Albay News June 2015

From Philippines
Jump to navigation Jump to search
→ → Go back HOME to Zamboanga: the Portal to the Philippines.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Create Name's page

Regions | Philippine Provinces | Philippine Cities | Municipalities | Barangays | High School Reunions

Albay - Archived News
Albay seal.png
Seal of the Province of Albay
Interactive Google Satellite Map of the Province of Albay
Albay map.png
Location of Albay within the Philippines
Albay provincial capitol.jpg
Provincial Capitol Building of Albay, in Legazpi City

Dietary supplement is a product that contains vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and/or other ingredients intended to supplement the diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has special labeling requirements for dietary supplements and treats them as foods, not drugs.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and dietary ingredients are prohibited from marketing products that are adulterated or misbranded. That means that these firms are responsible for evaluating the safety and labeling of their products before marketing to ensure that they meet all the requirements of DSHEA and FDA regulations.

Mayon volcano albay province.jpg

Wars of ancient history were about possessions, territory, power, control, family, betrayal, lover's quarrel, politics and sometimes religion.

But we are in the Modern era and supposedly more educated and enlightened .

Think about this. Don't just brush off these questions.

  • Why is RELIGION still involved in WARS? Isn't religion supposed to be about PEACE?
  • Ask yourself; What religion always campaign to have its religious laws be accepted as government laws, always involved in wars and consistently causing WARS, yet insists that it's a religion of peace?

WHY??

There are only two kinds of people who teach tolerance:
  1. The Bullies. They want you to tolerate them so they can continue to maliciously deprive you. Do not believe these bullies teaching tolerance, saying that it’s the path to prevent hatred and prejudice.
  2. The victims who are waiting for the right moment to retaliate. They can’t win yet, so they tolerate.

Albay responds to Pope Francis' exhortation on climate change

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

LEGAZPI CITY, June 30 (PNA) -- Albay pushes further its popular climate change drive in response to Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si,” by adding five other numbers -- to be sang and recited -- during flag-raising ceremonies, to enhance public awareness on the urgency of global action on the climate change phenomenon.

Laudato Si or Praise Be to You is Pope Francis’ second encyclical. It is subtitled “On the care for our common home” which critiques consumerism and irresponsible development. It also exhorts the world against “environmental degradation and anthropogenic climate change”. Dated May 24, 2015, it was published by the Vatican on June 18 this year.

Following the encyclical’s publication, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda issued on June 22 a memorandum which recommends the inclusion of five new items in the program during flag-raising ceremonies in various government offices and schools in the province, to raise public consciousness on these concerns.

The United Nations has declared Albay as its global model in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR), and Salceda as its spokesman and Senior Global Champion.

Salceda’s memo was addressed to heads of offices of the Albay provincial government, local government units, schools divisions, national government agencies and the uniformed services in the province.

It recommends the praying the now popular Oratio Imperata before raising the national colors, followed by the “Albay Forever Hymn,” the National Anthem and Pledge of Loyalty, the “I am an Albayano” oath, the reading of the “Climate Change Adaptation Pledge of Commitment” and the “Ten Commandments for Sustainable Development.”

Salceda said the items, as part of the flag-raising program, will help make people aware on the “urgency of global action on climate change and environmental protection and the need for raising the consciousness of our people, based on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si encyclical, and in the critical climate negotiations in November in Paris.”

The Paris negotiations demand a vigorous response from countries to ensure and curtail temperature increase below two degrees Centegrade (2oC).

The prayer Oratio Imperata, was written in 2008 by Albay Bishop Lucilo Quiambao at the behest of the Albay provincial government, when it launched its pioneering program on Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The prayer’s original text has with its a handwritten note by Bishop Quiambao for Gov. Salceda. Oratio Imperata is now a popular invocation around the country, believed to be a powerful prayer to ward off typhoons and disasters. It is aired by radio and television stations in its English or Pilipino versions, especially when there are weather disturbances.

Singing the Albay Forever Hymn and reciting I am an Albayano are both mandated by ordinances passed by the Albay provincial board. Both contain nuggets of wisdom about love for the environment and the need for its protection.

The CCA Pledge of Commitment and the Ten Commandments for Sustainable Development -- adapted from the Earthsavers’ version -- were both crafted by Albay in Action on Climate Change (A2C2) in 2008.

Salceda’s memorandum also suggests inviting speakers during flag raising rites who will deliver short messages focused on love of country and community and the rule of law, CCA-DRR, and environmental protection, education and social protection.

A handbook on these concerns will shortly be prepared and distributed by the Albay Provincial Education Department for the guidance of institutions in the province. It will include English versions of Oratio Imperata, Albay Forever, "Albayano Ako" and "I am an Albayano.

Albay’s pioneering CCA and DRR programs have earned awards from both national and international institutions including three Gawad Kalasag Awards and a Hall of Fame niche for DRR/CCA from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council.

Albay reaps fruits of economic strategy ­— Salceda

(MST Business)

Governor Joey Salceda said Albay was now reaping the initial fruits from the game plan, after having completed two of its three-phase strategy, and was now well on the third stage towards the 2016 deadline.

Salceda compared Albay’s winning development strategy with his favorite NBA team-- the Golden State Warriors whose head coach, Steve Kerr, executed a plan centered on the “main thing” concept or “play small” strategy, which sealed the team’s victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The game plan, according to Salceda, is “equivalent to what AIM [Asian Institute of Management] professors taught me – Una Cosa or the single most important factor or key driving force to an organization or an event.”

Albay’s three-growth stages represent Salceda’s three consecutive terms as Albay governor.

From 2007-2010, with the province being regularly mauled by calamities, Salceda’s administration bannered the Albay Mabuhay program focused on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation as its “main thing,” with significant results.

For his second term, 2010-2013, under the “Albay Rising” theme, Salceda sealed the attainment of the UN Millennium Development Goals in education and health. In the current 2014-2016 term with “Albay Boom” as theme, the “main thing” focus is tourism plus high value crops and small and medium size enterprises, especially in value-added processing.

Salceda already set the stage for the “Albay Rocks” phase beyond his three terms, with a triumvirate of infrastructures-- the Southern Luzon International Airport in Daraga town, the Southline Railways and the Southern Luzon Expressway Extension from Lucena to Legazpi City.

Also lined up are the Megabridges from Cagraray to Batan islands and Batan to Rapurapu mainland town. The governor will run for congressman of Albay’s 2nd district in 2016, where he will pursue the cityhood of Daraga and Polangui towns.

Albay’s successes in Albay Mabuhay, Albay Rising and Albay Boom produced three Gawad Kalasag awards and a Hall of Fame niche for DRR/CCA from the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council; two Galing Pook awards, and a Gawad Pamana ng Lahi award as best province for three consecutive years from the Department of Interior and Local Government.

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction declared Albay as its DRR/CCA Global Model and Salceda as its senior global champion.

Mayor expects Legazpi to be flood-free

By Nino Luces

Legazpi City, Albay — With the P2.1-billion flood control project in this city nearing its completion, Mayor Noel Rosal is optimistic that flooding will no longer be a problem this rainy season.

“The big part of the city proper is below sea level, meaning if high tide and heavy rains come at the same time, flood will occur for sure,” Rosal said.

Over the past three years, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office has been constructing three pumping stations in the city and 70 percent of the entire project is, so far, completed, he said.

“Since we are below sea level, the ultimate solution seen by our hired private consultants is to construct these pumping stations,” said the mayor.

The total amount of the project – based on the study made by Vergel Consult, joint venture of Schema United Technologies and Pert Consult – is P2.1 billion, and now the Tibo Pumping Station located in Barangay San Roque is now almost 90 percent completed, while the two others located in Barangays Baybay and Victory Village are both 50-60 percent done.

Even without a typhoon, the city’s main business center – especially Barangays San Roque, Baybay, Pigcale, Sabang, Bitano, Oro Site, Victory Village, Imperial Court Subdivision, Kapantawan, and Lapu Lapu – are always threatened by flooding during the rains.

“I am confident that flooding can be controlled now as long as these projects will be completed,” Rosal said.

Bicol University grad tops 2 board exams

By Rhaydz B. Barcia (Rappler.com)

Benedict Rey Serrano has reason to be skeptical when told he topped the nursing licensure exams. What are the odds he would top another board exam in two years?

ALBAY, Philippines – On the night the results of the May 2015 nursing board licensure examination was released, Benedict Rey Montas Serrano, 20, got a call from his girlfriend Shiena Mae Atienza. She passed.

She was more excited over another thing that Tuesday night, June 23: Benedict topped the board exams. He didn’t believe her.

“Bawal mag-joke (Don’t kid me),” he told her. The girlfriend hung up on him.

Benedict Serrano only realized it was true when the coordinator of the nursing review center in Legazpi City also called him, and “numerous congratulatory text messages and calls” started pouring in.

“That’s the only time I took the messages seriously,” he said.

He got a score of 86.40%, the highest among 17,981 total examinees, 9,707 of whom passed.

Serrano had reason to be a bit skeptical at first. What are the odds he would top another licensure exam? In 2013, he topped the midwifery examination.

A consistent honors student since grade school, Serrano is now in medical school, also at the Bicol University, where he also graduated from the nursing school cum laude this year.

Serrano is the oldest of 3 children of Dennis and Teodora, both 47 and mathematics teachers at the Pagasa National High School in Legazpi City. His sister Cathy Rose is studying accountancy at the Bicol University, and his brother Lawrence Rex is a Grade IV pupil at Tamauyan Elementary School.

Serrano prepared even before and beyond the six-month review course for the nursing board exams. “Early preparation and advance study greatly helped me out. I aimed at being number one, but the exam was quite difficult, I just prayed to pass it,” he said.

Six other graduates of Bicol University made it to the top 10:

• Marinell Ala Atos - Bicol University Legazpi, 3rd
• Kristine Marie Manlapas Basas - Bicol University Daraga, 6th
• Dayanara Galpo Dimatulac - Bicol University Legazpi, 9th
• Michelle Ann Hamor Hilis - Bicol University Legazpi, 9th
• Ma Jella Mirabel Turallo - Bicol University Legazpi, 9th
• Mabelle Blancada Consulta - Bicol University Legazpi, 10th

The Bicol University College of Nursing was the 5th top performing school nationwide in the recently administered licensure exams, with a passing rate of 96.23%.

Edukasyon.ph launches nationwide college, scholarship portal for HS students

(MAL/MCCM-Edukasyon.ph/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, June 26 (PIA) -- Henry Motte Muñoz, a Filipino-French, has established an online portal called www.edukasyon.ph where incoming college students can find courses, schools, and scholarships on one site for free.

In an email to PIA Bicol Newsdesk, Edukasyon.ph chief executive officer Linartes Viloria has solicited support from information outlets to make known the new education portal to bring out sources of information on academic opportunities in the Philippines.

“Limited career orientation, expensive tuition fees, and lack of knowledge on where to search for educational opportunities are some of the key problems that high school students and individuals seeking to expand their education and professional development are encountering in choosing the right course and university. Students need help in finding the educational opportunity that will fit their interests, budget, and desired location,” Viloria said.

On the accounts of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), according to her, there are a total of 7.2 million high school students and only 3.6 million of them are pursuing college, as of 2014.

“We want to make it easier for students to find the different educational options available for them in the Philippines. Through our online portal, students can now explore all the college and technical-vocational courses offered in our country,” Viloria added.

Currently on beta, the website boasts of more than 3,000 schools, 30,000 courses, and 2,000 scholarships which are offered all over the Philippines.

“There are so many opportunities for education out there that a lot of our students are unaware of. And these include scholarships they can avail of in the different universities. We want to share this information to help more students get the education that they deserve,” stressed Viloria.

Students can easily find schools and scholarships that match their interests and needs just by logging on at www.edukasyon.ph and registering to get a listing of Philippine universities and courses, as well as scholarship updates.

“We are thrilled to share with students of Bicol Region educational possibilities offered across the country. By giving students a complete picture of what is available for them, we believe that we are able to help them find the education that can get the jobs that they dream of. We want to give them opportunities, empower them with choices, and help them achieve success for the careers they aspire for,” said Viloria.

Albay to present best practices in 2015 International Confab on Family Planning

By Mike de la Rama [(PNA) RMA/FGS/MDR/CBD]

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) – The Provincial government of Albay, for the first time, will present its best practices in the 2015 International Conference on Family Planning to be held in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, on Nov. 9-12 to highlight its interventions with children and women during emergency or calamities.

Of more than 2000 abstracts submitted to the conference committee, Albay is one of the successful candidates accepted to present both oral and poster the best practice entitled Integrating Minimum Initial Service Package in DRRM Plan of Local Government submitted by the Albay AIDS Council.

The abstract demonstrates the intervention of the provincial government of Albay in responding the needs of vulnerable groups like children, lactating/ pregnant women, elders and persons with disabilities during emergency, especially at the evacuation camps.

This approach is called the Minimum Initial Services Package wherein immediate needs of sectors are properly addressed. Included also in the services is the assurance of zero gender-based violence against children, women or any individual while at the evacuation camps.

Provisions of hygiene kits, breastfeeding room, psychosocial activities for children, availability of family planning commodities for current users and 24/7 health staff at the evacuation centers.

The International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) has brought together the family planning community to share best practices, celebrate successes, and chart a course forward. The first conference was held in Kampala, Uganda, in 2009 and convened more than 1,300 participants around the topic of family planning for the first time in 20 years, sparking positive change for family planning policies in Uganda.

With more than 2,200 participants, the second conference was held in 2011 in Dakar, Senegal, and highlighted family planning issues in Francophone, Africa.

The 2013 ICFP drew more than 3,500 attendees to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The 2015 ICFP will be held in Indonesia, a country that has successfully proved its leadership in innovative family planning programming.

Indonesia’s national family planning initiatives doubled the contraceptive prevalence rate to nearly 60 percent between 1976 and 2002 and decreased the fertility rate by half.

The Indonesian government is now committed to revitalizing the country’s national family planning program to improve on the progress that has slowed since 2002.

The country has quadrupled its budget allocation for family planning, from USD 65.9 million in 2006 to USD 263.7 million in 2014, which will enable better health worker training and the provision of free family planning services through the country’s new universal health care system.

The 2015 ICFP will be co-hosted by the National Population and Family Planning Board of Indonesia (BkkbN) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

This year’s conference is expected to draw the largest number of attendants yet, and the ICFP will help shape and influence the role and contributions of family planning in attaining the new sustainable development goals.

The ICFP is more than a conference, as it is a movement and a platform for strategic inflection points in the family planning agenda.

The theme for 2015 is Global Commitments, Local Actions.

Each day of the conference will feature a plenary session focused on a different track theme.

The tracks will feature issue-oriented themes, such as: addressing youth needs and involvement; rights and quality of care: true improvements or lip service; the demographic dividend: how south-to-south exchanges can help its realization; implementation best practices (IBP); advancing FP through faith organizations; FP2020 progress and challenges; innovations in financing (GFF, Universal Health Care); and accountability and advocacy.

Since the first international conference on family planning in 2009, the issue has gained a lot of momentum.

The London Summit on Family Planning took place on July 11, 2012, and 69 countries made commitments to family planning.

Many countries have held their own family planning symposia to develop strategies to achieve commitments made during the London Summit.

The ICFP provides a platform to highlight successes that have been achieved in family planning around the world as well as hurdles that still need to be addressed.

Compensation sought for damaged Albay coral reef

By Cet Dematera (The Philippine Star)

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – Albay Gov. Joey Salceda yesterday reiterated his call for compensation for a marine sanctuary in Albay Gulf destroyed last week by a Vietnamese vessel.

The cargo ship M/V Ocean 03 destroyed some 2,000 square meters of the five-hectare coral reef in Albay Gulf on June 15.

Salceda said he would ask the officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Bicol to impound and auction the ship should its owner fail to pay damages.

The city agriculture office said they sent a demand letter to the owner and captain of the ship, asking P1 million in actual damages and P3 million for the rehabilitation of the marine sanctuary.

Albay Gulf is a favorite diving site due to its abundant corals that serve as a breeding area and sanctuary of marine species.

Nonie Inolva, spokesperson for the Bicol-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said a team has been formed to investigate the incident.

Inolva said the ship ran aground in the shallow portion of the gulf, causing damage to the reef.

The ship with 20 crewmembers is currently anchored in this city and will remain under the custody of the Philippine Coast Guard until the government’s claim for damages is settled.

EDUCO recognizes Bicol schools that carry out literacy projects

By Connie B. Destura

LEGAZPI CITY, June 23 (PNA) –- The EDUCO, formerly Intervida Philippines Foundation, has given recognition to 11 schools in the Bicol Region with good reading practices and select partner-districts which went beyond the implementation of reading programs.

The foundation is carrying out the reading program among the 223 EDUCO partner-schools in the Bicol Region from school year 2012-2013 to school year 2014-2015 with a total beneficiaries of 85,838 pupils and 2,448 teachers in four partner DepEd Divisions of Albay, Camarines Sur, Ligao City and Sorsogon.

These beneficiaries are roughly 10 percent of the total pupil-and-teacher population in the Bicol Region.

The EDUCO on Tuesday said in a statement reaching the Philippines News Agency that it had observed very remarkable good reading practices in the 11 awardee schools for these year’s good reading practices.

“They developed a reading program together with their community members through an in-depth analysis of the context and the varying factors which hinder pupils from acquiring mastery in reading,” the foundation noted.

It observed a very strong community engagement in the San Jose Elementary School, one of the awardee schools.

The school is non-central and is located in a very remote area in Donsol, Sorsogon.

Its community members, notwithstanding budgetary constraints, wholeheartedly embraced the school’s program and made themselves available and willing resource for the implementation of the reading sessions.

They become story readers and tellers’ community librarians and tutors, the EDUCO said.

Among their good reading practices, the outreach reading activities, it noted, are the most inspiring owing to the heartfelt commitment of the school personnel and pupil leaders to conduct home visitation for teaching reading.

This year’s good reading practices underscore fundamental components for a successful reading program and among them, the appreciation, willingness and commitment of the teachers and the community are still the most basic and important.

For three years, EDUCO has implemented a reading program composed of remedial reading, story read-aloud and Project Drop Everything and Read (DEAR).

After three years, the partner schools’ level of implementation has improved tremendously, with almost 75 percent or majority of the 223 partner-schools reflecting mature to ideal level of implementation.

This means that the schools have attained 4 to 5 scores (highest scores) in each of the following criteria: 1) institution of the reading program within the daily supervised study period, 2) availability of developmentally rich library or reading center, 3) establishment library hour, 4) completeness of records such as attendance sheets, borrower logs, session guides and reading progress charts, 5) strong community engagement in the reading program, and 6) conduct of monitoring and evaluation on pupil’s reading proficiency.

This level of implementation implies high sustainability and transference of the project in the future, the EDUCO said.

The result of the program on the reading proficiency of pupils among the awardee schools is also remarkable, it added.

Based on Phil-IRI English oral reading test, of the 4,165 enrollment, the 19-percent non-readers decreased to 2 percent and the 10-percent independent readers increased to 38 percent by the end of SY 2014-2015.

In 2014, the EDUCO started to recognize schools with exemplary performance in implementing a reading program based on the engagement of the community, result on the reading proficiency of pupils, and added creativity and innovation in designing meaningful reading experiences for children, thereby increasing their motivation and love for reading. (PNA) LAP/FGS/CBD

Albayanos prefer Salceda's brother as his successor in capitol

ByBy Manilyn Ugalde [(PNA) CTB/FGS/MU/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, June 22 (PNA) – Media practitioners in Albay claimed that many Albayanos prefer Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda’s brother as his successor in the Capitol.

Earlier, Salceda, who is the Liberal Party provincial chair, declared his open support to Rep. Al Francis Bichara (Albay, 2nd District) as his successor while the provincial board endorsed Vice Governor Harold Imperial for governorship.

The governor had earlier announced his intention to run for the third district as early last year and attended barangay assemblies, reassuring his constituents of his return in the 2016 election.

To the surprise of Albayanos, however, he suddenly switched his registration as voter last May from his hometown Polangui (3rd District) to Daraga town (2nd District) where he has a residence and announced that he is running for the second congressional district.

Salceda said Bichara, who is on his last term as congressman of the 2nd District and former governor, is his personal choice to succeed him -- a declaration Salceda made through his Facebook account an hour after filing his voter's registration in Daraga town.

Bichara is the provincial chair of the Nacionalista Party.

He has openly declared his intention to return to the Capitol when his term expires in 2016.

But, according to media practitioners here, many Albayanos they have interviewed prepare Jessaf Salceda, the governor’s younger brother who run but lost in the third district in the 2007 elections.

Despite his absence in politics, many Albayanos said they prefer Jessaf because they see in him the work of a true public servant, emulating the practice of his brother-governor.

Jessaf is currently the provincial administrator.

Salceda will step down from the Capitol in 2016 after his three-term that is credited with a very impressive performance, citing his advance advocacy in climate change and disaster risk reduction management that made Albay province known in the world map and have the province catapulted as among the tourists' sought-after destinations.

In 2017, Albay is expected to finally open the Php4-billion Southern Luzon International Airport in Barangay Alobo, Daraga town, a project of the governor which President Aquino wants to be completed as soon as possible.

With Salceda, Albay also won as among the venues of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit ministerial meeting held at the Misibis Resort in Bacacay town last December 2014.

Media practitioners said that under Salceda, the province has created the Provincial Education Department that launched a scholarship program aimed to produce a college graduate in every Albayano family.

“It should be continued after the program is successfully implemented,” said Marcial Tuanqui, former president of the Albay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

SM City Legazpi to rise next year

By Danny Calleja (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY—Henry Sy’s SM Prime Holdings, the largest mall operator and among the country’s highest shopping management firms, has its eyes glued on this city for one of its next SM City malls.

This will be in furtherance of business operations in the city of SM, which now runs its huge Save More grocery store at the Legazpi Central Terminal complex and two local branches of Banco de Oro, City Planning and Development Office chief Engr. Joseph Esplana said over the weekend.

As a first choice, the proposed new SM City will locate next year at the about-a-hectare vacant lot along the Legazpi Boulevard and within the site of the new urban development hub the city government is aggressively developing as an expansion of its fast-congesting old business district, according to Esplana.

The other option is the sprawling Legazpi Domestic Airport ground owned by the Air Transportation Office which will be vacated and eyed for privatization as soon as the New Legazpi Airport, also named Southern Luzon International Airport, now ongoing construction in the nearby Daraga town comes into operations by 2017, he said.

SM representatives, Esplana said, have been arranging the SM City coming to the locality and they are very keen on establishing soon to take advantage of the fast-growing investment climate taking place locally.

“Pinagkukumpulan na tayo ng mga malalaking negosyo (We are already being swarmed by big businesses),” he said, explaining that it is an offshoot of the massive urban development and investment promotion that the city government under Mayor Noel Rosal is undertaking.

He said Ayala Corp., one of the country’s business giants, is already around with its partnership with Liberty Commercial Center Inc. (LCCI) in the ongoing establishment of the City Center Mall within a 1.5-hectare land owned by the city government at the heart of the city’s central business district.

The property has been leased by the city to LCCI of the Tans, a Filipino-Chinese family from Tabaco City, Albay which pioneered the putting up of malls here and most parts of Bicol starting way back in the late 1970s.

Also in the bandwagon of big investments in the city are the Robinsons Group of the Gokongwei family and the Gaisano Grand Group of Companies of the Cebu-based Gaisano family which now runs the Pacific Mall Legazpi, the first full-sized integrated shopping center in the Bicol region. The mall located at a prime location within an over-two-hectare property opened in 2001 as the centerpiece of the Landco Business Park, a master planned central business district in the heart of the city.

Robinsons, on the other hand, has its supermarket at a prime location near the city hall and the Albay provincial Capitol as part of one of the largest and most successful chains of malls in the country today.

The Gokongwei group also acquired in 2012 from Albay congressman Al Francis Bichara the Legazpi Savings Bank, the biggest thrift bank in Bicol based here.

With all these multi-billion-peso investments and the coming of SM City, Rosal said, the city that has been emerging as the new shopping and investment haven in Bicol, given its strategic location as the regional government center and center of transportation, health services and education.

The city boasts of an expansive market that extends from the entire province of Albay to the adjoining provinces of Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon, down to Samar areas.

Shadowed by the majestic Mt. Mayon and recognized as the “City of Fun and Adventure” by the world’s travel industry, Legazpi is also the heart of Bicol’s tourism.

“We are impressed by this response of the country’s leading investors to our call for investments after the Department of Trade and Industry cited the Legazpi as the most business-friendly city in Bicol for its prompt compliance with the government’s simplified Business Permit and Licensing System,” Rosal said.

The Department of Interior and Local government (DILG) has also named Legazpi as Bicol’s “most business-friendly local government unit,” citing its effectiveness and efficiency in paving the way for the place to become haven of investments.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has recognized the city as the most business-friendly for the whole of South Luzon.

The Asian Institute of Management called Legazpi as one of the most competitive cities in the Philippines.

Apart from all these, the city is also one of the best places of business process outsourcing outside Metro Manila when it advanced in 2011 to the 10 next wave cities in the country’s industry list of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.

Early last year, the city government won its second Seal of Good Housekeeping from the DILG for its excellence in the field of good governance measured by administrative, social, economic, environmental and other forms achievements that benefited both the community and its constituents.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Department of National Defense have also awarded in the last two consecutive years the city government with the Gawad Kalasag Awards as national champion in disaster risk reduction and management in the City Category of the contest.

Late last year, the city government also won the Most Livable City Award, Galing Pook Award and Silver Governance Trailblazer Award -- all for excellence in local governance -- and early this year, it has been nominated for the 2016 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize by the Embassy to the Philippines of the Republic of Singapore.

Brand new P1.4-B aircraft under repair

By RHAYDZ B. BARCIA

LEGAZPI CITY: A P1.4-billion brand new aircraft bought by the Philippine Air Force in Spain is undergoing thorough safety check after an engine display light malfunctioned, causing a delay a scheduled maiden flight in Legazpi City.

The newly purchased medium lift aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, Spain made C295 was scheduled to land in at 8:00 in the morning Tactical Operations Group 5-Philippine Air Force but cancelled the flight due to fine tuning check.

Lt. Col. Luisito Angeles, TOG5 commanding officer, invited media practitioners to witness the maiden flight of one of the first three brand new aircrafts but later had to cancel the activity.

The newly acquired C-295 medium lift fixed-wing aircraft can bring 70 passengers, 50 paratroops, 24 stretchers with 5 to 7 attendants or up to about 20,000 pounds of cargo.

The Philippine Air Force C-295 will enhance the capability of the PAF in providing airlift requirements of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations

Angeles said the C295 fleet is a multipurpose medium lift transport Aircraft. “The public is invited to witness this momentous event,” Angeles said.

The Aquino administration is modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines wherein the Department of National Defense (DND) entered into a contract on Dec. 23, 2013 with the joint venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters, Ltd. for the acquisition of 21 UH-1 Huey helicopters, “including integrated logistics support or spare parts.

However, the P1.21 billion worth of UH-1H helicopters found defective and undergoing probe before the House of Representatives. The contract was approved by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in 2013.

Albay guv backs climate deal urging developed countries to pay in renewable energy

By Alexis Romero

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – The Philippines should push for a deal that would require major pollutants to compensate countries using renewable energy during the Paris climate talks later this year, a former chair of the Green Climate Fund said.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda, who served as chair of the Green Climate Fund from 2013 to 2014, noted that the feed in tariff (FIT) makes renewable energy more expensive than coal.

He said developed countries using fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases should pay for the difference between the costs of coal and renewable energy.

“If we undertake emission control, they (major emitters) should pay for it. They should pay for the differential,” Salceda told reporters in a recent interview here.

FIT offers emerging renewable sources for electricity guaranteed payments on a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour for energy exported to the distribution or transmission network. It is one of the mechanisms to encourage investments in renewable energy.

Salceda said the tariff for coal only costs more than P4/kWh. The Energy Regulatory Commission, meanwhile, has approved P8.53/kWh FIT rate for wind, P6.63/kWh for biomass, P8.69/kWh for solar and P5.90/kWh for run-of-river hydropower. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Salceda said while the Philippines has been increasing the use of renewable energy, it has also been on the receiving end of the impact of climate change, which has been blamed on greenhouse emissions.

“We have been contributing to emission reduction. We are 127th in growth of income but 159th in (carbon emission). In the meantime, every nation, every person wants a share of that emission space. We haven’t used ours so why do we have to suffer?” the governor said.

Salceda said the Philippines should also lobby for a climate agreement that would support adaptation and mitigation measures for vulnerable countries. He said there is no need for the Philippines to come up with an emission reduction plan or intended nationally determined contributions (INDC) because it only contributes 0.31 percent to the world’s greenhouse gases.

Climate change has been blamed for extreme weather conditions and has been attributed to human activities including the use of fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases. The Philippines has been regarded as one of the countries most vulnerable to the effects of drastic changes in the climate.

Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will hold its 21st session in Paris from November 30 to December 11 to tackle ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

UNFCCC parties have been required to submit their INDC ahead of the conference. The Philippines plans to submit its emission reduction plan in August.

Salceda’s province Albay is one of the disaster-prone provinces in the Philippines. It is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt region. Three to five major typhoons directly hit the province annually. The eruption of the Mayon Volcano also threatens three cities and five towns.

Because of its risk profile, Albay is the location of several projects designed to mitigate the impact of disasters. These projects include the Climate Change Academy, which provides development program on adaptation, disaster risk reduction and management; evacuation centers in six schools, and the Camalig School and Evacuation Shelter.

Vietnam-flagged vessel grounds in Albay, damages marine environment

By Grace Gonzales

The Philippine Coast Guard reports a Vietnam-flagged cargo ship, on Monday, grounded off Albay. Coral reefs in the vicinity waters of Legazpi, Albay were damaged by a Vietnam-flagged cargo vessel which ran aground 900 yards off the entrance of Legazpi City Port, the Coast Guard reports.

The Vietnam-flagged vessel is MV Ocean 03, with 4,532 gross tonnages and manned by 21 Vietnamese crew, reportedly ran aground and hit the marine environment at the area while maneuvering enroute to Albay Gulf.

Coast Guard Station-Albay immediately deployed its men along with representatives from the Port State Control Division. At around three in the afternoon, MV Ocean 03 was pulled from its agrounding site and maneuvered northeast of Legazpi Port.

“Port State Control Division issued deficiencies Code 02106: Hull Damage Impairing Seaworthiness, and Code 15101: Safety and Environment Policy to MV Ocean 03,” the Coast Guard said.

PSC also advised the master of the vessel to coordinate with its agency, Hoang Anh Shipping Joint Stock Company, to provide a surveyor from a classification society who will conduct an underwater hull inspection to determine the seaworthiness of the said vessel.

Local officials and the Coast Guard said the vessel will not be allowed to leave until damage to marine environment has been addressed.

Php2.7B Albay coastal roads along Ticao-Burias Pass near completion

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

LEGAZPI CITY, June 17 (PNA) – The three coastal roads now under constructions for a total amount of Php2.7 billion to interlink Albay and Sorsogon municipalities, which both lie along Burias and Ticao Passes, are nearing completion, officials on Tuesday said.

These are the 46-kilometer artery along the Albay West Coast connecting several key fishing barangays within Ligao City and the municipalities of Libon, Oas and Pioduran; the 25.6-kilometer Pioduran-Donsol (Sorsogon) Road; and the 24.9-kilometer Guinobatan-Jovellar-Donsol Road.

The Albay West Coast road, whose concreting and construction of concrete bridges were started with a national government-fund release of Php56 million in 2014, was continued this year with an additional allocation of Php328 million.

It will be completed through a funding schedule of Php427 million in 2016 and Php331 million in 2017, for a total of Php1.142 billion.

According to the regional office for Bicol here of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is implementing the project through private contractors, concreting road works, construction of the remaining three concrete bridges and other related required structures are ongoing in this project.

This road that starts from Barangay Pantao, Libon, Albay -- passing through a rolling terrain, vast pasturelands and hillsides along beaches of Burias Pass -- is designed to serve not only as a link among the province’s western coast barangays for the convenient movement of villagers and easy transport of goods but will also open the area as another leading eco-tourism destination.

Rep. Fernando Gonzalez of the province’s third congressional district covering the area has filed a bill now nearing approval which seeks its development into a tourism hub in line with the government’s drive to create multi-faceted tourist destinations.

House Bill 4599, which Gonzalez said, has already passed the second reading, and when finally enacted into a law, will declare the place a tourism spot and task the Department of Tourism (DOT) in its development through funds to be appropriated by Congress.

The bill describes the Albay West Coast’s diversity and unique attraction as an alternative to the highly commercialized beaches in Boracay and Palawan which, when developed, would be an additional tourism site for the province whose current main attraction is the majestic Mayon Volcano.

Identified for inclusion in the proposed new tourism site are the beaches along barangays Buenavista, Malidong, Basicao Coastal and Marigondon -- all in Pioduran town; Maonon, Cabarian and Catbulawan of Ligao City; Badian, Cagmanaba, Maramba and Nagas of Oas; and Apud, Rawis, Talin-talin and Pantao of Libon.

All these barangays are located adjoining each other and sitting along the northern coastlines of Burias Pass, which is known as sanctuary of manta rays and seasonal home to whale sharks, the world’s largest marine mammal.

The Pioduran-Donsol road, also now undergoing concreting works from Barangay Borboran, Donsol to the junction of the Ligao-Pioduran road at the poblacion of Pioduran, is worth Php769.2 million, the DPWH said.

Works on this project that also involve the construction of two concrete bridges with a total span of 59.10 linear meters have been in progress since 2012.

The concreting of Guinobatan-Jovellar-Donsol Road, worth Php700 million and whose works were started in 2013, is also ongoing.

Both roads leading to and from Donsol, the whale shark capital of the world, according to engineer Melvin Navarro, the DPWH regional director, are scheduled to be completed by the middle of 2016 or before the end of Pres. Aquino’s term.

These two projects that form part of the DPWH-DOT convergence program under the Aquino administration’s 2011-2016 National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP), when completed, would facilitate growth to the already-booming tourism of Donsol and Albay, enabling tourists to travel with ease, Navarro said.

The convergence program is also in support to, among other key tourism development undertakings in Bicol, the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon (AlMaSor) tourism alliance which was conceptualized as the tourism road map for Bicol designed to achieve development not only in the mainland provinces of Albay and Sorsogon but also in the island of Masbate.

Burias and Ticao Passes are adjoining inland seas that separate Masbate from the Bicol mainland.

Navarro said these ongoing three road projects are so far the biggest in Bicol that will open new convenient and shorter routes among eco-tourism sites in Albay, Sorsogon and the island-province of Masbate.

The road connection between Donsol and Pioduran, he said, would allow tourists to move around ecotourism sites along the coastline of Ticao and Burais Passes and jump through the Pioduran port to Burias, a quaint Masbate island that offers unexplored ancient landmarks and pristine beaches away from the hassles of urban life.

The Donsol-Jovellar-Guinobatan road, on the other hand will make travel shorter between Donsol and areas covered by the third district of Albay where Mt. Mayon’s southwestern quadrant could be closely viewed as well as Ligao City, the site of the alluring Kawa-Kawa Hill and Nature Park, he added.

Meanwhile, Pioduran town Mayor Henry Callope said his office, along with the district office of Gonzalez, is monitoring the ongoing implementation of these projects, particularly those within the their respective jurisdictions.

“We are under instructions from the congressman to see to it that all works involving the projects are within the required specifications so that its quality is not compromised and the government is not cheated by its contractors,” he said.

New Albay eco-tourism destination now sells like hot cakes

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

LEGAZPI CITY, June 16 (PNA) -- Albay’s newly discovered ecotourism sites are now selling like the proverbial hotcakes which further strengthen the province’s recent overwhelming tourism gains and further consolidate its new status as a global tourist destination in southern Luzon.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said the new sites, well-clustered within a 15-kilometer radius with the postcard perfect Cagsawa Ruins as focal point, have recently become favorite destinations among tourists and are now favorite selfie posts in the social media.

The new sites include the Naglaus-Milaos Underground River and Sigpit Waterfalls and cliff jumping, in Del Rosario village, Jovellar town; the Quitinday Greenhills, an interactive, trekking and selfie-terrific rolling hills, and caves in Camalig; the Guinanayan White Beach and Island Hopping in Galicia Village, Rapurapu; the Nagaso Hot Spring and Inang Maharang Boiling Lake in Manito; the Lignon Hill Zip Line, and other recreation activities centers in Legazpi City.

World famous majestic Mayon Volcano, a newly listed UNESCO Heritage Site, and the Albay Biosphere Reserve which is presently pending for a UNESCO listing, banner Albay’s ecotourism attractions which the province now strongly pushes, along with culinary tourism, that focuses on its rich native cuisines, and sports tourism. It hosts the XTERRA Triathlon for three years that started last February, and the Palarong Pambansa 2016.

Albay’s unprecedented tourism growth benefits many and helps local industries flourish. It has inspired local folks to search for potential locations they could convert into tourist spots, which turned out to be abundant.

Salceda said Albay now employs a “fine-tuned culture-based tourism strategy that includes total immersion and participation by the lowest ranks of the society -- so much like that in Bali, Indonesia -- where every member of the community plays a role in the big business of tourism.”

The strategy is expected to play an even more pivotal role when the Bicol International Airport in Daraga town opens in 2017 and unlock Bicol’s floodgates to intensive international tourism.

Albayanos have been awakened and inspired by the bounty offered by tourism, and are scouring hills and forests in search of caves, rivers and lagoons that could become tourist sites. That have also started digging deep into their historic and storied past for treasured heritage, and have sought experts from the National Historical Commission and National Museum to teach them how to explore and preserve natural and built-up assets below and above ground, he said.

“Even ordinary tour guides and local wanderers have become amateur archeologists picking up bones and seashells on mountain peaks and conjuring myths out of stories by their elders’” he noted. To mitigate risks, he said, the province has fielded experts to brief local stakeholders on safety and risk-reduction measures; sent environmental experts to show them how to protect and preserve natural assets; sought international organizations such as UNESCO for the recognition and protection of the local biosphere.

Salceda, the country's first Tourism Star Philippines Awardee, presented Albay’s prospering tourism and its world-class culture-base strategy at the recent third general membership meeting of the Philippine Travel and Operator’s Association (Philtoa) at the Manila Hotel. He said Albay fully supports tourism and local investors by building infrastructures needed to make sites, and ensure safety, comfort and other amenities for visitors.

“New circumferential roads linking sites and destinations have been carved out of forests and hills; we have sought national government funding to build water supply systems, support sustainable touristic-focused home industries; encouraged the support of local entrepreneurs for food provision, transportation, and accommodations for tourists,” he added.

He said Albay has repeatedly urged the present administration to speed up the completion of the new Bicol International Airport and rehabilitate the Bicol Railway System to help ensure the comfort of arriving and departing domestic and international tourists.

Observers note that one can rarely find any local government, here and abroad, which have done so much in short a time as Albay did “to bring tourism to the level it has so far reached, given its limited resources, and despite the frequent typhoons and volcanic eruptions” it has to deal with.

2015 Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon search body starts preparations

(PNA), LAP/FGS/EMC/CBD/

LEGAZPI CITY, June 15 (PNA) -- Members of the Search and Awards Committee (SAC) of the Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon are now busy preparing for the quest for achievers in the field of education in the province.

The annual awards program, which started in 2008 and is a brainchild of Governor Joey Sarte Salceda, is organized by the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) through its Provincial Education Department.

The Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon program is an awards mechanism that aims to bolster the educational system by giving recognition and rewards to principals, teachers, students, and local government units (LGUs) who have made significant contributions in the uplift of the quality of education in Albay.

The different programs under Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon are Ten Outstanding Teachers of Albay (TOTAL), Three Outstanding Principals (TROPICAL), Student Excellence in Academics and Leadership (SEAL), and Kadunong LGU with Best Practices in Education.

All winners will receive not only recognition but also cash prizes.

Now on its 8th year, the Gawad Albay sa Edukasyon has proven to be quite an effective program as shown by the amazing results it has yielded, propelling the students of the Province of Albay, in the elementary and high school level, to higher ranks in the National Achievement Test rankings.

Members of the Search and Awards Committee come from the education sector, LGU, PGA, and stakeholders from the private sector.

They review the work plan of the different programs during their meetings, discussing the methods to be used this year in the search for the viable candidates for recognition.

Information regarding the criteria, date of submission for nominations, and prizes will be announced later after the work plans and calendar have been finalized.

The PGA has put a high premium on education and has placed high priority on education development programs, even awarding a large chunk of the annual budget for such programs.

Ligao City eyes establishment of rice museum

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

LIGAO CITY, June 14 (PNA) -- Fast emerging as Albay’s center of staple grain production, this highly agricultural city is being eyed for the establishment of a rice museum that would serve not only as a showcase of feats that homegrown farmers have achieved but as an agritourism attraction.

Rep. Fernando Gonzalez of the province’s third congressional district, which covers the city and six other municipalities of mostly rural communities, introduced the idea as he hailed on Sunday the interest on latest rice production innovations developed among the thousands of local farm folk engaged in rice production.

He also extolled the interventions being employed by the Department of Agriculture (DA), particularly through its Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), which operates its Bicol station within a vast field in Barangay Batang here and providing a new direction to the local rice industry.

“We in the district, in partnership with the PhilRice and other public and private agricultural stakeholders, have been initiating various interventions that inspire local farmers to produce more and generate at least Php1 million earnings per year from every hectare of their rice farms," Gonzalez said.

In the recent palay harvest in this city, for example, he said, some rice fields planted to hybrid varieties have been successful in producing up to 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare, which at present-day prices would generate as much as Php180,000 per cropping period.

The Albay lawmaker attributed such success to good quality hybrid seeds, reliable irrigation, correct soil preparation and fertilization, sufficient capital investment, availability of post-harvest facilities, government support price that ensures reasonable prices and most of all, “generosity and kindness by the Lord for bountiful harvest”.

“The recent harvest was good, but not good enough. There’s still much room for improvement, which when taken advantage of may lead to nearly doubling that earning towards the Php1-million mark in a year-round period of three-cropping cycle,” he said.

Gonzalez, himself a part-time farmer, said he is taking his cue from the Rural Transformation Movement (RTM) of the PhiRice that is focused among others on the “Gusto Naming Milyonaryo Kayo (We Want You to be Millionaires)” drive aimed at reforming farmers’ behavior on farm enterprise and draw a deeper sense of responsibility in keeping the country rice self-sufficient.

In the “Gusto Naming Milyonaryo Kayo” campaign, farmers are inspired to maximize use of every farm space and time through crop diversification in which agri-business enterprises will be integrated to rice farming, according to him.

“The proposed rice museum would be a site where the contributions of our farmers to the agricultural sector and to regional development are to be featured to become an agritourism attraction,” he said.

Agritourism, as broadly defined, involves any agriculturally-based activity that brings visitors to a site as a form of niche tourism that is considered a growth industry in many parts of the world, including the Philippines.

Other terms associated with agritourism are "agritainment", "value-added products", "farm direct marketing" and "sustainable agriculture".

It involves the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation to enjoy, be educated or be involved in activities.

This generates supplemental income for the owner.

Agri-tourism falls under the same general category as eco-tourism where the intention of the tourist is to gain a greater appreciation of a local culture or environment through non-invasive and sustainable activities.

“Our intention here is to leverage tourism to supplement its main economic activities and help to preserve its social and environmental framework,” Gonzalez said.

Agri-tourism has yet to be developed as a major tourist drawer in Bicol and this city, and most of the third district’s towns are well suited for it because of its reputation as leading adaptor of modern farming techniques and as Albay’s rice granary.

The congressman said tour operators have noted the inconsistent quality among local agri-tourism sites, that is why “we are taking steps towards the establishment of an agritourism site that could provide visitors with educational experiences.”

This museum would offer an agriculturally-oriented educational experience suitable for different ages such as food production, land stewardship and history of agriculture which are common topics that visitors enjoy learning about, he stressed.

As a tourism facility, the planned rice museum will offer customer services manned by trained personnel who will interact with visitors in an appropriate way to ensure a safe and high-quality experience.

The PhilRice station itself is already a potential agri-tourism destination, given its modern facilities that contribute to the significant increase over the past two years of rice and other supplemental crop production in the city, the third district and the whole of Bicol that now enjoy rice-self sufficiency and even a surplus, Gonzalez said.

And as an expansion of its services, the station is putting up a Php10.9-million laboratory and training building which will showcase research activities focused on the production of seeds to cater to the needs of Bicolano farmers.

“This facility is another dream coming true for us in the district as it represents the wide acceptance by our farmers of government interventions focused on modern technologies and innovative farming techniques as they shift from the conventional system that limits them to barely hand-to-mouth existence,” Gonzalez added.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of this new facility was done over the week and its completion, according to PhilRice Executive Director Edilberto de Luna, is slated before the end of November, this year.

4 far-flung Bicol villages get day care centers from DAR

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

LEGAZPI CITY, June 13 (PNA) -- Applying the government’s Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Program (GPBP), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has completed the construction of four day care centers which were recently turned over to an equal number of far-flung barangays in Bicol.

Edmundo Nacario, head of the DAR’s Program Beneficiaries and Development Division in the region, on Friday said the projects amounting to PHP3 million were awarded to Bantugan, Bicalen, Pagsangaan and Lidong -- all remote barangays in the municipality of Presentacion, Camarines Sur.

These barangays were pre-identified by the municipal government which chipped in PHP157,500 in counterpart fund as required by the GPBP grant.

Barangay Bantugan, occupied by around 150 households representing a total population of 531, is 15 kilometers from the town center of Presentacion and could be reached on foot via an over-an-hour trek on a rugged, rolling terrain and crossing two creeks and a wide river.

For hire motorcycles (locally called habal-habal) ply the same route for a fare of PHP300 per passenger.

Barangay Bicalen, with 577 residents or nearly 200 household, is 11.5 kilometers away from the poblacion and can be reached by habal-habal for a fare of PHP250 per passenger.

Pagsangaan, with a household population of 180 representing a total population of 550, is 7.5 kilometers from the poblacion and can be reached by an over-30-minute walk or a habal-habal ride worth PHP80 a passenger.

Lidong, the farthest among the four barangays which could be reached by walking through 27 kilometers of bumpy, undulating roadway or a habal-habal ride at PHP600, is somehow the biggest with some 220 households for a total population of 1,021, according to Nacario.

Presentacion itself is a poor coastal municipality classified within the fourth income class and is composed of 18 barangays occupied by a total population of a little more than 20,000 people, majority of whom relies mainly on fishing and farming for their livelihood.

He stressed that these facilities were made possible through the GPBD granted by the DAR to agrarian reform communities in the municipality.

Service caravan marks Independence Day celebration in Albay

(PNA), FFC/FGS/MSA/CBD/PJN

LEGAZPI CITY, June 12 (PNA) -- Officials of Albay and national government agencies marked the celebration of the 117th Independence Day in the province Friday with a service caravan in a remote geothermal-rich village of Manito town.

The Provincial Government of Albay led by Gov. Joey Salceda trooped to landslide-prone Barangay Nagotgot in Manito town, some 50 kilometers from the city proper, to give basic services to the residents of the village and nearby areas.

Salceda said the caravan is one of the continuing programs of the province in close collaboration with national government agencies, civil society organizations and local government units to bring government services closer to remote communities.

Hundreds of villagers trooped to the Nagotgot Elementary School, the venue of the one-day government service caravan, where Salceda and his group led a consultation dialogue with the residents.

The caravan also rendered medical and dental as well as animal health services.

It distributed seedlings, medicines, rice and water containers, trash cans and disaster risk reduction gears.

Elementary pupils participated in a read-along session and Palarong Lahi events.

As of press time, the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol reported a “zero crime” situation as the people observed the Independence Day across the region.

Earlier, the Provincial Government of Albay and the City Government of Legazpi jointly celebrated the 117th Independence Day in front of the Provincial Capitol.

Legazpi City also marked its 56th Foundation Day as a charter city.

The celebration started with a mass at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral, followed by a flag-raising ceremony.

During the the program that followed, Salceda laid down his administration’s achievements in the province, which, he hopes, will be replicated, if not surpassed, in the following years.

A civic-military parade is scheduled in the afternoon.

Albay, Legazpi to jointly celebrate 117th Independence Day Friday

By Nancy Ibo Mediavillo [(PNA), CTB/FGS/NIM/CBD/]

LEGAZPI CITY, June 11 (PNA) -- The Provincial Government of Albay and the City Government of Legazpi City are all set for their joint celebration of the 117th Independence Day Friday.

Legazpi City will also mark its 56th Foundation Day as a charter city.

The celebration will have for its theme: "Tagumpay sa Pagbabagong Nasimulan, Abot Kamay ng Bayan."

The celebration will formally start with a Holy Mass at 7:00 a.m. at the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral.

There will be a parade of troops after the Mass to be participated in by the Armed Forces of the Philippines; the family of the Department of Interior and Local Government composed of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and Bureau of Fire Protection; and the Department of Transportation and Communications family.

At 8:00 a.m., there will be a flag-raising ceremony, to be immediately followed by a short program.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda will give a message wherein he will cite his administration's achievements for the Province of Albay, which, he hopes, will be replicated, if not surpassed, in the following years. .

Legazpi City Vice Mayor Vittorio Roces will give a welcome address.

A wreath-laying ceremony for the 56th Foundation Day of legazpi City will be done inside the City Hall.

At 3:00 pm., there will be a civic-military parade.

A zumba fitness activity will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Penaranda Park.


PATA plans new frontiers forum in Albay

By Jong Reyes

THE Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will organize the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2015, from November 25-27, at the Oriental Hotel Legazpi, in Albay, in the Philippines.

Hosted by the Provincial Government of Albay in partnership with The Department of Tourism, the three-day event is themed “Ecotourism – Transcending Climate Change. The choice of venue is also “due to the outstanding achievements of the Province of Albay in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction management”, PATA says. “Albay has also been recently declared as the most vibrant and the fastest-growing tourist destination in the Philippines.”

Formerly called the PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference 2015, the event “stems from the need to help secondary and tertiary areas grow and develop into widely recognized, bucket-listed tourism destinations”, the Bangkok-based non-profit association says.

“The dispersion of tourism is the association’s main advocacy issue, this year,” says PATA CEO Mario Hardy. “Last month, we announced the PATA CEO Challenge 2015 as one avenue to address this issue, and now this event will allow destinations to learn from various travel and tourism stakeholders how best to market and manage these new and emerging destinations, which are ready to be discovered.”

The forum brings together tourism professionals to share their insights and experiences with lesser-known destinations, thus ensuring the sustainable growth and development of travel and tourism in the area, PATA says. “Local communities will economically benefit through the dispersion of tourists to these new frontiers,” the association says. This conference also aims to explore new tourism opportunities based on sound eco-systems and climate change adaptations – “of which Albay has become a world-class role model”, according to the association, whose membership consists of 87 government, state and city tourism bodies; 25 international airlines, airports and cruise lines; 61 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies across Asia.

The event’s speakers will examine ecotourism and adventure travel, marketing new destinations, and connecting adventure hubs, PATA says.

Albay Governor Joey Sarte Salceda says: “For its tourism marketing, Albay has partnered with the Department of Tourism in targeting the hosting of treaty conferences like UNWTO to gain more bang for our bucks, and we consider PATA in the same category. We are happy to present our ecotourism at the center of our sustainable development strategy. Its iconic feature, Mayon Volcano has just recently been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

A one-day conference, technical tour, and an inaugural Tourism Marketing Treasure Hunt highlight the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2015, “allowing tourism professionals to gain first-hand practical experience in how to discover and get to know a destination in order to market the world-class attractions and tourism products and services that are relatively unknown by both trade and consumers to a global audience”, the association says.

Located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon Island, Albay is a United Nations Global Model for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, while its capital, Legazpi City, also recently hosted the UNWTO-ASEAN International Conference on Tourism and Climate Change.

For more information about the PATA New Tourism Frontiers Forum 2015, visit www.PATA.org/ntff2015 .

(Feature) Albay west coast eyed as Bicol’s center for eco-cultural tourism

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

LIGAO CITY, June 9 (PNA) – Stretching 46 kilometers over a rolling terrain featuring high hills and overlooking breathtaking waterscape shimmered by the turquoise water producing tender silvery waves that race against each other to kiss the waiting white sand beaches, the Albay west coast road alone is already a tourism asset.

But local officials want more—eco-cultural tourism -- from the vast area along this new road network that links the Albay towns of Libon and Pioduran and passes through several coastal barangays of this city and its adjoining municipality of Oas that all sit off the beaten track.

The Albay west coast is nestled along Burias Pass, a huge inland sea separating Masbate province’s Burias Island from the Bicol mainland and everybody who has traveled this road and set foot on its beaches says the place is meaningfully exquisite and the sea is great for its serenity, cleanness and rich marine resources.

“I’ve heard about the wonders of the place before but despite my preconceptions about its allure, still I was floored by my actual experience of being here. The drama of the contrast of the landscape and seascape caught me speechless and groping for words to describe it,” Carmen Vicuña, a travel writer, said as she meandered through the shoreline of Barangay Catburawan here over the weekend.

According to Manuel Rangasa, a local climate change adaptation campaigner, the Catburawan beach alone could already tell of the unnoticed natural wealth of the Albay west coast, a multifaceted marvel waiting to be introduced as a world-class eco-cultural tourism destination, being blessed with rich biological diversity and eco-cultural assets.

Burias Pass and its adjoining waters of Ticao Pass are home to whale sharks, manta rays, dugong and various species of sea turtles, exotic coral reefs and lately, discovered to be a habitat of the globally rare megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios), Rangasa said.

“Put in place a more vigorous program for a more sustainable coastal resources management and the place will sparkle as an eco-cultural tourism haven,” Rangasa added.

City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez-Alsua agrees as, she said, ecological and cultural tourism is the most viable way towards stimulating economic activities while, at the same time, preserving the unique cultural and environmental heritage of the place and its people.

She said the city government has in place an intensive program started some seven years ago that focuses on the preservation and enhancement of the ecological and fishery resources of the three barangays—Catburawan, Cabarian and Maonon within its political jurisdiction that covers 126 square-kilometers municipal water and coastline length of 8.4 kilometers.

“We are maintaining a 62-hectare mangrove forest in Barangay Cabarian, now teeming with nearly half a million trees; three fish and marine reserves with an aggregate total area of 135 hectares and a coral reef rehabilitation and seagrass protection program that now provides for coral regeneration and protection of fish diversity,” the lady mayor said.

Adding the success of these initiatives to the rolling hills, communal pasture lands, romantic beaches, sublime seawater, untouched ecology, vibrant rural environment and warm, gracious and forthright people make endearing elements for the Albay west coast in becoming a wonderful place to visit, play and relax away from the exasperating urban rat race, she said.

That makes the place a haven for eco-cultural tourism cum community-based tourism that is described as a socially sustainable -- meaning, tourism activities are developed and operated, for the most part, by local community members and a reasonable share of the revenues are enjoyed by the community in one way or another.

Another important feature of community-based tourism is its respect for local culture, heritage and traditions as its system actually reinforces and sometimes rescues these and implies respect and concern for the natural heritage, particularly where the environment is one of the attractions.

Such prospect enjoys an all-out support from Rep. Fernando Gonzalez of Albay’s third district, which covers the west coast.

He has a bill in Congress nearing approval which seeks the development of the area into a tourism haven in line with the government’s drive to create multi-faceted tourist destinations.

House Bill 4599, which Gonzalez on Tuesday said has passed the second reading, when finally enacted into a law will declare the place a tourism spot and task the Department of Tourism (DOT) in its development through funds to be appropriated by Congress.

The bill describes the Albay west coast’s diversity and unique attraction as an alternative to the highly commercialized beaches in Boracay and Palawan which when developed would be an additional tourism site for the province whose current main attraction is the majestic Mayon Volcano.

Identified for inclusion in the proposed new tourism site are the beaches along barangays Buenavista, Malidong, Basicao Coastal and Marigondon, all in Pioduran town; Maonon, Cabarian and Catbulawan of this city; Badian, Cagmanaba, Maramba and Nagas of Oas; and Apud, Rawis, Talin-talin and Pantao of Libon.

All barangays are located adjoining each other and sitting along the northern coastlines of Ticao and Burias Passes that are known as sanctuary of manta rays and seasonal home to whale sharks, the world’s largest marine mammal.

The Manta Ray Bowl, which draws a notable number of international leisure divers, is located off the nearby town of San Jacinto at Ticao Island of Masbate while the whale sharks, locally called butandings, seasonally homed each year at the nearby coastal waters of Donsol, Sorsogon, is another major tourism drawer.

The proposed law says that “in coordination with other government agencies concerned, the DOT shall prepare, within one year from the approval of this Act, a tourism development plan involving the construction, installation and/or maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure as shall encourage tourism in the area.”

In explaining his purpose in seeking an approval of this Bill, Gonzalez said that the Albay west coast beaches would add to the attractiveness of the province, apart from what are offered by Mt. Mayon, the world’s most perfect-coned volcano; the most photographed Cagsawa Ruins; the massive urban development taking place in Legazpi City and all the other historical and cultural heritage sites of the locality.

Bicol LGUs to use social media in disaster response

By Mara Cepeda (Rappler.com)

Project Agos conducts workshops to train local government representatives and volunteers to have a #ZeroCasualty mindset in times of disasters

MANILA, Philippines – Local officials and advocacy groups in the Bicol region are now ready to maximize social media tools in their disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) efforts.

A total of 116 participants – mostly from the provincial and municipal DRRM councils – underwent a workshop under Project Agos of the Move, the citizen engagement arm of Rappler, at the CBD Plaza Hotel in Naga City, Camarines Sur, June 4-5.

During the workshop, Rappler Research & Content Strategy head Gemma Bagayaua-Mendoza and Jed Alegado and Lou Gepuela of Project Agos discussed how social media can be used as a means to improve DRRM activities at the community level.

Participants received training on how to use Facebook and Twitter for information dissemination. They were also taught how to make use of innovative online platforms like the Project Agos Alert Map.

Project Agos also encouraged participants to have a mindset of achieving #ZeroCasualty in times of disaster.

Social media is a vital communication channel, according to engineer Domingo Ramos, a member of the staff for operation of the municipal DRRM office in the 2nd district of Pasacao, Camarines Sur.

"'Yung Facebook, 'yung Twitter, talagang important 'yun sa communication, lalo na kung may mga picture [kang ilalagay] para [mapakita] mo talaga kung ano 'yung nangyari," said Ramos.

(Facebook and Twitter are very important in communication, especially when you include photos in your posts so you can show people what really happened.)

Representatives from other local government units and groups shared the sentiment, and vowed to include the improved utilization of social media channels in their DRRM activities.

Edgar Balidoy from the municipal DRRM office in Sto Domingo said their office already has a Facebook account, which they would update with the latest weather bulletins and DRRM efforts.

However, he said, he will also make a Twitter profile for the office and request for a faster Internet connection, as suggested during the workshop.

“This will surely be an added warning and communication feature in our DRMM operations,” Balidoy said.

He added: "Very important itong mga technology na 'to, especially sa warning, kasi ang aming [purpose ay] zero casualty." (These forms of technology are very important, especially when warning people about incoming disasters, because our purpose is zero casualty.)

The Bicol region is considered as one of the most disaster-prone areas in the country. The region is often visited by typhoons and is home to two active volcanoes: Mount Mayon in Albay and Mount Bulusan in Sorsogon.

Those who attended the workshop were from towns and cities in Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Albay, and Masbate. There were also delegates from the Department of the Interior and Local Government's RAY (Recovery Assistance for Yolanda) project. Community outreach and disaster response offices of the Ateneo de Naga University and the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture also attended. Socio-civic groups – such as the Center for Bicol Development, DRR Net Philippines, and Kabalikat Civic Radio – also participated.

This workshop in Naga is part of Project Agos’ efforts to conduct capacity building workshops for various LGUs around the country. The first was held in Metro Manila in 2014.

Project Agos is set to conduct training sessions in Cagayan de Oro and Davao this year.

DENR-Bicol all set for Environment Month celebration

(PNA), CTB/FGS/CBD/PJN

LEGAZPI CITY, June 7 (PNA) -- The Department of of Environment and Natural Resources is ready for the celebration of its 28th anniversary and the Environment Month 2015 with the theme ”Seven Billion People, One Planet, Consume with Care.”

On June 9, the DENR will have a program for the Coral Triangle Day at the Bagasbas Beach in Daet, Camarines Norte.

The following day, all employees of the DENR-Bicol will gather for the Family Day in Barangay Lidong, Sto. Domingo, Albay.

There will be various sports activities and “boodle fight".

The DENR-Bicol will join the Independence Day celebration on June 12 with local government units and other government agencies.

The agency will have commemorate Land Desertification or Loss of Soil Quality on June 17.

The next day, there will be an Eagle Quiz (provincial level) for elementary and high school schools.

Together with other government agencies and the private sector, the DENR-Bicol will lead in the planting of trees in various parts of the region in celebration of Arbor Day on June 25.

On the succeeding day, the agency will have a press briefing on Saringaya Awards and the state of the environment in Bicol to be held at the LCC Activity Center here.

At 8:00 a.m., June 29, the National Green Program Coffee Table Book will be launched at SM Naga in Naga City, to be followed by the Saringaya and Eagle Quiz awarding ceremonies at the Avenue Plaza Hotel also in Naga City.

Part of the Environment Month celebration is the launch of “Save 100” with the help of local government units to save century-old trees in the entire region.

DENR Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales said the declaration of the Environment Month aims to give attention to the protection and conservation of the natural resources of the country.

Based on Presidential Proclamation No. 237 signed by former president Corazon C. Aquino in 1998, the Philippine Enviroment Month is celebrated every month of June.

PDEA burns PHP20-M illegal drugs

(PNA), JBP/FGS/MSA/CBD/SSC

LEGAZPI CITY, June 6 (PNA) -- About PHP20-million worth of illegal drugs, mostly methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, were burned on Friday by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) in Bicol.

Bryan Babang, PDEA regional director, said the confiscation and disposal by burning of seized illegal drugs came as a result of various operations conducted by the PDEA in the region against illegal drug.

The burnt illegal drugs worth PHP19,947,886 included: 3.9 kilos of shabu, the poor man's cocaine; 3 grams of dried marijuana leaves; 142 tablets of benzodiazepine, and 59 tablets of morphine sulfate.

Babang said it is PDEA's practice to destroy the seized illegal drugs after it gets court clearance.

The seizure of 3.9 kilos of shabu also led to the arrest of one Hope Sasan, a known illegal drug pusher in Masbate, in 2010, Babang said.

Babang said the disposal of the illegal drugs, which was held at the PDEA compound in Camp Gen. Simeon A. Ola here, was witnessed by representatives from various local courts handling drug cases, civil society organizations, media and PDEA officials.

Salceda reorganizes Albay project monitoring body

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

LEGAZPI CITY, June 5 (PNA) – Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda has reorganized the Provincial Project Monitoring Committee (PPMC) which is tasked to monitor and evaluate projects being implemented or that have been carried out in the province.

Salceda said the reorganization of the PPMC is prescribed under Presidential Executive Order No. 376, S.1989, as amended By EO 93, which established the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation system (RPMES) to decentralize monitoring and evaluation system leading to the adoption of corrective measures to facilitate project implementation.

The RPMES is being undertaken by the development councils or planning boards at the regional, provincial, city and municipal levels.

The reorganized PPMC is composed of Daraga Mayor Gerry R. Jaucian, chairman, with the following members; Olivio D. Ramirez, Department of Interior and Local Government provincial director; Oas Mayor Gregorio H. Ricarte; Cynthia Salamea, Provincial Gender and Development focal person; Camalig Mayor Carlos Irwin G. Baldo Jr.; Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie B. Aguas; Cristita C. Triunfante of MIDAS; and Irene A. Solmirano, Entrepinay Legazpi Chapter president.

The members of the secretariat or the technical working group have also been reorganized to include: Engineer Millie C. Bueta, acting assistant Provincial Planning and Development Office head; Ma. Susana C. Fonacier, development management officer II; Serafin Rodriguez, development management officer II; Bella B. Almilla, planning officer II; Rosemary N. Padua, project development officer II; Jose M. Barquez Jr., project evaluation officer III; Judy P. Bala, statistician; Regildo Nunez, PEO II; Mary Grace N. Nuada, statistician aide, and Caroline Leones, planning assistant.

With the expansion of the PPMC’s membership, its monitoring responsibilities were also expanded to include: (1) foreign and nationally funded projects, including development projects funded from the Internal Revenue Allotment share of local government units or supported by funds released directly to the province, city or municipality, and (2) projects funded from locally-generated resources which are implemented within their respective areas.

Filipino workers are world class -- TESDA head says

(PNA), FFC/FGS/NIM/CBD/EBP

LEGAZPI CITY, June 4 (PNA) -- Filipino workers are world class, according to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director-General Joel Villanueva.

Villanueva has been in Bicol since Tuesday afternoon to visit various TESDA projects and attend the graduation of TESDA scholars in various technical and vocational skills training like single unit plumbing installation and repair maintenance work, dressmaking, maintenance and repair of electronically-controlled domestic appliances, manicure and pedicure services, ignition system servicing, and small engine servicing.

Villanueva said in an interview Wednesday afternoon that the TESDA has played an important role in developing the skills of Filipino workers to make them globally competitive.

"In TESDA, the career path of young Filipino worker is assured as TESDA is the college of work because those who graduate from TESDA are assured of work," he said.

The TESDA official also said that it is not bad to enroll in formal college education but, adding that in TESDA, one is given a choice of whether to pursue college education or technical vocational courses.

Villanueva said his office has been partnering with industry players to upgrade the courses the TESDA offers.

He said much in demand are courses related to tourism like in Albay province under Governor Joey Sarte Salceda where the tourism industry is progressive.

Also in demand are courses in automotive servicing, electronics, dressmaking and beauty care.

The TESDA, he said, has partnered with more than 500 companies in the country under the public-private partnership scheme.

Villanueva said the TESDA has 4,500 technical and vocational schools in the country.

He also called on the Bicolanos to patronize the TESDA online programs.

(News Feature) PHL needs more S&T professionals

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

LEGAZPI CITY, June 3 (PNA) -– The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) says that although the number of Filipino science and technology (S&T) professionals has doubled in the past 20 years, more are needed, particularly in fields other than nursing, midwifery and engineering.

DOST Regional Director for Bicol Tomas Briñas on Wednesday said the number of Filipino professionals in S&T increased by twofold from 1990 to 2010, with each of the workers in the nursing, midwifery and engineering careers registering the most number.

He was citing a recent report on a study conducted by the DOST-Science and Education Institute (DOST-SEI) titled “Human Resources in Science and Technology in the Philippines” which contains estimates on the country’s S&T professionals, established using National Statistics Office census data for 1990, 2000, and 2010, among others

According to the study, there were 362,000 estimated S&T workers in the Philippines in 1990—an estimate that climbed to 593,000 in 2000 and leaped to 721,000 in 2010, posting an impressive 99.17-percent increase from 1990 to 2010.

This incredible growth of the Philippines’ S&T workforce suggests a positive effect on the economy, as “knowledge and technological creation through research and development leads to better performance of major S&T-based industries,” Briñas quoted SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo as saying, referring to the report.

Of this total number, the report says, 211,000 or 29.2 percent of local S&T personnel were concentrated in the National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao had the least number of S&T workers with only around 5,000.

However, the study also revealed that not all S&T occupational groups recorded an increase in number of workers.

In particular, key professions in the fields of mathematics, statistics, life science, physics, and chemistry indicated a huge dip in their numbers.

There is really a need for the DOST to focus on producing professionals from fields that have seen a decrease as it considers these findings in carrying out scholarship, advocacy and innovation programs, Briñas said.

Among these programs, he said, was the strengthening of the scholarship program being offered by the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) to deserving high school students, which was a way of the government’s prospects in building a pool of S&T experts who would someday become the country’s leaders.

In Bicol, the DOST regional office is currently reaching out to the youth who may be less fortunate but can be competitive in the fields of science, mathematics and engineering into the ongoing search for scholars.

Briñas said the current scholarship slots were for school-year 2016-2017 being offered to Grade 6 pupils from a school duly recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and who might qualify after passing the national competitive examinations slated on Oct. 3, this year.

To qualify, the pupil must belong to the upper 10 percent of the school-year batch 2014-2015 and obtained grades in all academic subjects not below 80 percent as certified by the school principal or registrar.

If the applicant does not belong to the upper 10 percent, he or she should have special aptitude in science and math as evidenced by the report card, with at least a final grade of 85 percent in science and math and 80 percent in all other subjects.

To date, PSHSS, popularly called “Pisay” as the nickname coined out of endearment by students, alumni, management and even parents of students, has 14 campuses nationwide.

The PSHSS is specialized public high school operating under the DOST and founded in 1964 to offer scholarship for high school students who will be trained towards careers in science and engineering and for Bicol, its lone campus is in Goa, Camarines Sur.

This Bicol regional campus, established in 1998 within a six-hectare site in Barangay Tagontong, Goa, caters primarily to scientifically and mathematically gifted high school students of the region composed of the provinces of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarianes Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

Its latest population is composed of 360 scholars, Brinas said.

“Pisay scholars are not just intelligent students. They should be excellent in science, math and engineering to help them cope with the school’s academic standard,” he stressed.

DOST programs aimed at producing scientists and engineers, according to Briñas, have always been anchored on the belief that science, technology and innovation will lead the country towards development.

In the same SEI report, Biyo said, the country was also found to be lagging behind many other countries in terms of percentage of S&T workers to the total number of workers in a country.

According to the study, S&T professionals in the Philippines made up a measly 5.6 percent of its overall workforce, putting the country in 31st position among 34 countries ranked for this purpose.

Among these countries were Belgium which ranked first, Australia, Netherlands, United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Africa, India and Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the number of Filipino S&T overseas workers rose from 40,000 in 1990 to 113,000 in 2010.

The DOST hoped to provide knowledge and policy directions to the local science community and be used as a basis for the formulation of related programs in the country, especially where human resources were concerned, Biyo said.

Education for human resource development was one of DOST’s main thrusts and would be one of the focal points at the upcoming National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) slated from July 24-28 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, she added.

SMC, Ayala-Metro Pacific keen on Php170-B PPP Manila-Legazpi south line railway project

(PNA), RMA/FGS/MSA/CBD/SSC

LEGAZPI CITY, June 2 (PNA) -- The Php 170-billion South Line Railway project under a Public-Private-Partnership scheme is open for investors, Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said Tuesday.

Salceda said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will auction off the railway project of the Philippine National Railways to interested bidders.

In an email statement, the Albay governor said the Ayala Corp., which will partner with the Metro Pacific Corp. and the San Miguel Corp., has expressed interest in participating in the bidding process for the multibillion-peso project from the PNR-Tutuban to Legazpi City then to Matnog, Sorsogon.

“The participation of the investors in this projects is a welcome move, and I feel affirmed that this would be a viable investment,” he said.

Salceda said that as Bicol Regional Development Council chairman, he has persistently followed up the project with the PPP Center to the DOTC to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and participated in the discussions and deliberations on the project.

Earlier reports had it that the NEDA board began talks with the Prime Orion Philippines Inc., which operates the mall in Tutuban.

Salceda said he chanced upon Ramon S. Ang during a wedding ceremony where both of them were sponsors and they talked about the project.

”I explained to him the attractiveness of the project,” he said.

Salceda, a known economist, said the railway project investment under the PPP would carry a 24-percent pure internal rate of return (IRR) on investment and Php30-billion net present value (NPV) at 15-percent special drawing right (SDR).

He explained that the IRR, NPV and SDR are investment formulas that determine the feasibility and investment potentials of a project.

Ang, who is the vice-chairman and chief operating officer of San Miguel Corp. (SMC), said San Miguel will surely compete for the largest PPP project in the Philippines, Salceda said.

The project will revive the PNR Manila-Legazpi “Bicol Express” Line, spanning 653 kilometers.

The proponent will have to rehabilitate the southbound railway, which starts at the Tutuban Center in Manila and will run through Laguna, Batangas and Quezon, and end up in Legazpi.

Rehabilitation will include modernization of the railways, stations and rolling stock, Salceda said.

He said the modernization and rehabilitation of the PNR south line will cut by more than one-half the travel time from Tutuban to Legazpi to six hours from the previous 15 hours travel time.

A DOTC press statement said construction was expected to start in early next year and commercial operation was set on 2020.

The NEDA Board approved the project last February.

Why poor students in Albay got free bicycles

By Jose Carretero (ABS-CBN Bicol, ABS-CBNnews.com)

Bicycles were donated to students of the Banquerohan National High School (BNHS) in Legazpi, Albay.

The school’s bike program started last year to provide financially challenged students with a means of transportation that will not require expenses.

The bikes were donated by the school’s alumni association.

BNHS Principal Erma Theresa Tabuena said the bikes are a big help in reducing the number of absences or tardiness of the students.

Helmets were also donated to the students to serve as their protective gear. –report from

Retrieved from "https://zamboanga.com/z/index.php?title=Albay_News_June_2015&oldid=858248"