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Province of Batanes - Archived News

IBP creates team to monitor Corona trial

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) has created a special team to closely monitor the upcoming impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona in the Senate, its national president Roan Libarios announced yesterday.

In a press conference in their headquarters in Pasig City, Libarios said their regional governors have unanimously agreed to establish an IBP impeachment communications group composed of volunteer lawyers tasked “to inform the public on the impeachment and its effects on judicial independence.”

He also announced the creation of another IBP impeachment watch that would “closely monitor the developments in the impeachment case before the Supreme Court and the Senate.”

This developed as officials of IBP also affirmed their stand against the speedy impeachment of Corona, which they believe treads on the powers and prerogatives of the judiciary under the Constitution.

All 10 regional officials of the 40,000-strong organization have expressed grave alarm over what they described as “breakneck and high-handed impeachment” of the chief justice by the House of Representatives.

Libarios reiterated their position that the impeachment was unconstitutional but also revealed that they would not initiate legal action to question it before the high court.

Governors of IBP supported this stand in a statement of support for the Chief Justice where they branded the impeachment as “a menace and an open subversion of the constitutional prerogatives of the Supreme Court as the final interpreter of the law and the arbiter of rights.”

Those who signed the statement were IBP governors Denis Habawel (Northern Luzon), Olivia Jacoba (Central Luzon), Dominic Solis (Greater Manila), Vicente Joyas (Southern Luzon), Leonor Gerona-Romeo (Bicolandia), Manuel Enage Jr. (Eastern Visayas), Erwin Fortunato (Western Visayas), Israelito Torreon (Eastern Mindanao) and Florendo Opay (Western Mindanao). Libarios had earlier issued a statement against the impeachment.

This time, the other national officials of IBP supported his stand. They lamented that the House had in effect arrogated unto itself the power to interpret the law over and above the SC by impeaching the chief justice based on decisions issued by the high court.

“Such an impeachment has transformed the House of Representatives as the higher interpreter of what law is, a clear encroachment on the prerogatives exclusively vested by the Constitution in the Supreme Court itself,” the IBP stressed, adding that this would lead to the crumbling of constitutional doctrines of separation of powers and judicial supremacy on matters of interpretation of laws.

While it expressed support behind the reform agenda of President Aquino, the IBP said its implementation must respect – and not subvert – the constitutional allocation of powers to the three branches of government.

“If the Supreme Court is emasculated by partisan actions, to who shall the people turn to against excesses by those who are in power?” the IBP asked.

The IBP said the grounds invoked to impeach Corona refer to the collegial decisions of the Supreme Court involving interpretation of law in actual disputes elevated for review.

More questions

Yesterday, another lawyer questioned before the Supreme Court (SC) the impeachment of Corona in Congress.

In a 13-page petition, lawyer Oliver Lozano said he represents the Lawyers’ League for a Better Philippines in asking the high court to issue a status quo ante order enjoining the proceedings against the Chief Justice.

“There is extreme urgency to declare void the impeachment complaint for grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction as well as lack of valid verification.

The nullification of the complaint will preempt an impending civil strife that threatens to wreck our democratic way of life,” he alleged.

Lozano, former lawyer of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, said President Aquino “failed to stem the tsunami of poverty, hunger and labor unrest that engulf the nation.”

Lozano was the fourth to question the impeachment of Corona before the SC. Earlier this week, lawyer Vladimir Cabigao, tax informer Danilo Lihaylihay and former IBP president Vicente Millora had filed similar petitions.

‘No impeach bribe’

Meanwhile, congressmen-allies of President Aquino denied in strong terms yesterday claims that he gave P1 million to each of the 188 House members who signed the impeachment complaint against Corona.

Rep. Pastor Alcover Jr. of the party-list group Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) made the allegations in an interview with the newspaper Sun Star Cebu.

The story appeared in the paper’s Dec. 20 edition. Alcover belongs to the House opposition bloc, whose titular head is Arroyo.

“That is an absolute lie, a fabrication of a malicious mind,” Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said of the ANAD lawmaker’s claim. Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said Alcover’s allegations “are totally untrue and ridiculous.”

“The President and the Speaker did not commit nor promise anything to those who signed the impeachment complaint. I read the complaint before I signed it. We signed it on our own volition and based on our belief in the President’s anti-corruption campaign,” he said.

He asked the House ethics committee to investigate Alcover “for making false accusations and irresponsible statements that put the President, the House and our colleagues in bad light.” Gonzales and Evardone belong to the ruling Liberal Party.

For his part, Rep. Teddy Casiño of the party-list group Bayan Muna said Alcover “should simply be ignored.” Casiño and his militant colleagues signed the impeachment complaint against Corona.

They have been at the receiving end of Alcover’s frequent privilege speeches, in which he describes their organizations as “communist-Maoist-terrorist.”

They have completely ignored him. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has denied that anything was promised to those who signed the impeachment complaint. It was a voluntary act on the part of every House member, he said.

Aside from claiming that the 188 impeachers received P1 million each from Aquino, Alcover said many of those who signed the Corona impeachment complaint did not read it.

He also alleged that Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has released P800 million in PDAF (priority development assistance fund) to Batanes, his home province, which is represented in the House by his wife Henedina.

PDAF is the official name of the congressional pork barrel. Reached for comment, Abad said, “Both allegations are completely unfounded and absolutely untrue. The media shouldn’t waste time and space to report them.”

A check with the Department of Budget and Management website, where all PDAF and other fund releases are posted, showed that as of last June 29, Abad’s agency has released only P35 million to his wife’s province-district.–

Search for best bakery, restaurant in Basco on

BASCO, Batanes- The local government here will be conducting a search for best bakery and restaurant to address the local and tourist customers' feedback on how food establishments can improve their services and for the business sector to comply with the requirements.

Basco Mayor Demetrius Paul C. Narag said there will be five major categories in the search which include quality product, cleanliness and sanitation, customer services, safety and security, and compliance to requirements.

He said competitiveness is gauged through evaluation which will be done monthly to enhance the maintenance of quality services.

There will be seven key sectors to handle the 5 major categories namely Department of Health, Provincial Health Office, Municipal Health Office and Rural Health Units for the health and sanitation category; Philippine Information Agency, hotel and restaurant management, hospitality management department of the Batanes State College, and Philippine National Police information sector for customer services.

The Department of Trade and Industry and municipal agriculturist will take charge of the quality product and production sector; PNP for safety and security sector; municipal engineering office, municipal civil registrar, municipal treasurer and mayor’s office for compliance and monitoring.

During the orientation held this morning, Mayor Narag said the monthly evaluation will commence on the 2nd week of January up to 1st week of April in time for 4th Basco Day Celebration on April 15-17, 2012.

Initial activities are also scheduled this month which include orientation of all bakery and restaurant operators and food producers as well as food handlers through a small scale seminar training to be handled by HRM instructors, health authorities, DTI and the PNP.

Narag said the orientation will promote awareness on the business sector, the objectives of LGU Basco in the implementing the evaluation and at the same time the small scale seminar-training will enhance competitiveness of business operators for better customer services.

Brigada Eskwela plus provides feeling of co-ownership among stakeholders

BASCO, Batanes- The Brigida Eskwela launched by the Department of Education (DepEd) in May 2003, now renamed Brigada Eskwela Plus, has strengthened parents, teachers and other stakeholders’ involvement as co-operator, co-owner and co-manager in school projects or programs, said Eleanor A. Abad, District Supervisor for Basco District.

Abad said the Brigada eskwela is conducted regularly in the month of May, however, parents are also conducting school works whenever the need arises.

Homeroom category activities, as agreed by class advisers and Homeroom PTA, such as repair of windows and door shutter and provision of electric fans, dustpans, waste cans, book shelves and health corner are also undertaken.

Abad stressed that the parents’ involvement in school projects promotes camaraderie and harmonious relationship between teachers and parents.

The strategy is also seen as viable alternative to generate additional community maintenance and other operating expenses because the Brigada Eskwela plus successfully demonstrated how the communities can work in teams to maintain public schools, the DEPED official said.

Abad further said through the Brigada Eskwela, there is more bonding between parents and teachers as well as pupils and teachers.

“Pupils enjoy seeing their parents attend PTA homeroom meeting and they are happy if they see their parents participate in school works and this encourages them more to attend classes regularly,” a class adviser also noted.

RDC-RPOC endorses conduct of Balikatan Exercise in Region 2

The Regional Development Council (RDC) and Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) on Tuesday passed a resolution endorsing the conduct of the Balikatan Exercise in Region 2 in 2013.

Regional Director Rolando L. Rafael of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said while the PH-US Balikatan Exercise is mostly known for its military activities, humanitarian and civic operations are also being undertaken such as provision of health, medical and veterinary services, farm-to-market roads, flood control projects and social infrastructures, and other community services.

Convinced by the various opportunities which could spur economic progress for the region, Governors Vicente Gato of Batanes and Faustino “Bojie” Dy III have expressed interests in hosting the event.

Gato said he is offering their island-province for the military exercise because it needs some facilities and structures for its development.

For his part, Dy said he is offering the coastal town of Palanan to be the military base of the American soldiers. However, they may not meet the requirements of US such as hotels with complete facilities, entertainment and variety of foods.

Meantime, RPOC Chair and Quirino Governor Junie E. Cua said that specific site for the activity is not yet decided since there are certain criteria that must be met first.

Site surveys are being done by the AFP and US Armed Forces to scrutinize the area before the place can be considered as a possible site, he added. (TCB/AU/PIA 2)

The RDC and RPOC members were earlier briefed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the specifics of the Balikatan activities on November 23 as a result of the invitation of Isabela 1st District Congressman Rodolfo B. Albano and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority.

Batanes solon initiates health symposium to Ivatan youth

BASCO, Batanes- Hundreds of Ivatan youth composed of student leaders, scholars and Sangguniang Kabataan officers and members recently participated in the recently conducted symposium on health related issues with the theme, “Dagdag Kaalaman, Dagdag Kakayahan Laban sa Bawal na Droga."

Initiated by lone district congresswoman Henedina R. Abad, the said activity aimed to prevent the occurrence of drug- and sexually-transmitted diseases related problems among youths in the island-province.

In her message, she said that there are rising drug and STD concerns among the youth because of the effects of media primarily of television.

To prevent the occurrence of such problems in the province, Abad encouraged the students to seize the opportunities to study as she challenged them to come up with activities in support to government programs.

Abad also urged the youth to cooperate with government officials in their programs for the youth.

Meantime, police senior superintendent Fernando Cristobal, provincial director of the Philippine National Police here, underscored the efforts of the government to control and prevent the further proliferation of illegal drugs as well as the transmission of STD.

Alhough Batanes registers zero crime rate, Cristobal said that the police are on alert to maintain peace and order, and the healthy environment of the province.

Further, Cristobal said this is to provide the youth with vital information on drugs and STD which they can use as weapon to combat the said problems.

Other topics discussed were: Effects of Substances and illegal drugs by Provincial Health Officer Roel Nicolas; Prohibited acts and penalties by Atty. Rudyard Anthony M. Trinidad of Provincial Attorney’s Office and Sexually transmitted disease (STD) by Hegenio Querubin of the Department of Education.

Geosciences bureau urges provinces to reconstitute mining boards

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has urged the local officials to reconstitute their Provincial Mining Regulatory Boards (PMRBs) as soon as possible to attend to all small scale mining related concerns within their level.

Based on the report of MGB region 2, there are provinces which have not organized their PMRBs, while others have not been active since the change of administration.

The board should be reconstituted immediately to ensure the smooth and strict implementation of the mining law and entertain issues and concerns on small scale mining within their area of jurisdiction, Billedo added.

Region 2 Director Mario Ancheta said the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino have already reconstituted their board and have been active in studying the issues and concerns related to mining within their area. The province of Nueva Vizcaya has newly created its board while Batanes has no board yet.

Ancheta said they will try their best to encourage Batanes to create their board as soon as possible and to make the Nueva Vizcaya board activated to resolve urgent issues and controversies on small scale mining.

Director Billedo also encouraged the region to establish mining cooperatives duly registered under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which will be partners to uphold legal and responsible mining, and to control the proliferation of small scale mining.

Ivatan traditional veggie planting calendar brings year-round supplies

BASCO, Batanes- Ivatan vegetable growers have proven once again that the traditional September to October planting calendar as prescribed by their elders who have tried it in the past is more effective than in November which is the recommended planting season of vegetables, as shown by the year round supplies of vegetable in the island-province.

Penny Ventolero, a farmer and vegetable vendor said she was able to plant cabbage, tomatoes, eggplant, pepino, squash and pechay from September to October this year before the rainy season started and she is now harvesting some of them.

Vegetables planted in November are usually affected by the rainy season, added Ventolero.

Ventolero said the local planting calendar of specific vegetable has been adapted by their ancestors through the years due to the peculiarity of weather condition in their province.

The peculiarity of Batanes’ climate and weather seems not compatible with planting season of some vegetables that are adaptable and working out for plentiful harvest in some parts of the country, said Ventolero.

Cabbage, eggplant, pechay, squash, cucumber ,for instance, are generally planted in November to December in most parts of the country. However some Ivatan farmers say that these vegetables yield better harvest when they were planted in September. By November to December vegetable farmers sell their harvest of cabbage, eggplant, pechay, squash, cucumber.

By November, Ventolero said farmers are already selling their harvest.

Barangay health and nutrition worker's proposal for IPs' health care needs gets NCIP's nod

BASCO, Batanes- Barangay Health Worker (BHW) municipal federation president for Basco Jayne A. Calucag has confirmed the positive response of the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) regarding her project proposal for the provision of medical and health care services to indigenous people (IPs) in Batanes.

Calucag who is also the Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS) federation vice president and BNS of Barangay Kayhuvukan said she complied with National Commission for Indigenous People's (NCIP) requirement to submit a project proposal for medical health care intended for indigenous people (IPs) in Batanes.

The proposal was accompanied with a list of the basic needs for indigenous people prioritizing those in remote areas.

Calucag said she made prior informal proposal to NCIP community development officer (CDO) Eduardo Delfin in 2007 but that time Delfin said NCIP has no funds for medical health care program.

Calucag said she explored sources of assistance for her constituents as BHW president in this municipality and her efforts paid off when Delfin early this year finally advised her to submit her project proposal and listed the following as priority needs for IPs' health: weighing scale detecto for all groups including the pregnant and senior citizens; salter weighing scale for babies up to six years old; three nebulizer for asthmatic patients; first aid and medical kit for each BHW and BNS.

At presstime calucag added, these gadgets and equipment have not been awarded to the BNS and BHWs and the supporting documents of their requests are still in process.

DILG to implement mandatory IP representation in policy making body

BASCO, Batanes- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall implement memo circular no. 2010-119 re-mandatory representation of indigenous peoples (IP) cultural communities in policy-making bodies and other local legislative councils per interview this morning with DILG-MLGOO Eunicia Gato.

In another interview with NCIP community development officer Eduardo Delfin, the mandatory inclusion of IP representative to legislative body at all levels is covered in Section 5 of NCIP administrative order no. 001 series 2011.

The process states that an IP representative will be elected by the IPs themselves in each municipality. The administrative order explains the qualifications and disqualifications, term of office, selection process, powers, duties and functions, and lastly the compensation.

MLGOO Gato said that there are plans to elect IP representative to the national level and eventually to congress. However, Gato said further that DILG - Batanes sees it not necessary to have IP representative beyond the prov'l level because Batanes is peopled by homogenous tribe. There is only one tribe (Ivatan) here in this province.

Per interview with Gato, the compensation of IP representative to the SB allegedly equal to the elective sangguniang bayan position for a 3-years per term, is still unimplemented in some provinces which have uinstalled their IP representatives.

In the case of those installed, the IP are still qualified to seek re-election after 3 years should they wish to serve more.

Shortage of sea vessels this Christmas season feared

BASCO, Batanes- With only Saver I and II cargo vessels owned by the Batanes Multi-purpose Cooperative (BMPC) operating in this island-province since September of this year, shippers fear that that loading of commodities especially before Christmas might be affected.

BMPC vessels saver I and II are inadequate to transport commodities including construction materials from Manila to Basco, as well as aggregates from Sual, Pangasinan as confirmed by BMPC chairman Charles Ibañes, saying that the two other cooperative cargo vessels Wakay and Transcend are on dry dock.

Ibañes said shippers requested that loading of commodities especially before Christmas should be prioritized over aggregates for infrastructure projects.

But the cooperative manager said that the solution is balanced transporting through alternate loading of commodities, construction materials, appliances and vehicles.

He said further that BMPC has made a contract with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the transport of the needed aggregates for the infra projects so the cooperative management must comply with contract within the specified period.

Ibañes, however, assured the clamor of regular shippers to load varied goods before Christmas will be responded by BMPC through chartering other vessels for the critical period from mid November to mid December.

Ibanes further said the cooperative is bracing for the critical period especially so that in the absence of government boat for regular transportation to Batanes, the different sectors in the province depend solely on local cooperatives engaged in shipping services for the shipment of their products and commodities.

Continuous rains delay farmers’ garlic production

BASCO, Batanes- The continuous rains which started in late October to early November has caused delay in the garlic planting activities in all the six municipalities in this island-province, according to the provincial agriculture office.

In an interview with provincial agriculturist Priscilla Nanud, she said the garlic planting season is between October to November but due to the continuous rains, the farmers have not yet started their planting activities rainy conditions usually do not give favorable yield to farmers.

Farmers of barangay San Antonio said that delaying garlic planting at this time will save seeds to be swept away by rain waters.

Rucela A. Balles, another farmer said that garlic planted in early October are harvested in late February to March and those planted in mid November may be harvested in April to early May.

However Balles and other farmers experience that when they plant in late November or early December, they only harvest leafy but smaller garlic bulbs.

Batanes turmeric falls short of production

BASCO, Batanes- The Ivatan turmeric (yellow ginger locally called hama) powder in this island-province which bannered in some agricultural magazines and several leaflets has become popular that big time clients now want to order by tons.

Officials of the Department of Trade Industry here headed by Jonathan Gato, provincial caretaker, said the well-advertised turmeric powder caught the interest of hotel and restaurant operators and other contacts of the DTI central office in Manila.

However, Gato said that Batanes farmland is inadequate for turmeric production to meet the demands of the growing number of clients. The Ivatans, Gato admitted, cannot produce sufficient supply of yellow ginger with the limited agricultural area of Batanes and that they will not turn to other products that are secondary to staple food.

Gato believes that Ivatans will not sacrifice root crops, corn, vegetables and garlic for turmeric production. “The variety of traditional crop production has helped Ivatans survive through the years and turmeric is only one of these varieties that the Ivatans are producing,” Gato explained.

Gato explained that if there are 20 full-time farmers producing 45 kilos each of turmeric powder, in six months the finished product is only 900 kilos and it may double to 1,800 kilos but it is far below 100 tons desired by one client.

A farmer from Mahatao town, Amalia C. Pableo, native of Davao and married to an Ivatan said she has been planting yellow ginger in an 800 sq meter land and has been harvesting 15 sacks or 450 kilograms every six months.

Pableo said a kilo of turmeric powder is generated from 10 kilos of raw material (peeled raw yellow ginger). One kilo of raw materials costs P10.00 while a kilo of powdered turmeric costs P1,000.00.

Turmeric powder can be used as organic medicine and as flavor and food coloring in cooking.

LGU-Basco orders closure of 2 food establishments

BASCO, Batanes- The local government unit here recently served closure order to two food establishments in this municipality due to sanitation violations and lack of business permit to operate based on the findings of the ConsumerNet-Batanes.

The food establishments are a secondary school canteen and a restaurant operating in Sitio Hunan Barangay San Joaquin which violated sanitation and business permit requirements respectively.

The monitoring activities which started last October 18 has already resulted to confiscations of expired goods such as canned goods, bottled products, noodles and junk foods from retailers in Barangay Kayhuvukan, Kayvaluganan and Sitio/ Barangay San Joaquin.

The team said most of the retailers who were monitored disclosed that their products came from two big general merchandisers in Basco while others were ordered through text messages from wholesalers based in Divisoria in Metro Manila.

The retailers admitted that they were not aware of the expiration dates of their commodities.

Two bakeries were also advised to improve windows and door screens, baking machine be covered with clear cloth when not in use and reserved drums of water properly covered.

The DOH representative also warned bakery owners not to allow their employees and customers to smoke inside and within the vicinity of the baking areas.

The team also confiscated pirated DVDs.

The monitoring team also oriented businessmen and consumers on Republic Act No.7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.

DSWD launches regional database of nat’l household targeting system

As the mandated agency to provide social protection and anti-poverty programs and projects, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to enhance and strengthen the capacity to meet the challenge through its National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

The NHTS-PR is an information management system which is an initiative of the DSWD to further improve the service delivery systems to the public particularly to the poor.

Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia of DSWD Field Office 02 said the NHTS-PR will be used in identifying beneficiaries of social service programs of the government and lessen exclusion or under-coverage of the poor in social protection programs.

“The NHTS-PR facilitates the sharing of high quality database to public and private social protection stakeholders and reduces leakage of non-poor in social protection services,” Garcia added.

The director likewise said that although the government has limited resources, it could still have a unified, objective and transparent targeting system for the government to accurately distribute its resources and services to the real poor.

Through the NHTS-PR, poor households are identified using four phases the preparatory phase- selection of provinces, municipalities and cities and identification of data collection strategy; data collection and analysis phase - determination of poverty status; validation and finalization phase and; data report generation phase.

In the magnitude of poor households in the national level, region 2 is the second region with the least number of identified poor households at 118,118 for a percentage of 2.25%, Garcia noted.

Garcia disclosed that the highest number of poor households in region 2 comes from the province of Isabela at 54,678 while the lowest comes from the province of Batanes at 178.

But in terms of percentage, the highest comes from the province of Quirino with 35% while the lowest comes from the province of Batanes at 12%, he added.

NHTS-PR may be used by the LGUs and other stakeholders as reference in identifying beneficiaries of their social protection programs and services by entering into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DSWD to ensure that all data are used for the appropriate purposes and that the rights of the households are protected, he clarified.

Meanwhile, Dr. Robert T. Reyes, Philhealth regional vice president, thanked the DSWD for extending assistance to them in providing the list of poor families culled from NHTS-PR to ensure that accessible and quality health care is provided to underprivileged constituents of region 2.

The launching marked the 22nd celebration of National Statistics month which highlights social protection statistics with the theme, “Quality Social Protection Statistics for Focused Targeting: Improving Outcomes, Changing Lives.

House panel seeks to renegotiate IPP contracts

The House of Representatives Committee on Energy has approved a motion to prepare a resolution asking for the renegotiation of contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) in the country.

This was announced by Chairman Henedina Abad, representative of the lone district of Batanes during the hearing.

The same resolution is also supposed to ask that pending applications of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM) for a 39 centavo per kilowatthour universal charge be delayed.

The universal charge is a pass on charge to defray stranded costs of IPPs to cover the construction and maintenance of power plants.

The resolution covers contracts for 19 IPPs, 11 in Luzon, 3 in Visayas and 5 in Mindanao. The resolution seeks to either bring down power rates or for the government to buy out the investors.

The Department of Energy PSALM reported to the committee that the production cost of an IPP averages P20/kWh while it costs only P3/kwh average for other power plants.

It also estimated that the country may have overpaid by as much as US$10 billion due to the high IPP rates and may overpay by as much if this continues for another 10 years.

The amount is said to be equivalent to 10 1,000-MW power plants.

The Philippines now has the highest cost of electricity in Asia at 18.1 US cents/kwh, overtaking Japan’s 17.9 US cents/kwh.

Region 2 is top 2 nationwide in social pension implementation-DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 2 (DSWD2) has completed the distribution of social pension to the indigent senior citizens in the entire region making it top 2 performer in the nationwide implementation of the government’s social pension program.

Lucia Alan, chief of the Technical Division of the DSWD said for the second quarter of this year, their office was able to release P8,433,000 to a total of 5,622 beneficiaries from the five provinces of region 2.

For Cagayan, a total of P3,732,000 has been disbursed to some 2,488 senior citizens; Isabela, P3,285,500 to 2,190; Nueva Vizcaya, P717,000 to 478, Quirino, P685,000 to 457 and Batanes, P13,500 to nine (9) senior citizens.

She added that indigent senior citizens, aged 77 years old and above have been identified through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR).

“Only those indigent seniors aged 77 years old and above, who are not receiving any pension from the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, Armed Forces of the Philippines and other insurance company, without permanent source of income, or regular support from his/her relatives shall be included in the program,” Alan further explained.

Alan stressed that DSWD social workers have conducted verification and validation of eligible senior citizens who are qualified to receive a monthly social pension of P500.00 to be distributed on a quarterly basis.

The provision of monthly pension for indigent senior citizens is in-line with the fulfillment of the obligation of the government to protect the most vulnerable sector through social protection and for the full implementation of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The P500 monthly pension will help the family augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of indigent seniors particularly those who are sickly and bedridden.

Basco province to make tree planting a regular community service

BASCO, Batanes- The local government of Basco will make tree planting a regular community service according to Basco Mayor Demetrius Paul Narag in support to the government’s greening program.

Narag said the activity is also aimed at protecting the Basco communal pastureland from erosion and denudation.

To attain this, the local chief executive along with the LGU’s 60 regular and casual employees have again planted at least 1,000 palo maria, mango, mabolo and chayi seedlings in the said area.

According to Vice Mayor Anastacia Viola who also joined the tree planting activity, Mayor Narag was able to plant at least 50 seedlings.

The first tree planting activity was undertaken on September 15 wherein casual employees planted around 2,000 seedlings along the Basco pastureland.

The tree planting was supervised by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through Nestor Reyes and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer George Reyes.

Before the tree planting activity, the LGU officials and employees conducted preparatory activity such as clearing few forage.

The group also proceeded to the kural coastal area which is a part of the marine sanctuary to do coastal clean up in preparation for the excursion of the Science Campers of the Basco Central School on September 24 and the rescheduled camping of senior citizens on September 26.

Batanes’ biggest schools respond to National Greening Program

BASCO, Batanes- The Batanes State College (BSC) and the Batanes National Science High School (BNHS), the biggest schools in the province recently embarked in tree planting activities as their contribution to the national government’s greening program.

The BSC, with its 700 students, took a break from its academic activities to clean the area given to them by the local government of Mahatao through Mayor Pedro F. Poncio at Racuj a Payaman, a communal pastureland in Mahatao.

The specific area designated to BSC was along the perimeter of the communal pastureland. Mahatao is six kilometers from Basco and the site for planting is around two kilometers from Mahatao town proper.

It took the BSC students and faculty members to clean the area and on September 20, 2011, they again returned to the area bring along with them 5 – 7 fruit bearing seedlings each to plant.

To ensure a 100 percent survival rate of the seedlings planted, the BSC management has vowed to continuously visit the tree planting site and take good care of the plants.

The BNHS on the other hand required its around 700 students and 65 faculty and administrative staff to produce at least 7-10 seedlings each to plant at Chadpidan which is located some five kilometers west of Basco.

BNSHS students continue to deposit seedlings at the school nursery to ensure sustainability of the tree planting project.

Chadpidan is a Basco communal pastureland which needs vegetation along the perimeter area and because of its proximity to the shoreline, vegetation in the area is affected by salt spray and west wind thus survival of trees is slower.

1st basic festival planning workshop held in Batanes

BASCO, Batanes- For the first time in the history of the province, the Department of Tourism region 2, in collaboration with the provincial government, has conducted a festival planning and management workshop to equip the local officials with basic festival planning and management skills and techniques.

Included in the lectures were Filipino culture and its significance in festivals by Leonilo Agustin, tourism consultant and author of the festival management modules; theater arts as a festival component by Frank Rivera, executive director of the Department of Education- National Council for Children’s Television; choreography and dance movements by Martin C. Sollesta and music as part of a festival by Arnel del Romico.

Meanwhile, the trainers have commended mayors Demetrius Paul Narag of Basco, Anastacio Barsana of Ivana and Oliva Blackburn of Uyugan and their municipal planning and development coordinators for their full support to the tourism activities in the province as shown in their participation during the 3-day planning workshop.

Provincial tourism officer Hegel Ruiz said the mayors have also expressed their interest in coming up with a separate Ivatan festival aside from the Batanes day anniversary celebration in order to promote the culture of each municipality and to draw more local and foreign tourists to their island province.

In preparation for this, the DOT has guided them in the crafting of objectives, activities, structure and budget for a 5-day festival, a municipal version of a grand Ivatan Festival.

Ruiz thanked the LCEs saying that with their full support, it will be easier for them to plan for their tourism activities especially on the structure and budget portion.

Storm 'Onyok' may re-enter PAR

After moving out of the Philippine territory last Tuesday, tropical storm “Onyok” (international name: Roke) may change its track and re-enter the country Saturday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the eye of storm “Onyok” was located 850 kilometers (km) northeast of Basco, Batanes near the boundary of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as of 11 a.m. on Saturday.

"Onyok" intensifed into a storm with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 90 kph.

“Onyok” is forecast to remain almost stationary near the PAR within the next 24 hours.

PAGASA assistant weather division chief Rene Paciente earlier said the weather disturbance has stayed near the boundary of PAR after “Onyok” briefly remained inside the PAR last Monday and moved out of the Philippine territory last Tuesday morning.

The weather disturbance, embedded along the monsoon trough over Northern and Central Luzon, is expected to bring scattered to widespread rains over the western section of these areas.

PAGASA said scattered to widespread rains are likely over the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan and Zambales, which may trigger flash floods and landslides in these areas.

“Residents along these areas are advised to take all necessary precautionary measures,” PAGASA said. It also advised that the whole country will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms.

Weather: Potential cyclone moves closer to Batanes

A potential cyclone - a low-pressure area (LPA) - moved closer to Batanes in extreme northern Luzon early Thursday, even as state weather forecasters said rain may fall over several parts of Luzon.

In a radio interview, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Benjie de Paz said there is a chance the LPA may become a cyclone.

"May posibilidad maging bagyo ito. Sa ngayon LPA pa siya pero binabantayan pa natin ito (There is a chance it will become a cyclone. It is an LPA for now, but we are monitoring it)," De Paz said in an interview on dzBB radio.

Should it become a cyclone while inside Philippine territory, he said it will be locally codenamed "Pedring."

De Paz said the LPA was estimated at 300 km east of Basco, Batanes as of 2 a.m. Thursday. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, it had been estimated at 320 km east of Batanes.

"Bale tatawagin itong 'Pedring' kung maging bagyo man ito (We will codename it 'Pedring' if it becomes a cyclone)," he said.

In its weather advisory, PAGASA said northern and Central Luzon and the western section of Southern Luzon will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with scattered to widespread rains over the Batanes Group of Islands, Palawan and Mindoro provinces. .

PAGASA said the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA monitors new potential cyclone off Batanes

With tropical cyclone Onyok now out of Philippine territory for good, state weather forecasters are now tracking a new potential cyclone, a shallow low-pressure area off Batanes province.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said they are not discounting the possibility the SLPA will become a cyclone, even if its present chances of intensifying into one are low.

"Meron tayong SLPA, 180 km northeast ng Basco, Batanes. Maliit ang chance na maging bagyong tropical, gayunpaman hindi natin ma-discount ang possibility na maaring malakas kaya natin monitor ang development," PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio Wednesday.

(We have an SLPA 180 km northeast of Basco, Batanes. Right now its chances of becoming a cyclone are low but we still cannot discount the possibility it will intensify into a cyclone, so we continue to monitor it.)

If the SLPA eventually intensifies into a cyclone, it will be codenamed "Pedring."

As for Onyok, which changed course and exited Philippine territory before noon Tuesday, Enriquez said it showed no signs of returning.

"Tuloy na (itong) lumabas ng Philippine area of responsibility. Ito ay kumikilos sa islands sa southern part ng Japan (It has exited the Philippine area of responsibility and is moving towards Southern Japan)," she said.

PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said that as of 2 a.m., the SLPA was estimated at 180 km northeast of Basco, Batanes.

It also said a wind convergence is affecting the Visayas and northern Mindanao.

Basco to implement revised swine raising ordinance by October 2

BASCO, Batanes- The local government of Basco will implement its revised ordinance on swine raising or production on October 2, 2011.

Vice Mayor Anastacia B. Viola said the ordinance will be enforced by the municipal sanitary inspectors within Basco town proper and along major roads and creeks.

Viola said among the provisions of the revised ordinance include no commercial swine raising within 50 meters tangent from either sides of any major roads and creeks, no swine raising in tourist and designated historical and cultural heritage sites and along all coastal areas.

Swine producers are also required to construct standard septic tanks that commensurate to the number of pigs raised in every pigpen. Each standard septic tank for commercial swine raisers shall be limited to serve four pigs at a time.

For non-commercial swine raisers, it shall be limited to three pigs or less at a time.

Discharging liquid or solid wastes from swine raising activities into creeks or body of water or into the marine environment is prohibited and swine raising within or inside any creek is strictly prohibited.

Viola stressed that violators will be subjected to a fine of P1,000 for first offense, P1,500 for second offense and P2,500 or imprisonment of not less than two months but not more than six months or both upon the discretion of the court, for third offense.

Batanes disaster council assesses typhoon Mina damages

BASCO, Batanes- The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) convened recently to assess the damages caused by Typhoon Mina which battered the island province last August 27 and 28 presided by Acting Governor Ferdinand C. Elica.

The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that there were only minor landslides along the national road, however, while the Department of Education estimated P200,000 worth of damages on school buildings.

On livestock, the Provincial Veterinary Office through its veterinarian Dr. Albert Tabile assessed that affected animals were valued at P92, 550.

On the other hand, the office of the Provincial Agriculture has reported that vegetables damages were assessed at P1.8 million; fruits and legumes, P1.6 million; and bananas, P628,000.

Provincial Agriculturist Celso Batallones said critical damage was in rice and corn in Itbayat island as they are on the reproductive stage and the others were about to be harvested.

Total damages in rice planted in 13.2 hectares were estimated at P1.4 million and corn planted in 4.66 hectares with P448,000 worth.

Batallones said the P15 million losses in agriculture has been reported to the Department of Agriculture and to Congressman Henedina Abad.

The DA- Island Agricultural Research Outreach Station has distributed 200 trays of vegetables seedlings to each municipality. Additional seeds will be requested from DA and the provincial government for distribution to families.

Meantime, Francisco Escalona, provincial director of the national Food Authority here said the 4,000 bags rice stock are safe and assured that there will be sufficient supply in the province for the next two months as additional 4,000 bags are expected to arrive in the island.

The Department of Trade and Industry said that as of now there’s no significant change in prices of basic commodities based on their price monitoring activities.

Provincial veterinary office distributes live chicks to malnourished pre-school children

BASCO, Batanes, September 3- The provincial government through the provincial veterinary office (PVET) has distributed five live chicks as livestock assistance to the 19 malnourished pre-school children in Basco.

Governor Vicente Gato and provincial veterinarian Dr. Alberto Tabile personally handed the chicks to the parents of the malnourished children at the Basco plaza last Friday, August 26, 2011.

Governor Gato said the project aims to provide assistance to the family of the malnourished children in the form of live chicks to be raised for home consumption.

Gato advised the parents to take care of the chicks so that it will lay eggs then later will multiply in number. “If the production prospers, you may share them with your neighbors,” he advised them.

The distribution was done by barangay through the assistance of the six barangay nutrition scholars who were also given three chicks each.

The BNS are tasked to monitor the chick raising activity of each family recipient to ensure that the assistance is supported by the beneficiaries as intended by the government.

The same livestock assistance will be distributed to the malnourished pre-school children in the other five municipalities in separate schedules.

5.1magnitude quake shakes Batanes—Phivolcs

A 5.1 magnitude quake shook Batanes Thursday night but no damages were recorded, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The tectonic quake, which was recorded at 9:25 p.m., was located 175 kilometers southeast of Mahatao, Batanes, Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs did not cite areas where the quake was felt.

There were no expected aftershocks from the minor temblor, Phivolcs said.


PMA sets special entrance exam on Sept. 4

The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) will be conducting special entrance examination for PMA cadetship in selected areas on Sunday, September 4, to give way for aspirants who were not able to take the examination due to calamities brought about by the typhoon Mina in Northern Luzon.

Examinations will be conducted at the following exam centers: PMA in Baguio City, Northwestern University in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and Cagayan National High School in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. A similar examination was also carried out in Batanes on August 31, 2011.

All applicants should report to the examination centers at exactly 7:00 AM on September 4. They must bring with them the following: exam permits for those who have earlier applied; at least two proof of identification; photocopy of National Statistics Office birth certificate; Form 137/ College transcript of records; at least two pieces of #2 pencils, sharpener and eraser.

Interested aspirants, who have not applied for PMA Cadetship may apply as walk-in applicants that said day. They must bring with them the following: High School Form 137 (with an average grade of 85% or higher); NSO copy of the Birth Certificate two pieces 2x2 ID picture; valid ID (Student ID, Drivers License, Postal ID, etc.); at least two pieces of #2 pencils, sharpener and eraser.

The basic requirements to become a PMA cadet are : natural born Filipino citizen; Of good moral character, 5 feet 4 inches if male and 5 feet 2 inches if female; not a day older than 21 years and not a day younger than 17 years on 01 April 2010(born between April 1, 1990 to April 1, 1996); at least high school graduate with a GPA of 85% or higher, and physically fit for cadetship.

16 years old aspirants may apply and take the PMA entrance examination provided they possess the above-mentioned qualifications. Should the applicants pass the exam, they may proceed with the processing once they have reached the right age. The validity of the result of the exam will be for two.

Phivolcs: Magnitude-4.9 quake rocks Batanes

A magnitude-4.9 quake rocked Batanes in northern Philippines shortly after midnight Tuesday, but there was no initial report of damage or casualty.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake was recorded at 12:15 a.m. Wednesday, and was tectonic in origin.

In its bulletin, Phivolcs said the quake’s epicenter was 147 km northwest of Basco, Batanes.

However, it did not immediately cite specific areas where the quake was felt.

Phivolcs said no damage or aftershock was expected from the quake.

BJMP joins dengue blood drive

The officers and personnel of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) have decided to do their part in helping people who have been victimized by the deadly dengue fever by donating their own blood.

BJMP Chief Director Rosendo M. Dial announced in a meeting that the jail bureau is ready to extend help to regions and provinces with high dengue cases through blood donation.

“The BJMP offers its blood to dengue patients especially in provinces under a state of calamity,” said Dial.

He said BJMP regional and field units in dengue-stricken provinces will be ordered to mount blood donation projects for victims within their respective areas.

Among the provinces recently put under a state of calamity due to dengue outbreaks are Iloilo City, La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Batanes.

The blood donation is in line with the directive earlier given by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo for local government units to enforce environmental sanitation such as dredging of clogged canals, esteros and other waterways; pruning of thick bushes or tree branches; removing or draining receptacles containing stagnant water; and conducting massive information drive on environmental control of mosquito-breeding sites especially in endemic areas.

Six government agencies earlier joined hands last week to look for strategic and coordinated actions against the mosquito-borne viral disease which has killed at least 267 persons nationwide in the last seven months.

This developed after Robredo, Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Enrique Ona, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Armin Luistro, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje,

Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Secretary Mario Montejo, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino signed the Memorandum of Agreement for an Inter-Agency Cooperation Strategy for Intensifying Anti-Dengue Drive in Barangay Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City.

Robredo said there is a need for inter-agency and inter-sectoral partnerships to implement a sustainable and wide-reaching campaign to prevent and control dengue.

“All concerned departments of the government are here today to take a stand and undertake strategies and concrete actions to address the prevalence of dengue,” he said.


‘Mina’ weakens as it moves away from Philippines

Typhoon “Mina” (International codename: Nanmadol) weakened slightly as it headed out of the Philippines, where 12 people were killed in its deadly onslaught across North Luzon last weekend, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Monday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa said Mina’s maximum sustained winds was measured at 100 kilometers per hour as of 10 a.m. Monday, 10 kph slower than its strength at 4 a.m.

The storm, which was seen 320 km northwest of Batanes, was gusting at 130 kph and was moving northwest at 9 kph.

It is expected to be at 520 km northwest of Batanes by Tuesday, the weather agency said. Public Signal No. 1 remains over the Batanes Group of Islands.

Storm warnings elsewhere have been lowered.

Batanes to host National Museum branch

BASCO, Batanes, Philippines – A branch of the National Museum will soon rise in the 3.5-hectare former site of the old United States Coast Guard Station (USCG) in Barangay Imnajbu, 28 kilometers from here.

The museum, to be called the Batanes Branch Museum and Field Station of the National Museum of the Philippines, is the fruit of years of studies conducted by the National Museum.

Jeremy Barns, National Museum director, said, “Batanes is highly important to many of the Museum’s mandated areas of work, in cultural heritage and natural history.”

”It is not only clearly suitable, but also a priority for establishing a permanent presence of the National Museum by way of a branch museum and field station,” Barns added.

The ruins of the old USCG will be rehabilitated to provide exhibition, visitor and education spaces, apart from research facilities for the agency’s scientists and researchers to further extend the museum’s services to the province. It will also promote science, education and tourism.

The site consists of six one-story reinforced concrete buildings that were abandoned by the Americans after the Vietnam War.

An initial appropriation of P39 million is included in the proposed national budget of 2012 for the establishment of the museum.

In a briefing before a select group of Ivatans last week, Barns cited the need to house and exhibit properly the considerable number of archeological and anthropological artifacts they have assembled in the course of their study in the province.

Archeological artifacts include pottery dating from about 4,000 years ago, objects of Taiwan nephrite (jade), baked clay spindle whorls as old as 3,000 years and 2000 year-old burial jars.

Batanes fuel stock to last for only 12 days

BASCO, Batanes ,Philippines – The province’s stock of diesel fuel to run its generators that provide electricity is down to only 36,000 liters, enough to provide electricity for only 12 more days at a reduced operation of 10 hours a day.

Since a week ago, the operating hours of the National Power Corp. (Napocor) generators have been reduced to only 10 hours a day.

The generators are switched on at 12 noon and switched off at 10 p.m.

In the island municipalities of Sabtang and Itbayat, electricity is only available for only six hours a day.

The situation will last until Sept. 6, the run-out date the Napocor has given itself to operate its generators. That means, without additional fuel, the entire province will go into total darkness from that date.

While Napocor still has a balance of 100,000 liters from its first semester allocation of 800,000 liters, this has yet to be delivered from Manila.

However, the hauler cannot promise if he can deliver the stock by next week. The situation is compounded by the unpredictable weather this time of the year.

Sept. 6 is also the date set by Napocor for haulers to bid for the transport of the second semester supply of 800,000 liters. The winning bidder will also have to face the prospects of unpredictable weather.

Weather this time of the year is usually not calm as a consequence of the west monsoon and easterly winds that converge in extreme northern Luzon.

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