Albay News December 2016

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Albay - Archived News
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Seal 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.

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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.

Japanese firm introduces waste treatment machinery to Bicol

By RAADEE S. SAUSA (RSS, TMT)

A Japanese company will introduce its waste treatment machinery to the local government of Legazpi City and Bicol University to compost organic materials such as food waste, sewage sludge and manure and turn them into organic fertilizers, which can then be used to improve agriculture productivity.

The technology sharing is part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) official development assistance using the expertise of Japan’s private sector to address global development issues.

“This assistance to Legazpi City as a pilot site is aligned with the current administration’s socio-economic agenda to promote the development of the rural value chain and raise agriculture productivity,” JICA Senior Representative Yuko Tanaka said on Thursday.

“We look forward to seeing Legazpi City reap the gains of waste recycling in raising their income and addressing waste management issues,” he added.

According to JICA, the waste treatment machinery will be supplied by Okada Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Data from the project’s feasibility study showed that only 3 percent of Bicol’s waste materials are composted.

The introduction of organic fertilizers is therefore seen as a potential solution to address land productivity issues and the rising costs of chemical fertilizers, JICA said

It noted that although rice commodities are part of Bicol’s major industries, the region’s six provinces have a high poverty rate at 56.2 percent. Also, the Philippines’ rice sector produces 3.8 tons per hectare, lower than Vietnam’s or Indonesia’s 4.9 tons per hectare production. Balat-sanggol sa lambot at kinis na walang mga linya sa 5 araw kung maglagay ng…Balat-sanggol sa lambot at kinis na walang mga linya sa 5 araw kung maglagay ng…How to speed up sliming? 7 kilos away in 3 days if you take

DOLE-Bicol’s one stop service center for OFWs serves first client working in Saudi Arabia

(PNA), LAP/GINA V. RODRIGUEZ/EDS

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 29, (PNA) -- Ronaldo Olivo, 46, was shopping for gifts at the Pacific Mall Legazpi when he noticed a lot of people at a 96-square-meter fully furnished office space at the third floor of the mall in this city.

He inquired from the people inside the room and the person who answered his query turned out to be Ma. Karina Perida Trayvilla, director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol.

Trayvilla told him the “One-stop Service Center for OFWs” (OSSCO) has been launched at the mall.

She said on December 16, at 11 a.m., Olivo was able to access the services of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“Olivo was the very first OFW to be served by OSSCO when it was launched that day,” Trayvilla noted in a news release Thursday.

She said Olivo, who has been working at Saudi Arabia for the last 10 years, was elated at the existence of such a service for OFWs like him.

Trayvilla quoted Olivo who said the OSSCO is "napakakumportable” (very comfortable) for OFWs like him.

She said OSSCO is the “living proof of government convergence and cohesiveness.”

Trayvilla said this is true not only in terms of the services that could be provided to OFWs by DOLE’s attached agencies but also with all government agencies and political subdivisions in Bicol.

She said OFWs can expect to experience a more accessible and relatively “faster” service in securing needed documents from “at least 18 government agencies” that processes the OFWs’ requirements.

Trayvilla said the OSSCO is serving as an OFW hub to house offices such as the Philippine Overseas Employment AgencY, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philhealth, PAG-IBIG, National Bureau of Investigation, Social Security System, Philippine Statistics Authority, Professional Regulations Commission, Department of Foreign Affairs, Bureau of Immigration, Maritime Industry Authority, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Higher Education and the DOLE family of attached agencies.

Trayvilla said DOLE Bicol OSSCO materialized with help from the Legazpi city government, Albay provincial government, AKO Bicol Partylist, second district Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, Pacific Mall Legazpi and the “equal contribution of the OSSCO-RCC member agencies.”

She said the legwork of the DOLE Bicol OSSCO was facilitated by DOLE Provinccial Office Albay Officer-in-charge Ma. Ella E. Verano.

OWWA Bicol’s database showed OSSCO can readily serve the 41,601 documented OFWs from all over the region. Per province the OFWs in Albay are 20,738; Catanduanes-4,076; Sorsogon-10,470; Masbate -6,317; Camarines Sur-34,264; and Camarines Norte-9,531.

Trayvilla said “more accessible and better service,” is the primary motto of OSSCO.

She said OSSCO’s “free” location in one of the busiest shopping mall in Legazpi City is now permanent and more accessible. Mall owners, she added, did not ask for rental fees for use of OSSCO’s office space.

Trayvilla, however, clarified that although OSCO will house government offices that offered frontline services, it will only focus on providing service to OFWs.

“This means that non-OFW clients would still need to go the their main offices and not the OSCO to avail if the needed service.

She clarified that OSCO’s services will only cater to OFWs who need a “one-stop” support from government agencies that process the their requirements.

Trayvilla said they have moved the opening date of OSSCO during December so they could serve vacationing OFWs in Bicol.

"Thank you very much to everyone who helped. Indeed this is a statement that here in Bicol we are solid when it comes to providing our services" she said.

Salceda issues flash appeal for Nina-devastated Albay towns

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), LAP/JCN/EDS]

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 28 (PNA) —- Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has issued a flash appeal for relief assistance and donations for his native town of Polangui, and four other municipalities of his province that were heavily devastated by Typhoon Nina on Christmas Day.

The Albay destruction wrought by Nina is reputedly the worst recorded in the past 10 years, and was even worse than the devastation inflicted in 2006 by supertyphoon Reming (Durian).

Power has not yet been restored as of Dec. 8 in the province, and authorities said it may take much longer to do so.

Salceda said Polangui and neighboring Libon and Oas towns, both of Albay’s third district, were similarly devastated along with Tiwi and Malinao, in the first district. They all urgently need assistance.

Polangui, Oas and Libon are rich agricultural towns, which account for 72% of Albay’s annual rice harvest. Polangui and Oas, both within the eyewall of Typhoon Nina, have populations of 88,221 and 75,171, respectively, bigger than another direct hit town of Virac, Catanduanes with a population of 73,650.

Three deaths were reported in Polangui, the only casualties recorded in Nina’s aftermath, breaking Albay’s zero casualty record during disasters when Salceda was governor for nine years. He now resides in and represents the second district, which suffered lesser damage.

“My town of birth, Polangui, was badly devastated by Typhoon Nina, including its neighboring towns of Libon and Oas. Two other towns of Albay were badly damaged - Tiwi and Malinao. In Polangui and Libon, disaster authorities reported that ‘TY Nina was worse than Reming’ as they experienced 255 kph winds, 312 mm, 24-hour rainfall, and the breakdown of a major dike in barangays Bangag and Calzada in Oas,” Salceda posted on Facebook.

He added: “70% of houses made of light materials were destroyed, rows upon rows blended with the ricefields just as flattened out and many houses unroofed. The three towns of Oas, Libon and Polangui account for 72% of Albay's rice output.”

Records of the devastation in Polangui and Libon, Albay are as follows: Polangui -- houses partially damaged -- 5,425; totally damaged --10,431; infrastructure (partial report) -- P213,576,320; agriculture -- P98,762,000. Libon -- houses damaged, 2,540; totally damaged -- 4,320; infra (partial report) -- P300,096,000; agriculture -- P128,750,000.

“I ardently seek your assistance for relief, preferably commodities – rice, canned goods and other food items, water, clothing, household necessities like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, housing materials or tarps, medicines,” Salceda said in his Facebook post.

When he was governor, the Albay lawmaker heavily contributed to the relief operations and rehabilitation of calamity victims in other regions through the highly popular Team Albay disaster response group which he personally headed.

Salceda has assigned two well-organized and recognized civil society entities to receive cash donations -- Dios Mabalos Po Foundation, Inc., (a Galing Pook awardee) BPI Account No. 3303-1931-96, (Please contact Meds Villanueva— 09175213883); and Team Albay Youth Organizations, Inc. (a multi-awarded and a Hall-of-Fame Gawad Kalasag awardee), MetroBank Account No.595004604, (Please contact Alfred Nimo — 0927-665-4715).

Albay placed under state of calamity

By Connie B. Destura [(PNA), RMA/GVR/CBD]

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA)--The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay held a special session to pass Resolution No. 255-2016 declaring the entire province of Albay under a state of calamity due to typhoon Nina.

Vice Governor Harold Imperial on Monday said a Php 23- million calamity fund was available so the province could recover from the damage wrought by typhoon Nina.

He said the typhoon caused heavy damage in the entire province, particularly in the first and second districts.

The first district is composed of Tiwi, Malinao, Malilipot, Bacacay and Tabaco City while the third district consists of the towns of Guinobatan, Oas, Polangui, Libon and Ligao City.

In the third district, especially in Polangui town, 70 percent of the houses have been totally destroyed, said Imperial.

The provincial government of Albay has been evacuating a quarter of a million families since Friday evening. These were the villagers threatened by strong winds, flood, mud and lahar flows, storm surges and landslides.

On Sunday evening, the state weather bureau declared Albay under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3.

Meanwhile, personnel of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines have been working 24/7 to restore power transmission service after an outage hit portions of Albay province.

Albay governor orders evacuees to decamp from shelters

By Connie B. Destura [(PNA), RMA/GVR/CBD]

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 26 (PNA)--With the improved weather condition and subsequent lowering of tropical cyclone warning signals in the Bicol provinces for typhoon Nina, Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara, who is also chairman of the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), has directed the decampment of all evacuation shelters as there are no longer threats from the weather disturbance.

In PDRRMC’s advisory No. 6 issued Monday morning, Bichara ordered the decampment of all evacuation shelters in the province except for those with damaged houses that were declared unfit for occupancy and those still affected by flood.

The advisory has also declared the phasing out of the “Emergency Response and Phasing In” plan and the phasing in of the “Recovery and Rehabilation” plan of the entire disaster response team in the province.

In Libon town, at least 6,000 evacuees will still remain in evacuation centers for three more days due to flooding. Residents of the town remain isolated with floodwaters submerging main roads going to neighboring towns.

Bichara has also ordered the immediate provision of relief goods and other essential needs to affected residents of Libon.

Since Friday, he has been ordering the evacuation of around 181,011 persons who are most likely to experience hazard threats such as floods, landslides, lahar flows and storm surges due to typhoon Nina.

Bichara also ordered all local government units (LGU) to form a team that will assess the damage due to the typhoon. The team shall be composed of LGU representatives engaged in agriculture, social services, engineering and health concerns.

POPCOM proposes new action committee vs teen pregnancy

By Julius B. Embile (JBE/PIA-5)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – To address the sudden rise in teenage pregnancy in the Philippines, the Commission on Population (POPCOM) of the Bicol region gathered the focal persons of concerned public and private institutions in the region in order to organize an Information and Service Delivery Network (ISDN) for adolescent health and development.

During the said meeting which was held in Legazpi City, POPCOM presented the recent statistics concerning the sexual behavior of today’s youth and how it transcends to a considerable rise in teenage fertility.

As presented by POPCOM, the data gathered by the Department of Health (DOH, as of May 2015, shows that one in three Filipino youth has engaged in premarital sex. In the Bicol region, research shows that two or 8.8% of the youth has engaged in premarital sex.

As of last year’s data, the Bicol region is ranked second from least in terms of sexually active youths, with the National Capital Region (NCR) ranking first with 40.9% and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) ranked last with 7.7%.

Over the years, a prevalent increase on sexual risk behaviors, specifically premarital sex, has been observed. Comparing researched information, 17.8% of the Philippines’ youth engage in premarital sex as of 1994, which increased to 23.2% by 2002, and 32% by 2013.

In the Bicol region, the data presents 17.1 percent of young Bicolanos are sexually active. The numbers rose to 24.1% in 2002, and further on to 25.4% by 2013. Furthermore, additional researches discovered that four in five (84.6%) of Bicolano youths engage sexual encounters that are unprotected from pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI).

As a result, the Philippine’s adolescent fertility rate took an exceptional surge over the years. Mothers within the 15 to 19 age bracket increased from 4.4% in 2002 to 11% in 2013. The number of females pregnant with their first child also rose from 1.9% in 2002 to 2.6% in 2013. The increase of child-bearing females, aged 15 to 19 years old, climbed to 6.3% in 2002 and 13.6% in 2013.

In Albay alone, a total of 2,534 cases of teenage pregnancy were recorded from 2002 to 2015. Most of these cases were from the province’s cities and urbanized areas, like Legazpi City with 409 cases and Tabaco City with 228.

With the rate teenage pregnancy continually growing in such alarming pace, the said meeting held today in Legazpi City was also a POPCOM’s call for action in countering the given concern. To solve the concern on adolescent fertility, POPCOM gathered ideas and inputs from the focal persons attending the meeting, in order to draft the ISDN.

“It is health that we are concerned about, specifically that our young population and the adolescents. Our young citizens who are engaging in risky sexual behaviors put themselves at risk, health-wise. It is our duty, as heath care providers and concerned professionals, to make sure these concerns are addressed,” said Magdalena Abellera, regional director of POPCOM-Bicol.

For the Bicol region, the ISDN’s establishment is to be piloted in Legazpi City. Its objective is to provide the people, specifically the younger citizens, easier access to reproductive health education and resources.

After the ISDN’s matrix has been finalized, its institutionalization will be presented to Legazpi City mayor Noel Rosal for endorsement to the Committee on Health of the ‘Sangguniang Panlungsod’. As soon as a the ISDN has been institutionalized and the necessary City Ordinance passed, a new committee and technical working groups dedicated to adolescent health.

Climate change solon features Albay as model for climate change adaptation

By Julius B. Embile (JBE/PIA-5)

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 23 (PIA) – Stressing the need of incorporating climate change adaptive strategies in safeguarding commercial and economic growth , Albay second district representative Joey Sarte Salceda shared climate change initiatives implemented in Albay province to businessmen and leaders in attendance of the 4th Business Summit on Climate Change, held in Metro Manila.

The said summit, themed: “Building Business Strategies for Low Carbon Economy”, sought act as a platform for knowledge and values sharing among the public and private sector for the implementation of climate change initiatives.

The primary goal of the event is to tackle a link between competitiveness and environmental sustainability at the company level. It also served as a way of presenting investment opportunities that low carbon development could do to business.

“It is important that we (the government) must cooperate with the private sector in forging a new path towards a sustainable future for all Filipinos,” explained Commission on Climate Change secretary Emmanuel de Guzman on the said event.

Presenting Albay province as a model of commercial improvement, despite the natural disasters caused by climate change at the Bicol region, Salceda talked about the impact of efficient disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in the economy.

As a result of climate change, the Philippine’s coastal areas along the ocean, like Albay province, has received the brunt force of natural disasters over the years. For Albay, the true awakening in striving for disaster preparedness was super-typhoon Reming, back in 2006, which claimed hundreds of Albayano lives in its wake.

In order to counter these threats, the Albay’s provincial government implemented climate change adaptation as part of its governing policy. Most notably of these efforts the institutionalization of disaster and climate change adaptive groups like the Center for Initiative and Research for Climate Adaptation (CIRCA), the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.

By 2010, then under the leadership of Salceda as the governor, Albay province has become a fore-runner in climate change adaptation which was well-recognized in the country and beyond. In the years to come, the province’s leaders and proponents garnered numerous awards and was called to be resource persons in the matter of climate change.

Salceda was also given the United Nations’ Senior Champion Award for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in 2010. Recently this month, the solon was also featured in BizNews Asia magazine and was coined as ‘philippine’s best thinker and economic manager’.

But, according to Salceda in this speech addressed to those in the business sector, climate change adaptation is mostly easy for those who know how to care for their fellow human being.

“The central value is really just upholding, employing, and achieving human dignity. If you don’ address human dignity, it’s the end of the story,” said the solon. “Human dignity must be at the core of climate change efforts,” he added.

Albay town pilots adolescent-youth information center

By Mike Dela Rama [(PNA), LAP/GVR/MDR/CBD]

CAMALIG, Albay, Dec. 22 (PNA) –- The local government unit of Camalig has announced the groundwork for the establishment of an adolescent and youth information center in the municipality, the first in Albay province that will introduce a program on teen pregnancy prevention.

Jeanie Villanueva, Albay provincial population supervisor for Camalig town, in an interview Thursday, said the information center will provide resource materials on gender-based violence, delinquency prevention, mental health, substance abuse and prevention of transmission of the human-immuno deficiency virus or HIV.

She said the center will be staffed by trained adolescent volunteers who will facilitate outreach and advocacy activities and at the same time provide referrals for clients seeking information on teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Villanueva said the volunteers will be trained to disseminate information and conduct educational activities in schools on adolescent and youth issues.

“The center should be the first point of contact of a young person seeking information on any subject of interest or concern,” she said.

Villanueva said the atmosphere should be “friendly, warm and informal” when dealing with issues affecting the youth.

She said the aim of the adolescent and youth center is to address concerns like depression which is the top cause of illness among adolescents.

“Violence, poverty, humiliation and the feeling of being devalued can increase the risk of developing mental health problems,” added Villanueva.

She said building life skills in children and adolescents and providing them with psychosocial support in schools and other community settings can help promote good mental health.

Villanueva said they have also introduced the proposed “2017-2019 Adolescent and Youth Program” to the municipal council of Camalig which they can adopt.

She said the proposed program will help strengthen ties between adolescents, the local government and community so that when problems arise, “they could be detected and managed by competent and caring health workers,” said Villanueva.

She said that it is very important to enact policies on the local level on specific health issues affecting the youth.

Legazpi City honors Taysan village for 'stray-dog-free' practice

By Emmanuel P. Solis [(PNA), LAP/GVR/EPS/CBD/EDS]

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) —- The city government of Legazpi handed over certificates of commendations and cash prizes to the six barangays (villages) and ten barangay health workers (BHW) who have shown outstanding performances in implementing the city’s rabies eradication and control program for 2016.

Nancy Andes, CVO chief, said the awarding ceremonies, which were held Tuesday at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation (ICR), named Barangay Taysan in the southern portion of the city as most outstanding in the “big barangay” category.

Andes, along with Mayor Noel E. Rosal, also handed certificates to Barangay Rawis and Maslog for being second and third place, respectively. All three winners were under the “big barangays” category.

Renato Valladolid, chairman of first place winner Barangay Taysan, commended the city administration and CVO for recognizing the efforts of the barangays in implementing the city’s anti-rabies program.

He said his barangay won in the search because he was able to properly implement the anti-rabies ordinance of the city.

The Barangay Council of Taysan also created a “Sagip Aso Program” (dog rescue program) to encourage animal owners to become responsible pet owners.

“I always inform my constituents that stray dogs are not allowed in our barangay,” said Villadolid.

He said these were the reasons Barangay Taysan has become a “stray dog-free” territory.

Under the “small barangay” category, the winners were Barangays Mariawa, Ilawod West and 19 Cabangan.

The most outstanding BHWs included Zenaida Toledo of Barangay Centro Baybay, Perla Mirafuentes of Barangay EM’s Barrio, Gloria Luzon of Barangay Penaranda, Lilia Botalon of Barangay Pigcale, Jacqueline Banzuela of Barangay Cabangan West, and Rowena Marfil, Ma. Fatima Bornilla, Josephine Benitez and Fe Apin—all of Barangay Oro Site.

Andes said there were three criteria for selecting the winners.

She said the barangays and BHWs must have achieved a “100 percent” rating in both its dog population survey and anti-rabies vaccination in their respective villages.

“They must have also conducted successful anti-rabies vaccination awareness programs in their barangays,” she added.

Andes said this year, CVO was able to vaccinate a total of 19,000 dogs in Legazpi City’s 70 villages.

She said that last year, CVO posted 1,650 animal bites, usually of dogs and cats, while in the first five months of 2016, CVO recorded a total of 375 animal bites.

“Anti-rabies vaccination is an annual activity of the CVO which seeks to eliminate the negative effects of animal bites and maintain the city’s status as a zero rabies territory,” said Andes.

She said rabies is a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord that may eventually lead to a person’s death. The symptoms include loss of appetite and weakness.

Andes urged all the barangay chairmen and BHWs to always cooperate in the city’s anti-rabies vaccination program to reduce and eliminate rabies cases in communities.

She urged all barangay officials to always inform the pet owners to be responsible in caring for their pets to reduce the cases of animal bites in the community.

“At the age of three months, the dogs and cats should be vaccinated and the owners of the animals should always consult a veterinarian regarding the status of the health of their animals,” Andes pointed out.

Rosal urged all the barangay chairmen and BHWs to always cooperate in the city’s anti-rabies vaccination program to wipe out rabies cases in the community.


Legazpi CHO gets recognition for newborn screening program

By Emmanuel P. Solis [(PNA), LAP/GVR/EPS/CBD/EDS]

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 20 (PNA) -- Legazpi City has received recognition from the Department of Health in Bicol (DOH-5) for being the second best local government unit (LGU) in the region in terms of implementing the new born screening (NBS) program.

Fulbert Alec Gillego, head of the City Health Office (CHO), in an interview Tuesday said Legazpi City was named “as the second best implementer” among the LGUs for the NBS program.

He said it is “very important” to screen the babies to find out if it is affected by a certain genetic, metabolic or infectious condition which if left untreated may lead to severe growth and mental retardation, anemia, cataract or even death.

NBS, where a baby’s foot is pricked for a blood sample one to two days after birth, was integrated into the public health delivery system with the enactment of Republic Act 9288 or Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

Currently, there are six disorders screened under the system: congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), phenylketonuria (PKU), glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, galactosemia (GAL) and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD).

Gillego said DOH-5 gave the citation to Legazpi CHO this month through its “7th Salud Bikolnon Awards,” which is its way of honoring its partners who have performed well in implementing DOH’s various health programs for the community. Salud is a Bikol term for health.

DOH-5 awarded the rural health unit (RHU) of the municipality of Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon as “first best implementer” while the RHU of the municipality of Bulan, also in Sorsogon, was named “third best implementer” of the NBS program.

Gillego, along with personnel of the CHO nursing division, received the plaque of recognition from DOH Assistant Secretary Nestor Santiago Jr. and DOH Regional Director Napoleon Arevalo during the awarding rites held in this city.

Santiago said “DOH will also “implement the expanded NBS next year as part of improving the health care services to our babies.”

Expanded screening, which was first implemented in Metro Manila in 2014, includes 22 more disorders such as hemoglobinopathies and additional metabolic disorders, namely, organic acid, fatty acid oxidation, and amino acid disorders. The latter are included in the standard care across the globe.

Santiago pointed out that NBS is an “integral part of routine newborn care in most developed countries.”

He said in the 2017 national budget, Php43 billion from the people’s taxes will go to pay premiums for Philhealth, the government’s national health insurance program that subsidizes the P600 cost of the newborn screening tests.

Santiago said this means that if a poor patient uses the health facility of the hospital then the NBS will be paid by Philhealth.

The Salud Bikolnon Award is focused on the theme: “Gabos Para Sa Salud, Salud Para Sa Gabos,” that refers to DOH’s flagship health agenda under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte--“All for Health Towards Health for All.”

Bicol’s oldest Yule tradition staged before Misa de Gallo

By RHAYDZ B. BARCIA, TMT and FRANK PEÑONES JR.

PRETTY girls holding small bamboo arches festooned with paper flowers or waving their loose skirts as if they were winnowing baskets and boys in shawls beating their tambourines or colorful castanets.

These are the first steps in Pastores-A-Belen, a song and dance ritual that marks the start of a festive re-enactment of the oldest Yuletide celebration in Bicol, especially in Legazpi City. It is staged before the celebration of the Mass on first day of the Misa de Gallo.

The Mexican-influenced dance Pastores a Belen, literally “shepherds on their way to the manger,” recalls the journey of nocturnal shepherds on their way to Bethlehem, the Biblical birthplace of the Child Jesus.

The Spaniards introduced this dance in Mexico and it eventually found its way to the Philippines. It is still being performed to this day in various parts of the country, from Cagayan Valley in the north to Zamboanga in the south.

The song Pastores-A-Belen, is a Christmas carol attributed to our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, who composed it more than a century ago. With the dance and this song, Bicolanos mark the start of the yuletide season through what they call the Kagharong.

The Kagharong, is a re-enactment of Saint Joseph and the Virgin Mary’s departure from Egypt as they travelled to Bethlehem – on foot by the light of a star, the same one that the Magi followed. Not finding a home, Mary and Joseph sought refuge on that cold night in a cave. There, in a manger – actually the feeding trough of farm animals – the Christ Child was born. Hence, the shepherds and farm animals have always figured in traditional Nativity scenes.

Pastores Bicol is an annual celebration staged with Legazpi City government partnered with the Department of Tourism in 2001 and the Albay provincial government in 2004.

Legaspi Mayor Noel Rosal said: “The Pastores is ours and no other areas or region in the country is doing it in the same manner we are performing it here in Bicol. This is part of our festive cultural heritage as we celebrate Christmas which we can share with our local and foreign tourists.”

Maria Nini Ong-Ravanilla, DOT regional director in Bicol said that Pastores Bicol has become a symbol of hope, humility and love. She added that this is the Bicolanos’ way of preserving the region’s colorful heritage and culture especially during the yuletide season.

Pastores in the Bicolano culture is called rokyaw, a manifestation of the highest respect and love for Emmanuel.

“Aside from being a Yuletide entertainment presentation, it is a symbol of hope because after disasters or calamities, Bicolanos from all walks of life stand up again and together we rebuild the remaining and crumbled pieces with love and meekness. A true spirit of brotherhood, kindness; unity and love as Christ taught us,” Ravanilla said.

Pastores in other parts of Bicol

George Leonard in his book, The Asian Pacific American Heritage, considers the Pastores as having vestiges of the Medieval ring-dance or carol as it was then known. In Bicol, he claims, the Franciscan friars introduced the dance in 17th century. This was the religious order which converted the region to Christianity.

“In Iriga, this custom is alive. Children dressed as shepherds form a circle and joining hands, they sing and walk in rhythmic dance-steps in the manner of the original carols,” Leonard noted.

Tapping children for religious performances like the pastores was a conversion strategy of the friars, says children’s literature advocate and writer, Dr. Christine Bellen. “Through the children, the parents get to be involved themselves and eventually join the new faith,” she said.

Former Cultural Center of the Philippines official Nicanor Tiongson, however, traces the origin of the dance to the pastorela chica of the Michoacan in Mexico. “In Michoacan, the pastores dance quadrilles, wearing short, sometimes long, dresses (for females) or knee-length pants and long sleeved shirts (for males). Both sexes wear bands and sashes, and wide-brimmed hats festooned with flowers, ribbons and plumes,” he writes in Mexican-Philippine Relations in Traditional Folk Theater which appeared in Philippine Studies V.

In the Bicol version of the pastores, the girls wear full skirts, wide-brimmed hats decorated with ribbons of flowers reminiscent of the dresses of the Mexican painter, Frida Kahlo, in her autoretratos or self-portraits; while the boys sport long-sleeved shirts, covered with shawls and decorated hats.

Once the Christmas season sets in, the pastores who had been trained for months by a maestra, would go around the towns singing a Catalonian Villancico. In return, they are given money or food by the house owners they sing carol. To this day, the pastores has in fact become a fund raising activity for religious groups.

In Talisay, Camarines Norte a version documented by the late National Artist for Dance, Ramon Obusan shows the pastores accompany their singing with variations of the quadrille which now include turno or turning movements, paso doble and saludo (salute), as they wave their hands holding decorated arches or handkerchiefs.

In Iriga City, Obusan’s student, Romeo Abano is helping keep the pastores alive through the teachers of the Department of Education. Abano’s great, great grandmother herself was a pastores teacher. Some of Abano’s students have even competed in the annual Pastores-a-Belen competition sponsored by the DOT in Bicol.

Duterte TRAIN Xpress to boost GDP growth to 9%, achieve single-digit poverty

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), RMA/JCN/SSC]

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 18 (PNA) -- Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has filed House Bill 4688, titled Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN, a centerpiece program that will “ultimately reduce poverty to single digit, grow the economy by 9%, and transform the Philippines into an Asian economic powerhouse by 2028, with USD 1.2 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It will then qualify the country for membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“This is the TRAIN of the Duterte Express, which I committed to file during the Philippine Development Forum in Davao last November with the participation of non-government agencies, civil society organizations, official development assistance ODA partners, and LGUs,” the Albay lawmaker explained.

House Bill 4688 aims “to create a tax system that is simpler, fairer and more efficient, characterized by low rates and a broad base that promotes investment, job creation and poverty reduction.”

The bill, Salceda said, ran parallel with President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Tunay na Pagbabago” or real positive change commitment to the Filipino people, that included more inclusive growth and comfortable life for all, improved public services, more and better jobs and more money in the people’s pockets; and safe, healthy, and peaceful communities.

The measure is a concrete step in making tax rates on income in the Philippines competitive in the region and fit the structural objective of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). It seeks the “full and immediate adjustment of Personal Income Tax (PIT) on the first year,” since according to Salceda, “the PIT income bracket is one of the most horrific and protracted social injustices” confronting Filipinos.

Salceda describes the Philippine PIT as the most regressive in the entire Asia. “And we do this to the most faithful partner of the government and dependable pillar of taxes -- the employees whose share of nation building is automatically withheld, with compliance at almost 99% since they have no choice. The expected net benefit here would be P156 billion,” he pointed out.

HB 4688 also provides that 25 percent of the compensating revenues from excise tax on petroleum of Php 165 billion will be earmarked for subsidies to the lowest 50 percent by way of fare vouchers and direct income transfers to be administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and to be designed by an inter-agency committee composed of DSWD, Department of Budget and Management, and the Department of Finance.

The direct income transfers, he said, would make the entire tax package more progressive with the lowest 10 percent of the population seeing incomes rise by 12 percent, and it would be effective for three years. The annual inflation adjustments on excise tax on petroleum would not be implemented if the Dubai crude exceeds per barrel in the previous year, he added.

He stressed that the Philippines needs to sustain an annual high growth of at least 7 percent one generation; shifts the source of growth from consumption to investment; and heavily invests in our people through improved social services, such as public health and education systems, and in better infrastructure to improve connectivity and raise productivity.

The country, he added, required an additional one trillion pesos necessary investments annually over the long term, of which some Php 600 billion — equivalent to 3 percent of the GDP — was targeted by 2019.

Salceda said HB 4688 would be complemented by major tax administration reforms in both the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs, proposed separately under the Tax Administration Reform Act, in addition to continuing budget reforms pursued to promote spending transparency and efficiency.

The tax reform program consisted of several packages, with each package balancing trade-offs — lowering of some tax rates while broadening the base of others, Salceda said.

Albay pushes for gender-sensitive disaster management practices

By SALLY A. ATENTO (EAD/SAA/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 16 (PIA) – To address the high vulnerability of women and children during disasters, the provincial government of Albay will be mainstreaming gender issues and concerns in its disaster management programs and practices.

Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) chief, said a gender sensitive approach is required during emergencies, and safe and secure evacuation centers are a must to avert sexual harassments and attacks.

Daep underscored this concern during the Gender Mainstreaming in Disaster Risk Reduction Management (GM-DRRM) Planning-Workshop held last Dec. 8-9 at Albay Capitol building.

The outcome of the workshop was intended to serve as a model of convergence of gender equality and women’s economic empowerment with participants expected to learn the policy imperatives, planning process, and preparatory procedures for GM-DRRM.

In her objectives and overview, Rowena L. Ondiz, co-chair of Albay Gender and Development Technical Working Group, noted that women should not be mere beneficiaries of the DRRM programs.

She said women should be involved in the planning and development of the structure of DRRM plan so that they can directly provide inputs about the needs of women.

“When women have direct participation in the crafting of these programs and projects, we can ensure that women’s dignity, rights, and empowerment are secured and elevated,” Ondiz said.

Albay was among a few provinces that have integrated gender mainstreaming in their DRRM programs.

The workshops and training programs, which started in recent years, have dramatically improved women participation in GR-DRRM-related activities and enhanced their livelihood knowledge and skills.

PRO5 announces no muzzle taping of police’s firearms during holiday season

By Jorge Hallare (PNA), LAP/GVR/JH/CBD/EDS

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) -- There will be no muzzle taping of the firearms of members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) nationwide this coming holiday season, especially on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, said a police officer of the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO5).

Sr. Insp. Ma. Luisa Calubaquib, PRO5 spokesperson, said this was announced by Sr. Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin, PRO5 deputy regional director for operation, during their Monday morning command conference.

Baldebrin who attended the command conference last week at Camp Crame, said the verbal instruction on “no muzzle taping” was given by PNP Chief Ronald Bato Dela Rosa.

Calubaquib said the PNP chief has decided to depart from the annual muzzle taping of firearms because he does not want to endanger the lives of his men during the coming holiday season, especially with the continuous implementation of “Double Barrel Alpha,” the anti-illegal drug campaign of the PNP.

She said Dela Rosa has full trust on his men.

Calubaquib said, however, that any police officer found liable for firing indiscriminately will face criminal and administrative charges.

She said the police are old enough to have self-discipline during the holiday season.

“We are here to protect and serve the citizenry by maintaining peace and order," Calubaquib added.

Albay lawmaker bats for P672-B budget for science, technology

By RHAYDZ B. BARCIA (TMT)

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay: To boost the country’s scientific invention and innovation competitiveness, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda (2nd District) is pushing for a P672-billion budget for science and technology.

He said the current total research and development (R&D) budget for 2017 is P5.8 billion.

During the last six years, Salceda noted, the Philippines’ scientific and technological indicators have improve significantly, based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) benchmark.

Unesco prescribes that for a developing country, there should be 380 researchers, scientists and engineers (RSEs) per million population and the percentage of Gross Domestic Products (GDP) expenditure on research and development or GERD, should be one percent.

The number of RSEs in the country has increased from 180 in 2009 to 270 in 2013, while the budget of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has increased from P5.7 billion in 2009 to P20.8 billion in 2017, with R&D budget allocation increasing from P1 billion in 2009 to P5.8 billion in 2017.

Salceda said that for the DOST R&D, the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) and the Science Education Institute (SEI) have significantly contributed to the RSEs.

The PSHS increased the number of regional campuses from 11 in 2010 to 16 in 2016, therefore providing one PSHS campus per region. The number of students in PSHS is set to increase from 1,840 in 2009 to 8,083 in 2017, and 9,500 in 2021.

The SEI increase the freshman intake of scholars from 1,250 in 2010 to 5,590 in 2015, and has crafted the Grand Plan for science and technology human resource development such that the Philippines is seen to achieve 380 RSEs by 2022, Salceda said.

The DOST, according to the congressman, shall endeavor to significantly accelerate science and technology and innovation in the country through massive increase in investment in S&T and R&D through the program. The program, according to him, has a big budget capturing all R&D efforts for the above stated 5-year period that include niche centers in the regions for R&D (NICER), total of P3.2 billion; leadership program (RDLead) with P6 billion; collaborative R&D to Leverage PH Economy (CRADLE) for RDIs and Industry, P3.2 billion; business innovation through S&T (BIST) for Industry, P14.25 billion.

LCCAD, DepEd teachers shine in 8thClimate Change Consciousness Week

(AANaz/GANaz-PIA5/LCCAD)

LEGAZPI CITY -- Albayanos and the K to 12 Learning Materials on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk & Vulnerability Reduction (DRVR)were featured in the 8th Climate Change Consciousness Week hosted by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City last November 21 - 25, 2016.

The K to 12 Learning Materials on CCA and DRVR, an Albay based project led by the Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) , took center stage during the Schools for Resilience (SCORE) Conference and Exhibit last November 25 at the Grand Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Hotel.

A representative of the Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor M. Briones and USec. Alain Del B. Pascua provided the message of support to the SCORE initiative of the CCC and Secretary Manny M. de Guzman and to the K to 12 Learning Materials on CCA and DRVR.

Mrs. Lourdes V. Tibig and Dr. Rosa T. Perez, members of the National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE) and lead authors of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), gave lectures about climate change, current scenarios and the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature goal during the first stretch of the program.

Before the teaching demonstration of the teachers, LCCAD Executive Director Nong C. Rangasa gave a brief overview of the project. He stressed on the project being vertically and horizontally aligned with the Department of Education (DepEd) K to 12 curriculum. He also provided the participants with the data on how LCCAD, project partners and the teachers came up with the Learning Materials.

The Learning Materials were presented through teaching demonstrations by the LCCAD teacher-writers from the DepEd divisions of Albay, Ligao City and Legazpi City. The presenters were: Rowell B. Serrano of Buhatan Elementary School, Sto. Domingo (Araling Panlipunan Elementary); Gilda M. Dacillo of Camalig North Central School, Camalig (English Elementary); Mai Anne de Guzman-Rondola of Oas Polytechnic School, Oas (English Junior High), Rutesa A. Adornado of Oro Site National High School, Legazpi City (English Senior High); Teresita B. Rañada of Daraga National High School, Daraga (Filipino Senior High), Cheryl G. Pavericio of Oro Site National High School, Legazpi City (Math Junior High) and Russel C. Asis of Ligao City (Math Senior High). They were also joined by DepEd Albay Schools Division Superintendent Bebiano I. Sentillas,Education Program Supervisor for Science Jade O. Alberto and Julius E. Renolla and Gremil Alexis A. Naz of LCCAD.

In the pre-launching of the project, the Albayano teachers showed the Learning Materials to the participants, DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), CCC commissioners members of the academe such as the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), media organizations and non-government organizations (NGOs).

CCC Secretary Manny de Guzman expressed his support to the K to 12 Learning Materials on CCA & DRVR. He also congratulated LCCAD Executive Director Nong C. Rangasa and the teachers for the work they did on the project.

Other notable guests include former senator and environment & climate Secretary Heherson Alvarez; multi-awarded Filipina and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Ms. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez; Sonia Mendoza, chair of the Mother Earth Foundation; Ricky Nuñez, Country Executive director of Conservation International Philippines and members of the CCC NPTE and IPCC such as Rodel D. Lasco and Juan M. Pulhin.

Perez, Tibig, Lasco, Pulhin and other members of the CCC NPTE, were present during the crafting of the K to 12 Learning Materials on CCA and DRVR last February 2016 at Casablanca Convention Center, Legazpi City. More than 100 selected teacher-writers cum critics from the province of Albay were given lectures by the NPTE as basis for the output of the K to 12 Learning Materials project.

Ms. Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, who was also a National Artist for Theater in 2009, commented on the status of CCA awareness in the schools and minds of the students. “I bet you, not a single teacher here knows the 17 sustainable [development] goals. The students know more than 17 states of USA. Why not these [goals]?” she expressed.

In his message during the program, Dr. Bebiano I. Sentillas, Albay Schools Division Superintendent was thankful for the convergence of CCC, LCCAD and DepEd in order to educate the students on CCA and DRVR.

“If there are 50, hundreds, thousands or even millions of people with the same goal, this will never be impossible,” Sentillas told.

During the event, the K to 12 Learning Materials demo books were on display at the SCORE Exhibit area. Various guests have expressed their interest and support for the roll-out of the learning materials to the Philippine schools.

The K to 12 Learning Materials on CCA and DRVR is a joint project of LCCAD, CCC and DepEd Region V headed by Dr. Ramon Fiel G. Abcede. Its project partners include: Albay District Representatives Fernando V. Gonzalez, Joey S. Salceda and Edcel C. Lagman, Mayor Noel E. Rosal and the City Government of Legazpi, Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and the City Government of Ligao, DepEd Albay Division led by Dr. Sentillas, DepEd Legazpi City Division supervised by Dr. Cecille Bernadette P. Rivera, DepEd Ligao City Division led by Dr. Ma. Luisa P. Samaniego, DepEd Tabaco City Division administered by Dr. Evangeline P. Palencia, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Region V and Ako Bicol Partylist, headed by party-list representatives Rodel M. Batocabe, Christopher S. Co and Alfredo M. Garbin.

LCCAD is a Legazpi City based non-profit organization. It is also the CCC’s resident training provider of the formulation of the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) in the country, with Rangasa as its Resident Trainer and Mentor, and a development partner of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other stakeholders in the “Burias-Ticao Pass” Protected Seascape endeavour.

Legazpi City is Climate-Adaptive and Disaster Resilient

(AANaz/GANaz-PIA5/LCCAD)

LEGAZPI CITY -- In the final event of the 8th Climate Change Consciousness Week, the local government unit of Legazpi City, led by Mayor Noel E. Rosal, was a recipient of the first Climate-Adaptive and Disaster-Resilient (CLAD) Award for Cities and Municipalities by the Climate Change Commission.

Mayor Rosal received the award from CCC Secretary Manny de Guzman and former Senator Heherson Alvarez at the Grand Sunset Pavilion of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. Legazpi City also received P500,000 in cheque to fund the LGU’s future climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects. He was joined by members of the Legazpi City DRR and CCA office and Councilor Lilian Ramirez.

Legazpi City was chosen as one of the ten awardees because of its projects on mangrove and fruit-bearing tree growing, establishment of organic gardens and the pilot rainwater impounding system.

Two other LGUs from Bicol also received the CLAD Award. These were Canaman, Camarines Sur for their crop insurance program and farmer’s field school on climate change project and Sorsogon City, Sorsogon for their climate-resiliency field school and mangrove and upland reforestation.

The other awardees were Carmona, Cavite; Dumangas, Iloilo; Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Malolos, Bulacan; New Lucena, Iloilo; Palompon, Leyte and Tublay, Benguet.

During the awarding ceremonies, Heherson Alvarez talked about the challenge for the LGUs to continue to strive for CCA and DRR projects.

In the event’s closing remarks, Sen. Loren Legarda praised the LGUs for their outstanding effort to safeguard the environment.

"From now on, you are now my climate warriors. I will make you models for CCA-DRR initiatives.", she expressed.

Rosal, whom the senator called “inaanak”, was praised by Legarda for the city’s projects on CCA and DRR, especially in mangrove growing. Legarda added that she would like promote the “Gulayan sa Baranggay” project wherein Legazpi City will become the model city.

The Filipina environmentalist senator also encouraged the awardees to access the People’s Survival Fund to fast track their projects.

The Climate Change Consciousness Week is an annual event of the Climate Change Commission which is joined by various government agencies, such as the DENR and DOE, and the private sector.

Bicol Int’l Airport to be completed in 3 years – President Duterte

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), LAP/JCN/RSM]

DARAGA, Albay (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to finish the construction of the P4.7 billion Bicol International Airport (BIA) in three years, with fresh budgets and a decisive push, following years of agonizing delays.

Duterte led the groundbreaking rites for the BIA on Thursday in Barangay Alobo here, his first visit to Albay since becoming President, to assure local government officials, business leaders and residents, the BIA will be completed on target.

The project is seen as key to the long awaited economic growth of the province and the entire Bicol Region.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, original proponent of the BIA, said the President’s speedy action has given a new boost to the project never before felt since its inception over a decade ago.

Thanking President Duterte for his “decisive action” on the BIA, Salceda said he now feels confident the international airport will sustain the gains of Albay tourism, attained during his term as governor, which posted an impressive record of 339,000 foreign tourist arrivals in 2015 from a measly 8,700 in 2007.

He praised Duterte as a “good man who genuinely cares for his people — his heart is in the right place, his guts and gut feel honed by years as local chief executive, which make him fit for the challenges of nation building.”

Together with the new Southline component of the North-South Railways Project, which was also approved recently by the Duterte cabinet, Salceda said he is “convinced foreign tourist arrivals (in his province) can triple to 1.2 million by 2025, and thus make Albay an economic powerhouse.”

During the recent big assembly of Bicol political leaders of the Federalismo Alyansa Bicol, the President endlessly referred to Salceda, as his long time friend and one of the brilliant economic minds of the country, who should be working instead in Malacanang.

Salceda has conceptualized and pushed the BIA project since 2005 under then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, when he was still congressman of Albay’s 3rd district. He worked on it for nine years between 2007 and early part of 2016, as governor and chairman of the Bicol Regional Development Council.

President Duterte, according to Salceda, was able to do in four months what the previous administration failed to do in three years: award Phase 2A, the Land-side component of the project worth P780 million; and bid out the passenger terminal building worth P1.8 billion.

The snail-paced implementation of the BIA project by the past Department of Transportation and Communication has so frustrated Salceda and compelled him to take what he referred to as “political action” during the May 2016 elections -- to run as an independent candidate.

The BIA was approved in April 2005 by Arroyo, and was subsequently included in the Medium Term Development Plan. Its initial appropriation was made in 2006, when Salceda was chair of the House Appropriations Committee. The project was affirmed by the succeeding administration, but work on it slackened due to slow releases of funds.

Salceda worked with President Duterte’s economic managers from the start of the administration. As vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, he pushed the administration’s 2017 budget for economic development.

The BIA’s Phase 2A includes 17 buildings and land-side facilities. Phase 2B covers the completion of its runway, apron, “two-stub taxiway,” and Passenger Terminal Building which were recently bidded out.

Salceda said Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has promised him the BIA will have Passenger Boarding Bridges or tubes, two of which will initially be installed, each costing P105 million. The design can accommodate additional tubes in the future.

Tugade has also assured Salceda his department will shortly start working on the P271 billion North-South Railways Project’s Southline stretch from Manila to Legazpi. He committed in a recent Cabinet meeting that the Southline will be finished in four years.

Ligao City gets award as Bicol’s most “friendly municipality to senior citizens”

(PNA), RMA/CONNIE B. DESTURA/RSM

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) -- The local government unit (LGU) of Ligao City has been recognized with four awards by the Department of Health in Bicol (DOH-5) for providing quality health care to its constituents, that include ensuring a health program that is most friendly to senior citizens, in awards rites held today in this city.

This annual recognition called the “7th Salud Bikolnon 2016 awards” is given by DOH-5 to its partners, who have performed well in implementing health programs in the city.

Salud is a Bicol term for health.

The awards are focused on the theme: “Gabos Para Sa Salud, Sa lud Para Sa Gabos,” that refers to DOH’s flagship health agenda under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte--“All for Health Towards Health for All.”

Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua and City Health Officer Dr. Wynns Samar received the four awards from DOH-5 Director Napoleon Arevalo while DOH-5 Assistant Secretary Nestor F. Santiago Jr. acknowledged the honorees during the awarding at the La Piazza Convention Center, Tahao Road, Legazpi City.

Aside from being named as “Senior Citizen-Friendliest Municipality,” the LGU of Ligao was also commended for being one of the top performing LGUs in the Bicol region for providing essential health services to the poorest members of the community.

Ligao Rural Health Unit was recognized as “orally fit community” in the LGU category while the Ligao City Health Office was named “Best Achiever on Belly Gud for Health” and “Best Implementer of the National Tuberculosis Control Program.”

DOH-5’s health program aims for a health system for Filipinos which ensures financial protection, better health outcomes and responsiveness.

The program also seeks universal health coverage and the attainment of health-related “Sustainable Development Goal” targets that were laid down as universal goals for developing countries by the United Nations over a 15-year-period beginning 2016.

Salceda seeks institutionalization of Balik Scientist Program

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), JMC/JCN/SSC]

MANILA (PNA) -- Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda seeks to further strengthen and institutionalize the government’s “Balik Scientist Program” to encourage overseas Filipino scientists and technologists to come home, share their expertise, and help speed up the country’s development.

Salceda recently filed House Bill 4366 in Congress, titled “Balik Scientists Act of 2016,” designed to strengthen and institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program (BSP) established under PD 819 in 1975 and revived successfully during the term of former President Fidel Ramos.

The bill aims to “strengthen the scientific and technological human resources of the academe, public institutions and domestic corporations to promote knowledge sharing and accelerate the flow of new technologies into the country.” It also proposes better benefit packages for homecoming experts and tasks the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to promulgate the scheme ang guidelines for it.

Salceda said the country needs to tap and utilize the expertise of expatriate Filipino scientists and technologists, a move deemed as a “vital component of the nation’s political, economic and social development efforts”.

“Towards this end, any foreign based scientist, professional, technician, or any person who is of Filipino descent, with special skills or expertise, shall be encouraged and allowed to share his or her professional expertise in the Philippines,” he said.

On account of the original program’s remarkable outcome and the presence of many highly trained overseas professionals who have expertise in the priority areas of agriculture, energy and nutrition development, former President Ramos revived the program through Executive Oder No. 130 issued in 1993.

Salceda noted there are still a lot more Filipino scientists, technology experts, and researchers outside the country who have not been tapped due to circumstances that cannot be addressed by the existing program.

“It is for this reason that the BSP needs to be institutionalized and strengthened through a legislative fiat that will include better incentives and benefits that would draw these Filipino experts to return to their beloved country and share even for a limited period, and hopefully for good, their knowledge and expertise, thereby helping their country attain its objective of accelerating economic and social development,” Salceda emphasized.

HB 4366 tasks the DOST to promulgate the implementing rules and regulations for the new “Balik Scientist” program, in consultation with relevant government and non-government agencies. It also links up with another measure Salceda filed in Congress, HB 4367, the “Philippine Space Act of 2016,” which seeks to establish the country’s space development and utilization policy, and create the Philippine Space Agency that will spearhead the program of space access, science and technology applications.

The “Philippine Space Act of 2016,” responds to the country’s growing need for a secure and independent access to space through the establishment of its own space policy and space agency. This program will also help “encourage Filipino scientists and technicians to come home and be among the local heroes that will build the country’s strong science and technology program,” Salceda explained.

HB 4366 defines “Balik Scientist” as a science or technology expert or professional, certified by DOST, who is a Filipino citizen or a foreigner of Filipino descent, residing abroad, and contracted by the government to return and serve in the Philippines along his or her field of expertise for a defined term or time pf engagement.

President Duterte leads groundbreaking of P4.8-B Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay

By Connie B. Destura [(PNA), LAP/GVR/CBD/MSA]

DARAGA, Albay, Dec. 8 (PNA) -- President Rodrigo Duterte with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday led the groundbreaking rites for the long-delayed P4.8-billion Bicol International Airport (BIA) project in Barangay Alobo in Daraga town, Albay province.

The groundbreaking marked the start of the P708-million construction work of the landside facilities of the airport project that is seen to boost tourism and economic development not just in Bicol but in the entire Southern Luzon.

Elizaldy Co, owner of Sunwest Construction and Development Corp., contractor of the BIA project, in an interview, said the project carries a two-year time frame.

He said “the project would be completed by 2019.”

Co said the landside facilities consist of 17 buildings for administration, cargo terminal, air traffic control, crash fire rescue, power house, maintenance, material recovery facilities, pump room and water reservoir, chilled water pump house, chlorination house 1 and 2, guard houses and headquarters of the Department of Transportation (DOTr)-Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

The government has initially spent some P1.6 billion for the airport project for the acquisition of the lands and the construction of a 2.1-kilometer runway.

Implementation of the airport project was delayed for 11 years as this was conceptualized and approved during the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and passed on to President Benigno Aquino III.

The project should have been operational this year but despite the availability of funds, work was snail paced due to lapses in the bidding process. Construction work has been confined to the airside while the structures at the landside area of the proposed airport are still being worked out.

Funds for the airport project were released in three tranches: P300 million in 2009 and another P300 million in 2010 for concrete road construction and site development. The P970-million funding released in 2012 was spent for the construction of the 2.1-kilometer runway.

Once finished, the BIA project will not only totally address the technical limitations of the existing Legazpi airport due to frequent flight cancellations but will also provide safer air transportation to the growing number of passengers because of the booming tourism industry in the area.

The BIA lies in a 148-hectare area with 2,100-meter runway strip. It will be equipped with night landing capability and take-off facilities, control tower, passenger and cargo terminal, car park, fire station and other modern facilities.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara said that as President Duterte led the groundbreaking rites of the “BIA Package 2” project, he requested the President and Sec. Tugade to revise the airport’s design.

He said he has asked DOTr to redesign the BIA airport so it could meet the required standards of an international airport.

Bichara said that after a consultation with known architect Felino “Jun” Palafox, the latter told him that the international airport had yet to start operating but “it seems the facilities are already obsolete.”

Palafox specifically requested that there should be a revision of the airport taxiway to make room for the planes’ arrival and departure.

He also noted that the existing two-lane road networks that connect the airport to the Maharlika highway should be expanded to a six-lane road to meet international standards.

Albay second district Rep. Joey Salceda thanked Mr. Duterte for his decisive action in giving the go-signal for the airport’s construction.

He expressed confidence that the international airport will sustain the gains of Albay’s tourism with foreign tourist arrivals shooting up from 8,700 in 2007 to 339,000 in 2015 during his term.

Together with the new South Railway project, Salceda said he is confident foreign tourists will triple to 1.2 million by 2025 and make Albay an economic powerhouse.

The President affirmed his support in reviving the railway system in the Bicol region so the region could catch up in its infrastructure development.

He said the railway system in Southern Luzon could be completed in two to three years time as long as it is not tainted with corruption.

6 Luzon LGUs awarded for climate change adaptation programs

By Freddie G. Lazaro

Laoag City, Ilocos Norte – Ten local government units (LGUs) received a maiden Climate-Adaptive and Disaster-Resilient (CLAD) Awards for cities and municipalities for their exemplary programs to mitigate the impact of climate change.

The CLAD Awards is a project of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) as conceptualized with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and Senator Loren Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience.

The winning LGUs, which were awarded during the Climate Change Consciousness Week concluding program on November 25, were Canaman, Camarines Sur; Carmona, Cavite; Dumangas, Iloilo; Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Legazpi City, Albay; Malolos, Bulacan; New Lucena, Iloilo; Palompon, Leyte; Sorsogon City, Sorsogon; and Tublay, Benguet.

Each awardee was given a plaque and cash prize of P500,000.

Legarda lauded the 10 winners of the inaugural CLAD awards as she urged other LGUs to adopt and replicate their best practices in order to strengthen community resilience to disasters and climate change.

She cited Canaman’s Crop Insurance Program, which helps restore the livelihood of farmers affected by disasters by providing crop insurance; and the Farmers Field School, which provides farmers with knowledge on climate change impacts and adaptation such as storm surge and drought, as well as practical hands-on training on seed selection, water management, among others.

The town of Tublay, Benguet was awarded for its Carbon Stock and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Sequestration Enhancement, as well as its coffee-based agroforestation program, which empowers the community to participate in environmental conservation, climate change adaptation and disaster mitigation initiatives while gaining economic benefits from it.

Legazpi City, Albay also made it to the top 10 for its efforts in establishing organic gardens and planting of mangrove and fruit-bearing trees.

The mangroves serve as buffers or coastal defense from the effects of storm surge and tsunami while providing a rich habitat for marine life and sequestering carbon effectively.

Malolos, Bulacan was awarded for its outstanding psychological program which involves the conduct of traumatic and/or psychological debriefing for evacuees and victims of disasters.

Sorsogon, Sorsogon has been recognized for its Climate-Resiliency Field School where farmers and fisherfolks undergo actual practice on new farming technologies adaptable to climate change.

Another noteworthy project of this municipality is their reforestation (mangrove and upland) project which aims to minimize soil erosion and prevent storm surge in mangrove areas.

Carmona, Cavite was awarded for its Solid Waste Management and 3Rs Program (reduce, reuse, recycle) and installation of LED lights in the municipality, an initiative that not only saves electricity but also lessens greenhouse gas emissions.

250 mothers join Legazpi City’s breastfeeding congress

(PNA), LAP/GVR/EPS/CBD

LEGAZPI CITY, Dec. 6 (PNA) —- Some 250 mothers participated in a breastfeeding congress today, Tuesday, the second to be held this year by the City Health Office (CHO), so that the mothers in the city’s 70 villages could be more aware on proper infant and young child feeding practices.

City Health Officer Fulbert Gillego said the conference held at the Ibalong Conference Room inside the City Hall compound has the theme “First 1,000 days ni Baby Pahalagahan para sa Malusog na Kinabukasan,” (give importance to baby’s first 1000 days for a healthy future).

As in the first breastfeeding congress that was held in July, today’s undertaking is in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol.

According to the National Nutrition Council (NNC) the first 1,000 days of a child, which starts from conception and before the second birthday, presents a “golden window of opportunity” for nutrition and related intervention to achieve complete child development.

Gillego urged the mothers in today’s congress to always visit maternity lying-in clinics to be able to monitor the health of their babies.

He also asked the participants to regularly apply the breastfeeding system because the milk of the mothers has antibodies that will coat the intestines of their babies and serve as protection against any infectious diseases.

Gillego told the mothers that breastmilk is easy to digest and has the perfect nutrients for the baby’s health while at the same time ensure bonding of both mother and child.

He also informed the mothers about the danger posed by the Zika virus which can also affect the baby inside the womb of a pregnant mother.

Gillego urged the mothers to always maintain the cleanliness of their surroundings and to destroy all the possible breeding areas of mosquitoes in their villages to prevent the spread of the zika-virus carrying mosquitoes in the community.

During today’s breastfeeding congress, the CHO, along with its partners Luzon Health, a non-government organization and private firm IDEA Inc., provided a range of medical services to all the babies such as free medical consultation, immunization, newborn screening, de-worming and vitamin supplementation.

City Mayor Noel Rosal told participants that breastfeeding practices are not only good for poor mothers but even for rich families because of the health benefits, both for the mother and her baby.

He said the practice can also help reduce poverty incidence in the community because mothers would not need to buy expensive bottled milk.

Aside from conducting a regular breastfeeding congress, the city government provides legislative support for the breastfeeding practice.

The Sangguniang Panglunsod (city council) has enacted ordinance 0021-2015 during its 30th regular session on August 18, 2015 that require big public and private establishments and offices to establish a breastfeeding/lactation station within their premises.

The NNC has been coordinating efforts to achieve the goals of the Early Childhood Care and Development Intervention Package or ECCD-IP which is behind the concept for the “First 1,000 Days program.”

The program’s services that are being provided to local government units seek to reduce mortality and morbidity rates among children 0-23 months old; reduce the prevalence of stunting and wasting among children 0-23 months old; and increase the percentage of children 0-23 months old meeting developmental milestones.

National Nutrition Council-Bicol honors 'nutrition achievers' among LGUs

(PNA), LAP/GVR/SMT/CBD

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) —- Local government units (LGUs), their officials and “Barangay Nutrition Scholars” (BNS) across the Bicol region, who have successfully implemented the government’s various programs on nutrition, will be given awards by the National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Bicol on Tuesday (December 6).

“The efficient and effective implementation of the nutrition program has not only resulted in sustained reduction of malnutrition among the children in the community but has also given honor and prestige to performing LGUs,” said Arlene Reario, NNC-Bicol head.

She said these awards “speak well of the selfless dedication and cooperation of the leaders and nutrition workers with the support of the community.”

Reario said the awarding ceremonies that will start at 1 p.m. at The Oriental Hotel will have as keynote speaker and guest of honor Dr. Azucena M. Dayanghirang, newly-installed deputy executive director of NNC.

The top performing province for nutrition is Sorsogon while in the city category, Tabaco and Legazpi is first and second, respectively.

Reario said the “Green Banner Awards” for outstanding performing municipalities are Bulusan in Sorsogon and Guinobatan in Albay.

She said awards will also be given for the top 10 performing barangays in nutrition, and the 12 LGUs in Bicol with the lowest prevalence of malnutrition in 2015.

Naga City will be given a special award as the “most efficient Bicol LGU in nutrition program implementation,” said Reario.

To be honored as “Regional Barangay Nutrition Scholar” (RBNS) is Wedona B. Ariola, BNS of Barangay Quitago in Guinobatan, Albay. BNS Jocelyn B. Buena of Barangay Panicuason in Naga City is first runner-up while BNS Merly B. Lopez of Barangay 22, Binanuahan East in Legazpi City is second runner-up.

Six more outstanding provincial and city BNS will receive certificates and cash awards from NNC.

The regional nutrition achievers were determined by an interagency regional evaluation team who evaluated the LGUs in Bicol from May 4 to October 27.

Some 300 participants, who are members of the regional nutrition committee headed by Department of Health Bicol Director Napoleon L. Arevalo, members of the regional technical working group and regional evaluation team (RET), and members of the nutrition committees at all levels, are expected to witness the celebration, Reario said.

Children’s month celebration in Bicol highlights valuable role of children in society

(MAL/SAA/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Regional Council for the Welfare of Children and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol led this year’s children’s month celebration in the region themed ““Isulong, Kalidad na Edukasyon Para sa Lahat ng Bata.”

“The Children’s Month Celebration is a time to recognize the value of Filipino Children as the most valuable asset in the society. The theme focuses on the rights of children to education,” DSWD Bicol director Arnel B. Garcia said.

Garcia added that the celebration also aims to instill the significance of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in the Filipino consciousness.

The UNCRC is a human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children.

Among the activities conducted are roll-out training on monitoring, reporting and response system (MRRS) on the grave child rights violations in the context of armed conflict on November 15-17, training for selected school children on basic emergency first aid for children on November 23 and regional poster making contest on child pornography for selected school children on November 24.

The celebration culminated on November 28 with an ecumenical service, pledge of commitment of various agencies, testimonials from the different sector of children and recognition of different partners.

The Bicol Network Children (BNC) and Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council likewise led the “Kalinga Hindi Kulungan: Bicol Youth Meet” on November 29 highlighted by a dialogue between adults and children on House Bill 02 which seeks to lower the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR) of Filipino children from 15 to 9 years old.

DSWD assistant director Victoria Tagum and Saligan Bicol discussed and clarified the bill and its impact to children and community.

HB 02 was filed in the 17th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines by house speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Capiz representative Fredenil Castro.

The said Bill aims to criminalize children to stop adult criminals from using them and to teach them how to take responsibility for their actions because, according to the Bill, nineyear-olds already have better discernment due to their access to the internet.

Salceda bill seeks to create a nuclear commission for medicine, agri, industry, scientific research

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), JMC/JCN/EBP]

MANILA, Dec. 2 (PNA) -- Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda has recently filed a bill in Congress seeking the creation of the Philippine Nuclear Regulatory Commission or PNRC, an independent nuclear regulatory body focused on the control of peaceful uses and application of nuclear energy.

House Bill 4369, titled “Comprehensive Nuclear Regulation Act of 2016,” is considered a vital piece of legislation as the country embarks on a renewed effort to strengthen science and technology and boost industrial growth.

Salceda said PNRC will be attached to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and will work to harmonize with similar regulatory structures in other countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, such as China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and Singapore among others.

Most importantly, Salceda said the PNRC will “ensure consistency with the nation’s obligations under relevant international instruments.” It will also modernize the country’s nuclear civil liability and compensation regime in line with internationally accepted standards.

Salceda’s bill specifically aims to:

1) harness the peaceful uses of nuclear energy that will benefit various fields, including health and medicine, energy production, scientific research, agriculture, industry, and education; and 2) recognize, mitigate and protect individuals, society and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of ionizing radiation, including those that could result from improper use, accidents or malicious acts.

The proposed PNRC will develop an “independent regulatory framework that will decide on and resolve issues affecting public health and safety, protection of the environment, and nuclear security and safeguards, beyond the reach of entities with self-motivated interests,” said Salceda.

He said the resolution of these issues within an autonomous regulatory structure will generate in the public a higher level of trust and confidence in the application of nuclear technologies. He added that a positive public mindset is “imperative for the continued and improved utilization of nuclear energy and radioactive materials in the country.”

As conceived, the PNRC covers the areas of nuclear and radioactive material applications and requires a well-structured legal framework necessary to meet the technical and management standards designed to protect public health, safety, and security and the integrity of the environment.

HB 4369 covers the eleven fundamental principles of nuclear law according to current international standards.

It addresses all gaps and omissions identified in the old RA 5207 which are present in the areas of physical protection, safeguards, nuclear security, nuclear/radiological emergency preparedness and response, radioactive waste management, transport of nuclear/radioactive materials, and licensing of nuclear facilities, materials, and radioactive sources owned and operated by the present Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.

The Albay lawmaker stresses that the country’s nuclear legislation should provide for all the key elements needed for an effective nuclear regulatory system, adding that the “setting-up a regulatory body alone, without ensuring that it possesses the ability to exercise the necessary regulatory functions, including its faithful commitment to international nuclear safety and security obligations, merely creates the illusion, not the reality, of such a system, and will not solve the problem that the proposed bill tries to address.”

The bill points out that with such a vital responsibility of regulating complex nuclear technologies and practices, and natural radiation sources, the PNRC should be equipped with the necessary scientific, engineering, technical management, financial and legal expertise.

Presently, the number of nuclear scientists and engineers in the Philippines is relatively small and are mostly under one roof such that the expertise of one can be shared in undertaking several tasks.

Any proposal to dissipate this mass of nuclear expertise to several agencies will be counterproductive, especially considering that it takes time to develop or build specialized capabilities and expertise.

The bill recognizes that such expertise cannot be acquired in a short period of time.

Thus, under the proposed legislation, a new Philippine Nuclear and Radiation Safety Commission or PNRSC that will build on the extensive experience, competencies, and capabilities of the previous Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and now the present PNRI, will be created.

The PNRI, the sole government entity mandated to promote and regulate the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, is manned by highly trained and competent regulatory staff whose expertise covers wide-ranging technical areas in the peaceful applications of nuclear energy.

The expertise it offers is unique and has been honed by years of experience and capacity-building.

Residents nix proposed sanitary landfill in Daraga, Albay

By Vince Villar

DARAGA, Albay 12/1/16 (Bicol Standard)—The residents of Barangay San Ramon continue to oppose the plan of the local government unit of this town to establish a sanitary landfill here.

Particularly vocal are the residents of Purok 3 who say they are worried that the sanitary landfill would disrupt their day-to-day activities.

In the public hearing held on Wednesday, November 30, the residents aired their vehement disapproval, especially if their conditions are not med.

In an interview by the BICOL STANDARD with Punong Barangay Aidar Llaguno, he said what his constituents and the barangay council want is for the landfill to be constructed according to plan and for it to be complete in terms of the requirements.

"Kaipuhan talaga kan Gobyerno an tapukan kan basura, kaya lang, an nagiging problema naman ta su mga residentes, kun pumalso daa baad mamarong o maapektuhan an saindang kapalibutan kaya harabo talaga ninda," Llaguno said.

The barangay official underscored that to be honest, they do not see any benefit to the construction of a sanitary landfill, so before agreeing, they want to make sure all the bases are covered.

Fast-approaching deadline

Meanwhile, on the part of the Daraga Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO), Henry Jacob, the head said they will accede to the wishes of the residents.

"Actually, bako man po bilog na baranggay an nagkontra, some of the residents lang kan Purok 3, pero sabi kan council, pag yaon na an mga papeles hali sa DENR, matao sinda nin certificate of No objection," Jacob said.

He further explained that they have to move fast because the Environmental Ombudsman only gave them six months to construct said facility to avoid being charged. This means Daraga has only until March to finish the landfill.

Once the residents consent to construction, the area will temporarily be converted into a Material Recovery Facility (MRF).

It would be recalled that earlier, the downtown area of Daraga reeked of garbage after the Solid Waste Management Commission ordered the closing of its dumpsite at Barangay Penafrancia.

Since then, the LGU rushed to find ways to solve the issue, such as strictly implementing the No Segregation, No Collection policy in every barangay.

All pieces of biodegradable waste would be left in the residences while the recyclable and reusable ones would be taken to the barangay. Meantime, the municipality would collect the residual waste.

Problems arose, however, when the residual waste would be surreptitiously disposed of in a private lot at Barangay Anislag, but this was eventually discovered by the EMB.

Plans

At present, the residual waste is contained at Motorpool, and will remain there until the sanitary landfill is constructed.

Should the sanitary landfill at Barangay San Ramon be disapproved, however, the residents of Daraga still have the option of disposing of their garbage at a private landfill.

Said private landfill is planned to be constructed at Barangay Mayon, in a property owned by Iwa Biso Corporation, which is known for constructing waste disposal systems and treatment facilities.

Daraga is one of the 6 LGUs in Albay which were alerted by the Environmental Ombudsman for violating Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.

The others include Camalig, Guinobatan, Polangui, Tiwi, and Tabaco City.

Meanwhile, Carlo Lorenzano of the Solid Waste and LGU Relations Section of the EMB said that despite the lack of time, they recognize the efforts of Daraga to comply with the provisions of the law.

"Although, di natin masabi na 100% o perfect yung system kasi they are starting pa lang but we are giving them time na maka comply," Lorenzano explained.

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