Albay News February 2014

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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

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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.

DOLE offers reintegration aid to returning OFWs in Bicol

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb 28 (PIA) –The Department of Labor and Employment National Reintegration Center (DOLE NRC) calls on returning undocumented Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Bicol region to avail of the various grants and services under their OFW Reintegration Program.

“Reintegration intends to aid OFW returning to his host country not only physically but also on the aspects of economy, community and personal life. It is high time for our returning OFWs in particular the undocumented ones to come out, be aware and avail of the reintegration program offered by our government,” NRC Bicol chief Kristina Oliveros said during the Ugnayan sa Bicol radio program of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) here.

On the economic aspect, she said NRC has been giving livelihood loans and starter kits depending on the skills and location of the requesting OFW.

The grant is coursed to the beneficiaries through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and other OFW agencies.

She added that NRC has tied up with the Public Employment Services Office to provide returning workers with local jobs especially if they intend to stay in their community.

Oliveros noted the importance of the community in helping the young children left by the migrant workers to work abroad, which according to studies are vulnerable to addiction, unwanted pregnancies and involvement in various vices.

“We need to involve the community in helping the children left by their parents at a young age to work abroad since they lack parental care and guidance,” she said.

To address this concern, NRC has forged convergence programs with the public and private sectors especially with the academe to give the needed education and guidance not only to the children but also to their guardians.

Furthermore, counseling is also given to address post traumatic stress disorders encountered by OFWs who have been victims of abuse and untoward treatment from their employers.

“Usually, undocumented OFWs are the ones who encountered traumatic stress disorders especially if they experienced abuse and maltreatment from their job abroad. Since we don’t have the necessary documents or information where they are or who their employers are, we cannot monitor them so it’s hard for us to address their concerns,” she explained.

Furthermore, NRC also conducts financial management courses for both the OFW and their dependents to help them manage their hard earned money.

“We need to change the perception that if you are an OFW, you have lots of money to spend especially on buying new gadgets and other things which are actually unnecessary. They might end up spending and losing everything they worked for abroad. Thus we also teach them to save and invest,” Olivares said.

Financial management is also part of the Enterprise Development Training of the NRC.

Rockstar Albay gets thunderous applause in GCF Bali meet

By Johnny C. Nunez [(PNA), CTB/JCN/UTB]

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 27 (PNA) -– The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board members gave Albay a thunderous applause, like it was a rockstar, for its pioneering initiatives in climate change adaptation and for its savvy steering of the just conclude sixth meeting of the UN body in Bali, Indonesia.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who briefed the 48-member GCF Board on how his province, often devastated by natural disasters, has bravely shed its self pity and ‘cry-baby’ disposition and led a pioneering campaign on climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) to become a resilient and thriving economy, got a thunderous applause from his peers.

The governor said he did not expect the applause but obviously “Climate Rockstar Albay has been born. It’s Albay, not me,” he stressed. “They were simply mesmerized by what Albay has been doing in climate adaptation and what Team Albay has done in the wake of Haiyan (Yolanda),” he added.

Salceda presided over the GCF Board conference at the Bali Dusa Nua Convention Center in the resort island of Bali February 17 to 21, along with Manfred Konukiewitz, his German counterpart, representing developed countries.

The GCF board, composed of representatives from both developing and developed countries, were particularly impressed by the daring search, rescue and relief operation played by Team Albay shortly after the devastation of super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City.

Team Albay, the emergency humanitarian group organized by Salceda primarily for home front operations, had gone around the country for the past three years in almost every disaster stricken regions of the country. Its latest humanitarian mission was Tacloban City, and later neighboring Samar in the aftermath of Yolanda. It had reaped many awards for such a feat.

For its impressive survival performance the UN has made Albay its Global Model, and Salceda its Senior Global Champion and spokesman on CCA and DRR. The governor was who represents Southeast Asia and the developing countries in UN body was elected GCF Board co-chairman last year during its meeting in Paris.

Salceda said the GCF has been given the “gargantuan task and responsibility of providing the resources in the global fight against climate change, but its members are united and determined to carry its mandate and mission. It should not fail because the future of countries greatly affected by climate change lies on it.”

He said the inputs made by the brilliant GCF team during the meeting had helped in formulating the necessary policies and courses of action to take. The Bali has succeeded in laying the groundworks for collecting the pledges of developed countries and assured a balanced, 50-50 allocation between climate change mitigation and adaptation for developing countries.

The GCF, known as the Fund, is the finance arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Protesters arrested in botched ALECO takeover

(Manila Bulletin)

Legazpi City, Albay — Four protesters were arrested in a fray during last Monday’s attempted takeover of the now privatized Albay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ALECO), here, as its new management firm, Albay Power and Energy Corporation (APEC), struggles to save it from financial hemorrhage.

Allan Marchan, general manager of APEC – a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power Holdings, called yesterday for a peaceful resolution of the dispute between the new management and the protesters from the ALECO Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders Coalition (AMSSO).

“Yung request ko lang, is just give us a chance to do our work properly. You can practice all the democratic ways that you have, but please don’t resort to violence, don’t resort to hurting people, and don’t resort to breaking property,” appealed Marchan.

Last Monday, AMSSO head Bartolome Rayco; Karapatan Bicol Spokesperson Vince Casilihan; Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Spokesperson Hernan Certeza, and Kabataan Partylist Member, Carl Gana after leading protesters in breaking their way into ALECO’s main building, here.

Superintendent Rommel dela Rama, city police chief, filed charges of malicious mischief and grave coercion against the four after their actions resulted in damage to property.

Security guards who had alerted police reported that the protesters allegedly broke windows.

On the other hand, Karapatan Bicol claimed that responding police had committed blatant violations of the rights of the arrested, by failing to state the Miranda Doctrine.

Since January this year, Aleco has been managed and operated by APEC but was forced to hold office at Ligao Branch because of the protest rallies at the main office. The dispute between AMSSO, Aleco Interim Board, and the previous management were continuing.

Marchan assured that the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is committed to Albay, and hoping for an immediate resolution to the problem.

DTI grants equipment to Albay town footwear makers

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 25 (PNA) -– To help footwear makers in Camalig, Albay increase their production, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bicol regional office has turned over sets of equipment amounting to P970,000 under DTI’s shared service facility (SSF) program.

DT Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn J.B. Blanco said the SSF program provides equipment to groups of micro and small enterprises to address the low production capacity of existing industries in the rural areas.

This provision of equipment to local industries, Blanco said, increases their products’ marketability and enhances their production efficiency, which in turn will generate more jobs and better income.

Camalig Municipal Mayor Irwin G. Baldo, Jr. assured his full support to the program and offered a loan facility at the local government unit which the footwear makers can avail in case they are in need of additional capital.

DAR targets 50,000 hectares of land for CARP in Bicol this year

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 24 (PNA) -– The regional office for Bicol here of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is targeting this year some 50,000 hectares of land for acquisition and distribution to land transfer beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in the region.

This target includes those that were part of the interrupted land acquisition and distribution (LAD) areas pipelined in 2013 and new lands scheduled for this year, all totaling 49,919 hectares, DAR Regional Director Luis Bueno Jr. on Monday said.

Interrupted LAD are those that have pending proceedings and, Bueno said, his office is under orders from DAR Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes to go ahead with its distribution even after the month of June this year as provided under Section 30 of Republic Act 9700.

RA 9700 is “an Act strengthening the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, extending the acquisition and distribution of all agricultural lands, instituting necessary reforms and amending for the purpose certain provisions of RA No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988."

The LAD extension is for five years beginning on the effectivity of the Act in August 2009 wherein the final acquisition and distribution of all remaining un-acquired and undistributed agricultural lands should be completed until June 30, 2014.

However, Sec. 30 of the same Act subtitled Resolution of Case provides that “any case and/or proceeding involving the implementation of the provisions of Republic Act No. 6657, as amended, which may remain pending on June 30, 2014 shall be allowed to proceed to its finality and be executed even beyond such date.”

The Department of Justice concurred with this view and said the 2014 General Appropriations Act bolsters this undertaking with substantial fund for the DAR to be able to meet its commitment of over 300,000 hectares to be distributed to CARP beneficiaries nationwide this year.

While Bueno honestly declared that meeting this target for Bicol would be somewhat difficult, he assured that the distribution of the remaining balance will be realized without much intricacy within this year even beyond June 30.

In the recent Back to Back Recalibration and Validation on Land Tenure Service and Technical Advisory and Support Services for Bicol recently held here with Delos Reyes in attendance, it was stressed that DAR’s 2013 accomplishment was highest under the administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino III.

The Compulsory Acquisition accomplishment in 2013 was also highest in seven years, from 2006 as revealed by DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Jose Grageda during the same occasion, according to Bueno.

It was also stressed by Grageda that DAR strategizes to improve the land tenure security of the agrarian reform beneficiaries, establish a stable agrarian property rights regime and create a sustainable livelihood for them.

DAR under Delos Reyes, Bueno said, is resolute in its stand to finish the acquisition and distribution of still close to one million hectares of lands, hence, the DAR secretary has been going around each region with the two teams from the Field Operations Office to validate the targets by reviewing the nature and status of the LAD balances.

He also closely scrutinizes every landholding and determines what hinders the attainment of the targets, to ensure the accuracy of the deliverables this year.

Bueno said Delos Reyes implores to achieve the targets set because “it is ungainly that targets go out the bottom line only to be reduced by the time June comes and by the time December rolls around, the excuses of previous years, play a sad refrain.”

On the program beneficiary development side, Bueno said, the agency also emphasizes the need for flexibility and adherence to the call of change.

AFP junior officers stress they strictly uphold Honor Code

By Rhaydz B. Barcia [(PNA), CTB/FGS/RBB/CBD/RSM]

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 23 (PNA) -– Two junior officers of the country’s premier military institution said they strongly uphold the “Honor Code” to the fullest.

Major Angelo Guzman, former public information officer of the Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division based in the Bicol region and now assistant chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s Public Affairs Office, said Cadet Aldrin Jeff Cudia violated their sacred pact Honor Code — the pillar of the institution which guides them to do right.

“It guides us to do right, it is as important as life itself. He violated the Honor Code System, that’s it,” he said Sunday.

Another PMA graduate, Major Arvin Alexander Buan, deputy commander of the Tactical Operations Group Bicol-Philippine Air Force (TOG5-PAF), said the Honor Code is an inviolable covenant and as such any violation committed by a cadet is a paramount grave offense which is not allowed by the academy.

Buan said that when a cadet is found guilty of not living up to the sanctity of the Honor Code he or she is given a chance or choice to resign as an honorable act rather than to stay in the institution or take the dose of his own medicine.

Guzman, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Masikhay Class 1999, defended the Honor Code System, saying it is an unbending accord of the cadets and cadettes.

On his Facebook wall, Guzman also expressed his thoughts as member of the cavaliers.

“I am a PMAyer...I have the balls to face the consequences of all my words and actions,” the military junior officer said.

When asked on his comment regarding the euro military generals facing plunder cases and other high crimes for not living up to the standards of the PMA’s honor code, Guzman timidly said others forget the sacred covenant.

“Others forget. It’s a big organization, We are also a mirror of the society na kung saan may mabait, may otherwise...pero how I wish every graduate will hold on to their pledge to protect and serve the country and the people as well as to practice the Honor Code even after graduation,” he added.

The rosy future of Cudia, who is supposed to be the PMA class salutatorian this year and is the top cadet to join the elite unit of Philippine Navy, has been wasted after he violated the revered and incontestable Honor Code of the academy, Guzman said.

Cudia was suspended for this violation and not for being two-minute late, for which he has already served the punishment.

“A cadet found guilty of violating the Honor Code is equivalent to one losing his face. So, you’re given a choice to resign as this is a more honorable act rather than to stay. If you choose to stay in the institution, you must suffer the consequences of your action,” Buan said.

The Honor Code, according to him, is not only the pillar of the cadets but a binding principle among the officers’ corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Salceda says poor nations to gain access to climate change funds

(MST Business)

Developing countries affiliated with the United Nations may shortly gain access to the UN Green Climate Fund to finance their needs related to the impact of climate change.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, GCF co-chairman who currently presides over the five-day 6th UN-GCF Board meeting in Bali, Indonesia, said it would adopt an approach by which member countries will have access to finances based on their needs as a consequence of climate change.

The strategy, he told a conference in Bali of some 177 finance and economic minister from around the globe at the Bali Dusa Nua Convention Center in Bali, Indonesia, was the key to fast and effective way to attain the GCF objectives. Salceda represents Southeast Asia and developing countries in the GCF.

The conference, which tackled climate change readiness and preparednes, was a side event of the February 17 to 21 sixth GCF Board meeting, which Salceda co-presided over with Manfred Konukiewitz, his German counterpart, who represented developed economies in the GCF body. It was organized by World Resources Institure and the Asian Development Bank.

In a statement posted in his Facebook February 18, Salceda thanked the WRI and ADB for holding the event in time with the UN-GCF meeting because it would help in the formulation of guidelines, rules and regulations on the implementation of the fund.

He said the finance and economic ministers’ gathering had served as guide for the GCF board, and clarified the policies on accessing the GCF and the climate financial needs of developing countries, or countries greatly affected by climate change based on conditions required.

“In fact, it is the poor nations that have long been and most affected by the situation and the effects of climate change have been mounting, especially in poor nations,” he added.

Albay now boasts of smallest, largest fishes

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 21 (PNA) – Both the world’s smallest fish -- the "sinarapan," and the biggest—"butanding," are now inhabitants of Albay province, Gov. Joey Salceda has declared.

Sinarapan, which is scientifically known as Mistichthys luzonensis and listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the "smallest food fish," has been, since time immemorial, a resident of Danao -- a small, scenic crater lake nestled between Mts. Malinao and Masaraga in the municipality of Polangui.

The lake, which is located 15 kilometers from downtown of Polangui, is 30-minute hike through carabao trails and abaca plantations from the provincial road.

Sinarapan, which is endemic to this lake and swimming in massive schools of 100,000 to 500,000 fish, has an average length of 12.5 millimeters (mm) -- the males somewhat smaller than females.

This tiny transparent goby, with its large black eyes showing the only color, occurs in vast numbers in the lake -- from near the shoreline out to where the water is -- at least 10 to 20 meters deep and breeds throughout the year.

According to the inhabitants of Barangay Danao where the lake sits, the eggs float on the surface of the lake covering large areas, especially during sunny days in March and April.

When hatched, the young swim first at the surface but after a short time, go to the bottom to live.

Sinarapan, which has been of economic importance locally, is commercially harvested in large quantities by the people living near the lake.

For Bicolanos, this fresh water fish species is a staple food of superior delicacy when fried in oil or added to an omelet for breakfast or cooked in coconut milk with vegetables and chili.

These diminutive creatures are said to be an aphrodisiac when eaten raw with salt and a few squeezes of lime juice.

According to Salceda, it is quite amusing as its name seems to come from the root word, “sarap”, which means "delicious" in Filipino -- a word that is used to describe both food and sex.

Some Bicolanos, however, say that its name is derived from “sarap,” a local term for the finely-meshed net which is used in harvesting it.

On the other hand, the largest known extant fish species locally called butanding and popular worldwide as whale shark (Rhincodon typus) has also inhabited the waters of Albay, particularly the Poliqui Bay that belongs to the territorial jurisdiction of this city.

Poliqui Bay is host to several river channels draining into Albay Gulf and plankton develop at the mouth of these rivers.

Extending from the shorelines of Barangay Puro to Barangay Buenavista, 10 kilometers away, Poliqui’s seabed is rich in sea grass while its shoreline teems with mangroves, making it a habitat for various marine species.

A pod of these “gentle giants of the ocean” that feed on plankton moved to this bay through the Albay Gulf and made their first public appearance early morning last Feb. 2 near the waterfront of Embarcadero de Legazpi adjoining the city harbor.

Since then, at least eight butandings have been continuously hanging around and showing up along the four-kilometer stretch of Legazpi Boulevard, the city’s newest leisure spot that serves as a daily rendezvous for tourists and locals for its fresh ocean air and picturesque sitting with the majestic Mt. Mayon on the background.

In two-week's time, 90 sightings of these animals measuring from six to 13 meters in body length have been recorded by the city’s Integrated Coastal Resource Management Unit.

The coming of the whale sharks has become an added attraction, drawing to the city hundreds of tourists rushing to go seaborne for underwater interactions.

According to City Mayor Noel Rosal, the present stay at the city waters of whale sharks is not the first time, given that these migratory sea mammals were also around for several weeks four years ago.

“The coming of butanding really proves that our sea water is still clean and rich in plankton,” he said.

With the majestic Mt. Mayon providing the background, the presence of butanding here indeed provides a double treat to tourists -- not to mention the other tourist attractions in the province of Albay that would complete their trip, Salceda said.

Hence, the governor said, safeguarding these butandings now becomes a responsibility of every Albayano not only for the local tourism gains it provides but also because of its being rare and endangered.

If only possible, Salceda said, “we want these animals to stay around for a long period of time or perhaps, reside here permanently,”

Rosal, for the part of the city government, has issued guidelines that carry a “Code of Conduct” in dealing with the enormous sea mammals “to ensure safety and enjoyable experience of divers and to prevent the animals from being disturbed."

He warns that although whale sharks are harmless, their sheer size makes it necessary for the divers to exercise caution around them, especially at the tail end.

“Diving with whale sharks in their natural environment is a breathtaking and rewarding experience as this world’s biggest fish glides slowly but gracefully past, resplendent in its dappled skin, within touching distance and impassive to the presence of the onlooker,” the mayor added.

Butandings post 90 recorded appearances in Albay Gulf waters in past 2 weeks

(PNA), FPV/FGS/MSA/CBD/UTB

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 20 (PNA) -- A total of 90 appearances of whale sharks in the waters off the Albay Gulf, some 30 meters from the shorelines of the Legazpi Boulevard, have been recorded in the past two weeks, Bem Redito, city butanding interaction officer, said in a telephone interview Thursday.

Redito said the presence of whale sharks was first noted during the first week of the month with six sighted, followed by another two in the second week.

The eight whale sharks, with measurements ranging from six meters to 13 meters long, have been frolicking at the shorelines of the Legazpi Boulevard, bringing in hundreds of viewers daily since Feb. 2, he said.

Redito said that since the first appearance of the gentle giant fishes, at least 40 foreign tourists from Europe, Germany, United States, Japan, Singapore and Korea visit the city daily to watch and interact with the whale sharks.

Asked if these butandings came from the coastal waters of Donsol town in Sorsogon, Redito said the butandings appearing in this city are still juvenile or not fully grown and are not from Sorsogon, citing a photo identification conducted recently by the WWF.

Tourism and business in this city have been on the upbeat for almost three weeks now since the gentle sea creatures first appearance.

City Mayor Noel Rosal said in an interview that hundreds of local and foreign tourists watch in awe these playful sea creatures swimming and exhibiting their white-dotted bodies about 500 meters off the shorelines of the Legazpi City Boulevard in the vicinity of the coastal villages of Dapdap, Puro and Lamba.

Rosal said that with the influx of foreign visitors as well as local tourists, he issued an executive order regulating the watching and interaction with the friendly sea creature.

The code was made in response to the wrong practice engaged by some foreign visitors while interacting with the butanding by either riding at the back of the sea mammal or feeding them.

As a result, two butanding interaction officers and two boatmen were suspended for allowing foreign tourists to ride on the whale shark despite the guidelines his office had issued.

Rosal said the code of conduct is based on the guidelines laid down by the World Wildlife Fund which prohibits the practice of touching, riding on and feeding the whale shark, restricting the movement of the whale shark, taking underwater photography with a flush, and using of scuba apparatus, scooters, jet ski or any motorized underwater gadgets.

Swimmers interacting with the butanding are allowed to swim along with the creature at a distance of four meters from the tail and three meters from the head and body.

Joan Encinares, the city tourism officer, said in an interview that in order to strictly enforce the code, they have trained and accredited 14 butanding boatmen and boats with white and red flags bearing the city government seal.

She said that under the guidelines, non-accredited sea crafts and boatmen will not be allowed to engage in any interaction activity or get near the whale shark.

The daily whale shark interaction is only allowed from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The city government has also regulated the interaction fees at: P1,000 per small boat for two guests and P1,500 for big boats to accommodate four or more guests, including a P100 registration fee, Encinares said.

Legazpi Boulevard is a major road network by the bay where business establishments such as resto-grille, videoke bars and refreshment parlors line up along the five-kilometer boulevard.

Chito Ante, city business consultant, said in an interview said that income from businesses at the boulevard is increasing as their operations went on 24/7.

The presence of whale sharks here has been attributed to the abundance of plankton, the food they eat, in the Albay Gulf, Rosal said.

Donsol town in Sorsogon has been tagged by tourism authorities as the Butanding Capital of the country because of the presence of several whale sharks measuring 14 meters long.

Butanding season is observed in February until March where thousands of local and foreign visitors spend their holidays in Donsol town, some 47 kilometers from this city.

However, last year, the sightings of butanding at the coastal waters of Donsol dwindled because of the rising sea temperature due to climate change, stress and lack of food.

Alan Amanse, Donsol BIO board chairperson, confirmed in an earlier interview that the rising sea temperature, stress and insufficient plankton are the factors that cause the whale sharks to transfer to cooler areas and swim to the deep sea or look for areas with abundant food.

He said because of this condition, the sightings of butanding in Donsol has considerably dropped from eight sightings the previous year to only two during the first half of last year, endangering the tourism industry of the town.

Amanse claimed that sea temperature rise has significantly increased from the ideal temperature range 26 to 27 degrees to 29 to 30 degrees last year.

Currently, there are only two eight-meter long and two-meter wide whale sharks swimming off Donsol waters.

They are “Curly,” a butanding with curly dorsal fin, and “Lucky,” with a nylon cord tied on the tail.

“Wala na 'yong mga malalaki measuring 14-meters long, and gone are the likes of the famous “Putol” and “Nognog,” Amanse said.

Another cause for the depletion, he lamented, is that the butandings are suffering from stress because of the many interaction events that the BIOs conducted during the butanding season which is held in May and December.

Rey Aquino, town councillor, claims that the rampant gathering of plankton by fisherfolk and the presence of ecoli contamination in the Donsol river due to existence of household toilets along riverbanks contributed further in the problem of scarcity of food (plankton) in the butanding feeding grounds.

Butanding presence in Albay Gulf perks up business in Legazpi

(PNA), LAP/FGS/RBB/CBD/UTB

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 19 (PNA) -- The presence of whale sharks locally called "butanding" at Albay Gulf here is perking up business and entrepreneurs along the five-kilometer Legazpi City boulevard have been raking in better income since last week.

Lisa Cargullo, a "buko" (young coconut) vendor in Puro village, said they are operating 24 hours now as more people and tourists are swarming the boulevard to watch the whale sharks that have provided excitement and entertainment to spectators.

“Since February 14 until today we have been sleepless because a lot of people are coming here to see the playfulness of the butanding while foreign tourists are interacting with the whale sharks,” Cargullo said.

She said they are happy that the local business is booming, owing to big tourist arrivals in the city since the resurgence of butanding -- their third appearance in the city waters since 2010.

With the majestic Mayon volcano providing the background, the presence of butanding indeed provide a double treat to tourists -- not to mention the other tourist attractions in the province of Albay that would complete their trip.

Thus, brisk business spilled over to other areas of the province, benefiting both small and big businesses.

With the influx of foreign tourists here, Mayor Noel E. Rosal has enforced stringent measures on how to appreciate seeing or interacting with the whale shark after foreign visitors rode at the back of a butanding on Saturday afternoon despite the code of conduct implemented by the city government of Legazpi.

As a result also, Rosal suspended two butanding interaction officers and two boatmen for allowing the foreign tourists to ride on the whale shark despite the guidelines his office had issued.

“We’re strictly enforcing the guidelines not only to protect the whale sharks but also because we don’t want to disturb their natural feeding habitat. And so, we don’t want the repetition of what happened in Oslob, Cebu, where the locals and tourists rode on the butanding, which disturbed their natural way of feeding and caused stress to the gentle mammals,” he said.

“Butanding is one of the endangered rare sea creatures in the world so we need to safeguard them not only because they’re giving us livelihood but also because we want to preserve and, if possible, increase their population for our upcoming generations,” Rosal added.

The code of conduct was issued by the mayor a day after a school of theses gentle giant sea creatures appeared at the ritzy waterfront of Embarcadero de Legazpi and the seaside areas of Puro, Dapdap and Lamba villages here.

The guidelines asked tourists, swimmers and divers not to touch or ride on the whale shark nor restrict its movement or impede its natural path to ensure its safety.

The rules also recommended that the distance from the animals that divers should maintain is three meters away from its tail.

Similarly, Rosal directed the Integrated Coastal Resource Management Unit led by former councilor Chito Ante to see to it that the COC is strictly followed and observed.

Ante said his office is adopting the Standard Operating Protocol in responding to emergencies involving whale sharks like stranding incidents.

Other prohibited acts are the use of flash in taking underwater photographs as well as the use of scooters, jet ski or any motorized underwater propulsion so as not to cause even minimal disturbance to the sharks.

Everyday, the Legazpi City boulevard is jam-packed with local and foreign tourists as the playfulness of the butanding could be seen just 100 meters away from the shoreline of Albay Gulf.

As foreign and local tourists thronged here, Rosal said he will limit the whale shark interaction from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. so as not to stress the gentle creatures.

“We will strictly enforce the guidelines, and even elected and government officials should follow the rules, like they cannot interact or use any boat for interaction. They should register with our tourism office,” Rosal stressed.

The presence of butanding in Albay Gulf, specifically in Legazpi waters, first happened in February 2010, when two of them stayed for a week in the waters of Legazpi.

This year, the number of butanding increased from two to nine.

Since the re-appearance of butanding on Monday last week, the five-kilometer boulevard spanning from the beachfront leisure and commercial center Embarcadero de Legazpi to Lamba area has been picture of a festival.

Salceda to declare Albay as rebel-free province

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 18 (PNA) -- With the silence of the New People's Army rebels in Albay during the past few months, Governor Joey Sarte Salceda said Tuesday that he is set to declare the province as insurgency free soon.

Albay is where the bulk of rebels had concentrated in the past decades -- specifically in the '80s.

“Albay will be the first insurgency-free province in the country under the helm of President Benigno Aquino,” the governor said.

His pronouncement came after the province opened its door as an international gateway for chartered flights from other countries early this month.

Salceda also underscored the development projects going on in the countryside and expressed belief that this will eventually solve the four-decade insurgency problem in the province.

The concurrent Regional Development Council chairman said development through infrastructure projects and investments can hasten economic growth in the hinterlands.

The provincial government of Albay, in partnership with Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade under Col. Raul Farnacio, has launched a series of development programs dubbed as “Countryside Development Caravan."

The initiative is being done in coordination with local government units, nongovernment organizations, Office of the Civil Defense, national government agencies and uniformed services to push economic development in far-flung areas, thus, rendering the presence of rebels here irrelevant.

Salceda said the caravan is the initiative of the provincial government based on the "Pledge of an Albayano" to make the province the most livable place in the country.

The caravan is a multi-discipline partnership of the government to give free medical and dental mission and provide livelihood development training, animal health services and information education campaign to the people residing in far-flung areas here.

Before the launch of the countryside development caravan here, the provincial government and the Philippine Army rolled out the Kalayaan sa Barangay Program (KBP) to bring basic services to communities.

Under the KBP, Army engineers have constructed school buildings, electrification systems, water systems and farm-to-market roads.

Aside from development projects, the government troops have beefed up security to prevent NPA rebels from extorting from contractors of development projects in Bicol.

Salceda said the development programs, disaster and rescue operations, and respect for human rights have drastically diminished the influence of the CPP-NPA in Bicol, specifically in Albay.

Earlier, AFP Chief of Staff general Emmanuel T. Bautista lauded the efforts of government forces in Southern Luzon, specifically in Albay, for achieving peace in the countryside.

In terms of disaster preparedness, Albay leads the way as first disaster responders.

Daraga town makes Cagsawa Dos Siglos Festival smoke free

By Connie B. Destura [(PNA), CTB/FGS/CBD/]

DARAGA, Albay, Feb. 17 -- As this municipality celebrates Cagsawa Dos Siglos, the local government unit here, with the help of the Rural Health Unit and the Smoke-Free Task Force, will strictly implement its Anti-Smoking Ordinance during the said event.

The LGU plans to put more “No Smoking” signages within the locality to increase public awareness and protect the public from being victims of second-hand smoking.

Councilor Mark Magalona, tourism and cultural affairs committee chair and in-charge of the Cagsawa Festival activities, pledged to reproduce several layout copies of “No Smoking” signages provided by Add+Vantage Community Team Services.

And as a non-smoker, Magalona said, he will certainly help in the Smoke-Free campaign in any way he can, not only in Daraga but also in the whole province.

“The Anti-Smoking Ordinance was already tackled and discussed during the executive committee,” he told thePhilippines News Agency (PNA) on Monday.

Councilor Mabel Tan also agreed to put more “No Smoking” signages.“The more signages, the better,” Tan said.

She added that the LGU is open to any plans and proposals that will be given by the RHU and/or Add+Vantage Community Team Services with regard to the implementation of the ordinance.

As a member of the Smoke-Free Task Force, the Daraga Municipal Police Office headed by Chief Inspector Sotero Bobis actively assists in the enforcement of the ordinance, especially now that there will be a beer plaza during the occasion.

Bobis said they will automatically file cases against those caught smoking within the vicinity of Daraga, which, he said, they normally do even without a special event.

Dr. Mercy Chua, Smoke-Free Daraga Task Force chair, gladly announced that they are receiving full support and coordination from their members, thus, making her feel confident that the force to prevent smoking in the municipality is becoming stronger.

Chua said they conduct regular monitoring in Daraga, held every Thursday afternoon, to ensure the sustainability of the progress of the ordinance.

“The ordinance is at its full implementation,” she exclaimed.

Chua proudly highlighted their smoking cessation clinic which provides help to people who are willing to quit the vice.

With this and the continuing support of all the officials and the local government, she positively hopes to at least reduce the number of smokers in Daraga, one step at a time.

Meanwhile, as developments on the ordinance arise, allegations are being circulated that the Anti-Smoking Ordinance will be suspended in the beer plaza during the festival.

Bobis and Tan both stressed that the alleged suspension is not true and a false report.

When asked about the report, Tan said there is no truth to it. “There is no such rule in the law that during festivals there will be suspension of any ordinance. Whatever is stated in the law shall strictly be implemented,” Bobis said.

The continuous efforts of the Daraga LGU, together with its partners, in implementing the Anti-Smoking Ordinance will take the municipality into the next level by hopefully being an addition to the list of Red Orchid Awardees in the country, he said, adding the Department of Health plans to re-evaluate Daraga, as well as the other cities and municipalities in the province, for the said award.

Ligao City is also taking further measures in the implementation of its Anti-Smoking Ordinance, Bobis said.

On Feb. 6, city health officials conducted surprise inspection of establishments within the city to check if they are still selling cigarettes.

Among the 19 firms inspected, two branches of the LCC Supermarket are still selling, he said.

When asked if they have a permit to sell, the managers said they do not have.

“It seems that they are still not fully aware of the ordinance so the task force is set to conduct more information drives,” inspectors said.

The City Health Office will conduct more surprise inspections to identify compliant establishments, which will be recognized as they plan to have their non-monetary awards.

Non-monetary awards in Legazpi City and Daraga have already been given.

Legazpi City awarded 20 compliant establishments on Feb. 5 while Daraga had 10 compliant companies awarded on October 30, 2013.

Daraga, on its way to becoming a 100% smoke-free municipality, will open a wider gateway for tourism not only in the municipality but also in the whole province of Albay, especially now that the first international chartered flight from Xiamen, China, has arrived and is expected to be followed by other international flights.

Anti-smoking signages are posted at the airport, thus, creating a smoke-free image of the province among tourists.

“With all preparations set in place, such as the celebration of Cagsawa festival, arrival of tourists, more anti-smoking signages, strong enforcement and full implementation of the ordinance -- the once sleepy Daraga town, will surely boom this year,” Chua pointed out.

DENR execs, mining firm charged for ecological damage

By Manly M. Ugalde (Correspondent)

LEGAZPI CITY—The Integrated Bar of the Philippines and former members of the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Rapu-Rapu in the province of Albay have filed in court an environmental case for violation of the Environmental Protection Order against Environment Secretary Ramon JP Paje, three officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and four South Korean mining firms and their seven officials.

Filed at the Regional Trial Court here on January 16, the four-page complaint said after raking P65 billion in income during their eight years in copper, gold, silver and zinc mining operation, the accused in apparent neglect and collaboration simply abandoned the mining area and failed to rehabilitate the damaged environment involving 180 hectares of mined sites in the island Rapu-Rapu town.

In its prefatory statement, complainants said that “while Filipinos too often tolerate abuse by visitors who leave their hosts to clean up any mess that is left behind, there are limits in welcoming foreigners to exploits every bit of our country’s natural resources whenever they put our host communities’ environment, as well as their present and future generations at serious risk to incalculable peril and total alienation from their own homeland as our guests way of reciprocating our hospitality and bidding us a cruel good-bye.”

Complainants, led by Marino E Baranda and Giovani B. Guapo were former Rapu-Rapu SB members among those who endorsed the mining firms’ operations to the DENR. They petitioned the DENR to issue the environment certificate compliance (ECC) for the Rapu-Rapu mining operation of the then-Lafayette Mining Inc. operated by Australian nationals.

Included as complainant is also a former vice president for public affairs of the accused mining firms named Cecilia Calleja.

The complaint also said barely a year into the Rapu-Rapu mining operations in 2006, a mine tailing spill occurred that killed fishes in the Albay gulf reaching as far as the sea of nearby Sorsogon province to the grave prejudice of small fishermen.

Prompted by demand for the closure of the mining operation from the Church and environmentalists as a result of the mines disaster, then- President Arroyo created the Bastes Commission to investigate. Headed by Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes, the probe recommended the closure of the Rapu-Rapu mines operation. The recommendation, however, was ignored by the Arroyo administration. Two years later, Lafayette Mining Corp. sold its Rapu-Rapu Mines to the South Korean firm.

Among those charged in the government side were Paje, his Mines and Geoscience Bureau Director Leo Jasareno, Bicol MGB Regional Director Theodore Rommel Pestano and Bicol DENR Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales.

At least five South Korean-owned firms and seven of its officials were among those initially charged. These are the Rapu-Rapu Minerals Inc. (RRMI), Rapu-Rapu Polymetallic Project (RRPP), Rapu-Rapu Processing Inc. (RRPI), Rapu-Rapu Holdings Inc. (RRHI) and Korea Malaysia Philippines Resources Inc. (KMPRI).

Among the mining firm officials charged were Jason Lim (a South Korean), Soon Bang-ko, Levin Alonso, Rogelio E. Corpuz, Marcial Campos, Ben Dayao and Young Bong-ha.

The complaint sought for a temporary environmental protection order, writ of preliminary attachment and writ of continuing mandamus and damages.

The complaint said after the eight-year contract to operate the mining operation in Rapu-Rapu town, the South Korean-owned firms started implementing the closure of their Rapu-Rapu mining starting on August 30, 2013.

The companies, however, said that on September 9, September 11, and October 29 last year, the South Korean firm still managed to make three ore shipments out of the country valued at $12.5 million in blatant disregard of an MGB directive to stop any further shipment pending implementation and completion of the rehabilitation contract for the mined sites.

Cecilia Calleja, one of the signatories in the complaint and former vice president for public affairs of the South Korean-owned RRMI, said the mining operators would simply abandon Rapu-Rapu without the rehabilitation plan implemented adding that even separated employees have not been paid of the separation pay.

Calleja said an amended complaint would be filed to include Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda of Albay in his capacity as member of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC) which handles the rehabilitation fund estimated in 2007 at P158 million.

The South Korean nationals estimated in 2007 an actual rehabilitation to reach P400 million, Calleja said.

She said despite glaring efforts to simply abandon the mined sites without complying the rehabilitation plan, government officials concerned have not shown evident actions to compel the South Korean firms comply with the rehabilitation program.

The complaint said the South Korean firm is even exerting too much pressure to the DENR to allow its one last shipment of ore mineral and that if allowed would render Rapu-Rapu claim for the restoration of its damaged site.

Green Climate Fund board co-chairs now in Bali, Indonesia for 6th meeting

By Floreño G. Solmirano (PNA), CTB/FGS/CBD

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 15 (PNA) – Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda and Manfred Konukiewitz of Germany, co-chairs of the 24-member board of the Green Climate Fund, are the early birds for the Fund’s sixth board meeting on Feb. 16-21 in Bali, Indonesia.

Salceda, who will be presiding over the meeting, said he landed safely at the Ngurah Rai Airport at about 7:00 a.m. and checked in at the Hotel Santika Siligita Nusa Dua.

“The room is very cheap here at per night with free breakfast and wi-fi,” he said in a message sent Saturday morning.

The 6th meeting of the GCF board will be held in the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center in Nusa Dua, Bali.

“This island is considered as one of the world’s best meeting places, combining the luxury modern meeting facility and the beauty of the nature,” Indonesian organizers of the meeting said.

Nusa Dua is just 12.7 kilometers away or approximately 17-minute drive from the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

It is easily reached from the airport by public transportation such as taxi and city minibus, with taxi fare of about US$ 8-10 from the airport to the hotels in the Nusa Dua area.

The host country provides hospitality airport transfer from the Ngurah Rai Airport to the three official hotels, which are the Grand Hyatt Bali, Melia Bali-Indonesia and Hotel Santika Siligita Nusa Dua.

Bali is located just off the eastern tip of Java, from which it is separated by the Bali Strait, the meeting organizers said in an information material.On its north and south side, the island is flanked by the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean, respectively.

The island occupies an area of approximately 6,000 square kilometers and lies on a latitude of 8 degrees south of the equator, having population of around 3.5 million.

Bali is one of Indonesia's provinces, with Denpasar as the provincial capital.

Its great natural beauty and rich culture have made Bali globally known as an island of paradise.

Bali's spectacular beaches, volcanoes, lakes, temples, and terraced rice fields --combined with its deeply artistic roots and its legendary hospitality -- have made it one of the most visited places on earth, the organizers added.

The religion and culture of Bali are unique in the world, and the Balinese have preserved their traditions in spite of the island's growing tourist industry.Bali International Airport, Ngurah Rai, is the nation's eastern gateway, served by numerous international air lines and charter flights.

It enjoys warm, tropical, weather all year as its temperature average is between 21-33 degrees Celsius year round.

In general, Bali experiences two seasons: moist and wet.

Bali is the Central Indonesian Time zone, which is GMT+8 hours.

Even though Bahasa Indonesia is the national/official language, English is widely spoken and understood by the local people, the organizers information said.

The GCF co-chairs, secretariat, committees, panels and group are scheduled to report on their respective activities, Salceda said.

The board is expected to tackle initial modalities for the operation of the Fund’s mitigation and adaptation windows and the private sector facility; additional result areas and indicators for adaptation activities; initial results management framework of the Fund, policies and procedures for the initial allocation of Fund resources; terms of reference of the Independent Evaluation Unit, Independent Integrity Unit and independent redress mechanism; and progress reports on other essential requirements for the initial resource mobilization, he added.

Also to be discussed are the options for a Fund-wide gender-sensitive approach; detailed program of work on readiness and preparatory support; financial terms and conditions of grants and concessional loans; and status of resources.

On Feb. 17 and Feb. 18, there will be preparatory and informal committee, panel and group meetings.

Butanding interaction attracts increasing foreign tourists’ flow

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 14 (PNA) -- More and more foreign tourists are flocking to this city to interact with whale sharks, known locally as ‘Butanding,’ which have remained in the waters of Albay Gulf close to the seaport here.

Donsol town in neighboring Sorsogon, has been known as the capital of Butanding Interaction in the country, an experience sought by guests from all over the world. Now that adventure is being offered in Legazpi City.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda told media they are now working with the Legazpi City government and the provincial office of Albay Eco-nautical Tourism so they can participate in any process or structure to ensure the ecological integrity and sustainable enterprise of the activity.

Tourism is a major industry in Albay which contributes substantially to its local economy.

Salceda said the presence of Butandings off the shores of Albay has further enhanced the potentials of the province as a “must visit” tourist destination. Its other tourist drawers include the perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano, the Cagsawa Ruins, and other tourism assets.

The whale sharks in both Donsol and Legazpi, he added, will further boost the stature of Almasor as an eco-tourism paradise of the Philippines.

Almasor is a tourism alliance of the three southernmost provinces of the Bicol Region – Albay, Masbate and Sorsongon, which Salceda organized last year as chair of Bicol’s Regional Development Council, to integrate their tourism assets.

The gentle giants were already reported in November last year to have visibly frequented the seas off the populous cities of Legazpi and Tabaco and the coastal town of Pioduran on its west flank. For the past few weeks they have appeared daily in Albay Gulf, in groups of two to six.

Salceda earlier said about “50 percent of the economic activity driven by the presence of whale sharks in Donsol will likely go to Albay, being a close neighbor of Sorsogon and a favorite destination among tourists who love to feast their eyes on the world famous Mayon Volcano and the Cagsawa Ruins.”

He said even if the absence of Butandings in Donsol had been reported for two weeks now, tourists still flock the area because of beautiful and well maintained resorts, with accommodations that are competitively priced.

The presence of the whale sharks in the Albay Gulf is viewed by many as a reward for the province’s sustained assistance to calamity victims in various regions and because of this, the province is fast becoming known as the ‘kindness capital’ of the country, Salceda said.

Salceda wants top spot in NAT for Albay

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 13 (PNA) – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda wants no break in the spate of good feats that have been magnanimous to the province in the past days owing to his high-profile boosting and boasting.

When he wanted the overall championship for the province this year in the recently concluded Palarong Bicol, the yearly regional sports competition among public schools organized by the Department of Education (DepEd), he got it.

The province was only a runner-up in last year’s event whose championship crown was won by Camarines Sur.

Now, he wants Albay to land among the top performers nationwide in the forthcoming National Achievement Test (NAT).

"My dear pupils, students, teachers, parents and community leaders, we have a few more days to prepare for the NAT where our ranking has been designated as a socially desirable goal of the province,” Salceda said in a message recently circulated across the province.

In 2007, Albay Schools Division ranked 177th out of 183 divisions nationwide.

“So, we decided to implement robust measures to correct it and more than that to go for a goal,” he said.

The first step was to establish an institution solely dedicated to education which is the Provincial Education Department (PED), the first and only one of its kind in the entire country.

“You put your mouth where your mouth is, thus, education is now the biggest item in the entire provincial budget and accounts for 24 percent, and with the capacity of PED, we launched and sustained various programs including giving recognition and financial rewards to schools and their General Parent-Teachers' Associations (GPTAs),” Salceda said.

The province has also lobbied, quite successfully with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for higher coverage of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from 11,000 in 2010 to 76,000 in 2013 to combat the impact of malnutrition on student performance and participation.

NAT for Secondary (Fourth Year) will be held on March 5, while March 11 will be for Elementary (Grade III); and March 13, Elementary (Grace VI).

“Thus, from 2007's 177th in NAT, Albay ranked 19th in 2011 and slipped to 29. But, we remain confident that we will achieve our goal of Top 20 by 2014 and Top 10 by 2016,” Salceda said.

“We cannot do it alone, we need the support and prayers of everyone in this regard. Personally, having been a product of educators -- both my parents being public school teachers, I know that the future success of our people is significantly determined by our performance in school and the behavior of our educational system,” he said .

“People ask me what I would consider to be my greatest achievement or highest legacy of my administration - my answer is simple: improving Albay's NAT from 177th to Top 10, because that makes Albay the bastion of education in Luzon,” the governor, who called himself “Your friendly neighborhood” as the message sender, stressed.

Shortly before winning the Palarong Bicol championship crown, Salceda’s previous dream of making the province a new direct destination in the country for the international travel market -- added to Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and Laoag where there are existing flights from and to various cities outside of the country -- has been realized.

Last Jan. 30, a total of 156 Chinese tourists were flown in by a chartered Philippine Air Lines (PAL) flight from Xiamen, China, to mark the opening of the Legazpi Airport to chartered flights that would fly in foreign visitors who are making Albay a new direct destination.

It was realized as the province takes advantage of the foreign market trend showing that international tourists do not tend to repeat a local destination as they follow a cycle leading them from one place to another.

The flight was arranged by the provincial government in coordination with local and China-based travel agencies under Salceda’s newest program, in line with his policy to achieve inclusive growth for the province through tourism that will have direct impact to the community.

Tourism will definitely take a crucial role in the province’s, in Bicol region's and the country’s pursuit for inclusive and horizontal growth that will benefit not only big investors such as hotel and resort owners and operators but also the people in the countryside where most of tourist destinations are located by providing more opportunities for employment and business ventures, Salceda believes.

Following that maiden flight, chartered flights between this city and Xiamen will come on regular basis twice a week starting in June, from where Albay expects at least 17,000 Chinese tourists this year.

Tour operators in Shanghai, Guangzhou and 12 other China cities have also signified their interest in organizing direct chartered flights to this city to give more Chinese tourists chances to visit Albay, home to the majestic Mt. Mayon.

Korean and Taiwanese tourists are also interested to come here this year via direct flights.

Salceda has also been successful in his bid for the province to host the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in December this year and the Green Climate Fund in April 2015.

To further boost Albay travel industry prospects, the governor has been working with the national government on the completion of the Southern Luzon International Airport now ongoing construction in a vast flatland in Daraga, Albay.

The project presently has a P2.2-billion Public-Private Partnership fund allocated for the completion of the runway and construction of apron and taxiway which are ongoing implementation.

The scope of works, however, are confined only to the airside of the proposed airport and since the main thrust is to complete this flagship project during the term of Pres. Aquino, the immediate implementation of the passenger terminal, cargo and other buildings -- including the necessary equipment so that these structures within the landside area -- should already be done.

For this, the governor has been assured by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) with funds to achieve its June 30, 2016 completion target.

When completed, the new airport will not only totally address the technical limitations that the existing Legazpi Airport has to bear for the longest time, resulting in frequent flight cancellations, but also provide safer air transportation to the growing number of passengers due to the booming tourism industry in the area.

It is projected to serve the needs of 9.8 million people – 5.7 million in Bicol and 2.1 million in the three provinces of nearby Samar islands.

Bicol is under the Central Philippines cluster along with the three Visayan regions, which focuses on tourism development.

Albay launches ‘piso-piso’ campaign for Filipino skater competing in Sochi Olympics

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 12 (PNA) – To financially assist the lone Filipino skater competing in the Winter Olympics in Russia, Albayanos have launched a fund-raising campaign for Michael Christian Martinez as their pre-Valentine gift to the Filipino figure skater.

The campaign, dubbed as “Piso para sa Pusong Pilipino: People's Valentine Gift for Michael,” it was initiated by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda on Tuesday where he donated his entire one-month salary to start the ball rolling, so to speak.

Salceda used the social networking medium, specifically the Facebook, to disseminate the campaign through the netizens.

Since the launch on Tuesday morning, at least P61,515 had been generated as of 3:00 p.m. of the same day.

“It’s not the money but the act of physically articulating our inner desire that really matters. That will give him (Martinez) the aura of a winner -- that the winning form and movement during competitions are knowing fully well that an entire nation is solidly behind him in thought and even in muscle memory and that we will be there to catch him when he falls so he can be bolder,” the Albay governor said.

Martinez is the first Filipino figure skater to represent the Philippines at the Winter Olympics in 22 years.

The city government of Legazpi led by Mayor Noel Rosal also asked Bicolanos, specifically Albayanos, to help in the “piso-piso” campaign for Martinez.

“Let us help our lone athlete competing in Sochi 2014 Winter Games, Michael Christian Martinez,” Rosal said.

Salceda said Albayanos who are willing to help Martinez can deposit their share or peso contribution at Union Bank - Legazpi Branch (UBP S/A 109567131932).

“I personally guarantee remittance to the family. The amount as of 3:00 p.m. is P61,515 (kasama na diyan yung sweldo ko). We stop at 12:00 p.m. on Friday,” Salceda said Tuesday afternoon.

The piso-piso collection started at the provincial capitol of Albay where employees passed around cans and hats to generate donation money for Martinez.

Subsequently, Albayanos from all walks of life followed and went directly to the bank to deposit their financial assistance for the sports figure.

Martinez, a 17-year-old World championship ranker from Manila, said they had tried to get support from Malacañang through several request-letters sent by his mother to the Office of the President.

Maria Teresa Martinez, his mother, said she had written Malacañang for several times asking for help but has not gotten any response up to now.

She hopes the letters would get to the attention of the President.

Martinez ranked fifth in the World Junior Figure Skating Championships is the first skater ever to represent the Philippines in the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, scheduled this month.

To generate more assistance, Salceda directed the local government units in Albay, ABC federations, interested civil society organizations and other groups to pass the can or hat around or they can deposit their contribution directly to the designated bank account.

6 whale sharks drawing tourists to Legazpi City

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 11 (PNA) -– For the third time, whale sharks, known locally as “butanding,” have reappeared in the waters off this city and frolic even in the presence of curious residents.

The presence of the gentle giants and friendly sea creatures, six of them, playing very near the seashore of Legazpi City has attracted tourists at the area since Monday, especially at the ritzy Embarcadero de Legazpi, a world-class waterfront commercial complex and recreation center here, and the Legazpi City Boulevard.

This, despite the presence of large cargo vessels docked at the Legazpi international port.

The butanding usually appears in Donsol waters in Sorsogon, making it a regular favorite tourist destination.

Though this is not the first time -- in fact, it is the third time -- the friendly whale shark visited Albay Gulf, its sudden appearance surprising residents.

City Mayor Noel Rosal said the whale sharks appeared within the breakwater on Monday, between 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

“This is not the first time that the butanding visited our waters because since 2010, butanding sightings have been reported by the local residents to our office. The presence of butanding really proves that Albay Gulf is still clean and has abundant plankton,” Rosal said.

In 2010, two whale sharks as big as a pick-up vehicle emerged here and stayed for several weeks within the waters off this city.

Rosal said residents and visiting tourists should enjoy the presence of the butanding as these creatures are migratory.

The whale shark is an edentate fish which eats only plankton and small fish like “dilis” but grows to an enormous length of up to 50 feet and can weigh up to 40 tons.

The gentle giants, however, seldom come to this area in a pod of 40 or more at one time, the way they do at Donsol.

Donsol, with its wide and deep river channel waters flowing down the bay, has been known as the butanding sanctuary for years.

In February until May, thousands of domestic and foreign tourists spend their holidays in Donsol, watching and playing with the friendly fish that lays eggs in fresh water, particularly at the mouth of a river.

It is during February that local officials of Donsol, dubbed as the world’s Whale Shark Capital, declare the opening of the whale shark-watching season and give official sanction to whale shark interaction activities.

Tourists arrive in this town daily in droves to watch and play with the gentle giants.

The local tourism council has ordered the preservation of the area, despite the watching and interaction activities.

It trained butanding interaction officers (BIOs) who caution watchers on boats or in the waters on disturbing the butanding either by shouting, clapping or stomping their feet.

Each interaction boat is only allowed to interact with one butanding.

The BIO signals the swimmer to ease slowly into the water to prevent splashing.

He is only allowed to wear a snorkel, as a scuba gear is not encouraged because the bubbling noise underwater may disturb the fish.

Video and still cameras must have no flash bulbs and other artificial lighting.

When the whale shark gets accustomed to the human company, it may even allow the swimmers to glide along, holding on to its fins, but not to ride on its back.

The watching season ends sometime in May or early June when the whale sharks start leaving the area.

The friendliness of the butanding was discovered by a group of divers led by David Duran, son of former Sorsogon City Mayor Fernando Duran, sometime in February 1997.

Albay tourism program helps maintain PHL-China ties

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 10 (PNA) – Amid the territorial dispute that has engaged the Philippines and China into a battle of words, Albay province’s travel program is drawing the two countries into closer ties, at least in the field of tourism.

Last Jan. 30, local officials welcomed at the Legazpi Airport 156 Chinese tourists who were flown in by a chartered Philippine Air Lines (PAL) flight from Xiamen, China.

The flight was arranged by the provincial government in coordination with local and China-based travel agencies under Albay Governor Joey Salceda’s newest program in line with his policy to achieve inclusive growth for the province through tourism that will have direct impact to the community.

The group was billeted at the posh Misibis Bay Resort, a private tropical hideaway built on a pristine stretch of beach serving as a luxury island playground along Cagraray Island where Albay’s hospitality abounds.

The first day of the five-day and four-night stay of the group was overflowed with celebrations for the Chinese New Year, sumptuous foods and dances.

The rest of the days were into tours around exciting destinations where they enjoyed this city’s being called the “City of Fun and Adventure,” visited the historical Cagsawa Ruins in the nearby Daraga town and the whale shark sanctuary in Donsol, Sorsogon.

The arrival of this first batch of Chinese tourists marks the opening of this city and Albay province as a new direct destination in the country for the Chinese travel market, aside from Cebu, Boracay, Bohol and Laoag where there are existing flights from and to various cities outside of the country.

Having Albay as a new direct destination for the Chinese travel market, for example, means getting them to start a cycle from January to March of each year wherein they will arrive via chartered flights Sunday and leave Thursday, Salceda said.

With this, he said, the province would be expecting in terms of arrivals at least 200 persons per flight from China every five days for three months or 3,600 actual bodies who would be staying for five nights -- meaning 18,000 guest nights per year.

Based on reports of international tourism organizations, Chinese tourists spend 0 per night.

“With this as an example, a conservative estimate of 5 per Chinese guest per night would be equivalent to about P213 million in tourism receipts that Albay will get starting the moment they arrive at the airport and as they go along with city tours, enter the gate of Cagsawa Ruins, rent ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), eat in restaurants, get services from local providers and occupy hotel rooms,” Salceda said.

“Tourism will definitely take a crucial role in the provinces, in Bicol region's and the country’s pursuit for inclusive and horizontal growth that will benefit not only big investors such as hotel and resort owners and operators but also the people in the countryside where most of tourist destinations are located, by providing more opportunities for employment and business ventures,” he stressed.

This will also help maintain ties between the Philippines and China, at least in the aspect of tourism, even as the two countries have been issuing harsh statements against each other over disputed territories covering the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea, Salceda said.

While the vast Chinese travel market is open to Philippine tourism products, close ties between the two countries is maintained, he said.

The Philippines and China have overlapping claims over areas in the South China Sea together with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The province, Salceda said, is taking advantage of the foreign market trend showing that international tourists do not tend to repeat a local destination as they follow a cycle, leading them from one place to another.

As the Chinese tourists are expected to grow exponentially, the provincial government, in partnership with the Bicol University College of Arts and Letters, established a foreign language learning facility that accommodates will-be tour guides for thousands of tourists, mostly Chinese, coming in through the province’s international chartered flights tourism program.

After producing Chinese-speaking graduates, the unit will shift its focus on Spanish language to be able to train tour guides in preparation for the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit which will be hosted by the province in December next year and the Green Climate Fund in April, 2015.

Starting in June this year, Department of Tourism (DOT) Bicol regional director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said chartered flights between this city and Xiamen will come on regular basis twice a week -- from where Albay expects at least 17,000 Chinese tourists this year.

Tour operators in Shanghai, Guangzhou and 12 other China cities have also signified their interest in organizing direct chartered flights to this city to give more Chinese tourists chances to visit Albay, the home to the majestic Mt. Mayon, Ravanilla said, adding that Korean and Taiwanese tourists are also interested to come here this year via direct flights.

2 U.S. publications cite Albay as model in CCA, DRR

[(PNA), JBP/JCN/PJN]

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- Two U.S. based publications have cited Albay as model for disaster preparedness, referring particularly to its effective programs on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA).

The two U.S. publications -- Atlantic Cities and City Scope -- which both run their online editions, noted how Albay institutionalized its CCA and DRR programs into its local government functional and organizational structures which helped develop a “culture of readiness” among its people.

In its February 4 issue, Atlantic Cities, in its article “In the Philippines, a Model for Confronting Nearly Every Disaster,” discussed how Albay, down constantly on its knees due to the brunt of typhoons and volcanic eruptions, rose to become the country’s model in disaster risk reduction management.

The article, written by Imelda Visaya Albano, said Albay Gov. Joey Salceda initiated “novel strategies to stir his province out of the concomitant effects of disasters, creating a culture of readiness by institutionalizing the DRRM program into the local government set up.”

Atlantic Cities describes itself as a magazine that “explores the most innovative ideas and pressing issues facing today’s global cities and neighborhoods."

“Climate-change adaptation converges naturally, spontaneously and seamlessly on the ground. We have to do what we must for the people and for the planet. All it takes is political will,” said the article quoting Salceda.

The other publication, City Scope, published an article based on full length interview with the Albay governor titled “Joey Salceda: Key to disaster preparation is making the extraordinary very ordinary,” which cited the governor’s DRR and CCA strategy of continuous disaster risk assessments, risk mapping (comprehensive land use plan) detailed planning and training exercises involving local government and village leaders.

“We regularly update these things: risk maps, relocation sites; geostrategic and engineering interventions; early warning systems; community-based warning and evacuation planning; preemptive evacuation and healthcare as disaster response; and communication systems and plans,” it quoted Salceda.

“Know your hazards and exposures. Know your audience, the people. Know your response in times of disasters such as class suspensions, rescue efforts, recovery of bodies, rehabilitation and evacuation centers. And know the capacity and limits of social media as a tool,” the article further quoted the governor as having stressed.

Salceda has overhauled the common notion among local government leaders that there’s no way out of natural disasters and that Albay, like other places prone to disasters, should accept the fate of non-development. “We are vulnerable to disasters but the local government and the communities can do something about it and we have proven that we can. It is just a matter of having the political will, the right budgeting, the right people and the right vision,” he explained.

“My vision for Albay is for it to become a most livable place, known for good schools, good hospitals and good environment that provide a better life for our people. While we address issues surrounding climate change and natural disaster that affect thousands of lives, I firmly believe we are forging ahead and progressing in terms of economy, education, environment, equity and health,” the article quoted Salceda.

He explained “there is no single bullet in doing it all,” but that the key is to mainstream climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk management into the everyday workings of the local government.

To fine-tune development programs to CCA and DRR, Salceda created two new organic offices of the province, the first of its genre in the country -- the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO) and the Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Change Adaptation (CIRCA).

He likewise created the Albay Climate Change Academy, another first in the country and established it at the Bicol University. The academy has been hailed as a knowledge hub on CCA and DRR in Asia. The moves were aligned with local initiatives to achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty and improve public health and education, on which Albay spends 9 percent of its budget on CCA and DRR activities.

The Albay experience gained wide attention, and the United Nations has declared as its Global Model and Salceda himself as Senior Global Champion and spokesman on CCA and DRR. He was subsequently elected co-chair of the UN Green Climate Fund where he represents Southeast Asia and the developing countries.

Salceda said as a model, Albay must sustain its institutional structures and procedures in local governance; improve and strengthen both local and international funding support; and intensify its inter-regional functions through collaboration and partnership with other provinces.

Albay has stepped up its land-use planning. Dangerous areas near the coast and within 6 to 8 kilometers of the volcano are considered no-build zones. Its disaster rehabilitation strategy has recently been adopted by international donors and national government agencies involved in the Yolanda reconstruction.

58 former harelip patients now wear smiles of hope

(PNA), JBP/FGS/NIM/CBD/PJN

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 8 (PNA) -- Fifty-eight persons who used to have harelips are now all smiles as they thank the Faces of Tomorrow Medical Team of the United States who conducted five-day surgery and dental services in Albay province on Feb. 3-7.

About 91 persons also received dental services from the group.

“These are smiles of happiness as they will now live a normal life for having new faces,” said Dr. Brian Rubinstein, Faces of Tomorrow director.

They will now be able to go to school and get employment, Rubenstein added.

“It is a fulfillment for our group to be able to help and give hope to these people,” he added.

Rubinstein said the team spent some P2.6 million or US$ 60,000 for the mission.

He said they brought with them 20 boxes of medical supplies for the medical operations.

“This is the product of the unified forces and resources of our members who are based in California and have been doing these for the past 12 years,” the U.S. surgeon said, assuring Albayanos that they will return to the province.

Rubenstein thanked those who had helped in making their mission a success like the Office of Senator Nancy Binay which brought the team to Albay, the province of Albay headed by Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, doctors and nurses of the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH) under Dr. Butch Rivera, Ako Bicol Party-List, Jaycees International and others who had helped for the success of their mission.

The FOT team members gladly admitted that they were much satisfied with the foods served them in Albay like the Bicol Express, kare-kare and “pako” (fern salad).

The said they can never forget these delicacies and the hospitality of the Albayanos.

Binay, meanwhile, said the medical mission is just the beginning of a continuing partnership of her office with the provincial government of Albay.

“After the successful mission of Faces of Tomorrow in Albay, the next move is for me to forge a sisterhood pact between BRTTH and the Hospital ng Makati,” the lady senator said.

She added that she will work for additional budget for the BRTTH in 2015.

Binay claimed that health services are closed to the hearts of the Binay family members since their matriarch is a physician.

DILG gives Albay, Legazpi access to more national funds

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 7 (PNA) -– More funds representing other national program windows can now be accessed by both the city government here and the provincial government of Albay, according to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Sources of these funds include the Grassroot Participatory Budget Process (GPBP), Special Local Road Fund (SLRF), Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) and the Potable Water Program called Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG), among others.

Formerly known as the Bottom-Up Budgeting, GPBP, being applied by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, is a somewhat modern approach to planning in the use of government’s financial resources that is different from the usual top-down budgeting where the high-level executives make all the decisions in fund dispensations.

This scheme provides the opportunity for grantees to be involved in setting their own goals and expectations for a given financial period and gives them ownership of the decisions, motivating them to meet budgetary constraints that otherwise might seem unattainable or unrealistic if they were delivered by someone without as much understanding of their day-to-day operations.

SLRF, on the other hand, is an allocation apportioned by the national government to provincial and city governments for maintenance of local roads, traffic management and road safety devices.

Its use shall be in accordance with Rural Roads Development Policy Framework formulated by the DILG as primary guide of LGUs in effectively carrying out their mandate to develop and manage their respective local road network.

PAMANA, meanwhile, is a national government program that extends development interventions to isolated, hard-to-reach and conflict-affected communities to ensure that they are not left behind.

Its design and delivery is conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting to ensure peace is maintained in communities.

SALINTUBIG is another national government program that aims to contribute to the attainment of the goal of providing potable water to the entire country and the targets defined in the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016 Millennium Development Goals, and the Philippine Water Supply Sector Roadmap and the Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap.

To attain these objectives, the program has been allocated under the 2011 General Appropriations Act an amount of P1.5 billion as a grant facility for LGUs to develop infrastructure for the provision of potable water systems.

Eloisa Pastor, DILG Bicol officer-in-charge based here, on Friday explained that what made the city government and Albay province qualified to avail of these fund grants is their being recipients of the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH) awards in 2012 before the death of then DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo.

It was Robredo who introduced this award system to LGUs that successfully met the requirements of the full disclosure policy, have exemplary standards of frontline services and procurement and proven to have no adverse or disclaimer audit findings by the Commission on Audit.

Starting this year, the DILG, Pastor said, is scaling up the SGH into the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) to cover a much wider LGU performance such as good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, social protection for the basic sector, business friendliness and competitiveness, environmental compliance and law and order and public safety.

In a recent letter sent to City Mayor Noel Rosal, DILG Secretary Mar Roxas said “I look forward to seeing you lead your city to be one of the first awardees of the SGLG in 2014 which gives access to incentives benefiting your commitment to effective, transparent and accountable local governance.”

A similar letter expressing confidence that Albay would be among the first SGLG awardees was also sent by Roxas to the province’s governor, Joey Salceda.

'Amazing Albay' tourism web link formally opens to public

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 6 (PNA) --The "Amazing Albay Tourism Web Link" is now accessible to the public, courtesy of the National Statistics Office Bicol regional office.

This is the first tourism web link that the NSO has established in the entire Philippine.

One can get any current and comprehensive information on Albay tourism from this web link, according to Philippine Statistics Administrator (PSA) Carmelita N. Ericta, the special guest during launch of the web network.

Also present during the opening were Board Member Glenda Bongao -- representing Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, NSO Bicol Regional Director Cynthia L. Perdiz, tourism officers of the province, representatives of national and local agencies, the academe and media.

The project is the product of a million-peso-worth of scholarship program of the Development Academy of the Philippines given to Perdiz.

Perdiz said the tourism program of Salceda was her inspiration in crafting the program.

As an economist, she said, she believed in the big contribution of the program to the economy of Albay and the solution to its unemployment problem.

"Agriculture will be very much benefited," Perdiz added.

She said she worked hard for the project but it was all worth it as she earned kudos and praises for the project.

She thanked all those who helped for the success of the project.

The project is being implemented in cooperation with the PSA, Provincial Government ng Albay and the private sector.

Ericta added that the project is a product of team work.

"It has the pulse of the public as it is citizen centric, innovative at relevant, she said, adding that there will be a regular updating of data and information with the help of the Provincial Cultural Tourism Office of Albay headed by Dorothy Colle and 18 tourism officers in th entire province.

In a message read by Bongao, Salceda said that with just one click of a finger, Albay will be seen by the whole world, with information on its tourism and upcoming events like international conferences and other activities.

Included in the web link are the two major festivals of the province -- the Daragang Magayon and Karangahan-Albay Green Christmas -- and the 18 festivals in the municipalities and cities.

The web link is also open to suggestions from the public.

Foreign donors prefer Albay’s disaster rehabilitation model

(PNA), PDS/JCN/UTB

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 5 (PNA) --Foreign donors engaged in the post-"Yolanda" reconstruction have expressed preference for Albay’s "geostrategic redevelopment" model in their rehabilitation assistance programs, designed to help build new and disaster resilient communities in Leyte and Samar and other parts of the country.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Spanish aid agency Agencia Espanol de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarollo (AECID), two of such foreign funding agencies, find the Albay model preferable.

Like Leyte and Samar, Albay was previously devastated by natural disasters, the strongest of which was Reming (Durian) in 2006. Through its ‘build-back-better-elsewhere’ strategy, Albay has pursued a totally new concept in rehabilitation and redevelopment that saw its recovery and vibrant revival.

Both the study made by a British think tank and the recent climate study of the Philippines by World Bank which also cited the British think tanks’s report, have found the Albay reconstruction model as most effective.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said AECID, which recently renewed its partnership with his province, has opted to employ the Albay model for the many communities it now assists in Eastern Visayas.

Salceda, who chairs the UN Green Climate Fund, said AECID has asked the technical assistance of Albay in designing the financial framework, resource allocation and the strategy of the Spanish assistance based on the designs now essentially being implemented in Albay.

JICA, which like AECID, has partnered extensively with Albay, is similarly drawing lessons and technics from their Albay experience for their new engagements in Yolanda devastated areas.

Salceda said Albay’s Guicadale Economic Township project exemplifies their "geostrategic intervention" which foreign donors now find as the first best policy approach to geologically and climatically challenged locations.

Albay's geostrategic redevelopment builds up on traditional approaches that start with asset restoration which are then dynamically scaled up to disaster-proofing or disaster-resiliency.

The Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which are deeply involved in the Yolanda reconstruction have likewise endorsed the Albay Model, as the best strategy so far, in building new and disaster resilient communities.

DILG Undersecretary Austere Panadero had endorsed the Albay Model as a better strategy. She was in Albay recently with Local Government Academy Dir. Marivel C. Sacendencillo, for a visit to newly built evacuation centers and briefings on Albay DRR strategy at the Climate Change Academy at the Bicol University.

During an earlier JICA-sponsored DRR seminar at the Dusit Thani Hotel Manila, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said Albay’s rebuilding strategy is worth replicating, particularly the “designs of evacuation centers that also serve as classrooms and not classrooms that serve as evacuation centers".

The seminar, dubbed “Build Back Better: The Path towards Reconstruction through Japanese and Philippine Good Practices,” was attended by local and foreign DRR practitioners, reconstruction experts and JICA representatives.

Salceda revives Mayon Rest House

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 4 (PNA) --Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda has revived the Mayon Rest House to bring back its glory after it was neglected for over a decade.

The multimillion-peso government project lies halfway to the summit of the world’s most perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano.

It is some 8,500 feet above sea level and stands beside the seismological instruments built by the Americans and now used by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Based on studies, this side of the volcano has not been hit by lava flow during the many eruptions of Mayon.

This is the reason why the instruments were installed to monitor its volcanic activity and be able to predict its forthcoming eruptions.

The Mayon Rest House is also the starting point for mountaineers who climb the peak of the volcano.

The place is one of the tourist destinations not only in Albay but also across the region where domestic and foreign tourists frequently enjoy the beauty of nature and the view around the place – from greenery to the deep blue sea.

For over ten years, however, the Mayon Rest House, where the Mayon Skyline Hotel was built, had been totally abandoned and dysfunctional.

Its structure became a picture of dilapidation and neglect while many valuable materials were lost to thieves.

Former Board Member now Tabaco City Councilor Raul Borejon said the Mayon Skyline Hotel had turned into a white elephant project prior to Salceda’s taking over the governorship of Albay.

“The Mayon Skyline Hotel has been a white elephant since the Bichara administration while the Mayon Planetarium had been an educational tourism hub until a new mayor took over Tabaco,” Borejon said.

The Mayon Planetarium was built under the initiative of former Edcel Lagman Sr., funded through his Priority Development Assistance Fund.

The science planetarium had been a favorite destination of high school students during educational field trips where they can study thoroughly the activities of Mayon Volcano underneath.

It was during the watch of former Mayor Krisel Lagman-Luistro.

As big influxes of local and foreign tourists throng here everyday, Salceda revived the place.

He mobilized provincial government employees, including the government troops, to clean the Mayon Rest house and the park located halfway the tip of the volcano.

Salceda explained that the project cannot be considered as a white elephant as it was functioning, however, a series of explosion had taken place, prompting the government to prohibit tourists from going to the place.

“The planetarium is operational and being operated by Tabaco City. In 2004, there was a proposal to rehab the Skyline Hotel, but this was not pursued because it was difficult to look for water. We have decided to reopen the Mayon Rest House with other features but we are still not decided on whether to reopen the hotel or not,” Salceda said.

American doctors’ medical mission in Albay starts

(PNA), FFC/FGS/NIM/CBD

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 3 (PNA) -– The medical mission of American doctors in the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital here started Monday morning and will last up to February 7.

Dubbed as "Faces of Tomorrow,” the program is being carried out by a 36-member medical team composed of surgeons, anesthesiologists, speech pathologists and nurses.

The group is performing operations on harelips and cleft chins and targets to treat 100 patients for the day.

It will shoulder its own expenses during the five-day mission that include transportation, accommodation, food and other incidental expenses.

It also brought its own medical supplies and equipment.

Dr. Antonio Ludovice Jr., acting Provincial Health Officer I, said his office recruited the patients with the help of district hospitals as well as municipal and city heath offices in the province.

The BRTTH conducted the mass screening of the patients and provided the venue for medical mission, Ludovice said.

He said even walk-in patients will be accepted in the mission after proper medical screening.

The “Faces of Tomorrow” medical mission was made possible with the cooperation of Albay and the offices of Senator Nancy Binay and Vice President Jejomar Binay.

It is done by the Faces of Tomorrow Organization, which is composed of American medical practitioners.

A second mission called "Helping Children Smile Medical Mission" by a 13-man Australian medical team will come in Albay on February 24 and will stay up to March 5 at the Josefina Belmonte Duran Memorial District Hospital (JBDMDH).

The activity is being organized and managed by the Rotary Club of Albay and Legazpi City chapters with the help of the Rotary Club Southern Luzon Chapter and the Department of Health headed by Secretary Enrique Ona.

Domestic tourism saves 2013 Q4 performance from Yolanda's claws

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Feb. 2 (PNA) -- The country’s economic performance in 2013, particularly during the fourth quarter with a 6.5 percent GDP growth despite the P355 billion damage inflicted by Yolanda and P100 billion curtailment of DAP/PDAF, could still usher in brighter prospects for 2014 as reconstruction boosts expansion and higher growth expectations boost investment flows.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the source of growth is clearly the 15 percent growth in domestic tourism as foreign arrivals softened, and the usual other savior -- OFW remittances which boosted domestic trade. The surprising contribution of domestic tourism to local manufacturing which accelerated is a window that should be exploited by policymakers and domestic business groups.

On the whole, Salceda noted, the economy posted a 7.2 percent growth last year, making the Philippines one of the best performing economies in Asia, second only to China which grew by 7.7 percent, based on government reports.

Salceda, a known economist, noted that “with this fourth quarter performance, 2014 should see growth upgrades by credit agencies, stock analysts, the World Economic Forum, and the Asian Development Bank for the Philippines as reconstruction boost domestic expansion and higher growth boost investment flows.”

The 2013 remarkable turnout exceeded the government target of 6 percent to 7 percent despite the previous year’s challenges, a telltale sign of a stronger economy. The Philippines with a 7.8 percent GDP growth in the first quarter of 2013, even surpassed China which posted 7.7 percent, and Indonesia with 6 percent.

“The overall story is impressive as GDP grew by 6.5 percent in the 4th quarter of 2013 despite Yolanda, also showing the economy’s run-off momentum and its surprising built-in cyclical strengths. Most remarkable, given the global softness and China’s import competition, is the accelerated performance of Manufacturing,” he observed.

On the demand side, the governor said sustained and unrelenting strength in consumer, investment and government (CIG) spending the whole year, Fixed Capital Formation, particularly in Durable Equipment, contributed to the healthy GDP growth in 2013.

During the fourth quarter, the slow public spending due to the Supreme Court’s adverse rulings could not offset Yolanda’s impact leading to a below average fourth quarter figure, but could still be considered as decent improvement, Salceda said.

Albayanos mark 200 years of strength, resiliency as Cagsawa fest opens today

(PNA), JBP/FGS/RBB/CBD/PJN

DARAGA, Albay, Feb. 1 (PNA) -- Albayanos are now commemorating the historic day when the beautiful perfect cone-shaped Mayon Volcano’s burst into a fiery temper, hurling superheated ash, sand and molten rocks that buried alive at least 1,200 villagers who sought sanctuary inside the Cagsawa Church in February 1, 1814.

After 200 years, Albayanos led by Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda are paying tribute to the local people’s strength and resiliency during and after that deadliest fury of beauty that is Mayon.

Named “Cagsawa Dos Siglos,” the commemoration and paying of tribute to the survival capability of Albayanos coincides with the annual Cagsawa Festival that opened this morning at the famous tourist-drawing Cagsawa ruins in neighboring Daraga town.

It stresses Albayanos’ capability to face and rise from the wrath of “Mother Nature” from the 1814 eruption, recorded as the worst display fury of Mt. Mayon where villagers who took refuge and sought the sanctuary of the church during the eruption all died when it was engulfed by a huge carpet of flowing and glowing lava and flying pyroclastic materials.

Salceda said the 200-year anniversary of the historic 1814 Mayon eruption will feature traditional events and the way of life of the locals here.

“We celebrate today because we survived. And I am confident that those who passed away are happy that we survived. We have passed the test of nature and of time,” the provincial chief executive explained.

For two centuries, the Cagsawa Ruins has stood as a symbol of Bicol region’s impressive landscape, rich history and the people’s strength and resiliency to face and rise from the ravages of Mother Nature, he said.

“Two hundred years ago, nature’s aberration brought unimaginable destruction of property and lives in this place. After two hundred years, we are still here, standing and happy and prosperous. We are standing here with our indomitable spirit urging us to go on and live life to the fullest. We are standing here with our unquenchable hope for better days,” Salceda inspiringly said.

Mt. Mayon’s earliest known record of eruption was in 1616 -- described as several rivers of fire, thick smoke and ash, sand and glowing materials shaken by violent earthquakes.

Her worst eruption to date was on Februay 1, 1814, when she vomited blazing rocks and lava.

It was the fifth and the strongest explosion, based on accounts of recorded previous eruptions since 1616.

She expelled so much of her innards that it covered the former settlements of Budiao and Cagsawa.

About 1,200 fear-stricken villagers crammed into the Cagsawa church which later served as their grave when steaming volcanic debris buried the structure.

During those moments of anger, the volcano blew, covering the countryside around it with heated ash and lahar.

An estimated 15,000 people died, including the 1,200 who sought shelter inside Cagsawa church.

Subsequent eruptions further covered the church until only the bell tower remained above ground.

The church’s belfry has become one of Albay’s most famous landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the province.

Besides Cagsawa, a neighboring village, Budiao, was laid to waste by Mayon’s fury.

Only the walls of Budiao’s church remain today.

Three other towns -- Camalig, Guinobatan and Ligao (now a city) -- also suffered death and destruction.

The Cagsawa church belfry is the remains of an 18th century Franciscan Church built in 1724.

As the story goes, the parish priest of Budiao was the lone survivor of catastrophic eruption.

He saved himself through a bent coconut tree.

Cagsawa Church was buried gradually by volcanic deposits from subsequent eruptions.

Sand, gravel and boulders were washed down the slopes by rain, and got lodged along the banks of the river near the church.

Today, the church belfry stands as the only man-made object let visible in the aftermath of the eruption.

The place is now called Cagsawa Park, which is managed by the municipal government of Daraga.

At the entrance of the park, visitors will find a wide variety of souvenir shops and stalls which showcase native products and handicrafts.

A wide selection of T-shirts with native scenes and designs are also available.

Inside the park are restaurants where tourists and local residents feast on native food and delicacies.

“Inasal na sira” (grilled fish) and Bicol Express -- a spicy shrimp dish with coconut cream -- are highly recommended.

Both these dishes are quite famous all over the Philippines and should not be missed.

Cagsawa Park now boasts of a modest-sized swimming pool with plenty of loungers where visitors can laze and gaze at the majestic vista of Mt. Mayon.

Tourists may also encounter the traditional healers locally known as herbolarios during their annual convention, trail run, cross-country bike race, chicken-eating contest and on-the-spot pamaypay (fan)-making competition.

Various handicrafts, one of Daraga town’s main products, abound in the place.

Locals and foreigners have trooped to Albay to see the remnant of Cagsawa church.

When the volcano erupts, this historic site draws tourists, scientists, media and kibitzsers to the province.

When Mayon sleeps, farmers and tourists conquer and feast on her heights and slopes.

Farmers plant vegetables which give the volcano's rich soil a green mantle most of the year.

When she awakens, they run to the evacuation centers to take refuge from her fury.

While media look upon Mayon as a source of news, volcanologists treat her as a science project and tourists admire her for her fireworks, the people on her slopes make her their way of life.

For them, her children, Mayon is their hope and their life—the symbol of their living and their dying.

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