Difference between revisions of "Sorsogon News"

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<center>[[Sorsogon, Philippines|<font size=4>'''Sorsogon'''</font>]] - [[Sorsogon Archived News|<font size=4 color=green>'''Archived News'''</font>]]</center>
<center>[[Sorsogon Province, Philippines|<font size=4>'''Sorsogon'''</font>]] - [[Sorsogon Archived News|<font size=4 color=green>'''Archived News'''</font>]]</center>
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==More centers for evacuees set up in Sorsogon==
==Sorsogon hosts 3rd Bicol Prosecutors Convention==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=631908&publicationSubCategoryId=
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=801336609913
*November 21, 2010 12:00 AM
*Friday, May 11, 2012
:by  Jaime Aude
:by  (MAL/BARecebido-PIA Sorsogon)




MANILA, Philippines –  Disaster officials have set up additional evacuation centers in Sorsogon to accommodate thousands of evacuees in an event of a major explosion of the restive Mt. Bulusan.
SORSOGON CITY, May 11 (PIA) -- Around 115 participants and guests composed of national officers from the National Prosecutors League of the Philippines and prosecutors from across the Bicol region register to the 3rd Bicol Prosecutors Convention, which started Tuesday and to last until today, May 11.  


National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive officer and retired Army general, Benito Ramos reported as of yesterday, there are already a total of 52 evacuation areas that have been put up from a safe distance of Mt. Bulusan.
Provincial Prosecutor Regina Coeli Gabito said participants, visitors and guests were warmly welcomed by Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee himself along with other high-ranking officials in the province.  


These evacuation centers – 15 in the town of Juban; 15 in Gubat, five in Casiguran; five in Irosin; 11 in Bulusan; four in Barcelona; and eight in Sorsogon City – can accommodate a total of 49,218 persons at one given time, Ramos said.
“The convention is actually an annual activity of the prosecutors, specifically here in Bicol where we have an active and well-organized group, the Bicol League of Prosecutors, and for this year, our province serves as the host,” said Fiscal Gabito.  


Ramos said the putting up of the evacuation centers is in line with the ongoing preparation being undertaken both by the national, regional, provincial and municipal-attached disaster units due to the continuing abnormal behavior of Mt. Bulusan.
She also said that the primary purpose of the convention is to update the prosecutors of the current issuances of the Department of Justice (DoJ), brainstorming on their works as prosecutors, and at the same time socializing and harmonizing with their co-prosecutors in the whole Bicol region.  


Disaster officials in coordination with the country’s volcanologists installed signages around Mt. Bulusan, warning the public not to venture within the four-kilometer danger zones.
DOJ Sec. De Lima and Prosecutor General Claro M. Arellano of the National Prosecution Service are among the expected guest in the event but due to hectic schedules, they were not able to make it. De Lima is set to testify in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona from May 9 and 10, while the latter left for Hongkong to present a paper on anti-corruption in the international justice community, Gabito added.  


“Bulusan siesmic monitoring network has detected 41 volcanic earthquakes during the past 24-hour observation period,” Ramos said as he reminded residents around the area to be alert and be ready to move to safe grounds if the need arises.
The first day was highlighted by the Corporate Planning and Management Conference as per the Memorandum of the DoJ Secretary dated March 2, 2012 and a dinner, fellowship and socials with Gov. Lee and wife former governor Sally A. Lee.  


Gabito said that she also took the opportunity to introduce the province of Sorsogon to the prosecutors who are also appreciable of the different tourism sites and products which place offers and among the areas to be visited on the second day, May 10, are Barcelona for its ruins and world heritage site, Bulusan for Bulusan Lake, and Gubat for its beaches and resorts.


The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sorsogon has also put up a stall at the lobby of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan for the entire duration of the activity displaying the local products to give way for the local traders and business establishments to earn during the event.


A fellowship through a short program with City Mayor Leovic Dioneda and city officials at the Sorsogon City Hall in Brgy. Cabid-an will be held today. Also, submission to the members and ratification of the Proposed Constitution and By-Laws of the Bicol Prosecutors League will be made with Deputy Regional Prosecutor Jose Demosthenes at the forefront.


The convention will be culminated with a visit to the residence of Senator Francis Escudero in Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City, wherein the senator is expected to deliver a message to the prosecutors.


Fiscal Gabito also expressed her appreciation and thanks to the local leaders here specifically mentioning Sorsogon Gov. Raul R. Lee, former governor and now Executive Director of Sorsogon Provincial Management Office Sally A. Lee, City Mayor Dioneda, Sen. Escudero, Sorsogon’s 1st District Congressman Salvador H. Escudero II and 2nd District Congressman Dogracias Ramos, Jr., Barcelona Mayor and League of Municipalities of the Phils. Sorsogon Chapter president Mayor Romeo Fortes, Jr., Bulusan Mayor Michael Guysayko and Gubat Mayor Ronnel Lim for the full support extended to them and also for making her work easy.






==Sorsogon City Mayor’s staff tagged as syndicate mastermind of fake franchise==
*Source: http://bicoltoday.com/?p=4128
*November 11, 2011
:by  BicolToday.com




SORSOGON CITY (BicolToday.com/11 Nov. 2011)- In a jampacked session, the fourth City Council last Tuesday, opened the pandora box full of fake franchises issued to tricycle owners that pinpointed to Jose Pura Jr., chief of the permit and licensing section of the Office of the City Mayor here, as the official responsible for the invalid transactions.
The atmosphere was tense and unforgiving as seen in the faces of the 230 victims who paid to middlemen in contact with the permit official as high as forty thousand pesos to secure a Motorized Tricycle Operators Permit without the corresponding city sidecar plate that identifies the granting of franchise.
Taking the complaint in the plenary, East District Councilor Victorino Daria III who exposed the anomalous transaction presented fifteen victims who delivered a coup de grace against Jose Pura Jr., Randy Reales a smart than you think tricycle driver and Jose “Toots” Desunia, president of Poblacion Tricycle Operators Drivers Association (PTODA) as the persons who allegedly connived with one another in processing the transactions. Desunia, taking the stand as if a harass lamb, received commission for every transaction he entered with Pura. At the session, also presented was Ruel Jintalan a subordinate of Pura who denied any participation in the issuance of MTOP’s.
After their testimonies, Randy Reales when queried by this writer, revealed that he received not less than two thousand pesos per transaction and admitted that Jintalan, aside from Pura, is one of those whom they transacted to facilitate issuance of MTOP. Jintalan on his part denied personally to Bicol Today.com that he did not receive any amount to secure an MTOP among the victims of the syndicate. Jose ‘Toots’ Desunia’s PTODA group was allocated 160 MTOPs and likewise admitted that he facilitated the issuance of the same through Jose Pura, Jr. and received a fat commission of not less than two thousand pesos per MTOP released by the permits and licensing section.
The illegal activity was brought in the open when Daria III in his privilege speech two sessions ago promising to present witnesses and that his allegation is not a mere hearsay cracks the wall of silence last Tuesday. Witness after witness points the paper trail to the desk of Pura that most were facilitated either by Reales and Desunia. The illegal transaction as estimated netted the operators close to two million pesos and the dealers earned more than two hundred thousand each.
The problem now is how to rectify the wrongs created by the swindling act of Jose Pura. When treated by the plenary, Councilor Pedro Ravanilla in a show of a real politico offered solution that they plan to open the franchise application giving priority to the victims of the franchise syndicate, which was nip in the bud by Councilor Daria, reminding his West District counterpart that he authored an ordinance during the third city council limiting the number of allowable franchise and it carries a moratorium of five years from date of approval before additional franchises can be allocated.
The MTOP issued by Pura and his cohorts are without authority from the city council thus considered null and void and illegal thereby classifying the units as colorums.Unverified information revealed that Pura is living way beyond his means.
The fate of Pura and the others who might be involved hinge this Friday, in a special session for the purpose. Pura’s request for an executive session to spare him and his family from further ridicule was opposed by Councilor Daria noting that the public has the right to know the extent of the influence of the permits and license syndicate at the city hall. (BicolToday.com)


==Council for the protection of children bares accomplishments==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=63307
*Thursday, November 10, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit




SORSOGON CITY, November 10 (PIA) -- Children’s Month celebration has been a rousing success boosting campaigns and advocacies for the protection of the rights and ensuring the welfare of the children in the province of Sorsogon.
Myra Relativo, assistant provincial head of the Sorsogon Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and coordinator of the Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC), said the observance was highlighted by hundreds of children and stakeholders from different localities in the province convening in a Children Congress showcasing poster making contest focusing on the theme "Local Council for the Protection of Children para sa Bright Child : Pakilusin, Palakasin, Pagtulungan Natin".
A program highlighting the different skills and talents of children in singing, dancing and drama was also well participated in by children who rendered prepared numbers focusing on their own issues.
Three non-governmental organizations with child focused advocacies convened also at the PSWDO last month to discuss programs and projects and where each can provide areas of complementation and fund sharing in the several activities scheduled next year Relativo explained.
Josephina B. Deri, federation manager of FACE, a non-governmental organization that provides assistance to children spearheaded the Children’s Month celebration and was one of the accomplished activities of the council to celebrate children’s month.
Meanwhile Rico Guarino, Local Government Operations Officer V (LGOO ) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also reported that their agency will be conducting a reorientation program to local officials about the utilization of the 1% budget allocation for the council in the barangays.
Part of the PCPC accomplishment this quarter was the inter visitation conducted also in several municipalities to monitor the functionality of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) with the Department of Education and Green Valley Development Program , both members of the council providing assistance.
Relativo also shared to the members of the council that she attended a meeting on feed backing of the implementation of the Early Childhood and Development held at Manila Hotel last Aug. 31, 2011.
The recommendation during the conference was to construct a Child Development Center here where a paid Child Development Worker will be trained and will be the regular staff of the center.
In the meeting , a team building activity was also scheduled this January to provide all the members of the council added skills in the functionality of the organization to be conducted by the Local Government Academy. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==DAR discloses national convergence accomplishments in Sorsogon==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=63179
*Wednesday, November 09, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit




SORSOGON CITY, November 9 (PIA) -- The National Convergence Initiative (NCI) launched April this year has implemented several development projects in Sorsogon City, Castilla, and Casiguran, the three selected pilot areas of Sorsogon, according to Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Provincial agrarian reform officer (PARO) Roseller R. Olayres.
==Fish dealer nabbed over drugs in Masbate==
The proposed projects presented during the launch as part of the Sorsogon Development Investment Plan for the three pilot areas for 2011-2015, were organic farming, coconut, pili and pineapple production, livestock raising, forest and fruit trees planting, and aquamarine production and will be implemented by the three lead agencies, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Department of Agriculture (DA) and DAR.
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=805620
In the municipality of Castilla, the targeted local agrarian reform communities have already undertaken participatory coconut planting, establishment of coconut nursery, livestock integration, salt fertilization, intercropping, seaweed input assistance and agro-forestry.
*Thursday, May 10, 2012
In the local agrarian communities of the municipality of Casiguran, the three lead agencies have already implemented the following projects: participatory coconut planting, inter-cropping, livestock production, establishment of tilapia hatchery, seaweed culture production, aqua silvi-production and establishment of the pili nursery.
:by Dennis Carcamo
Meanwhile in the city of Sorsogon agrarian reform areas, according to Olayres projects such as participatory coconut planting, intercropping, livestock production and establishment of tilapia hatchery were already implemented.
The assistance provided also by the Philippine Coconut Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, together with DA ,DENR, DAR and the three LGUs concerned made the implementation successful according to Olayres.
The national convergence initiative is the government’s strategy for poverty alleviation that will eventually better the quality of life of people along the countryside and appreciate the value of their land as a a best source of opportunity for development. (PIA-SORSOGON)


==DTI reports bright opportunities for “bayong” production in Sorsogon==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=62912
*Tuesday, November 08, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents nabbed a fish dealer, who is a suspected member of a known drug ring operating in Albay, after he was caught selling illegal substance in Masbate City.


SORSOGON CITY, November 8 (PIA) -- Bayong production has been intensified as Sorsogon’s emerging best export product through convergence efforts by the different local governments, government line agencies, private sectors and local manufacturers, according to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial director Leah Pagao.
Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said PDEA agents and local police arrested Jesus Solla, 38, of Brgy. 28, Victor Village Legazpi City, Albay, at the Masbate port area.
Marinella Hernandez, division chief of DTI Sorsogon product division, confirmed that there was a voluminous demand for bayong in both the local and international markets as reflected in the sales from the just concluded Orgulyo nin Bicol held in Manila.
Export sales generated P33,867 and 1,206 jobs.
Bayong is a local product made here out of the local materials such as karagumoy, buri pandan, seagrass (locally named agas), abaca, water hyacinth, bamboo and rattan.
It has also been recommended by almost all local governments here as the alternative biodegradable material instead of plastic shopping bags.
DTI Sorsogon,explained that bayong production requires only low investment and light technology as this can be mass produced in homes.
At the recent Kasanggayahan Festival, trendy bayongs were sold to promote tourism in the province.(PIA-SORSOGON)


==Energy company, DOE to brief Irosin sanggunian and stakeholders on exploration activities==
"Solla is aware that his drug-dealing activities in Legazpi have generated...attention from authorities. So, he is starting to test the viability of Masbate as a new market while he temporarily scales down his operation in Legazpi City," Gutierrez said.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=62495
*Friday, November 04, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


Acting on a tip from a confidential agent that Solla will be leaving the Port of Pilar, Sorsogon, authorities waited for the suspect’s arrival at the Masbate Port Area in Barangay Bapor, Masbate City on May 4, 2012. Solla arrived at the port at around 9:30 a.m. onboard a motor boat.


SORSOGON CITY, November 4 (PIA) -- The Summa Kumagai Industries (SKI) Construction Group, Inc. Geothermal Exploration Division will brief the members of the Sanggunian Bayan of the municipality of Irosin today, November 4 , regarding the geothermal exploration activity they are to conduct in the municipality of Irosin.
Authorities were able to recover three sachets of shabu and the motorcycle (PN 8981) which is believed to be stolen, brought along by Solla onboard the motorized banca.
According to Irosin Mayor Eduardo E. Ong, the Department of Energy together with the SKI requested an audience with the members of the Sanggunian Bayan together with the Barangay Captains of Mapaso, San Benon,Gulang-Gulang, Cogon, Patag, Tinampo, Bagsangan, Bolos and barangay Guruyan of the municipality of Juban particularly to explain the benefits of renewable energy through the establishment of geothermal power plant,first undergoing the exploratory phase for which their area has been identified for such activity.
In a letter sent by SKI president, Albert D Altura to the local officials of Irosin, he expressed that this activity is a joint effort of the SKI and the Department of Energy (DOE) , particularly to provide the various stakeholders with the right knowledge regarding geothermal operations and gain first hand scientific insights regarding the project.
According to Engr. Benjamin Monzon of SKI, they hope that this meeting will open positive avenues to stakeholders to find out the importance of geothermal operation, as the cleanest source of energy.
Monzon said that they have primarily considered with utmost importance the appropriate and most convenient time of the local officials to sit down with the proponents so that both parties will be given the chance to see how government answers to people's needs through public and private partnership.
Altura's letter explained that SKI will present the activities they will undertake in the study and the areas to be covered by the scientific activities such as geological and geophysical investigations that will mainly involve site inspections and using instrumentations to measure the earth’s natural current without surface damage to property nor vegetation.
Expected to attend also are representatives from the office of the provincial government, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office -Local Government Unit, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, Phillipine National Police, Protected Areas Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management System ,Philippine Information Agency, Phillipine Army and PhilVocs. (PIA-SORSOGON)


==Band of Mercy, Sorsogon gov’t to conduct mission for children with cleft palate==
Solla, who faces charges for transporting dangerous drugs, is now detained at the Masbate City Police Station.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=62352
*Thursday, November 03, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


==Transport leader among the dead NPA rebels in Sorsogon clash==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/190589/transport-leader-among-the-dead-npa-rebels-in-sorsogon-clash
*Wednesday, May 9, 2012
:by Juan Escandor Jr.


SORSOGON CITY, NOVEMBER 4 (PIA) -- A two-day medical mission will be conducted here from November 4-5 by the Philippine Band of Mercy (PBM) and the provincial government of Sorsogon at the Fernando S. Duran Sr. Memorial Hospital (FSDMH) to operate on children ages 10 months to 15 years old with cleft palate.
Last January 29-30, 2011, the PBM in partnership with the provincial government of Sorsogon had conducted an operation to 40 patients with cleft palate deformities at the same hospital.
According to Mr. Fernando Hugo, FSDMH OIC hospital administrator said there are still patients who have not been operated on and suggested continuing the on the above dates.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the PBM and the province of Sorsogon has been signed by PBM president and trustee, Jesus Perez Cardenas and governor Raul R. Lee.
The MOU spells out the role of both parties especially in providing treatment and rehabilitation to the qualified indigent with complete medical services.
The PBM is a non-stock non-profit organization under the Republic of the Philippines established in 1937 and serves as a foundation for children that conducts surgical and provide curative medicine and supplies to children with cleft palate deformities. (PIA-SORSOGON)


==Army troops recover firearms in Sorsogon==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/85657/army-troops-recover-firearms-in-sorsogon
*5:06 am | Monday, October 31st, 2011
:by  Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon and Juan Escandor Jr. and Rey Nasol,  Inquirer Southern Luzon


DONSOL, Sorsogon — A transport leader in Bicol was among the three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in an encounter in Barangay Pinamanaan of this town on Tuesday, the NPA in Sorsogon said in a statement released Wednesday morning.
NPA’s Celso Minguez Command operating in Sorsogon province identified Joel Ascutia, who headed the Concerned Drivers and Operators-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator (Condor-Piston), was one of the slain rebels. The two others were identified by military officials as Christian Llagas and Leopoldo Nebres.
The statement said Ascutia, alias “Ka Pepe,” joined the communist rebels after seeking refuge from them last year. Ascutia was president of Condor-Piston from 2005 until last year.
The rebel command “saluted the three slain NPA rebels for their revolutionary work in organizing the masses and hailed them as martyrs.”
“Ascutia survived harassment and attempt on his life while still in the open mass movement,” added their statement.
On July 13, 2009 Ascutia, a resident of Legazpi City, survived an attack by motorcycle-riding assailants in Daraga, Albay while the transport group joined the nationwide strike to protest oil prices. He survived the attack but was shot five times and hit in the leg and abdomen.
Colonel Felix Castro Jr., commander of the 903rd Brigade in Castilla, Sorsogon, told the INQUIRER that Army soldiers chanced upon a group of some 15 NPA leaders at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
The scene of encounter was around a half kilometer away from the village center of Pinamanaan, a remote village in Donsol, Sorsogon that is also in the boundary of Jovellar town in Albay.
Castro said the Army soldiers of the 31st Infantry Battalion recovered from one of the NPA rebels an identification card with Ascutia’s name on it and an M16 rifle, 9 mm pistol, personal belongings and documents of “high intelligence value.”


==3 suspected Reds killed in Sorsogon==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=801336370475
*Tuesday, May 8, 2012
:by Edwin Sevidal and Noel Alamar, dzMM


Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and Army troops clashed early morning Sunday in the remote village of Tinampo in Bulan, Sorsogon, according to Col. Felix Castro, commander of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade based in Castilla town in Sorsogon.
The Army was tipped off about the presence of some 10 NPA rebels in that village, who were in the area to allegedly extort from villagers, Castro told the Inquirer.
He said he ordered Lt. Col. Epimaco Macalisang of the 49th Infantry Battalion, the unit covering the second district of Sorsogon where the encounter happened, to dispatch a team to pursue the NPA rebels.
He said a seven-man team led by Lt. Jerry Colago caught up with the NPA rebels at about
7 a.m. Sunday, and a 10-minute firefight ensued and the rebels fled.
Castro said the Army troops recovered one M16 rifle, Garand rifle, caliber 45 pistol and an improvised detonating device left behind by the fleeing rebels.
He said no one was hurt on the side of the Army but suspected there were injured rebels based on the bloodstains found in the clash site.
He said a hot pursuit operation was being conducted even as he assured residents that they could have a safe and peaceful All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the area.
In Cagayan province, four suspected NPA rebels were killed in a gunbattle with the government soldiers at 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 in Sitio Barang in Barangay San Miguel in Baggao town, said Col. Loreto Magundayao, battalion chief of the 5th Infantry Division’s (ID) civil-military operations.
Magundayao said an Army platoon from the 5th ID reconnaissance team encountered 10 armed men, who were believed to be part of the NPA’s Danilo Ben Command operating in the area. He said the 30-minute gunbattle left no government casualties. Recovered from the encounter site were two M-16 Armalite rifles and a shotgun.


==Army troops recover firearms in Sorsogon==
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/85657/army-troops-recover-firearms-in-sorsogon
*5:06 am | Monday, October 31st, 2011
:by  Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon and Juan Escandor Jr. and Rey Nasol,  Inquirer Southern Luzon


MANILA, Philippines – Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with the military in Sorsogon, Bicol region on Tuesday morning.


Philippine Army Spokesperson Major Harold Cabunoc said members of the 31st Infantry Battalion clashed with an undetermined number of NPA guerillas in a remote village in Donsol town.


Suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and Army troops clashed early morning Sunday in the remote village of Tinampo in Bulan, Sorsogon, according to Col. Felix Castro, commander of the Army’s 903rd Infantry Brigade based in Castilla town in Sorsogon.
Three unidentified rebels were killed.
The Army was tipped off about the presence of some 10 NPA rebels in that village, who were in the area to allegedly extort from villagers, Castro told the Inquirer.
He said he ordered Lt. Col. Epimaco Macalisang of the 49th Infantry Battalion, the unit covering the second district of Sorsogon where the encounter happened, to dispatch a team to pursue the NPA rebels.
He said a seven-man team led by Lt. Jerry Colago caught up with the NPA rebels at about
7 a.m. Sunday, and a 10-minute firefight ensued and the rebels fled.
Castro said the Army troops recovered one M16 rifle, Garand rifle, caliber 45 pistol and an improvised detonating device left behind by the fleeing rebels.
He said no one was hurt on the side of the Army but suspected there were injured rebels based on the bloodstains found in the clash site.
He said a hot pursuit operation was being conducted even as he assured residents that they could have a safe and peaceful All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the area.
In Cagayan province, four suspected NPA rebels were killed in a gunbattle with the government soldiers at 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 27 in Sitio Barang in Barangay San Miguel in Baggao town, said Col. Loreto Magundayao, battalion chief of the 5th Infantry Division’s (ID) civil-military operations.
Magundayao said an Army platoon from the 5th ID reconnaissance team encountered 10 armed men, who were believed to be part of the NPA’s Danilo Ben Command operating in the area. He said the 30-minute gunbattle left no government casualties. Recovered from the encounter site were two M-16 Armalite rifles and a shotgun.


==Army, TV5 spearhead medical mission, relief operations in Matnog, Sorsogon==
No casualties were reported on the side of the government.
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=382396
*October 28, 2011, 6:23 pm
:by  (PNA)
LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd/


==BFP Sorsogon City intensifies “Ugnayan sa Barangay”==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=801336370475
*Monday, May 7, 2012
:by Benilda A. Recebido




SORSOGON CITY, Oct. 28 (PNA) – The Philippine Army (PA) and TV5 along with several other volunteer groups over the week spearheaded a medical mission and relief goods distribution for hundreds of families in Matnog, Sorsogon.


Col. Felix Castro, the commanding officer of the PA’s 903rd Infantry Brigade that operates in the province on Friday said more than 700 families in at least four coastal barangays of the municipality benefited from the humanitarian mission arranged by TV5 Resource Mobilization Officer Chay Dionco in cooperation with the PA and Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC).
SORSOGON CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Sorsogon City Fire Marshal SInsp Walter Marcial said that BFP’s campaign on fire prevention is going-on even if the Fire Prevention Month in March is over.  


The Kapisanan ng mga Kababaihan para sa Kaunlaran ng Matnog, Inc. (KABALIKAT), the Matnog municipal government along with its Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Rural Health Units (RHUs) assisted the medical mission which offered free consultations, treatments and medicines to sick residences, Castro said.
SInsp Marcial said that as part of the BFP’s mandate stated in RA 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008, Sorsogon City Fire Station has intensified its Fire Prevention Program through the Ugnayan sa Barangay.  


Free haircut services were also offered by Army barbers while relief goods provided by the TV5 were distributed to the beneficiaries. A feeding program was also initiated for school children in Grades I to III in the villages’ public schools, the Army commander said.
Ugnayan sa Barangay is one among the many programs of the BFP that aims in educating residents of barangays in fire prevention and basic fire suppression techniques.  


Mrs. Marie Ubaldo, who represented her husband, town Mayor Emilio Ubaldo in the mission, expressed gratitude to the attention given by the PA, TV5 and PRC to the villages of Matnog, one of the poorest municipalities of Sorsogon province.
“Ugnayan sa Barangay is one of the strategies that our office implement citywide to help educate the constituents, Barangay Fire Safety Officers and barangay officials about our advocacy on fire safety awareness,” Marcial said.  


Meanwhile, the PNRC said it is intensifying its Pledge 25 and RC 143 campaign being initiated to help victims of dengue not only in the province but elsewhere in the country.
“We also believe that through this strategy, we can cut the growing statistic of destructive fires particularly in fire prone areas or large residential areas within the city,” he added.  


PNRC Sorsogon Chapter manager Salvacion Abotanatin said they have been mobilizing volunteers from local schools and local government units (LGUs) in the campaign’s blood donation program for dengue patients who may need blood transfusion.
Just three days ago, personnel of BFP Sorsogon City conducted said Ugnayan activity in Brgy. Talisay drawing 20 participants from different households.  


“Although dengue cases in the province are not alarming as no outbreak has been reported by the Provincial Health Office (PHO), so far, we are continuously enlisting blood donation volunteers in anticipation of possible needs and to help the PRC national office in its blood stocking program under its Pledge 25 and RC 143 campaign,” Abotanatin said.
They were given introduction and overview of the activity and lectured on how to prevent fires, what to do in case of fire, how to use fire extinguishers, and fire safety tips.  


PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang had earlier issued a memorandum addressed to all its chapters nationwide calling for the intensification of the campaign in their respective areas of jurisdiction to maintain vigilance against dengue.
How to apply first aid was also demonstrated, followed by the conduct of the pre-fire planning strategies.  


Abotanatin said the PNRC is also helping in the information campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) on the prevention of dengue outbreaks like controlling the spread of dengue carrying mosquitoes in the communities.


“We have organized our RC 143 Community Health Teams and Pledge 25 volunteers for these purposes and they are readily on call in emergency cases,” she added.
Marcial encouraged barangay residents to constantly hold the same activity to make them updated on whatever information there is related to fire and disaster preparedness.  


PNRC national office records, Abotanatin said posted 38,000 dengue cases nationwide from January to July this year with 200 deaths. In Sorsogon province, Abotanatin said only nine dengue cases were recorded during the same period.
“Since January to April this year, we had already conducted Ugnayan sa Barangay in 10 barangays out of the 64 total number of barangays in the city. We had already distributed letters to the remaining barangays to inform them of their schedule hoping to conduct the same activity, of course, through the support and cooperation of its officials and residents as well, before the year ends,” he said. (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)


==Protection council holds forum on Managing Children’s Concern==
==Crablet mentality stalks young earners in Sorsogon==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=61403
*Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2012/05/05/crablet-mentality-stalks-young-earners-in-sorsogon/
*Thursday, October 27, 2011
*Saturday, May 5, 2012
:by  Irma A. Guhit
:by  Oliver Samson




BARCELONA — Children in this seaside town brave sun and rain to gather day-old crabs to eke out a living.


SORSOGON CITY, October 27 (PIA) -- Mayor Liecel Seville of Lucena City will share the success story of the Lucena City’s program of the Council for the Protection of Children (CPC), in today’s provincial forum to be held at Paradise Hotel , it being one of those nationally recognized implementer of the Most Child Friendly Municipality for 2011.
At low tide, they gather crablets that sell for 75 centavos to P3 a piece to local buyers in Sorsogon for delivery to Pampanga and other regions where they are processed and sold as a gourmet food.
Her topic 'Building Child Friendly Communities: Sharing of Best Practices' will be one of the highlights of shared knowledge to members of the Sorsogon Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (SPCPC).
The SPCPC is the organizing body of this one day provincial forum on Managing Children’s Concern: Investment for the Future, another Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 activity that brings to the front the theme of “Going Beyond”
Myra Relativo, assistant department head of the Sorsogon Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), focal person for the activity said, that Sorsogon has been also one of those provinces who had been nationally acclaimed as best implementer of the Most Child Friendly Municipalities, Irosin town being the first national winner in this category for two successive years followed by the municipality of Casiguran.
Today’s forum will include the topic of Child Friendly Governance to be shared by Ms Remia Tapispisan, regional director, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development RO V.
Regional Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), ROV, Blandino Maceda will discuss on the topic Strengthening Local Councils for the Protection of Children: Institutionalizing Children’s Program.
The topic on Seeing the Best Interest of the Child: Laws on Children will be explained by Atty. O. Nibungco, Associate Prosecution Attorney, Chief Operating Officer, Regional Anti-Trafficking Task Force.
Meanwhile , Irma S. Valiente, assistant regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ROV will also talk on the topic Philippine Program Against Child Labor Implementation at all LGU Levels.
In the previous meeting of the SPCPC, during its deliberations, these concerns were the pressing issues surfaced by the council that needs to be clarified and to be learned in particular as part of the strengthening and enhancing of the knowledge skills and attitudes of members working in the municipal, city and provincial councils as it will aid them in the fast and easy facilitation of providing interventions for children’s concern.
Expected to attend in this forum are local chief executives, women organization , participants from the academe and in particular the members of the SCPC. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Sorsogon hosts 2011 Regional Cooperative Congress==
Imelda Romanillos, Labor provincial officer, said state policy prohibited child labor.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=61176
*Wednesday, October 26, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


“No person below 15 of age is allowed to work,” she told Manila Standard. “If these minors collect crablets in the seaside only, there is no serious problem. The possible negative effect on children is loss of interest to go to school because they are earning.”


In case the children failed to attend their classes, will the parents face criminal charges?


SORSOGON CITY, October 26 (PIA) -- Sorsogon province hosts and kicks off today the three-day Regional Cooperative Congress at the Sorsogon State College here
“We will go to the place, not to reprimand, but assess the situation to base the safety nets on and offer help,” Romanilos said.
Senator Francis Joseph ”Chiz” G. Escudero will deliver an inspirational message in support to the activity while Congressman Jose R. Ping-ay, Coop-National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) Partylist representative will discuss on the topic , Coop Governance and Ethical Standards.
Provincial Board Member Eric C. Dioneda, chairman of the Sorsogon Provincial Cooperative Development Council said that this activity is an enhancement to the celebration of the Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 particularly to highlight the role of the cooperatives in the development of the nation specifically along the countryside, a fitting tribute to the theme of this year’s festival on the role of the public private partnership or 3 Ps.
Cooperative Development Administrator, Nelon B. Alindogan will deliver the solidarity message, a call for cooperatives to unite and forge a bond to strongly make the cooperative spirit a mainstreamed strategy for both national and local mechanism for development.
Cooperative Development Authority Chairman, Emmanuel M. Santiaguel, Ph.D. will be the keynote speaker in this occasion according to Antonio Dionela, department head of the Sorsogon Provincial Development Cooperative Authority.
Several topics to provide knowledge sharing to the participants will also be discussed like Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation ; Electronic Consumers Rights; CLIMBS, the grassroots insurance and the Philippine Federation of Credit Cooperative (PFCCO) program and services.
On the evening of the 1st day, the presentation of candidates for Ms Cooperative will be conducted before dinner hand in hand with the awarding and recognition of the Most Outstanding Coops, Community Development Cooperatives and Cooperative Development Offices.
To end the evening’s activity will be the canvassing of votes of the Ms Cooperative 2011.
On the second day, participants will be provided with high caliber speakers delving on sessions topics such as Food Supply Chain (Financing and Linkaging) ; Enhancing Financial Intermediation; Local Government Units Coop, Investing in Cooperative Education: A Must!; Government Program on Product Development and Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
The NATCCO programs and Services will be presented by Ms Sylvia O. Paraguya, Chief Executive Officer of NATCCO, while the Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines Programs and Services will be discussed by Mr. Benedicto C. Torres, Area Manager of the CISP.
Mr. Anthony M. Bravo, chairman, Bicol Region Cooperative Development Council will preside the plenary session to give way to the congress’ resolutions while the last topic, International Year of Cooperatives will be explained by CDA Executive Director Orlando R. Ravanera.
A solidarity night on the second day will provide participants the chance to hobnob with each other to be followed by a raffle bonanza.
To take center stage will be the coronation of the Ms Cooperative 2011.
According to Dioneda,and the third day will usher a tour of the city of Sorsogon, the participants to be treated to its scenic and historical spots to include its native delicious dishes. (IAG, PIA SORSOGON)


==Law Enforcement Coordinating Council reconvened in Sorsogon==
Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia, also a lawyer, agreed with the labor office.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=60955
*Tuesday, October 25, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


“There is no violation of the labor law except when parents use coercion and expose the lives of children to danger,” he said.


Darzy Gacosta, a resident, commended the self-supporting kids doing a decent job.


SORSOGON CITY, October 25 (PIA) -– The Police provincial office here has reconvened the Sorsogon Provincial Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (LECC) to synergize anew efforts of agencies in government to ensure unified direction and integration of efforts throughout the country in suppressing criminal activities on a day to day basis, particularly in the operating levels.
“They would rather (work) than steal for food,” she said, noting that a crablet gatherer averaged about 30 pieces in summer and as many as a hundred during the cold months.
Police Senior Superintendent John CA Jambora, Police provincial director of Sorsogon, said the reactivation of the council is pursuant to the Executive Order No. 727 series of 1981 for the implementation of an effective law enforcement functions.
In a conference held here recently, Jambora said that the LECC will be part of the Provincial Peace and Order Council initiatives in the proper coordination and integration for the implementation and enforcement of general and special laws in particular.
The reconvening of the LECC provided the member agencies a reorientation of the authority, mission, functions, organizational relationships, and sub-committee tasks of the LECC.
Jambora furthered that provincial law enforcement council will continuously coordinate with member agencies in the procedures and policies as stipulated within the guidelines to facilitate cooperation and integration of efforts in the suppression of criminal activities.
PNP Sorsogon, according to him, has provided and will regularly provide provincial situationer on the peace and order situation identifying priority areas for coordination particularly in joint law enforcement activities.
The member agencies were also requested to submit to the chairman of the PPOC their respective strategies for consideration that may help in the suppression of criminal acts given the culture and location of the province and other law enforcement facet that could provide facility for easy coordination.
With province’s peace and order situation, member- agencies suggested that every meeting members shall tender a sharing of information for updates on certain policies, issues and concern to better the organizational knowledge of situations in the province so that right recommendations can be provided. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Kasanggayahan Children’s Day highlights storytelling, visual art workshop==
Aldrin, 11, said the fruits of his labor went to good use.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=60774
*Monday, October 24, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


“I can provide my own allowance in school and save part of my earnings for a new pair of pants and T-shirt,” he said. “We are able to help our parents serve enough rice on the table.”


Elementary schools Principal Liza Salonga said work could distort priorities for the young.


SORSOGON CITY, October 24 (PIA) -- Tomas Leonor, advocate for cancer stricken children through his famous one-man walk all over the country, was one of the key storytellers in the Read Along Program for kids here, an advocacy program for literacy awareness through reading of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“It can cause dropping out because if they get used to earning money they will become lazy to attend classes,” she said, adding that a suitable arrangement is needed. “It’s good if they do it only during weekend because they can help their parents.”
With Leonor was Councilor Rosalia Laganzo Enerio from Sorsogon as main story tellers.
The children’s day activity included the Doodle Earth Visual Arts Workshop where children were exposed to the opportunity of creativity using water color and and water soluble paints for mask making, face painting, environmental art and basic painting for kids know-how.
The read-along event formed part of the Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 Children’s Day (KFCD) Visual Arts Fair which held at the Aemilianum Gymnasium here last Saturday, Oct. 22, according to Sorsogon Arts Council spokesperson Joseph John Perez .
Isabel Gile, events coordinator of the KFCD explained that the facilitators in the activity were Sorsoganon Fine Arts students of the University of the Philippines together with the Sorsogon State College architecture students.
Gile said that these students would also like to share their talents to the children to signify the enhancement of visual arts appreciation for children.
Performances from pre-school pupils were also shown while food chain mascots here performed magical tricks for children.
Gile and Perez said that this year’s KFCD will promote the literacy campaign of PDI, Eugenia Duran-Apostol, founder of PDI being a true blue Sorsoganon and would like to make Sorsogon a province that will spearhead this advocacy.
Meanwhile, the Red Roots Artist Cooperative’s Doodle Earth Workshop according to Perez is more on the enhancement of environmental awareness for children expressed through visual art.
Hundreds of children from the province participated in the activity. Parents lauded the organizers while observing the transfer of knowledge the children gained from the fun activities presented. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Bishop condemns ill effects of mining in Sorsogon==
==Bulusan Volcano Alert Level 1 status lowered==
*Source: http://sorsogoncity.wordpress.com/2011/10/23/bishop-condemns-ill-effects-of-mining-in-sorsogon/
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=801336099380
*October 23, 2011
*Friday, May 4, 2012
:by   SONNY SALES
:by (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)




SORSOGON PROVINCE, May 4 (PIA) -- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has finally lowered the alert level status of Mt. Bulusan from Alert level 1 or abnormal to Alert Level 0 or normal. This means that no eruption is foreseen in the immediate future.


SORSOGON CITY (Oct. 21, 2011) – Outspoken Sorsogon bishop, Arturo Bastes told local news group “Media Solutions” how Iron ore mining is slowly destroying the environment in Matnog, Sorsogon, as he also opposed a planned geothermal exploration around Bulusan
Phivolcs Bulusan Volcano Observatory resident volcanologist Crispulo Diolata said that the lowering of the alert level status as stated in Bulusan Volcano Bulletin dated April 24, 2012, was due the overall decline of the monitoring parameters after the volcano’s last phreatic (steam-driven) eruption on May 13, 2011 as supported by the following observations:
volcano that poses risks to communities.


During the “Ecumenical Bishop’s Forum” held in Legazpi City, the effects of mining in the Bicol region was discussed and Bastes dared pro-mining officials in Sorsogon to live with the poor people in the mining areas.
(1) The frequency of volcanic earthquake occurrences has declined to baseline levels (0-2 events/day), indicating quiescence in the magmatic or hydrothermal system. Short-lived swarms (9-21 events/day) on 25 May, 10 August, 11 September and December of 2011, and 22 January of 2012, have been ascribed to crustal readjustments in the volcanic edifice after the May 2011 phreatic eruption.  


The Bishop lamented at the forum that “only the poor are at a disadvantage as the environment is ravaged, while officials who profit from mining are safe in the comforts of their mansions.”
(2) Results of precise leveling at both Inlagadian line on the north-northeastern slope and Mapaso line on the south-southeastern slope indicate that the volcano edifice has deflated since late November 2011. This suggests that no substantial pressure source in the subsurface, which could potentially trigger another eruption, can be detected.  


Bastes added, “the poor have no other choice but to stay in their localities destroyed by mining.”
(3) Steaming activity from the crater and known thermal vents has been frequently weak or wispy compared to the more moderate steam emissions during periods of unrest.  


The Bishop also expressed strong support to the case filed by anti-mining advocates in Sorsogon against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local officials related to the destructive mining ventures in Matnog, Sorsogon, still pending before the sala of executive judge Victor Gella in Sorsogon City.
He also said that the bulletin issued on April 24, 2012 will be the last bulletin to be issued for Bulusan Volcano until new developments in monitoring parameters occur.  


Named respondents in the said case are Environment Sec. Ramon Paje, Sorsogon, Gov. Raul Lee, Mines and Geosciences Bureau Director Reynulfo Juan and officials of the concerned mining firms.
Meanwhile, in the light of the declaration, Diolata still remind the public to avoid entry into the 4-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to the perennial threat of sudden phreatic eruptions and rockfalls on the upper slopes. Furthermore, people living in valleys and along active river channels are cautioned to remain vigilant against sediment-laden streamflows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.  


Bishop Bastes also supports the residents of Barcelona, Bulusan, Irosin, Juban and Casiguran towns in Sorsogon in their opposition to the geothermal exploration that has recently been given a go-ahead by the Department of Energy under Geothermal Resource Energy Service Contract (GRESCO) no. 2010 – 01– 015 granting SKI Construction Group the permit to explore geothermal source at the base of the active volcano.
Ha also said that tourists and mountain climbing enthusiasts are allowed to climb Mt. Bulusan, however, cautioned them to take extra caution against rock falls especially this time that there are barren spots along the mountain’s slope.


The Bishop’s Ecumenical forum questioned the sufficiency of studies of the Department of Energy on the safety of residents at the base of Mt. Bulusan and possible ill of extracting geothermal energy from an active volcano. (SONNY SALES)
==Natural resources office awards 100-ha land for mangrove development==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=801335834792
*Thursday, May 3, 2012
:by  Benilda A. Recebido


==MOA of 350 million loan ratified==
*Source: http://bicoltoday.com/?p=4002
*October 21, 2011, 4:26 pm
:by  Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr


SORSOGON CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- One hundred hectares of tidal mudflat was awarded by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here to the Seaweed Grower and Aquaculture Association of Sorsogon, Inc. (SEAGRASS) in Brgy. Gimaloto, Sorsogon City.


The SEAGRASS, a people’s organization composed of fisher folks and farmers in Brgy Gimaloto, West District, in this city, was chosen by the CENRO in coordination with the Sorsogon City Agriculture Office as beneficiary in line with the National Greening Program being implemented by the national government.


SORSOGON CITY (Oct. 21, 2011/BicolToday.com) – The Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Sorsogon today in a special session called for the purpose, ratified unanimously the Memorandum of Agreement entered with the Land Bank of the Philippines and LGU Sorsogon Province the 350 million loan the province will use for infrastructure and other omnibus projects which according to the remarks of Board Member Angelo Escandor will fast track economic development of the province. In less than 30 minutes the measure as requested through a letter by Governor Lee to Vice-Governor Antonio Escudero, Jr. was approved.
According to SEAGRASS president Redentor Lasay, the 100 ha. mudflat is currently dominated by mangrove species like bakawan, pagatpat, miyapi, lapis-lapis, and nipa, among others.  
The ratified loan agreement is in two tranche, 100 million for term loan financing the road opening, rehabilitation of farm to market roads, rechanneling and construction of river control and bank protection walls and 250 million for omnibus term loan fund (OTLF) meaning all other special funding projects that are included in the annual investment plan of the province can be source out from the fund.
In the OTLF 50 million was earmarked for tourism promotion. Documents circulated to the members of the board prior to the MOA signing in LBP, Legaspi City, revealed that the first district funding is 111,900 million and the second district will receive 188,100 million worth of projects. This document bear the marginal note of the governor, it reads; “final, subject to change if need arises.” signed by him.
The ratification signals the preparation of a board resolution and subsequent appropriation ordinance detailing the project and its cost to be submitted to LBP to perfect the agreement. The lone oppositor , Member Vladimir Frivaldo was absent, instead he circulated a letter opposing the ratification of the MOA addressed to Vice-Governor Escudero, Jr. which was property noted after the motion to approve the agreement was done. In attendance are Members Hao, Ravanilla, Maraña, Rodrigueza, Perete, Frivaldo F. Duran, Aquino, Doma, Dioneda and Escandor, all known political allies of the governor.
The term loan 13 for 100 million mode of payment is 10 years with 1 year grace period, the principal payment will be in 108 equal monthly amortization at the prevailing prime rate at the time of availment. Its mode of release per project is 15% of the approved amount upon execution of the loan documents and compliance with pre-release requirements, then succeeding release s is based on percentage of completion. The final release is at 10% of the approved amount after 100 percent completion of the project. In the package it is allowed to change or substitute of submitted, approved projects subjects to conditions of LBP. The loan is available to province within 1 year from the date of execution of the loan agreement.
The Omnibus Term Loan Fund of 250 million mode of payment is up to 15 years maximum if funded under special financing, if internally funded up to 10years. It carries the banks prevailing prime rate at the time of availment or applicable special financing rate, its availability is three years from date of approval with a colatilla that at least one project is started within the first year of approval.
When reached for comment Board Member Vladimir Frivaldo said that never in the records of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan that Gobvernor Lee requested the Body for review the evaluation made by the Land Bank of the Philippines of the proposed 350 million loan of Sorsogon province, per certification of Otilla Marifosque, Records Officer III which was duly noted by William Delgado, SP Secretary. He was questioning the manner why such relevant documents were not accorded to the members of the legislative board and why if attachment were submitted to LBP such attachments are not made available to the members for a thorough evaluation.
In his information, the program of works, name of projects and other details were submitted to LBP and its only him among the members who is interested in finding out the final listings of projects attached to the loan package. He lamented the indifference of certain provincial engineering personnel whom he did not identified for they are so beholden to the governor for their extra income and promotion. BicolToday.com


==VP Binay inaugurates typhoon-resistant housing units in Sorsogon==
“As per the initial agreement, the SEAGRASS will serve as the steward of the site for mangrove development for 25 years starting on signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Inclusive of the agreement is for the SEAGRASS to protect and develop, as well as, benefit from the said area. Members will be allowed to harvest pruned branches of mangroves and nipa shingles as well as aquasilvi culture yields, under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),” Lasay explained.  
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=380588
*October 20, 2011, 4:26 pm
:by Danny O. Calleja


CENR Officer Krisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez said the MOA is underway and will immediately be signed upon compliance of the prescribed requirements by the concerned parties.


She also added that this week, BFAR, in coordination with CENRO will conduct assessment and survey of the said mangrove project to determine the type of mangrove species suitable to the 50 ha. out of the awarded 100 ha. mudflat.


SORSOGON CITY, Oct. 20 (PNA) – Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr. on Wednesday led the inauguration ceremonies for the typhoon-resistant housing units built by the city government for homeless indigent families in a calamity-vulnerable village here.
Propagules to be planted in the site will be bought directly from the SEAGRASS members, and the growing of mangroves will be monitored and taken good care of by the members for the span of six months as per the agreement.  


The housing project is located in Barangay Talisay, one of the city’s villages that usually suffer severe impacts of typhoons and storm surge due to its proximity to Sorsogon Bay.
City Agriculturist Adeline Detera said the City Agriculture Office is set to establish a one-hectare Mangro-vetum, a mangrove propagule nursery in Barangay Gimaloto for sustainability of the mangrove project and to showcase at the same time a rare package of mangrove species both for tourism and educational enhancement.  


City Mayor Leovic Dioneda said the housing units inaugurated will also be replicated in other barangays here that are also considered highly vulnerable to natural calamities.
Meanwhile, SEAGRASS is currently a beneficiary of aquasilvi culture project grant of BFAR which includes seaweed farming and green mussel (tahong) production which is soon to harvest anytime in May this year; the project amounted to P150,000.  


His coming to the city, according to Binay, was part of his role as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) that implements and oversees the government's housing thrust in line with the standards being instituted under its climate change mitigation and adaptation (CCMA) mechanisms across the country.
Aside from this, BFAR has also established “hilay," a fish-breeding and shelter area which, at the same time, serve as protection against trawl and dynamite fishing and any other form of illegal fishing activities.  


“I also wanted to experience for myself the merrymakings of the Sorsogueños as they celebrate Kasanggayahan Festival being held this year in time with the 117th founding anniversary of the province,” said the Vice President who was welcomed by thousands of people including school children who lined up the city’s main street on his arrival Wednesday afternoon.
SEAGRASS was also granted by BFAR with 6.5 horse power motorized banca and a nipa hut for the convenience and smooth management of the members of the organization. (BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)


The children waved colorful flags while chanting “NoyBi” the campaign slogan coined by political campaigners in the 2010 presidential elections that supported then senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for president and Binay for vice-president. The two ran under separate political camps and voters here gave them overwhelming approvals over their respective rivals.
==Aquino inaugurates state-of-the-art Doppler radar station in Virac==
*Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/nation/26625-aquino-inaugurates-state-of-the-art-doppler-radar-station-in-virac
*Wednesday, May 2, 2012
:by MIA M. GONZALEZ / REPORTER


After the inauguration rites, Binay was ushered by Dioneda to the five School Mitigating, Adapting and Resilient to Typhoons (SMART) school buildings, water treatment facility and several other housing units newly constructed by the city government through funding provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).


The Vice President also met with other local chief executives in the province with whom he discussed concerns on instituting quality housing provisions for those who are usually affected by severe weather disturbances, identify relocation areas and provide housing that can withstand adverse effects of the change in weather conditions.
BATO, Catanduanes—President Aquino on Wednesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Doppler radar station of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in this typhoon-prone province, which will help improve government response to potential disasters.


Important issues that include comprehensive land use plan, inventory of lands, housing regulation and land use planning, national drive against professional squatters and squatting syndicates, group housing loan program, community mortgage program and disposition of acquired assets, were also discussed.
The Virac Doppler Radar is under the P174-billion project for the improvement of the meteorological radar system in the Philippines funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), with two more to be set up in Aparri, Cagayan, in October and in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, next year.


Binay stayed overnight in the city and early in the morning of Thursday, he joined hundreds of runners in the five-kilometer Kasanggayahan Fun Run organized by his Bicol-based fraternity brothers in the Alpha Phi Omega.
The project seeks to effectively mitigate the devastation caused by tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena, and enhance the capability of Pagasa in monitoring tropical cyclones monitoring, especially those coming from the Pacific Ocean to protecting lives and property.


The Vice President’s two-day stay here was part of the Bicol leg of the Pabahay Caravan, the second to the last of the series of forum in all 17 regions in the country to hasten the shelter program of the government in partnership with local government units (LGUs) being initiated by the HUDCC.
“This will give us more information and will help us predict more accurately the direction, the impact and the intensity of weather disturbances approaching our country. This means that we’ll be better prepared—that fewer Filipinos will be victimized by the vagaries of weather,” the President said in his speech.


HUDCC regional director for Bicol Cristina Abaño said that the Pabahay Caravan launches the granting of financial support to LGUs so that they will be able to implement their own housing projects. Under Republic Act 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, LGUs have important roles in pursuing housing programs for their constituents.
Mr. Aquino said that with the new system in place, the public can be assured that the government “is readier than ever to respond to these threats, and to help our people recover from potential damages.”


Abaño said that the Pabahay Caravan is expected to ease the housing backlog in Bicol which is about 46,000 per year. Based on the HUDCC inventory, the housing backlog in the country is estimated to 3.7 million units. (PNA)
Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the new facility “is the most vital and strategic Doppler radar installation facility” as it faces the Pacific Ocean.  “We made a rough estimate—95 percent of all typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean can be seen here. This can cover the whole Bicol region, including Masbate and parts of Samar,” Montejo said.
LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd/


==VP Binay inaugurates Sorsogon City housing units; to join Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 Fun Run tomorrow==
He noted that the Doppler radar station in Virac has a 95-percent accuracy, based on tests that his department conducted.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=59985
*Wednesday, October 19, 2011
:by  Irma A. Guhit


“This will really give advance information for Bicol region and also give advance information for Metro Manila,” he said.


Montejo said on Tuesday afternoon, the Virac Doppler Radar indicated rainfall in Guiuan to measure 37 millimeters in three hours, which was the exact same measurement shown by the rain gauge in that town, and that two other tests conducted in Legazpi City and Sorsogon showed the same level of accuracy.


SORSOGON CITY ,October 19 (PIA) -- Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, Sr. will be the guest of honor in the inauguration of several housing units in Barangay Talisay, here in Sorsogon City today upon his arrival , this is in line with the celebration of this year's Kasanggayahan Festival (KF) 2011 with the theme : Going Beyond and an inspiration to local chief executives to go beyond in rendering service to the people, especially on the issue of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (CCMA)." Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda said in a briefing to the city officials and employees yesterday.
The Philippines has seven other Doppler radars that were funded by the national government.
The Vice President's presence here is part of his role as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)
to implement and oversee the government's thrust to coordinate activities of government housing agencies specially in line with the standards to be instituted as a CCMA mechanisms across the country according to Dioneda.
In a press statement this morning, he said that as the local chief executive of the the city of Sorsogon he has seen the need to seek for the assistance and support of the vice president, he being appointed as the Housing Czar by no less than President Aquino and that the thrusts of the city government is to make their housing units more resistant to the adverse effects of bad weather conditions and at the same time serve as housing models for CCAM.
It can be recalled that Barangay Talisay is one of the areas usually severely affected during typhoons and storm surge aside from several other barangays here due to its proximity to Sorsogon Bay.
Mayor Dioneda said that the housing units to be inaugurated in barangay Talisay will also be replicated in other barangays here also considered highly vulnerable to natural calamities.
During today's visit, the vice president is also expected to inspect the five school mitigating, adapting and resilient to typhoons (SMART) here in the city , a project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Water Treatment Facility and several housing units initiated by other local governments in the province.
VP Binay will also meet with other local chief executives here whose areas are usually affected by natural calamities and to discuss some concerns regarding ways to institute a quality housing provisions for those who are usually affected by severe weather disturbance, identify relocation areas and provide housing that can withstand such adverse effects of the change in weather conditions.
Mayor Dioneda also said that he will be visiting the "All Weather Station" of the city that has been installed to help in the 24 hour monitoring activity of the weather condition here and a mitigating measure in creating a resilient community.
The vice president will also meet with other agencies that work in disaster management to discuss concerns how to improve the housing situation in the province become a CCMA houses.
His presence today and tomorrow will be an added attraction also to the celebration of the KF 2011 as he will spearhead tomorrow's fun run as organized by his fraternity brothers in the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Little-known college tops engineering exams==
He said that with the type of sophisticated Doppler radar in use, the government can see, in real time, the rainfall in the covered area, and would help the Department of Science and Technology fulfill the President’s directive of giving flood forecasts at least six hours in advance, especially in places along major river systems all over the country.
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/77375/little-known-college-tops-engineering-exams
*1:55 am | Monday, October 17th, 2011
:by  Juan Escandor Jr.


“It will help eliminate the element of surprise because we would know for sure where the rainfall is,” Montejo said.


The President thanked the Japanese government and Jica for supporting the country’s disaster-mitigation efforts, and committed that the Philippines “will always be ready to do what it can to return your kindness.”


SORSOGON CITY—Wanting in laboratory facilities but blessed with dedicated teachers, a little-known state college here has proven it can equal the finest engineering schools in the country. Its recent graduates have topped successive engineering board exams.
Motohiko Kato, deputy chief of mission and consul general of the Japanese Embassy, said that Japan, like the Philippines, has suffered from natural disasters “so as an important neighbor to each other, we decided to construct this facility so the Filipino people can prevent the occurrence of such disasters to this country.”
Sorsogon State College (SSC), some 500 kilometers south of Manila, has produced the likes of Joseph Cyril R. Gredoña and Daniel E. Forteza, who ranked first and second, respectively, in the mechanical engineering board exams last month.
Gredoña—a son of a tricycle driver—garnered a grade of 92.70 percent, while Forteza—a son of a farmer/fisherman—got 92.65 percent in the exams.
In April, another SSC graduate and a son of a shellfish vendor, Jhonrey Aguirre, topped the electrical engineering board exams with a grade of 89.65 percent. A college mate, Leandro Salamatin placed 10th with a grade of 87.05 percent.
SSC first made its mark among engineering schools in 2006 when its graduate, Emmanuel Liwag, placed eighth in the electrical engineering board exams.
One of the oldest trade schools in the country, SSC became a state college in December 1993 with three national vocational high schools in the province integrated to it.
“We don’t have Ph.D.s in our faculty, which we still dream of until now. But we could say our instructors are good teachers while we see a high number of students with talents,” says Felino S. Jasmin, SSC director of branding and communications.
He says most of the college instructors have at least 20 years of teaching experience.
Jasmin points out that the school’s performance is measured by its passing rate in board exams, which must not go below the national passing rate.
Against the national passing rate of 62 percent, SSC’s feat in the mechanical engineering board exams has become more meaningful because of the school’s 79 percent passing rate. Nineteen out of its 24 mechanical engineering graduates last school year passed the board exam.
P150 per unit
He says SSC only charges P150 per unit and a student here needs at least P5,000 for one semester.
The state college received a budget of P93.64 million from the national government in 2010 while the fees collected from 8,570 students totaled P44 million.
Jasmin says 260 personnel are paid from the budget given by the national government, while 147 personnel are subsidized by the income SSC derives from the fees it collects.
Noel Benavides, program chair of the engineering and architecture department, says SSC is still wanting in laboratory facilities, which are shared by 40 to 45 students in every class session.
He says the ideal class size in a laboratory is 25 to 30 students but the students have to make do with what they have.
This limitation, however, did not prevent the students from delivering very satisfactory performance in the board exams.
Jasmin says SSC caters to students from low-income groups whose parents cannot send their children to universities outside of Sorsogon, like Legazpi City, Naga City or Metro Manila.
Although SSC charges the lowest rate compared with those collected by other engineering schools, many students still have difficulty paying tuition and other fees.
Jasmin cites Gredoña and Aguirre who both struggled hard financially before topping the mechanical and electrical engineering board exams, respectively.
From Aroroy, Juban
The eldest among six siblings, Gredoña hails from the far-flung village of Aroroy in Juban, Sorsogon.
His parents were able to ask a landowner in Sorsogon City to allow them to build a small house in the city while Gredoña was in college.
Gredoña recalls that when he was in elementary school, he walked 2 kilometers to reach the school from their house.
Forteza, who placed second to Gredoña, also comes from a low-income family. His father, the only breadwinner, makes a living from farming and fishing in the village of Macabari in Barcelona town.
He was a consistent honor student from elementary to high school and found the questions in the board exams familiar. Still, he was surprised he made it to the top two.
Forteza says he hopes that his achievement will be a life-changing experience for his family, especially since a big company has offered him a job.


==Water district to supply water 24/7 beginning October 15==
An improved meteorological radar system in the Philippines would enable Pagasa  to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of severe weather phenomena and associated hazards such as intense rainfall, destructive winds, and transmit these information on real-time, and processed/ analyzed more efficiently, the project briefer said.
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=59264
*Friday, October 14, 2011
:by PIA Press Release


It would also allow Pagasa to detect localized severe systems such as thunderstorms and tornadoes affecting the Bicol region, and heavy rainfall event vital for flood and landslide monitoring and warning system.


The President also switched on the Solong and Hitoma 1 mini-hydropower plants, which will augment power supply in Catanduanes.


The mini-hydroplants are the first to be developed by Sunwest Water and Electricity Inc. (Suweco) in the small island grids covered by the Special Power Utilities Group (Spug) of the National Power Corporation.


SORSOGON CITY, October 14 (PIA/SCWD) -- Locales in this city have something to smile about and enjoy before the semestral vacation and Christmas season.
Suweco president Elizaldy Co said his company spent P540 million to construct the plants, and that it will invest another P500 for expansion plans, “to complete the needs of Catanduanes of another three megaWatts.
Truthful to its commitment to provide 24-hour water supply for consumers, Sorsogon City Water District (SCWD) will begin round–the-clock water production operation starting October 15 this year.
The directive was issued in a Memorandum dated October 10, 2011 by Engr. Ronaldo G. Barboño, SCWD general manager to Engr. Jonathan G. Fortades, Production Division head to schedule the said 24-hour water supply operation this coming Sunday to promote good water quality and services for the consuming public.
Prior to the memorandum, a meeting with the Division Heads was held to know the status of the District’s operations especially along the intensive leak detection and repair, pipeline replacements and water meter replacements in some areas.
Three months after the 24-hour water production test-run last June this year, it has been reported that old and deteriorating pipelines have already been replaced in Barangay Sirangan and in the Subdivisions of Pang-Pang and BLISS Macabog. Water meter replacement is almost complete in Sea-brezee Homes Subdivision in Cabid-An. These identified areas showed a remarkable drop in water usage as reflected in the billed water data during the said test-run.
Leak detection and repair has been made more intensive with the commissioning of a team headed by a newly-hired engineer. And this will be made more effective with the use of high-end leak detection equipment with its procurement now already in process.
These updates and the installation of a variable frequency drive (VFD) in Bibincahan Pumping Station are just good reasons to finally go into a 24-hour water supply operation. The Bibincahan Pumping station is the fourth pumping facility to be installed with a VFD this year.
Meanwhile, Fortades stated that water production will be to the fullest, from 18 hours to 24 hours operation. He further added that aside from the continuous supply of water, added benefits are quality water with sand pumping minimized, air gush when water supply resumes eliminated and possible intrusion of water contaminants prevented.
As the prayer of Sorsogueños is answered for the need of water with the round-the clock water supply, the District also hopes that its maximum production shall also be put into good use while the wet season has not yet left the region. (MAL/MJumamil, SCWD)


==Volatile condition of Mt. Bulusan baffles Phivolcs==
In Photo: President Aquino converses with Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of the lone district of the province after he inaugurated the Solong and Hitoma 1 Hydroelectric Power Plants and the Pagasa new radar tower station in Barangay Buenavista, Bato, Catanduanes. The Solong and Hitoma mini-hydro plants are the first-ever to be developed by a private entity—Sunwest Water and Electricity Inc.—in the small island grids covered by the Special Power Utilities Group of the National Power Corp. Pagasa’s new Doppler radar station is expected to mitigate impacts of devastating typhoons in the country. (Jay Morales Malacañang Photo Bureau)
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=378807
*October 12, 2011, 10:30 pm
:by Danny O. Calleja


==Albay governor to seek reelection==
*Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/26553-albay-governor-to-seek-reelection
*Tuesday, May 1, 2012
:by MANLY M. UGALDE 




LEGAZPI CITY – Amid speculations that he will abandon the Capitol and seek a Senate seat in next year’s election, Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said he would seek reelection to complete his three terms in office as governor of Albay province.
The announcement was made following the playing of the governor’s jingles on local air lanes.


SORSOGON CITY, Oct. 12 (PNA) -– Volcanology experts are studying deeper the condition of Mt. Bulusan as local watchdogs are baffled by its unusual attitude that has become extremely unpredictable.
Salceda said he was inclined to run for a Senate post but frankly said he will not win in the 2013 senatorial election, citing the number of Bicolanos identified as candidates.


Crispulo Diolata, resident volcanologist of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) based at the Mt. Bulusan Observatory in Barangay Cabid-an here, said the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is fielding a team of experts to conduct more in-depth studies to determine “what really this active volcano wants to prove”.
He counted Justice Sec. Leila de Lima of Iriga City and former Sen. Migz Zubiri whose mother is from Libon, Albay. Salceda said three incumbent senators are also running for reelection such as Chiz Escudero of Sorsogon, Antonio Trillanes of Albay and Peter Alan Cayetano whose wife Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni L. Cayetano, is also from Tiwi, Albay.


For the meantime, Diolata said they are maintaining alert level number one over the volcano based on the steaming activities being exhibited by at least two of its seven craters located at its northwestern shoulder fronting this city and the municipalities of Casiguran, Juban and Magallanes. Low and high frequency volcanic tremors are also being constantly monitored.
“With six Bicolanos identified as running in the Senate including me, I am certain I may not have the space to win. The five names for the Senate posts are no joking bets,” Salceda said.  He added he needs to seek reelection to finish his many projects, among them the Southern Luzon International Airport located in Daraga town which President Aquino had given the go signal to proceed after 18 months of review.


The alert level means that the volcano remains restive and may erupt anytime although major explosions are not likely to take place given the “non-explosive” character of Mt. Bulusan based on its past eruptions, the first one in 1885, he said.
Tourism Sec. Ramon Jimenez said the Southern Luzon Airport project should be completed by 2014, saying it has ready funding.


Nonetheless, Diolata said, under alert level one, human activities are being forbidden within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone (PDZ) as sudden intense activities dangerous to life may occur.
“You need an airport 24/7 to cater to the expected big influx of both foreign and local tourists,” Jimenez told local reporters during his recent visit in Legazpi City.


Mt. Bulusan, which has an elevation of 5,135 feet above sea level, last erupted in May 13 this year. Residents near its foot described the eruption as thunderous rumbling sounds accompanied by a massive discharge of volcanic ash that reached as high as five kilometers.
Local officials are queuing as to who would dare fight Salceda for governorship. Speculations in the political circle showed no name for the governorship has cropped up yet to fit against Salceda who may end up running unopposed.


Heavily affected by the ash fall were 12 barangays in the municipalities of Irosin, Juban and Casiguran, all located within the northwest quadrant of the volcano where 10 high frequency volcanic quakes were also felt before the explosion, Phivolcs records show.
==Villar still the 'richest' senator==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=802246&publicationSubCategoryId=200
*Monday, April 30, 2012
:by Christina Mendez


Diolata said it was a phreatic type of eruption, the 12th of the same type since the volcano was declared abnormal following observations of severe volcanic activities over five years ago.


The Phivolcs declared alert level one on March 19, 2006 after it recorded increased seismic unrest that was followed by an explosion in June 8 of the same year. This prompted volcanologists to raise alert level two which means the volcano has erupted although major eruptions of vulcanian or any other explosive types were ruled out to be imminent.
MANILA, Philippines - Senator Manny Villar Jr. and wife, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar seemed to have retained their hold onto their titles as the richest among the country’s legislators.


Another eruption took place on April 8, 2007 and on the morning of July 31, a loud explosion described by local residents as bomb-like rocked the volcano. Six months later, on October 4, two episodes of ash explosions followed and after that, series of ash emissions accompanied by mild explosions were recorded until November that year.
Villar’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2011 showed that his and his wife's combined net worth was P854,213,716.


After months of less significant activities, the volcano suddenly erupted last February and sent a plume of ash two kilometers high. Volcanologists said that eruption was triggered by the reaction of hot magma with water brought about by a heavy downpour. A lull again occurred until May 13.
A comparison of Villar’s SALN in 2010 showed that his assets increased from P 725,221,964 to 2011’s P 854,213,716. In 2009, Villar’s assets were higher at P 947,883,619.


Most of the 12 eruptions that took place within the span of more than five years came in near surprise as signs could hardly be monitored or would appear very close to the major activities giving the Phivolcs very limited time to issue warnings. Each eruption occurred after lulls in significant activities lasting within an average of four months.
As in their previous SALN, the Villar couple listed business interests in Fine Properties, Inc., M.B. Villar Co, Inc., Macys Inc, Mooncrest Property, Hollinger Holdings, and the latest one acquired in 2011, which is the Manuela Corporation. The Villars are involved in the real estate business, which vast companies include the Vista Land residences.


Diolata said the present condition of Mt. Bulusan is considered the longest running period of abnormality in its recorded history or that of any other active volcanoes in the country and this is the matter that makes it very unpredictable this time.
Meanwhile, the SALNs of all 23 senators, who are sitting as judges in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, remained scarce at the Senate as of Monday, the deadline imposed by the Civil Service Commission for the submission of the document. Corona is facing impeachment for three articles, among these is his alleged failure to truthfully declare some of his alleged properties and dollar accounts in his previous SALNs.


Bulusan is generally known for its sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions and considered as the fourth most active volcano in the Philippines after Mayon, Taal, and Kanlaon.
Some members of the Senate media tried to ask certified true copies of the 2011 SALN of all THE senators, but a staff member at the Office of the Senate Secretary said they WEre still collating all the submitted documents, and the release of documents will likely be made within 15 days.


Mt. Mayon in Albay, its neighbor separated by only about 70 kilometers does not have the same attitude as well as Taal or Kanlaon and even Mt. Pinatubo as all of these, when calm really rest and when restive, really act up intensely, he explained.
As of press time, four senators have been transparent about their SALN. They include Villar, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Escudero.


The experts coming to conduct the in-depth study would perhaps find out how Mt. Bulusan gathers pressure to suddenly stage short-duration eruptions within the average of only four months lull or why it cannot arrive at a normal condition within the span of more than five years unlike its past that took it decades to regain restiveness following eruptions, Diolata said. (PNA)
In Villar’s SALN, he listed at least six residential houses acquired from various dates mostly in Las Piñas City. The couple listed purchase as mode of acquisition. They also placed both the assessed and fair market values of the properties which totaled to P4.588.619.
DCT/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd


==Oragon cops' recognized during Sorsogon's Kasanggayahan Festival==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=378449
*October 11, 2011, 7:45 pm
:by Danny O. Calleja


The Villar power couple also listed investments in shares of stocks amounting to P 219,228,941 and other real and personal properties pegged at P 630,396,156 or a total of P 849,625.097 in personal and other properties.


SORSOGON CITY, Oct 11 (PNA) – “Oragon” is a Bicolano idiom that is used to describe a person as smart or exceptionally good and this was tagged on eight members of the local police force during the province’s 117th founding anniversary being celebrated through the ongoing Kasanggayahan Festival at the provincial capital here.
The Villars did not have any liabilities as reflected in the 2011 SALN. Their two relatives are in the public office: Villars’ son, Rep. Mark Villar, and Mayor Vergel Aguilar, the senator’s brother-in-law.


The eight non-commission police officers were awarded the tag “Oragon na Pulis kan Sorsogon (Outstanding Policemen of Sorsogon)” for making a difference in carrying out their duties and responsibilities, according to Msgr. Francisco Monje, the executive officer of the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc. (KFI) that spearheaded the awards.
Meanwhile, initial figures from Sen. Pia Cayetano’s staff showed that her assets decreased at to P72,058,846.58 in 2011 from P76,775,628.71 in 2010.


Monje said all the about 500 other policemen and women assigned in the province were qualified candidates for the awards but the eight bested them all to become the first Oragon na Pulis awardees after they were chosen from 13 finalists.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson also filed his SALN with a total net worth of P22,637,612.46 for 2011. His net worth in 2010 was pegged at P 24.729-million, indicating a dip in his 2011’s net worth.


Monje identified the awardees as PO1 Arlinnette Ocampo, SPO2 Edgar Calupit, PO2 Arnold Estrellado, PO2 Darwin Villanueva, PO1 Virgil Bibat, SPO2 Restituto Lorejo, SPO1 Arnel Doloiras and PO2 Jerson Giba.
The former police chief’s assets include a lot acquired in 1989 in Silang, Cavite with current fair market value of P 800,000 and building acquisition cost at P 160,000. Lacson has placed the amount of P 23,208,028.71 under cash on hand/bank; P 3.5-million in jewelry; P 1.2-million in furniture and antiques; stocks and investments, P 9,217,500; motor vehicles, P 1.5-million and assorted firearms at P 800,000.


The awarding ceremonies were held over the weekend during the opening of the two-week long celebration of the province’s foundation day that falls on October 17.
Lacson’s liabilities include an income tax payable at P 1,597,916.25; and P 15-million in loans. There is a note in the SALN, saying that the senator was a co-borrower/guarantor for Megastar Realty on a bank loan of P 100-million.


Starting this year, Monje said the search will become a yearly undertaking to become an important part of the Foundation Day and Kasanggayahan Festival celebrations aimed at recognizing exemplary achievements and accomplishment of Sorsoganons in their respective fields of endeavor.
Chiz confirms 'separation' in SALN


On October 18, other Sorsogueños who have excelled in business, education, agriculture, medicine and other fields here and anywhere in the country and abroad will also be added to the hall of fame of “oragons”.
Sen. Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero’s total net worth was pegged at P 9,867,082.09. He listed two residential units in New Manila, Quezon City which were acquired in 2005 and 2008, respectively. The first one had an assessed value of P570,860 and current market value of P1,631,030; while the second unit was pegged at an assessed value of P431,960 and a current fair market value of P1,234,180.


In his keynote message during the awarding rites, Rep. Salvador Escudero III of the province’s first congressional district, cited the affair as a “fitting gesture for us people here in Sorsogon to show to the whole nation and to the world that we can perform well in our way of life and become role models for the next generations”.
The two units had acquisition values of P3.6 million, and P3 million.


He also lauded the organizers for coming up with the idea of honoring public servants who did well in their fields as he cited the importance of the founding anniversary and the Kasanggayahan Festival to be a venue for honoring outstanding Sorsogueños. Sorsogon became a province following its separation from Albay on October 17, 1894.
Escudero listed P 1.2-million in cash assets; jewelry acquired from 1979 to 2000 now totaling to P 1.37-million, Partnership Int. worth P 213,441.29; and three cars acquired in 2011.


Kasanggayahan which means a life of prosperity is the province's biggest festival listed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as one of the Philippine’s annual celebration characterized by series of religious, cultural, historical, economic and agro-industrial activities geared towards showcasing its abundant year-round harvest.
The vehicles include a 1995 Range Rover Classic worth P 1 million; 1969 BMW worth P333,640.80; and a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser worth P650,000.


The highlights of the festival include Pantomina sa Tinampo that gathers together numerous dancers in colorful native attires from all over the province to perform around major streets here the traditional dance called pantomina that mimic the love and courtship of doves.
All accounts for Escudero’s total assets at P11,367,08.09 while he has a personal loan amounting to P 1.5 million.


The dance was originally called the “sinalampati” but the Spanish colonizers changed it to its present name as the dancers were actually pantomiming the doves’ movements. It is usually danced during occasions like wedding receptions, fiestas and even ordinary social gatherings in almost all barangays in the province.
Escudero also made known his business interest with EMSA VVIL Law since 1994.


The first Kasanggayahan Festival was held in 1974, the 80th foundation anniversary of the province upon the initiative of then governor Juan Frivaldo. (PNA)
The senator also listed six relatives in government service, including his father, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III; and his paternal uncles, Sorsogon Vice Gov. Antontio Escudero Jr, Casiguran vice mayor Ramon Escudero, Casiguran councilors Rico Hatoc and Dennis Escudero; and a cousin, Krunimar Escudero, a legal officer.
LAP/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd


==PAMANA allots P30M to finance peace-building projects in Sorsogon==
In his two-page SALN, Escudero confirmed his separation with his wife, Cristine, when he filed yesterday SALN before the Office of the Senate Secretary. Escudero indicated that he and his estranged wife, Cristine, with whom he had twins, are already “separated-in-fact”.
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=378244
*October 10, 2011, 4:39 pm
:by Danny O. Calleja


'Poorest' senator


SORSOGON CITY, Oct. 10 (PNA) – The government has earmarked an amount of P30 million as start up fund to finance peace-building projects in seven municipalities of Sorsogon province identified as among the focus areas of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA), a peace and development framework program of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.
Meanwhile, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s net worth for 2011 showed a bit of increase compared to 2010. Trillanes pegged his total net worth at P3,897,121.50.


Placed under the stewardship of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), PAMANA, which underscores the resilient communities program is one of the two tracks of the administration in pursuit of a just and lasting peace, the first being the negotiated political settlement of all armed conflicts through formal peace talks.
Dubbed as the “poorest” among the senators last year, Trillanes listed three properties including a 240 square meter residential lot in Gen. Trias, Cavite; a 308-meter residential lot in Antipolo City and a 60 square meter residential condominium with a parking lot in Paranaque City. In all the three properties, Trillanes listed both the assessed and fair market values as well as acquisition costs which equates to P 5.092-million in his real property assets.


The second and equally important track to peace, seeks to close the gap between what happens on the negotiating table and the realities on the ground as it also serves as a guide for national and local government agencies, international donors and non-government organizations in providing various interventions to address conditions that create unpeace.
A total of P 4.780-million was reflected in Trillanes’ personal property and other assets which include cash on hand/bank accounts including AFPSLAI, PNSLAI and PAFCPIC at P 1.520-million; jewelry, furniture and antiques etc at P475,000; investments (private insurance and premium PD) at P220,000; a Kia Rio and Toyota Grandia, both acquired through loans in 2011. The two vehicles had acquisition costs of P 675,000 and P 1.89-million respectively.


It is being piloted in the province where the Sorsogon PAMANA Convergence Unit (SPCU) has been created to carry out peace building projects focused on the development of conflict-affected areas.
Trillanes filed his SALN on March 20 this year, way ahead the April 30 deadline.


Under the SPCU, OPAPP has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the province of Sorsogon and its seven municipalities for the release of funds for the projects to be implemented by the local government units (LGUs) of Casiguran, Juban, Irosin, Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Magallanes and Barcelona until December 2011.
Trillanes, former renegade soldier turned senator also listed a total of P 6,784,878.50 in liabilities, which include two housing loans and two car loans.


The SPCU will ensure that government line agencies in environment, agriculture, agrarian reform, social welfare and development, peace and security agencies and communication will effectively contribute their services and funds focusing on the peace building initiatives of government, address poverty reduction and manifest development in areas affected by conflict.
He acquired a P1,753,696.01 housing loan with Pag-ibig Fund, and another one with the Bank of the Philippine Islands at P2,574,049.49. The two car loans with PS Bank were pegged at P 2,457,133.


While the bane to peace and development being borne by insurgency has been waning in most part of Bicol, Sorsogon, one of the country’s underdeveloped provinces until these days is constantly being disturbed by atrocities arising from the presence of the communist’s New People’s Army (NPA) insurgents, according to OPAPP coordinator Aileen Jose.
In his 2010 SALN, Trillanes listed assets totaling P3.836 million, which included a 120-square meter residential lot in General Trias, Cavite; a 308-square meter lot in Antipolo; and a residential condominium in Parañaque worth P3 million. He had P3.880 million in loans as liabilities.


OPAPP has allocated a P30-million fund for 2011 and another P30 million for next year to the same municipalities to develop the barangays identified to be needing infrastructure, livelihood programs and peace development, Jose said here over the weekend.


The need to communicate these initiatives of government for the awareness of the constituency, according to Jose should be highlighted and well-articulated as the primary tool to build the culture of peace and development in communities that are resilient against the anti-government whims of the NPAs.


To build resilient communities in Sorsogon, PAMANA, Jose said is also focusing on empowering households and communities to include delivery of basic services at the community level through conditional cash transfer approaches, community driven reconstruction and development and community livelihood interventions.


Casiguran Mayor Ester Hamor said the P3-million PAMANA fund allocated for her municipality will be used in the improvement of the one-kilometer farm-to-market road covering four far-flung barangays considered as “critical areas”.


The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will assist the LGU in the implementation of the project that will provide a convenient access for villagers in the four villages in transporting their farm products to the market, Hamor said.


The municipality of Irosin which is given P4.5 million will spend the fund for the establishment of an eco-tourism center costing P2 million and the concreting of a vital barangay road for P2.5 million.


Magallanes town will use the P5 million PAMANA allocation for the improvement of the Parola Beach, Bucal-Bucalan Spring, Sta. Lourdes Grotto that are all tourism facilities in the area while the Juban LGU will receive P4 million for its marine reserve sanctuary development project and the concreting of a barangay road.


Prieto Diaz will receive P3 million for the concreting of a barangay road; Barcelona, P2.8 million, also for a barangay road and; Gubat, P4 million for a tourism building. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/DOC/cbd/


==First 'Oragon na Pulis Kan Sorsogon Awards’ honors 8 outstanding policemen==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=58179
*Saturday, October 08, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit




SORSOGON CITY, October 8 (PIA) -- The Sorsoganon Kita Inc. (SKI), Rotary Club of Metro Sorsogon (RCMS) and the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), in cooperation with the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc (KFI) and the Provincial Government of Sorsogon, held the first awarding ceremony of the “Oragon Na Pulis Kan Sorsogon” (Outstanding Policemen of Sorsogon ) at Casa Dominga last October 6.
==Summer heat driving whale sharks deeper into sea waters==
Representative Salvador H. Escudero III of the 1st congressional district of Sorsogon, in his keynote message, lauded the organizers the for coming up with the idea of honoring public servants who did well in their chosen field and underscored the importance of the founding anniversary of the province celebrated through the Kasanggayahan Festival yearly to be a venue for honoring outstanding Sorsoganons.
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/184393/summer-heat-driving-whale-sharks-deeper-into-sea-waters
“The awarding of these policemen is a fitting gesture for us people here in Sorsogon to show to the whole nation and to the world that we can be real excellent and that be disciplined in our way of life and become role models to the next generation,” he said.
*Sunday, April 29, 2012
Eight outstanding policemen were selected out of the thirteen finalists who were recommended by the different police station from the province.
:by TJ Burgonio
These eight policemen were honored, given plaque of recognition and cash incentives.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Awarded werePO1 Arlinnette J, Ocampo from Sorsogon City Police Station ; SPO2 Edgar A. Calupit of Bulan Municipal Police Station; PO2 Arnold E. Estrellado from the Sorsogon Provincial Public Safety Company ; PO2 Darwin V. Villanueva of the Sorsogon Police Station; PO1 Virgil B. Bibat, Sorsogon Police Station; SPO2 Restituto M. Lojero of Castilla Municipal Police Station; SPO1 Arnel D. Dolorais Sorsogon Police Provincial Station; and PO2 Jerson D. Giba of the Sorsogon Police Station.
Escudero stressed the need to really become best in what we intend to become as a nation and as a people.
He also lauded the president for really trying to make a difference in his governance by eradicating graft and corruption.
The outstanding policemen were joined by their families in a dinner tendered by the organizers attended by several guests to include PNP Provincial Director, PSSupt John CA Jambora, PSupt. Robert Morico II, OIC-CPS , Michael B. Sulit, SKI President, Msgr. Francisco P. Monje of KFI, Col Ireneo Manaois and members of the BCBP, SKI and RCMS.
Members of the Board of Judges in the selection of this year’s Kasanggayahan Festval 2011 outstanding policemen were Reynaldo Hababag of Bayan Muna; Dr Teresita M. Borromeo from the academe; Col. Ireneo Manaois, administrator of Sorsogon City; Mr. Hermes Diaz of BCBP and Dr. Humilde Baranda-Janaban, charter president RCMS.
The “Oragon na Pulis Kan Sorsogon” will now become an award giving body to honor outstanding policemen in the province and will be a yearly activity of the Kasanggayahan Festival according to Msgr. Monje.
“This will set the tone of inspiring people to become best here in the province and people will be our best pride to celebrate the Kasanggayahan Festival, he said. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Sorsogon PAMANA Convergence Unit, a bridge towards peace and development==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=58114
*Friday, October 07, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


MANILA, Philippines–Even the sizzling temperatures could be scaring away the Butanding in Donsol Bay, Sorsogon.


SORSOGON CITY, October 7 (PIA) -- The Regional Development Council (RDC) of Bicol, chaired by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, has approved and endorsed last August this year Resolution No 28 S of 2011, known as ‘creating the Sorsogon PaMaNa Convergence Unit (SPCU), to mainstream the peace and development initiatives of government, particularly in the province of Sorsogon.
While more tourists are hitting Donsol’s beaches this summer, there are fewer sightings of the main draw: the gentle whale sharks, the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF) said Saturday.
In the meeting held here this week, Aileen P. Jose of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), explained the essence of the SPCU in consonance with the programs and projects to be implemented by OPAPP under the PaMaNa program as spelled out in the resolution.
Donsol’s surface water temperature averages 28.3 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees hotter than the average of 26.1 degrees Celsius recorded in the 2010 summer, WWF said.
To underscore the Resilient Communities Program or Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PaMaNa), Jose said that programs and projects of the OPAPP within the PaMaNa framework has been piloted in the province of Sorsogon.
“Our initial findings seem to indicate that the whale sharks are staying in deep water, possibly to avoid the heat,’’ WWF whale shark expert Dave David said in a statement. “They are also highly migratory creatures, so it is not easy to regularly predict their whereabouts.’’
The PaMaNa serves as the peace building program of government focused on the development of conflict-affected areas under the OPAPP.
In the summer of 2001, there were also very “few sightings’’ of the whale sharks. On top of the warm sea surface temperatures, the human factor might have something to do with it, too, the international conservation group said.
Under the SPCU, OPAPP has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the province of Sorsogon and the seven identified municipalities in the province for the release of funds already provided last August and the projects to be implemented by the local government units until December 2011.
“Donsol now has far more visitors than it can handle. Coupled with the fact that sightings are decreasing, more and more interaction violations are being reported,” WWF Donsol project manager Raul Burce said.
The OPAPP has allocated a P30 million fund for calendar year 2011 and another P30 million for the succeeding year, 2012 to the same municipalities to develop the barangays identified needing infrastructure, livelihood programs and peace development.
Quoting tourist Anton Lim, WWF said some swimmers touched the sharks, and bancas raced to where a shark was spotted.
The SPCU will ensure that government line agencies in environment, agriculture, agrarian reform, social welfare and development, peace and security agencies and communication will effectively contribute their services and funds focusing on the peace building initiatives of government, address poverty reduction and manifest development in areas affected by conflict.
Under the rules, only a single boat of six swimmers is allowed per shark; swimmers should be 3 meters away from its body, and 4 meters away from its tail; they can only interact for 10 minutes, and they can neither touch nor resort to flash photography. Boats are allowed to tour for three hours.
The need to communicate these initiatives of government for the awareness of the constituency, according to Jose should be highlighted and well-articulated as the primary tool to build the culture of peace and development.
WWF called on tourists, boatmen and guides to stick to the rules.
Members of the SPCU Provincial Technical Working Group composed of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, PENRO-LGU, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and the Philippine Information Agency met last October 3 to synergize mandates and functions for the implementation of the PaMaNa.
“The policies were designed not just to protect the whale sharks, but tourists as well. A 30-foot shark can accidentally swat a swimmer straying too close to its tail,’’ Burce said. “By respecting the rules, we’re minimizing our impacts on the ecosystem, especially the sharks.’’
OPAPP will serve as lead agency while RDC to provide secretariat support to the SPCU. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)
With fewer sightings, Donsol operators are also offering firefly and mangrove tours.
The WWF is attempting to track shark movements through state-of-the-art tracking monitors, instead of relying solely on the trained eyes of spotters.


==Pamana Convergence Unit reviews framework draft policy==
==CSC modified suspension of Sorsogon prov’l employee==
*Source:http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=57930
*Source: http://bicoltoday.com/?p=5505
*Thursday, October 06, 2011
*Saturday, April 28, 2012
:by Irma A. Guhit
:by Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr.




SORSOGON CITY (BicolToday.com/28-April-2012) – The decision of the commission proper of the Civil Service modifying the suspension order of CSC Region V against provincial employee Tiere Dagñalan of the accounting department was a relief for the fiscal examiner who was initially suspended for one year without pay for infraction of RA 6713.
The promulgation of March 12 this year signed by CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III granted the arguments in the appeal of Dagñalan to the regional commission when it meted the suspension on October 10, 2011. The administrative case was filed against him by former City Councilor Fulton Baylon for simple neglect of duty for his failure to provide public records requested by the councilor in the performance of his duty as an elected official of the City of Sorsogon.
Baylon on several instances failed to secure the documents because of delays attributed to the fiscal examiner specifically compliance to furnished the latter of Executive Order 05-002 issued by then City Mayor Sally Lee. As a public record, Baylon argued that he being a member of the city council is not subject of the executive order for he is requesting the document in aid of legislation. Inspite of this, Dagñalan failed to release the record on time.
Using RA 6713 as a last resort, Baylon charged Dagnalan for violation of Sec.5, paragraph (a) and (c) which provides the obligations of public officials and employees to act promptly on letters/request within fifteen working days from receipt thereof requiring action taken on the request received. Failing to appropriately act on it, Dagnalan was found to commit a simple neglect of duty.. The one year suspension without pay was opposed by the suspended employee when he filed a petition for review saying that the violation is a first offense and his length of service were considered by the commission proper to modified the decision of its regional office.
“The meaning of ‘acting promptly’ on letters and request, in contemplation of the law does not always mean automatic approval of the request of the public. It could mean disapproval or even withholding of any action depending on whether the request or letter complies with the requirements provided for by the law and office policies and procedures”, the Commission pointed out.
But it did not totally convince the commission en banc that an act of simple neglect of duty was not committed;.
The modified order lessened the period of suspension form one year without pay to one month and one day without pay was received by the suspended employee on April 19, copies were furnished to the Provincial Human Resource Management office and the Office of the City Mayor for the act was committed by the employee when he was detailed at the city government in 2002 as officer-in-charge of the city accounting department. The modified decision was release by the CSC secretariat and liaison office on March 22 of this year. BicolToday.com


SORSOGON CITY, October 6 (PIA) -- The provincial government of Sorsogon has enjoined all members of the regional technical working group composed of the identified member agencies together with its provincial counterpart to become a convergent group who will provide the essence and synergy for the implementation of the projects and programs converging their mandated functions.
Aileen P. Jose, coordinator for Luzon of the Office of the Presidential Advisory for the Peace Process (OPAPP) in a meeting held here yesterday at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO) presented the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PaMaNa) Sorsogon Convergence Unit Framework Draft Policy and presented the programs and projects under this program, an agenda for peace and development of the province, specifically for the members to review comment and finalize.
National Economic Development Authority RO V representative Rosemarie O. Buan, presented the Regional Development Council (RDC) Resolution No. 26, S of 2011, drafted last August 26, 2011 at Legaspi City during the RDC meeting creating a Sorsogon PaMaNa Convergence Unit (SPCU) as the peace building initiative of the province, serve as development arm for conflict affected areas and to develop resilient communities
According to Buan, the RDC sees the need for convergence interventions of the different agencies in environment, agriculture, agrarian reform, social welfare, peace and security agencies to effectively complement and harness services and funds in the implementation of the peace agenda of the government.
Through the resolution, OPAPP and the Provincial Government of Sorsogon have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) together with the seven identified municipalities namely: Pto. Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Irosin, Juban, Magallanes and Casiguran, recipients of the programs and projects under the PaMaNa to insure its effective implementation.
The SPCU according to Col. Felix Castro, Jr. of the 903rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army will hopefully become a model for peace and development building strategy in conflict affected areas and ensure that programs and projects under the peace keeping efforts of government be properly implemented.
Under the draft policy of the SPCU, beneficiaries should be better served and assisted. Converging agencies identified under the program should complement, cooperate and facilitate for the easy implementation of the programs and projects with OPAPP to serve as the team leader.
A total of P30M will be released to the province through the different identified agencies implementing the program for the PaMaNa 2011 projects.
For Casiguran , approved project under PaMaNa is the improvement of the Farm to Market Road (FMR) in far flung barangays considered critical areas with 1,000 m concrete paving to cover the Bgys. Of Tiris, Bactolan, San Ramon and Burgos to be implemented by the Casiguran LGU. Department of Agriculture , Departement of Agrarian Reform(DAR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways in the amount of P3M.
For the local government of Irosin is the Establishment of Eco-tourism Center costing P2M and the concreting of the Buenavista-San Isidro Batang Road in the amount of P2.5M to be implemented by Irosin LGU, Department of Tourism(DOT) and DPWH.
For Magallanes will be the Improvement of the Parola Beach, Improvement of Bucal-Bucalan Spring, improvement of Sta. Lourdes Grotto costing P5M to be implemented by the LGU of Magallanes, DOT and DPWH.
Juban will receive P4M for the Marine Reserve Sanctuary Development Project,(PhaseI) and the concrete paving of Brgy. Tublijon-Sipaya road.
Pto Diaz will receive P3M for the concreting of the 560M x4M FMR for Bry. Cogon to San Rafael to be implemented by DA, DPWH and the local government of Pto. Diaz.
For the LGU of Barcelona a P2.8M of the FMR for Brgy. San Isidro will also be implemented through the DPWH, DA and Barcelona LGU.
The LGU of Gubat will also receive a P4M for the FMR, a tourism building to be implemented by the DOT,DPWH and the LGU of Gubat.
A proposed livelihood project for the whole province is still being considered in the amount of P3.7 to benefit the tourism development and Bayong making project specially for the out of school youth and identified marginalized sectors in the province. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==209 beneficiaries in Sorsogon get ‘Kaagapay’ livelihood assistance==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=57422
*Tuesday, October 04, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit






SORSOGON CITY, October 4 (PIA) -- A total of 209 identified and confirmed beneficiaries by the Agrikultura: ng Bayang Pinoy Program (AKBAY) will receive a P10,000 livelihood assistance funded by the government of Japan through the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
This was learned last week during the meeting held here attended by heads of national government line agencies involved in the program particularly the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and former governor Sally Ante-Lee , executive director of the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO).
A P4M livelihood assistance fund to run for 2011-2013 will be given by the Japanese government to 4th and 5th class municipalities in the province of Sorsogon.
The first tranche of recipients are the local governments of Barcelona, Bulusan, Casiguran and Juban and while the second tranche are the municipalities of Prieto Diaz and Sta Magdalena.
The livelihood assistance is envisioned to help the poorest of the poor in the agriculture and fishery sectors in the whole Philippines with a P150M livelihood assistance for Luzon and Visayas while a bigger amount was earmarked for the provinces in Mindanao, according to the representative of the NAPC.
OPA assistant provincial government head ,Maria Theresa V. Destura, said that the assistance is interest and collateral free.
Before the distribution of the financial assistance, beneficiaries will undergo training, orientation and reorientation on entrepreneurial enhancement with the assistance of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Equity of the beneficiaries will be land, labor cost and available facilities.
Destura said that the beneficiaries were pre-evaluated on site, their farm household profile validated together with their project proposals and including a certification from the barangay captain being residents for the past 3 years.
Project launch of the AKBAY will be this October 28 at the Sorsogon Provincial Gymnasium and will form part of the Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 celebration . (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Soldiers help build village school==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/336055/soldiers-help-build-village-school
*September 29, 2011, 6:34pm
:by  ELENA L. ABEN






MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has stepped up its program dubbed “Gusto Kong Mag-Aral” (I want to study)” after it turned over to residents of a remote barangay in Bicol province a two-classroom school building constructed by soldiers.


Pandan village in Castilla town in Sorsogon province was the latest recipient of the AFP's “Gusto Kong Mag-Aral” project.
==Ex-Bull May Join SanMig Staff==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/358204/exbull-may-join-sanmig-staff
*Friday, April 27, 2012
:by WAYLON GALVEZ


The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) thru the National Development Support Command (NADESCOM) together with the local government unit of Castilla town and Sorsogon province and ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, joined in an effort to address the problem particularly in Sorsogon.


Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, the AFP-Nadescom public affairs officer, said “Gusto kong Mag-aral” involves a series of projects consisting of construction of classrooms in differentparts of the country and partnering with different organizations and individuals to provide better quality education to marginalized communities.
MANILA, Philippines — Craig Hodges, who played with Michael Jordan and won two NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, is in the country to hold basketball clinics although he may find himself working for San Miguel Corporation (SMC), owner of three teams in the PBA.


Garcia said that the project was hatched when the groundbreaking and construction of the twoclassroom building was started last April 14, 2011 in Barangay Yunot, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro and its subsequent turn-over on July 19.
Hodges, 51, who played 10 seasons in the NBA with four different teams and was part of the Bulls team that won the 1991 and 1992 championships, arrived a week ago and had conducted clinics in Sorsogon and in Naga City. He plans to hold several more in Manila until May 1.


“Several school buildings are now being constructed under this partnership in Barangay Salvacion, Albuera, Leyte; Barangay Dicamay, San Mariano, Isabela; Barangay Pangi, Maco, Compostela Valley; Barangay San Jose, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte; Barangay Cabangcalan, Aroroy, Masbate; Barangay Calingatnan, Borongan, Eastern Samar; and Pinukpuk Central, Pinukpuk Kalinga province. Three more will be started in the coming weeks,” said Garcia.
Although he is here to teach basketball, he is open to work as coach, or as consultant. He already has a scheduled meeting with officials of SMC, owner of PBA teams Petron Blaze, Barangay Ginebra and B-Meg, and Asean Basketball League’s San Miguel Beer, to explore employment opportunities.


Barangay Pandan is one of the 34 villages of Castilla, a 3rd class municipality and the hometown of Gen. Eduardo SL Oban Jr., the current Armed Forces Chief of Staff.
“I was invited to come over to try and take a look at basketball opportunities over here, as far as possibly coaching and possibly doing some consultant work,” said the 6-foot-2 Hodges who was a three-time Three Point Shootout champion in the NBA All-Star Weekend (1990-1992).


The inadequate number of classrooms, according to teachers, was the main reason why they cannot accept more students. The two-classroom school building will now allow the school to accept students up to the 4th year next school year.
“For me it’s an opportunity,” said Hodges, who will meet SMC official Noli Eala, consultant and former PH team coach Rajko Toroman, and B-Meg mentor Tim Cone today.


“With the additional classrooms, teachers said they we will be able to open the 4th year class which will benefit at least 300 students from Pandan and five other barangays who walk several kilometers to go to the school in Barangay Dinapa where there are school rooms to accommodate them,” said Garcia.
Eala said they are meeting with Hodges to see if he can help the SMC teams.


During the turnover ceremony, parents of school children in the barangay said the new classrooms will help lessen the cost of travel of their children who are forced to enroll at another village, Barangay Dinapa due to the lack of rooms in Pandan.
“We’re always open to improve our teams,” Eala told the Bulletin in a phone interview yesterday. “All are exploratory talks, no specific or exact detail yet. We’ll also have to see his time table, his availability, and what he can do for us.”


As this developed, the Office of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) headed by Secretary Imelda Nicolas promised the people of Pandan that additional help will be provided by the Commission for Filipinos Overseas for another school building next year, according to the Nadescom PAO.
Hodges, a native of Park Forest, Illinois, was invited to observe the B-Meg coaches’ meeting prior to Game 2 arranged by assistant coach Koy Banal. He later chatted with Cone, a disciple of the ‘triangle’ offense.


“The construction of the school building itself is a product of the cooperation of the people of the barangay and soldiers from the 903rd Infantry Brigade, the 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army and the local populace who provided unskilled labor while skilled labor was provided by 565th Engineer Construction Battalion of the 51st Engineer Brigade of the Army,” said Garcia.
Hodges is very familiar with the system as he played college ball at Long Beach State under coach Tex Winters who devised the ‘triangle’ offense which Phil Jackson used to win six NBA titles for Chicago and five with the Los Angeles Lakers.


Donations and many add-ons like books, blackboards, chairs, tables, cabinets and other school materials poured in from different partner organizations such as the Commission on Filipino Overseas, Technological Education , Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Information Agency, Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, and from individual donors.
Hodges was also guest of the PBA during Game 2 of the current title series.


“The school building coupled with add-ons was completed with only P1.05 million total cost which is way below the P1.4 million standard cost of a project with the same quality and dimensions; without the add-ons,” Garcia
Hodges’ last NBA job was as shooting coach of the Lakers, a job he held from 2005 until last year.


==Patrol car saves police post from NPA attack in Sorsogon==
For now, however, it’s teaching kids the game’s fundamentals.
*Source: http://sorsogoncity.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/patrol-car-saves-police-post-from-npa-attack-in-sorsogon/
*September 26, 2011
:by  Aaron Recuenco


“That’s my passion. I just want to make sure that young players understand the game,” said Hodges, whose trip here was financed by his US-based group Upper Echelon with partner Kevin Gray.




Sorsogon, Philippines – A police patrol car saved an undermanned town police station in Sorsogon from being overrun by communist rebels who have been intensifying the attacks in province in the past few days.


Supt. Wilson Asueta, spokesman of the Bicol regional police, said the attack resulted in the wounding of two policemen of the Barcelona Police Station but said the wounds were just minor, as a result of the maneuvering against the attacking 30 rebels.


“It was actually that patrol car which protected the personnel, the rebels also found it difficult to enter the police station because of that patrol car since it was parked near the main gate,” said Asueta in a phone interview.


Asueta said the rebels immediately launched a volley of gunfire as soon as they arrived near the main gate of the police station at 11:15 p.m.


Although outnumbered, Asueta said the local police immediately scampered to defend the police station, with the direction of the town police chief.


“The policemen on duty that night was supposed to be 15 but there were only eight inside when the attack occurred, that includes the chief of police,” said Asueta.


The gun battle lasted for almost one hour, afterwhich, the rebels finally gave up and fled.


==NPAs attack Sorsogon cop station==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=67&articleid=730546
*September 25, 2011 12:00 AM
:by Celso Amo, Michelle Zoleta, Mike Frialde


==903rd Brigade chosen as 9ID’s Best for 2011==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=801334650768
*Thursday, April 26, 2012
:by MAL/BAR-PIA5/903rd Bgde, PA)




LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  – Two policemen were wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) rebels raided the police station of Barcelona town in Sorsogon Friday evening.
SORSOGON CITY, April 26 (PIA) -- The 903rd Infantry (Fight and Defend) Brigade was recently chosen by Philippine Army headquarters as the best Infantry Brigade (Inf Bgde) of the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division for the year 2011 receiving the Award of Merit by the Commanding General of the Philippine Army and the Command Plaque by Commander, 9ID.  


PO3 Joel Encinares and PO1 Jessie Doloiras were wounded when about 30 heavily armed NPA guerillas attacked the police station around 11:15 p.m., triggering a one-hour gunfight.
Commanding Officer of 903rd Inf Bgde Col. Felix Castro Jr. said that considering the imperatives of IPSP “Bayanihan” and its emphasis on both combat and non-combat dimensions of military operations, the Brigade pursued efforts to link with agencies that could help in the development of the communities in Sorsogon and Masbate. It has opted to focus its efforts in a certain area rather than have projects in many dispersed barangays.  


Superintendent Wilson Azutea, spokeperson for the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol, said Inspector Edgar Azotea led the duty personnel who repelled the attack by NPA rebels.
"By pouring in development projects in a selected focus area, the improvement could easily be felt by the people and there is a higher chance of success. Neighboring communities will eventually also benefit from the improvement economic environment," he said.  


He said scene of the crime investigators recovered a live ammunition for an M-203 grenade launcher after the rebels escaped.
The first Brigade focused area is Brgy Pandan in Castilla, Sorsogon which used to be influenced by the NPAs before the area was cleared in 2009. The “Tarabangan sa Brgy Pandan” Project started with the construction of a two-classroom building sponsored by ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya for Pandan High School.  


PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome meanwhile, lauded the policemen for their action.
Other projects soon followed after the initiative of ABS-CBN: one classroom building funded by Cong. Salvador Escudero III; another classroom building funded by DepEd; two-classroom (two-storey) building funded by DepEd; 5 road improvement projects programmed for this year; ongoing cementing of the irrigation canal (P30M) funded by DA; the recently concluded six-month feeding program by ABS-CBN; and the introduction of abaca growing by FIDA. The Brigade also has six Bayanihan Iskolars sponsored by ABS-CBN and The Lewis College in Sorsogon City.  


“I urge you to keep up the good work and perform with the same zeal and dedication in all your future undertakings,” Bartolome said in a statement.
Another two-classroom building in Cabancalan Elementary School in Aroroy, Masbate also sponsored by Sagip Kapamilya was inaugurated last January.  


Last Thursday, an Army soldier was killed, while six others were wounded when members of the 93rd Division Reconnaissance Company under Lt. Clint Antipala clashed with some 20 NPA rebels during a 20-minute firefight in Barangay Bacalon in Magallanes town also in Sorsogon.
Mayor Enrico Z. Capinig of Aroroy, Masbate committed funds for the cooperatives of the women’s organization and the Barangay Defense System or BDS. He also promised to build a high school next year. Two scholarship slots will also be given by ABS-CBN aside from the feeding program. Funds are now being sourced for the concreting of the road.  


The firefight came after the visit of Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban in his hometown in Barangay Pandan in Castilla, Sorsogon Tuesday to inaugurate a two-room school building.
Col. Castro further said that the Brigade has been active in the programs of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA). The two provinces in its area have received funds for development- Sorsogon got P30 million for its seven focus municipalities and Masbate received P50 million for its three focus municipalities.  


Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesperson for the 9th Infantry Division said members of the 903rd Infantry Brigade under Col. Felix Castro are conducting hot pursuit operations against the rebels.
The PAMANA Convergence Unit for Sorsogon which involves representatives from the different government agencies has been a good venue for us to recommend projects and target areas for development.  


Guzman said all troops in Bicol are also on high alert, while coordination and intelligence sharing with the PNP is being enhanced to avoid similar incidents.
"Also, we have been able to bring medical services to far-flung barangays. Worth mentioning is a medical mission conducted by the Spanish NGO Asociacion Valenciana de Asistencia Sanitaria y Social Voluntarios (AVASSV) in Barangays Pandan and Amomonting of Castilla and San Pascual in Casiguran, Sorsogon. The television program Alagang Kapatid of TV5 also had a medical mission in Brgy Calintaan, Matnog, Sorsogon," explained Col. Castro.  


==Cops foil police station assault in Sorsogon==
"We support the School of Peace Program of the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development (BCPED) which is funded by OPAPP. Soldiers are always involved in the activities of San Isidro Elementary School in Castilla which is a pilot School of Peace. We have convinced Dr Herbert Rosana Ph.D, BCPED Director and Head of the Department of Peace Studies of Bicol University, to include the public schools in the municipality of Castilla in the School of Peace Program. A proposal has been made for this to happen," he further said.  
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=730510
*September 24, 2011 11:10 AM
:by PhilStar.com


The official also said that in addition to their active partnership with the stakeholders towards the development of these provinces, the Brigade also gave equal efforts in meeting the threats posed by those who hinder development. "Last year, we were able to recover 68 assorted firearms in several encounters including a cal .30 light machine gun, two AK47 rifles, and M16 rifles. Sixty-seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also recovered. We were able to repulse the attack by the NPAs against some police stations and military detachment," he said.


The exemplary performance of the 903rd Infantry se accomplishments have led to Looking back, the Brigade has been able to perform exceedingly well in its combat and non-combat operations. This could be attributed to a pool of well-motivated, well-trained and experienced personnel who gets the job done.


Meanwhile, the municipality of Castilla led by Mayor Olive Bermillo has recently donated a 2-hectare lot for the brigade headquarters. Another hectare will be given this year. The Deed of Donation was signed last 17 November by Gen Eduardo SL Oban Jr, CSAFP, and Mayor Bermillo. "We intend to build a “green camp” where our soldiers could contribute to the environment," said Col. Castro.


Cops foil police station assault in Sorsogon
==Poor folks in Sorsogon taught how to make a living from ‘hilot’==
Home Updated September 24, 2011 11:10 AM 2 comments to this post
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/182473/poor-folks-in-sorsogon-taught-how-to-make-a-living-from-%E2%80%98hilo%E2%80%99
MANILA, Philippines – Two policemen were hurt as they defend a police station in Sorsogon province from New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, yesterday night.
*3:40 pm | Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
:by  Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer


Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police spokesperson, said around 30 rebels assaulted the Barcelona police station in the province at around 11;15 p.m.


On duty personnel defended the police station from the rebels, resulting in a one-hour firefight.
MANILA, Philippines—For a poor community in Sorsogon, the traditional “hilot” home remedy will soon become a source of livelihood.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is introducing the old-school Filipino massage method as a career option to residents of Prieto Diaz town in Sorsogon, a community raring to venture into eco-tourism and wellness services.
Tesda partnered with the local government to train selected residents in several courses, including food and beverage services, hairdressing, cooking and the traditional Filipino tough therapy in efforts to “mainstream” hilot and develop it into a means of living.
A total of 100 students—25 in each course—started training on April 20 at Sorsogon’s Bulusan Vocational Technical School.  Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva said the agency would shoulder the training cost.
“Through this partnership with the local government, we hope Tesda can breathe life into this town by tapping its human resources for the development of its wellness and eco-tourism potentials,” Villanueva said in a statement.
Tesda said that while the fifth-class town is rich in potential tourist attractions, most of some 20,000 residents in Prieto Diaz have an average P100 daily income from fishing and farming.
Through the program, Tesda and the local government aim to give Prieto Diaz residents a break at the health and wellness and food and beverage industries, where skilled workers are of high demand, said the agency.
“The people recognize the urgent need to get its acts together with national agencies and indigenous communities to develop significant market niche in beauty and wellness of body, mind and spirit, to create new jobs, alternative employment and business opportunities for its people particularly the new entrants to the labor force,” the agreement said.
Those who will graduate from the program will undergo Tesda assessment for certification.


The policemen were able to hold off the assault until reinforcement came, forcing the rebels to withdraw.


Two policemen were hurt while the casualties on the rebels’ side was unknown.


The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.


The administration of President Benigno Aquino III is attempting to convince again the rebels to return to the peace negotiating table to end the decades-old insurgency.


==Feature: Army's 'Tarabangan sa Brgy. Pandan', a convergence initiative to reduce poverty==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=55812
* September 23, 2011 11:30 AM
:by  Irma A. Guhit






SORSOGON CITY, September 23 (PIA) -- Dubbed "Tarabangan sa Barangay Pandan", a local convergence initiative highlights a public-private cooperation and the spirit of Bayanihan with the inauguration of a two-room school building in Pandan village, Castilla, Sorsogon.
Col. Felix Castro, brigade commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID, Philippine Army (PA), said the infrastructure project was accomplished through the assistance of ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Foundation Inc. and the support of Castilla town government.
Castro explained that the completion and inauguration of the classroom manifested the efforts and interventions of the government to accomplish community projects and pursue similar projects following the "Tarabangan" scheme.
He said that the activity during the inauguration was more of a "celebration of partnership", with the government being truly sensitive of the needs of the barangay and its residents, likewise showing concern through their (locales) labor support and commitment to sustainably take care of these projects accomplished, the on going and those that are programmed.
The army commander furthered that with the intervention of Secretary Imelda Nicolas of the Commission on Filipino Overseas (CFO), some five units of computers and eight ceiling fans were donated for the new building inaugurated.
The donation of the equipment was made also made possible through the efforts of the Asociacion Valencia de Asistencia Sanitaria y Social Voluntarios (AVASSV) and National Development Support Command (NADESCOM)
Simultaneous with the inauguration activity, AVASSV, with the help of doctors from the military, also conducted medical mission and provided free medicines.
Meanwhile, Castro also bared that "Tarabangan" was also able to pursue improvement project of the road in Barangay Dinapa, funded by the national government carried out by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
"Tarabangan" was also credited to complete construction of a school building, funded under the office of Sorsogon I Rep. Salvador H. Escudero III, while another was also completed, trough funding from the Department of Education.
More projects were also underway with ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya Inc. sponsoring six bayanihan scholars of Barangay Pandan now studying at the Lewis College here .
The same barangay will also be a recipient of a feeding program for four months commencing September 20 to benefit the elementary pupils of Pandan Elementary School through the Bantay Bata program of ABS-CBN.
Under the convergence program, the concreting of the Pandan Irrigation Canal worth P30 M is already on the pipeline with funding from the Department of Agriculture.
An additional P500,000 repair of the building of Parent Teacher Association office of the village primary education school will be provided by the provincial government of Sorsogon.
Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee also directed the implementation of project for the re-gravelling of the Pandan-Saclayan road and the repair of the Farm to Market Road of the Pandan-Tomalaytay- Cogon worth P4.5 million. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Major NPA strongholds pinpointed==
*Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/regions/7823-major-npa-strongholds-pinpointed
*Thursday, September 22, 2011
:by  RHAYDS B. BARCIA CORRESPONDENT




CASTILLA, Sorsogon: Armed Forces Chief of Staff Eduardo Oban identified five areas in the country where New People’s Army rebels have established footholds.
==‘Manghihilot’ to go mainstream==
*Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/national/28569-manghihilot-to-go-mainstream
*Tuesday, April 24, 2012
:by  Alvin Murcia


Oban who set foot in his hometown after five decades told The Manila Times that priority areas of the AFP to address insurgency problems are Bicol, Davao Del Norte, Negros, Campostela Valley and Samar.


“The New People’s Army are concentrated in Campostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Negros, Samar and Bicol region. These areas are among the problematic and our priority to resolve insurgency problem to establish peace,” Oban said.
THE traditional masseurs will become go  mainstream  once the training of those practicing it in the neighborhood is finished.  


NPA strength is diminishing with 4,000 combatants but the movement is considered a threat to national security and hinders development in the countryside.
This was the assurance of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva.  


To wipe out the insurgency movement in the country, Oban said that they’re pursuing programs under the Bayanihan scheme.  
He said at present training of masseurs is being held in the town of Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon.  


“Through our Bayanihan scheme we will address insurgency particularly in priority areas such as Davao del Norte, Bicol, Negros, Campostela Valley and Samar,” he said.  
Aside from the masseurs, training for food and beverage services, commercial cooking and hairdressing started last April 20.  


The AFP chief expressed optimism that the peace talks between the government and National Democratic Front would end the 40-decade insurgency problem in the country.  
"Through this partnership with the local government, we hope TESDA can breathe life into this town by tapping its human resources for the development of its wellness and eco-tourism potentials," said Villanueva.  


In Bicol, Major General Josue Gaverza, commanding general of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division identified the provinces of Sorsogon and Masbate as the most problematic insurgency areas.
He explained that the training pushed through after an agreement was signed with Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee.  


Gaverza said that Masbate and Sorsogon are very ideal to insurgent groups due to the rugged terrain advantageous for their guerilla operations.
Under the agreement, TESDA will conduct the training in Bulusan Vocational Technical School  along with the assessment.  


Earlier, Gaverza reported before the Regional Development Council full council meeting that the insurgency problem in Bicol is manageable although sporadic attacks against government forces took place in the past few months here.
The program was implemented in consonance with the aim of giving job opportunity in Sorsogon because of its growing eco-tourism.        


==Jomil Cinema 1 (now Centro Mall)==
*Source: http://sorsogoncity.wordpress.com/
*September 20, 2011
:by  sorsogoncity




The corner of Magsaysay Street and Rizal Street is a common landmark that you have come to (before it was  a town now) the city of Sorsogon. In reality, the zero kilometer of Sorsogon City is located just in front of the former post office building just a hundred meters away or so.


For those millenials, born around the late 90s and the early decade of 2000, the corner is known for Chowking and Centro Mall (in the picture). However, for those who were born before that, the Centro Mall was known as Jomil Cinema 1 (Jomil Cinema 2 came in later, around late ’80s).


This is where the author first saw his first couple of Lito Lapid movies  - Ang Pagbabalik ni Leon Guerrero and San Basilio (Julio Valiente). The latter is unforgettable movie. There is a scene wherein Julio Valiente put the knife infront of the barrel of his revolver, with the blade facing the hole – when he fired, he killed two cowboys on a single bullet. PG or GP didn’t exist then, though the author is definite that X and R ratings existed by then. Finally, the said theater showed 2 movies, in local parlance it’s called, kadobol.


The author could still remember the gap between the date the movies were first shown in Manila and the time they were shown in Sorsogon – approx. 2 months or maybe longer. Each movie would last less than it’s original length since 2 movies were shown on a single cycle. The ticket was around 6 pesos, this was lower area (Balcony was the more expensive one). Later on, before the theater closed down it was a bit lower than 20 pesos.


Why did it close down and there’s no movie house anymore in Sorsogon? The author doesn’t really know though only JB Cinema in Barangay Talisay was the last one to closed down around the late 90s. Though there was an article during that time saying that the main enemy of the theaters – boot legged CDs (DVD were not available then).


What about before Jomil Cinema, what was the original establishment? It was the International Hotel.


==Gen. Oban, Palma to inaugurate 2-classroom building in Castilla==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=54978
*Monday, September 19, 2011
:by PIA Press Release




SORSOGON CITY, September 19 (PIA) -- General Eduardo SL Oban, Jr, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines together with Ms Tina Monzon-Palma, program director of the AFI Sagip Kapamilya of ABS-CBN will serve as guest of honor to inaugurate the 2-room school building at Barangay Pandan Castilla, Sorsogon here tomorrow, September 20.
==Gubat town launches reading program for kids==
According to Lt. Felix Castro, commander of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID, Philippine Army, this 2-classroom building has been constructed though their initiative and had been made possible through the donation of construction materials provided by the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya and the labor component provided by the people of Barangay Pandan instilling the Filipino value of the Bayanihan spirit.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=801335147598
The event will will also be attneded by other key officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the local officials of the municipality of Castilla to be led by Mayor Olive Bermillo.
*Monday 23rd of April 2012
The event will commence with a medical treatment where several government and military doctors will be at hand to provide needed medical assistance to pre -identified patients in the barangay earlier pre-arranged by both the local government of Castilla and the 903rd Brigade, 9ID under Lt. Castro.
:by   (MAL/BAR-PIA5 Sorsogon)
Castro said that aside from the environmental conservation initiatives PA is extending to the barangays within Castilla, Pilar and Donsol , education , medical , health and disaster risk reduction efforts are also being undertaken by their unit to better the lives of people and make them aware also of their own empowerment by engaging them as pro-active members in any program and projects undertaken in the community.
According to Lt. Castro, Major General Carlos B. Holganza AFP Commander of Nadescom will share the "Bayanihan Experience" and will acknowledge the people in the barangay for the efforts they have contributed through collaborative endeavor, giving free labor services together with the PA Engineering Brigade and the support provided by ABS-CBN family.
Jay Andrew the Mesa, a student of Pandan High School (PHS) will deliver the message of gratitude for and in behalf of the students while Mrs. Lucila B. Villa, teacher -in-charge of (PHS) and Mr. Randy B. Bueno , barangay Captain of Pandan will also express words of gratitude.
Marjorie A del Ayre , a Bayanihan Scholar will also extend similar words of gratitude to the donors and to all the entities who have made the project a success.
Expected to grace the ocassion is Vice Governor Antonio H. Escudero Jr. MNSA, LTGen Roland M. Detabali, AFP Commander , Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM).
Highlights of the event after the blessing and inauguration of the building will be the messages of the two prominent personalities gracing the ocassion, Ms Tina Monzon -Palma, a well acclaimed television host of ABS-CBN and well known personality extending projects for the development of rural communities through the Sagip Kamilya and the very pride of the province of Sorsogon Gen. Eduardo SL Oban Jr AFP chief of Staff who hails from the municipality of Castilla.
"We share the dreams of our nation, a country at peace and a people with freedom from want", this are the words printed under Gen. Oban's invitation program.
The event will commence with a ceremonial pandan planting activity that will be done within the school premises of PHS.
Expected too, to be present and lend support to the occasion are the member-agencies of the Bayanihan Eco-Park Project at Barangay Sibago of Donsol town also, one of the assisted projects of the 903rd Infantry Brigade, 9ID PA. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Intervida turns over community center to Sorsogon province==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=54276
*Thursday, September 15, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


SORSOGON CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- Gubat municipal government, the Sangguniang Kabataan, the Department of Education and the Gubat Parents Teachers Association Federation have launched a reading program for children.


SORSOGON CITY, September 15 (PIA) -- In a simple ceremony held here this month at the Sorsogon Community Center, country delegate of Intervida, Restituto Ramos, formally turned over the management of this edifice to the provincial government represented by former governor Sally Ante-Lee.
Named after one of Gubat’s famous writers, the Delfin Fresnosa Reading Recovery Program was conceptualized by the local government of Gubat which started on the third week of April and which will end on May this year.  
The Sorsogon Community Center was an extension of the old Sorsogon Provincial Hospital which has been unoccupied for so long that Intervida through the initiative of former Board Member Rosario"Cherry" Diaz was renovated, refurbished and made as a skills and development center catering to grassroots communities and have been managed by the Intervida staff for almost 5 years.
"Now that Intervida is focusing more of its programs and projects in the municipalities of Castilla, Donsol and Pilar specifically along education and nutrition, we have made agreements with the provincial government of Sorsogon to formally turn over the management of the Sorsogon community Center to them ", Ramos explained in his message during the turn over ceremony rites.
Receiving the key of responsibility from Ramos, Lee explained that the center will be a training ground for culture and arts development which she believes should be an extension of the enrichment and enhancement activity of the Sorsogon Provincial Heritage Museum.
She explained that the provincial government has already provided the center with musical instruments, like guitars, electric organs , drums, percussion instruments, books and other materials that can be accessed by students or those interested individuals who would like to hone their skills in music, poetry , drama and the like.
The center according to Lee will be under the direct supervision of the provincial government with the assistance of the Department of Education, provincial schools division and counter-parting in the overseeing of the daily activities will be the Bukawel Performing Group Community Based Theater Group (CBTG) under the supervision of Dan Razo.
A special dance number was performed by the CBTG to provide entertainment in the ceremony called "Alay" which according to Razo is a dance that expresses gratitude specially offered to the Intervida to show appreciation for the assistance they have extended to the province of Sorsogon.
Meanwhile, Lee also expressed during the turn over ceremony that she hopes to see more culturally inclined individuals pursue their artistic inclinations through this center.
"Those who are willing to access the services of the center will just schedule their time to use the center and its basic amenities with the current management", Lee explained.
She also said that arrangements will be done to have skilled mentors in the center who can share their expertise and will also provide the center their spare time especially those retired teachers and other individuals willing to voluntarily share their time and knowledge in contributing to the popularization and enhancement of local songs, music and dances truly Sorsoganon or reflective of the Sorsoganon's culture and arts.
Department of Education assistant schools division superintendent, Danilo Despi who graced the occasion for and in behalf of Dr. Marilen Dimaano, provincial school division superintendent who is on official leave, said that the DepEd provincial office will also coordinate with the Sorsogon City DepEd so that both can access programs provided by the center and at the same time contribute to its sustainable development.
Despi had also expressed appreciation to Intervida for the feeding programs provided to school children in their three pilot municipalities, Castilla, Donsol and Pilar which is under the provincial schools division areas.
With special participation, Lee also requested the Philippine Information Agency office here, together with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcasters sa Pilipinas, Sorsogon Chapter, represented by its president Andy Espinar to assist in training kids to do broadcast and other individuals who also like to undergo the same training.
Lee said that communication is the best form of art to better understanding and a culture that should be instilled in everyone to attain the culture of peace.
"In a positive note let us also provide the people of Sorsogon, the media mileage of the positive traits of the people of Sorsogon both in broadcast and in print', she said.
Present during the formal turn-over were members of the print and broadcast media in the province, DepEd personnel, staff from Intervida in Legaspi City and the head and staff of the Sorsogon Provincial Tourism Council.
.
Agnes Nan-Habla, Intervida Field Officer closed the ceremony by saying that ,"As adults teach children all about life and children should teach their elders what life is all about". (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==DENR says most of Sorsogon hospitals do not have proper waste disposal==
“We would like to make the program sustainable, targeting as our clientele those non-reader children and those children who would want to enhance further their reading skills,” said Gubat Municipal Mayor Ronnel Lim.
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=372499
*September 14, 2011, 8:48 pm
:by  (PNA) DCT/LAM/LQ/MSA/cbd


“Reading skills are very important. Without a solid ability to read, children will be unable to make use of whatever improvements in our local school system,” he said.


SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 14 (PNA) -- Most of the hospitals operating in the province do not have waste water discharge permits and solid waste management system in violation of Republic Act 6969, known as "The Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990,” the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said.
According to Lim, selected incoming Grade 2 pupils will each be assigned a reading partner. The reading partners are volunteer Gubatnons who have intended to spend laudably their vacation in Gubat town this summer by volunteering as tutors to the children in their respective barangays. The reading partner will visit the pupil at his own home three times a week, 30 minutes to one hour per meeting, during the entire duration of summer vacation.  


EMB specialist Engr. Leonisa Madeloso said most of the 8 hospitals in the province are without waste water discharge permits, some are without solid waste management reports and most of the mercurial wastes from busted florescent lamps are not safely disposed together with other hospital wastes.
“The municipality provided the training and instructional materials to be used for the program,” he added.  


She said the EMB has already issued notice of violations and have conducted dialogues with the hospital personnel on how these wastes should be managed so as not to affect the environment and create public health problems.
The young local chief executive also said that they have opened the reading recovery and enhancement program not only for Gubatnons who are currently residents of the town, but even to those Gubatnons who plan to spend their summer vacation in the town and are willing to voluntary render their services and tutorial skills for free in order to help develop the reading abilities of children in their respective areas.  


Madeloso said that based on their monitoring, evaluation and assessment, eight hospitals in the province are not complying with the guidelines provided in RA 6969 in the proper disposal of hospital and hazardous wastes.
Lim said that the program is also part of giving tribute and recognition to the contributions made by one of Gubat famous writers, Delfin fresnosa. Born on May 23, 1915 in Barangay Bulacao, Fresnosa taught at the National Teachers College and at the University of the East, and served as the editor of “Boy's World,” the official organ of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.  


According to Madeloso, they have checked and evaluated one public and one private tertiary hospital; four secondary private and two secondary public hospitals and how these hospitals managed their wastes.
Fresnosa was part of the group of thirteen writers who called themselves the Veronicans (named after Veronica who mirrored the true face of Christ). Fresnosa's short stories regularly appear in anthologies of the Best Philippine short stories. He died on December 19, 1988.  


In their findings, Madeloso said all these hospitals lack the proper procedure in disposing their hospital waste while they only use chlorine and lysol as the standard chemicals for disinfecting hospital wastes.
Mayor Lim further said that they still welcome more volunteers and that interested Gubatnons may just visit his office at the Gubat Municipal Building.


The findings also indicate that no waste disposal signages are conspicuously placed inside the hospitals.


"Sharps and syringes used should always be properly managed and placed in plastic containers and these containers should again be placed in cans and with proper signage and should never be disposed together with other hospital wastes," Madeloso said.


She also reported that some hospitals do not have Pollution Control Officers (PCOs) or if there is one, most are not properly trained.


She urged local chief executives and members of the Sorsogon Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) to inform the provincial government to take action on the EMB findings and work out ways to address this environmental concerns.


"Proper report on what wastes are generated, volume and how these are treated, and disposed should also be made to keep track of the implementation of RA 6969 which hospitals are required to do," Madeloso explained


The PSWMB agreed to address these issues in the province by organizing a Provincial Monitoring Team to monitor and evaluate the implementation of RA 6969 and coordinate with the hospitals to reiterate their strict compliance on the provisions of the law.


==Sorsoganon Kita Inc. spearheads press conference for 2011 Kasanggayahan Festival activities==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=53809
*Monday, September 12, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit




SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 12 (PIA) -- A press conference was held here September 9 at the Sorsogon City Muti-Purpose Hall for the presentation of activities lined-up for the Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 spearheaded by Sorsoganon Kita Inc.
Attended by both the national and local media, among those present were Msgr. Francisco P. Monje, president, Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc(KFI) , Maria Nini O. Ravanilla, regional director RO V, Department of Tourism, Michael Sulit, president of Sorsoganon Kita Inc. Sorsogon City Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda and Atty Antonio Huab, representing governor Raul R. Lee.
Sorsoganon Kita Inc. president Michael Sulit presented all the activities for this month long celebration of the 117th founding anniversary of the province of Sorsogon and what to expect from a public-private partnership undertaking.
Msgr. Francisco P. Monje, president of the Kasanggayahan Foundation Inc.(KFI) stated that it was really an answered call for the KFI's long desire that private organization should run the activities of the festival while the KFI still remains as the organic body overseeing that the activities are alined to what the festival intends to portray, that of popularizing the history, culture and aspirations of the province of Sorsogon in a festive celebration.
Sulit bared that the events are classified include sports, culture and arts, music and dance, socials, special interest, conventions/ congress and the economic side which is trade and industry.
Sulit explained that the festival this year is more of a public -private partnership, all officials from the national and local and private individuals contributing their share in terms of logistics and sponsored activities to show unity of action and to ensure the success of the festival.
The cultural dance, Pantomina sa Tinampo reflective of the Bicolano's culture for merriment expressed in a dance will be done in the evening. It will be the original Sorsoganon pantomina called "Sinakiki" popularized in Gubat town and will be adapted in the festival.
One big highlights of this year's festival is giving recognition to outstanding Sorsoganons who have made the province proud in terms of their different contribution not only in the local scene but more on the national scope like the four Sorsoganons and only Bicolanos conferred the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) of the Philippines.
The award to be conferred dubbed "Oragon Award" will show the mettle and exemplary traits and achievements of certain Sorsoganons in the fields of education, public service, governance, education, media, cinema and one special award is highlighting a family's endeavor and success.
Sulit also disclosed that there will be the competition of the singing councilors, tree planting activity, the regional competition for bands and majorette and an inter- municipal drum and lyre competition.
Questions during the presscon how the festival will advertise and promote tourism were answered by Sulit and director Ravanilla while Msgr. Monje also explained that the working budget for this year for the festival is P more than 3 M.
Sulit also disclosed that there were several activities sponsored by Senator Chiz Escudero like the shootfest, the basketball game to be played by Adamson vs All Sorsoganon Star Cast.
A first time Mardi Gras will also be seen participated in and performed by the Bukawel Cultural Dancers on the evening of the last day of October to end the event.
Sulit said that this year's Kasanggayahan Festival 2011 will usher in a more participative endeavor and expect activities that are of unusual interesting flavor. (IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Pilar, Korean firm team up to establish sanitary land fill and material recovery facility==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=53487
*Saturday, September 10, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


==Nora, Vilma Rivalry Dividing Bishops==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/357640/nora-vilma-rivalry-dividing-bishops
*April 21, 2012, 4:04pm
:by  LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO


SORSOGON CITY , September 10 (PIA) -- A memorandum of agreement (MOA) is now on the process of review and consultation, submitted by the Local Government of Pilar to the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) V on the proposed integrated sanitary landfill (ISL) and material recovery facility (MRF) with a Korean firm, the Pilar Jeong Sol Green Technology Limited (PJSGTL).
In a dialogue with Mayor Dennis Reyes of Pilar town, during the 3rd quarterly meeting of the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board last week, along with Vice Mayor Celso Lao Jr. and several members of the Sanggunian Bayan, the desire to push through this project , according to them is borne out of the requirement of the DENR that each local government unit must have a sanitary landfill and material recovery facility under the RA 9003 of 2000 otherwise known as Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“For a local government like Pilar, whose internal revenue allotment is not enough to finance the establishment of a sanitary landfill since it is very expensive and like us with our budget so meager, it will be very difficult to comply with this RA 9003,” Reyes said.
“In consultation with the members of the Sanggunian Bayan we have to look for alternative source on who can assist us finance this kind of requirement and at the same time generate jobs and add on income for Pilar,” he said.
The proponent, PJSGTL will undertake the design, finance construction and management of the ISL and MRF according to Mayor Reyes.
According to Reyes, a 30 ha lot will be purchased by the proponent for the establishment of the ISL. In the MOA all stipulated agreements between PILAR LGU and the proponent will be reviewed by DENR.
The ISL and MRF as Pilar LGU intends to pursue will also provide the proponent shipment of scrap materials that can be processed within the MRF and will again be shipped for export to other countries.
Some issues on the agreement where already raised to the several persons concerned during the meeting with Mayor Reyes.
A very clear provision on the MOA is that no prohibited wastes as stated in article 5 of the MOA be allowed especially pathological wastes, wastes and by products from clinics, laboratories, hospital and other similar sources.
It was also stipulated in the MOA that industrial waste especially those that are toxic and containing hazardous substances will not be allowed and there will be strict inspection on what kind of wastes will be brought to the ISL.
The materials to be processed in the MRF were well identified in Article 4 of the MOA and according to Mayor Dennis all provisions of the DENR will be strictly followed.
In the Moa the MRF will only be operating on the following: as paper bailing press that will serve as the scraps paper bonding press, pelletizer of the recyclables plastics, injection molding machines, can compactor for beer, soft drink cans and other similar items, food waste composting facility, enactor and sanitary landfill.
According to Mayor Reyes the agreement will be valid within 25 years and the economic benefit will have a 15% of the gross income for the LGU and the continuous development within the area including employment and infrastructure development that will ensure environmental protection. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Sorsogon City mainstreams disaster risk reduction mechanisms in local planning and urban management==
MANILA, Philippines - Catholic prelates are split on the proposal to make Nora Aunor or Vilma Santos as national artist.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=53258
*Thursday, September 08, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


Out of the six prelates that were informally sur¬veyed, one bishop – Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes – vot¬ed for “Nora.”
“I select and en¬dorse Nora as na¬tional artist now!” he said in a text message.


SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 8 (PIA) -- Utilizing the strategy of bottoms up approach, the city government of Sorsogon has conducted a series of inter-sectoral consultation to mainstream the interventions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and institute disaster risk reduction initiatives.
Bastes, mem¬ber of the Perma¬nent Council of the Catholic Bish¬ops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said he was particularly impressed with the performance of the “superstar” in the movie “Himala”.
“Inputs of the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) and the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC), together with other members of the community have provided the office on the current situations, conditions and identifying problem areas , provide necessary actions steps and harmonizing it with development plans were the mechanism initiated already by the city government to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation, and institute disaster risk reduction, Mayor Leovic R. Dioneda usually expressed whenever he is invited to share the best practices of the city” Tito D. Fortes said in an interview done by the Philippine Information Agency Office here last Monday.
“We were tasked to share the best practices of the city government here on DRR in Baguio City only two weeks ago since Mayor Dioneda was in another commitment sharing again the best practices in Solid Waste Management implementation” Fortes said.
Fortes, as the newly installed officer in charge of programs and projects under the CCMA provided several persons visiting the city, a tour of the office where emboldened hazard maps were posted showing their areas of vulnerabilities and vulnerabilities of neighboring municipalities that also poses a bearing on certain climatic conditions in the city.
Fortes said that the maps generated through the assistance of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided personnel working in the DRR a very comprehensive presentation of certain types of vulnerabilities of the city.
“This office has created awareness within the basic sectors in the community to look at disasters with preparedness and with a committed responsibility of what should be done collectively in addressing the concerns,” Fortes said.
”The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) together with the Sorsogon City Development Planning Office (CPDO) have harmonized their Physical Framework Development Plan,” he said.
Reformulation and the enhancement of the city PFDP in compliance with the CCMA and DRR will now serve as the basic operating guidelines and legal policies to be followed for the expedient implementation of programs and projects under the infrastructure development landscape of the city,” Fortes further explained. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==NPA landmine misses Army troops in Sorsogon'==
He said “Vilma” could be declared as national artist years later.
*Source: http://208.184.76.175/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=724794
*Wednesday, September 07, 2011 04:32 PM
:by PhilSTAR.com


Two prelates, on the other hand, are in favor of making both as national art¬ists.


MANILA, Philippines - An Army Battalion commander and 10 of his men escaped unhurt a landmine explosion that suspected communist rebels planted this morning along a road in the in Irosin town in Sorsogon.
“Honor them both. They repre¬sent the divide be¬tween the Filipino crowd. The ‘bakya’ and the ‘sapatos’ crowds,” Baguio Bishop Carlito Cen¬zon said.


Army Col. Epimaco Makalisang, commander of the 49th Infantry Battalion based in Sorsogon, together with his team on board a KM450 military truck were on their way back to their headquarters when the landmine planted on a road linking barangays Magdagunson and Buenavista exploded at about 8:30 a.m.
Malolos Bish¬op Jose Oliveros agreed with Cen¬zon, saying both artists are deserv¬ing of such title.


Superintendent Wilson Asueta, Bicol regional police spokesperson, said a landmine exploded while Makalisang's group were negotiating a road in the named barangays on their way back to their camp in Sorsogon City from an Army company detachment in Irosin.
“Both can be made as national artist. Perhaps, this will not require an act of Congress. An Executive Order would do should President Aquino agree with it,” he said.


Asueta quoting reports said the landmine, which failed to hit its target, exploded hastily a few meters from where the military truck was approaching.
The three re¬maining bishops, however, chose not to comment on the matter, saying it is not their expertise.


The report said Makalisang and his men visited an Army camp in Irosin and awarded medals and citations to a number of soldiers there.
The three bish¬ops were retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, and Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutier¬rez.


Army patrols have been dispatch in the area to track down New People’s Army (NPA) rebels behind the landmine attack.
Earlier, House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Ta¬ñada initiated calls to declare Vilma Santos as a national artist after Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez filed a reso¬lution seeking the proclamation of Nora Aunor of the same title.


==OPAPP orients Sorsogon PPOC members on the revised Philippine Reintegration Program==
Tañada said Santos equally deserves to be a national artist for her contribution in lifting the film in¬dustry by captur-ing the hearts of Filipino moviegoers when she competed against Aunor dur¬ing the 1970s.
*Source: http://pia-sorsogon.blogspot.com/2011/09/opapp-orients-sorsogon-ppoc-members-on.html
*TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


==Donsol's Butanding Festival reels off May 18==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=771334901236
*Friday 20th of April 2012
:by  (MAL/DCA, Legazpi City)


SORSOGON CITY, SEPTEMBER 6 (PIA) ..... The Office of the Presidential Advisory on the Peace Process (OPAPP) through its Southern Luzon representative Cristopher Azucena oriented the members of the Sorsogon Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of the revised Philippine Reintegration Program (PRP) in a meeting held here last week at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO).


Members were provided a copy of the Framework for the Reintegration and Development of Former Combatants incorporated in the revised  PRP.
DONSOL, Sorsogon, April 20 (PIA) -- All roads lead to this far-flung coastal municipality as townsfolk celebrate the yearly Butanding Festival and the feast of their patron, St. Joseph the Worker, on May 18.  


According to Azucena the PRP first program implementation  was contained in the Economic Development Corps (EDCOR) which was conducted from 1950-1954.
According to town Mayor Jerome Alcantara, the celebration will be both solemn and ultimately festive this time because they will put together the yearly town fiesta in honor of Sorsogon's patron saint and the Butanding Festival to welcome the reappearance of the whale sharks, which usually come in droves during this time of the year.  


This was followed by the National Reconciliation and Development Program (NRDP) implemented from 1986-1991. Then it was reviewed and revised so from 1992-1993 what was implemented under the PRP was the New National Reconciliation and Development Program.
The festival used to be held in April but local officials decided to move it to May 18 in time with the town’s fiesta celebration, so that it would be more fun in Donsol during the day, the mayor added.  


In 1994 under the PRP the National Program for Unification and Development was implemented from 1994-2000 followed by Expanded Balik Loob which was in effect  from 2000-2003 and another name was coined to implement the PRP, implemented from 2007-2010 which was the Social Integration Program (SIP)
The town fiesta marks the homecoming of Donsolanos who are now living elsewhere of the country and abroad to take part in the traditional revelries while the festival officially signals the opening of another high adventure season of underwater interactions between humans and the enormous but gentle sea mammal.


Azucena said that based from the findings from past experiences and records , the implementation of the program  since 1986, around 275,147 former rebels and their families have benefited from the  government reintegration activities and a total of P1, 835 Billion have been spent.
“Dual celebrations in a day,” the mayor said. “During the town fiesta, we cater not only to our returning town mates but also to thousands of visitors from nearby places who have been accustomed of celebrating with us.”


Under the NDRP/ NNRDP P1.28 M was provided to 233,996 beneficiaries,
“In the butanding season, we play host to another thousands of tourists coming in for whale shark interactions,” Alcantara said.  
While under the NPUD a total of P385.55 M was distributed to 40,396 beneficiaries. In the SIP, P253 M was provided to 982 beneficiaries.


Now under the Aquino administration Prospects for Peace , the  OPAPP has released the Framework for the Reintegration and Development of  Former Combatants (FCs) now contained in the revised Philippine Reintegration Program.
With two festivities rolled into one, the merrymaking will be certainly fabulous, he added.  


It is anchored on four guiding principles and policies.
There will be holy masses to be capped by mass baptismal of babies at the town’s century-old church in the morning, followed by the traditional food offerings in every house until nighttime and holy procession in the evening, apart from other church activities in honor of the patron saint.  


These four guiding principles and policies are : first,  it should be locally driven and owned and nationally led ; second, built on broad partnership; third, time bound with clear exit strategy ; and fourth, subject sensitive and flexible.
Also part of the fiesta activity is a civic-military parade.  


Azucena also explained that under the locally driven strategy, provincial Local government units whenever practicable are focal points of authority, assistance and management. OPAPP and other national agencies will act or perform as oversight functions, monitoring and evaluation, provide policy direction, capacity building support and assist in resource mobilization.
It will be followed by the parade of whale shark replicas to be presented by street dancers in colorful native attires in honor of the butandings in the afternoon.  


Under the broad partnership strategy, government and non-government organizations are converged to assist and provide support programs and services.
Another highlight of the festivities is the fluvial procession at the mouth of the long and winding Donsol River where a large pod of butandings usually converge at his time of the year.  


Former combatants (FCs) , their families, communities of settlement, LGUs and other stakeholders should be involved in planning and implementation of the PRP.
It will be participated in by an armada of outrigger boats decorated with whale shark replicas and festive colorful buntings.  


Underscored by Azucena is that the program should be time bound with clear exit strategy. Meaning, the local reintegration plan are with clear outputs and timelines.
In the evening after the holy procession, ballroom and disco dancing will be held at the sprawling town plaza.  


For this he said, "There should be effective monitoring and evaluation system installed at the start of the program to track progress of FCs and how the program will help them to be mainstreamed.
Tourists will be offered tours along the Donsol River for firefly watching, which serves as another spectacular attraction.  


The last guiding principle he said for the PRP to be successful is that it should be subject sensitive.
There will be games and stalls put up at the town plaza all night long while music continually plays until the wee hours of the next morning. People would be in the streets talking with each other and having fun.  


"It should be a flexible packaging and provision of assistance that is context-specific , and needs and capacity based.It should utilize case work approach for each FC , allows for flexibility in implementation arrangement based on capacity to deliver", he stressed.
“Butanding Festival is the way how we give thanks to the Lord of giving us the gentle butanding. It may not be as glamorous compared to other festivities in the Philippines, but we consider it the most important part of the year as it is the best way we express our thoughts as people and nature-lovers,” Alcantara said.  


"Most importantly respect for privacy of FCs and their family and need for confidentiality of some process  be observed", he said."These guidelines on the revised PRP are of utmost importance so that as members of the PPOC, each one can really assist in the implementation and success of the program.  
The presence of whale sharks in the coastal waters here was known to the local residents for over 100 years. But they believed these gentle giants were dangerous.  


The delivery of the program according to Azucena to new surfacing rebels shall be done as need arises through local government and non-government partners as seen as appropriate.
This wrong notion changed when in January 1998, a group of scuba divers discovered its presence and interacted with the whale sharks.  


The purpose of the orientation is also to organize the local reintegration team. (PIA-SORSOGON)
Even the members of the diving group were having second thoughts if the giant creature was docile, they came in contact with it and found out it is indeed harmless.  


==Sorsogon Peace Council briefed on revised Philippine Reintegration Program'==
The municipality then was categorized only as fourth class for being very poor and known only a part of the geography and national statistics.  
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=52535
*Monday, September 05, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


Copy of video footage taken by the diving group was passed on to the media, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)-Philippines, and the Discovery Channel.


SORSOGON CITY , September 5 (PIA) -- The Office of the Presidential Advisory on the Peace Process (OPAPP), through its Southern Luzon representative Cristopher Azucena, oriented the members of the Sorsogon Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of the revised Philippine Reintegration Program (PRP) in a meeting held here last week at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (SPMO).
It became a word of mouth passed on to every tourist exploring the Philippines and by March of that same year, the municipality started to become a world-class tourist destination. It is now known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.  
According to Azucena the PRP first program implementation was contained in the Economic Development Corps (EDCOR) which was conducted from 1950-1954.
This was followed by the National Reconciliation and Development Program (NRDP) implemented from 1986-1991. Then it was reviewed and revised so from 1992-1993 what was implemented under the PRP was the New National Reconciliation and Development Program.
In 1994 under the PRP the National Program for Unification and Development was implemented from 1994-2000 followed by Expanded Balik Loob which was in effect from 2000-2003 and another name was coined to implement the PRP, implemented from 2007-2010 which was the Social Integration Program (SIP)
Azucena said that based from the findings from past experiences and records , the implementation of the program since 1986, around 275,147 former rebels and their families have benefited from the government reintegration activities and a total of P1, 835 Billion have been spent.
Under the NDRP/ NNRDP P1.28 M was provided to 233,996 beneficiaries,
While under the NPUD a total of P385.55 M was distributed to 40,396 beneficiaries. In the SIP, P253 M was provided to 982 beneficiaries.
Now under the Aquino administration Prospects for Peace , the OPAPP has released the Framework for the Reintegration and Development of Former Combatants (FCs) now contained in the revised Philippine Reintegration Program.
It is anchored on four guiding principles and policies.
These four guiding principles and policies are : first, it should be locally driven and owned and nationally led ; second, built on broad partnership; third, time bound with clear exit strategy ; and fourth, subject sensitive and flexible.
Azucena also explained that under the locally driven strategy, provincial Local government units whenever practicable are focal points of authority, assistance and management. OPAPP and other national agencies will act or perform as oversight functions, monitoring and evaluation, provide policy direction, capacity building support and assist in resource mobilization.
Under the broad partnership strategy, government and non-government organizations are converged to assist and provide support programs and services.
Former combatants (FCs) , their families, communities of settlement, LGUs and other stakeholders should be involved in planning and implementation of the PRP.
Underscored by Azucena is that the program should be time bound with clear exit strategy. Meaning, the local reintegration plan are with clear outputs and timelines.
For this he said, "There should be effective monitoring and evaluation system installed at the start of the program to track progress of FCs and how the program will help them to be mainstreamed.
The last guiding principle he said for the PRP to be successful is that it should be subject sensitive.
"It should be a flexible packaging and provision of assistance that is context-specific , and needs and capacity based.It should utilize case work approach for each FC , allows for flexibility in implementation arrangement based on capacity to deliver", he stressed.
"Most importantly respect for privacy of FCs and their family and need for confidentiality of some process be observed", he said."These guidelines on the revised PRP are of utmost importance so that as members of the PPOC, each one can really assist in the implementation and success of the program.
The delivery of the program according to Azucena to new surfacing rebels shall be done as need arises through local government and non-government partners as seen as appropriate.
The purpose of the orientation is also to organize the local reintegration team. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Sorsogon reaps 9 major awards in the 2nd Salud Bicolnon Awards 2011n==
Now, this town is officially listed as first class earning an annual revenue of nearly P100 million mostly from its tourism industry that plays host to an average of over 60,000 foreign and local tourist yearly.  
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=7&r=r05&id=52253
*Sunday, September 04, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


These gentle giants arrive from as early as November but the official season starts from February and runs until the end of May, when the local waters is at its clearest and calmest.


SORSOGON CITY , Sept. 4 (PIA) -- Sorsogon provincial health workers went home last week proud and elated after the just concluded 2nd Salud Bicolnon Awards 2011 bagging nine major awards for health and the major cash incentive award of P100.000.
Local tourism officials and professional divers have established guidelines on proper whale shark watching intended to maintain safety and to defend the creatures from over exploitation.  
Held at the Concourse Hotel, Legaspi City, Sept 1, the 2nd Salud Bicolnon Award distributed trophies and cash incentives to health workers and LGUs for their accomplishment and contribution in the efficient and effective delivery of health programs and projects spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH).
These programs are being implemented in provincial , district, and municipal hospitals and also in barangay health centers with the local government units supporting health efficiency delivery as part of good governance.
Sorsogon is the sole regional awardee for the Outstanding Interlocal Health Zone (ILHZ) implementer by the cluster of Bulan, Irosin, Matnog, and Sta Magdalena (BIMS) carting the major cash incentive award.
In the category of Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative for two years, it was the Gubat District Hospital and the Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Service Cooperative that got the regional major award.
Also, six hospitals here in the province were awarded the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding hospital implementers namely : Vicenta Peralta Memorial District Hospital in Castilla, Irosin District Hospital, Pantaleon G. Gotladera Memorial Hospital of the municipality of Bulan, Prieto Diaz Municipal Hospital, Matnog Medicare Community Hospital, and the Dr. Fernando B. Duran Sr Memorial Hospital or the Sorsogon Provincial Hospital.
For the Outstanding Kidney Disease Prevention and Control implementer, Sorsogon Provincial Hospital shared the limelight with two other awardees, the Center for Health Office of Legaspi City and Intervida, a non-governmental organization assisting in renal disease prevention.
Meanwhile, the municipal government of Magallanes was given the Regional Red Orchid Award for the passage of an ordinance on anti-smoking. This award was also given to the city government of Ligao and Guinobatan , Albay.
The Sorsogon Provincial Health Office or the Fernando B. Duran Sr. Memorial Hospital was chosen as the regional best implementer on TB Control Program for Public-Private Mix DOTS together with Center for Health Office, Masbate.
For the award in the Taking the Challenge as Treatment Center for Multiple Drug Resistant TB, the sole awardee was the Sorsogon Medical Mission Group Hospital and Health Service Cooperative.
Sorsogon province also capped the Invaluable Contribution Commitment to the Success of the Measles Rubella Campaign shared with three other awardees, the local government of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Naga.
For the regional Best Performing Barangay Nutrition Barangay Scholar, the Barangay Health Workers of Sta Ana ,Gubat shared the same award with six other awardees.
"We are indeed very happy with the accolade given to the best performing health workers and local government implementers of health services here in our province," Dr. Edgar Garcia expressed during the event.
"We shared this award with former governor Sally A. Lee who inspired us to work better and who has been instrumental in the rehabilitation, provision of additional facilities and equipments provided during her term as governor and now also being well sustained by current governor, Raul R.Lee," Garcia said.
"In fact all local government hospitals have ambulances and the hospital has been enhanced and improved for a better workplace," Garcia added.
Former governor Sally A. Lee said, "In Sorsogon, we are trying to provide the best health service we can afford to the constituency. In behalf of the province of Sorsogon, I congratulate all our health workers here present doing their duty to make the Bicol Region achieve the required standard for health service delivery and doing their share in making health an agenda to serve best."
"To all the awardees, let's not just think of the awards, let us feel proud and good that we are doing this for humanity," Dr. Ferchito L. Avelino, assitant regional director, DOH RO V said as he closed the one day program of the DOH . (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Intervida launches Children First : A Call for Convergence program for Sorsogon==
“As long as we protect the habitat of these sea creatures and avoid antagonizing them, they will continue to be here." Alcantara said.  
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=52109
*Friday, September 02, 2011
:by Irma A. Guhit


“WWF findings say that whale sharks that are migratory in nature do not actually leave Donsol and they stay here all year-round. They just go deeper into the sea during some months of the year,” the mayor added.


SORSOGON CITY, Sept. 2 (PIA) -- Newly installed country delegate for Intervida Philippines Restituto Ramos led the program launch of the Children First : A Call for Convergence program for the province of Sorsogon last week at Hotel Ellis , Legaspi City.
==Oslob’s tuki tour operators to visit Donsol==
Former governor Sally Ante Lee who attended the program launch representing governor Raul R. Lee said Intervida's expanded program will focus on two pilot municipalities in the province of Sorsogon, Donsol and Castilla.
*Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/179133/oslobs-tuki-tour-operators-to-visit-donsol
She said it will complement the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and enhance the public-private partnership initiatives intensified in Aquino administration as a holistic strategy in poverty alleviation.
*7:52 am | Thursday, April 19th, 2012
In the program launch, Ramos underscored the goal of their organization in providing development and cooperation to defend children's rights and promote sustainable social change by improving the living conditions of vulnerable communities, especially children and by acting upon the causes of poverty and inequality.
:by  Carmel Loise Matus
"The Intervida Philippines New Strategic Plan program is anchored on respect for equality, equity and sustainability as guiding principles for the new program for children," Ramos said during the presentation of their program.
Cebu Daily News
Ramos explained that Children First :A Call for Convergence is the core of their program so that families can access basic things such as adequate nutrition, education and health which aims for promoting dignity and improving the living conditions of children in basic identified communities were poverty is visually observed and felt.
Ramos elaborated the other situations of children all over the world who are victims of forced labor, sexual exploitation, gender violence or separation from families.
"These situations are in violation of their right to live in peace, be respected and lead a dignified life.We, at Intervida Philippines can not remain indifferent to this and so the Children First : A Call for Convergence program was developed', he said.
"In Sorsogon, our presence in assisting communities and municipalities has been almost 5 years now and hopefully partnering with local government units who show involvement and same passion for the program, we can pursue our goals", he addedd.
This new program adhered to by Intervida is based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the strategic guidelines have been elaborated within the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals organized around eight areas of action: Education, Health, Food Security, Economic Development, Environment Gender,Citizens Participation and children's Rights.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)


==Trail Run places back Bulusan into the world eco-tourism map==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=6&sid=&nid=6&rid=369963
*Thursday September 1, 2011,
:By Danny O. Calleja


Oslob and Cebu tourism officials will go to  Donsol in Sorsogon province next month to see for themselves “best practices” in whale shark tourism.
“Although they have different activities in Donsol, the  operators here will learn something from the procedures there. What is common for Donsol and Oslob will be seen,” said Rowena Montecillo, regional director of the Department of Tourism.
Oslob is now calling their boat paddlers “interaction officers,” like Donsol that has “Butanding Interaction Officers”.
An increase in visitor rates  that took effect April 15 in Oslob, especially for diving and snorkeling, has not affected sales much, said Oslob  tourism officer Elizabeth Tabasa-Benologa. But she said they are still monitoring the trend.
About 200 to 300 visitors came on weekdays for whale shark watching, the usual crowd, but there were fewer divers and swimmers, said Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren.
Guaren said  this was the purpose of  the price increase—to control the influx of visitors and reduce  chances of  direct contact with the whale sharks.
“People who want to go snorkeling and diving have decreased,” said Guaren.
The DOT conducted a week-long training for boatmen and Bantay Dagat personnel for 50 participants.


BULUSAN, Sorsogon, Sept 1 (PNA) -– They ran through rugged forest trails, climbed and descended stiff ravines, crossed rivers and then plant trees to complete the 21-kilometer 2011 National Bulusan Eco Trail Run staged here last week for the International Year of the Forest celebration and in support to the government’s National Greening Program (NGP).
==NGCP Launches Line Safety Campaign, Announces 10-hour Brownout In Tarlac==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/357194/ngcp-launches-line-safety-campaign-announces-10hour-brownout-in-tarlac
*April 16, 2012, 5:07pm
:by  ELLSON QUISMORIO and MARK ANTHONY MANUEL


At least 187 local, national and international runners joined the fun, thrill and adventure-filled event to become the first “trail king and queen” named into the National Bulusan Eco Trail Running Cup organized by the local government and an environmental group calling itself Aggrupation of Advocates for Environmental Protection of Bulusan (AGAP-Bulusan) Inc.


“It’s awesome. The trail is overpowering. The place is cool and exciting. The people are lovely and friendly,” Kenyan Susan Janutai who came all the way from Narok, Kenya to be part of the squad that ruled the team division of the event said, as she emerged into the finish line at the Bulusan Lake Ecological Park here after negotiating the rugged course for nearly two hours.
MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has begun enlisting the help of local media in various provinces particularly in southern Luzon to disseminate information on its transmission line safety and security campaign.


The 21-kilometer route covered the Bulusan town portion of the 3,670-hectare government-protected Bulusan Volcano Natural Park (BVNP) whose whole area is shared by its neighboring municipalities of Juban, Casiguran, Irosin, Barcelona and Gubat, all localities that sits near the foot of Mt. Bulusan.
The line safety campaign is aimed at achieving public awareness and cooperation in curbing pilferage of tower parts and avoiding damage to life and properties as a result of unsafe and unscrupulous practices.


“The Bulusan forest looks like our very own Mau Forest. The only difference is that ours is beset by loggers and informal settlers while yours is serene, healthy and undisturbed. I love this place and I will tell my friends to come and love it for themselves, too,” Janutai said.
Regional Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer Nelson Bautista said up to 60 local radio stations in Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon pledged support to NGCP’s advocacy for safe and secure power lines.


Informed before leaving home that a tree planting activity would be part of the event, the lady Kenyan runner said she slipped into his luggage a dozen of tree seedlings gathered from Mau Forest which she planted after the race on a vacant space at the Park. She dug the pits for the plants with her bare hands to make it more symbolic.
Bautista already started the information campaign by being a guest on radio shows and discussing NGCP’s anti-pilferage law and anti-electrocution initiatives.


“This kind of tree grows enormously in our forest and I want it to grow here too to become the symbol of my love to your forest,” she added amid cheers and hugs from fellow runners and Bulusan officials led by Mayor Michael Guysayco who awarded her group P50,000 and trophies for winning the team championship.
The hazards of kite flying, installation of antennas, hanging of flaglets and construction of buildings underneath the transmission lines were also highlighted in the interviews. He also cited safety tips to avoid electrocution from highvoltage lines.


She also lauded the NGP which she said is a very ambitious program of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III in an effort to restore the country’s lost forests and protect the existing. The program launched by the President this year seeks to grow billion of trees in over a million hectares of land across the country in five years.
NGCP also appealed to all listeners and residents to cooperate with the company in protecting the transmission facilities, which remain under government properties.


“The race was extraordinary and the trail was indeed overpowering but the place is magnificent with its lush vegetation, crystal-clear water flowing its rivers, rare plants and animals and pollution-free atmosphere. This place is really a remarkable attraction,” according to Fritz Handig, a Canadian runner who ruled the men’s individual championship division.
The power transmission company likewise reminded the listeners that as Filipinos, it is their inherent duty and responsibility to take care of the properties of the state.


During the race, Handig said the runners hurdled natural trail barriers such as small trees and other growing plants while seeing to it that they do not tread on any living thing on the ground. “That was to protect and preserve the rich ecology of the place,” he explained.
It was further stated that violation of Republic Act 7832 is punishable by 12 to 20 years of imprisonment or a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 pesos.


“It was very punishing but the environment is so fascinating. I want to be here more often to enjoy the scenery, freshness of the cool air blowing smoothly and the beauty of its flora and fauna,” Luisa Raterta of Albay who was the women’s division champion.
Meanwhile, the NGCP announced that the first and second districts of the province of Tarlac will go through a 10-hour power interruption tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Affected towns are Anao, Camiling, Mayantoc, Moncada, Paniqui, San Manuel, Gerona, Moncada, Pura, Santa Ignacia, San Clemente and Ramos.


Guysayco said the Trail Run was a successful undertaking of the municipal government and the AGAP-Bulusan. This will lead us to regularly ushering in more similar events and other tourism-related activities. “We know that with this undertaking, our town is back into the world map of eco-tourism,” he added.
The North Luzon Corporate Communication Division of the NGCP disclosed that “affected distribution utility are the Tarlac Electric Cooperative I (TERELCO I) and Tarlac Electric Incorporated (TEI).”


“From now on, this town, with its active Bulusan Volcano, ecologically-gifted Bulusan Lake, long and clean beaches offering the panorama of the Pacific Ocean, good foods and friendly and hospitable people, would be expecting once again influxes of tourists,” according to Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla who graced the affair.
==NFA told to open buying stations, start purchasing farmers’ fresh palay==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/04/15/nfa-told-open-buying-stations-start-purchasing-farmers-fresh-palay-216372
*Sunday, April 15, 2012
:by  Virgil Lopez/Sunnex


Ravanilla said this remote town that could be reached by land from Sorsogon City, the provincial capital through an elevated road winding along hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean used to be the top tourist attraction of Sorsogon province.


It lost such reputation to the peace and order situation that deteriorated at the height of insurgency way back in the 1970s.
MANILA -- Farmers' organizations in various parts of the country said that local traders are manipulating the market price of freshly harvested palay as they called on the government to immediately open its buying stations to stop the said practice.


Municipal Tourism Officer and AGAP president Philip Bartilet said Bulusan will now be well known not only because of its tourism attractions but also of this reality activity which is more thrilling, adventurous and environmentally focused in a call to save our forest. (PNA)
According to watchdog Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS), the National Food Authority must also start purchasing fresh palay from marginalized farmers and let them access the NFA Procurement Program without the farmers' passbook requirements.
DCT/LAM/LQ/DOC/cbd


==Sorsogon dengue cases remain low, thanks to authorities' campaign,residents' awareness and support==
In Irosin, Sorsogon, TFFS lead convenor Arze Glipo said farm gate price of fresh palay was pegged between P13 and P14 per kilogram but this has declined to P11 per kilogram.
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=51368
*Sunday, August 28, 2011
*by Irma A. Guhit


The lower price is said to be a result of heavy rains that battered the province recently.


SORSOGON CITY, August 28 (PIA) -- The number of dengue cases in Sorsogon remain low as health authorities credited intesified campaign and residents' high awareness and full support yo prevent and control the dreaded disease from spreading among communities. Cleanliness of surroundings and following the 4 S against dengue has helped a lot." Dr Maricel Fajardo explained in an interview conducted by the Philippine Information Agency office here Friday. Fajardo explained that the "advocacy of fear" has become a very significant strategy of the Department of Health (DOH) V and Provincial Health Office (PHO), barangay officials and health workers "People have been very afraid of what dengue can cause to a one's health that can even claim one's life. With the very high incidence of dengue last year, we have really intensified our efforts to inform the public on how to combat collaboratively this incidence" she said. She also thanked the support provided by the media community in heightening the awareness of the public against dengue through the constant messages or reminders provided to them. She said the information dissemination campaign provided to the public through radio and print has created in them the right attitude to do what is needed specially in locating and destroying breeding places of mosquitoes For the past seven months, PHO has recorded only 12 dengue cases as against the recorded 101 cases last 2010 which also reported one death. "It is very significant that the awareness of the public in the campaign against dengue has been very high.In fact, our medical team and barangay health workers have started the awareness campaign, monitoring and surveillance since the start of the rainy season since dengue is a water borne based illness caused by a mosquito identified as "aedis egypti". "The dramatic drop in dengue cases is very commendable and hopefully no more cases be added to the current record " she said. "There is no let up still in our campaign against dengue since we are still on the rainy months. What we would really hope to achieve is that the public should have a change in behaviour which is self protection and cleanliness, these are what we hope the public should really do: Fajardo stressed. "Proper coordination with the Philippine Red Cross has also been done so that the public can also be assured of blood supply in case patients need blood transfusion", she said. "We have also intensified our coordination with the Department of Education, the barangay officials and almost all stakeholders in the communities so that all efforts to combat dengue be well implemented", she said. "With the collaborative effort of all agencies and all stakeholders, hopefully we can really minimize the incidence of dengue cases here in the province", Fajardo expressed. (MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)
"This is also happening in areas which experienced heavy rains in the past days. Local traders know that there is not enough time to dry the grains and farmers need the money badly, hence they are delaying procurement which reduced the price of fresh palay," Glipo said.
 
To arrest the further decline of farmer's income, TFFS asked the NFA to expand their buying stations in remote areas to save transportation cost for farmers who have to travel to key cities and municipalities just to avail of the service.
 
"One way that government can help farmers build resiliency and recover from the worsening impacts of climate change is to ensure that they get a fair price for their produce. In this case, NFA should step in and buy fresh palay from farmers at P14 per kilogram and dried palay at P17 per kilogram," Glipo noted.
 
Moreover, the group urged the NFA to relax or, if possible, cancel the requirements for revalidation of accredited individual farmers who own or does not own the land they till.
 
For instance, if the farmer is a land owner, he only needs to submit a certified photocopy of the transfer certificate of title (TCT) from Register of Deeds and certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), among others.
 
By comparison, a farmer who is not a land owner will have to present numerous documents such as the management take-over contract, written proof indicating farm/lot possession, leaseholder agreement/contract, barangay chairman or barangay agrarian reform council (BARC) chairman certification, and location of map.
 
With so many requirements, the NFA, Glipo said, is already denying the right of smallholder farmers, especially those who are not land owners, to sell their produce to the agency.
 
==NFA told to establish more buying stations==
*Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2012/04/14/nfa-told-to-establish-more-buying-stations/
*Saturday, 14 April, 2012
:by  Othel V. Campos
 
 
A group of food security advocates on Friday urged the state-run National Food Authority to open more buying stations nationwide and lift the tedious documentary requirements in purchasing palay or unmilled rice from marginalized farmers.
 
Task Force Food Sovereignty lead convenor Arze Glipo said they had received reports from farmers’ organizations in various parts of the country that local traders were manipulating market prices of freshly harvested palay.
 
“In Irosin, Sorsogon, farmers told us that local traders are manipulating the market price of fresh palay. At the onset of harvest, farm gate price of fresh palay was pegged between P13 and P14 per kilogram. Now, it has declined to P11 per kilogram,” said Glipo.
 
She said local traders had stopped buying palay from farmers after heavy rains battered the province of Sorsogon, pulling down the buying price to P11 per kilogram.
 
“This is also happening in areas which experienced heavy rains in the past days. Local traders know that there is not enough time to dry the grains and farmers need the money badly, hence they are delaying procurement which reduced the price of fresh palay,” said Glipo.
 
==Prelates happy with failure of North Korea rocket launch==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/breaking-news/2012/04/13/prelates-happy-failure-north-korea-rocket-launch-216109
*Friday, April 13, 2012
:by  (FP/Sunnex)
 
 
SEVERAL bishops were happy that the rocket launched by North Korea (NoKor) has failed.
 
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said he is glad to hear reports that the launching was not successful.
 
“I am happy. Our prayers to the Lord are heard,” he said.
 
However, he is also saddened that the money used by North Korean government for the launch was wasted.
 
“I pity the NoKor people because their leaders wasted millions of dollars for a failed project while millions are hungry,” Bastes said.
 
Marbel (South Cotabato) Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez also expressed the same concern as the money should have been given to hungry people.
 
“The money should be spent to feed the people,” the prelate added.
 
Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said what happened should serve as a reminder that man does not have complete control of everything.
 
“Man is only a steward. Let us ask the Lord that we may always be good stewards,” he said.
 
Earlier, bishops urged the people to pray that the rocket launch will not push through.
 
On Friday, it was reported that Unha-3 rocket failed to reach the orbit.
 
With this, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) lifted the no-fly, sail and fish zones off Northern Luzon.
 
The rocket was launched before 7 a.m. Manila time but crashed into the Yellow Sea after about five minutes in flight.
 
==Awareness sought on whale shark interaction in Cebu==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/04/12/awareness-sought-whale-shark-interaction-cebu-215957
*Thursday, April 12, 2012
:by  Virgil Lopez/Sunnex
 
 
 
SAYING tourism should co-exist with the protection and conservation of marine animals, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said local government units must undergo awareness training on whale shark interaction at the increasingly popular town of Oslob, Cebu.
 
Tourism Director Rowena Montecillo said they have partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas in conducting an "Awareness Caravan" in May aimed at raising consciousness on marine protection and conservation, and promoting a culture of tourism.
 
The photo of a girl riding a whale shark along the shoreline of Granada village in Boljoon, Cebu suffered an online backlash last week, prompting the Municipal Government to hike fees for swimming or diving with the marine creatures.
 
Reports said the whale shark was trapped in the net of local fishermen. It was brought near the shore because the fishermen had difficulty in freeing the endangered animal while in deeper waters.
 
Those involved in the incident were already reprimanded and warned of being penalized if caught again while the whale shark was later released into the open sea.
 
"We need to heighten people's awareness and capacitate the community to effectively manage the interaction, so that it will not cause undue harm or disturbance to the normal behavior of the sharks," Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said.
 
Last February, the DOT said local officials in Oslob will be invited to an observation visit to the popular whale-shark viewing destination in Donsol, Sorsogon to learn about best practices in handling whale shark interaction and community organization.
 
The DOT is part of the technical working group, created by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, which is in charge of formulating guidelines and monitoring systems to ensure that the budding eco-tourism enterprise remains beneficial to the communities.
 
Measures are also being undertaken to conduct further research on the migratory pattern of the whale sharks.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
==Do Not Panic==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/356732/do-not-panic
*April 11, 2012, 12:53am
:by  MADEL R. SABATER and LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO
 
 
Malacañang and an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday called on the public to stay calm and not to panic amid the rocket launch of North Korea scheduled between April 12 and April 16.
 
This developed as the United States urged anew North Korea not to conduct a nuclear test or launch a satellite and called on China to exert its influence over its neighbor to try to ward off such "provocative actions."
 
But Ryu Kum Chol, deputy director of the Space Development Department of the Korean Committee for Space Technology, said, "All the assembly and preparations of the satellite launch are done," including fueling of the rocket.
 
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda assured that preparations are being made should North Korea push through with the satellite launch.
 
"We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best and it will be irresponsible for the government not to take the necessary precautions," Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday.
 
Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, member of the CBCP Permanent Council, said people should pray instead of panicking, saying it’s still possible that the launch will not affect the country such as what happened during the 1970’s when the US satellite Skylab disintegrated in space with its debris falling in Western Australia.
 
At that time, people panicked because everybody thought that the debris from the Skylab was going to fall on their backyard.
 
"Many times such fears are not founded. Remember the Skylab many years ago? Nothing fell," he said in an interview.
 
Still, Bastes urged the people to pray that North Korea will change its mind about the launch and instead focus on feeding their hungry people.
 
"Pray that the leaders of North Korea will rather feed their hungry people than show a false military might," he said.
 
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also appealed for prayers from the people.
 
"Let us pray that North Korea would change its mind because we don’t really know what damage it will bring to us – we don’t know where it will hit that’s why we should be careful and we should pray to prevent a crisis in the world," he said over Church-run Radyo Veritas yesterday.
 
Lacierda said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already been directed to make the necessary preparations for the launch.
 
Notices, Lacierda said, have already been sent, particularly on the no-fly zone while the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council
 
(NDRRMC) will monitor probable sites where rocket debris may fall.
 
Earlier, the NDRRMC warned parts of the rocket may fall on Philippine territory after the launch between April 12 and April 16.
 
The Department of the Interior and Local Government already instructed officials in six regions – Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), 5 (Bicol), and Cordillera – to implement contingency plans for the rocket launch.
 
North Korea, which is pressing ahead with plans for a satellite launch despite US and regional appeals that it desist, is also preparing a third nuclear test, South Korean news reports said Sunday.
 
Another nuclear test is bound to scare neighbors and infuriate the West, which has long sought to curb the North’s nuclear ambitions.
 
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified intelligence source as saying North Korea was "clandestinely preparing a nuclear test" at the same location as the first two.
 
The State Department repeated its advice to the North not to launch a satellite, saying this would violate UN Security Council resolutions and a February 29 denuclearization agreement.
 
"Our position remains: don’t do it," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "North Korea’s launch of a missile would be highly provocative, it would pose a threat to regional security and it would be inconsistent with its recent undertakings to refrain from any kind of long-range missile launches."
 
Nuland told reporters a third North Korean nuclear test "would be equally bad if not worse."
 
She declined comment on whether the United States also had reason to believe that the North might be preparing a nuclear test, saying she could not discuss intelligence matters.
 
North Korea, which three years ago pulled out of six-party disarmament talks on its nuclear program, agreed in February to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches in return for food aid, opening the way to a possible resumption of the negotiations.
 
But that has all unraveled with the North’s rocket launch planned for this month, probably between Thursday and the following Monday. The North says it is merely sending a weather satellite into space, but South Korea and the United States say it is a ballistic missile test.
 
The United States has called on China, the closest that North Korea has to an ally, to exert such influence as it has with Pyongyang, a point Nuland made again on Monday.
 
"We believe, in particular, that China joins us in its interest in seeing a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and we are continuing to encourage China to act more effectively in that interest," she said.
 
20 Flights Rerouted
 
With the scheduled rocket launch, several airlines will reroute flights over the Philippines, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said yesterday.
 
About 20 flights including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Delta Airlines will be rerouted between Thursday and Monday, when North Korea says it will launch a satellite. The exact timing depends on weather.
 
Floramel Joy Songsong, spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the agency will temporarily close three northeastern air corridors, which will result in an additional 20 minutes of travel time for the airlines.
 
Japanese carriers JAL and ANA will change flight paths on routes connecting Tokyo to Manila, Jakarta and Singapore, while domestic flights will not be affected.
 
JAL has four flights a day on the expected rocket launch dates. Airline official Norio Higashimine said each flight will carry more fuel in case of an unexpected route change.
 
ANA is making similar route changes on five flights.
 
Philippine officials also told ships and fishing boats to avoid northeastern territorial waters where rocket debris may fall.
 
Meanwhile, Aurora province is now preparing for the rocket launch as the towns of Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Baler, and Dingalan are among the places identified by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as "spots" where debris may fall.
 
Other places include Bugey, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana towns in Cagayan; Palanan, Maconacon, Divilacan, and Dinapigue towns in Isabela; Real, Infanta, and General Nakar in Quezon.
 
People in Batanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte are also advised to take precautionary measures. (With reports from Reuters, AP, and Mark Anthony N. Manuel)
 
==Sorsoganons peacefully celebrate “Semana Santa” 2012==
*Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=801334042257
*Tuesday 10th of April 2012
:by Benilda A. Recebido
 
 
SORSOGON CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- Assessment of the Philippine National Police Sorsogon Provincial Office (PNP-SPPO) bared that aside from the electrocuted 16-year-old male in one of the beach cottages in Bacon District, Sorsogon City, the celebration of “Semana Santa,” a Spanish term for the Holy Week, was generally peaceful.
 
Devotees and Catholics in general were in their prayerful mood especially during the Visita Iglesia and processions on Good Friday. Priests in their Lenten homilies reiterated Pope Benedict XVI’s call for Charity which is the very heart of Christian Life.
 
According to PNP Sorsogon Director PSupt John CA Jambora, they attribute the success of the activity to the full support and cooperation shown by Sorsoganons, “that is why we are thankful to them that no untoward incidences were noted all throughout the entire observance of the Holy Week,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, passengers bound for Manila and Legazpi City were irritated with the insufficient number of bus and vans. According to some commuters departing for Manila, they had to wait for about six hours or more to be accommodated.
 
Philippine Coast Guard Sorsogon Station through PO2 Rico Gabion reported that their assessment of the observance of “Semana Santa” in Sorsogon this year was very successful since there were no problems and negative incidences noted. He admitted however, that fewer passengers in three major ports here were recorded compared to that of last year.
 
Latest data reported from Matnog station stated that there were 1,535 passengers in Matnog port. There were no reports yet from Pilar and Bulan stations as to the number of their passengers during Holy Week.  
 
However, PCG and PNP both said that they will keep on strictly monitoring major ports and terminals in the province as part of their “Oplan Summer Vacation” since tourists and vacationers will continue to flock for the summer season.
 
Aside from terminals, the PNP has also deployed their personnel including police trainees to areas frequently visited by tourists such as the town of Donsol for the whale shark inter-action, Bulusan for Bulusan Lake activities, Sorsogon City for its Paguriran Island, Pto. Diaz for mangrove tour, Casiguran for the famous freezing Orok Spring, Barcelona for its breathtaking and huge corals, as well as the province’s prime beach resorts in Bacon District, Sorsogon City, Gubat, Sta. Magdalena and Matnog towns, among others. (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)
 
==Sorsogon Police Office bags major award in “Takbokasyon 2012”==
*Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=771333873727
*Monday 9th of April 2012
:by Marlon A. Loterte
 
 
SORSOGON CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- Personnel of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office has proven anew their agility and prowess, garnering the major award in two categories during the fun run activity dubbed as “VAMOS SEMINARIO: TAKBOKASYON 2012” held in Sorsogon City in March 31, 2012.
 
Topping the five-kilometer(km) fun run were PO2 Jayie Encinares, PO1 Geraldine Dave, and PO1 Kwencie Ann Fortuno, while PO1 Mariel Esquiros bagged the first place for the 10-km run.
 
Said fun run activity was sponsored by Batch 1987 Seminarians of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary in Sorsogon City.
 
Meanwhile, SPPO Provincial Director PSupt John CA Jambora said that SPPO personnel does not only excel in running but even in dancing competition where policewomen of SPPO also got the second place award in the Ballroom Dance Competition during the Women’s Night, a culminating activity of this year’s women’s month celebration with the theme: “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability Everyone’s Responsibility,” held at the Multi-Purpose Building at Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City last March 30, 2012.
 
Ten contestants from different Provincial and City Police Offices of the Police Regional Office V (PRO5) were bested by the women of SPPO during the said dance competition.
 
Likewise, on March 26-30 members of the SWAT TEAM of Sorsogon Police Provincial Office got the second place during the SWAT competition and Hand Gun Classification Marksmanship Test at the PRO5 Grandstand in Villa Hermosa, Daraga, Albay and in Brgy. Padang, Legaspi City. (MAL/BAR/PCI NFMarquez-PPO-PIA 5, Sorsogon)
 
==Confessions of a materialist==
*Source: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/42385/confessions-of-a-materialist
*5:15 am | Sunday, April 8th, 2012
:by  Elmer A. Ordoñez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
 
 
At UP High in Padre Faura, after the war, we read Shakespeare, notably Hamlet, which, like all the bard’s plays, teems with memorable passages like the soliloquies and lines from the dialogue, as when Hamlet tells his stoic friend, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” This, after the ghost scene.
It has become a favorite comeback, albeit hoary with age, to doubting Thomases, and one feels smug at having quoted Shakespeare in the face of a non-believer.
Sometimes, though, I, a professed materialist, have been on the receiving end of this repartee, but I would say, “What philosophy?” and thereby engage the person in a friendly debate.
I wonder, however, why lately (the past 15 years or so) I have lost my fascination for antiquaria, like old houses and furniture. I still like to visit the bahay-na-bato in cities and towns, and marvel at the antique tables, chairs, cabinets made in the last two centuries here and abroad, and acquired by the ilustrado families, the nouveau riche at the time.
I remember my childhood vacations in the town of Juban, where I was born. I didn’t grow up there, so I missed the steady company of the elders who had lived in bahay-na-bato built for managers of the Ynchausti company tending the abaca and coconut plantations in Sorsogon.
My maternal grandfather (Capitan Lino Alindogan) himself owned tracts of these lands, including a portion of friar lands in the foothills of Mt. Bulusan, and lived in a house whose ruins (mainly stone and huge rotting logs) could still be seen in his poblacion compound before the war. The other old houses can still be seen along Maharlika highway.
Turn of the century
My memories are of the vacations spent with tio Miguel (half Andalusian) and tia Loleng in the house built at the turn of the century. It was finally blown down by a typhoon.
Juban is noted province-wide as an aswang town. Why so, I asked historian Luis Dery (who comes from Gubat). He said that Juban in pre-Spanish times was a center of babaylan. It seems that with the coming of the Spaniards, the friars demonized the faith healers and shamans as witches or mangkukulam, as the Church did to the “pagan” priests and priestesses in Europe.
I have since associated old houses with dark rooms lit at night with a candle or petro-max lamp, and the call of the resident tuko. When the lamp hissed out at night at my tio Miguel’s house in Juban, my brothers and I would huddle or snuggle together with pillows (abrazador) on a large mat under a mosquito net in the sala, where we boys were banished at bedtime. Dead ancestors in ornately framed pictures looked at us from the walls of the living room.
One morning after, older brother Jim swore that he woke up at night because he heard our tio Miguel talking to some people in the camarin below, where bales of abaca were stored. Jim ventured down the staircase and saw no one in the darkened bodega. He ran back to us as fast as he could.
On a trip to Ilocos not too long ago, a friend, Emily Tiongco from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, offered her ancestral house, Villa Fernandez, for us to stay in while in Vigan. The caretaker told us the big chalet-type house, with its stairs dividing in two in the patio, had been used earlier for the shooting of a film with Tom Cruise.
We were given the master bedroom, and had the run of the living room, like the one in Juban with fading black and white pictures of the family on the walls .
The four-poster bed had a capacious mosquito net hung from the canopy and cascading down the other end of the bed. We kept the light on in the adjoining toilet so we wouldn’t trip on the way to it in the middle of the night, in spite a street light filtering into the bedroom. My wife Elenita said the next morning that she felt presence in both the bedroom and bathroom. I said I felt the same way.
Back in Manila, Emily asked if we had met her grandmother. We could only smile weakly and thank her for the hospitality, but we vowed to ourselves never again to sleep in an ancient house doubling as a pension.
Original owners
Now, long empty houses give us the creeps. I even suspect the old table sold to us by antique dealer/writer Pete Daroy may be visited by wraiths of its original owners.
At the UP writers workshop in Baguio in the mid-’90s, we housed three resource persons/writers—Sedfrey Ordonez, Gemino Abad and Roger Sikat—at a prewar chalet on Quezon Hill. The UP Baguio dormitory was already full of loud writing fellows, and not suitable for our distinguished latecomers.
We had stayed a night in the chalet (owned by Elenita’s relatives) earlier, and we experienced what we later had in the Vigan house, so I told Sedfrey if he didn’t mind staying in a haunted house. Oh no, he said.
The following day we learned that sleeping arrangements for two rooms were changed into one room. One workshop wit suggested that all three be commended for valor. Another writer, rumored to be clairvoyant, claimed the “presence” in the house by pointing them out to our group, taking turns to visit the john.
We didn’t see a thing, but I did have again that eerie feeling as I walked along a narrow corridor. The caretaker living in the basement with his family said that skeletal remains had been dug up below the house, which was used by the Japanese before the war.
Nowadays Elenita and I can no longer savor new travel experiences. The last one in October last year was a China/Vietnam cruise from Hong Kong. The immediate members of the family were with us on this sea voyage. But my wife and I spend much more time together in our sylvan retreat in Cavite, with well-wishers visiting her in bed.
A few weeks ago, a healing priest came and gave solace to both of us. One of the healing rites that he performed was a procedure that has kept me in deep thought.
The young Redemptorist priest asked me to cup my hands behind me. He pressed down hard on my cupped hands and I fell on my knees. As I stood up, he put in my shirt pocket what he calls a healing patch, a square-inch cloth patch in blue with a red cross on it. He asked me again to cup my hands behind me.
He bore down hard on them this time, with his 75 kilos of weight. I saw him lift his feet for a second or so, and I, at 82, held, panting a bit. He then did the procedure on Elenita, who already wore the healing patch pinned on her front blouse, and she did not fall. Not his full weight was used, but in her frail condition, how could she do it?
 
==Cebu Pacific shells out P798.8M for new aircraft, adds more summer flights==
*Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/253867/economy/companies/cebu-pacific-shells-out-p798-8m-for-new-aircraft-adds-more-summer-flights
*April 4, 2012 6:26pm
:by gmanetwork.com
 
 
Cebu Air Inc. drew P798.84 million from the proceeds of its initial public offering (IPO) to make pre-delivery payments for seven aircraft last January and February, the operator of the Cebu Pacific airline revealed to the investing public Wednesday.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), Cebu Air said the net balance of proceeds from the IPO stood at P380.09 million on March 31 as per accounting procedures applied by SGV & Co.
The pre-delivery payments, in dollar terms, amounted to $18.32 million. The payments were channeled through Citibank N.A. and Banco de Oro.
 
More summer flights
In an earlier disclosure, Cebu Air said it will add 22 percent more Cebu Pacific flights in the summer months of April and May.
"Because of this increased seat capacity, passengers can take advantage of CEB's trademark low fares for travel this April and May. Plan your family or friends' exciting summer vacation by checking out the low-fare options on www.cebupacificair.com," said Candice Iyog, Cebu Air vice president for marketing and distribution.
 
Cebu Pacific will have more flights on these routes:
Cebu-Dipolog, Cebu-Legazpi and Cebu-Pagadian (daily flights, February 8 to June 15);
Cebu-Puerto Princesa (3 added flights to raise total to 10 flights, March 17 to June 4);
Manila-Legazpi and Manila-Puerto Princesa (total of 4 daily flights each);
Cebu-Bacolod (total of 17 weekly flights);
Cebu-Caticlan (3 daily flights), Cebu-Davao (5 daily flights); and
Cebu-Siargao (4 weekly flights).
“Legazpi is the gateway to whale shark encounters in Donsol, Sorsogon,” the airline noted.
“CEB remains the largest airline operating to and from Puerto Princesa, which is world-renowned for its Underground River. CEB is the only airline flying direct to Siargao, an international surfing destination,” the flag carrier also said.
The airline also decided to extend to June 4 its flight frequency additions for Manila-Cebu (total of 99 weekly flights), Manila-Bacolod (40 weekly flights) and Manila-Iloilo (7 daily flights).
 
==Joint venture of LGU Sorsogon City with LKY Dev’t. Corp. to create 500 jobs==
*Source: http://bicoltoday.com/?p=5333
*3-April-2012
:by Felix  ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr.
 
 
 
SORSOGON CITY (BicolToday.com/3-April-2012) – The agreement and understanding of LGU Sorsogon City with LKY Development Corporation is expected to create five hundred jobs for Sorsoganons.
It will materialize after the completion and full occupancy of the renovated Sorsogon Shopping Center now in its finishing stage of construction and the on-going Sorsogon Bay City project. The projects are hubs for fast food chains, drugstores, supermart, gas station and the Bay City will host condotels and marinas offering the view of the sunset of Sorsogon Bay. Both offer commercial leasing spaces.
The renovation of the old shopping center became one of the focal points during the first term of Mayor Leovic Dioneda, to attract and create job opportunities, doubled-up by the investment of Wilbert Lee, Chief Executive Officer of LKY Development Corporation, the biggest construction concern in Sorsogon, who foot the bill for the renovation.
When the project was tossed to the Sorsogon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wilbert Lee took the opportunity and the challenge to prove that Sorsogon City is a good investment area, thus a roadmap for domestic investors was created.
 
This is not the first time that LKY took a giant step, back in the late eighties, the construction firm responded to the offer of then Municipality of Sorsogon when it built a commercial building in a government lot fronting the public market, then another foothold when the diocesan leadership offered the development of the back portion of the cathedral lot which now stands as a landmark in the city proper.
This time, the response of Lee’s firm was a class act for Sorsogon City. It was a silent statement that private-public partnership can design, build and offer new landscape for business opportunities.
It started way back in 2009 during Dioneda’s first term, when the third city council was challenged by him to come-up with a resolution to attract investors for built-operate, built-lease, and built transfer scheme offering safety nets for investors.
LKY responded with a grand proposal not only to boost Sorsogon economy but put on record that the traffic problem of the city center be corrected. Thus the renovated Sorsogon Shopping Center when completed will host the tricycle integrated terminal and the Sorsogon Bay City project at Barangay Balogo will house the integrated bus, jeepney and van terminal. Rolling up its sleeves when the projects were given the green lights, LKY never look back. It was committed and it was proving to all that it is not lost in Sorsogon after all.
Both Mayor Dioneda and Wilbert Lee of LKY are sort of visionaries, they have the knack of what can be done and how can it be done. Dioneda created an investment climate, Lee responded in ways never imagined by Sorsoganons.
Simultaneously starting the project created employment to skilled workers and tap the labor force not only of the city but from the other towns of the province. Masons, carpenters, plumbers, welders, pipe fitters, steel fabricators and many more who for sometimes were not employed are now having a week pay to look-up. At its peak LKY was employing close to three hundred workers in the two projects pumping a large sum of money in the local economy. This was an indirect contribution of the construction firm in prime-pumping the local economy. The construction lessened the number of employment seekers at city hall.
The two projects are now the center piece of construction in the city. It’s because, Mayor Dioneda made a big difference and LKY of Wilbert Lee nurtured the big difference. BicolToday.com
 
==Firms vie for 38 coal prospects==
*Source: http://sorsogoncity.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/firms-vie-for-38-coal-prospects/
* April 2, 2012
:by  Amy R. Remo
 
 
 
The Department of Energy on Friday received 69 bids for contracts to explore and develop 38 highly prospective coal blocks across the country, considered an “overwhelming” number that proved investors’ unwavering confidence in the Philippines.
 
At the sidelines of the opening of bid offers Friday, Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. said the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 for coal attracted a lot of potential investors, of which about half were new players in the local coal industry.
 
Among the companies that submitted bids were Benguet Corp., Semirara Mining Corp., PNOC Exploration Corp., South Davao Development Co. Inc., SKI Mining and Empire Asia Mining Corp.
 
Layug said the DOE was targeting to award contracts within 150 days from the bid opening date yesterday, or by August 2012 at the latest. The coal blocks that had only one bidder will be processed faster than those that had six to eight bidders. For the coal blocks that did not have bidders, the DOE is set to re-offer these areas in future PECRs.
 
The offered coal blocks were in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay.
 
Initially, the DOE offered 30 coal blocks when it launched the PECR 4 for coal in December last year. Should all the 30 contracts be awarded, the DOE is expecting initial investments to run up to P2.4 billion within a two-year exploration period.
 
The number of areas, however, were increased to 38 blocks in anticipation of a huge number of bidders.
 
Layug stressed the need for the country to harness its own coal resources given an increasing demand for the commodity, which now stood at about 12 million metric tons a year. Local production averaged 7 million MT, of which 3 million tons are exported to various Asian markets. Coal imports remained huge at 7 million tons a year, he added.
 
It is expected that over the next 20 years, coal will remain the major fuel for power generation and the government continues to encourage the private sector to explore and develop the country’s prospective coal blocks to find additional reserves that can be used to address growing local demand.
 
By harnessing its own resources, the government believes that it will be able to push for energy independence that will allow it to reduce its fuel imports as well as lessen its vulnerability to global price fluctuations.
 
==TEAM ASIA TAKES 4-3 SERIES LEAD OVER TEAM PHILIPPINES AS CHANG BEATS ALCANO==
*Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-68282.html
*Sun, 01 Apr 2012
:by  Marlon Bernardino
 
 
 
TAIWANESE cue artist Chang Yu Long defeated Filipino Ronato "Volcano" Alcano bagging the top prize of the Philippine Bigtime Billiards Face-Off series on Saturday at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Paranaque City.
 
Chang won two straight racks to edged Alcano, 9-7, in the race-to-9 event backed up by Sorsogon Province Sports Patron Philip Escudero, Malungai Life Oil, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant, Servo Marketing, Hermes Sports Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), Airport Casino Filipino and The Philippine Star as official media partner.
 
The win was worth $5,000 for Chang while Alcano settled for $2,500 in the winner's break format, dubbed as Philippines versus Asia, jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34, and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.megasportsworld.com and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com. The win allowed Team Asia takes 4-3 series lead against Team Philippines.
 
Chang saw his big lead, 5-2, by winning three straight racks before Alcano fought back from the grave to cut the lead at 5-4 in favor of the former (Chang).
 
However, Chang won two of the three racks to go up, 7-5. Alcano managed to level the match at 7 in the 14th frame but the Taiwanese took the last two racks for the win.
 
“Luck played a part in my victory." said Chang through an interpreter. " Ronato (Alcano) is a very tough opponent." he added.
 
It shall be recalled that last March 24, Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante toppled Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun, 9-3, to lift Team Philippines series tied 3-3 against Team Asia.  
 
Earlier, Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei downed Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-4, last February 18. However, Bustamante pull off a come-from-behind win against Ko, 9-7, last February 25 to avenged the loss of his fellow Puyat Sports player Reyes. Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei, on the other hand beat Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 9-7, last March 3, then edged Dennis "Robocop" Orollo, 9-8, last March 10. But Carlo " The Black Tiger" Biado downed Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun, 9-3, last March 17 to cut the lead of Team Asia into a 3-2 score against Team Philippines in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards introduces a fresh new format for 2012.
 
Meanwhile, the PBB Face Off series resumes with a match pitting Liu Hai Tao of China against Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan on April 14, Liu then face Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo on April 21 and Fong Pang Chao of Chinese-Taipei opposite Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza on April 28.
 
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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.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

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.

Sorsogon hosts 3rd Bicol Prosecutors Convention

by (MAL/BARecebido-PIA Sorsogon)


SORSOGON CITY, May 11 (PIA) -- Around 115 participants and guests composed of national officers from the National Prosecutors League of the Philippines and prosecutors from across the Bicol region register to the 3rd Bicol Prosecutors Convention, which started Tuesday and to last until today, May 11.

Provincial Prosecutor Regina Coeli Gabito said participants, visitors and guests were warmly welcomed by Sorsogon Governor Raul R. Lee himself along with other high-ranking officials in the province.

“The convention is actually an annual activity of the prosecutors, specifically here in Bicol where we have an active and well-organized group, the Bicol League of Prosecutors, and for this year, our province serves as the host,” said Fiscal Gabito.

She also said that the primary purpose of the convention is to update the prosecutors of the current issuances of the Department of Justice (DoJ), brainstorming on their works as prosecutors, and at the same time socializing and harmonizing with their co-prosecutors in the whole Bicol region.

DOJ Sec. De Lima and Prosecutor General Claro M. Arellano of the National Prosecution Service are among the expected guest in the event but due to hectic schedules, they were not able to make it. De Lima is set to testify in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona from May 9 and 10, while the latter left for Hongkong to present a paper on anti-corruption in the international justice community, Gabito added.

The first day was highlighted by the Corporate Planning and Management Conference as per the Memorandum of the DoJ Secretary dated March 2, 2012 and a dinner, fellowship and socials with Gov. Lee and wife former governor Sally A. Lee.

Gabito said that she also took the opportunity to introduce the province of Sorsogon to the prosecutors who are also appreciable of the different tourism sites and products which place offers and among the areas to be visited on the second day, May 10, are Barcelona for its ruins and world heritage site, Bulusan for Bulusan Lake, and Gubat for its beaches and resorts.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sorsogon has also put up a stall at the lobby of the Bulwagan ng Katarungan for the entire duration of the activity displaying the local products to give way for the local traders and business establishments to earn during the event.

A fellowship through a short program with City Mayor Leovic Dioneda and city officials at the Sorsogon City Hall in Brgy. Cabid-an will be held today. Also, submission to the members and ratification of the Proposed Constitution and By-Laws of the Bicol Prosecutors League will be made with Deputy Regional Prosecutor Jose Demosthenes at the forefront.

The convention will be culminated with a visit to the residence of Senator Francis Escudero in Brgy. Buhatan, Sorsogon City, wherein the senator is expected to deliver a message to the prosecutors.

Fiscal Gabito also expressed her appreciation and thanks to the local leaders here specifically mentioning Sorsogon Gov. Raul R. Lee, former governor and now Executive Director of Sorsogon Provincial Management Office Sally A. Lee, City Mayor Dioneda, Sen. Escudero, Sorsogon’s 1st District Congressman Salvador H. Escudero II and 2nd District Congressman Dogracias Ramos, Jr., Barcelona Mayor and League of Municipalities of the Phils. Sorsogon Chapter president Mayor Romeo Fortes, Jr., Bulusan Mayor Michael Guysayko and Gubat Mayor Ronnel Lim for the full support extended to them and also for making her work easy.






Fish dealer nabbed over drugs in Masbate

by Dennis Carcamo


MANILA, Philippines - Anti-narcotics agents nabbed a fish dealer, who is a suspected member of a known drug ring operating in Albay, after he was caught selling illegal substance in Masbate City.

Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said PDEA agents and local police arrested Jesus Solla, 38, of Brgy. 28, Victor Village Legazpi City, Albay, at the Masbate port area.

"Solla is aware that his drug-dealing activities in Legazpi have generated...attention from authorities. So, he is starting to test the viability of Masbate as a new market while he temporarily scales down his operation in Legazpi City," Gutierrez said.

Acting on a tip from a confidential agent that Solla will be leaving the Port of Pilar, Sorsogon, authorities waited for the suspect’s arrival at the Masbate Port Area in Barangay Bapor, Masbate City on May 4, 2012. Solla arrived at the port at around 9:30 a.m. onboard a motor boat.

Authorities were able to recover three sachets of shabu and the motorcycle (PN 8981) which is believed to be stolen, brought along by Solla onboard the motorized banca.

Solla, who faces charges for transporting dangerous drugs, is now detained at the Masbate City Police Station.

Transport leader among the dead NPA rebels in Sorsogon clash

by Juan Escandor Jr.


DONSOL, Sorsogon — A transport leader in Bicol was among the three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels killed in an encounter in Barangay Pinamanaan of this town on Tuesday, the NPA in Sorsogon said in a statement released Wednesday morning. NPA’s Celso Minguez Command operating in Sorsogon province identified Joel Ascutia, who headed the Concerned Drivers and Operators-Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator (Condor-Piston), was one of the slain rebels. The two others were identified by military officials as Christian Llagas and Leopoldo Nebres. The statement said Ascutia, alias “Ka Pepe,” joined the communist rebels after seeking refuge from them last year. Ascutia was president of Condor-Piston from 2005 until last year. The rebel command “saluted the three slain NPA rebels for their revolutionary work in organizing the masses and hailed them as martyrs.” “Ascutia survived harassment and attempt on his life while still in the open mass movement,” added their statement. On July 13, 2009 Ascutia, a resident of Legazpi City, survived an attack by motorcycle-riding assailants in Daraga, Albay while the transport group joined the nationwide strike to protest oil prices. He survived the attack but was shot five times and hit in the leg and abdomen. Colonel Felix Castro Jr., commander of the 903rd Brigade in Castilla, Sorsogon, told the INQUIRER that Army soldiers chanced upon a group of some 15 NPA leaders at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The scene of encounter was around a half kilometer away from the village center of Pinamanaan, a remote village in Donsol, Sorsogon that is also in the boundary of Jovellar town in Albay. Castro said the Army soldiers of the 31st Infantry Battalion recovered from one of the NPA rebels an identification card with Ascutia’s name on it and an M16 rifle, 9 mm pistol, personal belongings and documents of “high intelligence value.”

3 suspected Reds killed in Sorsogon

by Edwin Sevidal and Noel Alamar, dzMM


MANILA, Philippines – Three suspected New People’s Army (NPA) were killed in an encounter with the military in Sorsogon, Bicol region on Tuesday morning.

Philippine Army Spokesperson Major Harold Cabunoc said members of the 31st Infantry Battalion clashed with an undetermined number of NPA guerillas in a remote village in Donsol town.

Three unidentified rebels were killed.

No casualties were reported on the side of the government.

BFP Sorsogon City intensifies “Ugnayan sa Barangay”

by Benilda A. Recebido


SORSOGON CITY, May 7 (PIA) -- Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Sorsogon City Fire Marshal SInsp Walter Marcial said that BFP’s campaign on fire prevention is going-on even if the Fire Prevention Month in March is over.

SInsp Marcial said that as part of the BFP’s mandate stated in RA 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008, Sorsogon City Fire Station has intensified its Fire Prevention Program through the Ugnayan sa Barangay.

Ugnayan sa Barangay is one among the many programs of the BFP that aims in educating residents of barangays in fire prevention and basic fire suppression techniques.

“Ugnayan sa Barangay is one of the strategies that our office implement citywide to help educate the constituents, Barangay Fire Safety Officers and barangay officials about our advocacy on fire safety awareness,” Marcial said.

“We also believe that through this strategy, we can cut the growing statistic of destructive fires particularly in fire prone areas or large residential areas within the city,” he added.

Just three days ago, personnel of BFP Sorsogon City conducted said Ugnayan activity in Brgy. Talisay drawing 20 participants from different households.

They were given introduction and overview of the activity and lectured on how to prevent fires, what to do in case of fire, how to use fire extinguishers, and fire safety tips.

How to apply first aid was also demonstrated, followed by the conduct of the pre-fire planning strategies.


Marcial encouraged barangay residents to constantly hold the same activity to make them updated on whatever information there is related to fire and disaster preparedness.

“Since January to April this year, we had already conducted Ugnayan sa Barangay in 10 barangays out of the 64 total number of barangays in the city. We had already distributed letters to the remaining barangays to inform them of their schedule hoping to conduct the same activity, of course, through the support and cooperation of its officials and residents as well, before the year ends,” he said. (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)

Crablet mentality stalks young earners in Sorsogon

by Oliver Samson


BARCELONA — Children in this seaside town brave sun and rain to gather day-old crabs to eke out a living.

At low tide, they gather crablets that sell for 75 centavos to P3 a piece to local buyers in Sorsogon for delivery to Pampanga and other regions where they are processed and sold as a gourmet food.

Imelda Romanillos, Labor provincial officer, said state policy prohibited child labor.

“No person below 15 of age is allowed to work,” she told Manila Standard. “If these minors collect crablets in the seaside only, there is no serious problem. The possible negative effect on children is loss of interest to go to school because they are earning.”

In case the children failed to attend their classes, will the parents face criminal charges?

“We will go to the place, not to reprimand, but assess the situation to base the safety nets on and offer help,” Romanilos said.

Chief Insp. Roque Merdegia, also a lawyer, agreed with the labor office.

“There is no violation of the labor law except when parents use coercion and expose the lives of children to danger,” he said.

Darzy Gacosta, a resident, commended the self-supporting kids doing a decent job.

“They would rather (work) than steal for food,” she said, noting that a crablet gatherer averaged about 30 pieces in summer and as many as a hundred during the cold months.

Aldrin, 11, said the fruits of his labor went to good use.

“I can provide my own allowance in school and save part of my earnings for a new pair of pants and T-shirt,” he said. “We are able to help our parents serve enough rice on the table.”

Elementary schools Principal Liza Salonga said work could distort priorities for the young.

“It can cause dropping out because if they get used to earning money they will become lazy to attend classes,” she said, adding that a suitable arrangement is needed. “It’s good if they do it only during weekend because they can help their parents.”

Bulusan Volcano Alert Level 1 status lowered

by (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)


SORSOGON PROVINCE, May 4 (PIA) -- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has finally lowered the alert level status of Mt. Bulusan from Alert level 1 or abnormal to Alert Level 0 or normal. This means that no eruption is foreseen in the immediate future.

Phivolcs Bulusan Volcano Observatory resident volcanologist Crispulo Diolata said that the lowering of the alert level status as stated in Bulusan Volcano Bulletin dated April 24, 2012, was due the overall decline of the monitoring parameters after the volcano’s last phreatic (steam-driven) eruption on May 13, 2011 as supported by the following observations:

(1) The frequency of volcanic earthquake occurrences has declined to baseline levels (0-2 events/day), indicating quiescence in the magmatic or hydrothermal system. Short-lived swarms (9-21 events/day) on 25 May, 10 August, 11 September and December of 2011, and 22 January of 2012, have been ascribed to crustal readjustments in the volcanic edifice after the May 2011 phreatic eruption.

(2) Results of precise leveling at both Inlagadian line on the north-northeastern slope and Mapaso line on the south-southeastern slope indicate that the volcano edifice has deflated since late November 2011. This suggests that no substantial pressure source in the subsurface, which could potentially trigger another eruption, can be detected.

(3) Steaming activity from the crater and known thermal vents has been frequently weak or wispy compared to the more moderate steam emissions during periods of unrest.

He also said that the bulletin issued on April 24, 2012 will be the last bulletin to be issued for Bulusan Volcano until new developments in monitoring parameters occur.

Meanwhile, in the light of the declaration, Diolata still remind the public to avoid entry into the 4-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) due to the perennial threat of sudden phreatic eruptions and rockfalls on the upper slopes. Furthermore, people living in valleys and along active river channels are cautioned to remain vigilant against sediment-laden streamflows and lahars in the event of heavy and prolonged rainfall.

Ha also said that tourists and mountain climbing enthusiasts are allowed to climb Mt. Bulusan, however, cautioned them to take extra caution against rock falls especially this time that there are barren spots along the mountain’s slope.

Natural resources office awards 100-ha land for mangrove development

by Benilda A. Recebido


SORSOGON CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- One hundred hectares of tidal mudflat was awarded by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here to the Seaweed Grower and Aquaculture Association of Sorsogon, Inc. (SEAGRASS) in Brgy. Gimaloto, Sorsogon City.

The SEAGRASS, a people’s organization composed of fisher folks and farmers in Brgy Gimaloto, West District, in this city, was chosen by the CENRO in coordination with the Sorsogon City Agriculture Office as beneficiary in line with the National Greening Program being implemented by the national government.

According to SEAGRASS president Redentor Lasay, the 100 ha. mudflat is currently dominated by mangrove species like bakawan, pagatpat, miyapi, lapis-lapis, and nipa, among others.

“As per the initial agreement, the SEAGRASS will serve as the steward of the site for mangrove development for 25 years starting on signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Inclusive of the agreement is for the SEAGRASS to protect and develop, as well as, benefit from the said area. Members will be allowed to harvest pruned branches of mangroves and nipa shingles as well as aquasilvi culture yields, under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),” Lasay explained.

CENR Officer Krisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez said the MOA is underway and will immediately be signed upon compliance of the prescribed requirements by the concerned parties.

She also added that this week, BFAR, in coordination with CENRO will conduct assessment and survey of the said mangrove project to determine the type of mangrove species suitable to the 50 ha. out of the awarded 100 ha. mudflat.

Propagules to be planted in the site will be bought directly from the SEAGRASS members, and the growing of mangroves will be monitored and taken good care of by the members for the span of six months as per the agreement.

City Agriculturist Adeline Detera said the City Agriculture Office is set to establish a one-hectare Mangro-vetum, a mangrove propagule nursery in Barangay Gimaloto for sustainability of the mangrove project and to showcase at the same time a rare package of mangrove species both for tourism and educational enhancement.

Meanwhile, SEAGRASS is currently a beneficiary of aquasilvi culture project grant of BFAR which includes seaweed farming and green mussel (tahong) production which is soon to harvest anytime in May this year; the project amounted to P150,000.

Aside from this, BFAR has also established “hilay," a fish-breeding and shelter area which, at the same time, serve as protection against trawl and dynamite fishing and any other form of illegal fishing activities.

SEAGRASS was also granted by BFAR with 6.5 horse power motorized banca and a nipa hut for the convenience and smooth management of the members of the organization. (BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)

Aquino inaugurates state-of-the-art Doppler radar station in Virac

by MIA M. GONZALEZ / REPORTER


BATO, Catanduanes—President Aquino on Wednesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Doppler radar station of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in this typhoon-prone province, which will help improve government response to potential disasters.

The Virac Doppler Radar is under the P174-billion project for the improvement of the meteorological radar system in the Philippines funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), with two more to be set up in Aparri, Cagayan, in October and in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, next year.

The project seeks to effectively mitigate the devastation caused by tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena, and enhance the capability of Pagasa in monitoring tropical cyclones monitoring, especially those coming from the Pacific Ocean to protecting lives and property.

“This will give us more information and will help us predict more accurately the direction, the impact and the intensity of weather disturbances approaching our country. This means that we’ll be better prepared—that fewer Filipinos will be victimized by the vagaries of weather,” the President said in his speech.

Mr. Aquino said that with the new system in place, the public can be assured that the government “is readier than ever to respond to these threats, and to help our people recover from potential damages.”

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the new facility “is the most vital and strategic Doppler radar installation facility” as it faces the Pacific Ocean. “We made a rough estimate—95 percent of all typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean can be seen here. This can cover the whole Bicol region, including Masbate and parts of Samar,” Montejo said.

He noted that the Doppler radar station in Virac has a 95-percent accuracy, based on tests that his department conducted.

“This will really give advance information for Bicol region and also give advance information for Metro Manila,” he said.

Montejo said on Tuesday afternoon, the Virac Doppler Radar indicated rainfall in Guiuan to measure 37 millimeters in three hours, which was the exact same measurement shown by the rain gauge in that town, and that two other tests conducted in Legazpi City and Sorsogon showed the same level of accuracy.

The Philippines has seven other Doppler radars that were funded by the national government.

He said that with the type of sophisticated Doppler radar in use, the government can see, in real time, the rainfall in the covered area, and would help the Department of Science and Technology fulfill the President’s directive of giving flood forecasts at least six hours in advance, especially in places along major river systems all over the country.

“It will help eliminate the element of surprise because we would know for sure where the rainfall is,” Montejo said.

The President thanked the Japanese government and Jica for supporting the country’s disaster-mitigation efforts, and committed that the Philippines “will always be ready to do what it can to return your kindness.”

Motohiko Kato, deputy chief of mission and consul general of the Japanese Embassy, said that Japan, like the Philippines, has suffered from natural disasters “so as an important neighbor to each other, we decided to construct this facility so the Filipino people can prevent the occurrence of such disasters to this country.”

An improved meteorological radar system in the Philippines would enable Pagasa to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of severe weather phenomena and associated hazards such as intense rainfall, destructive winds, and transmit these information on real-time, and processed/ analyzed more efficiently, the project briefer said.

It would also allow Pagasa to detect localized severe systems such as thunderstorms and tornadoes affecting the Bicol region, and heavy rainfall event vital for flood and landslide monitoring and warning system.

The President also switched on the Solong and Hitoma 1 mini-hydropower plants, which will augment power supply in Catanduanes.

The mini-hydroplants are the first to be developed by Sunwest Water and Electricity Inc. (Suweco) in the small island grids covered by the Special Power Utilities Group (Spug) of the National Power Corporation.

Suweco president Elizaldy Co said his company spent P540 million to construct the plants, and that it will invest another P500 for expansion plans, “to complete the needs of Catanduanes of another three megaWatts.

In Photo: President Aquino converses with Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of the lone district of the province after he inaugurated the Solong and Hitoma 1 Hydroelectric Power Plants and the Pagasa new radar tower station in Barangay Buenavista, Bato, Catanduanes. The Solong and Hitoma mini-hydro plants are the first-ever to be developed by a private entity—Sunwest Water and Electricity Inc.—in the small island grids covered by the Special Power Utilities Group of the National Power Corp. Pagasa’s new Doppler radar station is expected to mitigate impacts of devastating typhoons in the country. (Jay Morales Malacañang Photo Bureau)

Albay governor to seek reelection

by MANLY M. UGALDE 


LEGAZPI CITY – Amid speculations that he will abandon the Capitol and seek a Senate seat in next year’s election, Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said he would seek reelection to complete his three terms in office as governor of Albay province. The announcement was made following the playing of the governor’s jingles on local air lanes.

Salceda said he was inclined to run for a Senate post but frankly said he will not win in the 2013 senatorial election, citing the number of Bicolanos identified as candidates.

He counted Justice Sec. Leila de Lima of Iriga City and former Sen. Migz Zubiri whose mother is from Libon, Albay. Salceda said three incumbent senators are also running for reelection such as Chiz Escudero of Sorsogon, Antonio Trillanes of Albay and Peter Alan Cayetano whose wife Taguig City Mayor Ma. Laarni L. Cayetano, is also from Tiwi, Albay.

“With six Bicolanos identified as running in the Senate including me, I am certain I may not have the space to win. The five names for the Senate posts are no joking bets,” Salceda said.  He added he needs to seek reelection to finish his many projects, among them the Southern Luzon International Airport located in Daraga town which President Aquino had given the go signal to proceed after 18 months of review.

Tourism Sec. Ramon Jimenez said the Southern Luzon Airport project should be completed by 2014, saying it has ready funding.

“You need an airport 24/7 to cater to the expected big influx of both foreign and local tourists,” Jimenez told local reporters during his recent visit in Legazpi City.

Local officials are queuing as to who would dare fight Salceda for governorship. Speculations in the political circle showed no name for the governorship has cropped up yet to fit against Salceda who may end up running unopposed.

Villar still the 'richest' senator

by Christina Mendez


MANILA, Philippines - Senator Manny Villar Jr. and wife, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar seemed to have retained their hold onto their titles as the richest among the country’s legislators.

Villar’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 2011 showed that his and his wife's combined net worth was P854,213,716.

A comparison of Villar’s SALN in 2010 showed that his assets increased from P 725,221,964 to 2011’s P 854,213,716. In 2009, Villar’s assets were higher at P 947,883,619.

As in their previous SALN, the Villar couple listed business interests in Fine Properties, Inc., M.B. Villar Co, Inc., Macys Inc, Mooncrest Property, Hollinger Holdings, and the latest one acquired in 2011, which is the Manuela Corporation. The Villars are involved in the real estate business, which vast companies include the Vista Land residences.

Meanwhile, the SALNs of all 23 senators, who are sitting as judges in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, remained scarce at the Senate as of Monday, the deadline imposed by the Civil Service Commission for the submission of the document. Corona is facing impeachment for three articles, among these is his alleged failure to truthfully declare some of his alleged properties and dollar accounts in his previous SALNs.

Some members of the Senate media tried to ask certified true copies of the 2011 SALN of all THE senators, but a staff member at the Office of the Senate Secretary said they WEre still collating all the submitted documents, and the release of documents will likely be made within 15 days.

As of press time, four senators have been transparent about their SALN. They include Villar, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Escudero.

In Villar’s SALN, he listed at least six residential houses acquired from various dates mostly in Las Piñas City. The couple listed purchase as mode of acquisition. They also placed both the assessed and fair market values of the properties which totaled to P4.588.619.


The Villar power couple also listed investments in shares of stocks amounting to P 219,228,941 and other real and personal properties pegged at P 630,396,156 or a total of P 849,625.097 in personal and other properties.

The Villars did not have any liabilities as reflected in the 2011 SALN. Their two relatives are in the public office: Villars’ son, Rep. Mark Villar, and Mayor Vergel Aguilar, the senator’s brother-in-law.

Meanwhile, initial figures from Sen. Pia Cayetano’s staff showed that her assets decreased at to P72,058,846.58 in 2011 from P76,775,628.71 in 2010.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson also filed his SALN with a total net worth of P22,637,612.46 for 2011. His net worth in 2010 was pegged at P 24.729-million, indicating a dip in his 2011’s net worth.

The former police chief’s assets include a lot acquired in 1989 in Silang, Cavite with current fair market value of P 800,000 and building acquisition cost at P 160,000. Lacson has placed the amount of P 23,208,028.71 under cash on hand/bank; P 3.5-million in jewelry; P 1.2-million in furniture and antiques; stocks and investments, P 9,217,500; motor vehicles, P 1.5-million and assorted firearms at P 800,000.

Lacson’s liabilities include an income tax payable at P 1,597,916.25; and P 15-million in loans. There is a note in the SALN, saying that the senator was a co-borrower/guarantor for Megastar Realty on a bank loan of P 100-million.

Chiz confirms 'separation' in SALN

Sen. Francis Joseph “Chiz” Escudero’s total net worth was pegged at P 9,867,082.09. He listed two residential units in New Manila, Quezon City which were acquired in 2005 and 2008, respectively. The first one had an assessed value of P570,860 and current market value of P1,631,030; while the second unit was pegged at an assessed value of P431,960 and a current fair market value of P1,234,180.

The two units had acquisition values of P3.6 million, and P3 million.

Escudero listed P 1.2-million in cash assets; jewelry acquired from 1979 to 2000 now totaling to P 1.37-million, Partnership Int. worth P 213,441.29; and three cars acquired in 2011.

The vehicles include a 1995 Range Rover Classic worth P 1 million; 1969 BMW worth P333,640.80; and a 1996 Toyota Land Cruiser worth P650,000.

All accounts for Escudero’s total assets at P11,367,08.09 while he has a personal loan amounting to P 1.5 million.

Escudero also made known his business interest with EMSA VVIL Law since 1994.

The senator also listed six relatives in government service, including his father, Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III; and his paternal uncles, Sorsogon Vice Gov. Antontio Escudero Jr, Casiguran vice mayor Ramon Escudero, Casiguran councilors Rico Hatoc and Dennis Escudero; and a cousin, Krunimar Escudero, a legal officer.

In his two-page SALN, Escudero confirmed his separation with his wife, Cristine, when he filed yesterday SALN before the Office of the Senate Secretary. Escudero indicated that he and his estranged wife, Cristine, with whom he had twins, are already “separated-in-fact”.

'Poorest' senator

Meanwhile, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s net worth for 2011 showed a bit of increase compared to 2010. Trillanes pegged his total net worth at P3,897,121.50.

Dubbed as the “poorest” among the senators last year, Trillanes listed three properties including a 240 square meter residential lot in Gen. Trias, Cavite; a 308-meter residential lot in Antipolo City and a 60 square meter residential condominium with a parking lot in Paranaque City. In all the three properties, Trillanes listed both the assessed and fair market values as well as acquisition costs which equates to P 5.092-million in his real property assets.

A total of P 4.780-million was reflected in Trillanes’ personal property and other assets which include cash on hand/bank accounts including AFPSLAI, PNSLAI and PAFCPIC at P 1.520-million; jewelry, furniture and antiques etc at P475,000; investments (private insurance and premium PD) at P220,000; a Kia Rio and Toyota Grandia, both acquired through loans in 2011. The two vehicles had acquisition costs of P 675,000 and P 1.89-million respectively.

Trillanes filed his SALN on March 20 this year, way ahead the April 30 deadline.

Trillanes, former renegade soldier turned senator also listed a total of P 6,784,878.50 in liabilities, which include two housing loans and two car loans.

He acquired a P1,753,696.01 housing loan with Pag-ibig Fund, and another one with the Bank of the Philippine Islands at P2,574,049.49. The two car loans with PS Bank were pegged at P 2,457,133.

In his 2010 SALN, Trillanes listed assets totaling P3.836 million, which included a 120-square meter residential lot in General Trias, Cavite; a 308-square meter lot in Antipolo; and a residential condominium in Parañaque worth P3 million. He had P3.880 million in loans as liabilities.






Summer heat driving whale sharks deeper into sea waters

by TJ Burgonio

Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines–Even the sizzling temperatures could be scaring away the Butanding in Donsol Bay, Sorsogon.

While more tourists are hitting Donsol’s beaches this summer, there are fewer sightings of the main draw: the gentle whale sharks, the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF) said Saturday. Donsol’s surface water temperature averages 28.3 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees hotter than the average of 26.1 degrees Celsius recorded in the 2010 summer, WWF said. “Our initial findings seem to indicate that the whale sharks are staying in deep water, possibly to avoid the heat,’’ WWF whale shark expert Dave David said in a statement. “They are also highly migratory creatures, so it is not easy to regularly predict their whereabouts.’’ In the summer of 2001, there were also very “few sightings’’ of the whale sharks. On top of the warm sea surface temperatures, the human factor might have something to do with it, too, the international conservation group said. “Donsol now has far more visitors than it can handle. Coupled with the fact that sightings are decreasing, more and more interaction violations are being reported,” WWF Donsol project manager Raul Burce said. Quoting tourist Anton Lim, WWF said some swimmers touched the sharks, and bancas raced to where a shark was spotted. Under the rules, only a single boat of six swimmers is allowed per shark; swimmers should be 3 meters away from its body, and 4 meters away from its tail; they can only interact for 10 minutes, and they can neither touch nor resort to flash photography. Boats are allowed to tour for three hours. WWF called on tourists, boatmen and guides to stick to the rules. “The policies were designed not just to protect the whale sharks, but tourists as well. A 30-foot shark can accidentally swat a swimmer straying too close to its tail,’’ Burce said. “By respecting the rules, we’re minimizing our impacts on the ecosystem, especially the sharks.’’ With fewer sightings, Donsol operators are also offering firefly and mangrove tours. The WWF is attempting to track shark movements through state-of-the-art tracking monitors, instead of relying solely on the trained eyes of spotters.

CSC modified suspension of Sorsogon prov’l employee

by Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr.


SORSOGON CITY (BicolToday.com/28-April-2012) – The decision of the commission proper of the Civil Service modifying the suspension order of CSC Region V against provincial employee Tiere Dagñalan of the accounting department was a relief for the fiscal examiner who was initially suspended for one year without pay for infraction of RA 6713. The promulgation of March 12 this year signed by CSC Chairman Francisco Duque III granted the arguments in the appeal of Dagñalan to the regional commission when it meted the suspension on October 10, 2011. The administrative case was filed against him by former City Councilor Fulton Baylon for simple neglect of duty for his failure to provide public records requested by the councilor in the performance of his duty as an elected official of the City of Sorsogon. Baylon on several instances failed to secure the documents because of delays attributed to the fiscal examiner specifically compliance to furnished the latter of Executive Order 05-002 issued by then City Mayor Sally Lee. As a public record, Baylon argued that he being a member of the city council is not subject of the executive order for he is requesting the document in aid of legislation. Inspite of this, Dagñalan failed to release the record on time. Using RA 6713 as a last resort, Baylon charged Dagnalan for violation of Sec.5, paragraph (a) and (c) which provides the obligations of public officials and employees to act promptly on letters/request within fifteen working days from receipt thereof requiring action taken on the request received. Failing to appropriately act on it, Dagnalan was found to commit a simple neglect of duty.. The one year suspension without pay was opposed by the suspended employee when he filed a petition for review saying that the violation is a first offense and his length of service were considered by the commission proper to modified the decision of its regional office. “The meaning of ‘acting promptly’ on letters and request, in contemplation of the law does not always mean automatic approval of the request of the public. It could mean disapproval or even withholding of any action depending on whether the request or letter complies with the requirements provided for by the law and office policies and procedures”, the Commission pointed out. But it did not totally convince the commission en banc that an act of simple neglect of duty was not committed;. The modified order lessened the period of suspension form one year without pay to one month and one day without pay was received by the suspended employee on April 19, copies were furnished to the Provincial Human Resource Management office and the Office of the City Mayor for the act was committed by the employee when he was detailed at the city government in 2002 as officer-in-charge of the city accounting department. The modified decision was release by the CSC secretariat and liaison office on March 22 of this year. BicolToday.com






Ex-Bull May Join SanMig Staff

by WAYLON GALVEZ


MANILA, Philippines — Craig Hodges, who played with Michael Jordan and won two NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, is in the country to hold basketball clinics although he may find himself working for San Miguel Corporation (SMC), owner of three teams in the PBA.

Hodges, 51, who played 10 seasons in the NBA with four different teams and was part of the Bulls team that won the 1991 and 1992 championships, arrived a week ago and had conducted clinics in Sorsogon and in Naga City. He plans to hold several more in Manila until May 1.

Although he is here to teach basketball, he is open to work as coach, or as consultant. He already has a scheduled meeting with officials of SMC, owner of PBA teams Petron Blaze, Barangay Ginebra and B-Meg, and Asean Basketball League’s San Miguel Beer, to explore employment opportunities.

“I was invited to come over to try and take a look at basketball opportunities over here, as far as possibly coaching and possibly doing some consultant work,” said the 6-foot-2 Hodges who was a three-time Three Point Shootout champion in the NBA All-Star Weekend (1990-1992).

“For me it’s an opportunity,” said Hodges, who will meet SMC official Noli Eala, consultant and former PH team coach Rajko Toroman, and B-Meg mentor Tim Cone today.

Eala said they are meeting with Hodges to see if he can help the SMC teams.

“We’re always open to improve our teams,” Eala told the Bulletin in a phone interview yesterday. “All are exploratory talks, no specific or exact detail yet. We’ll also have to see his time table, his availability, and what he can do for us.”

Hodges, a native of Park Forest, Illinois, was invited to observe the B-Meg coaches’ meeting prior to Game 2 arranged by assistant coach Koy Banal. He later chatted with Cone, a disciple of the ‘triangle’ offense.

Hodges is very familiar with the system as he played college ball at Long Beach State under coach Tex Winters who devised the ‘triangle’ offense which Phil Jackson used to win six NBA titles for Chicago and five with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hodges was also guest of the PBA during Game 2 of the current title series.

Hodges’ last NBA job was as shooting coach of the Lakers, a job he held from 2005 until last year.

For now, however, it’s teaching kids the game’s fundamentals.

“That’s my passion. I just want to make sure that young players understand the game,” said Hodges, whose trip here was financed by his US-based group Upper Echelon with partner Kevin Gray.






903rd Brigade chosen as 9ID’s Best for 2011

by MAL/BAR-PIA5/903rd Bgde, PA)


SORSOGON CITY, April 26 (PIA) -- The 903rd Infantry (Fight and Defend) Brigade was recently chosen by Philippine Army headquarters as the best Infantry Brigade (Inf Bgde) of the 9th Infantry (Spear) Division for the year 2011 receiving the Award of Merit by the Commanding General of the Philippine Army and the Command Plaque by Commander, 9ID.

Commanding Officer of 903rd Inf Bgde Col. Felix Castro Jr. said that considering the imperatives of IPSP “Bayanihan” and its emphasis on both combat and non-combat dimensions of military operations, the Brigade pursued efforts to link with agencies that could help in the development of the communities in Sorsogon and Masbate. It has opted to focus its efforts in a certain area rather than have projects in many dispersed barangays.

"By pouring in development projects in a selected focus area, the improvement could easily be felt by the people and there is a higher chance of success. Neighboring communities will eventually also benefit from the improvement economic environment," he said.

The first Brigade focused area is Brgy Pandan in Castilla, Sorsogon which used to be influenced by the NPAs before the area was cleared in 2009. The “Tarabangan sa Brgy Pandan” Project started with the construction of a two-classroom building sponsored by ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Sagip Kapamilya for Pandan High School.

Other projects soon followed after the initiative of ABS-CBN: one classroom building funded by Cong. Salvador Escudero III; another classroom building funded by DepEd; two-classroom (two-storey) building funded by DepEd; 5 road improvement projects programmed for this year; ongoing cementing of the irrigation canal (P30M) funded by DA; the recently concluded six-month feeding program by ABS-CBN; and the introduction of abaca growing by FIDA. The Brigade also has six Bayanihan Iskolars sponsored by ABS-CBN and The Lewis College in Sorsogon City.

Another two-classroom building in Cabancalan Elementary School in Aroroy, Masbate also sponsored by Sagip Kapamilya was inaugurated last January.

Mayor Enrico Z. Capinig of Aroroy, Masbate committed funds for the cooperatives of the women’s organization and the Barangay Defense System or BDS. He also promised to build a high school next year. Two scholarship slots will also be given by ABS-CBN aside from the feeding program. Funds are now being sourced for the concreting of the road.

Col. Castro further said that the Brigade has been active in the programs of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA). The two provinces in its area have received funds for development- Sorsogon got P30 million for its seven focus municipalities and Masbate received P50 million for its three focus municipalities.

The PAMANA Convergence Unit for Sorsogon which involves representatives from the different government agencies has been a good venue for us to recommend projects and target areas for development.

"Also, we have been able to bring medical services to far-flung barangays. Worth mentioning is a medical mission conducted by the Spanish NGO Asociacion Valenciana de Asistencia Sanitaria y Social Voluntarios (AVASSV) in Barangays Pandan and Amomonting of Castilla and San Pascual in Casiguran, Sorsogon. The television program Alagang Kapatid of TV5 also had a medical mission in Brgy Calintaan, Matnog, Sorsogon," explained Col. Castro.

"We support the School of Peace Program of the Bicol Consortium for Peace Education and Development (BCPED) which is funded by OPAPP. Soldiers are always involved in the activities of San Isidro Elementary School in Castilla which is a pilot School of Peace. We have convinced Dr Herbert Rosana Ph.D, BCPED Director and Head of the Department of Peace Studies of Bicol University, to include the public schools in the municipality of Castilla in the School of Peace Program. A proposal has been made for this to happen," he further said.

The official also said that in addition to their active partnership with the stakeholders towards the development of these provinces, the Brigade also gave equal efforts in meeting the threats posed by those who hinder development. "Last year, we were able to recover 68 assorted firearms in several encounters including a cal .30 light machine gun, two AK47 rifles, and M16 rifles. Sixty-seven improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were also recovered. We were able to repulse the attack by the NPAs against some police stations and military detachment," he said.

The exemplary performance of the 903rd Infantry se accomplishments have led to Looking back, the Brigade has been able to perform exceedingly well in its combat and non-combat operations. This could be attributed to a pool of well-motivated, well-trained and experienced personnel who gets the job done.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Castilla led by Mayor Olive Bermillo has recently donated a 2-hectare lot for the brigade headquarters. Another hectare will be given this year. The Deed of Donation was signed last 17 November by Gen Eduardo SL Oban Jr, CSAFP, and Mayor Bermillo. "We intend to build a “green camp” where our soldiers could contribute to the environment," said Col. Castro.

Poor folks in Sorsogon taught how to make a living from ‘hilot’

by Tarra Quismundo

Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines—For a poor community in Sorsogon, the traditional “hilot” home remedy will soon become a source of livelihood. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is introducing the old-school Filipino massage method as a career option to residents of Prieto Diaz town in Sorsogon, a community raring to venture into eco-tourism and wellness services. Tesda partnered with the local government to train selected residents in several courses, including food and beverage services, hairdressing, cooking and the traditional Filipino tough therapy in efforts to “mainstream” hilot and develop it into a means of living. A total of 100 students—25 in each course—started training on April 20 at Sorsogon’s Bulusan Vocational Technical School. Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva said the agency would shoulder the training cost. “Through this partnership with the local government, we hope Tesda can breathe life into this town by tapping its human resources for the development of its wellness and eco-tourism potentials,” Villanueva said in a statement. Tesda said that while the fifth-class town is rich in potential tourist attractions, most of some 20,000 residents in Prieto Diaz have an average P100 daily income from fishing and farming. Through the program, Tesda and the local government aim to give Prieto Diaz residents a break at the health and wellness and food and beverage industries, where skilled workers are of high demand, said the agency. “The people recognize the urgent need to get its acts together with national agencies and indigenous communities to develop significant market niche in beauty and wellness of body, mind and spirit, to create new jobs, alternative employment and business opportunities for its people particularly the new entrants to the labor force,” the agreement said. Those who will graduate from the program will undergo Tesda assessment for certification.






‘Manghihilot’ to go mainstream

by Alvin Murcia


THE traditional masseurs will become go mainstream once the training of those practicing it in the neighborhood is finished.

This was the assurance of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva.

He said at present training of masseurs is being held in the town of Prieto Diaz in Sorsogon.

Aside from the masseurs, training for food and beverage services, commercial cooking and hairdressing started last April 20.

"Through this partnership with the local government, we hope TESDA can breathe life into this town by tapping its human resources for the development of its wellness and eco-tourism potentials," said Villanueva.

He explained that the training pushed through after an agreement was signed with Sorsogon Governor Raul Lee.

Under the agreement, TESDA will conduct the training in Bulusan Vocational Technical School along with the assessment.

The program was implemented in consonance with the aim of giving job opportunity in Sorsogon because of its growing eco-tourism.






Gubat town launches reading program for kids

by (MAL/BAR-PIA5 Sorsogon)


SORSOGON CITY, April 23 (PIA) -- Gubat municipal government, the Sangguniang Kabataan, the Department of Education and the Gubat Parents Teachers Association Federation have launched a reading program for children.

Named after one of Gubat’s famous writers, the Delfin Fresnosa Reading Recovery Program was conceptualized by the local government of Gubat which started on the third week of April and which will end on May this year.

“We would like to make the program sustainable, targeting as our clientele those non-reader children and those children who would want to enhance further their reading skills,” said Gubat Municipal Mayor Ronnel Lim.

“Reading skills are very important. Without a solid ability to read, children will be unable to make use of whatever improvements in our local school system,” he said.

According to Lim, selected incoming Grade 2 pupils will each be assigned a reading partner. The reading partners are volunteer Gubatnons who have intended to spend laudably their vacation in Gubat town this summer by volunteering as tutors to the children in their respective barangays. The reading partner will visit the pupil at his own home three times a week, 30 minutes to one hour per meeting, during the entire duration of summer vacation.

“The municipality provided the training and instructional materials to be used for the program,” he added.

The young local chief executive also said that they have opened the reading recovery and enhancement program not only for Gubatnons who are currently residents of the town, but even to those Gubatnons who plan to spend their summer vacation in the town and are willing to voluntary render their services and tutorial skills for free in order to help develop the reading abilities of children in their respective areas.

Lim said that the program is also part of giving tribute and recognition to the contributions made by one of Gubat famous writers, Delfin fresnosa. Born on May 23, 1915 in Barangay Bulacao, Fresnosa taught at the National Teachers College and at the University of the East, and served as the editor of “Boy's World,” the official organ of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

Fresnosa was part of the group of thirteen writers who called themselves the Veronicans (named after Veronica who mirrored the true face of Christ). Fresnosa's short stories regularly appear in anthologies of the Best Philippine short stories. He died on December 19, 1988.

Mayor Lim further said that they still welcome more volunteers and that interested Gubatnons may just visit his office at the Gubat Municipal Building.






Nora, Vilma Rivalry Dividing Bishops

by LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO


MANILA, Philippines - Catholic prelates are split on the proposal to make Nora Aunor or Vilma Santos as national artist.

Out of the six prelates that were informally sur¬veyed, one bishop – Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes – vot¬ed for “Nora.” “I select and en¬dorse Nora as na¬tional artist now!” he said in a text message.

Bastes, mem¬ber of the Perma¬nent Council of the Catholic Bish¬ops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said he was particularly impressed with the performance of the “superstar” in the movie “Himala”.

He said “Vilma” could be declared as national artist years later.

Two prelates, on the other hand, are in favor of making both as national art¬ists.

“Honor them both. They repre¬sent the divide be¬tween the Filipino crowd. The ‘bakya’ and the ‘sapatos’ crowds,” Baguio Bishop Carlito Cen¬zon said.

Malolos Bish¬op Jose Oliveros agreed with Cen¬zon, saying both artists are deserv¬ing of such title.

“Both can be made as national artist. Perhaps, this will not require an act of Congress. An Executive Order would do should President Aquino agree with it,” he said.

The three re¬maining bishops, however, chose not to comment on the matter, saying it is not their expertise.

The three bish¬ops were retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco, and Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutier¬rez.

Earlier, House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo “Erin” Ta¬ñada initiated calls to declare Vilma Santos as a national artist after Bacolod City Rep. Anthony Golez filed a reso¬lution seeking the proclamation of Nora Aunor of the same title.

Tañada said Santos equally deserves to be a national artist for her contribution in lifting the film in¬dustry by captur-ing the hearts of Filipino moviegoers when she competed against Aunor dur¬ing the 1970s.

Donsol's Butanding Festival reels off May 18

by (MAL/DCA, Legazpi City)


DONSOL, Sorsogon, April 20 (PIA) -- All roads lead to this far-flung coastal municipality as townsfolk celebrate the yearly Butanding Festival and the feast of their patron, St. Joseph the Worker, on May 18.

According to town Mayor Jerome Alcantara, the celebration will be both solemn and ultimately festive this time because they will put together the yearly town fiesta in honor of Sorsogon's patron saint and the Butanding Festival to welcome the reappearance of the whale sharks, which usually come in droves during this time of the year.

The festival used to be held in April but local officials decided to move it to May 18 in time with the town’s fiesta celebration, so that it would be more fun in Donsol during the day, the mayor added.

The town fiesta marks the homecoming of Donsolanos who are now living elsewhere of the country and abroad to take part in the traditional revelries while the festival officially signals the opening of another high adventure season of underwater interactions between humans and the enormous but gentle sea mammal.

“Dual celebrations in a day,” the mayor said. “During the town fiesta, we cater not only to our returning town mates but also to thousands of visitors from nearby places who have been accustomed of celebrating with us.”

“In the butanding season, we play host to another thousands of tourists coming in for whale shark interactions,” Alcantara said.

With two festivities rolled into one, the merrymaking will be certainly fabulous, he added.

There will be holy masses to be capped by mass baptismal of babies at the town’s century-old church in the morning, followed by the traditional food offerings in every house until nighttime and holy procession in the evening, apart from other church activities in honor of the patron saint.

Also part of the fiesta activity is a civic-military parade.

It will be followed by the parade of whale shark replicas to be presented by street dancers in colorful native attires in honor of the butandings in the afternoon.

Another highlight of the festivities is the fluvial procession at the mouth of the long and winding Donsol River where a large pod of butandings usually converge at his time of the year.

It will be participated in by an armada of outrigger boats decorated with whale shark replicas and festive colorful buntings.

In the evening after the holy procession, ballroom and disco dancing will be held at the sprawling town plaza.

Tourists will be offered tours along the Donsol River for firefly watching, which serves as another spectacular attraction.

There will be games and stalls put up at the town plaza all night long while music continually plays until the wee hours of the next morning. People would be in the streets talking with each other and having fun.

“Butanding Festival is the way how we give thanks to the Lord of giving us the gentle butanding. It may not be as glamorous compared to other festivities in the Philippines, but we consider it the most important part of the year as it is the best way we express our thoughts as people and nature-lovers,” Alcantara said.

The presence of whale sharks in the coastal waters here was known to the local residents for over 100 years. But they believed these gentle giants were dangerous.

This wrong notion changed when in January 1998, a group of scuba divers discovered its presence and interacted with the whale sharks.

Even the members of the diving group were having second thoughts if the giant creature was docile, they came in contact with it and found out it is indeed harmless.

The municipality then was categorized only as fourth class for being very poor and known only a part of the geography and national statistics.

Copy of video footage taken by the diving group was passed on to the media, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)-Philippines, and the Discovery Channel.

It became a word of mouth passed on to every tourist exploring the Philippines and by March of that same year, the municipality started to become a world-class tourist destination. It is now known as the “Whale Shark Capital of the World”.

Now, this town is officially listed as first class earning an annual revenue of nearly P100 million mostly from its tourism industry that plays host to an average of over 60,000 foreign and local tourist yearly.

These gentle giants arrive from as early as November but the official season starts from February and runs until the end of May, when the local waters is at its clearest and calmest.

Local tourism officials and professional divers have established guidelines on proper whale shark watching intended to maintain safety and to defend the creatures from over exploitation.

“As long as we protect the habitat of these sea creatures and avoid antagonizing them, they will continue to be here." Alcantara said.

“WWF findings say that whale sharks that are migratory in nature do not actually leave Donsol and they stay here all year-round. They just go deeper into the sea during some months of the year,” the mayor added.

Oslob’s tuki tour operators to visit Donsol

by Carmel Loise Matus

Cebu Daily News


Oslob and Cebu tourism officials will go to Donsol in Sorsogon province next month to see for themselves “best practices” in whale shark tourism. “Although they have different activities in Donsol, the operators here will learn something from the procedures there. What is common for Donsol and Oslob will be seen,” said Rowena Montecillo, regional director of the Department of Tourism. Oslob is now calling their boat paddlers “interaction officers,” like Donsol that has “Butanding Interaction Officers”. An increase in visitor rates that took effect April 15 in Oslob, especially for diving and snorkeling, has not affected sales much, said Oslob tourism officer Elizabeth Tabasa-Benologa. But she said they are still monitoring the trend. About 200 to 300 visitors came on weekdays for whale shark watching, the usual crowd, but there were fewer divers and swimmers, said Oslob Mayor Ronald Guaren. Guaren said this was the purpose of the price increase—to control the influx of visitors and reduce chances of direct contact with the whale sharks. “People who want to go snorkeling and diving have decreased,” said Guaren. The DOT conducted a week-long training for boatmen and Bantay Dagat personnel for 50 participants.

NGCP Launches Line Safety Campaign, Announces 10-hour Brownout In Tarlac

by ELLSON QUISMORIO and MARK ANTHONY MANUEL


MANILA, Philippines — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has begun enlisting the help of local media in various provinces particularly in southern Luzon to disseminate information on its transmission line safety and security campaign.

The line safety campaign is aimed at achieving public awareness and cooperation in curbing pilferage of tower parts and avoiding damage to life and properties as a result of unsafe and unscrupulous practices.

Regional Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer Nelson Bautista said up to 60 local radio stations in Quezon, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, and Sorsogon pledged support to NGCP’s advocacy for safe and secure power lines.

Bautista already started the information campaign by being a guest on radio shows and discussing NGCP’s anti-pilferage law and anti-electrocution initiatives.

The hazards of kite flying, installation of antennas, hanging of flaglets and construction of buildings underneath the transmission lines were also highlighted in the interviews. He also cited safety tips to avoid electrocution from highvoltage lines.

NGCP also appealed to all listeners and residents to cooperate with the company in protecting the transmission facilities, which remain under government properties.

The power transmission company likewise reminded the listeners that as Filipinos, it is their inherent duty and responsibility to take care of the properties of the state.

It was further stated that violation of Republic Act 7832 is punishable by 12 to 20 years of imprisonment or a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 pesos.

Meanwhile, the NGCP announced that the first and second districts of the province of Tarlac will go through a 10-hour power interruption tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Affected towns are Anao, Camiling, Mayantoc, Moncada, Paniqui, San Manuel, Gerona, Moncada, Pura, Santa Ignacia, San Clemente and Ramos.

The North Luzon Corporate Communication Division of the NGCP disclosed that “affected distribution utility are the Tarlac Electric Cooperative I (TERELCO I) and Tarlac Electric Incorporated (TEI).”

NFA told to open buying stations, start purchasing farmers’ fresh palay

by Virgil Lopez/Sunnex


MANILA -- Farmers' organizations in various parts of the country said that local traders are manipulating the market price of freshly harvested palay as they called on the government to immediately open its buying stations to stop the said practice.

According to watchdog Task Force Food Sovereignty (TFFS), the National Food Authority must also start purchasing fresh palay from marginalized farmers and let them access the NFA Procurement Program without the farmers' passbook requirements.

In Irosin, Sorsogon, TFFS lead convenor Arze Glipo said farm gate price of fresh palay was pegged between P13 and P14 per kilogram but this has declined to P11 per kilogram.

The lower price is said to be a result of heavy rains that battered the province recently.

"This is also happening in areas which experienced heavy rains in the past days. Local traders know that there is not enough time to dry the grains and farmers need the money badly, hence they are delaying procurement which reduced the price of fresh palay," Glipo said.

To arrest the further decline of farmer's income, TFFS asked the NFA to expand their buying stations in remote areas to save transportation cost for farmers who have to travel to key cities and municipalities just to avail of the service.

"One way that government can help farmers build resiliency and recover from the worsening impacts of climate change is to ensure that they get a fair price for their produce. In this case, NFA should step in and buy fresh palay from farmers at P14 per kilogram and dried palay at P17 per kilogram," Glipo noted.

Moreover, the group urged the NFA to relax or, if possible, cancel the requirements for revalidation of accredited individual farmers who own or does not own the land they till.

For instance, if the farmer is a land owner, he only needs to submit a certified photocopy of the transfer certificate of title (TCT) from Register of Deeds and certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), among others.

By comparison, a farmer who is not a land owner will have to present numerous documents such as the management take-over contract, written proof indicating farm/lot possession, leaseholder agreement/contract, barangay chairman or barangay agrarian reform council (BARC) chairman certification, and location of map.

With so many requirements, the NFA, Glipo said, is already denying the right of smallholder farmers, especially those who are not land owners, to sell their produce to the agency.

NFA told to establish more buying stations

by Othel V. Campos


A group of food security advocates on Friday urged the state-run National Food Authority to open more buying stations nationwide and lift the tedious documentary requirements in purchasing palay or unmilled rice from marginalized farmers.

Task Force Food Sovereignty lead convenor Arze Glipo said they had received reports from farmers’ organizations in various parts of the country that local traders were manipulating market prices of freshly harvested palay.

“In Irosin, Sorsogon, farmers told us that local traders are manipulating the market price of fresh palay. At the onset of harvest, farm gate price of fresh palay was pegged between P13 and P14 per kilogram. Now, it has declined to P11 per kilogram,” said Glipo.

She said local traders had stopped buying palay from farmers after heavy rains battered the province of Sorsogon, pulling down the buying price to P11 per kilogram.

“This is also happening in areas which experienced heavy rains in the past days. Local traders know that there is not enough time to dry the grains and farmers need the money badly, hence they are delaying procurement which reduced the price of fresh palay,” said Glipo.

Prelates happy with failure of North Korea rocket launch

by (FP/Sunnex)


SEVERAL bishops were happy that the rocket launched by North Korea (NoKor) has failed.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes said he is glad to hear reports that the launching was not successful.

“I am happy. Our prayers to the Lord are heard,” he said.

However, he is also saddened that the money used by North Korean government for the launch was wasted.

“I pity the NoKor people because their leaders wasted millions of dollars for a failed project while millions are hungry,” Bastes said.

Marbel (South Cotabato) Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez also expressed the same concern as the money should have been given to hungry people.

“The money should be spent to feed the people,” the prelate added.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said what happened should serve as a reminder that man does not have complete control of everything.

“Man is only a steward. Let us ask the Lord that we may always be good stewards,” he said.

Earlier, bishops urged the people to pray that the rocket launch will not push through.

On Friday, it was reported that Unha-3 rocket failed to reach the orbit.

With this, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) lifted the no-fly, sail and fish zones off Northern Luzon.

The rocket was launched before 7 a.m. Manila time but crashed into the Yellow Sea after about five minutes in flight.

Awareness sought on whale shark interaction in Cebu

by Virgil Lopez/Sunnex


SAYING tourism should co-exist with the protection and conservation of marine animals, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said local government units must undergo awareness training on whale shark interaction at the increasingly popular town of Oslob, Cebu.

Tourism Director Rowena Montecillo said they have partnered with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Central Visayas in conducting an "Awareness Caravan" in May aimed at raising consciousness on marine protection and conservation, and promoting a culture of tourism.

The photo of a girl riding a whale shark along the shoreline of Granada village in Boljoon, Cebu suffered an online backlash last week, prompting the Municipal Government to hike fees for swimming or diving with the marine creatures.

Reports said the whale shark was trapped in the net of local fishermen. It was brought near the shore because the fishermen had difficulty in freeing the endangered animal while in deeper waters.

Those involved in the incident were already reprimanded and warned of being penalized if caught again while the whale shark was later released into the open sea.

"We need to heighten people's awareness and capacitate the community to effectively manage the interaction, so that it will not cause undue harm or disturbance to the normal behavior of the sharks," Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said.

Last February, the DOT said local officials in Oslob will be invited to an observation visit to the popular whale-shark viewing destination in Donsol, Sorsogon to learn about best practices in handling whale shark interaction and community organization.

The DOT is part of the technical working group, created by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, which is in charge of formulating guidelines and monitoring systems to ensure that the budding eco-tourism enterprise remains beneficial to the communities.

Measures are also being undertaken to conduct further research on the migratory pattern of the whale sharks.






Do Not Panic

by MADEL R. SABATER and LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO


Malacañang and an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday called on the public to stay calm and not to panic amid the rocket launch of North Korea scheduled between April 12 and April 16.

This developed as the United States urged anew North Korea not to conduct a nuclear test or launch a satellite and called on China to exert its influence over its neighbor to try to ward off such "provocative actions."

But Ryu Kum Chol, deputy director of the Space Development Department of the Korean Committee for Space Technology, said, "All the assembly and preparations of the satellite launch are done," including fueling of the rocket.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda assured that preparations are being made should North Korea push through with the satellite launch.

"We are preparing for the worst and hoping for the best and it will be irresponsible for the government not to take the necessary precautions," Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday.

Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, member of the CBCP Permanent Council, said people should pray instead of panicking, saying it’s still possible that the launch will not affect the country such as what happened during the 1970’s when the US satellite Skylab disintegrated in space with its debris falling in Western Australia.

At that time, people panicked because everybody thought that the debris from the Skylab was going to fall on their backyard.

"Many times such fears are not founded. Remember the Skylab many years ago? Nothing fell," he said in an interview.

Still, Bastes urged the people to pray that North Korea will change its mind about the launch and instead focus on feeding their hungry people.

"Pray that the leaders of North Korea will rather feed their hungry people than show a false military might," he said.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo also appealed for prayers from the people.

"Let us pray that North Korea would change its mind because we don’t really know what damage it will bring to us – we don’t know where it will hit that’s why we should be careful and we should pray to prevent a crisis in the world," he said over Church-run Radyo Veritas yesterday.

Lacierda said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already been directed to make the necessary preparations for the launch.

Notices, Lacierda said, have already been sent, particularly on the no-fly zone while the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

(NDRRMC) will monitor probable sites where rocket debris may fall.

Earlier, the NDRRMC warned parts of the rocket may fall on Philippine territory after the launch between April 12 and April 16.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government already instructed officials in six regions – Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), 5 (Bicol), and Cordillera – to implement contingency plans for the rocket launch.

North Korea, which is pressing ahead with plans for a satellite launch despite US and regional appeals that it desist, is also preparing a third nuclear test, South Korean news reports said Sunday.

Another nuclear test is bound to scare neighbors and infuriate the West, which has long sought to curb the North’s nuclear ambitions.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified intelligence source as saying North Korea was "clandestinely preparing a nuclear test" at the same location as the first two.

The State Department repeated its advice to the North not to launch a satellite, saying this would violate UN Security Council resolutions and a February 29 denuclearization agreement.

"Our position remains: don’t do it," said spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "North Korea’s launch of a missile would be highly provocative, it would pose a threat to regional security and it would be inconsistent with its recent undertakings to refrain from any kind of long-range missile launches."

Nuland told reporters a third North Korean nuclear test "would be equally bad if not worse."

She declined comment on whether the United States also had reason to believe that the North might be preparing a nuclear test, saying she could not discuss intelligence matters.

North Korea, which three years ago pulled out of six-party disarmament talks on its nuclear program, agreed in February to stop nuclear tests, uranium enrichment and long-range missile launches in return for food aid, opening the way to a possible resumption of the negotiations.

But that has all unraveled with the North’s rocket launch planned for this month, probably between Thursday and the following Monday. The North says it is merely sending a weather satellite into space, but South Korea and the United States say it is a ballistic missile test.

The United States has called on China, the closest that North Korea has to an ally, to exert such influence as it has with Pyongyang, a point Nuland made again on Monday.

"We believe, in particular, that China joins us in its interest in seeing a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and we are continuing to encourage China to act more effectively in that interest," she said.

20 Flights Rerouted

With the scheduled rocket launch, several airlines will reroute flights over the Philippines, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said yesterday.

About 20 flights including Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Delta Airlines will be rerouted between Thursday and Monday, when North Korea says it will launch a satellite. The exact timing depends on weather.

Floramel Joy Songsong, spokeswoman for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the agency will temporarily close three northeastern air corridors, which will result in an additional 20 minutes of travel time for the airlines.

Japanese carriers JAL and ANA will change flight paths on routes connecting Tokyo to Manila, Jakarta and Singapore, while domestic flights will not be affected.

JAL has four flights a day on the expected rocket launch dates. Airline official Norio Higashimine said each flight will carry more fuel in case of an unexpected route change.

ANA is making similar route changes on five flights.

Philippine officials also told ships and fishing boats to avoid northeastern territorial waters where rocket debris may fall.

Meanwhile, Aurora province is now preparing for the rocket launch as the towns of Casiguran, Dilasag, Dinalungan, Baler, and Dingalan are among the places identified by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) as "spots" where debris may fall.

Other places include Bugey, Gonzaga, and Santa Ana towns in Cagayan; Palanan, Maconacon, Divilacan, and Dinapigue towns in Isabela; Real, Infanta, and General Nakar in Quezon.

People in Batanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte are also advised to take precautionary measures. (With reports from Reuters, AP, and Mark Anthony N. Manuel)

Sorsoganons peacefully celebrate “Semana Santa” 2012

by Benilda A. Recebido


SORSOGON CITY, April 10 (PIA) -- Assessment of the Philippine National Police Sorsogon Provincial Office (PNP-SPPO) bared that aside from the electrocuted 16-year-old male in one of the beach cottages in Bacon District, Sorsogon City, the celebration of “Semana Santa,” a Spanish term for the Holy Week, was generally peaceful.

Devotees and Catholics in general were in their prayerful mood especially during the Visita Iglesia and processions on Good Friday. Priests in their Lenten homilies reiterated Pope Benedict XVI’s call for Charity which is the very heart of Christian Life.

According to PNP Sorsogon Director PSupt John CA Jambora, they attribute the success of the activity to the full support and cooperation shown by Sorsoganons, “that is why we are thankful to them that no untoward incidences were noted all throughout the entire observance of the Holy Week,” he added.

Meanwhile, passengers bound for Manila and Legazpi City were irritated with the insufficient number of bus and vans. According to some commuters departing for Manila, they had to wait for about six hours or more to be accommodated.

Philippine Coast Guard Sorsogon Station through PO2 Rico Gabion reported that their assessment of the observance of “Semana Santa” in Sorsogon this year was very successful since there were no problems and negative incidences noted. He admitted however, that fewer passengers in three major ports here were recorded compared to that of last year.

Latest data reported from Matnog station stated that there were 1,535 passengers in Matnog port. There were no reports yet from Pilar and Bulan stations as to the number of their passengers during Holy Week.

However, PCG and PNP both said that they will keep on strictly monitoring major ports and terminals in the province as part of their “Oplan Summer Vacation” since tourists and vacationers will continue to flock for the summer season.

Aside from terminals, the PNP has also deployed their personnel including police trainees to areas frequently visited by tourists such as the town of Donsol for the whale shark inter-action, Bulusan for Bulusan Lake activities, Sorsogon City for its Paguriran Island, Pto. Diaz for mangrove tour, Casiguran for the famous freezing Orok Spring, Barcelona for its breathtaking and huge corals, as well as the province’s prime beach resorts in Bacon District, Sorsogon City, Gubat, Sta. Magdalena and Matnog towns, among others. (MAL/BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon)

Sorsogon Police Office bags major award in “Takbokasyon 2012”

by Marlon A. Loterte


SORSOGON CITY, April 9 (PIA) -- Personnel of the Sorsogon Police Provincial Office has proven anew their agility and prowess, garnering the major award in two categories during the fun run activity dubbed as “VAMOS SEMINARIO: TAKBOKASYON 2012” held in Sorsogon City in March 31, 2012.

Topping the five-kilometer(km) fun run were PO2 Jayie Encinares, PO1 Geraldine Dave, and PO1 Kwencie Ann Fortuno, while PO1 Mariel Esquiros bagged the first place for the 10-km run.

Said fun run activity was sponsored by Batch 1987 Seminarians of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia Seminary in Sorsogon City.

Meanwhile, SPPO Provincial Director PSupt John CA Jambora said that SPPO personnel does not only excel in running but even in dancing competition where policewomen of SPPO also got the second place award in the Ballroom Dance Competition during the Women’s Night, a culminating activity of this year’s women’s month celebration with the theme: “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability Everyone’s Responsibility,” held at the Multi-Purpose Building at Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City last March 30, 2012.

Ten contestants from different Provincial and City Police Offices of the Police Regional Office V (PRO5) were bested by the women of SPPO during the said dance competition.

Likewise, on March 26-30 members of the SWAT TEAM of Sorsogon Police Provincial Office got the second place during the SWAT competition and Hand Gun Classification Marksmanship Test at the PRO5 Grandstand in Villa Hermosa, Daraga, Albay and in Brgy. Padang, Legaspi City. (MAL/BAR/PCI NFMarquez-PPO-PIA 5, Sorsogon)

Confessions of a materialist

by Elmer A. Ordoñez

Philippine Daily Inquirer


At UP High in Padre Faura, after the war, we read Shakespeare, notably Hamlet, which, like all the bard’s plays, teems with memorable passages like the soliloquies and lines from the dialogue, as when Hamlet tells his stoic friend, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” This, after the ghost scene. It has become a favorite comeback, albeit hoary with age, to doubting Thomases, and one feels smug at having quoted Shakespeare in the face of a non-believer. Sometimes, though, I, a professed materialist, have been on the receiving end of this repartee, but I would say, “What philosophy?” and thereby engage the person in a friendly debate. I wonder, however, why lately (the past 15 years or so) I have lost my fascination for antiquaria, like old houses and furniture. I still like to visit the bahay-na-bato in cities and towns, and marvel at the antique tables, chairs, cabinets made in the last two centuries here and abroad, and acquired by the ilustrado families, the nouveau riche at the time. I remember my childhood vacations in the town of Juban, where I was born. I didn’t grow up there, so I missed the steady company of the elders who had lived in bahay-na-bato built for managers of the Ynchausti company tending the abaca and coconut plantations in Sorsogon. My maternal grandfather (Capitan Lino Alindogan) himself owned tracts of these lands, including a portion of friar lands in the foothills of Mt. Bulusan, and lived in a house whose ruins (mainly stone and huge rotting logs) could still be seen in his poblacion compound before the war. The other old houses can still be seen along Maharlika highway. Turn of the century My memories are of the vacations spent with tio Miguel (half Andalusian) and tia Loleng in the house built at the turn of the century. It was finally blown down by a typhoon. Juban is noted province-wide as an aswang town. Why so, I asked historian Luis Dery (who comes from Gubat). He said that Juban in pre-Spanish times was a center of babaylan. It seems that with the coming of the Spaniards, the friars demonized the faith healers and shamans as witches or mangkukulam, as the Church did to the “pagan” priests and priestesses in Europe. I have since associated old houses with dark rooms lit at night with a candle or petro-max lamp, and the call of the resident tuko. When the lamp hissed out at night at my tio Miguel’s house in Juban, my brothers and I would huddle or snuggle together with pillows (abrazador) on a large mat under a mosquito net in the sala, where we boys were banished at bedtime. Dead ancestors in ornately framed pictures looked at us from the walls of the living room. One morning after, older brother Jim swore that he woke up at night because he heard our tio Miguel talking to some people in the camarin below, where bales of abaca were stored. Jim ventured down the staircase and saw no one in the darkened bodega. He ran back to us as fast as he could. On a trip to Ilocos not too long ago, a friend, Emily Tiongco from the National Commission on Culture and the Arts, offered her ancestral house, Villa Fernandez, for us to stay in while in Vigan. The caretaker told us the big chalet-type house, with its stairs dividing in two in the patio, had been used earlier for the shooting of a film with Tom Cruise. We were given the master bedroom, and had the run of the living room, like the one in Juban with fading black and white pictures of the family on the walls . The four-poster bed had a capacious mosquito net hung from the canopy and cascading down the other end of the bed. We kept the light on in the adjoining toilet so we wouldn’t trip on the way to it in the middle of the night, in spite a street light filtering into the bedroom. My wife Elenita said the next morning that she felt presence in both the bedroom and bathroom. I said I felt the same way. Back in Manila, Emily asked if we had met her grandmother. We could only smile weakly and thank her for the hospitality, but we vowed to ourselves never again to sleep in an ancient house doubling as a pension. Original owners Now, long empty houses give us the creeps. I even suspect the old table sold to us by antique dealer/writer Pete Daroy may be visited by wraiths of its original owners. At the UP writers workshop in Baguio in the mid-’90s, we housed three resource persons/writers—Sedfrey Ordonez, Gemino Abad and Roger Sikat—at a prewar chalet on Quezon Hill. The UP Baguio dormitory was already full of loud writing fellows, and not suitable for our distinguished latecomers. We had stayed a night in the chalet (owned by Elenita’s relatives) earlier, and we experienced what we later had in the Vigan house, so I told Sedfrey if he didn’t mind staying in a haunted house. Oh no, he said. The following day we learned that sleeping arrangements for two rooms were changed into one room. One workshop wit suggested that all three be commended for valor. Another writer, rumored to be clairvoyant, claimed the “presence” in the house by pointing them out to our group, taking turns to visit the john. We didn’t see a thing, but I did have again that eerie feeling as I walked along a narrow corridor. The caretaker living in the basement with his family said that skeletal remains had been dug up below the house, which was used by the Japanese before the war. Nowadays Elenita and I can no longer savor new travel experiences. The last one in October last year was a China/Vietnam cruise from Hong Kong. The immediate members of the family were with us on this sea voyage. But my wife and I spend much more time together in our sylvan retreat in Cavite, with well-wishers visiting her in bed. A few weeks ago, a healing priest came and gave solace to both of us. One of the healing rites that he performed was a procedure that has kept me in deep thought. The young Redemptorist priest asked me to cup my hands behind me. He pressed down hard on my cupped hands and I fell on my knees. As I stood up, he put in my shirt pocket what he calls a healing patch, a square-inch cloth patch in blue with a red cross on it. He asked me again to cup my hands behind me. He bore down hard on them this time, with his 75 kilos of weight. I saw him lift his feet for a second or so, and I, at 82, held, panting a bit. He then did the procedure on Elenita, who already wore the healing patch pinned on her front blouse, and she did not fall. Not his full weight was used, but in her frail condition, how could she do it?

Cebu Pacific shells out P798.8M for new aircraft, adds more summer flights

by gmanetwork.com


Cebu Air Inc. drew P798.84 million from the proceeds of its initial public offering (IPO) to make pre-delivery payments for seven aircraft last January and February, the operator of the Cebu Pacific airline revealed to the investing public Wednesday.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), Cebu Air said the net balance of proceeds from the IPO stood at P380.09 million on March 31 as per accounting procedures applied by SGV & Co.

The pre-delivery payments, in dollar terms, amounted to $18.32 million. The payments were channeled through Citibank N.A. and Banco de Oro.

More summer flights

In an earlier disclosure, Cebu Air said it will add 22 percent more Cebu Pacific flights in the summer months of April and May.

"Because of this increased seat capacity, passengers can take advantage of CEB's trademark low fares for travel this April and May. Plan your family or friends' exciting summer vacation by checking out the low-fare options on www.cebupacificair.com," said Candice Iyog, Cebu Air vice president for marketing and distribution.

Cebu Pacific will have more flights on these routes: Cebu-Dipolog, Cebu-Legazpi and Cebu-Pagadian (daily flights, February 8 to June 15); Cebu-Puerto Princesa (3 added flights to raise total to 10 flights, March 17 to June 4); Manila-Legazpi and Manila-Puerto Princesa (total of 4 daily flights each); Cebu-Bacolod (total of 17 weekly flights); Cebu-Caticlan (3 daily flights), Cebu-Davao (5 daily flights); and Cebu-Siargao (4 weekly flights).

“Legazpi is the gateway to whale shark encounters in Donsol, Sorsogon,” the airline noted.

“CEB remains the largest airline operating to and from Puerto Princesa, which is world-renowned for its Underground River. CEB is the only airline flying direct to Siargao, an international surfing destination,” the flag carrier also said.

The airline also decided to extend to June 4 its flight frequency additions for Manila-Cebu (total of 99 weekly flights), Manila-Bacolod (40 weekly flights) and Manila-Iloilo (7 daily flights).

Joint venture of LGU Sorsogon City with LKY Dev’t. Corp. to create 500 jobs

by Felix ‘Boy’ Espineda, Jr.


SORSOGON CITY (BicolToday.com/3-April-2012) – The agreement and understanding of LGU Sorsogon City with LKY Development Corporation is expected to create five hundred jobs for Sorsoganons. It will materialize after the completion and full occupancy of the renovated Sorsogon Shopping Center now in its finishing stage of construction and the on-going Sorsogon Bay City project. The projects are hubs for fast food chains, drugstores, supermart, gas station and the Bay City will host condotels and marinas offering the view of the sunset of Sorsogon Bay. Both offer commercial leasing spaces. The renovation of the old shopping center became one of the focal points during the first term of Mayor Leovic Dioneda, to attract and create job opportunities, doubled-up by the investment of Wilbert Lee, Chief Executive Officer of LKY Development Corporation, the biggest construction concern in Sorsogon, who foot the bill for the renovation. When the project was tossed to the Sorsogon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wilbert Lee took the opportunity and the challenge to prove that Sorsogon City is a good investment area, thus a roadmap for domestic investors was created.

This is not the first time that LKY took a giant step, back in the late eighties, the construction firm responded to the offer of then Municipality of Sorsogon when it built a commercial building in a government lot fronting the public market, then another foothold when the diocesan leadership offered the development of the back portion of the cathedral lot which now stands as a landmark in the city proper. This time, the response of Lee’s firm was a class act for Sorsogon City. It was a silent statement that private-public partnership can design, build and offer new landscape for business opportunities. It started way back in 2009 during Dioneda’s first term, when the third city council was challenged by him to come-up with a resolution to attract investors for built-operate, built-lease, and built transfer scheme offering safety nets for investors. LKY responded with a grand proposal not only to boost Sorsogon economy but put on record that the traffic problem of the city center be corrected. Thus the renovated Sorsogon Shopping Center when completed will host the tricycle integrated terminal and the Sorsogon Bay City project at Barangay Balogo will house the integrated bus, jeepney and van terminal. Rolling up its sleeves when the projects were given the green lights, LKY never look back. It was committed and it was proving to all that it is not lost in Sorsogon after all. Both Mayor Dioneda and Wilbert Lee of LKY are sort of visionaries, they have the knack of what can be done and how can it be done. Dioneda created an investment climate, Lee responded in ways never imagined by Sorsoganons. Simultaneously starting the project created employment to skilled workers and tap the labor force not only of the city but from the other towns of the province. Masons, carpenters, plumbers, welders, pipe fitters, steel fabricators and many more who for sometimes were not employed are now having a week pay to look-up. At its peak LKY was employing close to three hundred workers in the two projects pumping a large sum of money in the local economy. This was an indirect contribution of the construction firm in prime-pumping the local economy. The construction lessened the number of employment seekers at city hall. The two projects are now the center piece of construction in the city. It’s because, Mayor Dioneda made a big difference and LKY of Wilbert Lee nurtured the big difference. BicolToday.com

Firms vie for 38 coal prospects

by Amy R. Remo


The Department of Energy on Friday received 69 bids for contracts to explore and develop 38 highly prospective coal blocks across the country, considered an “overwhelming” number that proved investors’ unwavering confidence in the Philippines.

At the sidelines of the opening of bid offers Friday, Energy Undersecretary Jose M. Layug Jr. said the Philippine Energy Contracting Round 4 for coal attracted a lot of potential investors, of which about half were new players in the local coal industry.

Among the companies that submitted bids were Benguet Corp., Semirara Mining Corp., PNOC Exploration Corp., South Davao Development Co. Inc., SKI Mining and Empire Asia Mining Corp.

Layug said the DOE was targeting to award contracts within 150 days from the bid opening date yesterday, or by August 2012 at the latest. The coal blocks that had only one bidder will be processed faster than those that had six to eight bidders. For the coal blocks that did not have bidders, the DOE is set to re-offer these areas in future PECRs.

The offered coal blocks were in Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Bohol, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Initially, the DOE offered 30 coal blocks when it launched the PECR 4 for coal in December last year. Should all the 30 contracts be awarded, the DOE is expecting initial investments to run up to P2.4 billion within a two-year exploration period.

The number of areas, however, were increased to 38 blocks in anticipation of a huge number of bidders.

Layug stressed the need for the country to harness its own coal resources given an increasing demand for the commodity, which now stood at about 12 million metric tons a year. Local production averaged 7 million MT, of which 3 million tons are exported to various Asian markets. Coal imports remained huge at 7 million tons a year, he added.

It is expected that over the next 20 years, coal will remain the major fuel for power generation and the government continues to encourage the private sector to explore and develop the country’s prospective coal blocks to find additional reserves that can be used to address growing local demand.

By harnessing its own resources, the government believes that it will be able to push for energy independence that will allow it to reduce its fuel imports as well as lessen its vulnerability to global price fluctuations.

TEAM ASIA TAKES 4-3 SERIES LEAD OVER TEAM PHILIPPINES AS CHANG BEATS ALCANO

by Marlon Bernardino


TAIWANESE cue artist Chang Yu Long defeated Filipino Ronato "Volcano" Alcano bagging the top prize of the Philippine Bigtime Billiards Face-Off series on Saturday at the Airport Pagcor Casino in Paranaque City.

Chang won two straight racks to edged Alcano, 9-7, in the race-to-9 event backed up by Sorsogon Province Sports Patron Philip Escudero, Malungai Life Oil, Mandarin Sky Sea Food Restaurant, Servo Marketing, Hermes Sports Bar, Golden Leaf Restaurant, Bugsy Promotions, Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), Airport Casino Filipino and The Philippine Star as official media partner.

The win was worth $5,000 for Chang while Alcano settled for $2,500 in the winner's break format, dubbed as Philippines versus Asia, jointly organized by the Mega Sports World and BRKHRD Corp and aired live over Solar Sports, Sky Channel 70 and Destiny Channel 34, and also aired worldwide through the Internet, live streaming at www.megasportsworld.com and www.philippinebigtimebilliards.com. The win allowed Team Asia takes 4-3 series lead against Team Philippines.

Chang saw his big lead, 5-2, by winning three straight racks before Alcano fought back from the grave to cut the lead at 5-4 in favor of the former (Chang).

However, Chang won two of the three racks to go up, 7-5. Alcano managed to level the match at 7 in the 14th frame but the Taiwanese took the last two racks for the win.

“Luck played a part in my victory." said Chang through an interpreter. " Ronato (Alcano) is a very tough opponent." he added.

It shall be recalled that last March 24, Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante toppled Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun, 9-3, to lift Team Philippines series tied 3-3 against Team Asia.

Earlier, Ko Pin-yi of Chinese-Taipei downed Filipino pool maestro Efren "Bata" Reyes, 9-4, last February 18. However, Bustamante pull off a come-from-behind win against Ko, 9-7, last February 25 to avenged the loss of his fellow Puyat Sports player Reyes. Chang Jung-lin of Chinese-Taipei, on the other hand beat Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza, 9-7, last March 3, then edged Dennis "Robocop" Orollo, 9-8, last March 10. But Carlo " The Black Tiger" Biado downed Taiwanese Yang Ching-shun, 9-3, last March 17 to cut the lead of Team Asia into a 3-2 score against Team Philippines in the Philippine Bigtime Billiards introduces a fresh new format for 2012.

Meanwhile, the PBB Face Off series resumes with a match pitting Liu Hai Tao of China against Alex "The Lion" Pagulayan on April 14, Liu then face Dennis "Robocop" Orcollo on April 21 and Fong Pang Chao of Chinese-Taipei opposite Lee Vann "The Slayer" Corteza on April 28.

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