Albay News May 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHY??

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

Albay PPO gives scholarships to 25 senior high school students

By Mar S. Arguelles and Jorge Hallare (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 30 -- Twenty-five incoming senior high school students in Albay were chosen as the first batch of scholars of the Albay Provincial Police Office (PPO) Scholarship Foundation.

“Two scholars were chosen from each of the three city police offices in the province, PPO, Police Public Safety Company and one each from the 15 municipal police offices,” said Sr. Supt. Antonino Cirujales, Albay PPO director and brainchild of the scholarship program.

“The foundation's funding came from the generous and noble benefactors who wish to inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

Cirujales said all the chiefs of police and men from the city and municipal police offices in the province had contributed a lot to generate the financial needs of the foundation.

He said the 25 scholars were initially given PHP10,000 cash as enrollment fee and free uniform, shoes, notebooks and schoolbags. They will receive a monthly allowance of PHP2,000.

“The scholars, who have to maintain an average of 90 percent, can enjoy the scholarships up to their college years,” said Cirujales.

Chief Insp. Arthur Gomez, Albay PPO spokesperson, said the 25 selected scholars topped the hundreds of applicants who underwent a strict screening process and were endorsed by the chiefs of police in their respective towns and cities.

“Of the 25 beneficiaries, 14 were female while 11 were male with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years old, mostly enrolled in public schools across the province,” he said.

Cirujales said the Albay PPO staff thought of creating the foundation early in 2016 but it was not until December 8 last year when it was established.

He said the scholarship foundation, which was launched on Monday, would bring to another level the idea of cops as allies or “Kasurog” of the community in maintaining peace and order.

“We are not just your 'Kasurog' in maintaining peace and order but also your ‘Kasurog’ in leading the path towards a brighter future for the youth,” Cirujales had told participants to the foundation’s the launch.

Sr. Insp. Ma.Luisa Calubaquib, PRO5 information officer, said the idea for “Kasurog cops” was initiated in 1997 by PRO5 so the policemen would not be feared by people in the community but treated instead as partners in community-building.

She said the Albay PPO Scholarship Foundation aimed to offer scholarship grants to senior grade students with good grades but have no means to continue their studies.

Its program funding was initially sourced out from the budget of every Police Community Relations unit of the PPO, including police offices in the 15 towns and three cities of the province.

The foundation had raised PHP200,000 to finance the educational assistance for the 25 scholars for this year.

Other interested stakeholders also gave their share to the program.

Cirujales said a “private entity”, who did not wish to be named, had pledged PHP100,000 per semester or PHP200,000 for one school year to the scholarship foundation.

Albay Governor Al Francis C. Bichara, who attended the foundation’s launch, said the program was a “noble” undertaking of the police and other stakeholders that “needs to be sustained”.

Ligao City is 2016 'national rice achiever'

By Gina V. Rodriguez (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 29 ---- The Department of Agriculture(DA) has recognized the local government unit (LGU) of Ligao City in Albay as a “national rice achiever” for 2016, the only one in the Bicol region to be included among the top performing 15 LGUs that contributed significantly to the country’s rice sufficiency program.

A post in the Facebook page of Ligao City said the LGU, which received a trophy and PHP1 million cash prize, won in the outstanding city and municipality category during the awarding ceremony held last week.

Officer-in-charge City Agriculturist Dexter A. Mendoza received the award for Ligao City while Mayor Patricia G. Alsua was represented by Ligao City Vice Mayor Sherwin Quising during the awards.

The other LGUs awarded in this category were Luna, Apayao; Solsona, Ilocos Norte; Santiago City, Isabela; Victoria, Tarlac; Pila, Laguna; Paluan, Occidental Mindoro; Talibon, Bohol; Hinundayan, Southern Leyte; Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur; Lala, Lanao del Norte; Hagonoy, Davao del Sur; Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat; Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur; and Valladolid, Negros Occidental.

The DA said the Rice Achievers Awards, an annual search that started in 2011, seeks to determine the impact of DA’s rice production interventions in achieving rice self-sufficiency.

The agency said among the criteria in selecting the rice achievers are increased rice harvest and average yield per hectare over 2016 levels, amount of budget devoted to rice projects and initiatives, number of farmer beneficiaries and degree of quality seed utilization.

Data from the Ligao City government showed the LGU has achieved a 143 percent rice self-sufficiency and 2.5 percent contribution to rice production in the Bicol region.

During the years from 2015 to 2016, the LGU recorded a 2.5 percent increase or 31,548 metric tons in rice production. The increase in yield was 5 percent for irrigated areas and 2 percent in rainfed areas.

One hundred percent of the rice areas in the city are planted to high quality rice seeds such as hybrid, registered and certified seeds.

In 2016, a total of 45 percent of Ligao City Agriculture office’s budget was allocated for rice program: PHP1 million for rice hybridization, PHP1.2 million for fertilizer subsidy, PHP 72,000-pest control program and PHP720,000 for inbred rice production.

The same data showed 10 agricultural extension workers out of 18 or 60 percent are assigned to implement the rice program which cover 3,229 hectares, including three coastal barangays.

Ligao City is also home to the PhilRice Bicol station that has given farmers’ easy access to different technologies, projects and technical assistance being offered by the station.

Aside from recognizing the 15 LGUs, the 2016 Rice Achievers Awards also honored seven provinces, four Irrigators Associations or IAs, three Small Water Impounding System Associations or SWISAs and agricultural extension workers whose performances contributed to the country’s food self-sufficiency program.

In Bicol region, 32 agricultural extension workers and five local farmer technicians were included in the roster of national rice achievers awardees.

Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the senate committee on agriculture, led the awarding ceremony for the Rice Achievers Awards that was held at the Philippine International Convention Center last May 23.

DA-Bicol Regional Executive Director Elena B. de los Santos, who was present during the awarding ceremony, said a separate awarding by cluster will be slated in June.

After receiving its rice achiever award Ligao City officials made a courtesy call on Albay third district Rep. Fernando V. Gonzalez, who has been acknowledged by the LGU for being “very supportive” of the city’s rice self-sufficiency programs.

Officials said the PHP1 million cash prize will be used to “further enhance rice production in Ligao City through its innovative and worthy projects.”

Albay Open in Bicol

(Manila Bulletin)

Johnny Arcilla and Clarice Patrimonio set out for another pair of Open titles as they head the elite cast in the first Albay National Open unfolding Wednesday at the Lignon and DPWH tennis courts in Bicol.

Arcilla and Patrimonio stamped their class in their respective sides and dominated the PPS-PEPP Brookside Open last April with the duo all primed up for another crack in the upcoming event hosted by Gov. Al Francis Bichara through Lignon Hills Tennis Club president Nards Gonzales.

The Open tournament, backed by local sponsor Davies Paints, is also held as part of the province’s Magayon Festival celebrations.

Joining the title hunt in the men’s Open are Leander Lazaro, Fritz Verdad and US-based Eric Jed Olivarez along with Noel Damian, Jose Maria Pague, John Altiche and Roel Capampangan.

Out to foil Patrimonio’s bid in the women’s side are some of the best players in the fold, including Khim Iglupas, Shaira Rivera, Frances Santiago, Melanie Faye Dizon, Aileen Rogan, Elsie Abarquez and Chloe Saraza.

“We expect another week-long showcase of top-notch tennis from among the country’s leading players. While Arcilla and Patrimonio enjoy the momentum and the confidence, they remain wary of their rivals,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

The Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Padala Legazpi leg regional age-grouper will actually usher in the Albay Open starting today with close to 200 entries taking part.

Pague and Kurt Molina, along with Pete Coteron and Gerald Realizan headline the boys’ 18-and-under division with Abarque and Dizon looming as the players to beat in the girls’ side of the Group 2 tournament presented by Slazenger and backed by Asiatraders Corp. and the new Unified tennis group, led by PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s and B-Meg.

NEDA underscores Bicol’s role in national development for year 2017-2022

(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has presented the Bicol region’s role in the country’s development plan for year 2017-2022, highlighting its contribution on national development in the fileds of energy, agriculture, tourism and connectivity.

“The Bicol Regional Development Plan (RDP) is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, which is the first of the four medium term plans that will move towards the attainment of the life Filipinos want, “NEDA Bicol director Agnes Espinas said.

Espinas presented the Bicol RDP during the recently held Legazpi City Stakeholders’ Forum conducted by the the city government of Legazpi and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to present partnership programs and to craft an action plan for further growth and development of the city.

“The Bicol RDP aspires to contribute to the attainment of this vision by laying the solid foundation for more inclusive growth, a high trust and resilient society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy by 2022,” Espinas said.

This will be done by focusing on the three key factors considered as pillars of this vision - enhancing the social fabric (Malasakit), reducing inequality (Pagbabago) and increasing growth potential (Patuloy na Pag-unlad).

According to Espinas, to support these three pillars the region will aspire to attain an 11.2% GRDP growth rate by 2022 from 8.4% in 2015, reduce poverty incidence among population to 26% from 36% in 2015, reduce underemployment rate to less than 2% from 30.1% in October 2016 and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs.

Espinas further noted the strengthening of Bicol region’s role in national development particularly on energy, agriculture, tourism and connectivity.

On energy, Espinas cited the region as a geothermal energy supplier to the Luzon Grid where the region hosts two geothermal producing fields- Tiwi and Bacon-Manito (BacMan) geothermal fields which generate a total capacity of 365.5 megawatts supplied directly into the Luzon Grid.

On agriculture, the major programs and projects include development of irrigation facilities, farm to market roads and farm mechanization, production of abaca planting materials, Bicol Innovation Research and Technology Hub, agriculture and fishery support program, coastal and inland fishery resource rehabilitation, and capability programs for farmers and fishermen

As an ecotourism destination, Espinas said the region will focus on strengthening and sustaining the growth of the tourism industry in ALMASOR and TRIPLE C. Several projects have likewise been proposed to sustain the growth of tourism industry with the provision of access to the region’s tourist destinations.

Meanwhile, Bicol’s role as Luzon’s gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao will be further strengthened by the region’s intermodal transport system.

“For roads and bridges, the major projects are the Quezon-Bicol Expressway or QueBEx, The Camarines Sur-Albay Diversion Road Project, the widening of Maharlika Highway. The QueBEx includes the Naga-Legazpi Freeway Project, Libmanan Freeway Project, and Quirino/Andaya Freeway Project,” Espinas cited.

Furthermore, the region as an international gateway will be enhanced by the completion of the Bicol International Airport and the upgrading of Legazpi and Tabaco Ports to international standards.

The collective long-term vision and aspirations of the Filipino people for themselves and for the country in the next 25 years is represented in the AmBisyon Natin 2040. It describes the kind of life that people want to live, and how the country will be by 2040.

AmBisyon Natin 2040 is the result of a long-term visioning process that began in 2015. More than 300 citizens participated in focus group discussions and close to 10,000 answered the national survey.

Salceda: P171-B South Railway project remains gov’t priority investment

By Mar S. Arguelles (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 26 — Albay Representative Joey S. Salceda on Friday said the PHP 171-billion South Line Railway project would still be pursued but under a different project implementation mode.

This was Salceda’s reaction to a news report that the South Line project of the Philippine National Railway (PNR) was stricken out of the Department of Transportation (DOTr)’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects due to funding and investment problems.

The DOTr PPR projects, which have been placed under review and face removal from the PPP pipeline, include the PHp 171-billon PNR South Line, PHp 75-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport or NAIA project and PHp 19-billion Davao Sasa Port project.

Salceda, in an interview, said the South Line railway project would remain a priority investment project of the national government.

“Instead of PPP, it would be procured as direct expenditures of the national government,” he said.

He added that under the direct expenditures scheme, the national government and Congress would find ways to look for the needed financing to implement the railway project.

The South Railway Project was approved by the Bicol Regional Development Council in 2015 and endorsed to the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Inter-agency Coordinating Committee for PPP. It was approved for public-private partnership scheme by the NEDA Board on February 16, 2015.

Expected to be completed and operational by 2021, the South Railway project aims to revive the 653-kilometer railway system from Manila-Legazpi to Matnog, Sorsogon routes.

Upon completion, the project will improve connectivity and efficiency among urban centers and regional growth hubs and thus enhance productivity in the industry, services and agriculture sectors.

Meanwhile, Salceda announced the completion of the 2.5-km airport runway of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) project in Barangay Alobo in Daraga, Albay.

He added that Phase 2B of the BIA project amounting to PHp1.4-billion, involving the construction of the passenger terminal building, has been awarded last February with civil works expected to soon start.

Salceda said the airport project is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2020.

LCCAD-2D Albay express support on the launch of UP’s Resilience Institute (UP RI)

(MAL/RMN-LCCAD/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Local climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) and the Office of Rep. Joey Salceda of 2D Albay have strongly support the upcoming launch of the revitalized University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UP RI), with the integration of the UP National Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) Center as its core component.

According to LCCAD executive director Nong C. Rangasa, the Resilience Institute will be the first in the country and will be led by UP RI executive director Mahar Lagmay toprovide an inclusive multi-disciplinary approach by the university system to produce effective and efficient capacity building programs which are essential in forming sustainable development plans that will benefit all Filipinos, especially the poor and other marginalized and vulnerable sectors.

Rangasa said he agreed with Lagmay and the UP RI’s belief that the long-term solution to our country’s disaster problems will be best achieved through the collaborative competent contributions of not only Science and Technology, but Arts and Humanities as well.

The LCCAD, which is a prime-mover in the 2017 Leagues of Municipalities/Cities of the Philippines (LMP/LCP) national roll-out training-workshops on the formulation of Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP)/Barangay Contingency & Recovery Plan (BCRP) that has so far trained more than 500 out of 1,700 LGUS in the Philippines, partners with Lagmay who vowed that progressive scientific research, with the full utilization of state-of-the-art equipment and technology, by the UP RI will ensure accurate, reliable, understandable and timely data that is open and free to the public at all times, also through the website and android application.

Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda of the second district of Albay province, also acclaimed UN First Senior Global Champion for Climate Change Adaptation/Disaster Risk & Vulnerability Reduction and a Green Economist, said the project will formally be launched on June 23, 2017 as a proactive hub providing benchmark innovative information vital in lifesaving Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction efforts (CCA/DRVR),”

“Empowered communities, which constantly remained as the fundamental and uncompromised goal of NOAH, proved to be instrumental in averting more than 15 potentially fatal calamities since 2012,” Lagmay said.

In response to LCCAD’s advocacy for a science & risk-based approach, a well-developed LCCAP and risk assessment to enhance Comprehensive Land Use & Development Plan (CLUDP), Lagmay underscored the role of UP RI lead in mapping out blueprints for Local Government Units (LGUs) on implementing genuine progress as they address and overcome the challenges of future catastrophes.

For the past five years, NOAH has cultivated competence thus excellence by training science experts yielding dependable comprehensive output and appropriately disseminating probabilistic multi-scenario-based multi-hazard maps. Along with this, the LCCAD has also vigorously been strengthening LGUs foundations through LCCAP/BCRP trainings.

“Such maps for disaster risk assessment are required in the Philippine Development Plan 2017 – 2022 and are important for unhampered and lasting growth,” Lagmay explained.

The UP NOAH Center under the UP RI will intensify its function to robustly make available and offer comprehensive reports necessary for the country’s 144 cities and 1,490 municipalities and 81 provinces in accordingly responding to various calamities and facilitate proper vulnerability management in their respective area of jurisdiction.

According to the World Bank Report of 2016, the Philippines ranked third among the 171 countries with the highest levels of disaster risks. As a response, the UP Board of Regents (BOR), during its 1319th Meeting on 28th July, 2016, established the UP RI through Memorandum No. PAEP 16-67.

Consequently, NOAH was adopted by the UP during the BOR’s 1325 Meeting on 23 February 2017 and established as a center through Executive Order No. PDLC 17-03 on 21 March 2017.

Almost 170,000 workers in Bicol to benefit from 32-peso wage hike

By Mar S. Arguelles (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY — Some 169,162 workers in Bicol will benefit from the new daily wage increase of PHP32 to be enforced by the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (DOLE-RTWPB) on thousands of establishments operating in the region, a top DOLE-Bicol official said today.

“The increase will take effect immediately after RTWPB Wage Order 18 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) have been published in a widely circulated regional newspaper," said DOLE-Bicol Director Ma. Karina Trayvilla.

DOLE statistics indicate the wage hike will help 169,162 workers employed in 34,136 establishments in the six Bicol provinces.

Trayvilla, in an interview, said the PHP32 daily wage hike will benefit workers of establishments with less than nine employees where they would be paid PHP280 per day from the current PHP248.

She said workers in establishments employing more than 10 workers will receive a PHP 25 increase to raise their daily income at PHP290 from the current PHP 265 a day.

DOLE-Bicol records show the wage hike will affect 28,257 establishments from the trade and services sector with a labor force of 135,036 employees. This is followed by the 5,514 establishments in the industry and manufacturing sector with 31,710 workers; while the agriculture sector accounts for 365 establishments with 2,416 workers.

Trayvilla said of the 34,136 DOLE-accredited establishments, 92 percent (31,530) are micro-enterprises with 90,209 workers while small enterprises account for 7 percent (2,494) with 52,358 workers.

She said only 10 percent (69) are medium enterprises with 9,740 workers while 43 establishments are large enterprises with 16,860 workers.

The micro, small, and medium enterprise or MSME sector has been significantly contributing to the country’s inclusive growth rate by accounting for 62.8 percent in job generation in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while sharing 35.7 percent in Gross Value Added (GVA) revenue, according to the Philippine Statistical Authority (PSA) in Bicol.

GVA is an economic indicator that measures the contribution to an economy of an industry, sector or region.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) records show there are 946,000 enterprises that are engaged in MSME across the country, which account for 99.8 percent of the total business enterprises operating in the Philippines.

Jocelyn Blanco, DTI-Bicol director, said that over 50,000 individuals, partnership and corporations in Bicol are engaged in MSME.

PSA’s latest labor force study indicates in its 2016 survey that Bicol had a 3.9 million population with age ranging from 15 years old and above, of which 2.5 million are in the labor force.

“Of the 2.5 million Bicolanos in the labor force, 2.3 million or 92 percent are employed while 125,000 or 8 percent are unemployed,” PSA said.

CHED, DSWD honor grantees with top academic honors in Bicol

By Edgar Alejo (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY —- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have recognized 94 scholars from seven state universities and colleges or SUCs in the Bicol region who recently graduated with academic distinctions from their schools.

They mirrored the “anchor values of selflessness, determination and adaptability,” said CHED-Bicol Director George Colorado.

He said the top students, who received medals and certificates of recognition, were grantees of CHED’s Expanded “Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation”.

“Some were also beneficiaries of DSWD’s 4Ps or 'Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program',” he added.

Colorado said among those recognized was John Dave Boribor of Bulan, Sorsogon who graduated magna cum laude from the Sorsogon State College (SSC) with a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, major in Mathematics.

Boribor got the CHED scholarship when he was in third year college at SSC where he also worked as a student assistant.

“During the recognition rites Boribor had recalled that since his childhood until his second year in college he relied on a “gasera” (oil lamp) so he could study for his lessons as their home did not have any electricity,” according to Colorado.

The CHED official also recounted that as Boribor was receiving the recognition from CHED and DSWD, the latter’s father, who died in an accident, had lain in state at their residence.

“A grieving but proud mother of Boribur was the one who accompanied him during the recognition rites,” said Colorado.

DSWD Bicol Director Arnel Garcia had promised burial assistance to the family.

The honorees received various distinctions—as magna cum laude, cum laude, dean’s lister, academic distinction and as among the top 10 in the class.

They were also recipients of various special awards from their schools, such as service award, best in undergraduate theses, leadership award, best student researcher, outstanding in practice teaching and best public speaker.

The CHED scholars graduated from the Bicol University in Legazpi City; Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges and Partido State University-– all in Camarines Sur; Camarines Norte State College; Catanduanes State University; and Dr. Emilio Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology in Masbate.

Lendr and Camalig Bank bring mobile loan convenience

(Manila Bulletin)

The Camalig Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank), together with FINTQ, the financial technology arm of PLDT and Smart’s Voyager Innovations, has rolled out mobile-based loan applications to borrowers in Bicol through the pioneering and award-winning digital lending platform Lendr.

Through Lendr, qualified Department of Education teachers, government workers, and private-sector employees are now able to apply for loans using Internet-connected mobile devices and get notifications for their loan applications all within the same day.

Bicol is composed of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon, a geography much like the entirety of the Philippines, with hundreds of distinct and isolated islands that make accessibility a challenge for most banks.

Typically, borrowers would have to file a leave from work just to be able to apply for a loan at bank branches located in the urban centers of the province. The trip usually takes them at least two hours one way, with most traveling as much as 57 kilometers just to reach the town proper. Now, through Lendr, borrowers in Bicol can easily apply for a salary loan from Camalig Bank using only their mobile phones.

Camalig Bank is the largest rural bank in Bicol. The partnership between FINTQ and Camalig Bank through Lendr forms part of the support for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, which aims to establish programs and systems that ensure access to financial products and services for the traditionally unbanked and underserved communities in the country.

At the heart of these financial inclusion efforts are mobile and digital systems like Lendr, which enable banks and financial institutions to serve traditionally untapped markets even without establishing brick-and-mortar branches in these areas.

‘Poor but academically able’ students given priority in tuition-free policy in SUCs

(EAD/SAA/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 21 (PIA) – Beneficiaries of the government’s student financial assistance programs (StuFAPs) and conditional cash transfer program will be prioritized in this year’s implementation of the tuition-free policy, according to officials here of Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“Free tuition fee is not for all. Not everyone can avail it since we only have limited budget allocation but we will assure that poor students will be prioritized,” CHED Regional Director George M. Mediavillo said during a press conference held at the Bicol University Amphitheater last Wednesday.

Cyril V. Badiola, CHED education program specialist and Student Financial Assistance Programs (STUFAPS) coordinator for Bicol, said poor but “academically able” students are ranked first to enjoy tuition-free schooling in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Badiola said that under the official implementing guidelines, the tuition of StuFAP beneficiaries who receive more than P15,000 in annual benefit will be charged against their StuFAP allocations.

On the other hand, the tuition of StuFAP beneficiaries who get P15,000 or less will be charged against the free tuition allocation of their respective SUCs, Badiola added.

The other students who will be included in the tuition-free status are: undergraduates whose households are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Listahanan Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Graduating and other non-graduating students will be ranked according to their household per capita income.

“The specific guidelines and requirements for qualified students to avail the free tuition fee are still being finalized in the ongoing meeting at the CHED central office. We will be releasing it right after the meeting,” Badiola said.

Badiola disclosed that the implementation of the tuition-free policy in the nine SUCs in the region has a P459,686 ,000 allocation.

Mediavillo said the allocation covers the academic year 2017-2018 alone but a number of bills in Congress seek to institutionalize the tuition-free policy so that it will be implemented year after year.

The top three universities with the highest allocation are Bicol University with P128,184,000; Central Bicol State of Agriculture , P66, 354,000; and Sorsogon State College, P53, 969,000.

The Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology got P50, 934,000; Partido State University, P48, 916,000; Camarines Norte State College, P38, 888,000; Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, P33, 601,000; Catanduanes State University, P20 million; and Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, P18,840,000.

The CHED and the Department of Budget and Management earlier issued a joint memorandum that defined the impementing guidelines on the grant of free tuition in SUCs nationwide.

Based on the memorandum, the budget allocations are based on the SUCs’ estimated tuition incomes or the estimated number of student-enrollees per year.

Mediavillo called the press briefing to present the activities for CHED’s 23rd founding anniversary and Higher Education Week on May 15–19, 2017 with the theme “Harmony in Diversity, Connecting with the ASEAN Community.”

Mediavillo and his staff also presented the other programs, projects and policies of the government with regard to higher education.

Villagers plant 2,000 mangrove seedlings in Manito, Albay

By Gina V. Rodriguez (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 19 —- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol on Thursday led the planting of 2,000 mangrove seedlings at Barangay Cabacongan, Manito, Albay, one of the agency’s activities to mark May as the "Month of the Ocean" (MOO).

Ancie L. Lawenko, information officer of DENR-Bicol, said employees of the agency joined residents led by Cabacungan Barangay Captain Felix Arteta and Manito Vice Mayor Carlito Belludo in planting the seedlings.

Mangroves are habitats of marine resources that serve as a buffer zone against strong typhoons brought about by climate change, she said.

“It is important that we should fortify our coastal areas with these mangroves,” said Lawenko.

She said this year would mark the 18th year celebration of MOO to present to the public how the coastal and marine ecosystems were closely linked in helping sustain the people’s basic needs.

Lawenko said the yearly conduct of May as month of the ocean was based on Presidential Proclamation No. 57, series of 1999.

The proclamation specifically mandates the DENR and Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to lead observance of the month, along with other sectors.

It said the activities should highlight the conservation, protection and sustainable management of the country’s coastal and ocean resources.

The theme of MOO this year is “People and the Ocean” (TaYo at ang Karagatan).

ECC: Gives helping hand to needy workers

By Gina V. Rodriguez (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 18 —- Not many workers know that when they suffer income loss due to work-related sickness, disability or death there is the Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP), a social insurance program being implemented by the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC), that can protect them.

Romel Mirabel, 31, of Barangay Bonga, Bacacay, Albay is one of such workers.

He said he used to be a motorcycle rider delivering goods to various retail outlets for a big distributor of supermarket goods in this city.

“On February 27, 2015, however, while traveling along the bypass road of Barangay Gugon enroute to Barangay Bogtong (in this city), I smashed into a post while trying to avoid a van that was making a left turn in my direction,” said Mirabel. The accident caused the amputation of Romel’s right leg.

He said did not know how he could continue to provide for his family, that included his wife Loriedette and their child, who was three years old at that time.

This was until a family friend brought them to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Bicol office here in this city.

At the DOLE office, Romel and his wife Loriedette, were told of how ECC, an attached office of DOLE, could help them secure claims for his disability.

Loriedette said an ECC staff informed them of ECC’s program called “KaGabay” or Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan, a special economic assistance program for occupationally-disabled workers.

She said the program had helped her husband through 10 physical therapy sessions.

“After which, in October 2016, my husband received a prosthetic leg,” said Loriedette.

She said her husband was also assured of disability benefits of P4,000 per month for a period of three years and 10 months.

Loriedette said Kagabay also provided livelihood support that gave Romel the chance to drive a tricycle that now plies the route from Barangay Bonga to the town proper of Bacacay.

“Sobrang nakatulong sa amin. Gumaan ang paghahanapbuhay namin” (It really helped ease our plight in eking out a living), said Loriedette of ECC’s KaGabay program.

According to top officials of ECC, who came to this city for an awareness campaign on ECP as part of the labor month activities of DOLE, ECC has been in existence since 1975 and yet little is known about them and their program.

Any private sector employee who is a member of the Social Security System (SSS) or any government sector employee who is a member of the Government Service Insurance System is covered by ECP, said Jonathan T. Villasito, deputy executive director of ECC.

ECC collects the premium of payments paid by private employers at PHP30 per month and by government employers at PHP100 per month, he said.

Villasito said any sickness, injury, accident or death that were work-related were subject to compensation.

Claimants may file claims at the branch office of SSS or GSIS nearest their residence, he said.

“If the request is denied the claimant can request for reconsideration with the GSIS or SSS main office. But it still denied, the claimant can write a letter of appeal to the ECC,” he said. p>Stella Zipagan-Banawis, ECC executive director, said ECC has the funds to pay the claims as it has a total of PHP54 billion assets as of 2016.

She said each year ECC processes an average of 50,000 claims from the SSS and 16,000 to 20,000 claims from the GSIS.

“The minimum benefit for sickness or temporary disability claim is PHP200 per day up to 120 days,” said Banawis.

The funeral benefit is PHp20,000 but ECC is seeking to increase this to PHp30,000 and that they are “waiting for the go-signal from the Office of the President,” she said.

ECC has asked an actuarial study so that by the second semester of this year ECC can design a program that will cover even the self-employed, Banawis said.

Legazpi City signs MOU as partner city of USAID's projects

By Connie B.Destura (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 17 -- The top officials of this city, Albay province and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Wednesday led the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) after Legazpi City has been selected as one of the partner cities of USAID-funded development projects.

“Today marks the day that Legazpi City joins our USAID partner cities,” said Dr. Susan K. Brems, mission director of USAID-Philippines.

She said the MOU would form the basis of the partnership “for us to pursue together inclusive and resilient economic growth”.

Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara, Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal and Brems signed the MOU to start the implementation of development projects to hasten urban development in secondary cities outside of Metro Manila such as Legazpi City.

Brems said that the MOU was an “expression of solidarity of the American people” whose taxes contribute to development assistance elsewhere in the world.

“Under the administration of President (Rodrigo) Duterte, we have reaffirmed and validated the framework for our bilateral assistance,” she said.

She added this means adopting and focusing on the “priorities of the Duterte administration,” said Brems.

Brems explained this was the reason why the development project was being referred to as the “partnership for growth with equity”.

Signing of the MOU formally makes Legazpi City part of a five-year flagship project of USAID in the Philippines called “Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity” or SURGE.

Jeremy Gustafson, director of the USAID Office of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, in a multisectoral forum held on Tuesday in this city, said the component activities of the project include such areas as climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

He said SURGE falls under USAID’s Cities Development Initiatives or CDI, whose approach was to “provide a multi-faceted package of assistance under the broader Partnership for Growth”.

USAID believes that Legazpi City is in the “forefront of progress” with regards to disaster risk reduction and the building up of resilience,Brems said.

She said this was significant since the Philippines was particularly vulnerable to what she referred to as “climate insult,” whether it’s a typhoon, earthquake, flood or drought.

Bichara said the SURGE project was a collaboration along a path that Albay has already started and which would conform to his vision of Albay moving as one with no one being left behind.

“Everybody should be able to feel the progress that we are making and that the development (projects) will make a difference in the lives of every Albayano,” he added.

Rosal said the MOU signing ceremony attested to the US and Philippines’ “long and enduring friendship and solidarity”.

He said it also affirmed a “lasting partnership and commitment to the improvement and betterment of the world we live in”.

USAID project includes Legazpi City

By Connie B.Destura (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 16 --An official of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said Legazpi City had been selected to become part of a five-year flagship project in the Philippines seeking to hasten economic growth and urban development in secondary cities outside of Metro Manila.

Jeremy Gustafson, director of the USAID Office of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, told the participants to a multisectoral forum here on Tuesday, that the project called “Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity” or SURGE, would aim to promote a “broad-based, inclusive and resilient” type of economic growth in secondary cities of the country.

“SURGE is the flagship project of USAID’s Cities Development Initiatives (CDI) under the broader Partnership for Growth,” he said.

Aside from Legazpi City, SURGE supports the cities of Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Tagbilaran, Zamboanga and General Santos.

He said in line with CDI’s approach of providing a multi-faceted package of assistance, SURGE works with existing USAID projects focused on economic growth, environment, energy, climate change, health and education.

Gustafson said the component activities of the project were in such areas as climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, water and sanitation, investment promotion, marketing agreements, land tenure administration and inter-municipal arrangements.

Tuesday’s multisectoral forum, which was attended by representatives from the city government, national and local government agencies, business sector, academe and civil society organizations. It is expected to serve as the mechanism to identify, prioritize and lead the implementation of the activities under SURGE.

Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal said SURGE could harness the potential of emerging cities like Legazpi wherein the constraints to development could be addressed by the funding and technical assistance provided by USAID. “Through these projects the partner cities could become engines of growth,” he said.

Rosal expressed confidence that with USAID support the city could overcome the challenges in promoting economic growth and creating livelihood opportunities for its people.

“We can build resilient communities… and improve the quality of life of majority of our people,” he added.

Although vulnerable to natural hazards such as volcanic eruption and typhoons, Legazpi City has received citations for its strategies in climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

In July 2016, the city was named by the National Competitiveness Council as the third most competitive component city as based on a ranking of all cities and municipalities in the country using the criteria of economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.

PSWDO honors senior citizens in Albay

(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The provincial government of Albay has set a day to honor and recognize the valuable contributions of senior citizens in the province.

Senior citizens from all over the province convened for a moment of fun and relaxation at the Albay Park and Wildlife Covered Court yesterday for the “Barrio Fiesta para kay Lolo at Lola” led by the Albay Provincial Social Welfare Development Office.

This activity is part of the month-long Magayon Festival in Albay, a yearly celebration featuring the beautiful and majestic Mayon Volcano.

Also held during the program are fashion shows and ballroom dancing contests gamely joined in by senior citizens from various barangays in Albay.

Winning the search are Roni Llaguno from Malilipot for the Lolo category and Cynthia Chan from Ligao City for the Lola category.

Gerudio Colorico and Jean Miraflores of Tabaco City were hailed champion for the ballroom contest.

Albay governor Al Francis Bichara has likewise expressed full support to the programs promoting the welfare and well-being of senior citizens in the province.

This year’s Magayon Festival highlights the festivals of various municipalities in the province underlining the rich blend of culture, religion and heritage of the Albayanos.

Bichara started the festival in 1996 with the name “magayon” or beautiful to highlight the beauty of Mayon volcano and to widen the significance of the melodramatic legend behind it – the Legend of Daragang Magayon.

Agri conference draws record attendance

By CONRAD M. CARIÑO

The annual conferences of the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) held late last month in Legazpi City drew a record 1,167 attendees.

“This shows that there is a great interest among agricultural engineers in the Philippines to play a bigger role in modernizing the country’s farming sector,” the group said in a statement.

Since its founding 67 years ago, the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) has been promoting the agricultural engineering profession to accelerate the sustainable development and modernization of the agriculture and fishery sector for the benefit of farmers, fisher folks, and government and industry partners.

The PSAE also elected a new set of officers: Marife Pesino, PhD (Asean engineer) as president for a second term; Aldrin Badua (Asean engineer), vice president; Peachie Melendez, secretary; Dennis Tactac, treasurer; Teodoro Eleda, auditor; Arnold Dumaoal, business manager; and Noemi Carpio, Alexis Belonio, Katho Moreno, Cristy Cecilia Polido and Danilo Aman, members of the board of trustees.

The PSAE held its 28th Philippine Agricultural Engineering Week that was highlighted by its 67th PSAE Annual National Convention and the 14th International Agricultural Engineering Conference and Exhibition, which was also held simultaneously with the 3rd Southeast Asian Agricultural Engineering Student Chapter Annual Regional Convention 2017 late last month at the Legazpi City Convention Center in Legazpi City.

The theme of the convention was “Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers: Prime Movers for the Development and Management of Appropriate Technologies for Food Security.”

PHP58-M 'temporary learning spaces' ready for Balik Eskwela 2017

By Connie B. Destura (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) in Bicol said PHP58-million worth of “temporary learning spaces” or TLS, that were constructed in 402 schools across the region, are now ready for use for “Balik Eskwela 2017”.

DepEd-Bicol Director Ramon Fiel G. Abcede, in a press conference Wednesday, said there are 973 TLS units in the entire region that are now available for use.

He said TLS units are made of coco lumber, plywood and galvanized iron sheets and used as temporary classrooms.

He said the TLS were constructed as they are still waiting for release of the PHp1.4-billion fund that will be used to construct the schools destroyed by typhoon Niña in December last year.

Abcede said their assessment showed that typhoon Nina had severely damaged 21 percent or 788 of the 3,796 schools in Bicol while 8.6 percent or 4,185 of the 48,000 classrooms were totally and partially damaged.

"We are waiting for the PHP1.4-billion budget for the actual repair, rehabilitation, construction and replacement of the totally damaged schoolbuildings in Bicol," he explained.

The number of schools severely damaged by the typhoon were: Albay-207; Camarines Norte-10; Camarines Sur-332; Catanduanes-114; Iriga City-29 schools; Legazpi City-8; Ligao City-26; Masbate-8; Naga City-22; Sorsogon -2; Sorsogon City -1 and Tabacco City-29.

Abcede said the TLS funds, which were used for all the damaged schoolbuildings, were distributed as follows: Albay-161 units worth Php9.7 million; Camarines Norte-4 units or Php240,000; Camarines Sur-630 units or Php 37.8 million; Catanduanes- 25 units or Php 1.5 million; Iriga City-41 units or Php2.4 million; Legazpi City-2 units or Php 120,000; Ligao City-26 units or Php 1.5 million; Masbate-8 units or Php 480,000;

Naga City-35 units or Php2.1 milion worth; Sorsogon -3 units or Php180,000 worth; Sorsogon City-3 units or Php180,000; Tabaco City-35 units or Php 2.1 million.

Albay creates Human Settlement Office

By Edgar Alejo (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 12 -- The provincial government of Albay now has what it calls the Albay Provincial Human Settlements Office or APHSO that will address the relocation needs of villagers at risk to all types of hazards in the province.

“APHSO will be an attached office of the Albay Public Safety and Management Office (APSEMO),” according to Cedric Daep, head of APSEMO, a body that was created in the early 90s to serve as the secretariat of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

He said at the moment, APHSO will work on the relocation needs of those near river systems, who are deemed living in critical areas because they are prone to floods, landslides and coastal storm surges.

APHSO is expected to later help relocate those who are also living in danger zones around the slopes of the active Mayon Volcano.

“The local government units, non-government and private sector, which will be tapped by APHSO to help, will prioritize those areas which have ready relocation sites that could be procured,” said Daep.

He said the housing and livelihood needs of those living in danger zones will be assessed so they could be moved to a safer location.

Daep said Provincial Ordinance No. 0014-2017, which was authored by Provincial Board Member Victor Ziga Jr. and passed last month by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Council) had called for AHPSO’s creation.

The ordinance said APHSO will be an “integral part of the provincial government” and will be “in synergy with existing initiatives on disaster risk reduction, comprehensive land use plans and provincial development plan.”

According to Daep, APHSO was given an initial budget of PHP 3.4 million and a staff of five personnel to man its operations. He will serve as its acting head.

Located at the ground floor building of APSEMO building in Old Albay District here, APHSO was launched early in May by Governor Al Francis Bichara.

Daep said that with the creation of APHSO, the provincial government expects that within 10 years, there will be a decrease in the number of villagers living near hazard areas who will be evacuated.

Last September, APSEMO personnel completed the updated survey of those living around the danger zones of Mt. Mayon which was declared on alert level 1 around that same period.

Daep said this was necessary to assess the resources needed to be mobilized whenever pre-emptive evacuation measures would be put in place.

APSEMO data showed that the population at risk in the danger zones around Mayon involved 12,277 families or 50,969 residents from 41 barangays in the three cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao and five municipalities in Albay.

The data showed that 2,430 families or 10,508 persons are currently within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ); 4,998 families or 20,428 persons in the 7-km extended danger Zone (EDZ); and 4,507 families or 18,738 persons in the 8-km EDZ.

In addition, there are 342 families or 1,295 persons in the EDZ in Daraga town.

Agri conference draws record attendance

By CONRAD M. CARIÑO

The annual conferences of the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) held late last month in Legazpi City drew a record 1,167 attendees.

“This shows that there is a great interest among agricultural engineers in the Philippines to play a bigger role in modernizing the country’s farming sector,” the group said in a statement.

Since its founding 67 years ago, the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers (PSAE) has been promoting the agricultural engineering profession to accelerate the sustainable development and modernization of the agriculture and fishery sector for the benefit of farmers, fisher folks, and government and industry partners.

The PSAE also elected a new set of officers: Marife Pesino, PhD (Asean engineer) as president for a second term; Aldrin Badua (Asean engineer), vice president; Peachie Melendez, secretary; Dennis Tactac, treasurer; Teodoro Eleda, auditor; Arnold Dumaoal, business manager; and Noemi Carpio, Alexis Belonio, Katho Moreno, Cristy Cecilia Polido and Danilo Aman, members of the board of trustees.

The PSAE held its 28th Philippine Agricultural Engineering Week that was highlighted by its 67th PSAE Annual National Convention and the 14th International Agricultural Engineering Conference and Exhibition, which was also held simultaneously with the 3rd Southeast Asian Agricultural Engineering Student Chapter Annual Regional Convention 2017 late last month at the Legazpi City Convention Center in Legazpi City.

The theme of the convention was “Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers: Prime Movers for the Development and Management of Appropriate Technologies for Food Security.”

DOLE-Bicol awards P3.2-M livelihood packages to 5 groups in 3 provinces

(Edgar Alejo/PNA)/rsm

LEGAZPI CITY, May 11 -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol has awarded PHp3.2 million worth of livelihood assistance to five groups of beneficiaries in three provinces in the Bicol region who are deemed disadvantaged and displaced.

DOLE-Bicol Director Karina Trayvilla said the beneficiaries received livelihood packages under the agency’s program called TUPAD or “Tulong Pangkabuhayan para sa mga Disadvantaged and/or Displaced Workers.”

The beneficiaries included three groups in Albay, one in Catanduanes, and another in Masbate, who were given packages ranging from nearly PHp300,000 to PHp1 million.

“Barangay Sto. Nino in Cataingan, Masbate got the biggest slice with P1,003,566 for its ‘Kabuhayan Starter Kit,’” said Trayvilla.

DOLE’s Kabuhayan Starter Kits are intended for self-employment in simple house-to-house service-oriented skills.

These skills are in massage, plumbing, cosmetology, electrical servicing, welding, native snack preparation, car wash, motorcycle repair, cellular phone repair, appliance repair, upholstery repair and other services.

In Catanduanes, the provincial government received P948,700 to provide employment to 358 workers from municipalities who were hardest hit by typhoon Niña last December.

In Albay, the beneficiaries who received assistance were from the towns of Rapu-Rapu and Polangui.

In the island-town of Rapu-Rapu, there were two awardees -- the 34 fisherfolk of Barangay Buenavista who received PHp433,320 and the 30 marginalized workers from Barangay Viga.

Trayvilla said Alan Quinto, barangay chairman of Buenavista and his barangay treasurer, received the check award for the “Kabuhayan Starter Kit” today here in Legazpi.

In Polangui, the local government unit received P292,350 for its “Nego Kart” (Negosyo sa Kariton) project for 30 marginalized members of the community.

DOLE has designed Nego Kart for the unemployed, particularly those seeking to sell various wet and dry goods as ambulant vendors in the communities.

Albay posts 'biggest improvement' in poverty situation over 3-year period

By Rhaydz B. Barcia (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 10 -- Despite a series of natural calamities that hit Bicol, the poverty situation in the region showed improvements in 2015 compared to 2012.

Albay province particularly showed the “biggest improvement” from among Bicol’s six provinces during this period.

This highlighted the latest statistics on poverty that was issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) regional office.

Cynthia Perdiz, PSA regional director, said in 2015, the poverty incidence in Bicol showed improvements, both in terms of families and individuals.

She said the poverty incidence among families dropped by 4.8 percent, from 32.3 percent in 2012 to 27.5 percent in 2015.

“Similarly, the poverty incidence among individuals, was down by 5.1 percent, from the 41.1 percent in 2012 to 36 percent in 2015,” said Perdiz.

PSA data also showed that among the six provinces in the region, Albay province showed the biggest improvement in poverty situation of families.

“From the 33.9 percent recorded in 2012 it dropped to 17.6 percent in 2015 or a reduction of 16.3 percentage points,” the data showed.

Masbate and Camarines Sur also recorded decreases in poverty incidence of families.

The decrease was 4.6 percentage points in Camarines Sur, from 31.7 percent in 2012 to 27.1 percent in 2015.

In Masbate, the decrease was 5.1 percentage points, from 40.6 percent in 2012 it dropped to 35.5 percent in 2015.

But despite this drop in percentage of poor families in Masbate over the three-year period, PSA noted that in 2015, compared to the the six provinces in the region, Masbate showed the highest recorded poverty incidence among families at 35.5 percent.

“In 2015, Masbate recorded 35.5 percent, Catanduanes, 33.6 percent, Sorsogon, 31.7 percent, Camarines Norte, 29.3 percent, Camarines Sur, 27.1 percent, and Albay, 17. 6 percent,” said PSA.

On the other hand, the poverty situation had worsened in three Bicol provinces from 2012 to 2015. This was also in terms of poverty incidence by families.

“These were in Camarines Norte, which showed the biggest increase in incidence at 7.6 percent, Catanduanes rose by 6.5 percent and Sorsogon was slightly up by 0.4 percent,” said the data.

In terms of poverty incidence among individuals in 2015, Albay had the lowest incidence, from 41.1 percent in 2012 to 25.2 percent in 2015.

PSA said this 15.8 percent reduction recorded for Albay was the “biggest improvement” compared to the other provinces.

This was also during the administration of former Albay governor and now second district Representative Joey S. Salceda.

In 2015, a comparison of the six provinces showed that in terms of poverty incidence among individuals, Masbate had the highest poverty incidence at 45.4 percent, followed by Catanduanes at 43.4 and Sorsogon at 41.3.

The Bicol region’s per capita poverty threshold in 2015 was placed at P21,476 which was higher than the P18,257 in 2012.

“This means that a Bicolano family with five members would need at least P8,948 average monthly to meet both basic food and non-food needs,” said Perdiz.

Among the six provinces of Bicol, Camarines Sur had recorded the highest cost of living with P22,154 annual per capita poverty threshold while Masbate had the lowest at P20,406 in 2015.

PSA noted that in 2015, out of the 5.8 million population in Bicol, 36.0 percent of 2.2 million were poor.

RTWPB-Bicol okays wage increases of P25, P32 for private sector employees

By Edgar Alejo (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 9 (PNA) -- The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) in Bicol has approved Wage Order No. RBV-18 providing daily wage increases of P25 and P32 for workers and employees in the private sector.

“The new minimum wage rate will now be P290 from the previous P265 for workers in establishments employing 10 workers and above while workers in establishments employing one to nine personnel will get P280 from the P248 daily minimum wage,” said Ma. Karina P. Trayvilla, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)- Bicol director and RTWPB chair.

Trayvilla said the new minimum wage rates shall apply to all minimum wage earners regardless of their position, designation or status of employment and irrespective of the method by which they are paid.

“The new minimum wage rates, however, shall not cover the kasambahays, persons in the personal service of another such as family drivers and workers of duly registered Barangay Micro-Business Enterprises (BMBEs) with certificates of authority pursuant to RA 9178,” she said.

Trayvilla said, however, that RTWPB Bicol has also approved Wage Order No. RBV-DW-01 providing a monthly increase of P1,000 for all “kasambahays” or domestic workers in the Bicol region.

This means that the monthly minimum wage rates of domestic workers in the region shall be from P2,000 to P3,000 in chartered cities and first class municipalities and from P1,500 to P2,500 in other municipalities.

The wage increases will take effect 15 days after its publication in local newspapers with general circulation.

According to Trayvilla, the factors, which were considered in coming up with the new wage rates, included the needs of workers and their families, capacity to pay of the employers, comparable wages and incomes, and the requirements of economic and social development.

She added that the output from the series of public hearings conducted last month among labor and management groups in the six Bicol provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon and Catanduanes became part of the deliberations for the new wage rates.

RTWPB-Bicol had issued its last wage order in 2015.

LCCAD launches new round of LCCAP trainings in Legazpi with new partners

(MAL/REN-LCCAD/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) has spearheaded anew a series of trainings in this city to continuously provide mentoring and coaching activities on the formulation of Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAP) in the Philippines and Federalism for Local Government Units from different parts of the country in consonance with the thrust of the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to mainstream Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction (DRVR) into Local Development Planning processes,

LCCAD executive director Manuel "Nong" Rangasa stated that this time partnership has been forged with the University of the Philippines National Operational Assessment of Hazards (UP-NOAH) Center and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), headed by Mayor Maria Fe Brondial, Socorro Oriental Mindoro and League of Cities of the Philippines headed by Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan of Angeles City, Pampanga and the Special Committee on Climate Change of the House of Representatives headed by Ako Bikol Partylist Rep. Christopher S. Co to further strengthen the program.

Rangasa added that it has also now with popular support from Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Champion, Senator Loren Legarda, Climate Change Commission (CCC), headed by Under Secretary Noel Antonio Gaerlan, the United Nations Global Senior Champion for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction, Philippine Green Economist and Second Congressional District of Albay, Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda; University of the Philippines; National Institute of Geological Sciences (UP NIGS); and UP NOAH Center, the 2017 National Roll-out has been continuously ongoing from January this year in Quezon City (January-March), and April – May in Legazpi City.

“During the first quarter (Jan-March), five 3-day sessions have already been conducted with Local Government Unit (LGU) representatives from MIMAROPA, Central Luzon, Caraga, Davao Region, Socsksargen, Albay, ARRM, CAR, and Western Visayas,” said Rangasa.

For this year’s Second Quarter roll-out, Batch 11 consists of 13 LGUs that availed of the training for April 26-28, at the St. Ellis Hotel, this city. Batch 11, 2017 participants are from Cavite City, Cavite; Gen. E. Aguinaldo, Cavite; Silvino Lubos, Norther Samar; San Isidro, Northern Samar; Mauban, Quezon; Gen. Mariano Alvarez, Cavite (GMA Cavite); Indang Cavite; Lopez Jaena Misamis Occidental; Masbate City, Masbate; Tanza, Cavite; Iriga City, Camarines Sur; and Catanauan, Quezon.

Tentative schedules are being drawn for the coming months of May and June to complete the Q2 on a first-come-first-served basis

Salceda pointed out that the National Roll-out targets all (LGUs) pondering on the LCCAP formulation and its eventual implementation. The LCCAP is a document designed and created by the ‘trained’ LGUs regarding climate change adaptation plans in their respective locality.

This is necessary because LGUs–some more than others–may be affected by the impacts of climate change (which may include an increase in frequency or intensity of hydro meteorological hazards such as flood, landslides, and storm surges) and accelerated sea level rise, proving the need for localized capacity building programs to boost their resiliency. “So this will be a conducive platform for the LGUs to accelerate practical learning experiences for the mainstreaming of CCA/DRVR in the local plans,” said Salceda.

“The aim is to capacitate and mobilize LGUs since they are more familiar with the community adaptation-based approach and their importance to community livelihoods, environment, and homes. LGUs are also better at directing, commanding and mobilizing human resources, have wider access to local information, indigenous knowledge and communities for local actions, measures and activities, Rangasa also explained.

Because adaptation starts with disaster risk reduction, the LCCAD partnered with UP-NOAH, the LMP and LCP delivers presentations on the project’s hazard maps and their importance in addressing the country’s issues in climate change adaptation.

Represented by Dr. Mahar Lagmay, NOAH stresses the importance of probabilistic and scenario-based hazard maps and their advantages over deterministic maps.

According to Lagmay, probabilistic and scenario-based hazard maps take into account climate change projections and future events, while deterministic maps portray hazard scenarios that have already happened and usually only within living memory.

As mentioned in the LCCAP preparation manual, emphasis should be given on preparing for future hazards.

The training sessions also include a short discussion on federalism on the last day, positing the factors of the proposal and the possible changes it could bring to each province.

The LGUs are the front-liners in the fight against climate change. With these programs, we are strengthening the capacity of the leaders of this nation and their constituents, and we are now gearing towards a disaster-resilient and climate change-adaptive country.

The LCCAP formulation training workshops have been continuously on the ground since its pilot project in 2013 at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños (UPLB), in Legazpi City and Catarman, N. Samar, then back to Legazpi, Naga City in 2016, Manila in Q1 of 2017 and here onwards.

Rangasa added that the training workshop being a learning-by-doing experience that boosts their individual LGU competencies towards the attainment of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Sendai Framework for DRR 2030.

Said training workshops have been undertaken with new and pioneer partners that includes the Philippine Information Agency, Bicol Regional Office headed by Regional Director Aida Alcazar Naz, Albay 3rd District Representative Fernando V. Gonzalez, Ligao City Mayor Patricia Gonzalez Alsua as well as LCCAP Champion and Legazpi City Mayor Noel E. Rosal.

City eyes visit of int’l triathletes for Mayon Triathlon

By Emmanuel P. Solis (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 6 -- Triathletes from over ten countries, including Japan, China and Korea and the Philippines’ top competitors will join the 4th Mayon Triathlon here in this city in August, according to City Mayor Noel E. Rosal.

Mayon Triathlon is a combination of a 1.5-kilometer swim off Albay Gulf across Legazpi Boulevard followed by a 40-km bike ride to the city’s boundary with Sto. Domingo town in Albay and a 10-km run over the hilly road in the southern portions of the city.

Rosal said officers of the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) had told him about this when he was a guest at the NTT ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon being held At Subic Bay Freeport Zone this week.

“TRAP gave the go-signal to include Mayon Triathlon as one of the events for the Asian Cup 2017,” he said.

He added that this also means Mayon Triathlon is in the master plan of the schedule of all triathlon competitions in the country and in Asia.

Rosal said the event here in August will see the arrival of around 3,000 athletes, including their families, team members and other guests and visitors who will witness the event.

He said the officers of TRAP and its umbrella body, the Asian Triathlon Confederation, were “so impressed” at the conduct of Mayon Triathlon during the celebration of last year’s Ibalong Festival in Legazpi City.

Rosal said they particularly liked the majestic Mayon Volcano and its nearly perfect shaped cone, sea breeze at Albay Gulf and well paved roads during last year’s Mayon Triathlon.

He said his administration will prepare for the Mayon Triathlon event during the Ibalong Festival 2017, an annual event here that also promotes other major sports events in the country.

Rosal assured TRAP the city has sufficient facilities to handle the event while the athletes will be safe.

He said the 4th Mayon Triathlon event will give a big push for the local economy and also boost the hotel and restaurant industry and the transport sector.

TRAP is the national governing body of triathlon in the Philippines that is accredited by the International Triathlon Union that governs the sport in the world.

DOLE Bicol’s Labor Clinic rolls out

(MAL/DOLE5/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol has rolled out last week the “Labor Clinic” to bring the agency's services to the people, especially among the management and labor sectors in the region.

DOLE Bicol regional director Atty. Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla said the "Labor Clinic” has intended to solicit feedbacks and other concerns from both management and labor sectors pertaining to labor issues and also serve as an information advocacy hub for the program and services of DOLE.

The DOLE Bicol has set up a hybrid “Labor Clinic” adopting the concept of the central office but utilizing the existing information feedback arsenal that is already in placed such as the DOLE Bicol Hotline (0918) 309-6665 and the Bicol One Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCO).

DOLE Bicol’s “Labor Clinic” will also tap attached agencies such as the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) as Executive Labor Arbiter as Vice-Chairperson with the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB),Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) Labor representatives, DOLE TSSD, GLS and SENA hearing officers, the DOLE Hotline Manager and Bicol OSSCO.

“The idea is that we will also use the hotline and OSSCO as receiving center for workers concern. This is apart from the establishment a provincial Labor Clinic,” Trayvilla explained.

DOLE Bicol, after the launching and regional consultation, has also streamlined its activities for the establishment of "Labor Clinics" at the provincial level to start this May at DOLE Camarines Sur.

“We are also thinking of conducting a monthly advocacy program using the Labor Clinic at the provincial level. We want to reach our clients not only the formal sector workers but down at the Barangay level in which we will inform them of the programs and services of the DOLE particularly our livelihood program,” DOLE Bicol assistant regional director Rovelinda A. Dela Rosa meanwhile stated.

Aside from the DOLE Bicol “Labor Clinics”, the regional office is also preparing for the livelihood booth set-up at the Magayon Festival in Peñaranda Park, Legazpi City. The Magayon Fesitval Booth was given for free by the Provincial Government of Albay.

“The Magayon Festival booth is a strategy to help our livelihood beneficiaries to display and market their products. Last year, we had it at the car park but this year we are thankful that PG Albay has given us free slot,” Trayvilla said.

PHL to prioritize possible AIIB funding for Manila-Bicol railway, dam

By Joann Santiago (PNA)

MANILA -- The Philippine government is prioritizing the Manila-Bicol railway project and dam construction for possible funding by the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

The Department of Finance (DOF) earlier said the AIIB will be co-financing with the Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) as well as the World Bank (WB) infrastructure projects presented by top-level Philippine economic delegation to China last February.

Three projects that have been presented for financing before Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng and these are the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in the provinces of Cagayan and Kalinga, estimated to cost USD53.6 million; the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Dam Project in Quezon, USD374.03 million; and the South Line of the North-South Railway Project (NSRP) running from Manila to Legazpi City in Bicol, USD3.01 billion.

Dominguez said the railway project from Manila to Legazpi City will be a priority for possible AIIB aid because of its large funding requirement.

Philippines’ membership to the AIIB allows it to take out some USD200 to USD 500 million worth of loans annually.

“I tell you that project is so big… That AIIB (loan allowance), which we said is (about) USD500 million will (be) eat(en) up by the project for the south railway,” Dominguez said.

The Finance chief said the Kaliwa Dam “will (also) need some kind of funding.”

The New Centennial Water Source –Kaliwa Dam Project will be constructed in the vicinity of the village of Pagsangahan, General Nakar, Quezon and the village of Magsaysay in Infanta, Quezon.

It is targeted to provide another water source to augment Metro Manila’s water supply.

Magayon Festival returns as May time tradition in Albay

By Rhaydz B. Barcia (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 2 (PNA) —- The annual Magayon Festival, a month-long revelry featuring Albay’s rich culture and arts, culinary fare, native industries and natural wonders in the countryside, is back as a May time tradition in the province.

Governor Al Francis Bichara said the festival, now on its 17th year, was really originally scheduled in May until it was moved to April during the term of former Governor Joey Salceda.

“Albayanos working in other parts of the country, usually go home to attend their respective fiestas in their towns and barangays in May,” said Bichara.

He said “balikbayans,” who usually head back to Albay to celebrate their town fiestas, will have the chance to reunite with their families and townmates during the festival season, which opened on Monday.

“It will be a merry reunion with their loved ones,” Bichara said.

Highlighted during the festivities is the retelling of the legend of Mayon Volcano, which is referred to as a beautiful maiden or “Daragang Magayon” in local folklore, various versions of which have been popularized by Bicolano historian Professor Merito B. Espinas of the Bicol University here.

Mt. Mayon that towers at 2,462 meters above sea level has a nearly perfect shaped cone that is said to rival the beauty of Japan’s Mt. Fiji.

One of country’s most active volcanoes, Mayon is also one of the most popular tourist spots, drawing visitors from other parts of the country and even abroad.

A sightseeing tour of Mayon Volcano during the Magayon festival run has also been helping boost tourism and economic activities of those in the transport, restaurant, resort and hotel business in the province.

The Magayon festival is also a much-awaited event because of the sili-eating contest at the Peñaranda Park in Old Albay District here, which toasts the Bicolanos’ penchant for eating food served with the hot and spicy chili, popularly known as "sili" or “lada” in the dialect.

The contest also sealed the reputation of Iriberto Gonzales who was named the “sili king” of the Bicol region during the Magayon Festival in 2000.

Gonzales’ feat of chewing 350 pieces of raw sili within a three-minute period had landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Guinness records researcher Rasila Kuntawala confirmed Gonzales’ feat in their database and handed a certificate of confirmation to Gonzales through the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office.

A native of Barangay (village) Quirangay in Camalig town, Gonzales was 28 years old when he joined the contest in 2000.

At that time the only other Filipino personalities who had been listed in the Guinness records were the former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos, who held a record for owning the most number of shoes in the world, and Paeng Nepomuceno for having the most number of World Cup titles in bowling.

Versions of the sili-eating contest in later editions of the Magayon Festival allowed the intake of water and banana in between mouthfuls of “Bicol Express,” a dish consisting of pork cooked in coconut milk but spiced with lots of sili.

Albay joins Asia food show, pushes drive for access to int’l market

By Johnny C. Nunez (PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, May 1 -- Albay culinary producers here, particularly in its second congressional district, are set to join and participate in the upcoming IFEX Philippines, Asia’s premier ethnic food and ingredients show set May 19-21, at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda’s congressional office here has been negotiating in behalf of local food manufacturers for slots in the food show, particularly those with export-ready products to help them further access the international market.

Salceda has continuously supported Albay’s food industry via the Culinaria Albay brand, which he pioneered during his nine-year stint as governor of his province. Culinary tourism has significantly helped boost Albay’s economy.

IFEX Philippines is the country’s biggest international trade exhibition of the Philippines and Asia's ethnic and specialty food, vegetables, tropical fruits, seafood, beverages, bakery and confectionery, meat and poultry, Halal-certified, as well as natural, organic, and healthy food products.

The Bicol province’s forthcoming participation in IFEX Philippines 2017 follows the impressive successes of the Culinaria Albay brand in the recent Madrid Fusion food expo last April 6-8 at the SMX Mall of Asia, where buyers — having familiarized themselves with Albayano ethnic gustatory tastes — have shown astounding interest in native Albay foods.

Following the Madrid Fusion Manila food exposition, three international chefs and food writers from Russia, London and the Middle East have chosen Albay and Sorsogon for their post expo destinations, a validation of Culinaria Albay’s forward march, Salceda noted.

Negotiations are also being undertaken for Albay to join the World Street Food Jamboree May 31 to June 4 this year at the Mall of Asia, with 28 of the world’s best Street Food Masters from 12 countries dishing out authentic mouth-watering heritage street foods.

Salceda has sustained strong support for the promotion of culinary tourism, urging Albayanos to patronize more local products to further strengthen the native industry, “their homegrown chefs and restaurateurs” and help push their promotion worldwide.

Albay had earned world recognition as a global tourist destination, with its interesting culinary assets as among its highlights, and had received various awards in tourism and related fields in recent years.

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