Catanduanes News

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Province of Catanduanes - Archived News

Bayan Muna, Gabriela launch scholarship program at CSC

VIRAC, Catanduanes- Bayan Muna and Gabriela Party-Lists signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) on January 24 for the implementation of a scholarship program that will benefit poor and deserving college students.The two congressional party lists each allocated from their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) P100,000 or a total of P200,000 to benefit 20 scholars.

The program gives priority to students with strong social commitment and who are primarily children of full-time community and sectoral organizers, workers, peasants, indigenous peoples, the urban poor, and fisherfolks.

Dr. Minerva I. Morales, CSC SUC president, signed the memorandum of agreement with the Bayan Muna Party List and Gabriela Party List provincial coordinators Marlon A. Buenafe and Maria Dina C. Buenafe.

The P10,000 scholarship assistance for each grantee per semester covers tuition and miscellaneous fee, subsidy for books, uniform and other school supplies, and stipend and food allowance.

Doppler radars using new tech ready by March

VIRAC, Catanduanes—The first of three Doppler radars being built in the Philippines using new Japanese technology is set to operate in March, supposedly the first such facility in the world to use solid state technology.

The Solid-State Meteorological Radar System (SSMRS) technology, developed by Japan Radio Co. (JRC), will make for a more accurate system of warning against potential calamities, Assistant Science Secretary Robert Dizon said.

Dizon came here last week to inspect the facility in the town of Buenavista.

The new S-band system uses integrated chips to transmit sound waves as far as 480 kilometers away to determine wind velocity, rainfall intensity and speed, volume of rainfall and area coverage. This would make it possible for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to issue forecasts with a high degree of accuracy, depending on the interpretation of the radar images, Mark Lazaro of JRC said.

“This pioneer radar system has a lower power consumption and will last for as long as 15 years,” he said. In comparision, the existing Doppler technology uses US-made coaxial magnetrons costing P3 million each which would have to be replaced every three or four years.

It also has an all-digital instrumentation so anybody who knows computers will be able to operate it, with the entire system relatively easy to maintain, Lazaro stressed.

The new radar system technology, he added, would be ultimately brought to other countries by the Japanese government through its grants-in-aid program.

Common solid state devices include transistors, microprocessor chips, integrated circuit (IC), light-emitting diode (LED) and DRAM (dynamic random access memory) hard drives used in netbooks and similar computers.

The facility, built for P560 million by Shimizu Construction and FF Cruz Construction, will complement two other SSMRS Doppler radar systems being completed by the same Japanese-Filipino consortium in Guiuan, Samar province, and Aparri, Cagayan province, according to Dizon.

The facilities are funded by a loan package from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Lazaro said he expected weathermen from other parts of the world to take a look at the Buenavista facility, which is expected to help Pagasa give more accurate weather forecasts.

450 kph winds

The three new Doppler radars should help the seven existing US-made Doppler radar systems patch “holes” in weather radar coverage across the Philippines, Dizon said.

The seven US-made Doppler radars are in Baguio City, Baler (Aurora province), Subic (Zambales province), Hinatuan (Surigao del Sur province), Tagaytay City, Mactan City (Cebu province) and Tampakan (South Cotabato province). Three more are to be installed in Antique province, the Zamboanga Peninsula and Palawan province.

Pagasa-Virac chief meteorological officer Eufronio Garcia said the 44-meter-tall radar tower built on top of a mountain in Buenavista is safe from landslides, being anchored to the bedrock by a concrete mat foundation sitting on concrete piles driven to an average depth of 24 m.

The tower, made of thin fiberglass plates bolted together, can withstand winds of up to 450 kilometers per hour, Lazaro said. He added that he was now working with Japanese technicians in testing the system, the first to be built in the world.

Power delivery

The Doppler radar facility has four major components—a radar system, a data display system, a satellite communications system and a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), all enclosed in the radar tower.

Pagasa weathermen from Virac and other radar sites underwent training on how to use and maintain the equipment. Training was also conducted at Pagasa Manila for personnel who will interpret the images to be sent via satellite by the Buenavista radar station, Dizon said.

Pagasa is also hiring two more weathermen to add to its existing seven personnel in Catanduanes to man both the Buenavista facility and the synoptic station in Barangay San Isidro, Virac.

A more serious issue that could affect the radar’s operation would be the chronically inefficient power service delivered by First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative.

Voltage fluctuations

The three-phase electricity supplied by the cooperative suffers from voltage fluctuations that could damage the sensitive equipment, according to a Pagasa staffer who requested anonymity as he has no authority to speak on the matter.

While the new Doppler radar is backed up by two diesel generators that kick in 15 seconds after a power outage and can be run in 24-hour turns, the fuel cost can be considerable as the generators consume as many as 15 liters per hour, the source added.

Pagasa would have to allocate adequate funds for the generators’ fuel requirement if the locally supplied power is deemed inadequate.

Operates continuously

During the operation of the old radar, lack of funds forced Pagasa to run the radar for only two weather observations of one hour each, at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., and for a full 24 hours only when a typhoon threatens the country.

This scheme would not work with the new Doppler radar, the source said, as it is designed to operate continuously, according to JRC technicians.

Pagasa officials said they would invite President Aquino to lead the inauguration of the Doppler radar, along with governors and congressmen from the Bicol region, the usual target of typhoons.

Beacon for fishermen

In the past two decades, three of the country’s worst typhoons slammed into Catanduanes, the latest being “Reming” in 2006 which destroyed 15,000 homes in three towns before crossing into Albay province, where it caused massive flooding that killed hundreds of residents.

Already, fishermen from the coastal towns of Bato, Baras and Gigmoto in this island province have started thanking the national government for the new radar facility, w

Oil spill hits Catanduanes seas

Local officials of Catanduanes province sought the help of various government agencies following the confirmation of oil spill caused by a cargo ship that sank at Binorong point off Baras town Saturday evening.

Gov. Junnie Cua convened the Provincial Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Council for an emergency meeting after receiving reports from fishermen that oil spill were observed in various areas along the province’s eastern coast.

He said they have yet to determine the extent of the oil spill.

The MV Sun Spirit was loaded with iron sand from Leyte province and was on its way to China when it sank 34 nautical miles at Binorong Point.

All its 14 crew members were rescued by a passing ship and some by fishermen.

The Philippine Coast Guard station in Legazpi City said it was dispatching its Marine Coastal Vessel in response to the call of the governor.

Coast Guard Commander Nelson Torre had earlier dispatched the Marine Environmental Protection Unit to make an initial assessment in the area.

He said they will be using the floater boom of the mining company Rapu-Rapu Minerals Incorporated (RRMI), which also sent some of its personnel to assist in containing the spill.

RRMI also handled the oil spill containment in Malinao, Albay in 2007 when a cargo ship ran aground in a coral reef in San Miguel Island, Tabaco City, it was learned.

The Office of Civil Defense, meanwhile, said it will conduct an aerial survey today to check the extent of the spill.

CSC receives P1.5M from BFAR for inland fishery development

VIRAC, Catanduanes- Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) has received an amount of P1.5 million from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for inland fishery development last week.

The program aims to enhance the fish production as well as to develop a sustained livelihood through technology infusion in inland fisheries development to enhance food security and alleviate poverty.

There are five proposed projects that will be located in the CSC campuses in Virac and Panganiban with extensions at Viga and Bagamanoc.

One of the proposed projects is the Small Holder and Small Farmer Integrated Rice-Fish-Chicken-Gabi Farming System which shall involve 50 farmers and fishermen.

Another is the small scale sustainable organic tilapia and growing of juvenile crabs with low-cost feeds in nylon nets which will be done at the CSC Fishpond in Palnab, Virac, Ctanaduanes Crab Center, CSC Panganiban and selected mangrove areas.

The third proposed project is the genetically-improved tilapia and some endemic species in selected rivers and streams of Catanduanes which was proposed for the culture of fast-growing tilapia species and native freshwater fish such as “cabonbon.”

Another is the “Tilapia Product Fortification, Packaging and Marketing,” which is intended to produce tilapia fish balls and siomai, ready to serve tilapia curry and other products.

Lastly, there shall be “Training and Advocacy for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystem” wherein participants must undergo a 54-hour course equivalent to a three-unit course proposed to be accredited either at Bachelor or Master’s Level at CSC or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Moreover, BFAR shall closely monitor the implementation of the projects to ensure that it would benefit all stakeholders and contribute to poverty alleviation, food security and job generation.

A total of 2,327 fishermen, farmers and local women will benefit from the projects.

Paturok Bridge construction up for bidding

SAN ANDRES, Catanduanes- Mayor Antonio Romano of San Andres Town recently confirmed that bidding for the construction of Paturok Bridge in their municipality is underway.

The current Paturok Bridge is situated in a low lying area between Barangay Timbaan and Barangay Belmonte, San Andres that remains a problem for commuters especially when it rains since flood covers the area and causes damage to vehicles and strands commuters.

In the past, a joint resolution was forwarded to Malacañang requesting for a P50-million budget for the construction of the bridge; today, said construction will be funded through Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento in the amount of P108 million.

Officials and residents of the said town are relieved on hearing the news since vehicles can travel with ease even during inclement weather while passengers and people in the area will not be stranded anymore.

Residents of other municipalities like Pandan and Caramoran will also benefit with the completion of the bridge since goods, people, and supplies can now traverse the area unhampered.

He likewise added that as soon as the bidding ends, the construction shall immediately start.

PAGASA Doppler radar to start operation on February

VIRAC, Catanduanes- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Doppler Radar facility located in Buenavista, Bato will start its full operation in February 2012.

The said facility was constructed through a loan of P560 million from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The equipment will be transferred to PAGASA before its full operation.

The Doppler radar, which is the first of its kind in Asia, is just one of the three radar facilities being constructed in the Philippines. The Aparri building is now halfway to completion while the Guiuan project just started.

Instead of the usual magnetron that generates radio waves, Japanese designers of the solid-state radar system shows excellent quality Doppler Radar images.

The meteorological equipment is capable of tracking the amount and movement of rainfall, particularly during typhoons and thunderstorms, within a range of 480 kilometers.

The radar facilities being built in the country has four major components- a radar system, a data display system, a satellite communications system, and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT), all enclosed in a radar tower building.

To date, 19 personnel from PAGASA are now undergoing training for the use of the radar equipment.

ATM to make transactions easier

VIRAC, Catanduanes- ARDCI NGO Group Inc., (formerly the Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc.) will open an automated teller machine (ATM) in the municipality of Baras, Catanduanes in the next few weeks.

ARDCI is a non-stock non-profit organization providing microfinance products and services to its members, mainly entrepreneurial poor Filipinos.

ARDCI had opened ATMs in the municipalities of Viga, Caramoran, and San Andres which was a big help to the citizens due to its convenience.

The said ATM program of ARDCI is in cooperation with Electronic Network Cash Tellers, Inc. (ENCASH), the first independent ATM deployer in the Philippines.

Since the installation of ENCASH ATM in rural areas, townsfolk can now easily transact their withdrawals within their towns.

Due to positive reactions from ATM users, ARDCI now includes installation of ATM in their yearly budget to cover more municipalities.

Said ATMs are compatible with Bancnet, Megalink, Cirrus, etc.

Mild quake hits Catanduanes

State seismologists on Wednesday recorded a magnitude 4 earthquake in the island province of Catanduanes but no damages or aftershocks are expected.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake occurred 27 kilometers southeast of Virac town at 1 p.m.

The quake had a depth of 30 kilometers, the agency said as Intensity 4 was felt in Cabid-an, Sorsogon City; Intensity 3 in Juban, Sorsogon; and Intensity 2 in Virac, Viga, and Bato, Catanduanes and Legaspi City.

DBM releases SARO for 2nd Tranche of PDAF

VIRAC, Catanduanes- Congressman Cesar V. Sarmiento of the lone District of Catanduanes recently revealed that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has finally released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the 2nd Tranche of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

According to the solon, the released of SARO is a big thing to ensure the continuous implementation of the programs that he's implementing for the province through the General Appropriations Act, which was approved by the Congress for 2011.

Included in the 2nd Tranche of the solon's PDAF is the fund for the Soft and Hard projects that will surely be a great help to every Catandunganon.

The funds for the Congressional District Office (CDO) assistance programs are included in the soft projects like those given to hospitals such as the Eastern Bicol Medical Center (EBMC) to give assistance to those who are sick.

The College Education Scholarship and Reward (CESAR) Program that grants scholarship to almost 1,800 students from indigent families will also benefit from the funds.

Moreover, one priority of SARO in terms of hard projects is the rehabilitation of the different Barangay Water Distribution Systems in the entire province that benefits around 315 barangays in the end of his first term.

Also included in the hard projects are variety of road concreting projects in barangays, construction of Multi-purpose Halls, rehabilitation of irrigation systems and other infrastracture programs that supports the economy of the island.

40 Bicol towns identified as geo-hazard areas

Forty municipalities in Bicol Region are highly susceptible to natural disasters with the provinces of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes being on top of the lists, the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau office here revealed.

Of the number, 26 municipalities are high risk for flooding while 14 towns are highly susceptible to landslides.

Luis Loyola, MGB regional director, said these areas were identified following the completion of the 50,000-scale Bicol geo-hazard mapping done by his office under the Geohazard Mapping and Assessment Project (GMAP)

A more detailed 10,000-scale map is now being undertaken with the province of Albay as the primary focus, he said.

Arlene Dayao, supervising geologist and head of the Geosciences Division, said geo-hazard maps had been distributed to LGUs, including barangay officials since they are the ones on the front lines.

“We have already informed the local government units of these hazard areas and MBG had conducted series of seminars to explain the details of our findings,” she said in an interview with Media Solutions.

Dayao said it was crucial that local officials of these hazard areas consider the data contained in the maps in coming up with their disaster-risk reduction plans as well as their land use maps to avoid disasters that might hit vulnerable areas.

Local officials should no longer allow human habitation on areas that had been identified as high-risk for flooding and landslides, she stressed.

Based on the geo-hazard mapping conducted by the MGB, almost half of Camarines Sur’s municipalities are classified as high risk areas for flooding, which include the towns of Baao, Bato, Bombon, Buhi, Bula, Cabusao, Calabanga, Camaligan, Canaman, Gainza, Libmanan, Magarao, Milaor, Minalabac, Nabua and San Fernando which are mostly part of the Bicol River Basin.

Dayao said the Bato- Baao areas serve as catch basin of flood waters from Albay before it flow north up to Naga City and San Fernando.

Three towns in Albay- Libon, Oas and Polangui are also classified as flood-prone areas together with the municipalities of Bato and Viga in Catanduanes, Juban in Sorsogon, Mercedez, Talisay and Vinzons in Camarines Norte.

The cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Naga were classified as moderately susceptible to floodings.

Meanwhile, Catanduanes has been identified as the most landslide-prone province in the region based on the same study conducted by MGB.

“Mainly it’s because rock formations in that province are already old and cracked and many of its mountains are covered with thick soil which erode during heavy rains” Dayao explained.

She also attributed the hazard to the past commercial logging activities that occurred in Catanduanes wherein illegal cutting of trees still happens until now.

Dayao identified the towns of Caramoran, Gigmoto, San Andres and Viga as the most flood-prone together with Manito, Sto Domingo and Tiwi in Albay, Capalonga and Labo in Camarines Norte, Pasacao and Sangay in Camarines Sur, Baleno in Masbate and Juban and Magallanes in Sorsogon province.

The cities of Ligao and Sorsogon were listed as moderately prone to landslides.

Aside from the flooding and landslides, Dayao also warned of another geohazard especially in the province of Sorsogon.

The MGB official said ground subsidence or sink holes are observed in at least three areas in the province, the towns of Gubat and Prieto-Diaz, in the district of Bacon in Sorsogon City and in Guinobatan, Albay.

She said sink hole, which vary in depths, usually occurs when lime stones underground are dissolved and carried away by underground water or when the roof of an underground cave collapses.

Local gov't. re-constitutes steering committee, technical working group for Linggo ng Kalikasan

VIRAC, Catanduanes- Catanduanes Governor Joseph C. Cua issued Executive Order No. 001 series of 2012 signed last January 2, 2012 indicating the re-constitution of the Steering Committee and Technical Working Group (TWG) for the celebration of Linggo ng Kalikasan every month of June.

The said ordinance is also known as the “Ordinance Institutionalizing the annual celebration of the Linggo ng Kalikasan every 3rd week of June in Catanduanes" shall serve as a mechanism to effect positive behavioral change among Catandunganons and rally them towards the protection of the fragile ecosystems of the Province.

The steering committee shall be tasked to provide guidance and exercise general supervision in the conduct of the Linggo ng Kalikasan celebration. The committee shall meet at least once a month starting February of every year until the celebration shall have been concluded.

Thus, the steering committee shall be composed of the following: the provincial governor as the chairman, PENR officer, DENR-PENRO as the vice-chairman, and the members are the Congressional District Office, chairman, SP Committee on Environment, president of the Catanduanes State Colleges, Battalion Commander of the 83rd IB of the Philippine Army, provincial director of the Philippine National Police, Squadron Commander of the 905th Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and the station manager of the Radyo ng Bayan.

On the other, Special Environment Projects Coordinating Office (SEPCO) will act as the Technical Working Group (TWG).

All expenditures relative to the conduct of the Linggo ng Kalikasan celebration shall be charged against the annual appropriation approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for the purpose, subject to usual accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

It was also in pursuant with the policy of the provincial government to address various environmental issues through the productive collaboration, consensus-building, and people empowerment.

PRC emergency rescue unit soon to operate 24/7

VIRAC, CATANDUANES- The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Catanduanes Chapter's Emergency Rescue Unit (ERU) is soon to operate 24 hours per day beginning this month, January, 2012.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) aims to render life-saving assistance that will armor the life and dignity especially of the indigent Filipinos caught in defenseless situations. Currently, the PRC offers six major services, such as: Blood Services, Disaster Management, Safety Services, Community Health and Nursing, Social Services and the Volunteer Service.

The ERU, composed of trained volunteers began serving the province last Christmas season with a schedule duty from 7:00-12 midnight last December 17-23 and Dec. 26-31, 2011.

To become an ERU trainee, one must be 18 years old and above; college level; Current holder of Philippine Red Cross Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support (Certificate of Completion); Of good moral character as certified by authority; Physically and mentally fit; Willing to complete 300 hours of duty as a trainee before being certified as an ERU volunteer; Can work under minimal supervision and willing to work in a team.

SO to conduct Labor Force Survey

VIRAC, Catanduanes- The National Statistics Office (NSO) here will be conducting the quarterly Labor Force Survey (LFS) from the period January 9 to January 31, 2012.

The LFS is a nationwide survey of households being conducted to gather data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population. It is geared towards the estimation of the levels of employment and unemployment in the country.

Such survey is designed to provide statistics on levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment for the country as a whole and for each of the administrative regions.

The importance of the Labor Force Survey are as follows: It provides quantitative framework for the preparation of plans and formulation of policies affecting labor market towards: 1) the creation and generation of gainful employment; 2) reduction of unemployment and promotion of employment; 3) improvement of working conditions; and, 4) enhancement of the welfare of a working person.

Furthermore, it provides statistics on levels and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment for the country and regions; data will be used for the projection of future human resource, which when compared with the future manpower requirements will help identify employment and training needs; data will help in the assessment of the potential human resource available for economic development; and it will identify the difference in employment, unemployment, and underemployment according to the different economic, social, and ethnic groups existing within the population.

In the province, 10 sample barangays will be visited: in Virac: Gogon Centro and PLanab del Norte; in San Andres: San Isidro, Batong Plaoway and Putting Baybay; in Baras: Paniquihan, San Miguel; in Caramoran: Maysuram and Icanbato in Pandan: Libod.

Bangko Sentral grants regulatory relief to banks affected by “Sendong”

To assist and ease the financial burden of bank customers adversely hit by tropical storm Sendong, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is granting regulatory relief measures to thrift, rural, and cooperative banks in the affected areas.

Sendong devastated several parts of the country, particularly the Visayas and Mindanao regions, on December 2011.

Eligible for the relief measures are those in the following areas identified by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council which include Region V: Catanduanes; Region VI: Capiz; Region VII: Bohol and Negros Oriental; Region IX: Zamboanga del Norte; Region X: Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental; Region XI: Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte; Region XIII (CARAGA): Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur; and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM): Lanao del Sur.

Similar relief measures were extended by the BSP to thrift and rural/cooperative banks in cities/provinces that were affected by landslide/flooding last September 2011 and previous typhoons such as Frank, Ondoy, Pepeng, Juaning, Mina, and Pedring.

In a statement, the BSP said that its policy-making body, the Monetary Board, has approved some temporary relief measures which include:

1. Reducing the five percent general loan loss provision to one percent for restructured loans of borrowers in the affected areas;

2. Excluding existing loans of borrowers in affected areas from the computation of past due ratios provided these are restructured or given relief;

3. Non-imposition of penalties on legal reserves deficiencies with head office and/or branches in the affected areas;

4. Moratorium on monthly payments due to BSP for banks with ongoing rehabilitation programs;

5. Subject to BSP approval, booking of allowance for probable losses on a staggered basis over maximum of five years for all types of credit extended to individual and businesses directly affected by the calamity;

6. Non-imposition of monetary penalties for delays in the submission of supervisory reports;

7. Allowing banks to provide financial assistance to their officers and employees who were affected by the calamity including those assistance that may not be within the scope of the existing BSP-approved Fringe Benefit Program;

8. Granting of a 60-day grace period to settle the outstanding rediscounting obligations as of December 15, 2011 with the BSP of all rediscounting banks in the affected areas; and

9. Allowing banks to restructure with the BSP, on a case-to-case basis, the outstanding rediscounted loans of borrowers affected by the calamity.

These measures will be in effect for a defined period and covered by additional specific and other prudential conditions, the BSP said.

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