Palawan News June 2014

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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

Palawan governor wants 60,000-has of dipterocarp forests declared as protected area

(PNA), LAM/CARF/UTB

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 10 (PNA) -– Many times accused as the cause of degradation of Palawan’s forest cover for owning what once was a thriving commercial logging company in the town of San Vicente, now as the topmost leader of the province, Governor Jose Alvarez is aiming to have the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s help in declaring thousands upon thousands of land as protect dipterocarp forest areas.

Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) Executive Director Nelson Devanadera told the local press Tuesday in a “kapihan” at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in this city that Alvarez had already sent a letter to Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) request to allow the conduct of “stock taking activities” in 60,000 hectares of land in northern Palawan for eventual declaration as a “protected dipterocarp forest area.”

Devanadera said the expanse of land being proposed is contiguous and across the municipalities of Roxas, San Vicente, Taytay and Dumaran in northern Palawan.

He said Alvarez sent the letter to Paje in May, and is just waiting for the decision of the DENR chief to continue with the ground works of the proposal, and assessment that the PCSDS will lead.

Devanadera said that the proposal came from Alvarez himself after observing personally that slash-and-burn farming are still being conducted in some vital forest areas in northern Palawan, and across the said municipalities.

“If the DENR allows this area to be declared as protected dipterocarop forest area, the governor believes laws against slash-and-burn farming in vital covers will have more fangs to stop unscrupulous residents from degrading them,” Devanadera said.

Dipterocarps are “medium to large resinous forest trees belonging to the tropical plant family Dipterocarpeae. Said to comprise “the main timber trees of tropical Asia,” dipterocarp trees are important as they are the major component of various types of lowland rainforests.

In the Philippines, including Palawan, there are about “45 species in six genera that have been recorded, and 46% are endemic to the archipelago,” according to Habitats of Philippine Dipterocarps study conducted by Edwino Fernando.

One such specie that can be found in Palawan is the Dipterocarpus gracilis, “an important source of timber for medium and heavy construction,” and whose wood oil is extracted and used as a varnish and for illumination.

Another is apitong, or Dipterocarpus grandiflorus, that has been declared critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2006.

Devanadera said the governor is hoping the DENR would recognize the importance of the request, and the value of sustainably protecting the dipterocarp forests in Palawan.

Coast Guard apprentice seaman joins teachers in Kalayaan Islands school

By Joel Locsin/BM (GMA News)

A Coast Guard apprentice seaman was among the teachers who welcomed students to the first day of classes at Pag-asa Elementary School in Kalayaan town in Palawan, an area disputed by the Philippines and China.

The Coast Guard on Sunday said Apprentice Seaman (ASN) Oliver Mazo was transported to Pag-asa Island via a Philippine Navy Islander in time for the start of the school year on June 6.

In a post on its Facebook page, the Coast Guard said Mazo is a "licensed teacher who took a week-long DepEd K-12 training along with two other Coast Guard personnel in DepEd-Palawan."

Coast Guard Palawan maintains a sub-station in Pag-asa Island.

"The deployment of Coast Guard teachers in Pag-asa Island will likewise augment the manning of the sub-station," it added.

Last April, Kalayaan town mayor Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. and Coast Guard Palawan head Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista signed a memorandum of agreement for the Coast Guard to provide teachers to augment the existing teaching staff of the elementary school.

In 2012, Bito-onon asserted his authority over some of the disputed Spratly Islands were China formed its new Sansha City.

Bito-onon said Filipinos started to settle in the islands in 1978, while China is forming the government of its Sansha City there only that year.

US to fund infrastructure projects in Palawan

By Redempto Anda (Inquirer Southern Luzon)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The United States will be scaling up its assistance to Palawan to finance major infrastructure projects, according to US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.

“We want to help Palawan develop economically,” Goldberg told the Inquirer after meeting with provincial officials on Thursday, adding that this would be done mainly through an ongoing program being managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“We will help in infrastructure and all things that are needed to help develop economic opportunities here. This is apart from the security issue in the West Philippine Sea, which is also important, because so much is at stake in keeping the sea lanes open,” he said.

The United States said it is committed to increase the capacity of some frontline units operating in the West Philippine Sea, including the Philippine National Police Maritime Group that recently interdicted a Chinese fishing vessel in the disputed Ayungin Shoal.

Some of the projects, including the expansion of the US-supported Special Boat Unit (SBU) that interdicted last month a Chinese fishing vessel in the disputed Ayungin Shoal, would apply to Kalayaan Island, according to plans presented by local officials to the United States.

Goldberg said they would add more boats to the elite SBU unit of the PNP Maritime Group.

“We will provide additional patrol boats to SBU. Good things are going on and we want to see it continued,” he said, following an inspection of the SBU facility in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa City.

Goldberg, however, stressed the United States has always promoted the peaceful resolution of issues in the disputed areas.

Goldberg also noted that despite sweeping budget cuts on US development assistance, they have been able to keep development funds to the Philippines “in a good level.”

Goldberg explained the US government, having signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and supported the Philippines’ bid to resolve the territorial dispute with China on the Spratlys issue within the framework of the United Nations, sees its increased development support to Palawan as an adjunct to its foreign policy stance.

Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez said the US assistance would help develop the province’s tourism industry by financing major infrastructure needs.

US to fund infrastructure projects in Palawan

By Redempto Anda (Inquirer Southern Luzon)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Philippines—The United States will be scaling up its assistance to Palawan to finance major infrastructure projects, according to US Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg.

“We want to help Palawan develop economically,” Goldberg told the Inquirer after meeting with provincial officials on Thursday, adding that this would be done mainly through an ongoing program being managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“We will help in infrastructure and all things that are needed to help develop economic opportunities here. This is apart from the security issue in the West Philippine Sea, which is also important, because so much is at stake in keeping the sea lanes open,” he said.

The United States said it is committed to increase the capacity of some frontline units operating in the West Philippine Sea, including the Philippine National Police Maritime Group that recently interdicted a Chinese fishing vessel in the disputed Ayungin Shoal.

Some of the projects, including the expansion of the US-supported Special Boat Unit (SBU) that interdicted last month a Chinese fishing vessel in the disputed Ayungin Shoal, would apply to Kalayaan Island, according to plans presented by local officials to the United States.

Goldberg said they would add more boats to the elite SBU unit of the PNP Maritime Group.

“We will provide additional patrol boats to SBU. Good things are going on and we want to see it continued,” he said, following an inspection of the SBU facility in Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa City.

Goldberg, however, stressed the United States has always promoted the peaceful resolution of issues in the disputed areas.

Goldberg also noted that despite sweeping budget cuts on US development assistance, they have been able to keep development funds to the Philippines “in a good level.”

Goldberg explained the US government, having signed the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and supported the Philippines’ bid to resolve the territorial dispute with China on the Spratlys issue within the framework of the United Nations, sees its increased development support to Palawan as an adjunct to its foreign policy stance.

Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez said the US assistance would help develop the province’s tourism industry by financing major infrastructure needs.

Gov. Alvarez hopes America's ‘huge’ interest in Palawan could redound to development

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), CTB/CARF/JSD]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 6 (PNA) – Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez is hopeful that the U.S. government’s interest in the province would not only redound to security, and peace and order, but also to development of the local economy and the people as he welcomed Thursday afternoon Ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg at the Provincial Capitol here.

In an interview following a dialogue he and Goldberg conducted with members of the Palawan Chamber of Commerce (PCC) and the Palawan Tourism Council (PTC) at his conference room, Alvarez described the interest of the U.S. government in helping the province develop economically as “huge,” adding he was optimistic of this to translate to development that the province needs badly.

“There interest in Palawan is huge. In fact, it is because of them that the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) allocated here over P3 billion for infrastructure,” Alvarez said.

He added this is probably because the U.S. government sees that President Benigno Aquino III is decanting around P 1.3 trillion funds to support infrastructure development, and in Palawan, the local government is aware where this needs to be placed.

“In 2014, and the coming years until 2016, they can see where the President is putting funds, and they’re always discussing where to place this. Here in Palawan, of course, we know how to maximize this and where to place this, right?” he said.

In the cacao, coffee, and rubber projects, where the U.S. government is helping through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported COMPETE program, the governor said help is through the laying of ground works and financial support provided through banks that act as “lending institutions.”

“With this, we hope that the support the U.S. government is providing should redound not only to security, and peace and order, but also development of Palawan, and its people,” Alvarez said.

U. S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, who was in the city for an official visit, expressed that with Palawan’s long historical relationship with the United States, it is important that help is provided to bail out its residents from the throes of poverty.

“A thriving community means, a thriving province, and we’re interested in helping make that happen with the engagement of the local government, like what your governor is doing for your province,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg said the business community’s focus is in the development of the tourism industry, and clearly, it is one where a lot of potentials can be developed.

“Even before I arrive in the Philippines, I already knew about Palawan. I knew about it because there is a great interest, especially with some of the resorts here, where American travelers dive and other great opportunities here in the tourism area,” he said.

From the dialogue with the business community, Goldberg said there is also an interest to move forward to manufacturing, agriculture involving cacao, coffee and rubber farming, information technology, and other industries that can produce jobs for the Palaweños.

“There are great challenges in the health sector, and areas where we can maybe help also… so, yes… our interest also, goes beyond tourism, but it’s really to continue to help our friends and partners here… our great allies as they confront these problems. We have a very great history together… the United States and the Philippines, and here in Palawan, you can see it in microcosm,” he said.

“Suffering together and fighting together during World War II,” Goldberg said “there are all kinds of things that bring the U.S. and the Philippines, particularly Palawan together as people,” and their people-to-people relationship is very strong.”

“We are trying to build on all of that, and our trust is in trying to help the Philippines on many fronts, and because it’s good for us, as well as your country,” he stressed.

Palawan gov't to recognize outstanding municipal treasurers, tax payers

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), CTB/CARF/JSD]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 5 (PNA) – The provincial government of Palawan will give recognition to outstanding municipal treasurers and real property tax payers this month during the celebration of its 112th Civil Government anniversary.

The recognition and awards will be given during the Governor’s Citation on June 18 to be led by Governor Jose Alvarez and the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO).

The PTO said Thursday that it has already chosen the the good tax payer-awardees based on their 2013 data.

On the topmost is Seven Seas Resort & Leisures Corporation in the town of Cuyo, 2nd place is the Rio-Tuba Nickel Mining Corporation in Bataraza, 3rd place is Ten Knots Philippines, Incorporated in El Nido, 4th place Ten Knots Development Corporation also in El Nido, and 5th place is Power Source Philippines in Bataraza.

For individual categories, those who will be awarded are 1st place-Erlinda and Jose Jovellanos from Coron, 2nd place-Fe Charito Pedrina of Cuyo, 3rd place-Danilo Dangan of El Nido, 4th place-Josephine Serrano of Cuyo, and 5th place- Edith Pownall of Coron.

Those who will be recognized and awarded as outstanding municipal treasurers, on the other hand, are 1st place-Edelita Aguirre of Bataraza, 2nd place-Laila Dalabajan of Linapacan, 3rd place-Renato De Vera of Culion, 4th place-Maximo Ardona of El Nido and 5th place-Dave Yayen of Cagayancillo.

The PTO said it is giving the recognition and awards “to inspire and encourage tax payers to paying their dues on time, and settling them correctly.

It can be recalled that only last month, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in Palawan approved an ordinance providing tax relief and incentives to real property owners to settle their dues.

Rebel, 2 soldiers wounded in firefight in Palawan

(PNA), LAM/CARF/UTB

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 4 (PNA) -– Two troopers from the 44th Marine Company of the 4th Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT 4) stationed in Barangay Pancol in the northern Palawan town of Taytay were wounded following a firefight with several suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) early Wednesday morning.

Colonel Vince Blanco, commanding officer of MBLT 4 confirmed to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview that he believes his troops have, on the other hand, seriously wounded a member of the communist-terrorist group CPP-NPA during the firefight that started early morning in a secluded spot of the road in Pancol.

“Two of our Marines suffered from superficial wounds, and they have been brought to the Western Command hospital for treatment. I believe there’s one seriously wounded on the side of the rebels because our troops saw them carrying one while fleeing the site,” he said.

Blanco, who did not name the two wounded Marines, said the troops from the 44th MC were on their way to their home-base in Pancol from a Unity/Peace Walk at Poblacion, Taytay when they saw around seven communist-terrorists (CTs) seemingly planting an improvised explosive device (IED) on the highway.

“Our troops saw them on approach as if they’re lodging something beside the road. They thought it felt different so they prepared, but the rebels managed to detonate the IED and then a firefight ensued,” he said.

Last April, the MBLT 4, in partnership with the JCI Puerto Princesa Peacock, Inc., held a free medical and dental mission in Pancol benefiting over 1,500 residents.

Blanco considers the remaining pocket members of the CPP-NPA just want to display some force in the area because they can no longer “mislead residents in the area to join the leftist movement or scare them about government troops.”

“Their force has decreased in number, residents no longer believe them and are no longer scared by them, this is probably the reason why they’re doing this,” he said.

Pancol is a fishing community in Taytay in northern Palawan adjacent to the Malampaya Sound Protected Landscape and Seascape.

Driving between Malaysia-Brunei-Philippines possible soon -- Malaysian minister

(PNA), LAM/CARF/UTB

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 3 (PNA) -– Driving from south Borneo, Kalimantan and Brunei through Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia to Palawan and Manila, Philippines and vice versa via a Roll On-Roll Off (RoRo) ferry service may become a possibility soon once the State Economic Planning Unit (SEPU) succeeds in its ambition to construct a ramp under the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-regional economic cooperation initiative.

In a news article published Tuesday by the Borneo Post Online, the largest English news site in Borneo, Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, was quoted in saying that the SEPU “is pushing to expedite federal allocation to build a ramp for use by a RoRo ferry service that will link the Borneo Island and Philippines.”

The online article, which also shows a photo of Teo with Palawan State University (PSU) president Dr. Jeter Sespeñe and Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), stated that once the ramp is realized, “people from southern Borneo, Kalimantan and Brunei could drive to Kudat and utilize the ro-ro ferry service to Palawan, and subsequently board another ferry to Manila.”

This bodes well for the local tourism industry as islands in the Philippines are now interconnected through the RoRo ferry service.

The minister added that they are now working hard to gain the “federal allocation,” and recently just had a meeting with federal officers in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Despite its absence, however, Teo said the sea cargo transportation has been put in place.

Developments in the establishment of the RoRo ferry service came after Alvarez, 17 town mayors, and businessmen in Palawan traveled May 30 to Kota Kinabalu for a cultural trade exchange experience.

Teo described the economy in Puerto Princesa in Palawan as “thriving” with 24 flights linking it to Manila on a weekly basis, and with American, Korean and Japanese tourists as regular visitors.

The minister was also quoted by the Borneo Post Online in saying “the Kinabalu National Park in Sabah and Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan, both World Heritage Sites, are merely one and a half hours apart from each other, and can be a unique selling point if bundled together as one travel package for diving tourists to consider.”

The minister said too, that MASwings, which flies to Palawan thrice a week from Kota Kinabalu since September last year, is expected to increase flight frequency to five times this month as more Malaysians become aware of the tourist attractions and business opportunities in the city and province.

Sabah and Palawan, he held, “should share their resources and establish stronger collaborative ties for mutual benefits,” such as in the eradication of poverty since Sabah has a program that the government could use as reference.

Teo said that the poverty rate in Sabah in 2009 was 19.3%, but in 2012 dropped to 8.1% and still going down.

Alvarez, on the other hand, was cited stating in the visit that he hopes the RoRo ferry service could already be operational early next year so more Malaysians can discover opportunities in Palawan and vice versa.

Also, part of the cultural trade mission under the BIMP-EAGA was the inking of an MoU for an education partnership between PSU and Jesselton College, formerly known as Institut Prima Bestari, a private higher education institution in Kota Kinabalu.

The higher learning institute has five schools, specializing in business, tourism, arts, law and languages.

Under the MoU signed with Sespeñe, student and staff exchange programs, workplace industry placements and education program exchanges can already be rolled in the following months.

In Palawan, Alvarez’ leadership sees great opportunities under the BIMP-EAGA initiative for residents of the province.

He believes it will be able to form part of the provincial effort to bring down poverty in Palawan’s 23 municipalities, especially those in southern Palawan, where a coffee and cacao farming project is expected to start soon.

Alvarez also said that the need for workforce of Malaysia can be filled up by Palaweños, who can be trained to become skilled workers.

Smooth school opening welcomes over 216,800 students in Palawan – DepEd

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), FPV/CARF/UTB]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 2 (PNA) -– The Department of Education (DepEd) in Palawan credited the nationwide voluntary effort minor repair and clean-up program Brigada Iskwela for the smooth opening of classes for an estimated 216,800 elementary pupils and secondary students in all 23 municipalities, including this city.

Palawan DepEd OIC Planning Officer Jess Pagliawan said that although their data on the first day of classes will still be completed on June 6, they are already expecting an increase of 15,000 new students this year to top up 651 elementary and 1,507 secondary schools in the province.

“Our quick response desks, as of this time, are yet to receive complaints. I guess, Brigada Iskwela helped a lot in the smooth and orderly opening of the first day of classes for the school year in Palawan,” Pagliawan told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

In the island town of Coron, where super typhoon Yolanda destroyed many elementary and secondary school buildings, Pagliawan said the opening of classes registered 100% readiness.

“We just came from Coron last week to inspect and make assessments, and the town is very ready. The schools have been repaired, re-painted even, and you will not recognize that a super typhoon had caused crucial destructions there,” he added, saying the remaining families that were evacuated in some schools have long been relocated to make-shift shelters.

In Kalayaan municipality in the disputed West Philippines Sea, Pagliawan said classes have already started as early as 8 a.m. Monday for an estimated over 30 students.

Last year, the far-flung town registered 27 enrollees after a pre-fabricated classroom was established by the Ayala Foundation in cooperation with the Western Command and Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon’s leadership.

Pagliawan disclosed further that out of 300 new teachers, or extension positions, they have hired this year, only a handful are waiting for the completion of their deployment documents to serve in distant municipalities before the end of the week.

“We’re deploying maybe a dozen more extension positions before the end of the week to serve in schools in distant areas; they’re just waiting to complete their deployment documents,” Pagliawan said.

Meanwhile, in Puerto Princesa, City Police Office (CPO) Senior Superintendent Mamerto Valencia deployed around 300 cops as early as 7 a.m. to ensure a secure and peaceful opening of the first day of classes.

Valencia said no untoward incident has been reported so far from schools in 66 barangays of the city, and they expect it to remain the same in the following days.

He called on parents to avoid letting their children go to school with expensive gadgets that can put them at risk of being robbed, and to “always remind that their cellular phones can only be used for important calls.”

“We are on top of the situation, and we will ensure that until classes have comfortably settled, we shall remain securing our students,” he said.

Last year, Pagliawan said the number of elementary pupils enrolled were 147,839 and 57,019 secondary students.

“The trend is an increase of around 15,000 per year since three years ago. This year, it might already be over 216,800 – we are still waiting for reports to come in from the field,” he said.

Environment watchdog confiscates protected mynah birds, civet cat in southern Palawan

By Joel Locsin (LBG, GMA News)

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 1 (PNA) -- The enforcement team of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development Staff (PCSDS) confiscated Saturday 23 mynah birds and a civet cat in the southern Palawan town of Rizal.

Alex Marcaida of the PCSDS said the confiscation came following tip offs from concerned residents of Sitio Itolos, Barangay Iraan, Rizal in southern Palawan, and a weeklong surveillance.

The suspect, who was caught in the possession of the wildlife haul managed to escape, but Marcaida said they know who he is, and he has been involved in the same illegal activity in the past.

The suspect also reportedly succeeded in escaping with two cages containing an unknown number of talking or hill mynahs.

Marcaida said they will file charges against the suspect, whose name he did not mention, for violating the Philippine Wildlife Act.

The birds and the civet cat (local name musang) have been turned over to the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (PWRCC) for observation and safekeeping before they are returned to the wilds.

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