Bicol Rehabilitation Plan, Alcala said, is a rebuilding plan that entails the provision of production support, which include various machineries, fishing boats and gears, replacement seeds of rice and corn and other planting materials, and new stocks of animals.
==Top California-based Fil-Am triathlete model promotes sports tourism in Legazpi==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=671159
*Saturday, August 9, 2014
: (PNA), CTB/FGS/RBB/CBD/PJN
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 9 (PNA) -- A top Filipino-American triathlete model is now in this tourist-destination city to promote sports tourism.
Kim Kilgroe will swim, bike and run in the rigorous rolling terrains of Legazpi City on Sunday morning.
Kilgroe, whose grandmother is a native of Tabaco City, flew in this city for the first time to lead and grace the first-ever Mt. Mayon Triathlon—a kickoff event of the monthlong Ibalong Festival of Legazpi.
“I came here to bring and promote sports tourism. Legazpi City is a great location for triathlon where one swims, bikes and runs, with the beautiful icon of Mayon volcano at the background,” she said.
Kilgroe, 24, and 200 participants in the professional, elite and relay team categories will be showing their prowess in the triathlon where in just an hour the competing teams will go for a 1.5-kilometer swim in the water off Legazpi then take a 40-kilometer bike ride from this city going to Sto. Domingo town and vice versa, then make a 10-kilometer run along the rolling topography of this city.
But before the official competition set on Sunday by the city government, Kilgroe conducted a free swimming and sports clinic on Friday and Saturday among the youth, including children, with proficiency in swimming to help them develop their own potentials.
“My Lola is from Tabaco, Albay. It's nice to be here for the first time. I'm motivated by the desire to be the best version of myself in every aspect, and to help others reach their own potentials and live unlimited. I enjoy helping new athletes on their form and progression, so I'm planning a series of Train-Unlimited Tri-Camps in various provinces of the Philippines,” she said.
The tri-clinic is focusing on swimming and running techniques.
“We are having pool and open water swimming clinics to improve everyone's swimming techniques. I especially love working with youth and inspiring them to pursue sports and healthful activities, so my events are open to all ages and levels. I'm doing an initial event in Legazpi before the inaugural Mt. Mayon Triathlon this weekend. We are inviting young athletes to come, participate and learn how to become better triathletes,” the lady triathlete added.
Kilgroe also expressed gratitude to Mayor Noel Rosal for hosting the first-ever Mt. Mayon Triathlon despite the effect of typhoon "Glenda."
“Thanks to the City of Legazpi and the Ibalong Festival organizers for hosting us and bringing the Mt. Mayon Triathlon together in a short period of time, even with the typhoon that recently passed. We are so excited for the first triathlon in this province on Sunday. What a great location to swim, bike and run.This is one of my favorite areas in the Philippines now,” the Filipino-American triathlete said.
Kilgroe said that after Bicol, she will also go to Davao, Cebu, Bohol and Ilocos Norte for multi-day camps.
“On my radar for potential multi-day camps are Davao, Cebu, Bohol and Illocos Norte. With so many people gaining interest in the multi-sport community, I'd love to help bring more resources to those outside of the Metro Manila area,” she said.
Fr. Jay Jacinto of Naga City, race director, said Legazpi City is the most scenic place and fantastic area for a one-hour triathlon owing to its best location, with Mt. Mayon at the backdrop.
Rosal said the 1st Mayon Triathlon will be similar to the “Tour of Luzon” wherein 200 foreign and Filipino veteran or elite riders will be competing on Sunday.
He said there are politicians like Rep. Datu Arroyo of Camarines Sur and former AKB Rep. Pido Garbin who will be joining the triathlon.
“Next year, it will never be the same again. It will be a bigger event next year as part of the Ibalong Festival. The participants of this event are not after the prize because they’re well-off and whose bikes cost about Php 0.5 million or so. They’re not after the money but the trophy and prestige,” Rosal said.
The winners will receive Php 20,000 for first prize, Php 15,000 for 2nd prize and Php 10,000 for the third prize.
==DA Sec lauds increasing food production in Albay despite frequent calamities==
*Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=2571407461558
*Friday, August 8, 2014
:By Sally Atento-Altea (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 8 (PIA) –Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala lauded the province of Albay for sustaining its increasing food production over the years despite calamities frequently visiting the province.
“I congratulate the good leadership and resiliency of the people of Albay for continued increase in production despite being hit by calamities,” Alcala said during the press conference for turn-over of rehabilitation assistance Wednesday to farmers and agri-stakeholders affected by typhoon Glenda in Albay.
“Eventhough constantly devastated by typhoons, the province has sustained its increasing yield,” he added.
Albay governor Joey Salceda noted in the same event that the rice sufficiency percentage of the province has increased in six years from 73% in 2008 to 94% in 2013.
He attributed such increase to the farmers in the province citing them as the”backbone of economic development in the province.”
The AlbayProvincial Agriculture Services earlier reported that based on official records, production in 2013 rose to 215 metric tons or 215,000 kilos in harvest from 52,000 hectares planted.
In 2012 160 metric tons or 160,000 kilos is in production from 43,000 hectares planted.
The Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) likewise posted increasing volume of production for coconut from 149,594.96 metric tons in 2008 to 180,333.07 metric tons in 3013 and pili nut from 1,528.71 metric tons in 2008 to 2, 132.45 metric tons in 2013.
The same is true with abaca from 1,404.64 metric tons in 2008 to 1,617.26 metric tons in 2013.
Salceda added forested areas in the province have also increased to 88% of which most of the trees planted are Pili trees provided by the DA.
Moreover, the governor cites climate change as a factor that hinders poverty alleviation among farmers in the province despite the programs implemented and assistance given by the DA.
He mentioned for instance coconut planters who lost their investment as typhoon Glenda severely damaged coconut trees with its fruits supposedly to be harvested this year.
“Six years ago after Reming, our farmers planted coconut trees which take about six years to bear fruit. Now we are on the sixth year, supposedly a time for harvest, but we are hit by typhoon Glenda damaging our coconut plantations,” he said.
“Basically our farmers lost the capital they invested so what returns will they get?” Salceda added.
In response to the impact of climate change to agriculture, DA secretary said the present administration has been implementing long-term intervention through construction of concrete farm to market roads and provision of climate resistant rice varieties.
One of these varieties is the drought resistant, submarine type and salt water tolerant green super rice currently studied in Camarines Sur.
==Chinese tourists coming during Legazpi’s Ibalong Festival==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=6&rid=670463
*Thursday, August 7, 2014
:By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), CTB/FGS/DOC/CBD/]
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 7 (PNA) – A series of Cebu Pacific chartered direct flights will be flying in here hundreds of Chinese tourists from Xiamen City, China, as the city celebrates the Ibalong Festival.
The first flight is scheduled to arrive Friday, Aug. 8, carrying 165 passengers who will stay for four days and three nights.
All of them will be billeted at the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino in the nearby Sto. Domingo, Albay.
Misibis Bay is a posh resort hotel considered as a private tropical hideaway built on a pristine stretch of beach serving as a luxury island playground along Cagraray Island where Albay’s hospitality abounds.
At least two other flights, which will arrive on Aug. 11 and 16, are also scheduled -- each carrying the same number of passengers, city Mayor Noel Rosal announced in a press conference here Thursday.
These Chinese tourists will be in the city in time for the celebration of the Ibalong Festival, a yearly non-religious fiesta depicting Bicol’s early beginnings based on the Ibalong Epic written by the late Prof. Merito Espinas that tells of mythical super heroes, villains, monsters and wild animals in the ancient times.
“This is the longest running tourism promotion-related festival in the Bicol region that expresses warmth and goodwill to all people and encourages visitors and tourists to celebrate with the Legazpeños,” Rosal said.
The festival’s formal opening will be on Aug. 16 but preliminary activities -- like the screening of candidates for the Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, which was held last Aug. 3, the kick-off of the Mt. Mayon Triathlon on Aug. 10 and opening of the 2nd Ibalong National Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship on Aug. 15-17 – will serve as advance activities.
The festivities -- loaded with events that will offer fun, exciting adventures and lot of surprises -- will run until Aug, 3.
These events will be an added entertainment to the Chinese tourists who are very much attracted to Mt. Mayon and going around lava fronts around its foot on board all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Stephen Chen of the China International Travel Service (CITS) said during the same press conference.
“During their stays, these Chinese tourists will enjoy the overflowing of celebrations in this prime tourist destination known in the whole travel industry world as the City of Fun and Adventure,” Rosal said.
This Xiamen-Legazpi direct chartered flight project was arranged with Cebu Pacific and CITS by the city government under Rosal in partnership with the management of Misibis Bay headed by business tycoon Elizalde Co.
Initially, these series of chartered flights from Xiamen will go on until October this year with four flights a week but “we are working on an arrangement with Cebu Pacific and the CITS to extend it up to the end of this year,” Misisbis Bay general manager Ian Mayer Varona said.
“Hopefully, next year and onward, we would be able to arrange a year-round direct flights program with the Legazpi Domestic Airport as the gateway while we are awaiting for the completion of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) now ongoing construction in the nearby Daraga town,” Rosal said.
This new airport, which has been placed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as a priority project intended to boost Bicol’s booming tourism industry, is scheduled to be completed and put into operations before the end of the term of Pres. Benigno Aquino III on 2016.
The opening of the Legazpi Airport as gateway for direct international flights came last January with the coming in of the maiden chartered flight of Philippine Airlines with 156 Chinese tourists on board from Xiamen.
It was first arranged by the provincial government of Albay under Gov. Joey Salceda with local and China-based travel agencies as a program in line with the Aquino administration’s policy to achieve inclusive growth through tourism that will have direct impact to the community.
Rosal said having Legazpi as the newest direct destination for the Chinese travel market means getting them into a yearly cycle wherein they will be coming via chartered flights in a frequency of twice a week.
Each of these tourists spends between US$ 500 and US$ 1,000 a day and with the coming of 230 weekly would mean as much as US$ 230,000 weekly tourism receipts for the city and some parts of Albay where they would be buying souvenir items and buy foods, among other expenditures, he said.
Tourism will definitely take a crucial role in the city, the province of Albay, the Bicol region and the country’s pursuit for inclusive and horizontal growth that will benefit not only big investors such as hotel operators but also the people in the countryside, where most of the tourist destinations are located, by providing more opportunities for employment and business ventures, the city mayor said.
“The opening of the city as gateway for direct international flights takes advantage of the foreign market trend showing that international tourists do not tend to a local destination as they follow a cycle leading them from one place to another,” he added.
Parallel with these developments, what the city government is doing is improve its capacity to accommodate more tourists taking into consideration that the city is also fast emerging as one of the country’s convention capitals.
“We are now hosting an average of 20 big conventions and similar occasions yearly, bringing in to the city around 60,000 visitors each year. So far, we only have 2,009 hotel rooms that can accommodate in one occasion some 5,000 people,” Rosal said.
More accommodation facilities are needed, that is why the city government has been encouraging and attracting more investors to venture into this endeavor and the responds are very encouraging, he added.
==Legazpi’s Ibalong Festival comes with more fun, adventure this August==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=670032
*Wednesday, August 6, 2014
:By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), CTB/FGS/DOC/CBD/]
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 6 (PNA) – The city government here has issued a guarantee that the 2014 holding of Ibalong Festival, which comes this month, will be loaded with more fun, adventure and surprises.
“I assure you of more fun, exciting adventures and big surprises as we go along with this month-long celebration—the 23rd Ibalong Festival,” City Mayor Noel Rosal, who is also chair of the festival executive committee, told a press conference at the city mayor’s office Wednesday.
The festival’s formal opening will be on Aug. 16 but preliminary activities like the screening of candidates for the Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, which was held last Aug. 3, the kick-off of the Mt. Mayon Triathlon on Aug. 10 and opening of the 2nd Ibalong National Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship on Aug. 15-17 will serve as advance activities.
The triathlon event is one of the big surprises offered this year as it will be participated in by about 200 celebrated international players, Rosal said, describing the event as a grueling physical fitness competition that will pass through varied routes along the Legazpi Boulevard to the town of Sto. Domingo, Albay, near the foot of Mt. Mayon.
The women’s beach volleyball games expected to be played among teams coming from big universities and colleges around the country will be held also along the Legazpi Boulevard.
To highlight the formal opening program of the festival on Aug. 16 will be the rolling out of the Ibalong Festival Weekend Market that will open up business opportunities to small and medium enterprise operators in the locality and those coming from far as Metro Manila and Cebu, City councilor Lilian Ramirez, the event’s committee chairperson, said in the press conference.
In support to the festivities, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be holding its 2014 Southern Luzon Cluster Science and Technology Fair at the city’s Ibalong Centrum for Recreation from Aug. 17 to 20, according to Tomas Briñas, the DOST regional director for Bicol.
The event will also mark the launch in the city of Juan Time that will make Legazpi the first local government unit in Bicol to have the giant Juan Time clock to be mounted by the DOST at the heart of the city’s business center, Briñas said.
He said the S&T fair -- which will be focused on regional development thrust, tourism and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), will be attended by delegations headed by DOST regional directors from 16 regions of the country.
In this affair, Legazpi will showcase its tremendous gains in tourism development that has made the city achieve remarkable growth in the travel industry and in DRRM that won for it the national championship in the Gawad Kalasag Awards of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council last year, Briñas said.
“Legazpi recognizes DRRM not only as a program but also as a culture—a trait that other LGUs should replicate,” he added.
One more big surprise that Ibalong Festival 2014 will be pulling, according to Rosal, is the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Legends Exhibition Game to be held at the ICR on Aug. 22.
The game will feature veteran Bicolano PBA players like William “Bogs” Adornado who hails from this city, Fortunato “Atoy” Co of Daet, Camrines Norte, and Rommel Daep of Manito, Albay.
They will be joined by Vince Hizon, Paul Alvarez, Noli Locsin, Nelson Asaytono, EJ Feihl, Bong Hawkins, Gerome Ejercito and Gerry Codiñera in playing against the Ibalong Team.
Other events include the Ibalong Zumba Party at the ICR and Otaku Summit at the Pacific Mall on Aug. 23; 1st Ibalong Color Run at the Legazpi Boulevard on Aug 24; the Ibalong Enduro Pilipinas Mountain Bike Race along the foot of Mt. Mayon; the Operation Hoops Care Goodwill Mission to the Philippines at the ICR on Aug. 26-27; and the Siram na Sana: A Legazpeño Food Festival at the Casablanca Convention Hall.
The traditional Ibalong Street Presentation, which will feature six contingents to portray in different styles the epical heroes of Bicolandia -- Handyong, Baltog, Bantong and Oryol -- and the Ibalong epic through dances and colorful attires, will be held at the city downtown on Aug. 30.
During the street presentations, the competing contingents will parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearances of the heroes and the villains, portraying the classic battles that made their way into the history of Bicol.
At night of the same day will be the coronation of the Mutya ng Ibalong at the ICR.
Ibalong Festival, now on its 23rd year, is a month-long non-religious fiesta depicting Bicol’s early beginnings based on the Ibalong Epic written by the late Prof. Merito Espinas that tells of mythical super heroes, villains, monsters and wild animals in the ancient times.
“This is the longest running tourism promotion-related festival in the Bicol region that expresses warmth and goodwill to all people and encourages visitors and tourists to celebrate with the Legazpeños,” Rosal said.
==Albay International Gateway welcomes more flights with China==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=6&rid=669601
*Tuesday, August 5, 2014
:By Connie B. Destura [(PNA), LAM/FGS/CBD/]
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- The Albay International Gateway (AIG) is ready to welcome more chartered flights from mainland China as the initial 18-cycle, 3-month run will start on Aug. 8 until Oct. 10, with each cycle scheduled on Mondays (arrival) through Fridays (departure) and vice-versa.
This initial 3-month run—made possible through a 1-year contract of Cebu Pacific with their Chinese partners—may be extended depending on the success of its implementation.
The first batch of tourists for this run will arrive on Aug. 8 from Xiamen, China, bringing in a full load of 179 passengers to Albay.
Earlier this year, 285 Chinese tourists from Xiamen flew in to the province to celebrate the Chinese New Year, coming in two batches -- the first arriving on Jan. 30, while the second came in on Feb. 6.
The AIG committee chaired by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, along with representatives from different government agencies and other stakeholders, is now again readying all the provisions needed to accommodate the coming tourists.
Like the previous batches of Xiamen tourists, the incoming visitors will be billeted at the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino, with occasional tours to be made to the different landmarks and attractions in Albay.
Funds have been allocated for the Legazpi airport for its expansion to accommodate the different government offices that are required to service direct international flights arriving to the airport, as well as add wider areas and more chairs for the convenience of the passengers.
As committee chair, Salceda has pledged the full support of the provincial government in this endeavor to further boost the image of Albay in the international market as a tourist destination and fully coordinate with the different agencies to achieve this goal.
==Roxas orders BFP to help contain Albay bush fire==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=1&rid=669272
*Monday, August 4, 2014
:(PNA), LAM/CLTC
MANILA, Aug. 4 (PNA) -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Monday directed the regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bicol to mobilize all resources necessary to help contain an ongoing bush fire that has already razed some 6,000 hectares of forest and grasslands in two islands of Rapu-Rapu, Albay.
In a statement, Roxas specifically instructed the BFP-Regional Office in Bicol to coordinate with their counterparts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure that the bush fire would not spread to residential areas nearby.
“I expect our BFP Regional Office to mobilize all possible resources. All our fire-fighters and fire trucks in the region must be ready to help the DENR contain the bush fire,” the DILG chief said.
“Kailangang hindi makatawid ang sunog sa mga bahayan (Hope this will not cross to the houses. We must ensure zero-casualty in this tragedy,” he added.
According to a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the bush fire started around 8 a.m. on Sunday with kaingin as the possible cause of the incident.
The NDRRMC said the fire has initially affected six of Rapu-Rapu’s 34 barangays, namely: Poblacion, Morocborocan, Sitio Acal, Mananao, Guadalupe, and Buenavista, which were occupied by about 5,000 households.
Other fire incidents were reported in Sitio Minto, San Ramon and Batan Island.
In his initial report to the DILG Secretary, SC/Supt. Carlito Romero, BFP Chief, said 14 Forest Fire Protection Officers had already been deployed from Albay to comply with Roxas’ directive.
Romero said two Forest Fire Specialists who had been tasked to assume lead command at Rapu-Rapu Island had also boarded an Air Force plane with personnel from the Office of Civil Defense to conduct aerial assessment of the affected area.
The team, he said, had recommended the deployment of bucket bomb or choppers with water buckets to help contain the bush fire.
The Initial Assessment/Operations Team likewise recommended that the following actions be taken immediately:
·Rapu-Rapu to declare State of Calamity;
·Municipality of Rapu-Rapu and threatened barangays to activate Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils on a 24-hour operation in order to intensify monitoring and preparedness actions required;
·Prepare evacuation sites and request Philippine Air Force for the availability of Huey 2 with Bumby Bucket.
==Power co-ops in other provinces help Albay==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/625858/power-co-ops-in-other-provinces-help-albay
*Sunday, August 3, 2014 8:07 am
:By Ma. April Mier (Inquirer Southern Luzon)
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Albay Power and Energy Corp. (Apec) has restored power supply in nearly 50 percent of its “backbone lines” in Albay province, 18 days since Typhoon “Glenda” hit the province on July 15.
“Only 13 percent of households have been energized but we have reached almost half of the commercial or backbone areas,” Russell James Serrano, chief of the technical operations and maintenance division of Apec, said in an interview on Saturday.
The backbone lines are the electric poles or posts, which are connected to the main roads where hospitals, schools, the central business district and other major institutions are located, he explained.
In Legazpi City, the business center of Albay, more than 50 percent, or 43 of its 70 barangays, had their backbone lines energized while supply was restored in 13 lines in Tabaco City and 10 in Ligao City.
In the municipality of Malinao, power had been restored in the backbone lines of seven villages.
Jane Rogando, head of Apec’s customer service division, said that with the help of the National Electrification Administration, volunteers from electric cooperatives across the country came to help in the power restoration work in Albay.
Seven teams with 42 personnel from six electric cooperatives in Luzon arrived in Albay on July 30. They were from Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Pampanga Electric Cooperative, Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative, Pampanga Rural Electric Cooperative, Tarlac Electric Cooperative (Tarelco) 1 and Tarelco 2 to augment restoration efforts.
On Aug. 4, Rogando said they expected three more teams to come from Zamboanga Electric Cooperative (Zamelco) 1, Zamelco 2 and Peninsula Electric Cooperative in Bataan.
She said they had earlier projected that it would take three months before power could be completely restored in Albay but that they could shorten the period with the formation of Task Force Glenda, which is composed of electric cooperatives outside Albay.
Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, in a text message, said the city expected full power restoration before the end of August.
Albay has 15 municipalities and three cities— Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco.
==PNoy commends Albay’s zero casualty in Sona==
*Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/08/02/pnoy-commends-albay-s-zero-casualty-in-sona/
*Saturday, August 2, 2014 12:01 am
:(Manila Standard Today)
LEGAZPI CITY—President Benigno Aquino III has lauded Albay for its ‘zero casualty’ record during the recent onslaught of Typhoon Glenda as a most noteworthy feat of a local government unit in disaster risk reduction, during his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Halfway through his Sona, Aquino thanked Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for prompt action during Glenda’s onslaught. The typhoon mauled Albay for eight hours on July 16. It claimed over a hundred lives  elsewhere in the country.
Salceda attributes their zero casualty score to their “preemptive evacuation” strategy which required the evacuation of about 101,000 families to safe evacuation centers hours before Glenda’s forecasted landfall in the province. Packing over 180 kph center winds, Glenda wrought extensive damage in Albay worth about P9.1 billion, with some 98,000 families rendered homeless.
In his Sona, the President reported that the national government is implementing some technology-driven DRR programs, under it is Project Noah, for effective and fast disaster warning system and monitoring of heavy rains and flash floods.
These DRR programs, coupled with prompt action by LGU officials like Gov. Salceda, can save more lives and prevent deaths, Aquino stressed.
If a province that is considered a highway for strong typhoons can achieve this (zero casualty) feat, there’s no reason why other LGUs cannot achieve the same, Aquino said, which drew cheers from the crowd at the Sandiganbayan where the President delivered his address.
Salceda, who was present during the Sona, said it was a pleasant surprise to have been included in the President’s Sona, but added that “Albay rightly and richly deserves to be mentioned,” for working hard to achieve its ‘zero casualty’ goal during disasters.
The governor had pioneered “preemptive evacuation towards zero casualty’ that is now a byword in Albay and which the national and many local government units have already adopted. The strategy is complemented by investments in safe comfortable evacuation centers which also serve a classroom during normal days.
For its feats the United Nations has declared Salceda s its DRR champion and Albay as its global model in DRR and Climate Change Adaptation. The governor now sits as co-chair of the UN Green Climate Fund, the first Asian to have held the position of the prestigious international body tasked to fund global climate change programs.
==Tourism propels Bicol as Phl fastest growing region==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=6&rid=668422
*Friday, August 1, 2014
:By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), LAM/JCN/JSD]
LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 1 (PNA) -- Driven by tourism, Bicol (Region V) has now emerged as the country’s fastest growing region with an impressive 9.4 % growth last year, according to Albay Governor Joey Salceda, citing the latest report of the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).
The recent NSCB report said Bicol’s 9.4% growth in 2013 outpaced those of the other 17 regions of the country, including Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) which registered a 9.1 percent growth rate.
Salceda, who chairs the Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC), said Bicol has now risen from the ruins of disasters that had stunted it for decades. He added that tourism has been the principal driver of the region’s impressive economic growth, led by Albay, now the Philippines’ fastest growing tourist destination, which posted a truly staggering 66% tourism growth last year.
The Almasor (Albay - Masbate-Sorsogon) Tourism Alliance, which Salceda organized as RDC chair, also posted a 42 percent growth in arrivals in 2013, contributing to the over all regional economic growth.
Salceda, a respected economist and 3-term Bicol RDC chairman, said Bicol’s growth was also pushed by better yields in energy production of the Tiwi and Bacman geothermal plants, higher public investments in infrastructure and acceleration retail trade, further supported by the full infusion of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps into the countryside.
Reacting to the NSCB report, Salceda said Bicol’s growth rate is indeed phenomenal, having occupied the lowest rung in the country’s economic ladder for decades. It has often been listed as third or second, if not the poorest region of the country. This was blamed to the regular onslaught by strong typhoons.
Knowledgeable authorities credit Bicol’s economic breakthrough to Salceda’s leadership of the region’s RDC. The Albay governor was a former economic adviser to Philippine presidents.
“What can you expect but a fast growing economy in Bicol since Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda is the head honcho in planning for the region,” former NSCB director-general Jose Ramon Gatmaitan Albert noted.
Quoting the NSCB report, Salceda said “Bicol picked its momentum from 2012 with 6.9% recorded growth to top the other 17 regions of the country last year, including NCR with its 9.1%, powered by a strong service sector and Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) with 57% and 23.4%, respectively.”
The governor said the formula for Bicol’s phenomenal growth lies in its hidden strengths, which the RDC capitalized on in planning and executing its banner programs, particularly, tourism.
As RDC chair, Salceda charted Bicol’s economic direction, with special emphasis on tourism, of which the region has great potentials. He organized the Almasor, which had immediately gained significant international recognition at the ITB Berlin in Germany, the London WTM last year, and the Guangzhou Travel-mart, early this year.
The NSCB report said the Service sector’s growth in Albay accelerated from 6.2% in 2012 to 11% in 2013. Except for Transport, Storage and Communications (TSC), all its sub-sectors recorded higher growths, as follows: Trade and Repair, 9.7% to 10.8%; Finance, 10.9% to 14.4%; Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities (RERBA), 2.8% to 17.1%; Public Administration, 4.2% to 8.2%; Other Services, 2.2% to 11.4%.
The NSCB report likewise show the following 2012-2013 growth trends: AHFF, 2.9% to 4.5%; Agriculture and Forestry, 3.1% to 5.4%; Fishing, 2.5% to 2%; Industry, 14.6% to 10.8%; Construction, 14.2% to 22.4%; EGWS, 9.3% to 13.4%; Manufacturing, 5% to 9.6%; Mining and Quarrying, 11.8% to 4.2%.

Revision as of 20:03, 20 August 2014

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Albay - Archived News
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Provincial Capitol Building of Albay, in Legazpi City

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

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Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

DA to pilot Bicol for ‘supercrops’

By Alladin S. Diega

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Sunday that the Bicol region, specifically Albay province, would be the pilot area for climate change-resistant or -adapting crops.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala was quoted in a statement as saying the move is “in line with government’s climate-change resiliency program.”

“The region will also serve as the laboratory for the DA’s quick-turnaround-planting-and-production-after-a-typhoon initiative,” Alcala said, adding that the regional share of Bicol in the proposed DA budget of P48.4 billion will be P1.9 billion.

The secretary said the region “deserves” the additional funds considering its share in agricultural production last year was worth P57 billion. “That is why even if the land area of Region 5 is small and it is often visited by typhoons, the Oragons [an endearment for local residents of the region] ranked sixth in rice production, eighth in hog production and seventh in coconut and corn production,” Alcala said.

Latest DA estimates on the damage wrought by Typhoon Glenda on the agricultural sector in Bicol is valued at P3.98 billion, the aggregate total for crops, livestock, agri-infrastructure, abaca and fisheries.

Meanwhile, the DA’s Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. recently distributed indemnity checks worth nearly P285,000 to 22 farmers from Naga City, Canaman, Pili and Baao, the statement said.

On Friday Alcala and Albay Gov. Joey Salceda spearheaded the distribution of a similar assistance, valued at P5.9 million, to farmers and fishermen in Albay in turnover rites in Legazpi City.

Last week the DA has launched the government’s rehabilitation plan for the agricultural-fishery sector in the region. “Starting with the distribution of initial assistance valued at nearly P6 million to affected farmers and [fishermen] in Sorsogon,” Alcala said.

He added that the first batch of livelihood and production support to beneficiaries in Bicol aims for the swift and timely delivery of aid to the devastated farmers and fishers.

The Bicol Rehabilitation Plan, Alcala said, is a rebuilding plan that entails the provision of production support, which include various machineries, fishing boats and gears, replacement seeds of rice and corn and other planting materials, and new stocks of animals.

Top California-based Fil-Am triathlete model promotes sports tourism in Legazpi

(PNA), CTB/FGS/RBB/CBD/PJN

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 9 (PNA) -- A top Filipino-American triathlete model is now in this tourist-destination city to promote sports tourism.

Kim Kilgroe will swim, bike and run in the rigorous rolling terrains of Legazpi City on Sunday morning.

Kilgroe, whose grandmother is a native of Tabaco City, flew in this city for the first time to lead and grace the first-ever Mt. Mayon Triathlon—a kickoff event of the monthlong Ibalong Festival of Legazpi.

“I came here to bring and promote sports tourism. Legazpi City is a great location for triathlon where one swims, bikes and runs, with the beautiful icon of Mayon volcano at the background,” she said.

Kilgroe, 24, and 200 participants in the professional, elite and relay team categories will be showing their prowess in the triathlon where in just an hour the competing teams will go for a 1.5-kilometer swim in the water off Legazpi then take a 40-kilometer bike ride from this city going to Sto. Domingo town and vice versa, then make a 10-kilometer run along the rolling topography of this city.

But before the official competition set on Sunday by the city government, Kilgroe conducted a free swimming and sports clinic on Friday and Saturday among the youth, including children, with proficiency in swimming to help them develop their own potentials.

“My Lola is from Tabaco, Albay. It's nice to be here for the first time. I'm motivated by the desire to be the best version of myself in every aspect, and to help others reach their own potentials and live unlimited. I enjoy helping new athletes on their form and progression, so I'm planning a series of Train-Unlimited Tri-Camps in various provinces of the Philippines,” she said.

The tri-clinic is focusing on swimming and running techniques.

“We are having pool and open water swimming clinics to improve everyone's swimming techniques. I especially love working with youth and inspiring them to pursue sports and healthful activities, so my events are open to all ages and levels. I'm doing an initial event in Legazpi before the inaugural Mt. Mayon Triathlon this weekend. We are inviting young athletes to come, participate and learn how to become better triathletes,” the lady triathlete added.

Kilgroe also expressed gratitude to Mayor Noel Rosal for hosting the first-ever Mt. Mayon Triathlon despite the effect of typhoon "Glenda."

“Thanks to the City of Legazpi and the Ibalong Festival organizers for hosting us and bringing the Mt. Mayon Triathlon together in a short period of time, even with the typhoon that recently passed. We are so excited for the first triathlon in this province on Sunday. What a great location to swim, bike and run.This is one of my favorite areas in the Philippines now,” the Filipino-American triathlete said.

Kilgroe said that after Bicol, she will also go to Davao, Cebu, Bohol and Ilocos Norte for multi-day camps.

“On my radar for potential multi-day camps are Davao, Cebu, Bohol and Illocos Norte. With so many people gaining interest in the multi-sport community, I'd love to help bring more resources to those outside of the Metro Manila area,” she said.

Fr. Jay Jacinto of Naga City, race director, said Legazpi City is the most scenic place and fantastic area for a one-hour triathlon owing to its best location, with Mt. Mayon at the backdrop.

Rosal said the 1st Mayon Triathlon will be similar to the “Tour of Luzon” wherein 200 foreign and Filipino veteran or elite riders will be competing on Sunday.

He said there are politicians like Rep. Datu Arroyo of Camarines Sur and former AKB Rep. Pido Garbin who will be joining the triathlon.

“Next year, it will never be the same again. It will be a bigger event next year as part of the Ibalong Festival. The participants of this event are not after the prize because they’re well-off and whose bikes cost about Php 0.5 million or so. They’re not after the money but the trophy and prestige,” Rosal said.

The winners will receive Php 20,000 for first prize, Php 15,000 for 2nd prize and Php 10,000 for the third prize.

DA Sec lauds increasing food production in Albay despite frequent calamities

By Sally Atento-Altea (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 8 (PIA) –Department of Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala lauded the province of Albay for sustaining its increasing food production over the years despite calamities frequently visiting the province.

“I congratulate the good leadership and resiliency of the people of Albay for continued increase in production despite being hit by calamities,” Alcala said during the press conference for turn-over of rehabilitation assistance Wednesday to farmers and agri-stakeholders affected by typhoon Glenda in Albay.

“Eventhough constantly devastated by typhoons, the province has sustained its increasing yield,” he added.

Albay governor Joey Salceda noted in the same event that the rice sufficiency percentage of the province has increased in six years from 73% in 2008 to 94% in 2013.

He attributed such increase to the farmers in the province citing them as the”backbone of economic development in the province.”

The AlbayProvincial Agriculture Services earlier reported that based on official records, production in 2013 rose to 215 metric tons or 215,000 kilos in harvest from 52,000 hectares planted.

In 2012 160 metric tons or 160,000 kilos is in production from 43,000 hectares planted.

The Philippine Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) likewise posted increasing volume of production for coconut from 149,594.96 metric tons in 2008 to 180,333.07 metric tons in 3013 and pili nut from 1,528.71 metric tons in 2008 to 2, 132.45 metric tons in 2013.

The same is true with abaca from 1,404.64 metric tons in 2008 to 1,617.26 metric tons in 2013.

Salceda added forested areas in the province have also increased to 88% of which most of the trees planted are Pili trees provided by the DA.

Moreover, the governor cites climate change as a factor that hinders poverty alleviation among farmers in the province despite the programs implemented and assistance given by the DA.

He mentioned for instance coconut planters who lost their investment as typhoon Glenda severely damaged coconut trees with its fruits supposedly to be harvested this year.

“Six years ago after Reming, our farmers planted coconut trees which take about six years to bear fruit. Now we are on the sixth year, supposedly a time for harvest, but we are hit by typhoon Glenda damaging our coconut plantations,” he said.

“Basically our farmers lost the capital they invested so what returns will they get?” Salceda added.

In response to the impact of climate change to agriculture, DA secretary said the present administration has been implementing long-term intervention through construction of concrete farm to market roads and provision of climate resistant rice varieties.

One of these varieties is the drought resistant, submarine type and salt water tolerant green super rice currently studied in Camarines Sur.

Chinese tourists coming during Legazpi’s Ibalong Festival

By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), CTB/FGS/DOC/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 7 (PNA) – A series of Cebu Pacific chartered direct flights will be flying in here hundreds of Chinese tourists from Xiamen City, China, as the city celebrates the Ibalong Festival.

The first flight is scheduled to arrive Friday, Aug. 8, carrying 165 passengers who will stay for four days and three nights.

All of them will be billeted at the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino in the nearby Sto. Domingo, Albay.

Misibis Bay is a posh resort hotel considered as a private tropical hideaway built on a pristine stretch of beach serving as a luxury island playground along Cagraray Island where Albay’s hospitality abounds.

At least two other flights, which will arrive on Aug. 11 and 16, are also scheduled -- each carrying the same number of passengers, city Mayor Noel Rosal announced in a press conference here Thursday.

These Chinese tourists will be in the city in time for the celebration of the Ibalong Festival, a yearly non-religious fiesta depicting Bicol’s early beginnings based on the Ibalong Epic written by the late Prof. Merito Espinas that tells of mythical super heroes, villains, monsters and wild animals in the ancient times.

“This is the longest running tourism promotion-related festival in the Bicol region that expresses warmth and goodwill to all people and encourages visitors and tourists to celebrate with the Legazpeños,” Rosal said.

The festival’s formal opening will be on Aug. 16 but preliminary activities -- like the screening of candidates for the Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, which was held last Aug. 3, the kick-off of the Mt. Mayon Triathlon on Aug. 10 and opening of the 2nd Ibalong National Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship on Aug. 15-17 – will serve as advance activities.

The festivities -- loaded with events that will offer fun, exciting adventures and lot of surprises -- will run until Aug, 3.

These events will be an added entertainment to the Chinese tourists who are very much attracted to Mt. Mayon and going around lava fronts around its foot on board all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), Stephen Chen of the China International Travel Service (CITS) said during the same press conference.

“During their stays, these Chinese tourists will enjoy the overflowing of celebrations in this prime tourist destination known in the whole travel industry world as the City of Fun and Adventure,” Rosal said.

This Xiamen-Legazpi direct chartered flight project was arranged with Cebu Pacific and CITS by the city government under Rosal in partnership with the management of Misibis Bay headed by business tycoon Elizalde Co.

Initially, these series of chartered flights from Xiamen will go on until October this year with four flights a week but “we are working on an arrangement with Cebu Pacific and the CITS to extend it up to the end of this year,” Misisbis Bay general manager Ian Mayer Varona said.

“Hopefully, next year and onward, we would be able to arrange a year-round direct flights program with the Legazpi Domestic Airport as the gateway while we are awaiting for the completion of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) now ongoing construction in the nearby Daraga town,” Rosal said.

This new airport, which has been placed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) as a priority project intended to boost Bicol’s booming tourism industry, is scheduled to be completed and put into operations before the end of the term of Pres. Benigno Aquino III on 2016.

The opening of the Legazpi Airport as gateway for direct international flights came last January with the coming in of the maiden chartered flight of Philippine Airlines with 156 Chinese tourists on board from Xiamen.

It was first arranged by the provincial government of Albay under Gov. Joey Salceda with local and China-based travel agencies as a program in line with the Aquino administration’s policy to achieve inclusive growth through tourism that will have direct impact to the community.

Rosal said having Legazpi as the newest direct destination for the Chinese travel market means getting them into a yearly cycle wherein they will be coming via chartered flights in a frequency of twice a week.

Each of these tourists spends between US$ 500 and US$ 1,000 a day and with the coming of 230 weekly would mean as much as US$ 230,000 weekly tourism receipts for the city and some parts of Albay where they would be buying souvenir items and buy foods, among other expenditures, he said.

Tourism will definitely take a crucial role in the city, the province of Albay, the Bicol region and the country’s pursuit for inclusive and horizontal growth that will benefit not only big investors such as hotel operators but also the people in the countryside, where most of the tourist destinations are located, by providing more opportunities for employment and business ventures, the city mayor said.

“The opening of the city as gateway for direct international flights takes advantage of the foreign market trend showing that international tourists do not tend to a local destination as they follow a cycle leading them from one place to another,” he added.

Parallel with these developments, what the city government is doing is improve its capacity to accommodate more tourists taking into consideration that the city is also fast emerging as one of the country’s convention capitals.

“We are now hosting an average of 20 big conventions and similar occasions yearly, bringing in to the city around 60,000 visitors each year. So far, we only have 2,009 hotel rooms that can accommodate in one occasion some 5,000 people,” Rosal said.

More accommodation facilities are needed, that is why the city government has been encouraging and attracting more investors to venture into this endeavor and the responds are very encouraging, he added.

Legazpi’s Ibalong Festival comes with more fun, adventure this August

By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), CTB/FGS/DOC/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 6 (PNA) – The city government here has issued a guarantee that the 2014 holding of Ibalong Festival, which comes this month, will be loaded with more fun, adventure and surprises.

“I assure you of more fun, exciting adventures and big surprises as we go along with this month-long celebration—the 23rd Ibalong Festival,” City Mayor Noel Rosal, who is also chair of the festival executive committee, told a press conference at the city mayor’s office Wednesday.

The festival’s formal opening will be on Aug. 16 but preliminary activities like the screening of candidates for the Mutya ng Ibalong beauty pageant, which was held last Aug. 3, the kick-off of the Mt. Mayon Triathlon on Aug. 10 and opening of the 2nd Ibalong National Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship on Aug. 15-17 will serve as advance activities.

The triathlon event is one of the big surprises offered this year as it will be participated in by about 200 celebrated international players, Rosal said, describing the event as a grueling physical fitness competition that will pass through varied routes along the Legazpi Boulevard to the town of Sto. Domingo, Albay, near the foot of Mt. Mayon.

The women’s beach volleyball games expected to be played among teams coming from big universities and colleges around the country will be held also along the Legazpi Boulevard.

To highlight the formal opening program of the festival on Aug. 16 will be the rolling out of the Ibalong Festival Weekend Market that will open up business opportunities to small and medium enterprise operators in the locality and those coming from far as Metro Manila and Cebu, City councilor Lilian Ramirez, the event’s committee chairperson, said in the press conference.

In support to the festivities, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will be holding its 2014 Southern Luzon Cluster Science and Technology Fair at the city’s Ibalong Centrum for Recreation from Aug. 17 to 20, according to Tomas Briñas, the DOST regional director for Bicol.

The event will also mark the launch in the city of Juan Time that will make Legazpi the first local government unit in Bicol to have the giant Juan Time clock to be mounted by the DOST at the heart of the city’s business center, Briñas said.

He said the S&T fair -- which will be focused on regional development thrust, tourism and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM), will be attended by delegations headed by DOST regional directors from 16 regions of the country.

In this affair, Legazpi will showcase its tremendous gains in tourism development that has made the city achieve remarkable growth in the travel industry and in DRRM that won for it the national championship in the Gawad Kalasag Awards of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council last year, Briñas said.

“Legazpi recognizes DRRM not only as a program but also as a culture—a trait that other LGUs should replicate,” he added.

One more big surprise that Ibalong Festival 2014 will be pulling, according to Rosal, is the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Legends Exhibition Game to be held at the ICR on Aug. 22.

The game will feature veteran Bicolano PBA players like William “Bogs” Adornado who hails from this city, Fortunato “Atoy” Co of Daet, Camrines Norte, and Rommel Daep of Manito, Albay.

They will be joined by Vince Hizon, Paul Alvarez, Noli Locsin, Nelson Asaytono, EJ Feihl, Bong Hawkins, Gerome Ejercito and Gerry Codiñera in playing against the Ibalong Team.

Other events include the Ibalong Zumba Party at the ICR and Otaku Summit at the Pacific Mall on Aug. 23; 1st Ibalong Color Run at the Legazpi Boulevard on Aug 24; the Ibalong Enduro Pilipinas Mountain Bike Race along the foot of Mt. Mayon; the Operation Hoops Care Goodwill Mission to the Philippines at the ICR on Aug. 26-27; and the Siram na Sana: A Legazpeño Food Festival at the Casablanca Convention Hall.

The traditional Ibalong Street Presentation, which will feature six contingents to portray in different styles the epical heroes of Bicolandia -- Handyong, Baltog, Bantong and Oryol -- and the Ibalong epic through dances and colorful attires, will be held at the city downtown on Aug. 30.

During the street presentations, the competing contingents will parade in the streets wearing masks and costumes to imitate the appearances of the heroes and the villains, portraying the classic battles that made their way into the history of Bicol.

At night of the same day will be the coronation of the Mutya ng Ibalong at the ICR.

Ibalong Festival, now on its 23rd year, is a month-long non-religious fiesta depicting Bicol’s early beginnings based on the Ibalong Epic written by the late Prof. Merito Espinas that tells of mythical super heroes, villains, monsters and wild animals in the ancient times.

“This is the longest running tourism promotion-related festival in the Bicol region that expresses warmth and goodwill to all people and encourages visitors and tourists to celebrate with the Legazpeños,” Rosal said.

Albay International Gateway welcomes more flights with China

By Connie B. Destura [(PNA), LAM/FGS/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- The Albay International Gateway (AIG) is ready to welcome more chartered flights from mainland China as the initial 18-cycle, 3-month run will start on Aug. 8 until Oct. 10, with each cycle scheduled on Mondays (arrival) through Fridays (departure) and vice-versa.

This initial 3-month run—made possible through a 1-year contract of Cebu Pacific with their Chinese partners—may be extended depending on the success of its implementation.

The first batch of tourists for this run will arrive on Aug. 8 from Xiamen, China, bringing in a full load of 179 passengers to Albay.

Earlier this year, 285 Chinese tourists from Xiamen flew in to the province to celebrate the Chinese New Year, coming in two batches -- the first arriving on Jan. 30, while the second came in on Feb. 6.

The AIG committee chaired by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, along with representatives from different government agencies and other stakeholders, is now again readying all the provisions needed to accommodate the coming tourists.

Like the previous batches of Xiamen tourists, the incoming visitors will be billeted at the Misibis Bay Resort and Casino, with occasional tours to be made to the different landmarks and attractions in Albay.

Funds have been allocated for the Legazpi airport for its expansion to accommodate the different government offices that are required to service direct international flights arriving to the airport, as well as add wider areas and more chairs for the convenience of the passengers.

As committee chair, Salceda has pledged the full support of the provincial government in this endeavor to further boost the image of Albay in the international market as a tourist destination and fully coordinate with the different agencies to achieve this goal.

Roxas orders BFP to help contain Albay bush fire

(PNA), LAM/CLTC

MANILA, Aug. 4 (PNA) -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Monday directed the regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bicol to mobilize all resources necessary to help contain an ongoing bush fire that has already razed some 6,000 hectares of forest and grasslands in two islands of Rapu-Rapu, Albay.

In a statement, Roxas specifically instructed the BFP-Regional Office in Bicol to coordinate with their counterparts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to ensure that the bush fire would not spread to residential areas nearby.

“I expect our BFP Regional Office to mobilize all possible resources. All our fire-fighters and fire trucks in the region must be ready to help the DENR contain the bush fire,” the DILG chief said.

“Kailangang hindi makatawid ang sunog sa mga bahayan (Hope this will not cross to the houses. We must ensure zero-casualty in this tragedy,” he added.

According to a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the bush fire started around 8 a.m. on Sunday with kaingin as the possible cause of the incident.

The NDRRMC said the fire has initially affected six of Rapu-Rapu’s 34 barangays, namely: Poblacion, Morocborocan, Sitio Acal, Mananao, Guadalupe, and Buenavista, which were occupied by about 5,000 households.

Other fire incidents were reported in Sitio Minto, San Ramon and Batan Island.

In his initial report to the DILG Secretary, SC/Supt. Carlito Romero, BFP Chief, said 14 Forest Fire Protection Officers had already been deployed from Albay to comply with Roxas’ directive.

Romero said two Forest Fire Specialists who had been tasked to assume lead command at Rapu-Rapu Island had also boarded an Air Force plane with personnel from the Office of Civil Defense to conduct aerial assessment of the affected area.

The team, he said, had recommended the deployment of bucket bomb or choppers with water buckets to help contain the bush fire.

The Initial Assessment/Operations Team likewise recommended that the following actions be taken immediately:

·Rapu-Rapu to declare State of Calamity;

·Municipality of Rapu-Rapu and threatened barangays to activate Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils on a 24-hour operation in order to intensify monitoring and preparedness actions required;

·Prepare evacuation sites and request Philippine Air Force for the availability of Huey 2 with Bumby Bucket.

Power co-ops in other provinces help Albay

By Ma. April Mier (Inquirer Southern Luzon)

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—Albay Power and Energy Corp. (Apec) has restored power supply in nearly 50 percent of its “backbone lines” in Albay province, 18 days since Typhoon “Glenda” hit the province on July 15.

“Only 13 percent of households have been energized but we have reached almost half of the commercial or backbone areas,” Russell James Serrano, chief of the technical operations and maintenance division of Apec, said in an interview on Saturday.

The backbone lines are the electric poles or posts, which are connected to the main roads where hospitals, schools, the central business district and other major institutions are located, he explained.

In Legazpi City, the business center of Albay, more than 50 percent, or 43 of its 70 barangays, had their backbone lines energized while supply was restored in 13 lines in Tabaco City and 10 in Ligao City.

In the municipality of Malinao, power had been restored in the backbone lines of seven villages.

Jane Rogando, head of Apec’s customer service division, said that with the help of the National Electrification Administration, volunteers from electric cooperatives across the country came to help in the power restoration work in Albay.

Seven teams with 42 personnel from six electric cooperatives in Luzon arrived in Albay on July 30. They were from Central Pangasinan Electric Cooperative, Pampanga Electric Cooperative, Nueva Ecija Electric Cooperative, Pampanga Rural Electric Cooperative, Tarlac Electric Cooperative (Tarelco) 1 and Tarelco 2 to augment restoration efforts.

On Aug. 4, Rogando said they expected three more teams to come from Zamboanga Electric Cooperative (Zamelco) 1, Zamelco 2 and Peninsula Electric Cooperative in Bataan.

She said they had earlier projected that it would take three months before power could be completely restored in Albay but that they could shorten the period with the formation of Task Force Glenda, which is composed of electric cooperatives outside Albay.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, in a text message, said the city expected full power restoration before the end of August.

Albay has 15 municipalities and three cities— Legazpi, Ligao and Tabaco.

PNoy commends Albay’s zero casualty in Sona

(Manila Standard Today)

LEGAZPI CITY—President Benigno Aquino III has lauded Albay for its ‘zero casualty’ record during the recent onslaught of Typhoon Glenda as a most noteworthy feat of a local government unit in disaster risk reduction, during his fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Halfway through his Sona, Aquino thanked Albay Gov. Joey Salceda for prompt action during Glenda’s onslaught. The typhoon mauled Albay for eight hours on July 16. It claimed over a hundred lives elsewhere in the country.

Salceda attributes their zero casualty score to their “preemptive evacuation” strategy which required the evacuation of about 101,000 families to safe evacuation centers hours before Glenda’s forecasted landfall in the province. Packing over 180 kph center winds, Glenda wrought extensive damage in Albay worth about P9.1 billion, with some 98,000 families rendered homeless.

In his Sona, the President reported that the national government is implementing some technology-driven DRR programs, under it is Project Noah, for effective and fast disaster warning system and monitoring of heavy rains and flash floods.

These DRR programs, coupled with prompt action by LGU officials like Gov. Salceda, can save more lives and prevent deaths, Aquino stressed.

If a province that is considered a highway for strong typhoons can achieve this (zero casualty) feat, there’s no reason why other LGUs cannot achieve the same, Aquino said, which drew cheers from the crowd at the Sandiganbayan where the President delivered his address.

Salceda, who was present during the Sona, said it was a pleasant surprise to have been included in the President’s Sona, but added that “Albay rightly and richly deserves to be mentioned,” for working hard to achieve its ‘zero casualty’ goal during disasters.

The governor had pioneered “preemptive evacuation towards zero casualty’ that is now a byword in Albay and which the national and many local government units have already adopted. The strategy is complemented by investments in safe comfortable evacuation centers which also serve a classroom during normal days.

For its feats the United Nations has declared Salceda s its DRR champion and Albay as its global model in DRR and Climate Change Adaptation. The governor now sits as co-chair of the UN Green Climate Fund, the first Asian to have held the position of the prestigious international body tasked to fund global climate change programs.

Tourism propels Bicol as Phl fastest growing region

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), LAM/JCN/JSD]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 1 (PNA) -- Driven by tourism, Bicol (Region V) has now emerged as the country’s fastest growing region with an impressive 9.4 % growth last year, according to Albay Governor Joey Salceda, citing the latest report of the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).

The recent NSCB report said Bicol’s 9.4% growth in 2013 outpaced those of the other 17 regions of the country, including Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) which registered a 9.1 percent growth rate.

Salceda, who chairs the Bicol Regional Development Council (RDC), said Bicol has now risen from the ruins of disasters that had stunted it for decades. He added that tourism has been the principal driver of the region’s impressive economic growth, led by Albay, now the Philippines’ fastest growing tourist destination, which posted a truly staggering 66% tourism growth last year.

The Almasor (Albay - Masbate-Sorsogon) Tourism Alliance, which Salceda organized as RDC chair, also posted a 42 percent growth in arrivals in 2013, contributing to the over all regional economic growth.

Salceda, a respected economist and 3-term Bicol RDC chairman, said Bicol’s growth was also pushed by better yields in energy production of the Tiwi and Bacman geothermal plants, higher public investments in infrastructure and acceleration retail trade, further supported by the full infusion of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps into the countryside.

Reacting to the NSCB report, Salceda said Bicol’s growth rate is indeed phenomenal, having occupied the lowest rung in the country’s economic ladder for decades. It has often been listed as third or second, if not the poorest region of the country. This was blamed to the regular onslaught by strong typhoons.

Knowledgeable authorities credit Bicol’s economic breakthrough to Salceda’s leadership of the region’s RDC. The Albay governor was a former economic adviser to Philippine presidents.

“What can you expect but a fast growing economy in Bicol since Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda is the head honcho in planning for the region,” former NSCB director-general Jose Ramon Gatmaitan Albert noted.

Quoting the NSCB report, Salceda said “Bicol picked its momentum from 2012 with 6.9% recorded growth to top the other 17 regions of the country last year, including NCR with its 9.1%, powered by a strong service sector and Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) with 57% and 23.4%, respectively.”

The governor said the formula for Bicol’s phenomenal growth lies in its hidden strengths, which the RDC capitalized on in planning and executing its banner programs, particularly, tourism.

As RDC chair, Salceda charted Bicol’s economic direction, with special emphasis on tourism, of which the region has great potentials. He organized the Almasor, which had immediately gained significant international recognition at the ITB Berlin in Germany, the London WTM last year, and the Guangzhou Travel-mart, early this year.

The NSCB report said the Service sector’s growth in Albay accelerated from 6.2% in 2012 to 11% in 2013. Except for Transport, Storage and Communications (TSC), all its sub-sectors recorded higher growths, as follows: Trade and Repair, 9.7% to 10.8%; Finance, 10.9% to 14.4%; Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities (RERBA), 2.8% to 17.1%; Public Administration, 4.2% to 8.2%; Other Services, 2.2% to 11.4%.

The NSCB report likewise show the following 2012-2013 growth trends: AHFF, 2.9% to 4.5%; Agriculture and Forestry, 3.1% to 5.4%; Fishing, 2.5% to 2%; Industry, 14.6% to 10.8%; Construction, 14.2% to 22.4%; EGWS, 9.3% to 13.4%; Manufacturing, 5% to 9.6%; Mining and Quarrying, 11.8% to 4.2%.

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