Philippines

Palawan News February 2013

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Palawan - Archived News
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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.

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Undergroud River in Palawan
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Underground river in Pureto Princesa, Palawan
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Baracuda Lake, Coron, Palawan

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.
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U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie A. Kenney and USAID/Philippines Environment Office Chief Daniel Moore witness the safe and sustainable collection of ornamental fish by certified Marine Aquarium Council collectors in Palawan

Province of Palawan, Philippines

Visiting divers to be diverted from Tubbataha Reef while salvage works ongoing - PCG

(PNA), HBC/PFN

MANILA, Feb. 28 (PNA) -- The Philippine Coast Guard Thursday said divers planning to visit Tubbataha Reef of the Sulu Sea may be diverted while salvage works for the grounded USS Guardian (MCM-5) are ongoing.

Coast Guard Palawan commander and Task Force Tubbataha head Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista made this announcement as divers are expected to go to the area once summer season starts this March.

Salvage operations for the USS Guardian are expected to be completed this March 23 barring inclement weather and equipment failure.

Evangelista said scuba divers from various countries who will visit dive sites at the reef will be informed the salvage operation area is off-limits "for security reasons."

Salvage work is ongoing for the USS Guardian, which ran aground on Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17 and has been crippled.

As of Thursday, salvage crews are working to remove the bridge deck, and may work on it until March 2.

New 5-hectare PSU campus to rise in Puerto Princesa

(PNA),LAP/CAG/CARF/PJN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) -- A five-hectare property owned by the city government of Puerto Princesa will be donated as a school site for the new Palawan State University (PSU) campus in Barangay San Rafael.

Three years ago, the Community College and Research Development of PSU was established here to offer seven courses accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Barangay chairman Greg Nalica shared that PSU gave conditions before it granted requests to open an extramural campus.

Since enrollment drastically increased, Nalica said that a new school site is badly needed not only for the operation of the extramural campus but also in preparation for the amalgamation of PSU and the Western Philippines University (WPU).

Presently, the structures serve as classrooms. Nalica’s endeavor was inspired by a survey in three barangay zones, where parents fail to send their children to college because of the daily transport dilemma.

Believing in the importance of education, he and his council coordinated with the PSU to possibly open a college campus in this far-flung village.

He said if they fail to implement programs before the merging of PSU and WPU, the newly-established campus in San Rafael will be closed.

The city council believed that the youth should not be deprived of their rights to education and has agreed to donate the land that was originally planned as a burial site for barangays Tanabag, Concepcion and San Rafael.

Not only San Rafael will benefit from the project but also its neighboring town of Roxas.

San Rafael, an area suited for agriculture and livestock, is the farthest barangay in northern Puerto Princesa.

Palawan businesses generate P1.09B investments in 2012

By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza (LBR/VSM/PIA-4B)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Feb. 26 (PIA) -- A total of P1,099,945,670-worth of investments was generated by new business firms that registered last year fostering local entrepreneurship and creating additional jobs.

Based on the latest data of the Department of Trade & Industry, which administers registration of sole proprietorship, 4,225 new firms were added to its roster in 2012; this was 8 percent more than it did the previous year.

The new business firms created 8,443 jobs in the trading, manufacturing, agriculture, and the services sector.

In an interview, Emma Quillope, Senior Trade & Industry Development Specialist of DTI-Palawan said that Palawan contributes more than 60 percent to the overall total for Mimaropa's data on new business registration.

Quillope said that business name registration is one of front line services of the DTI regulating its requirements and procedures to protect both the consumers and the business owner.

A business name is a name used in business transactions other than true names of persons and / or judicial entities. Consumers are assured of fair trade transactions because they are provided with the mechanism to trace essential information on the firm and its owner.

Palawan’s tourism stakeholders visit Cebu, Bohol

By Jessa Chrisna Marie Agua/MIT (The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines - The city tourism office and tourism stakeholders of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, are now in Central Visayas to personally experience the tourism and beauty of the region.

The activity is to strengthen tourism ties between the two provinces, as aimed by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Central Visayas and Southern Tagalog regions.

The Palawan delegation is scheduled to explore Cebu and Bohol in order to sell the region’s best tourism sites to Palawenos.

The familiarization tour (FamTour) started Saturday with the visitors checking Lapu-Lapu City upon arrival.

They visited hotels and resorts as well as Mactan guitar factories and the Mactan shrine as part of the Lapu-Lapu City tour.

The group departed Sunday for Bohol following a Cebu City tour passing through key historical and tourism spots in the city.

They will be back in Cebu on Monday afternoon to check furniture industries before proceeding to the appreciation dinner hosted by DOT-7 led by Regional Director Rowena Montecillo.

The Palawan delegation is composed of 22 visitors.

Five were coming from the local government unit headed by Puerto Princesa City Tourism Officer Rebecca Labit.

DOT Southern Tagalog Regional Director Louella Jurilla also came with one staff member.

Ten hoteliers completed the delegation sent to Central Visayas.

Apart from the government offices in the two regions, the FamTour is in partnership with the Cebu Association of Tour Operators (CATO), Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour Operators (BOFETTO).

Mine countermeasure equipment now being moved from USS Guardian

(PNA), LGI/PFN

MANILA, Feb. 24 (PNA) -- The US 7th Fleet, in a statement, announced that mine countermeasure equipment from the USS Guardian (MCM-5) is now being removed thanks to the assistance rendered by the M/V Jascon 25.

"Using its dynamic positioning system, the (M/V) Jascon 25 is able to position its crane within reach of the Guardian without requiring traditional mooring equipment that could damage the reef," it added.

With the crane in position, the US 7th Fleet statement said, the US Navy and salvage teams have started transferring mine countermeasure equipment including the 16 ton cable reel, onboard repair parts, and refrigerated stores that they had been previously unable to transfer using small boats. Equipment that will be returned to service are being transferred to the USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) for future offload to the USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8).

The items will be initially transferred to the USS Salvor (T-ARS 52) for future offload to the USS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8).

Capt. Mark Matthews, the US Navy salvage supervisor, said the M/V Jascon 25’s dynamic positioning system is allowing them to begin retrieval efforts.

The US Navy has repeatedly emphasized the salvage plan and timeline, often impacted by weather conditions, will continue to be updated by the Navy salvage experts to reflect the actual conditions throughout the dismantling process.

It also stressed that the salvage plan continues to emphasize safety and protection of the environment to protect personnel and the Tubbataha reef ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said salvage operation on Sunday was, again, unable to commence due to unfavorable weather and sea condition.

The PCG described the weather condition in the area as having "choppy seas with 1.5 to two-meter waves, wind speed at 27 knots, visibility good."

"Salvors will not risk the safety of the salvage team. Although there has been numerous attempts to board the USS Guardian either by rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) or by crane thru Billy Pugh Baskets, still such attempts has been futile," Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, commander of the PCG Palawan district, said.

"Huge waves of up to 2 meters has been constantly pounding the port side of USS Guardian since early this morning. This made it difficult for the Salvage Team to board USS Guardian much more perform their work on a very unstable ship," he added.

The USS Guardian has been grounded off Tubbataha Reef since Jan. 17

Environment watchdogs in Palawan call on mining regulatory board to strictly monitor quarrying

(PNA), LAP/DJMG/PJN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 22 (PNA) -- The Palawan NGO Network, Inc. (PNNI), the umbrella body of non-government organizations in this city and the province, is calling on the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) to strictly monitor illegal quarrying operations in the north to avoid the degradation of the environment there.

Elizabeth Maclang, advocacy officer of PNNI, said that in Taytay, residents of Barangay Busybees are extremely worried that landslide might happen, and river water might overflow to submerge homes during heavy rains because of quarrying operations allegedly by Gold Rock Construction.

Maclang said residents of Busybees are going to their office to complain that soil around the river in the barangay has loosened up after being engulfed by water due to illegal quarrying.

A resident of Busybees, who only identified himself as Mang Jose, went to PNNI to complain about quarrying in their area. He said if this is not stopped, their homes could be destroyed and their lives endangered by gushing waters during strong rains.

Maclang and the PNNI called on the PMRB to check if the report is true, and to immediately stop the construction company from taking more aggregates in Busybees to avoid environment and human catastrophe considering that it is a barangay with many residents.

'Crising' halts salvaging of USS Guardian in Tubbataha Reef

By Jan Elmer I. Badilla [(PNA), LAP/JEIB/SSC]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 21 (PNA) -- Salvage operation in the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP) where two foreign crane ships and other floating assets are participating has been halted due to the unfavorable weather condition in the area brought about by tropical depression Crising.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Palawan spokesperson Lt. Jg. Greanata Jude said although Smit Borneo and Jascon 25 are now back in Tubbataha after transporting crews and equipment in Puerto Princesa two days ago, the salvage operation was stopped again Thursday because of bad weather in the Sulu Sea.

Jude said halting the salvage operation again will definitely cause a change in the “target date” that the PCG and the U.S. Navy announced earlier to get off the minesweeper out of the marine world heritage site, which is first week of April.

“The weather condition in the area is just too risky because of Crising. The Tubbataha Task Force thought it best to just stop for now,” Jude said, adding it will resume again as soon as the weather clears.

In a new advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Crising has slowed down as it moves toward southern Palawa, but Jude said the task force does not want to take risks.

In Puerto Princesa, the PCG on Wednesday issued a warning against fishermen going out to sea, as well as other sea crafts. Jude said they are prohibited from sailing until Signal No. 1 has been removed by PAGASA.

In southern Palawan, the Palawan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council headed by Atty. Winston Gonzales said dawdling rain has in fact, been recorded in Balabac, where Crising is supposed to make an exit. There was also no report of any family being evacuated due to landslide.

The operation center (OpCen), however, will remain activated until Crising has left the country’s area of responsibility.


Puerto Princesa hosts 4×4 Balayong Festival

(MST Sports)

With the annual 4×4 Puerto Princesa Balayong Festival Offroad Challenge heading to its 10th year, a bigger and more exciting race weekend is planned on March 8 to 10 at the Brgy. Sta. Monica Tracks in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward S. Hagedorn, and his wife and Oplan Linis head, Ellen Hagedorn, have been supporting the event since the start and were able to transform the city into the newest tourist destination in the country. The Hagedorns, who have made Sports Tourism as one of the city’s main attractions, will also host the inaugural leg of the FIM MX Asia on March 22 to 24.

The MP TURBO-organized Offroad Challenge will be the final affair of Puerto Princesa’s most celebrated festival, the Balayong Festival, which marks the city’s Foundation Day on March 4.

Race Director Mike Potenciano promises a memorable race with a launch party at the Mendoza Park at the center of the city, a new supporting race called Enduro Cross and a new 4×4 category called the Veterans class, where past champions of off-road racing will be racing in.

This year’s 4×4 challenge will also have the regular Open, Open 4 and 6 Cylinder, Max 33, Novice and All Palawan Classes. There will be the Speed and Technical Race courses and the Top 20 will head onto the Shootout finale. A new 4×4 Team Relay Race, which will feature a team composed of a 4×4 driver and an Enduro rider running in relay after each other and the best aggregate time to determine the winner.

Officially sponsored by MORETA Shipping Lines, Toyota, Mossimo, Rota Wheels and Emerald Playa, the 2013 Balayong Offroad Festival will try to best last year’s 90 entries in 4×4 races and 80 entries for motorbikes.

Local 4×4 riders, through the efforts of Real Estate man Jong Balbon, have also beefed up their machines in an effort to win back the title from last year’s champion from Pampanga, Ton Dungca. Motocross and enduro riders from Luzon have also confirmed their participation.

Papa J’s Wiches n Wings, Autoplex KIA & Suzuki PPC, Seaoil and Ziebart have also thrown in their support, including local government officials, led by City Administrator Atty. Boy Rocamora, Sports Director Tony Reyes, Events Director Connie Aban and Tourism head Becky Labit.

The official TV coverage of Speed and internet radio show Turbo Time will provide all the racing highlights soon to an enthusiastic global crowd.

50 live hawksbill turtles in Southern Palawan confiscated

(PNA), PDS/JEIB/PJN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 19 (PNA) -- Troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 12 stationed in Southern Palawan were able to confiscate 50 critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) following a tip off from residents of Barangay Sibaring, Balabac at the southernmost tip of the province.

Lt. Col. Efren Rellores of MBLT 12 said troops from the 112nd Marine Company under his command and elements of the Balabac Municipal PNP discovered and confiscated the hawksbill sea turtles from unknown owners at Sitio Mansalangan, Sibaring.

He said the endangered turtles were intentionally ensnared in nets and submerged in water to make sure they were kept alive. .

“We did not catch any individual who might be responsible for the illegal act, but we are continuously on surveillance,” Rellores said.

The hawksbill sea turtles, locally known as “pawikan,” were turned over Sunday to the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) in Balabac that has since released them back to the waters.

Rellores alleged that based on their investigation, some residents of Balabac have now engaged in poaching turtles for the high price they fetch when sold to Chinese and Malaysia traders in the high seas.

Balabac in Palawan is one of the known areas where these sea turtles abound because of its tropical coral reefs. They are usually seen resting around these reefs.

On-line boost to Palawan Tourism

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

On-line booking for hotel accommodations and flights to Puerto Princesa in Palawan, site of the world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River, brought big rewards but also overwhelming problems, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn said on Sunday.

He said the new on-line system, which would make it easy for tourists to book flights and hotel rooms in the city, was accessible to travel agencies here and abroad.

“We worked hard for Puerto Princesa’s tourism. And we could not be happier that it worked and flourished,” Hagedorn said.

“But the demand was quite overwhelming. It eventually caused us more problems than rewards. We had more than what we can handle. And we weren’t prepared for it,” he said.

The new on-line system was presented last February to the Philippine Travel Agencies Association and the Philippine Tour Operators Association. Consultations were also made with local stakeholders in Puerto Princesa.

The new system will be operated by the city government as provided for by a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Tourism. Tourist arrivals in the city surged after the underground river was named one of UNESCO’s New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Hagedorn said the increase in tourist traffic has caused confusion in securing permits to the underground river and it has affected the manner of restriction of access due to environmental concerns.

He said he expected the number of tourist arrivals to grow in the next few months because of the on-line booking system but they have somehow managed to cope with the increased demand.

Second salvage ship arrives in Palawan area

(LBG, GMA News)

A second crane ship dispatched to help in removing the US minesweeper USS Guardian from Tubbataha Reef arrived in the Philippines Saturday night.

The JASCON 25 arrived in the Palawan area at 10 p.m. Saturday, according to a report by radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz Sunday.

However, the ship and its crew are to undergo an inspection by Philippine authorities Sunday before it could get to work.

As of 7 a.m. Sunday, personnel from the Bureaus of Customs and Immigration, along with quarantine personnel, were scheduled to conduct the inspections.

Once the ship and its crew meet the requirements from the Philippine government, it will then head for Tubbataha Reef - if the weather permits.

Meanwhile, the SMIT Borneo, the first crane ship to arrive in the area, was to leave its post to make way for the JASCON 25.

The USS Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef last Jan. 17, and may have damaged an estimated 4,000 square meters of the heritage site.

An earlier dzBB report cited the US Navy's revised plans indicating the JASCON 25's advantage over the SMIT Borneo, which arrived in the Philippines earlier this month, is that it is more stable and less prone to anchoring problems.

Earlier, the SMIT Borneo had problems starting salvage work since it could not drop anchor properly.

The JASCON 25 is being eyed as the main vessel for the salvage, with SMIT Borneo only as a support ship.

Dismantling of US Navy ship to start on Monday

By Philip C. Tubeza With a report from Nikko Dizon (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines—The American minesweeper USS Guardian, which is stuck on the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, will be “chopped up” beginning Monday, a Philippine Coast Guard official said Saturday.

PCG Palawan District commander Commodore Enrico Evangelista said the crane ship MT Jascon 25 was due to arrive in the area at 11 p.m. Saturday and that salvaging operations for the USS Guardian would begin on Monday.

“For the past one month, we prepared the USS Guardian for removal and the best scheme to remove (it) is through cutting,” Evangelista said in an interview. “We have already removed the things that can be removed so now [the entire ship] is ready for removal. We will begin cutting (on Monday).”

Evangelista said they had already removed “50-caliber machine guns, small guns and ammunition but no missiles.”

The United States earlier hired the services of the salvaging ships MT Trabajador 1 of Malayan Towage and Salvaging Corp. and the Vos Apollo of a Malaysian company based in Singapore. The US Navy’s USNS Salvor and the PCG’s BRP Romblon are also at the site.

Evangelita said the chopped up parts of the ship would be taken to Vos Apollo and transferred to a barge from Subic Bay.

“This is a warship of the US Navy so they will determine where it will be disposed. I still don’t know what they intend to do with it. The ship may have a design that is a trade secret,” he said.

He added that the Philippine government no longer needed these ship parts for its investigation into the grounding incident.

In Baguio City, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya ruled out the possibility of sending the crew of the USS Guardian to jail for running aground on the Tubbataha Reef.

“It becomes tricky on that respect,” Abaya told reporters when asked if the US Navy servicemen could be imprisoned for destroying the corals at the Tubbataha Reef as provided in RA 10067, the law that established the Tubbataha Reef National Park.

Abaya said it was accepted in the general practice of international laws that “men of war, foreign naval vessels enjoy immunity, especially if it is in the line of duty.”

“So that has been practiced (worldwide), so it would be difficult on that part,” Abaya said on the sidelines of the Philippine Military Academy Homecoming in Fort del Pilar. Abaya is a member of PMA Class ’88.

Nonetheless, Abaya said the US Navy would still be sanctioned for the damage its minesweeper caused to the reef that has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations.

The USS Guardian, which ran aground on January 17, destroyed some 4,000 square meters of corals. But Abaya said the overall damage to the reef had yet to be “assessed” because the ship was still stuck there.

The only way to have an “accurate picture” of the damage is if the ship has been removed, he said.

Abaya expressed hope that the salvaging of USS Guardian would be finished by March, depending on the weather in the area as the personal safety of the crew should also be considered.

Abaya noted that the US government has been “very cooperative and they have immediately apologized… The least they can do is cooperate, become transparent, and share with the people what’s going on.”

Abaya said there was some speculation about how the ship ran aground.

“Some say they probably enjoyed too much of an R&R in Subic. They said there was an error in digital charts. Some say they were doing a different thing there, on their own. This is all speculation so it would be irresponsible on my part to even assume,” Abaya said.

Palawan remains country’s top seaweed producer

By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza (LBR/VSM/PIA-Palawan)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Feb. 15 (PIA) -- Palawan remains the Philippines’ number one seaweed producing province accounting for 25.8 percent of the total volume of seaweed production at 451,926. metric tons (MT) valued at P2.8 billion for the year 2012 according to the CountryStat database of the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) website.

Palawan’s production made up 98.5 percent of the total volume for the Mimaropa region which accounted for 458,527 MT.

MIMAROPA is second to the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) registering the biggest volume of production at 629,363 MT last year.

The other top seaweed producing provinces are Tawi-Tawi with 319,176MT and Sulu with 214,230 MT, both from ARMM.

The total production last year was a bit lower than 2011’s. The Philippines registered 1.75 million MT last year and 1.84 million MT in 2011. The decrease in production was also recorded in Palawan, Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

In an interview with Dr. Romeo Cabungcal, Provincial Fishery Officer of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, he said that seaweeds production is a delicate crop affected by changes in the salinity of water, temperature and the water current.

There were major weather disturbances recorded in 2012 foremost of which were the heavy rains of the “habagat” and typhoon Pablo.

He said that he expects a bumper harvest this year with the support of the provincial government in training of more seaweed farmers and the establishment of more seaweed nurseries by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Palawan provincial veterinarian conducts barangay veterinary aid training to fight rabies

(PNA), CTB/DJMG/ABB

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — In a bid to save residents of Palawan from the danger of rabies, the Provincial Veterinarian Office (PVO) recently conducted a training for its volunteer barangay veterinary aids (BVAs) to teach them on how to properly handle the vaccination of domesticated pets and farm animals in their barangays.

The training also aims to teach them on the application of alternative medicines that can be found in their areas, as substitute for common drugs that can be purchased off on drug counters, as well as train PVOs in taking care of their pets and farm animals.

Dr. Carla Limsan and Dr. Darius Mangcucang were in Coron town recently for the training that was participated in by 21 barangay veterinary aide volunteers from several barangays in Coron and Busuanga. Each barangay sent in two participants.

In Busuanga, 38 participants from 13 barangays attended the training conducted for three days, with the third day spent on actual veterinary aiding.

The PVOs also conducted Hemosep Vaccination in the town of Brooke’s Point for large farm animals, such as cattles, carabaos and goats. More than 1,000 of these farm animals were vaccinated in barangays Sarasa, Amas, Aribungos, Tubtub, Oring-Oring, Pangobilian, Mainit and Barong-Barong.

Palawan IPs file complaint against giant mining company

(Remate)

THE militant group Bigkis at Lakas ng mga Katutubo sa Timog Katagalugan (BALATIK) and its local organization in Palawan, Bagong Tinig ng Katutubo sa Palawan (BAGTIK-Palawan), today filed complaints against Citinickel Mines and Development Corporation (CMDC) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“We are filing a complaint because we want Citinickel closed. Its operation destroyed our environment, livelihood, health, and culture,” said BAGTIK Chairperson Fermin Queron.

“From the very beginning, Citinickel did not respect the indigenous people in Palawan. In fact, it operated without even getting out Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). We just woke up one day and saw them constructing their facilities,” added Queron.

“Citinickel had been operational for just a few years now, but we already feel the destruction it caused. It destroyed our rich natural resources. Our mountains which used to be home to different plants and animals are now gone,” said Queron.

“This environmental destruction has direct effects on our livelihood. Yield from our farm decreased by almost 50% because of the destruction of our lands. Fishermen also have lesser or no catch at all especially when the sea turns to red due to laterite,” added Queron.

“The mining operation also has negative effects on our health. We acquire respiratory and skin diseases whenever we use the water from the river. Respiratory problems like cough and colds became common because of the dust from the operation. In fact, last year, 2 children died because of difficulty in breathing,” said Queron.

“Citinickel also destroyed our ancestral land. In fact, their tenement is just meters away from our sacred burial grounds. This shows how they disrespect our culture,” added Queron.

“The operation of Citinickel did not do us any good. We don’t believe its lies anymore. We want it closed. We will not accept anything less than that,” Queron said.

Female student pilots of Philippine Air Force flying school make flyby mission in Puerto Princesa

(PNA), FPV/JEIB/PJN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 12 (PNA) -- Sixteen female student pilots of the Philippine Air Force Flying School (PAFFS) made a flyby mission in this city Monday and awed residents with their meticulous aerial exhibitions using the SF 260 trainer jets.

Garbed in their air force flying uniforms and sporting hard protective head coverings, the female student pilots successfully maneuvered several aerial acrobats, one of which was the diamond formation that sent media men covering the event, and other spectators in wonder and admiration at the Base Operations of the Camp Antonio Bautista Airbase.

The female flying students arrived for the mission from San Fernando Airbase in Lipa City, where they have also been training.

Lt. Christina Bechayda, one of the students, said it has been her dream to fly a plane, and when the PAF offered the opportunity, she immediately grabbed it.

“It’s great to be a part of the Philippine Air Force and fulfill my dreams. Bata pa lang ako, pangarap ko na ang makapagpalipad ng eroplano, and I am thankful that the air force gave me the opportunity,” Bechayda said.

Lt. Noreen Bucsit, on the other hand, said that though many thinks flying aircrafts in the military is a “man’s job,” women who are determined enough can also do the difficult task as long as she is focused.

“It’s a woman’s job too. In other countries, there are already female pilots and here in the Philippines, soon there will be more of us you will know grazing the air and doing our jobs in the Philippine Air Force,” Bucsit said.

2nd Lt. Dearly Ross Mosquero, also one of the flying students, said the opportunity to join the great pilots of the PAF only shows that “there is gender equality” in the country, even in tasks that are only thought about as “for men only.”

“Nakakatuwa kasi nagpapakita ito na may gender equality sa ating bansa,” Mosquero said.

Bechayda, Mosquero and Bucsit said all of them are ready to take on their job as future pilots in the PAF, and hopefully fly jet fighter planes when they graduate from the flying school.

“We are ready to go to war if we’re called to defend the country from enemies, but of course, we hope that does not happen,” Bucsit said.

Lt. Ric Norman Carillo, public information officer of the 570th Composite Tactical Wing at Camp Antonio Bautista Airbase said this is the first time a flyby mission was done by all female student pilots.

The mission, he explained, is part of the students’ Cross Country Training in flying. “This is part of their cross country training and the first time done in Puerto Princesa and Palawan. The Air Force welcomes the female pilots in the air, and in joining us monitor our skies. They can do the task, there is no doubt about it,” he said.

On Wednesday, Carillo said a new batch of flying students will do a flyby mission again in Palawan, and female students will again be part of the group.

Palawan solar home system program aims to give power to off-grid residents

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), LAP/CARF/SSC]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 11 (PNA) –- Palawan Governor Baham Mitra is continuing the distribution of Solar Home Systems (SHSs) in different barangays in the province, especially to residents who live far from the transmission line grids.

The program, which aims to provide alternative sources of electricity to residents, started distribution recently in Barangays Buliluyan and Taratak in Bataraza; Bebeladan, Manlag and Teneguiban in El Nido town; Tinitian, Rizal, Antonino and Bagong Bayan in Roxas; Alacalian in Taytay; sitio Alaba in Barangay Binudac in Culion and Sitio Ocam-Ocam in Barangay New Busuanga.

Based on the Housing and Basic Utilities Program headed by Engr. Aireen Laguisma-Marcaida, SHSs will also be distributed at Sitio Bubusawin, Aporawan in the town of Aborlan; sitio Gawid, Caruray in San Vicente; barangays Nusa and Magsaysay in Cagayancillo, Barangay Canipaan in Rizal, and Barangays Baras, Batas, and Meytegued in Taytay.

Around 1,475 units of SHSs are expected to be distributed all over the province following the distribution in Salang, Pandanan and Ramos in Balabac; Barangays Decabaitot, Decarabao and Calibangbangan in Culion; sitios Boayan and Binga in San Vicente; Barangays Bohol, Ilian, Danleg, and Culasian in Dumaran; Barangays Cheey in Busuanga; Barangay Kalatagbak in Quezon; isla Sombrero in Aborlan, and Barangay Pag-asa in Kalayaan last year.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Distribution Line Extension from the National Highway to New Guinlo in Taytay that has a stretch of 8.260 kilometers, and 6.5 kilometers in Caramay, Roxas is now being completed.


Witness’ death won’t weaken case vs ex-gov, says DOJ chief

By Jerome Aning (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday said the death of the alleged lookout in the hit team that murdered Palawan environmentalist-broadcaster Gerardo “Doc Gerry” Ortega would not affect the case that the government is pursuing against the culprits.

De Lima told reporters that the testimony offered by Dennis Aranas, who reportedly committed suicide on Wednesday at the Quezon provincial jail in Lucena City, was rejected by the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).

She said that while Aranas was provisionally admitted to the WPP when the case was still under evaluation, his regular admission was not approved.

“There was a certification on nonmateriality by the handling prosecutors. This means it was certified that his testimony was immaterial. We have requisites to comply with [so] he was not covered,” she said.

Former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, were earlier charged for the January 2011 murder case. Both have denied the charges and have fled the country.

Citinickel pays P375,000 fine for Palawan mine spill

(Rappler.com)

MANILA, Philippines - Citinickel Mines and Development Corp. has paid the over P375,000 penalties to the government following the November silt spill in its Palawan operations.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Friday, February 8, Citinickel's parent, Oriental Peninsula Resources Group Inc., said it has also constructed additional silting pond to prevent a similar incident in the future.

"Yes we confirm that there was an incident of overflowed water with silt in one of our silting pond…in one of our nickel mining operation located in Brgy. San Isidro, Narra, Palawan," the listed firm wrote.

The penalties were imposed after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and its attached agencies, the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), conducted water sampling tests on the Pinagduguan River, where some of the water overflowed, two days after the incident in November 25, 2012.

"We immediately stop[ped] our mining operation and immediately clean[ed] up and rehabilitated the river and some adjacent farm lots that were affected by the overflow. The company finished [these] 15 days later…The company already paid [the P375,000-plus fine to] the DENR," it disclosed.

However, unlike the recent mine spill in Padcal, Benguet that gold producer Philex Mining Corp said was caused by force majeure, the Citinickel incident in Palawan was due to the mine's lapses, the government's investigation showed.

The report said the Palawan mine spill was "due to lapses in the judgement of the mine foreman who was tasked to drain water from silt pond no. 2 to silt pond no. 1."

Palawan’s Tubbataha PAMB gives 5 conditions for safe salvaging of USS Guardian

(PNA), PDS/DJMG/PJN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) -- Before the SMIT Borneo left for Tubbataha on Wednesday, the Protected Areas Management Board (PAMB) headed by Governor Baham Mitra laid down five conditions before the salvage plan proposed by the U.S. Navy was given the green light.

Angelique Songco of the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO) on Thursday said the conditions were to make sure that the coral reefs can be protected.

First in the list was that a Joint Ecological Assessment will be done between the U.S. Navy and the TMO before actual operation is started. Second is the conduct of the same in assessing the true value of the damages caused by the USS Guardian.

The PAMB also mandated that their team be allowed to join the U.S. Navy salvage operation team in the vessels that would participate in getting the grounded minesweeper off Tubbataha to assure that safe operating procedures are followed.

The conditions also asked the U.S. Navy to commit that during the salvaging operation, no endangered marine species would be caught by the net to be placed around the USS Guardian to trap the debris once the sectioning would be implemented.

Lastly, that all vessels and individuals included in the salvage operation team would strictly follow the laws being implemented by the TMO in the Tubbataha.

Evangelista assured that anything that needs to be added to the already approved salvage plan would have to be brought to their attention first before implementation.

The crane ship SMIT Borneo finally reached the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park (TRNP) on Wednesday to commence the salvaging of the USS Guardian that got stuck in the marine protected area of South Atoll in January.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Palawan District Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista informed the media that SMIT Borneo reached the Tubbataha at about six o’clock Wednesday and set to task immediately by carefully laying down its anchors in the Sulu Sea off Cagayancillo island town 8-10 meters away from the grounding site.

The Coast Guard top official said it took the crane ship long hours to lay down the anchors as it needed to be careful to place them in the target areas. He provided no other details as to when sectioning of the USS Guardian will happen.

Removal of USS Guardian may take until April - PCG

(PNA), PDS/TRIB/PJN

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 6 (PNA) -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commander Rear Admiral Rodulfo Isorena on Wednesday said removing the grounded USS Guardian off the South Atoll of the Tubbataha Reefs National Park (TRNP) may take until April.

Isorena said they hope to start the salvage operation as soon as possible to avoid further damage to the reef.

The Tubbataha Protected Areas Management Board (TPAMB) has given the green light to the U.S. Navy salvage operation team to pursue the proposal to “section” US minesweeper.

Palawan Governor Baham Mitra, who also chairs the TPAMB, said in an interview that "sectioning" the USS Guardian in several parts appear to be less destructive, though the crane ship SMIT Borneo has to drop anchor on the protected reef 2,500 feet below the water.

In consultation with the National Task Force on the Tubbataha incident, Mitra said breaking the minesweeper into several parts seem to be the safest course to take to speed up the removal.

Meanwhile, the management of the TRNP is concerned that the grounding of the USS Guardian in the protected marine park may cause adverse effects on its tourism industry, especially because the diving season is about to start in March.

Angelique M. Songco, head of the Tubbataha Management Office (TMO), said the approximately 1,500 tourists, expected to arrive in the marine park this year is comparatively lower than last year due to the stranding incident, coyld still visit the world-famous diving site but they “may not get the full Tubbataha experience because [the management] may have to close certain parts of the park.”

Of the eight diving sites in the marine park that are open to tourists, Songco said they are heavily considering closing two since these were the ones directly affected by the grounding incident.

The USS Guardian that ran aground the Tubbataha Reef on January 17 and has damaged an estimated 4,000 square meters of reefs which, authorities approximated to be equal to eight basketball courts, with an initial cost estimate of P100 million for damages.

The estimate does not cover the cost of restoring the reef and the damages to its other constituencies which extend to water quality and bird and fish life.

Songco said the TPAMB would stand by its demand to hold the US Navy accountable for the damages the grounding of the USS Guardian has brought.

The board also wants the US Navy to pay the corresponding fine for every violation its ship had committed.

TPAMB has already sent the notice of violation, which listed pertinent provisions of Philippine law that the USS Guardian violated to the US Navy but Songco said they have not yet received any answer.

Among the violations that the board has listed were unauthorized entry, non-payment of conservation fee, damaging the reef and destroying resources.

Aquino: US government committed to assist in rehab of Tubbataha Reef

By Lilybeth G. Ison (PNA), HBC/LGI

MANILA, Feb. 5 (PNA) -- President Benigno Aquino III Tuesday said the United States government has committed to assist in the rehabilitation of the Tubbataha Reef, including the posting of a Peace Corps volunteers to accelerate rehabilitation effort.

This was aside from paying the compensation for the damage caused by the grounding of minesweeper USS Guardian on the reef.

"There is a specific law governing Tubbataha. We met with the US Ambassador (Harry) Thomas... He said they are not just gonna compensate us in terms of paying the necessary fines, but they are also envisioning how to assist the rehabilitation of Tubbataha to include posting parang peace corps volunteers to the area to accelerate the rehabilitation of the reef," the President said in an interview at the sidelines of the Philippine Development Forum held in Davao City.

President Aquino said Transporation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya will be presenting to him the details of the plan on how to salvage the ship.

"I haven’t seen the operations plan. Conceptual lang na... ika-cut up ‘yung ship kaysa ida-drag mo ‘yung ship through the reef; kaysa ilalapit mo ‘yung salvage ship to the reef also na baka pagbuhat ay sumama ‘yung salvage ship doon sa sina-salvage na ship (USS Guardian)," he said.

When asked if the Philippine government is open to applying other international conventions to seek a higher fine from the US government, the President said this is being studied by the relevant agencies, including the Department of Justice, Dept. of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Transportation and Communications.

"This (looking at other international conventions) is being studied intensely by the council that governs Tubbataha, by our Secretary of Justice, by the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, and the Department of Transportation and Communications, which under whose auspices the Coast Guard exists," he said.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda earlier said the US government has promised to provide assistance for the restoration of the Tubbataha Reef.

"That’s not compensation, that’s assistance. We still have to determine the amount of fines that are going to be imposed based on a final assessment on the damage caused to the reef and that has not been done yet," he said.

"They’re (US) going to do that over and above the fines that we are going to impose based on the law that we have in place. And certainly we have seen their commitment to preserving the reef as part of their ongoing efforts, previous efforts, and certainly these are acknowledgments of the importance of the richness of the biodiversity that is found in Tubbataha Reef," he noted.

Lacierda said the Philippine government is just awaiting for the final assessment to determine the extent of the damage caused by the grounding of USS Guardian, which will happen only after the ship has been extricated from the reef.

Palawan’s endemic fruits eyed for export

By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) is studying the export potential of endemic fruits in Palawan to give indigenous tribes in the province an alternative source of livelihood.

BAR has alloted a budget of P2 million for the identification of indigenous tropical fruits in Palawan that have commercial value. Among those already identified are batuan, paratungon and dugyan.

BAR director Nicomedes Eleazar said that a market already exists because tourists are expected to flock to Palawan after the Puerto Princesa Underground River was declared last year as one of world’s New Seven Wonders.

“We find the development of Palawan’s indigenous fruit species as timely especially as Palawan is now known the world over for its tourist-luring subterranean river. There is a ready market for these fruits especially among foreigners that are fascinated with their unique features,” said Eleazar.

“Other countries have harnessed their endemic plants as nutritional food products. Malaysia commercialized to the global market its own native plant tongkat ali. We should do the same,” he added.

He noted that other countries have beaten the Philippines in the development of some of their native plants. Japan, for instance, was the one that successfully commercialized the native banaba plant. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

A five-year plan is now being mapped by BAR and the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the commercialization of indigenous fruits of Palawan.

Most of Palawan’s indigenous fruits are found in its forests.

The batuan, scientifically named as “Garcinia binucao,” is famous in Panay Island. It is also known in Palawan as “kandis,” but is a different species, according to BAR.

BAR said that ECJ Farms, an affiliate company of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), has started growing the batuan in its plantation in Negros Occidental.

The batuan fruit is under the same family of mangosteen and has a sour taste. It is sometimes used as an ingredient for sinigang. It can be found in most public markets in the province.

Dugyan, meanwhile, is compared to the more popular durian fruit but has a less powerful odor.

Paratungon, on the other hand, is usually used for making candies, marmalade, jelly, and jams as well as wine.

Found specifically in southern Palawan, paratungon is an endemic palm found in humid areas in both lowland and highlands.

Its stem is used as a construction material for houses and furniture.

21 Malampaya-funded projects found overpriced, substandard

By JONATHAN DE SANTOS

NINETEEN road improvement and two bridge construction projects in Palawan province that cost the government some P420 million were overpriced and failed to conform with government standards, former national treasurer Leonor Briones told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

These projects, implemented in 2008, were funded through SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) No. A-08-01326, representing just a fraction of P3.9 billion in royalties from the Malampaya natural gas project that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is now investigating.

Even if the Committee wanted to take the concerned Palawan officials to task for it, however, it would have to wait. The projects were implemented during the term of then Palawan governor Joel Reyes who has been in hiding since a warrant for his arrest was issued in March 2012.

“They will have to comply with the requirements (of COA) or face the music,” Committee chair Teofisto Guingona III said, referring to Reyes and other provincial officials.

Briones, chair of Kaakbay party-list and convenor of watchdog Social Watch Philippines, cited as an example the 10-kilometer improvement of the Culandanum-Panalingaan Road, with an approved budget of P20 million, was found to cover only 5.68 kilometers.

The project’s reported cost was P18.9 million using materials that were “grossly overpriced.”

The road improvement was not only too short. Briones said it also failed to conform to standards set by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The road project did not have side ditches and earthworks, and was narrower than it should have been, the Kaakbay team found.

It also found that “available and free materials” like river rocks were charged to the project. Kaakbay also questioned the amount of cement that was supposedly used for the project.

“In calculating quantity of cement bags for Class-A concrete mix, the required mix volume of 285 cubic meters was allocated with 2,700 bags of cement. The correct quantity of cement bags for said volume of Class-A mix is only around 1,118 bags,” Briones said in a slideshow she presented to the committee. Palawan-bridge

The construction of Llabungan bridge in Quezon, Palawan was also found to have been substandard. Briones said the bridge did not conform to DPWH specifications since the approach was below the grade of the road and its spillway openings were too small.

Materials were also found to have been overpriced and of poor quality. This, Briones said, could be seen in the bank protection of the bridge, which had eroded within five years.

Kaakbay’s inspection, which was based on project documents and on on-site inspections, found that “all the projects were carried [without] following the Approved Programs of Work.”

A Program of Work lists details of a DPWH project, including the cost of the project and a breakdown of expenditures. Kaakbay said there were no documents to show the deviations from the programs of work had been approved.

There was also no documentation done on the projects, either to show how the project sites looked before construction began or to show progress of the projects.

The projects, some of which were in forest land or in protected areas, did not have environmental impact assessment studies, nor was there proof that the projects were officially turned over to the local government units that had the projects built.

According to Kaakbay, the 19 road projects cost around P7.4 million per kilometer of road.

One project, the Aramaywan-Berong road improvement project, was less than a kilometer long but cost P6.3 million. Other projects, which were from 2 kilometers to 6.5 kilometers long, cost more than P18 million each.

“The assessment resonates with other findings of overpricing and significant financial losses on the part of government. Even as estimates vary, such losses would have financed more projects which would have benefited the people of Palawan,” Kaakbay said.

Guingona said some of the 355 projects that the Commission on Audit has since disallowed did not even have programs of work. “There was nothing to audit because there would be no basis (for an audit),” he said in an interview after the hearing.

He added there were overlapping projects that improved “the same stretch of road.”

Reyes and his brother, former Coron, Palawan mayor Mario Reyes, are wanted for their alleged involvement in the murder of broadcaster Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega in 2011. Ortega is believed to have been killed for speaking out against corruption in the use of Malampaya funds. IMG-20130131-00465

Ortega’s daughter Michaella, who was also at the hearing, challenged the Palawan provincial government to show documents to explain where the money from Malampaya went.

“Magkano ba talaga? Hindi nila kayang sagutin (How much has been spent? They can’t give an answer,” she said.

Ortega added Palawan Governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra did little to investigate her father’s death or bring the Reyeses to justice. Mitra, a political ally of the former governor, even came out in support of Reyes, she said. “May kuntsabahan talaga (There was collusion),” she said.

Mitra did not attend the Senate hearing.

Guingona, meanwhile, said the committee will also look into how the Reyeses were able to evade authorities.

Cooperatives in Palawan to undergo management training on coop governance

By Donna Jean M. Genilan [(PNA), CTB/DJMG/SSC)]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 1 (PNA) -– Four cooperatives in Palawan will undergo management training on Cooperative Governance under the auspieces of the Provincial Cooperative Development Office (PCDO) in cooperation with training providers -- Palawan Cooperative Union (PCU) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The training will take off on February 4 until February 6, according to Gina Socrates of the PCDO. Participants of the training will include representatives from the Capitol Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CEMPC), Palawan Women’s Cooperative, Western Philippines University (WPU) Employees Credit Cooperative and Landbank Employees Cooperative, as well as members interested to run as candidates for various positions such board of directors or executive officers of the cooperatives.

Socrates said the training is in response to the requirement of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) for them to become effective managers of cooperatives.

Among the topics that will be discussed are policy development, leadership and cooperative governance. After the training, the participants are expected to create their own Code of Governance and Ethical Standards Policy for their respective cooperatives, she said.

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