Albay News August 2013

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Albay - Archived News
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Seal of the Province of Albay
Interactive Google Satellite Map of the Province of Albay
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Location of Albay within the Philippines
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Provincial Capitol Building of Albay, in Legazpi City

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.

Mayon volcano albay province.jpg

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.

Albay governor lauds PH’s 7.5 GDP growth

(Manila Standard Today)

LEGAZPI CITY—The Philippines, with its 7.5 percent (%) gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2013, has remained the fastest growing economy in Asia, but its performance has started to show structural weakness due to its ‘highly unequal economy,” says Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, a known economist.

The country’s second quarter performance slackened from its robust 7.8% GDP growth during the previous quarter. It is now tied with China at 7.5%, which also previously trailed the Philippines at 7.7%.

Salceda, former Presidential economic adviser, said the “second quarter consumer demand – considering it comprises 77% of aggregate demand – was slower by 6.6% than last year’s figure, reflecting the observation that economic gains are not being broadly distributed as shown by the higher number of unemployed people of 3.1 million”.

He said income equality means that growth should trickle down more to reduce poverty. “Empirically, six years of 7% GDP growth should bring down poverty from the 27% to 20%,” he stressed.

Salceda explained that “highly unequal economies easily reach their structural limits and can not grow fast without massive exogenous flows of FDIs (foreign direct investments).”

“The rich can only consume so much Coke. Income inequality is also bad for growth and must be targeted separately as a matter of strategy, he pointed out.

Bicol preps up for Regional Tourism Summit next month

By Joseph John J. Perez (JJJP-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 30 (PIA) -- Home of the world's perfect coned Mayon Volcano in Albay, world's largest fish Butanding in Sorsogon, one of the country's popular devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Camarines Sur, with kilometric stretch of paradise-like beaches all over the region, sumptuous feasts of its native dishes and colorful festivals, the Department of Tourism (DOT) gears up for the regional tourism summit here on the last week of September this year.

"The Regional Tourism Summit 2013 intends to provide a venue for travel and tourism practitioners as partners to have a clear understanding of the Republic Act 9593 or the National Tourism Act 2009 and the 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) commitments of President Benigno Aquino III,” DOT Bicol Regional Director Maria Ravanilla told the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

In a project brief sent to PIA, DOT Bicol expects the summit help enhance the level of understanding and ability of local chief executives, legislative members, planning officers, tourism officers, committee on tourism, environment officers, permits and licensing officers and tourism officers and cultural workers and practitioners of the local government units throughout the region in formulating their own local tourism development plans that could affect sustainable tourism development.

"Further, appropriate measures and actions that will facilitate the success of MDG by the year 2015 are expected to be prioritized by provincial stakeholders as a result of the regional summit," Ravanilla said.

Topics lined up for discussion in the summit include Tourism Act of 2009, National Tourism Development Plan focusing on tourism promotional services for international and domestic tourists, tourism development planning services, standards for tourism facilities and services, national tourism situationer, global trends in travel and tourism industry focusing on agri-tourism, sports adventure, food tourism, community-based tourism, Bicol tourism landscape, integrating national tourism development planning and decision making in the local level..

According to Ravanilla, Secretary Ramon Jimenez will be the summit’s keynote speaker together with other plenary speakers composed of Undersecretary for Tourism Services and Regional Operations Maria Victoria Jasmin, Assistant Secretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions Domingo Ramon Enerio III, Assistant Secretary Rolando Canizal, and Acting Undersecretary Daniel Corpuz.

Ravanilla said the summit will be a very good venue for planning and strategizing tourism development goals in the regional level. “It is composed of activities geared towards its vital purpose and strict adherence to our regional branding, cooperation and commitment as one region, one tourism destination experience,” Ravanilla said.

"There is a growing interest in sustainable tourism development among provinces, commercial operators, aid organizations and conservationists," she said.

Ravanilla said that the Regional Tourism Summit 2013 will bring together the country’s most respected minds in travel and tourism industry to discuss global travel trends.

“We expect 500 to 800 delegates from six provinces to come to Albay, attend in six plenary presentations from the country’s premier tourism experts and practitioners and to participate in forums and workshops on practical issues related to improving our tourism destination management,” Ravanilla said.

The activity is supported by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Civil Service Commission, National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Science and Technology and the PIA.

Albay Dev't. Council approves P5.3 B provincial investment program for 2014

(MAL-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 29 (PIA) – The Albay Provincial Development Council (PDC) has approved on Wednesday, Aug. 28, the 2014 Annual Investment Program (AIP) of the province with a budget of P5.3 billion.

Albay PDC is headed by Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda and composed of chiefs of offices of the provincial government, city and municipal mayors, and representatives from civil society organizations in the province.

Breakdown of the budget showed that capital outlay eats up the bulk of the AIP allocation amounting to P4.3 billion, while maintenance and other operating expenses and personal services have P830 millionand P230 million, respectively.

Out of the 19 provincial line offices, the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) has an allocation of P3.6 billion, with P3.5 billion going to capital outlay.

The Governor’s office gets the second highest budget at P614 million, followed by the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Office (APSEMO) with P497 million.

Albay Millennium Development Goals Office (AMDGO) has P140 million while the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) is allotted P100 million.

Salceda said the P5.3 billion AIP budget will be utilized to achieve what we aspire for the province to “become the most liveable province in the Philippines known for good and quality education, healthcare and an environment for people to be healthy, happy, and employed.“

Salceda said the AIP will help Albay under his administration pursue the short term goal of achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) by 2015, a medium term goal of becoming a bastion of education and tourism hub, and become a California in 30 years, which at present is on our way,”

The governor has also laid down the strategies and priorities for the last three years of his administration focusing more on aggressive programs on education and health and which will push the province towards shared socioeconomic advancement as well as on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRR-CCA)

Education, according to him, remains the heart and soul of the province as it is the principal weapon in the fight against poverty, against climate change and for equality, adding that part of this program is the strategic partnership with the Bicol University (BU) to operationalize the BU Medical School constructed through a P50 million grant from the Office of the President.

Under health programs, the universal Philhealth coverage has been the pillar of provincial health strategies as more Albayanos benefitted from health programs and services despite the massive increase in premium rates.

Also under these programs are updating of rural health units (RHUs) in Polangui, Guinobatan and Bacacay to primary care facilities and modernization of Pioduran hospital to full secondary so it could further serve the health markets of Donsol, Claveria and Albay West Coast.

Albay also targets the opening of a cancer diagnostic and treatment center in the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital and the Albay West Coast, and the completion of the Polangui Water System with a total cost of P124 million.

The province, Salceda said, will further increase the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program which stood at 64,000 families as of March this year.

It will further enhance its fight against climate change and for the disaster risk reduction through flood control and mitigation projects and updating of barangay risk maps and contingency plans.

“We shall continue to provide training to other local government units and those coming from other countries,” Salceda said.

Through intensified programs on DRR-CCA such as the construction of the Climate Change Academy, the province is now a major national and global player in mainstreaming such programs serving eight countries and six regions and training 24 provinces, 27 cities and 189 towns. 

“We have chosen tourism, agriculture and small and medium enterprises as our principal industries to grow and create jobs, increase incomes and build competitive enterprises,” Salceda said.

In tourism, the project aims to achieve 1 million foreign tourist arrivals by 2017 through the Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon Tourism Alliance (Almasorta) stressing the bids of the province to host ten ministerial summits for the APEC Summit in 2014/2015, 48 countries for the Green Climate Fund, Ironman 2015 and Palarong Pambansa 2016.

Completion of the Southern Luzon International Airport, Guicadale Economic Township, Oas-Cagmanaba Road, Albay West Coast road, Daraga-Oas-San Fernando road and Albay-Donsol roads are also among the priority infrastructure projects of Salceda.

“The Southern Luzon International Airport remains the center piece of ongoing development of the Aquino administration for the Bicol region,” the governor said, adding the province is providing the support facilities for the project.

September 2 declared Ola Day, non-working holiday in Albay

By Sally A. Atento (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 28 (PIA) - Malacanang has declared Monday next week, September 2, as special non-working holiday in the province of Albay to mark the 148th birth anniversary of its late local hero, General Simeon Ola.

Ola is an Albayano hero of the Philippine Revolution and the last revolutionary general to surrender to American forces during the Philippine-American War.

Malacanang issued the declaration through Proclamation No. 635 signed by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. August 22 to give the people of Albay the full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

Ola was born September 2, 1865 to ordinary citizens Vicente Ola and Apolonia Arboleda.

In 1896, he stopped his studies at the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City and joined the local branch of the Katipunan in his hometown, the province of Albay.

Ola was promoted to the rank of captain after the battle of Camalig in Albay in 1898 and again promoted to the rank of major after a daring ambush mission that led to the capture of three Americans.

He was also the leader of the subsequent valiant attacks on Albay towns namely, Oas, Ligao and Jovellar. He later surrendered to Americans on the condition that his men would be granted amnesty.

Ola was put on trial and was proven guilty of sedition and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In 1904, he was given a pardon and returned to his place of birth.

In 1910, he entered politics and won a town mayor of Guinobatan, which he served until 1913. He was again elected as mayor in 1916 and served the term until 1919.

The regional police command in Legazpi City was named after him.

Ola died on February 14, 1952 and was interred at the Roman Catholic Cemetery of Guinobatan.

Albay steps up preparation for hosting APEC 2014/2015

By Sally A. Atento (MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug 27 (PIA) – The provincial government of Albay has been into extensive preparations to comply with the requirements for the hosting of three Asia Pacific Economic Council (APEC) meetings slated December this year and May and November next year.

In a conference Monday this week, Bicol director Raffy Alejandro of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) said the Albay Provincial Preparatory Logistical Committee (APPLC) has stepped up preparations to ensure that the host province will comply to the criteria set by the APEC National Organizing Council (NOC) as also required by protocols of the visiting states.NOC manages and supervises all activities to be hosted by the country including assessment of potential venues.

Alejandro said the national site selection and inspection panel will be visiting the province on September 4-6 this year to assess and validate the qualifications and preparations of the province to host the said three meetings.

“Our job is to ensure that Albay will not lose these three events since Boracay and IloIlo have also been designated as alternative venues. It doesn’t mean that we will surely host these three meetings since it will depend on our preparation for the inspection,” Alejandro said.APPLC will be conducting its own assessment and inspection on August 29 of the hotels in the province including the Misibis Bay and the Oriental Hotel to ensure their preparedness for the visit of the national team.

The national inspection committee will be considering many factors in assessing potential venues including logistics, accommodations, infrastructure, and security, given that heads of state will be taking part in the summit.

Albay is expected to host the Senior Official Meeting (SOM), the first and one of the biggest among 21 APEC meetings, on December 4- 5 this year at the world-class Misibis Bay Resort in Bacacay.

Salceda earlier said some 300 ranking officials of the 21 APEC member countries will be attending the assembly including ministers and their deputies and representatives of world media to cover the event.

“APEC hosting may pave the way to fast track construction of major infrastructure projects in Albay, among them the Southern Luzon International Airport in Alobo, Daraga town,” Salceda added.

The APEC Summit will bring together 21 world leaders from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US and Vietnam to discuss issues aimed at strengthening political and economic ties.

Salceda to host foreign travel exchange buyers during Bicol tours

(PNA), PDS/FGS/DOC/CBD/UTB

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 26 (PNA) --Albay Governor Joey Salceda will play host to foreign participants in the Philippine Travel Exchange 2013 when they come to this city next week as part of their tour of key Philippine tourist attractions and destinations.

Maria Ong-Ravanilla, Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional director, on Monday said the governor will lead the welcoming party as the visitors arrive on Aug. 31 for their pre-tours that will last until Sept. 4.

During their four-day stay here dubbed as “Bicol Express Run,” the delegations -- composed of 25 foreign buyers of tourism products, will visit tourist destinations in this city like the historic Ligñon Hill View Deck, Legazpi Boulevard and Mayon Volcano Lava Hills, among others, according to Ravanilla.

“Legazpi City has become a destination of choice for both business and leisure travelers who come and stay to explore Bicol attractions and experience first-hand local products and warm hospitality,” Ravanilla said.

The guests will also visit the Misibis Bay, a private tropical hideaway built on a pristine stretch of beach along the southern tip of Cagraray island in Bacacay, Albay, which is considered as the luxury island playground in the Philippines.

Other places to be visited are Matnog and Bulusan, which is home to Bulusan Volcano and Bulusan Lake -- both in Sorsogon province.

Ravanilla said Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2013, the 12th organized by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) in cooperation with the Philippine Tourism Board, is themed “Unending Possibilities of Fun in the Philippines” in line with the DOT’s branding campaign.

Dive park under Legazpi waters shaping up

By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), HBC/FGS/DOC/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 24 (PNA) -– A park for divers under the territorial waters of this “City of Fun and Adventure” is shaping up.

The city’s waterscape, with beautiful white surging surfs of the ocean gracefully sweeping to form a sharp contrast with jet-black volcanic sands underneath up to the natural formations of the long stretch of beach, is itself a natural wonder added to the majestic view of the iconic Mayon Volcano.

And since this exciting water that is part of Albay Gulf -- described as the calmest among dive sites in the country -- has been luring throngs of travelling divers from all over the world, the city government is now in some sort of works in making every diver’s escapade into the local underwater environment truly memorable.

“We will be having an underwater park so that the six dive sites identified to be within the city limits become more satisfactory for both scuba divers with experience and for novices alike who want to explore our marine life beneath the level of our waters,” City Mayor Noel Rosal on Monday said.

The mayor has been tasked to oversee the putting up of the project of former city councilor Chito Ante, a master scuba diver who has been devoting most of his private and public life to marine ecosystems management focused on coral gardening to develop cost-effective systems for growing and transplanting corals to restore degraded reefs.

Coral gardening is an innovative propagation of second-generation corals and combines strategies for sustainable management of marine ecosystems with restoration of coral reefs and associated habitats, Ante explains.

In this approach, nurseries are established by trimming coral fragments from existing wild populations then securing them on underwater structures.

The original coral is grown over a number of years and trimmed or propagated every 9–12 months, increasing the original fragments by 10 times.

The city government has been supporting this noble endeavor being helped by an organized group of local dive experts and marine environmentalists who have put up the Pacific Blue Dive Center that conducts coral reef researches and evaluations within areas of Albay Gulf covered by the city.

The group is also behind the application of the biorock technology for the natural coral rehabilitation using genetically modified bacteria to speed up coral growth in support of the coastal resource management programs of the city and the Albay provincial government.

Under this initiative, divers construct crisscrossed metal panels installed with concrete disks that serve as substrates where second generation corals are planted and grown to become new colonies that take part in reef building.

“We identified over a decade back damaged coral reefs and placed them under immediate natural rehabilitation supported by the local governments with their reef preservation and conservation programs in preparation for the establishment of the underwater park which was conceptualized ahead of the coral restoration efforts,” Ante said.

Since then, he said, these coral colonies have been serving their reef-building role, making the city’s dive sites very much ready and presentable now as a divers’ park of healthy growing corals arranged in gardens forming the marvelous underwater environment teeming with exciting rare fish species like clownfish or anemone fish and trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus).

To make the park identifiable as that of here, Ante said, markers bearing the city’s name printed in highly luminous colors are to be erected as backdrop so that divers who want their pictures taken underwater can have these markers as landmark.

Among the dive sites to be covered by the park are the Itom na Buya (Black Buoy) and Sadit na Itom na Buya (Small Black Buoy), both off the coastline of Barangay Bigaa here and a 25-minute boat ride from the base port.

The PBDC classified these dive sites to be of three types-- shoreline with short shallow area and sandy bottom, a peninsula with waters directing off shore after a long shallow area and as independent underwater banks.

Ante said June to November is the best season for diving in these sites, considered the best in the country being protected by mountains rimming both its western and northern sides and making the area usually flat even during the presently prevailing westerly wind (habagat).

Heavy rains frequenting the season is not really a problem as drop in visibility only takes place along shoreline dive sites but not in independent bank diving sites that are far from the shore, he said.

The areas surrounding the underwater park is also being made ideal for leisure fishing like angling, a method applying the classic “hook, line and sinker” gear arrangement.

To do this, Ante said, artificial reefs have been set in place to serve as fish colonies where anglers could drop their fishing gears for exciting catches.

The underwater park will be presented to the public on Aug. 24 as an event related to the integration of biodiversity protection with the ongoing celebration of Ibalong Festival, the prime tourism promotion activity being held in August yearly in the city.

The city last year earned the recognition in the world’s travel industry as the “City of Fun and Adventure.”

The festival is a socio-historico-cultural presentation that relives Bicol’s mythical past characterized by the heroism of early leaders of the barbaric land in fighting disastrous monsters defining the greatness of the region history marked by progress and destruction.

500 swimmers to join 1st National Swimming Championship Contest for Unity in Albay

By Nancy I. Mediavillo [(PNA), HBC/FGS/NIM/CBD]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 23 (PNA) -– About 500 swimmers from the Bicol region and other parts of the country are joining the Ist Ibalong National Age Group Swimming Championship Competition to be held at the 50-meter pool of the Albay Sports Complex in Travesia, Guinobatan, Albay, Aug. 24.

Former Olympian Coach Susan Papa, national president of the Philippine Swimming League, and lawyer Maria Teresa Mahiwo, regional director of the PSL Bicol Chapter, are supervising the competition.

The swimmers will come from the cities of Manila, Pasay, Quezon, Cavite and Lucena and the provinces of Aklan and Laguna.

Bicol delegates will come from the cities of Iriga and Legazpi and the towns of Guinobatan, Malinao at Daraga – all in Albay.

Papa said most of the swimmers joining the competition have already joined national and international swimming contests.

She said this competition will serve as a selection process for the National Championship Competition in Metro Manila and future international competitions in Dubai and Bangkok in December this year.

Papa stressed that sports, like swimming, is a unifying factor among community members, especially among the youth as future leaders of the country.

The event is dubbed as “El Presidente” as this will serve as a gift to her on her birthday tomorrow by her colleagues in the PSL, she said.

The competition will feature the Unity Team for a Cause with its theme, “Langoy para sa kalusugan, kaligtasan at kapayapaan (Swim for health, safety and peace).”

About 100 non-competing swimmers from national government 15 agencies and the private sector in Bicol are also joining the swimming activity before the competition proper.

They are composed of doctors, lawyers, peace and safety officers, coaches, parents, teachers and students, Papa said.

The activity aims to emphasize healthy lifestyle, discipline, life-saving skills for personal safety and improve general well-being of the community.

Papa said the criteria to qualify in national at international swimming competitions is being an outstanding swimmer and speed in swimming.

For instance, for the age group 15-17 years old the required speed is 26 seconds for free style event with a distance of 50 meters, based on American quadruple international standard.

It also said that sports officials can choose 20-100 swimmers to compete for national and international events.

Meanwhile, Papa said, the Philippine Team emerged as champion in the International Swimming Competition held in Singapore this August.

The Team Pilipinas garnered 122 medals -- 50 gold, 40 silver and 32 bronze.

The team is composed of 52 swimmers, five of whom are Bicolanos.

One who earned one gold, one silver at one bronze medals is an Albayana in the person of Arianne Alcantara, 17 years old and former student of the Bicol University.

Alcantara is now studying at the De Salle University as a scholar of the league.

Papa said the PSL has 200 scholars in the entire country.

The PSL national president said Albay was chosen to host this year’s competition, owing to its “very nice people, beautiful tourist destinations like the majestic Mayon Volcano, and clean and scenic nature.”

Mahiwo, on the other hand, said among those expected to come for the event is former senator Nikki Coseteng.

She said the activity was made possible by the assistance of Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, Guinobatan Mayor Gemma Ongjoco, Ibalong Magayon Aqua Gliders, PSL and others.

The competition is part of the activities of the Ibalong Festival 2013 here in Legazpi City and is free free of charge, Mahiwo said.

Salceda stresses education before delegates to world research meet on K+12 curriculum

By Nancy I. Mediavillo [(PNA), LAP/FGS/NIM/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 22 (PNA) – Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda said he always believes in good education as a stepping stone for self-development and for the achievement of a better society and the advancement of civilization.

“A 10-year basic education is not enough for a student to be fully equipped to enter into college,” Salceda said in a message read for him by Vice Governor Harold Imperial during the first International Research Conference on K-12 Curriculum for 21st Century Learning: A Global Perspective, now ongoing at the Oriental Hotel here.

The Albay governor, DepEd Undersecretary Dina Ocampo and DepEd Assistant Secretary Lorna Dino were the conference guests but were not able to make it from Manila due to the cancellation of plane flights as a result of the southwest monsoon that hit Metro Manila.

At least 1,000 researchers and educators from all over the country and international observers from the United Kingdom and Canada are attending the meeting.

Orfelina Tuy, Department of Education of Bicol regional director, said the DepEd Bicol and the DepEd Region IV-A offices are the hosts of the activity with the assistance of the Bicol Association of Schools Superintendents, which has 27 members.

Tuy said the conference aims to formulate a critical mass on research and emphasizes that all department decisions and policies should be based on thorough research.

Salceda took pride in being a product of parents who used to be educators.

“With the full support of my parents -- and with my own initiative, perseverance, determination, and love for the country -- I became what I am now,” the well-known economist stressed.

Salceda added, “Not many of our students today are as fortunate as I was to have availed of the kind of education that I had. That is why, now that I am in the right position as governor of the province, I exert all legal influences possible to see to it that the lion’s share of the provincial budget is invested in education – 36 percent of our budget goes to education.”

The next highest budgeted item, he said, is health – 24 percent.

“Thus more than half of our budget goes to our dream of creating a society full of educated and healthy citizenry,” the Albay chief executive said, adding, “but as they say, money is not all. We need methods and systems. Thus, your coming to our province today to review, on a global perspective, the K-12 curriculum and to make it updated to today’s learning systems is a very welcome event.”

He said the event’s benefits would accrue to the benefit of the students and tutors.

“I congratulate you for your concern and dedication for the betterment of our youth. Rest assured of our government’s support for your endeavor during your short stay in Albay,” Salceda said.

The three-day international conference has been divided into eight group sessions for 285 research papers.

Each group will tackle each research work in 30 minutes, Tuy said.

She said she will submit the outputs of the conference to the DepEd national office to serve as a basis for the decision and actions of the policy-making body on the implementation of the K-12 curriculum.

The DepEd official said the present international conference is a sequel to the National Research Forum held in Naga City last year.

Albay disaster team, OCD to hold humanitarian mission in Metro Manila

By Mar S. Arguelles (Inquirer Southern Luzon)

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — Disaster officials of Albay and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-Bicol have been preparing to hold a humanitarian mission in flood-stricken areas in Metro Manila, a civil defense official said Wednesday.

The mission dubbed as Team Albay-OCD will hold a two-week humanitarian mission covering Taguig and Las Piñas, the areas hardest hit by flooding due to torrential rains spawned by tropical storm “Maring”, according to Bernardo Alejandro, the director of the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol.

Alejandro in a phone interview said the first batch of humanitarian workers would leave for Manila at 8 p.m. Wednesday while the second batch would leave on Thursday.

The mission will be composed of 80 medical, sanitary and social welfare personnel from the Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (Apsemo), Provincial Social Welfare Office, Department of Health (DOH), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and OCD.

The team will provide medical, water and sanitary services to flooded communities and will bring along a water purifying machine, which could produce thousands of liters of potable water for distribution to residents.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, in a statement posted in his Facebook account, said the disaster response measure would be its ninth humanitarian mission after similar public assistance services were held in Cagayan, Isabela, Catanduanes, Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Davao Oriental and in Metro Manila in two previous floodings.

Albay will also launch a donation campaign to help the victims of flooding in Quezon, Laguna, Rizal, Bataan, Pampanga and Metro Manila, according to Salceda.


Albay rural development caravan brings joy to ‘longganiza’ town

By Nancy I. Mediavillo [(PNA), DSP/FGS/NIM/CBD/]

GUINOBATAN, Albay, Aug. 20 (PNA) – The Team Albay Countryside Development Caravan rolled off on Tuesday for its second leg of multi-faceted services to rural folk.

The target was the Municipality of Guinobatan, which has been famous for its delicious longganiza.

Led by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, the caravan was joined by local officials of Guinobatan town headed by Mayor Gemma Ongjoco, regional directors of national government agencies, non-government organization and civic organization officials, and team Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The activities included civic assistance program, feeding program, local sports, consultation dialogue, medical and dental services, animal health services, tree planting and growing, distribution of vegetable seeds, eye and ear check-up, distribution of eye glasses, skills demonstration and livelihood training and barangay security system.

The activities were held in Barangay Sinungtan and also covered the villages of Sinungtan, Malipo, Bololo, Palanas at Batbat.

The first leg of the caeavan was held in Barangay Alobo in Daraga town for its clustered barangays.

Raffy Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense Bicol regional director, said the caravan is a local initiative of the provincial government of Albay under its “Pledge of An Albayano” program aimed to make the province the most livable province in the country.

The pledge stresses: that an Albayano is born beautiful under the shadow of Mayon Volcano, respectful, joyful, industrious and strong even during bad weather or calamities; that an Albayano aims to maintain peace and order, works for inclusive growth for all, uses knowledge for the benefit of the needy, protects the environment, develops oneself and native culture, and most of all, loves God and respects the government, elders and fellowmen; and, that an Albayano -- in thoughts, words and deeds – works towards the economic development and growth of Albay and helps bring the government closer to the people.

Alejandro said the convergence effort will continue up to December this year and aims to reach a total of 44 barangays.

The caravan offers social, health, economic, agricultural and veterinary services; disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation training; peace and order maintenance training and many others.

OCD-Bicol raises gale warning to fishers, small sea craft owners

By Nancy I. Mediavillo [(PNA), FPV/FGS/NIM/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 19 (PNA) – The Office of Civil Defense Bicol regional office has warned fishermen and owners of small sea craft against going out to the sea as it raised a gale warning over the waters of Bicol and the whole of Southern Luzon.

OCD Bicol Regional Director Raffy Alejandro said Typhoon “Maring” has strengthened the southeast winds, prompting them to raise the gale warning.

Alejandro said he asked the Philippine Coast Guard and village officials in coastal areas of the region to implement the necessary measures to prevent fishermen from going out to the sea as it is dangerous.

The OCD Bicol head cited the assistance being given by the provincial government of Albay to fishermen every time they cannot go out fishing due to bad weather.

Alejandro told local officials not to stop finding and adopting measures to mitigate the effects of calamities.

He stressed the need to focus on preventing instead of responding to calamities.

He urged local government units not only in Bicol but also in the entire country to think twice about this reality.

Alejandro noted that the province of Albay, who is already a Hall of Famer in the National Kalasag Awards, is still not complacent as it continuously looks for innovations in the field of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation not because of the award but because it wants to always achieve zero casualty.

He said the general direction of typhoons entering Bicol has not changed because it has been only three years that typhoons have not hit the region.

Based on the pattern observed by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geographical and Astronomical Services Administration, it is within a period of 10 years that strong typhoons, up to five of them, usually hit Bicol during the last quarter of the year while a total of 23 enter the Philippine area of responsibility.

Ibalong Festival integrates pro-environment protection

By Rhaydz B. Barcia [(PNA), HBC/FGS/RBB/CBD/JSD]

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) — As the adverse impact of global warming is getting worse, the city government of Legazpi has integrated environmental protection in the month-long Ibalong Festival here.

As part of the festival, the city government will conduct coral restoration activities along the city boulevard wherein environmentalists, mediamen and tourists can join in the underwater restoration of corals for the coming generation here.

Ibalong Festival showcases the ancient heroes, legend and cultural heritage of the Legazpenos given life in a stage musical presentation by the Tanghalang Pilipino artists led by Janine Desiderio of Miss Saigon fame, Mayor Noel Rosal said.

The musical play will be held at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Barangay Bitano here.

The Ibalong Festival is also a celebration of the people’s resiliency, given the string of calamities that have befallen the region.

The main event of festival is the street dancing wherein performers will depict the numerous myths and legends in the Ibalong epic of the province and are done with the majestic Mayon Volcano in the background.

Other attractions include street parties, Albay Ancop global walk, water sports competition (jetski and sailathon), pili culinaria, Ibalong National Age Group Swimming Championship, band concerts in the evening, flea market in the streets of the city and fireworks display.

The festival was originally conducted in October but was moved to August to avoid getting caught by the typhoon season.

Albay town to have own waste recovery system, gets garbage equipment from DENR

By Floreno G. Solmirano [(PNA), FPV/FGS/CBD/JSD]

GUINOBATAN, Albay, Aug. 17 (PNA) – This town will soon have its own Materials Recovery System after Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources signed a memorandum of agreement with Albay Governor Joey Salceda and Guinobatan town Mayor Ann Ongjoco on Thursday here.

Paje also handed over a garbage shredder and a garbage truck collector to the local government unit in a ceremonial launch.

He said every local government unit is required by Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to have its own materials recovery facility (MRF).

“So we are launching this material recovery facility system to help this town, and at the same time, we are also donating a garbage shredder and a truck for transport and collection of wastes,” Paje said.

According to him, almost 700 LGUs have already complied with the eco-waste management law and this project of the Guinobatan LGU will be an addition to the statistics of those that have complied with RA 9003.

“There’s a need to address the problem of municipal wastes because of the rising cost that the government is taking in providing medicines for diseases brought about by garbage pollution,” Paje stressed.

He cited a report from the Department of Health that the government spends close to P50 billion every year on treating illnesses due to pollution and 50 percent of the medicine is for upper respiratory ailments.

“So an imperative solution is to resolve the problem of municipal wastes and since establishing landfills is expensive, a better alternative is clustering of towns for their own MRF,” the DENR top executive said.

“The MRF system is a complete system of recovering wastes that can still be of use -- from recyclable materials to kitchen wastes that can be turned into compost, which will be implemented here in Guinobatan as their compliance with the ESWM Act,” engineer Nanette Tidon of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau said.

A baseline study of the EMB projects a recovery of 18 percent of recyclables and 73 percent of biodegradable wastes from the waste stream.

The remaining 8.72 percent of total waste composition can be disposed of to a final disposal facility or be re-used as functional products by available alternative technologies,” Tidon said.

Gilbert Gonzales, DENR Bicol regional director, said the proposed MRF will be part or one of the components of the proposed eco-park of the LGU of Guinobatan that will be established in Barangay Doña Mercedes.

The proposed eco-park is estimated to be about five hectares.

It is, however, still in the drawing board with the project cost and its sources of funds yet to be determined by the LGU.Gonzales said the DENR initially granted P500,000 as a startup fund for the construction of an MRF with composting facility, aside from the donated shredder and a dump truck.

The proposed MRF with composting facility will be utilizing an area of about 360 square meters.

Ongjoco said the town of Guinobatan produces 3,700 kilograms of wastes daily, consisting of putrescible wastes, 311.91 kgs.; cardboards and cartons, 53.65 kgs.; papers, 32.19 kgs.; tin cans, 161.32 kgs.; bottles, 107.67 kgs., and others, 322.64 kgs.

Putrescible wastes are substances that decompose in a certain temperature in contact with air and moisture and generally contain carbon.

“The proposed Materials Recovery System shall assure that recovery of recyclable wastes which account for 18.02 percent or approximately 666.74 kg. of the daily waste composition of the eight barangays to be initially serviced by the facility,” Ongjoco clarified.

These barangays are Ilawod, Poblacion, Iraya, San Francisco, Morera, Calzada, Travesia and Inamnan Grande. The town has 44 barangays.

The neophyte mayor said Guinobatan had a population of 75,967as of 2010 and with an annual growth rate of 1.22 percent, its population in 2013 is estimated at 78,781.

Ongjoco said the population of the service barangays was 18,732 as of 2010 and is targeted to reach 19,426 in 2013, which is 25 percent of total population of the LGU.

880,000 INC members hold humanitarian activity in Albay

By Nancy I. Mediavillo [(PNA), LAP/FGS/NIM/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 16 (PNA) –- Some 880,000 members of the Iglesia ni Cristo from all over the Bicol region are now gathered in Riviera Subdivision, Barangay Lidong in Sto. Domingo town for their “Lingap sa Mamayan” activity.

The event is a humanitarian activity of the INC that includes gift giving and medical mission.

Governor Joey Sarte Salceda said that in Albay alone, the INC has 120,000 members.

Salceda has asked Albayanos to give full support to the occasion as “we belong to one family of Christians.”

He directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol and concerned government agencies or response units to maintain order and security during the activity.

The provincial chief executive also ordered the suspension of classes in Sto. Domingo town at barangays Rawis, Arimbay, Padang at Bigaa in the City of Legazpi for the occasion to avoid traffic congestion in the area for the benefit of the school children and participants in the Lingap sa Mamamayan event.

He also asked the Department of Education to have makeup classes.

Salceda tasked the police to make security in the area their primary concern.

USAID-assisted program chooses Bicol

(Manila Standard Today)

Legazpi City — The United States Agency for International Development-assisted One-Step Program has chosen the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon Tourism Alliance and two other Bicol towns as pilot areas.

A partnership among the USAID, Department of Tourism and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, One-Step, under the National Tourism Development Plan is a comprehensive plan aimed at improving the lives of the poor through more direct interventions via tourism, and ensuring robust tourism growth.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the two Bicol towns included in One-Step are Donsol, the “Butanding” town in Sorsogon, and Daraga, Albay, site of the world-famous Cagsawa Ruins. They were unanimously nominated by regional directors of the DOT and DSWD, the National Economic Development Authority, and the Regional Development Council of Bicol which Salceda chairs.

ALMASOR was conceptualized and organized by Salceda under the RDC. It bundles up the world-class tourism potentials of the three Southernmost Bicol provinces into a one-stop-shop tourist destination package.

SMC takes over Albay co-op

By Alena Mae S. Flores

San Miguel Corp, the food and beverage giant and one of the largest independent power generation companies in the country, will take over management of the Albay Electric Cooperative (ALECO) within the year, the Department of Energy (DOE) said on Tuesday.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said San Miguel was the remaining bidder and under the terms of reference it will manage the cooperative “given the absence of other bidders.”

“The terms that already clear is that San Miguel will not own ALECO. It will just run it and shoulder the debt and pay monthly concession fees,” he said.

San Miguel has become one of the largest independent power generation companies in the country in just four years. The company has a 17 percent market share of the power supply of the national grid and 23 percent share of the Luzon grid by the end of 2012.

Legazpi City mayor, 4 others attend climate leadership academy in Indonesia

By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), LAP/FGS/DOC/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 13 (PNA) -– The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has sent Mayor Noel Rosal of this city as the country’s representative to the gathering of ASEAN urban leaders for the regional Climate Leadership Academy (CLA) in Indonesia.

The gathering, organized by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC), is taking place in Jakarta from August 13 to 15 as a unique training and peer-learning opportunity -- focused on improving, expanding and accelerating efforts to better assess, prioritize and manage the local risks of climate change.

Only teams from ASEAN member-states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- were made eligible to the academy, organizers said in a recent statement reaching here.

Rosal left for Jakarta Monday with his team members composed of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales, Councilor Raul Rosal, City Planning Officer Joseph Esplana and Dr. Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office head.

ICMA, in the same statement, explained that ASEAN cities are some of the most vulnerable to climate change and with more than 50 percent of the approximately 600 million people of the region now living in cities, new climate-related risks -- including extreme precipitation, heat events and sea-level rise -- are forcing more adaptive approaches to urban development.

As a result, city practitioners across Southeast Asia are designing and building more resilient, ecologically integrated urban infrastructure, engaging their populations in inclusive decision-making and collaborating across jurisdictions.

These activities are generating innovations and investment opportunities that are shaping the future of growth throughout the region, ICMA said.

The workshop, it added, is part of association’s USAID-funded CityLinks program, which enables municipal officials in developing and decentralizing countries to draw on the resources of their U.S. counterparts to find sustainable solutions tailored to the real needs of their cities.

DILG Regional Director for Bicol Blandino Maceda on Tueday said Rosal was chosen as Philippine delegate to the academy being an official with decision-making authority in programs that are directly related to the climate adaptation challenges faced by his community.

As local chief executive, the city mayor’s responsibilities involve public works and infrastructure, water supply, utilities, public health, emergency response, ports, natural resource management or land use planning -- all areas that the CLA is tackling, Maceda explained.

The idea of the CLA is to assemble partners from across departments and agencies with whom they can both share this unique training and peer-learning opportunity, and continue collaboration for building climate resilience and adapting to climate change after they return home.

The ICMA said the academy is geared toward serving community teams that have some experience in developing local adaptation strategies.

It is also open to communities that have yet to begin formalizing an adaptation strategy but have identified adaptation as a key priority for their city.

The final team selection will be determined by national representatives from the ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities.

The CLA, ICMA said, will help advance and improve climate change adaptation efforts by providing participants the best available information, expertise and thinking in the field, and by offering opportunities to learn from their peers across the region.

Cities that take systematic approaches to adapt to a changed global climate will be best positioned to inform and benefit from national efforts and investment opportunities, and will ultimately be able to better protect their residents and local economies from climate disruption, it added.

Before his departure to Jakarta Monday, Rosal said the Leadership Academy will provide training support to help participants understand local and regional risk barriers to adopting new, resilient urban infrastructure and learn new tools and strategies for addressing risk barriers, including law, policy agreements, regulations, and financing options.

It will also provide understanding on technology tools such as spatial data analysis to support urban adaption and make participants learn from, network, and collaborate with peer cities facing similar challenges, as well as international experts.

“We are going to share local best practices with regional counterparts and appreciate the importance of designing urban infrastructure in the face of resource constraints, climate change, and new challenges associated with urban growth,” Rosal said.

He texted the PNA from Jakarta Tuesday mid-morning that he would present the Legazpi experience on urban climate change adaptation at about 11:00 a.m.

Their travel, he added, is all expenses paid by the CityLinks which arranged and covered the flight costs, hotel stay, foods, incidentals and local travels of the participants.

According to ICMA, the highlights of the gathering include a diverse mix of 10 city-led teams of practitioners from throughout Southeast Asia who will have plenty of time for networking, learning and strategizing within and across those teams.

San Miguel is lone potential bidder for Albay electric coop, DOE says

By Michelle Orosa-Ople (News5)

MANILA - The San Miguel Group may be the only bidder for the operations and management contract of a debt-saddled electric cooperative in Albay, the Department of Energy (DOE) said today.

Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla said San Miguel Energy Corp (SMEC) emerged as the lone interested party, after Energy Development Corp (EDC), Manila Electric Co (Meralco) and the Aboitiz Group withdrew from the race.

Petilla said the three other potential bidders dropped out after realizing the enormity of the cooperative's debt burden.

The Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) owes its power suppliers about P4 billion. Its failure to pay its arrears last month forced the National Grid Corp of the Philippines to cut off electricity to the province. Power was restored only after some of Aleco's customers began paying their bills, thus allowing the cooperative to settle some of its debts.

Petilla said the 25-year operations and management contract for Aleco would be auctioned off on August 22.

The winning bidder will assume existing debts even as ownership over Aleco would remain with the local government of Albay.

Albay to host 2015 APEC initial meeting in Misibis Bay

(PNA), JBP/JCN/PJN

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 11 (PNA) -- Albay has been chosen to host the first major activity of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in December 2014.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the event, the Informal Senior Ministerial Meetings, the second or third largest event of the entire Summit, will be held at the world-class Misibis Bay Resort hideaway Pacific island in Bacacay, Albay.

The luxury Misibis Bay Resort is the setting of a new TV series bearing the same title. It directly faces the Pacific Ocean.

Albay’s bid last May to host the APEC Leaders Summit - slated in the Philippines in 2015 -- won at least 10 of the events. The summit has nine main conferences and 54 subsidiary meetings over a one-year period starting December 2014.

Salceda said the first informal ministerial meeting is scheduled December 4-5 and will be attended by some 300 ranking official of the APEC member countries, including ministers and their deputies. Representatives of world media will cover the event. The back up sites for the event are Boracay and Bacolod City.

“If ranked in size and importance, it would be 2nd or 3rd largest event of the APEC,” posted Salceda in his Facebook account, The decision to hold the APEC Informal Senior Ministerial Conference in Albay was made recently by the Summit organizing committee.

“God is good. God loves Albayanos,” the governor said, adding the APEC hosting may pave the way to fast track construction of major infrastructure projects in Albay, among them the Southern Luzon International Airport in Alobo, Daraga town.

The summit is also expected to perk up tourism and the economy, and again spotlight Albay’s tourism assets. Guests and advanced parties from APEC states are expected to visit Albay shortly for familiarization tours.

APEC is a forum of 21 member-economies including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US and Vietnam. The Philippines first hosted the APEC summit in 1996.

Albay’s world-class tourism assets that APEC guests and tourists may find ravishing include iconic Cagsawa Ruins and Mayon Volcano, the luxury Misibis Bay Resort Hotel and the Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City, among others.

Salceda said APEC member countries and those negotiating a post-2012 climate change agreement may also find the Summit as a practical platform for dialogue leading to public and private sector investment ventures.


Same sex adultery bill defended

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines - Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman Jr. yesterday defended his bill seeking to criminalize same sex adultery in the country, saying it would help uphold the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT).

Lagman earlier filed House Bill 2352 that would amend obsolete provisions of Article 333 of the Revised Penal Code covering crimes against chastity by broadening the scope of what constitutes adultery to include married women in sexual relations with other women and married men having sex with other men.

He said that when he was a practicing lawyer, he had been consulted by clients who were left without legal recourse against erring husbands and wives because there is no law that punishes these kinds of extra-marital relationships.

He also clarified that he has always been a staunch advocate of gender equality and rights of the LGBT community, especially in terms of employment and non-discrimination in the workforce.

“I have fought for equal rights and treatment with regard to the workplace while I was practicing councilor, but we are talking about a different thing here. We are talking about the sanctity and preservation of marriage – that no person, straight or gay, should be exempt from punishment of the law if they commit adultery,” Lagman explained.

The measure “does not intend to push gays and lesbians farther into the closet, as claimed by the bill’s detractors... It is not about punishing homosexuality. It is about ensuring that the treachery and betrayal that go hand in hand with adultery – be it heterosexual or homosexual – cannot be committed with impunity.”

Some gay people enter into marriage because they do not want people to know that they are gay. Why the need for such deception? After which they go on with their lifestyle simply because they think their act is not ‘adulterous’ since no law punishes such act,” he pointed out.

He also said the public should be wary of knee-jerk reactions that claim that the bill is anti-gay and reactionary when it is simply anti-adultery.

What is bigoted, he added, is to expect to be given equal rights when it comes to entitlements and privileges but not when it comes to punishments and penalties if people trample on the rights of others.

Lagman also dismissed as “nonsense” fears that he would soon file a divorce bill as HB 2352 is about upholding the sanctity and preservation of marriage.

“We should all think twice before getting into a relationship outside of marriage. If we should get married, we must stay faithful – not because the law provides a sanction for adultery and/or concubinage, but because we love our spouses and it is the right thing to do,” he said.

BRTTH opens digital radiology services

By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), HBC/FGS/DOC/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 9 (PNA) -- The modernization of public health facilities in Bicol has taken another milestone with the opening of the digital radiology department of the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) here.

Inaugurated last Thursday with Albay Gov. Joey Salceda as guest of honor, the facility came as the first of its kind in the region that will cater to the needs of Bicolanos for state-of-the-art services from a government-run health institution.

“The conceptualization of the digital radiology department is a product of a two-year collaborative work with the private sector, Media Archives Phils., Inc., and the public sector -- BRTTH, Dept. of Health and the Provincial Government of Albay,” Dr. Rogelio Rivera, the hospital chief, said during the inauguration rites.

The "filmless radiology procedure" that the BRTTH now offers with this facility covers X-ray and CT scan, then ultra sound and mammogram later, Rivera said, explaining that digital radiography is a form of X-ray imaging where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film.

Its advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing, the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images and use of less radiation to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography, Rivera said.

“Instead of X-ray film, digital radiography uses a digital image capture device that gives immediate image preview and availability; elimination of costly film-processing steps; a wider dynamic range, which makes it more forgiving for over- and under-exposure; and ability to apply special image processing techniques that enhance overall display of the image,” he added.

The newly opened facility can load 100 images of X-ray and 10 images of CT scan in a day whose results are sent back to the BRTTH within 30 minutes with the Internet reading support of radiologists from Manila or soon abroad, which is a far cry from the three-day result.

The technology of web-based Internet reading has yet to be fully utilized and the next step is for the BRTTH to become the center or hub of connectivity of the different rural centers and hospitals in the Bicol Region.

According to Salceda, this project instilled and promoted public-private partnership as supported by the administration of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III by way of giving a freehand for every government health regional center, like BRTTH, to find efficient ways and means to effectively implement and link all other hospitals and rural health units through modern-day technology.

“Today we have witnessed an increase of 100 percent in the areas of X-ray and CT scan and with the soon implementation of the ultrasound and mammogram areas of BRTTH, we will be able to cover at least 50 percent of the whole region of Bicol,” the governor said.

This can be done and can be realized by the support of associate doctors, specialists in the fields of medicine and diagnostics in areas even outside the region, he added.

“Our target is: by the year 2014, we should increase by as much as 300 percent the current census that BRTTH has been serving right now and in effect, we will be able to increase the efficiencies of up to 80 percent -- making BRTTH the pioneer health care provider in the field of promoting teleradiology, intelligent linkages and universal healthcare in the country,” Salceda said.

Considered as the biggest and most modern tertiary medical facility south of Manila with 500-bed capacity, BRTTH, which is formerly the Albay Provincial Hospital, is also the cancer center and breast care unit in the region that functions in partnership with the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City and the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc.

As the Bicol Cancer Center, BRTTH is equipped with mammography and chemotherapy equipment, apart from the costly radio therapy equipment that treats patient at a very much lower cost than chemotherapy.

These pieces of equipment were provided by the provincial government of Albay under Salceda.

It has also been earlier designated as the Lung and Kidney Center in Bicol.

Legazpi's 'Ibalong Festival 2013' kicks off today

(PNA), PDS/FGS/SMT/CBD/

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 8 (PNA)--The month-long "Ibalong Festival" of Legazpi City officially started on Thursday with an array of activities aim to promote the cultural and traditional practices put on cue, to be highlighted by the "Ibalong Street Presentation" competition, the "Ibalong Epic-musical," and the "Search for Mutya ng Ibalong."

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal announced in a press conference Wednesday afternoon that a budget of at least P5 million has already been allotted for the prizes and expenses of the major events, particularly the "Ibalong Epic-musical," with P1.5 million; the "Ibalong street" presentation contest, P1 million; and the Search for "Mutya ng Ibalong," P1 million.

"We put aside this year some of the activities that we had last year such as the Dragon Boat competition, the fire dancing, and the circumferential run around Mayon Volcano. Instead, we have focused this year on the massive awareness campaign about the 'Ibalong' as an epic among our young ones," he told PNA.

Rosal, who assumed control of the "Ibalong festival" for this year, said the month-long activities are also intended to showcase the city as a convention center and is set up as an alternate destination of the balikbayans coming from different countries of the world.

"Our taking over of the Ibalong Festival activities this year is only temporary, meantime that we are still making our festival attractive for the sponsorship of private groups. And if there will be interested groups to efficiently run it (Ibalong Festival) in the future, we are more than willing to let them take over," Rosal stressed.

Other Ibalong highlights are the street party; the beer plaza; career guide job fair; Ibalong Fest Night of Zumba; ICT Innovation Forum; Ibalong Airsoft competition; Kuntaw sa Ibalong 2013; First Ibalong National Age Group swimming championship; Tirigsikan/Rawit-Dawit; Ibalong Otaku Summit; individual bowling tournament; Legazpi Festival of photography; Legazpi coral restoration activities; Second Ibalong Tennis Cup inter-club and Age group tournament; Albay global walk, and water sports competition.

The festival's penultimate highlights will be the Mutya ng Ibalong pageant competition and the popular Ibalong Street Presentation.

Chikungunya downs 550 in Bicol

(PNA), PDS/FGS/MSA/CBD/

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 7 (PNA) --Health authorities are closely monitoring a possible chikungunya outbreak in Bicol after 550 people fell ill due to this mosquito-borne disease.

Dr. Aurora Daluro, Department of Health (DOH) Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) officer, said Wednesday that of the 550 cases reported during the period January to August this year, 30 were tested positive to the disease while the rest are still undergoing laboratory examination.

Daluro said the recorded suspected chikungunya cases per province are as follows: Camarines Norte, 225; Camarines Sur, 152; Catanduanes, 124; Albay, 43; Masbate, four, and Sorsogon, two.

In a phone interview, the RESU official said the chikungunya disease hit the towns of Sta. Elena in Camarines Norte; Tinambac and Del Gallego in Camarines Sur; Virac and Bagamanoc in Catanduanes; Daraga and Pioduran in Albay; Aroroy in Masbate and Matnog in Sorsogon.

Naga City also reported being hit by the disease.

Last year, 100 people fell ill of suspected chikungunya fever that struck two villages in Sto. Domingo town and a village in Batan Island in Rapu-rapu -- all in Albay – based on records of the Provincial Health Office.

Daluro said people affected by the mosquito-borne disease were mostly adult.

“Since these are current cases and basing on records, this situation qualifies under the category of an outbreak,” she said.

The DOH official, however, clarified that the RESU is still waiting for the laboratory results to validate the cases.

Daluro said the clinical symptoms of people that fell ill of chikungunya are fever, rashes and joint pains on the extremities.

She said as a counter-measure against the disease, the DOH urged local government units to organize “Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue,” a surveillance team from the provincial down to the barangay levels.

The RESU also urged the public to observe the "Four O’çlock Habit" to eliminate mosquito-breeding places.

Authorities seize illegal lumber in Albay island village

(PNA), PDS/FGS/EPS/CBD

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 6 (PNA)--A composite team from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine National Police, Maritime Police and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources law enforcement unit based in Barangay Misibis, Bacacay, Albay, confiscated 62 pieces of lumber in Barangay Namanday, Cagraray Island.

In a report to DENR Regional Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales, Marlon Francia, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) chief based here, said Tuesday that the lumber has a total volume of 1,151.47 board feet, amounting to P42,694 at P37.00 per board foot.

The confiscated pieces of lumber, which were found at a coastal area of the village, are now in the custody of the barangay officials while the CENRO is still investigating the culprits for the illegal cutting of threes are.

The confiscation of the illegal forest product is part of the intensified operation of the DENR and law enforcers based on Executive Order No. 23 prohibiting the cutting of trees in natural and second-growth forests.

“It is unfortunate that despite the efforts of the government to rehabilitate our denuded forests through the National Greening Program, we still have people in our mid who, instead of contributing to the national goal, become instrument of our forests' destruction,” Gonzales said.

He added that the people should instead help in this massive national reforestation program that aims to cover 1.5 million hectares and plant 1.5 billion seedlings by 2016.

Aleco privatization plan divides Albayanos

By Danny O. Calleja [(PNA), LAP/FGS/DOC/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 5 (PNA) –- The plan being carried out by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) to privatize Albay Electric Cooperative (Aleco) has engaged Albayanos in a clash of opinions -- divided between the rich, in favor, and the poor, against.

The plan has become a burning issue in the wake of the recent power supply cut-off in the entire province as a measure of the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) to compel Aleco, the third biggest electric cooperative but touted as among the 10 worst in country, to settle unpaid electricity bills amounting to over P1 billion.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) cut off the power at noontime Wednesday last week and restored it after 29 hours on interventions made by City Mayor Noel Rosal as head of the province’s League of Cities, Albay 3rd district congressman Fernando Gonzales and Governor Joey Salceda.

“As Albay Governor, I support the ongoing NEA-managed process of privatization of Aleco management to achieve our second goal after the power restoration: ensure continuous supply of power. We are grateful to Department of Energy Secretary Ikot (Jericho Petilla) for his kindness and we support his energy reforms,” Salceda said.

“History is on the side of privatization. I have not seen Meralco, Aboitiz, SM group-Chevron or SMC na pinutulan ng kuryente,” Salceda said, adding that in the privatization scheme, only the management will be given to corporations as Aleco is already private being not a public institution.

While Albay was groping in the dark Wednesday, Petilla said Aleco, to stay in operation, must have new management and four firms -- among them industry giants San Miguel Corp., Manila Electric Co. and Aboitiz Power Corp -- want to take on the challenge and take over the cooperative’s total debt amounting to some P4 billion.

The privatization, however, will depend on Albay residents as it is owned by the people of the province and its fate belongs to Albayanos, Petilla added.

“Kapag nangyari ang privatization ng Aleco, mararanasan nating mga taga-Albay ang nararanasan ng mga nasasakupan ng Meralco (should privatization take place, we, Albay people, will be made to experience what those covered by Meralco are experiencing), high power cost that keeps on increasing,” Gardo Paquia, a trucker from Daraga, Albay, said.

Lawyer Oliver Olaybal of Guinobatan town who once served as Aleco board of directors chair, suggested that instead of bidding out Aleco's franchise to third parties, Aleco should try corporate finance in addressing its money problems.

This means that Aleco should convert itself from non-stock to stock corporation for registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission instead of NEA so that it could raise interest-free capital of as much as P5 billion, through stock issuance to members.

This, Olaybal said, is authorized under Sec. 57 of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) but was thumbed down by Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi who now acts as Aleco interim board chair, saying it is a different ball game, and nothing could change their decision to give away Aleco's business -- including the utilization of the firm's assets.

“The problem is that neither Aleco nor its interim board is authorized by law to sub-contract the operation of Aleco's franchise as under the EPIRA, only the Congress of the Philippines may grant or modify Aleco's franchise,” Olaybal said.

Most certainly, this issue will be ventilated in court by certain sectors -- given the circumstance that no new directors were elected to replace the resigned directors, so that the so-called interim board would have no legal personality to even make the proposal, assuming that Congress had delegated to Aleco or the interim board the authority to transfer the operation of its franchise to third parties, he added.

“Ano kaya kung kahit minsan man lang ay maging makatao ang ating mga congressman na gamitin ang kanilang pork barrel to help Aleco settle its debts. Let’s see if they let go of the money from their hands,” Eleonor Mesa, a dressmaker here, said.

The Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on the other hand, said it favors the NEA plan as it was about time to privatize Aleco. It said no way could the coop survive under a very mismanaged situation.

Solar-lighted coral beads used in Albay

By Cet Dematera with Celso Amo (The Philippine Star)

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The country’s first underwater solar-powered and coral-beaded rosary was installed in Albay Gulf yesterday.

Dubbed as “Coral Genesis,” the 60 coral beads with attached solar panels, bulbs and a concrete crucifix forming a 65-meter rosary was installed 25 feet deep in the coastal waters of Sto. Domingo town in Albay.

Martin Reynoso, chairman of Jaycees Legazpi chapter which sponsored the project, said the giant coral rosary automatically lights up at night.

It has the capacity to emit low-voltage electricity that helps corals grow five times faster than the normal rate of at least one centimeter a year, Reynoso said.

It can also eliminate coral-killing algae, he added.

“These solar panel-aided, coral-growing beads are exclusively assembled by our group based on the researches we conducted to regenerate corals and fish sanctuaries in Albay and other parts of Bicol,” Reynoso told The STAR. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

He expressed hope that the underwater coral rosary would attract tourists to Albay.

Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas said he would ask the town council to pass an ordinance seeking to declare the site of the coral-beaded rosary a marine sanctuary and a pilgrim’s place.

For his part, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the project was a product of Albayanos’ expression of faith, love for the environment and tourism.

“The Coral Genesis is a project where we used faith-based communion, technology and environmental protection to boost tourism, express our faith, improve our natural coastal defenses to storms and tsunamis, and most importantly alleviate coastal poverty,” Salceda said.

He said the provincial government would train at least 1,000 scuba divers to assist tourists expected to visit the site of the coral rosary.

Divers from the Bicol Scuba Divers Foundation Inc., Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard volunteered to install the coral rosary.

Fr. Efren Borromeo, the healing priest from Mary’s Healing Sanctuary in Lidong town, Albay, blessed the coral rosary.

A Bicol triad: Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon

By Amadís Ma. Guerrero (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The place to stay in the whole of Albay is the hilltop Oriental Hotel in Legazpi City, the capital. It’s a classy, deluxe establishment in glass and metal, with white as the dominant color. The cuisine is highly recommended—local and international dishes with a distinct Bicolano flavor.

The hotel (theorientalhotel.com) has a grand view of the surrounding mountains and hills, buildings and residences and, of course, iconic Mt. Mayon. The Oriental is surrounded by coconut-palm, malunggay and banana trees.

An hour’s drive from the urban center is the island town of Cagraray and its Eco-Park facing scenic Misibis Bay. Features include a campsite, high ropes, the paintball game, zip line, an amphitheater (for public entertainment, sports and lectures) with a great view of the gulf plus waterfalls (but only when it rains!).

Except for the much-ballyhooed, upscale Misibis Bay Casino Resort, this part of Albay has not been publicized too much and the seascape is marvelous, with clear waters, greenery all around, beige-white sand, beach coves, and stone cliffs with vegetation.

There are at least two islands that the ecotourist can visit: Namanday and Pinamuntugan. There are no amenities, but you can hire a boat, picnic, swim and snorkel. And even trek. But the inclination of the terrain is just average, observed coordinator Bernard Supetran.

We went there via the “Tabaco Love Boat.”


Another buried church

In the remote barangay of Budiao in Daraga, Albay, are the ruins of a church buried even before the 1814 eruption of Mt. Mayon which destroyed the church of Cagsawa, leaving only its famous bell tower.

What we saw now are the four walls of stones, rectangular in shape, half-buried in the ground, the windows projecting a catacombs-like atmosphere. The century and date of the eruption has not been ascertained. Calling Ambeth Ocampo and other history buffs.

Local folks expressed the hope that the Salceda administration, through the Provincial Tourism & Cultural Affairs Office (albaytourism@gmail.com), could make the Budiao ruins a tourist destination like Cagsawa.


Magnificent seascape

Masbate (masbateprovincialtrourism@yahoo.com) has three big islands—Masbate, Burias and Ticao—and 14 smaller islands. Amidst choppy waters (prepare to get wet) you will come upon a magnificent seascape which rivals those in Northern Palawan, Caramoan, and the coastal waters of Boracay Island.

We stopped by Halea Nature Park, a beach resort, and then after a wet and wild ride finally reached Ticao Beach Resort early in the evening, its lights a welcoming beacon to the drenched travelers.

It was something of a surprise to find a resort like this in this neck of the woods. There are nine comfortable beachfront cottages, four standard rooms and one attic room; these are built in a classy, native style, because the resort caters to foreigners.

There are horses grazing nearby (there’s a farm somewhere), and you and your children can go horseback riding.

Sales and marketing director is Jessica Wong, while the manager is Rico Calleja, who looks like a Mexican with his sombrero and moustache. “This is community-based tourism,” Jessica said, citing the resort’s policy of integrating with the nearby fishing community and supporting its school.

“We want tourists to appreciate what the Philippines can offer,” she added. “We give them what they don’t have—warm weather, a beach, tropical fruits.”

The two resort officers complained, however, about the rampant dynamite fishing in the area, and expressed the hope that local authorities would do more to curb this destructive practice. Baywatch, are you listening?


Legendary lake

There’s more to green-laden Sorsogon than butanding (whale shark) watching (it’s off-season anyway). The province is bracketed by the Albay Gulf and Sorsogon Bay, and there are mountains for trekking, dive spots, caves for spelunking, and beach resorts galore for swimming, snorkeling and skimboarding.

Above all, there’s Lake Bulusan near the volcano of the same name, with hot and cold nature spring resorts (like Balay Buhay) along the way.

The Sorsogon City Tourism Office (info@gotosorsogoncity.com) recently treated select media members to an exposure trip to the legendary lake. Seeing it again after 13 years, kayaking and boating with colleagues, made me recall the melancholy legend associated with the lake-volcano within a forest.

It is the story of brave Bulusan and beautiful Agingay who were destroyed by the intrigues of the evil Casiguran. And the tears of Agingay and the blood of Bulusan mingled to form the volcano and the lake. And so today, when it rains here, some would like to believe that it is Agingay welcoming visitors to this lake named after her warrior husband.

Salceda hails Coral Genesis Rosary project of JCI

By Floreño G. Solmirano and Rey Nasol [(PNA), LAP/FGS/RMN/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 2 (PNA) – Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda Friday hailed the Coral Genesis Rosary Project of the Jaycees International (JCI)-Legazpi and JCI-Daraga as a forward-looking endeavor to protect the province’s marine environment and alleviate coastal poverty.

The project will be launched by the two local chapters of the JCI, a youth leadership development organization, at 7:30 a.m. Saturday in Sto. Domingo town, which is famous for its black sand-carpeted shorelines.

“You are looking at the future -- a future forged by a Public Private Prayer Partnership, a first of its kind. Through the efforts of all our partners, of all of you, this will be the world’s first underwater rosary and pilgrimage site,” said Salceda, a devotee of the Virgin Mary.

He added that it is fitting that Sto. Domingo was picked as the ideal choice for deployment because it is the Parish of the Most Holy Rosary.

“The Coral Genesis Project is a pioneer project where we use faith-based communion, technology and environmental protection to boost tourism, express our Faith, improve our natural coastal defenses to storms and tsunamis and most importantly, alleviate coastal poverty,” the former seminarian-turned-economist said.

He said Albay has always been in the forefront of climate change and disaster risk reduction, and has always been a Citadel of Faith.

“Today, Albay will pioneer combining all these three attributes into an environmental sustainable project that sustains food security since 40 percent of our protein come from pelagic fish and whose maximum catch potential has fallen 60 percent due to climate change, particularly coral bleaching, and of course, overfishing -- which means we have to regenerate the base for resources needed by future Albayanos,” Salceda explained.

The project, he said, also sustains Albay’s tourism expansion, eco rehabilitation and jobs creation.

Salceda added that the Coral Genesis Project is a fitting endeavor to complement the Coastal Resource Agri-Bio System Development Program (CRABS) that aims to protect the livelihood of the province’s fishermen and, at the same time, guard and replenish the local vegetation along the islands that serve as the province’s primary eco-defense against climate change.

He said the province is in the process of training hundreds of certified scuba divers in Albay “who will soon be able to bring tourists to this Coral Rosary site and most importantly expand this type of community- based coral reef protection and coastal poverty alleviation project across our beloved province.

“Fellow Albayanos, today we see the fruits of the cooperation of all sectors in our society: the local government units -- the barangays, the municipality, the province -- the private organizations, the church, the residents and the fisher folk -- all working together for a common goal to help heal Mother Earth and improve the entire community in the process,” Salceda further said.

He, however, reminded Albayanos that the work does not end today.

“We have to continue to protect and expand what we have started. The Coral Beads we have planted today is a seed project that we have to grow, guard and monitor so it can be a model for coastal poverty alleviation not only in the Province of Albay but also in the entire Philippines and beyond,” the governor said.

For this purpose, he said, he is tapping Bicol University-Tabaco Campus, with Dr. Plutumeo Nieves, to conduct continuing studies on this Coral Genesis Project to see how it positively benefits the local community, especially the fisher folk.

In coming up with the project, the JCI sounded the need to rehabilitate and protect the coral reefs of Albay Gulf and offered a tested scientific solution through the coral genesis project.

The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi has sounded the need to rehabilitate and protect the coral reefs of Albay Gulf and they offered a tested scientific solution through the coral genesis project in the form of a big Rosary.

“Innovation is the solution, utilizing technology that will help corals grow up five times faster and become resistant to coral bleaching and algae through the coral reefs’ electrification concept,” said engineer Martin Reynoso, executive vice president of the JCI-Legazpi.

Reynoso has introduced a concept, another version of the coral genesis, already employed in other parts of the globe that are utilizing minimal amount of electricity through solar panels.

He said coral genesis uses the technology with a portable micro underwater solar power source, wherein any shape, design, logo or sculpture can be charged for fast coral reef recovery or even in the creation of themed sculptures.

The JCI local official explained that “underwater micro solar electric power” that tickles the corals to grow would require less care as the power source is anchored on the sea floor, adding that electric-propagated coral reefs are less prone to algae attacks compared to non-electric propagated ones.

“The concept of coral genesis allows corals to be grown either on-site or grown off-site that can be delivered to the reefs site for propagation or restoration,” he said.

Electricity back in Albay

(Solar News)

Power suppliers have started restoring electricity in Albay after the province blacked out Tuesday due to nearly P4 billion in debts that the Albay Electric Cooperative owed various creditors.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jericho Petilla had given power suppliers up to Thursday to restore power in the entire province.

Of the P58-million billing for June, Petilla says, only P19 million remained unpaid.

The League of City Mayors has assured DOE that the debt would be paid within three to five days.

Petilla pointed out that there is still an unsettled balance for the month of July, which was expected to be paid Thursday to avoid another power interruption in the province: "I was able to convince all creditors that the message has come across, that I think its about time to reconnect."

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