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Catanduanes News

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Province of Catanduanes - Archived News

Korean agency starts survey on Virac airport upgrade

VIRAC, Catanduanes- The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), has started preliminary survey of the Virac Airport here recently.

According to Engr. Raul Glorioso of CAAP, the upgrading of the province's sole airport is a proposed project of DOTC to KOICA to upgrade and develop Virac airport at par with other airports in other countries.

The said offer also came up due to flight cancellations when the weather is cloudy due to landing inconvenience which caused flights to return to Manila. Aside from these, the current airport lacks strong lights that should serve as guide of pilots if the weather is cloudy due to heavy rains.

Cabana also said that if the project materializes, the cost of the upgrading will reach an estimate of $3 million that will be granted by KOICA which will cover obstruction removal, construction of new apron, passenger terminal building, taxiway, administration building, airport drainage system, vehicle parking area, perimeter fence, fire station building, procurement of air navigation and communications equipment, crash, fire and rescue (CFR) vehicle and maintenance vehicle.

At present, Virac airport already has an administration building and a fire station building which shall result in changes in funds and other concerns.

It is also expected to increase air traffic demand (passenger, aircraft and cargo), stimulate business trade and investment opportunities, speed up movement of passengers, goods and services and increase economic growth and activities.

Virac airport runway and apron stretches at 1,886 which needs to be rehabilitated due to some joints and cracks.

Moreover, according to CAAP, from the average annual passenger traffic of 19,845 Virac airport recorded a significant increase in the last three years reaching 43,279 passengers in 2011.

Meanwhile, the province is very optimistic that the plans of the airport upgrading will prosper since it shall benefit everyone especially in terms of the province's tourism. The survey will last for more or less one week.

90 nurses completes RN HEALS program

VIRAC, Catanduanes- A total of 90 nurses completed the RN-HEALS of the Department of Health (DOH) in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

RN HEALS, an acronym for Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement And Local Service, is expected to address the shortage of skilled and experienced nurses in 1,221 rural and unserved or underserved communities for one year.

It was started last year to provide essential health services to all Filipinos and as well as address the issue of nurses’ unemployment.

In this connection, an exit conference was held last February 15, 2012 at Rackdell Inn wherein the 90 nurses received certificates of Deployment and Competency warded by Governor Joseph C. Cua who was the guest speaker of the event, Provincial Health Team Leader Dr. Gladys Escote and representatives from supporting agencies.

Aside from P8,000 monthly stipend, an additional P2,000 allowance were also provided by local government units for each nurse.

Meanwhile, the next batch of nurses that will qualify for the RN HEALS program succeeding the previous batch will be announced this week.

According to Dr. Escote, out of the 130 nurses who applied for the program, only 95 will get their slots.

Business one-stop-shop increases tax collection in 7 towns

VIRAC, Catanduanes- All it had to do was hasten the process of business permits and the buiness sector fully appreciated, as shown by the increase in tax collection.

A significant increase in business taxes has been observed in seven towns here in Catanduanes following the implementation of the Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Upscaling Reforms Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The BPLS program is aimed at limiting the processing time of the local government unit to issue business permits and licenses to a maximum of 10 days from the date of submission of the application form as required by the Anti-Red Tape Law, using a unified form each for new applications and renewals and limiting the number of steps in processing applications for new applications and renewals.

Among the towns that experienced higher taxes and fees paid by business establishments in their respective locale as stated in a report submitted by DTI and DILG, Caramoran town has the most number of increase with registrants increasing from six in January 2011 to 118 this 2012 wherein its tax collection from business registration boomed from P52,193.73 to P296,338.24 or nearly five times the figure for the previous year.

Viga came in second with 92 registrants increasing by 171 percent in collection from P139,541.75 to P378, 670.32. The province's capital town is in 3rd with 127 percent increase from 14 to 754 registrants with an increased revenue from P3.9 million in 2011 to P8.9 million this January, 2012.

Moreover, Pandan listed an increase of 73 percent in business taxes from P143, 052.76 to P247,545.48 with registrants rising from 100 to 182. Meanwhile, Bato town recorded 121 registrants from 84 with a tax collection growing from 29 percent to P774,079.18.

San Miguel town still does not have data while San Andres registrants grew from 256 to 284 but its tax revenue fell from P1.06 million to P884,680.85 this year.

According to William Aldea, Local Government Operation Officer, the significant increase in tax collection was due to the establishment of Business One-Stop Shop desks in the said towns which sped up the approval of permits and licenses in January, 2012.

Suspected NPA leader captured in Catanduanes

Government troops captured a suspected leader of the New People’s Army in Catanduanes in an encounter Friday morning, an Army commander in the Bicol region said Saturday.

Colonel Arthur Ang, commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade, identified the alleged NPA leader in a telephone interview as Lorenzo Jimenez “alias” Enzo, 33, a native of Gigmoto who was believed operating in the eastern side of Catanduanes. Friday’s encounter occurred on the outskirts of Gigmoto.

Ang said that at around 9:30 a.m. Friday, Jimenez and five other NPA rebels were cornered after a five-minute firefight with troops from the 83rd Infantry Battalion in Barangay Sioron, six kilometers away from Gigmoto and 52 kms from Virac, the provincial capital.

Captain Edmar Gambot, leader of the government troops, said in his report that the captured rebel had raised his hands in surrender. “I instructed my combat medics to check for wounds upon his capture,” said Gambot.

Troops seized an Uzi sub-machinegun from Jimenez while an M16 armalite rifle was recovered during clearing operations.

Ang directed pursuit of the five fleeing rebels and turned Jimenez over to the Gigmoto Municipal Police Office.

Communist rebel killed in Catanduanes clash

A communist rebel was killed while another was arrested after a clash with soldiers in Catanduanes Friday, a military spokesman said.

Major Harold Cabunoc said troops from the Philippine Army’s 83rd Infantry Battalion led by Lieutenant Colonel Rodolfo Batang encountered an undetermined number of guerrillas in Barangay Sioron, Gigmoto town at around 9:30 a.m.

“We acted on the report by concerned residents that heavily armed rebels were extorting money in the area,” said Batang.

The rebels fled after the clash that lasted five minutes, added Cabunoc.

The soldiers were able to confiscate an M16 rifle and uzi sub machine gun from the rebels.

No one was hurt among the troops, he said.

Girl Scouts conduct tree planting activity

SAN ANDRES, Catanduanes- Girl Scouts from the San Andres Vocational School (SAVS) participated in helping in greening the environment through a tree planting activity on February 4, 2012 at 8:00 a.m.

The said activity was undertaken as part of the Girl Scouting Program and SAVS’ Green Surroundings Program.

The former is an action plan covering the whole Girl Scouting environment of fun, adventure, and challenges where girls working alone or in small groups live the Girl Scout Promise (GSP) and develop themselves in self-reliance, self-esteem, and service with the guidance of able and caring adults.

This is also under the eight-point challenge of GSP which is the Challenge of Environment stating that protection and conservation of the natural resources is very important local and global issue.

On the other hand, the school’s greening program is in support of the nationwide endeavor to protect and preserve the environment.

The tree planting coincides with the yes-o camp wherein aside from GSP members, students of SAVS and faculty members of the school were able to participate in the activity.

FICELCO: Power rates remain below P11 per-kilowatt-hour

VIRAC, Catanduanes- First Catanduanes Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FICELCO) said that power rates in the province in overall are still below P11 per kilowatt-hour for residential and commercial users.

Clarification came after the announcement of National Power Corporation that there will be a P1.43/kwh hike in the generation rate.

According to FICELCO management, the low electric rate is due to contribution of the three hydroelectric power plants to Catanduanes grid. However, they made it clear that the NPC rate hike has yet to be reflected in the power bill for the period December 26, 2011 to January 25, 2012 and will be imposed this month.

In a computation released by FICELCO, the power bill for January, 2012 will be lower than the bill last November, 2011 except for public buildings. Said decrease is due to the lower generation charge for the month with P3.6900 per kwh compared to P5.1998 for November 2011 since renewable power contributed a big portion of the total generation mix.

Therefore, actual cost for a residential consumer with 100-kwh consumption will be P10.5121/kwh while commercial users will be charged P9.3525/kwh due to lower distribution and supply system charges.

Moreover, public buildings will be charged P9.1282/kwh while street lights will have P14.5312/kwh.

OPPAP extends livelihood assistance to former NPA rebels

VIRAC, Catanduanes- The Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP) recently awarded checks ranging from P10,000 to P50,000 in funding for livelihood projects to 12 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Catanduanes under the Social Integration Program (SIP).

The former members of the rebel group received their checks in a simple ceremony held last week at the headquarters of the Philippine Army 83rd Infantry Battalion in Lictin, San Andres. Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director Senior Superintendent Lito Pitallano, provincial consultant on social welfare and development Priscilla Navar and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) representative William Aldea awarded the checks to the individuals.

The recipients of the project are: Jolito Eugenio of Pandan, P50,000; Pablo Antonio of Caramoran, P50,000; Mary Jane of Viga, P40,000; Clarita Frias of Pandan, P50,000; Rowell Fernandez of Baras, P20,000; Joseph Interior of Panda, P50,000; Mergilda Tevar of Caramoran, P10,000, Ronnel Eugenio of Pandan, P20,000; Alfredo Base of San Andres, P45,000; Michael Rodriguez of Pandan, P50,000; Juanito Lucero of Caramoran and Almir Español of Viga with P12,000 each. Said individuals underwent prior evaluation conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office.

Navar said 10 more former rebels are now being processed while evaluation will be scheduled for new the surrenderees.

Major Gaspar Panopio, the representative of 83rd IB commander Lt. Col. Rodolfo Batang expressed gratitude to OPPAP, provincial government and national agencies for their support to the program. He also advised the recipients to develop the projects for the benefit of their families and to change their life for the better.

He likewise encouraged and assured those who are still members of the group that the government will help them to regain their former lives.

On the other hand, the recipients who were all absorbed by the army as Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) volunteers were thankful since the project will help them start a new life.

NSO celebrates Civil Registration Month

VIRAC, Catanduanes- The National Statistics Office is celebrating the Civil Registration Month (CRM) pursuant to Proclamation No. 682 “Declaring the Month of February of every year as Civil Registration Month” with the theme: “Tamang Rehistro Pananagutan ng Bawat Pilipino."

The observance of Civil Registration Month aims to remind the citizenry of their duty to register acts and events concerning the status of persons, enhance nationwide awareness and appreciation of the legal, administrative, and statistical values of civil registry documents and underscore the necessity for Congress to provide adequate funds for enforcement and administration of laws on civil registration.

The system of civil registration was established in the Philippines on the 27th of February 1931 through the enactment of Act 3753, “An Act to Establish A Civil Register”. Act No. 3753 requires the continuous and compulsory recording of births, deaths, marriages, and other acts and events concerning the civil status of persons. The civil status of a person starts at birth and ends in death.

As part of the celebration, there will be free issuance of certifications and authentications in NSO Manila and NSO Regional Offices and the Office of the Civil Registrars will issue certifications on births, deaths and marriages for free on February 27. The office of the NSO and MCRs had lined up activities like display streamer/poster and conduct civil registration forum, mass weddings, mobile registration, information dissemination, BUNTIS Congress and slogan contest during the whole month of celebration.

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