Albay News September 2016

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

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

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

Mayon volcano albay province.jpg

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

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

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

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

WHY??

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

BSP honors outstanding stakeholders, partners in Bicol

By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

NAGA CITY (PIA) --- In recognition of their invaluable contribution in nation building and support of its advocacy programs, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) conferred accolades to their deserving institutional partners and stakeholders on Tuesday at the BSP Assembly Hall here.

Now on its 23rd year, BSP honored organizations and institutions that have provided exemplary support to the BSP’s statistical undertakings, especially in disseminating vital information regarding the BSP’s programs and advocacy in its 2016 Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for their stakeholders in Bicol region.

With the theme “sustained partnership, sustained economic growth,” BSP took cognizant of the successful alliance that they have built with their partners through the years, highlighting their assistance in delivering the BSP’s primary mandate of promoting price stability and ensuring financial stability.

Ngo & Sons Trading and Industries, Inc. was this year’s Outstanding Respondent among Large and Medium Firms while Ramarplus Incorporated was recognized as the Outstanding Respondent among small firms for the Business Expectation Survey (BES) in Region V.

The award is given to respondents who have regularly submitted their responses to the quarterly BES on time.

This year’s Outstanding Partner for the report on regional economic developments award went to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-Region V. Also awarded as Outstanding Regional Partners in currency programs of BSP were the Diocese of Legazpi for coin recirculation and Albay Bankers Association and Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the Demonetization of the New Design (NDS) series.

The award given to the outstanding regional partner in currency program of the BSP for the demonetization of the NDS reconizes stakeholder’s efforts in providing exemplary support in the promotion, coordination and implementation of the demonetization of the NDS banknotes of the BSP. Recipients may come from partners coming from the private, public, non-government organizations, groups or individuals.

This year’s Outstanding regional partners for implementing BSP advocacy on the conduct of Public Information Campaigns was awarded to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional office and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) (Naga Branch).

DSWD and CBSUA were cited in terms of their responsiveness to requests, logistics support and invitation of participants to ensure the smooth conduct of PICs in their respective localities.

DA to enforce 10-point agricultural reform agenda

(PNA), FPV/GVR/MSA/CBD

POLANGUI, Albay, Sept. 29 (PNA)-- The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for a 10-point agricultural reform agenda that would address the country’s goal of producing sufficient rice and food during the six-year administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, said a ranking DA official.

Roy Abaya, DA operations department head, in an interview, said DA’s 10-point agriculture agenda will focus on agriculture road map, research and development, irrigation development, land use plan, hybrid rice technology development, farm mechanization and farmers’ access to financial programs.

He added that under the watch of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, DA will promote agricultural competitiveness, intensify agricultural exhibits and farm demonstrations, and revive gardening as a basic subject in the curriculum of public and private elementary and high schools.

William Dar, former DA secretary, said the agri-reform agenda would seek a stop to corruption in the agriculture sector.

He said to achieve this, DA shall focus on the campaign against the smuggling of rice, meat and other agriculture products.

Dar said DA will also campaign against the rice cartels, illegal fishing and other unlawful practices impeding the government’s rice sufficiency target and affecting the production of farmers and fisherfolk.

“The country’s rice sufficiency is now on the crossroad. We cannot produce enough food for every Filipino so it is imperative that this agriculture scenarios be adopted,” he said.

Dar, who is also the president of the Inang Lupa Movement and nongovernment organization, said there is a need to put a stop to land conversion as the agricultural sector must have additional land for it to achieve its goal.

He said agriculture is among the main pillars of the economy but the Philippine Statistical Authority had said the sector is facing a decline after posting a 4.4 percent decrease in Gross Regional Domestic Product from January to March this year.

The DA with the Rice Board and other private stakeholders are holding a three-day National Rice Technology Forum in Polangui town, that ends today, Sept. 29.

Almost 2,000 rice farmers, agricultural extension workers, students and local executives are joining the forum that is pushing for the use of hybrid rice seeds among Bicolano farmers.

Abaya said during a press conference that DA is endorsing the hybrid rice technology because it is “all-weather and pest resistant” and would give farmers a big return on their investments.

Frisco Malabanan, Rice Board spokesperson, said farmers could expect to double their production when they adopt the hybrid technology.

He said a hectare of rice land that adopts the technology can produce 10 metric tons or 200 sacks of rice as compared to the ordinary rice variety which produces only 4.5 metric tons or 90 sacks of rice.

Legazpi City inks sisterhood pact with Castilla town in Sorsogon

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 28 (PNA) -- Mayor Noel E. Rosal of this city and Mayor Joan Aquende of Castilla, Sorsogon on Tuesday signed a sisterhood agreement to foster a strong partnership that would be mutually beneficial for the two localities.

The agreement, which was signed on September 27 at the session hall of the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) of Castilla, resulted from the council’s Resolution 046-2016 “expressing willingness for a sisterhood relationship” with the Legazpi City government.

Legazpi City also passed a resolution recognizing the importance of fostering friendship and understanding between the two localities.

Rosal said the sisterhood agreement will help the two local governments improve their initiatives in the areas of science and technology, culture and arts, education and sports development, environmental protection, public health and social services, tourism development and in planning and urban development.

He said he will encourage other investors to put up businesses in Castilla to improve the economic activities in the place and give employment to the people.

Aquende said the pact is only the start of the sharing of best practices between the two localities that will benefit the constituents of two parties.

She expressed optimism that Legazpi City’s contributions in the areas of good governance and tourism development will help Castilla a lot.

Legazpi City, capital of Albay, was recently declared by the National Competitive Council (NCC) as the third most competitive component city in the country.

It obtained high scores from the NCC in terms of government efficiency, economic dynamism and infrastructure development. NCC is a public-private sector partnership created during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Legazpi City is one of the leading tourist destinations in the country. It posted an increase of 45 percent in tourist arrivals, or from 666,210 visitors in 2014 to 967,396 in 2015.

Castilla, on the other hand, is a third classmunicipality which has 34 barangays, 13 of which are coastal areas dependent mostly on fishing and farming for livelihood.

The municipality has a total land area of 18,620 hectares with a total population 52,903 based on the 2010 census of the Philippine Statistical Authority.

Albay’s rice granary gets boost from “hanging irrigation” structures

By Rhaydz B. Barcia [(PNA), LAM/GVR/RBB/CBD]

LIGAO CITY, Albay, Sept. 27, (PNA) -- Even with dry spells, rice lands in the northwestern part of Albay and some municipalities in the southwestern side are being fed with irrigation water.

Credit goes to the unique “hanging irrigation” structure called “flume” that was built to help boost rice production in farmlands in these areas.

According to Ed Yu, spokesman of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bicol, a flume is an elevated canal used as a foot bridge to convey water from its source.

“Flume allows the flow of water from the source to another end to distribute water and irrigate waterless rice fields,” he said.

In remote Binatagan village, some 15 kilometers away from Ligao City proper, the flume conveys water over the bridge to provide irrigation to vast tracts of rice fields that were formerly idle lands.

Albay third district Representative Fernando Gonzalez said water impounded at the source is conveyed through the flume across the river so irrigation could reach dry farm lands.

He said in past years, several hectares of rice fields in the village were idle but when the flume came to Binatagan “it was able to irrigate 40 to 50 hectares of land whose owners waited for so long a time.”

In Barangay Binanawan, about four kilometers away from the city proper, another flume or hanging irrigation was built.

It is about 50 meters long and reinforced with stronger pillars to support the structure and withstand even natural calamities.

“This flume can carry a very large volume of water due to its stronger pillars as 300 hectares of rice land will be irrigated,” Gonzalez said.

He said the flume serves two purposes, as a public pathway in case of flooding, and to carry a big volume of water to rice canals for distribution to vast tracts of rice lands.

Gonzales said the very big volume of water carried by the flume passes through the concrete reinforcement for distribution to rice fields in Ligao City and neighboring municipality of Oas.

“We provide water to 300 hectares of rice land that used to be an abaca plantation,” he said.

The Ogsong Irrigation Association with more than 100 members manages the flume in Barangay Binanawan.

Yu said the flumes are unique in Bicol, specifically in the third district of Albay, that embraces Ligao City and municipalities northwest of the province, such as Guinobatan, Oas, Polangui and Libon, and Pio Duran and Jovellar in the southwestern side.

Water channeled through the unique irrigation system over the bridge is being sourced from the major dams established in the third district.

Local government units in the district manage five major dams and numerous communal and small impounding irrigation projects.

Gonzales said the oldest irrigation facility is the Nasisi Dam that was put up in the 1950’s during the administration of President Ramon Magsaysay.

A major irrigation project of the government, Nasisi was able to withstand the wrath of fierce storms and super typhoons that have hit Albay.

The dam can irrigate 700 hectares of rice fields in Ligao and Oas.

Yu said the third district of Albay has two rubber dams, the only such type of dams in Bicol. These are the South Quinale in Oas and Cabilogan-San Juan in Ligao City.

He said as of December 2015, around 10,030 hectares of rice land were irrigated by NIA in Albay’s third district, known as the rice granary of the province.

Gonzales said “climate smart agriculture” has allowed water to be distributed innovatively in the district.

Climate smart agriculture is a term a term that was coined in 2010 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as an approach to farming that addresses the challenges of food security and climate change.

Gonzales said there is “need to innovate” to provide irrigation to farmers with rain-fed farmlands and “help boost food production and augment their income.”

“A lot of innovations, be it over the bridge or under the bridge, make the water available to the farmers,” he said.

Gonzales said without innovation many areas would not have been irrigated.

“The imagination makes things possible,” he added.

National rice technology forum set in Polangui, Albay

By Connie B. Destura

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 26 (PNA) –- Over 2,000 farmers, extension workers, students and other rice industry and agriculture players from various provinces in the country are expected at the National Rice Technology forum on September 27-29 at the Bicol University (BU) Polangui campus in Albay.

The event, which is under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture in Bicol and the Rice Productivity Advocacy Board, will showcase advances in rice technology that will help the Philippine rice industry become more competitive with other countries.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol is expected at the event, which will feature exhibits, technical and plenary discussions and field visits at the demonstration site of various rice hybrid and inbred varieties in Barangay Balangibang, Polangui. (PNA) LAP/GVR/CBD

DSWD to distribute bottled water to families affected by water shortage in Albay

(DSWD)

QUEZON CITY, Sept. 25 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to keep in touch with the local government unit (LGU) of Sto. Domingo, Albay to provide safe potable water to residents affected by the water shortage.

Currently, the Department is procuring 10,000 pieces of 6 liters bottled water for distribution to affected households in 17 barangays in the town.

This is in addition to the 12,000 liters of water supply brought by water sanitation trucks of the provincial government and the water provision given by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) of Sto. Domingo and neighboring town, Tabaco City.

DSWD and concerned LGUs will continue to supply potable water to the families until the problem is fixed.

To date, the DSWD Field Office-V reported that there are 5,129 households or 24,290 persons affected by the water shortage.

Meanwhile, considering the abnormal activity of the Mayon Volcano, DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo assures Albayanos that the Department is prepared to respond to any disaster.

“Aside from the assistance that will be provided to residents affected by the water shortage, the Department has enough resources for distribution in case the condition of the Mayon Volcano aggravates,” assured Sec. Taguiwalo.

The DSWD FO-V has a total of stockpile and standby funds amounting to P90,668,851.12.

Project NOAH chief cites vital role of hazard mapping in averting disasters

By Sally A. Altea

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – Technology and education can be used to avert disasters, said multi-awarded Filipino scientist and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) official during his visit here this week.

Mahar Lagmay, geologist and executive director of Project NOAH or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards under the DOST, is the resource speaker for the first day of the Quality Assurance and Finalization of Learning Materials on Climate Change Adaptation (CCC) and Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Reduction (DRVR).

The event is hosted by the Local Climate Change and Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) in partnership with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Department of Education (DepEd) in this city on September 19 -21, 2016.

LCCAD executive director Manuel Rangasa said the crafting and mainstreaming of CCA-DRVR learning materials in K to 12 Philippine education curriculums is one of the targets of the current administration.

In the press conference held after his discussion, Lagmay cited the important aspects of effective disaster prevention and mitigation noting the responsibility of the government in giving warning, the response of the people, and the use of appropriate hazard maps.

“It is the responsibility of the government to deliver accurate, readily accessible, understandable and timely warnings. However, no amount of warning will work or will be effective if hazard maps are inappropriate,” he said.

Hazard mapping and risk assessment

Lagmay presented the deterministic and probabilisitic types of hazard maps used by the government in depicting hazard scenarios and executing DRR plans. Deterministic type is based mainly on history and the people’s experience which might make it inaccurate in predicting disasters. Probabilistic type on the other hand relies mainly on scientific evidence in assessing risk by simulating future multiple scenarios of disasters such as flood, storm surges and landslides.

“While historical losses can explain the past, they do not necessarily provide a good guide to the future; most disasters that could happen have not happened yet. Probabilistic risk assessment simulates those future disasters which, based on scientific evidence, are likely to occur. As a result these risk assessments resolve the problem posed by the limits of historical data,” he explained.

Lagmay cited the thousands of lives killed and ruined due to use of inaccurate maps such as during the onslaught of typhoon Pablo in Compostella Valley in 2012 and supertyhoon Yolanda where evacuation centers were constructed in disaster prone areas killing people right at the evacuation centers where they supposedly seek refuge.

“In Compostella Valley, 566 people heeded warnings by seeking refuge in an evacuation center but it became their grave when debris flow overwhelmed the site,” he said.

“Another example is the Yolanda disaster where 70% of evacuation centers in Tacloban were inundated by storm surges, which only tells us that the storm surge hazard maps were erroneous if they were used in the city’s disaster mitigation plan,” Lagmay furthered.

Lagmay said deterministic type was used in those times.

Moreover, it was in 2012 when the government invested on hazard maps using frontier science and advanced technology to map out the Philippine landscape at very high resolution.

With this map, he noted, safe and hazard prone areas can be accurately identified to build a well-planned and resilient community against disasters.

Hazard maps available for public use

Lagmay said DOST-Project NOAH has completed the detailed hazard maps for landslides and storm surges. Flood hazard maps, however, are still incomplete because they are more difficult to generate.

“All maps are available in the DOST-Project NOAH website at http://noah.dost.gov.ph and in an award-winning mobile app called Arko. The NOAH maps are distributed to empower local government units (LGUs) and individuals,” he said.

Hazard map for the province of Albay has been completed.

Lagmay noted that by knowing the hazards in their neighborhood, people are made aware of the dangers in their community – the first step in effective disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Moreover this entails long term education and rooting of culture of safety and preparedness in communities along with the standardization of national CCA-DRR program.

Albay to offer more tourism services, tour packages

(MAL/SAA-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The province of Albay will be stepping up its tourism programs to offer better experience for all local and foreign tourists visiting the province.

In his message during the first meeting of the Albay Tourism Council this year, Governor Al Francis Bichara calls on tourism stakeholders to have a united and coordinated front for the betterment of the tourism landscape in the province.

Bichara directed council members to work together to further uplift the quality of tourism services provided by stakeholders and to come up with more affordable tour packages.

He likewise urged representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways present in the meeting for improvement of tourism infrastructures to ensure that all tourists are not just comfortable, but also safe in their travels.

Also in the said meeting, Albay Tourism Officer Dorothy Fernandez Colle presented the Annual Investment Plan of the Provincial Tourism and Culture Affairs Office along with achievements and programs implemented during the first half of the year.

Colle cited the success of the Daragang Magayon Festival which still remains as the top tourist drawer for the province and the successful participation and collaboration with the Department of Tourism and other provinces in the region in the recently concluded Philippine Travel Mart in Manila, the largest and longest running travel exhibit in the country.

Albay booth was adjudged as the most visited and was the People’s Choice award first place winner.

Tourism stakeholders and council members composed of tourism officers, accredited tour operators, tour guides and members from the transport groups also presented varying problems and concerns they encountered. Sub-committees were then formed to address these issues and concerns.

DSWD trains LGUs to sustain Kalahi-CIDSS projects

By Julius B. Embile (MAL/JBE/DSWD5/PIA5)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol regional office has since conducted series of seminars and trainings for the local government units (LGUs) in the region to ensure that Kalahi-CIDSS’ community development projects are maximized and sustained,

The ‘Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan’ – Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) is a community-driven development project, wherein communities and local governments are trained to choose, design, and implement sub-projects that addresses their most pressing needs.

DSWD Bicol regional director Arnel Garcia said that as of September 1 of this year, 517 out of 1,381 sub-projects under Kalahi-CIDSS Cycle1 (between 2014 and 2015) were completed, while the rest are expected to be finished by the end of this month.

"However, while initiating these well-needed projects is good, it is also necessary to ensure that they are sustained to benefit the community on a long-term basis. This compelled the DSWD in conducting the Sustainability Evaluation Orientations, a series of seminars and trainings for LGUs to guarantee sustainability of the projects in their respective communities," he added.

DSWD Bicol conducted the first batch of the Sustainability Evaluation Orientation in Legazpi City last September 13 to 15, which included lectures and discussions on sub-projects’ sustainability were presented during the training. On-site application of sustainability evaluation and the actual administration of sustainability evaluation tool on the identified sub-projects were also done.

Sustainability evaluation utilizes a survey tool that uses indicators as basis for assesses the functionality of the completed sub-projects in terms of organizational and institutional component, financial management system, physical-technical operations, and maintenance condition. It also evaluates the effects of the project to its host community.

The training activity is participated in by the LGU official of the communities that are beneficiaries of the Kalahi-CIDSS sub-projects. After the training, they are expected to administer the sustainability evaluation by forming Multi-Stakeholders Inspectorate Teams (MSIT), composed of department heads and local officials with the assistance of DSWD’s technical staff.

A simulation of sustainability evaluation was done last September 14 in Guinobatan, Albay, wherein the local government led by Mayor Ann Ongjoco assured commitment in the sub-projects sustenance. The same training had also begun today in Naga City, which is scheduled until September 23.

As of today, 101 poor municipalities in Bicol are under its expansion that started on 2014, with a total grant of Php 4,497,448,178. The community-driven development (CCD) approach of Kalahi-CIDSS had proven effective since its implementation, and has now expanded nationwide.

PYAP BICOL celebrates 41ST founding anniversary

(EEJ-DSWD5/PIA5)

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 21 (PIA) -- With the theme “Empowering the Youth towards Sustainable Development”, the Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP) in Bicol celebrated recently its 41st Founding Anniversary highlighted by a three-day youth camp held at Sarung Banggi Resort, Sto Domingo, Albay .

The youth camp was participated in by 110 officers and members of the PYAP Bicol Federation aimed at establishing camaraderie and strengthen the association.

Capability building activities were part of the three days activity. Topics discussed were focused on the following: “Pinggang Pinoy”, salient features of RA 9344 or Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

A team building activity was likewise introduced. The last day was focused on Life Planning Session conducted by the staff from the Institutional Division Unit of the Field Office. In this activity, the participants were able to know more about themselves, their aspirations in life and their responsibility towards self, family, and community.

The induction of the new set of officers was done with Assistant Regional Director for Operations Mr. Arwin O. Razo as the inducting officer.The newly elected official of the Bicol PYAP Regional Federation were as follows:

President : Quenie Marie April Aurellano - Iriga City
Vice President : Joseff Audryss Serrano - Legazpi City
Secretary : Ivy Valencia - Casiguran, Sorsogon
Treasurer : Jeff Borromeo - Canaman, Camarines Sur
Auditor : Cyril Domens - Sorsogon City
Bus. Manager : Alvin Laranja - Bulan, Sorsogon
PIO : Jhonel I. De Lima - Bato, Camarines Sur
Board of Trustees:
Jayvee Bien - Tabaco City
Tj Trinidad - Sta Magdalena, Sorsogon
Mariane Hepa - Irosin, Sorsogon
Cecille Barcelon - Ligao City
Kenneth Adolfo - Pamplona, Camarines Sur

After the induction ceremony was the presentation of accomplishment of the PYAP Regional Federation for the period 2012 to 2015 by Jackie John Coral the federation’s president.

NYC holds consultation dialogue to help craft national youth dev't. plan

By Julius B. Embile (MAL/JBE-PIA5)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The National Youth Commission (NYC) held a consultation workshop in Legazpi City for partner agencies and youth advocates in the Bicol region to provide inputs in crafting the Philippine Youth Development Program (PYDP) 2017-2022.

The plan will be the guide of the National Youth Commission (NYC) and other stakeholders to ensure youth development throughout the country.

The consultation workshop in Legazpi City is part of the commission’s nationwide series of consultation activities, in order to formulate the best solutions on the concerns of the youth.

The solutions formulated on the consultation workshops would be incorporated in the PYDP from year 2017 until 2022. The issues tackled during the workshop were the concerns faced by the youth in mainly terms of health, education, employment or economy, citizen involvement, and governance.

As defined by the United Nations, those between the ages of 15 to 30 years are classified as youth, but are further clustered in to three groups: children youth (15-17), core youth (18-25), and young adults (26-30). From 2014 until last year, NYC researched on the current standing of statistics involving all three youth cluster groups in order to identify the Youth Development Index (YDI) of the country.

According to the data based on the recent Philippine Youth Index Report (PYIR), the Philippines had experience a considerable slump of its YDI, from a score of 0.562 in 2013 to 0.554 in 2014, and based on the parameters of participation, education, employment, and health. As of the overall regional rankings, Region 5 is currently ranked tenth in the country in terms of its YDI.

For the Bicol region specifically, the region had its most considerable decline in youth development in the field of education with a 0.057 score decline. Right now, region-5 is eleventh in the rankings on overall youth educational development.

Data also shows that Bicol is falling behind in terms of employments and livelihood for the youth. As per the PYIR, the Bicol region is ranked 14th in reference to youth employment with comparative scores of 0.548 in 2013 and 0.521 in 2014.

In order to identify the reasons for the decreased youth development rate, the commission conducted the National Youth Assessment Study (NYAS), a research survey initiated every five years involving the younger members of the citizenry. For NYAS 2016, more than 2,700 youth from different sectors and communities nationwide served as survey respondents.

As initially translated from the result of the NYAS, the possible prime reason for the decline of the youth’s development rate is their modern day views. In matters of health, for instance, 31% of the respondents are sexually active and claims that it is alright to have sexual intercourse outside of marriage.

Such perception, according to experts consulted by the NYC, raises a ‘red flag’ as it becomes the root of other concerns such as population growth and teenage pregnancy. Vices and substance abuse also raised concerns as survey showed 21% of the youth smokes tobacco and 26.3% admits to have used illegal substances.

It was also stated by the experts that these issues call for action for regions like Bicol, which is currently ranked fifth in terms of youth population. Data break-down also showed that 27% of the overall population in the Bicol region is within the ‘youth’ category, wherein 52% are male and 48% are female.

“We present you these concerns so that we, youth advocates and partner organizations alike, could work together to come up with the best solution,” said Nadia Delfin of NYC’s Area Management Unit in Bicol.

During the consultation workshop, all in attendance contributed ideas and proposals in addressing the issues of youth development and guidance. All approaches proposed, including the use of social media and promotional concerts, differed as all in participation are from varied field of expertise, but all are focused in advocating the welfare of the youth.

Bacacay, Albay has most number of priests

By Rhaydz B. Barcia (PNA)

BACACAY, Albay — While the town of Baao in Camarines Sur produced the first Fiipino bishop, the coastal town of Bacacay in Albay has the most number of Catholic priests, perhaps unparalleled anywhere else in the Philippines.

“Bacacay is one of the smallest towns in Albay without any Catholic school but it is blessed with 100 living priests,” said Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi.

Located on the eastern slopes of the famous Mayon Volcano, Bacacay is composed of its poblacion and Cagraray island, the latter having 11 islets strategically scattered within its coasts. It has a population of nearly 70,000.

The predominantly agricultural town, which has 143 kilometers of irregular coastline, takes pride in having the longest shoreline in Albay, most of which is composed of black sands brought mainly down by eroding volcanic rocks.

Baylon told the 100 priests, who returned recently to the town for a homecoming, known as a “centuplex” celebration, that Bacacay is the “number one producer of priests in the Philippines despite its being a small and poor municipality.”

The clergy came from various parishes in Bicol and elsewhere in the country, as well as from their mission work overseas.

Msgr. Crispin Bernarte Jr., current parish priest of the Parish of St. Rose Lima in downtown Bacacay, which organized the homecoming with support from the diocese, explained that centuplex is a Latin word for “a hundredfold.”

He said they had come together to be thankful to God for the “gift of a hundredfold of priestly vocation.”

“At a time when many parts of the world are experiencing a shortage of priests to serve the pastoral needs of the Church, the town of Bacacay, Albay joyfully celebrates an upsurge in priestly vocation,” said Bernarte.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the term clergy, which “includes the orders of bishop, priest and deacon, is understood as persons functioning within the priesthood of all the people.”

According to www.britannica.com, they are “ordained, or set aside, for particular service, especially in connection with eucharistic ministry.” Bernarte said the Filipino clergy, who trace their roots to Bacacay, include one bishop, 98 priests and three deacons–all of them still living. These ordained men work either in various dioceses or outside the diocese as members of different religious orders.

Retired Legazpi Bishop Lucilo B. Quiambao, was among those who concelebrated the Mass for the centuplex celebration on August 31.

Quiambao, 83, is himself a native of Bacacay. Born in Barangay Napao, Cagraray island, the bishop emeritus of the diocese of Legazpi served as a priest for 56 years and bishop for 34 years.

Aside from Baylon and Quiambao, Legazpi Bishop Emeritus José Crisologo Sorra, 87, graced the concelebrated Mass.

During the homily for the Mass, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, echoed the uniqueness of Bacacay in being the midwife to 100 living priests.

Vengco, a seminary professor, serves as parish priest of Malolos in Bulacan, the town which comes next to Bacacay as having the most number of clergy in the country.

He said Oas town in Albay used to produce the most number of priests in the country but in past decades Oas had been surpassed by Bacacay town. Vengco said every town has a vocation which in Bacacay has been translated into a “strong brotherhood at the service of the Catholic Church throughout the country and even abroad.”

“Through the years, the cross that was planted by the first Christian missionaries on the coastal town of Bacacay did not only bring in a big catch of believers from among its people but also a big number of fishers of men,” according to Bernarte.

He said Christianity found its place in the hearts of Bacacayanos not long after the first Franciscan missionaries set foot in Albay.

Bacacay was founded in 1649 as a barrio of Tabaco. In 1660 it became independent and developed into a town, the same year it became a parish. St. Rose of Lima, a Peruvian saint, who was canonized by Pope Clement in 1671 thereafter became the patron saint of Bacacay. Her feast day falls on Aug. 30.

Two years ago, the St. Rose of Lima Parish celebrated its 350th founding anniversary.

The Church of the St. Rose of Lima here, one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in Albay, stands as a “strong symbol of faith,” according to the town’s official history.

Bernarte said located on the left side of the church are the ruins of the old church and belfry named Porta Fidei 1649. “My guess is these are the ruins of the church built in 1660,” he said.

The ruins are located just beside the present church, which Bernarte said was “probably built in the 1800s.” Bernarte said Fr. Thomas Gier, an American priest, who arrived in the country on Feb. 3, 1975, had instituted a strong sense of Christianity among the Catholic population in Bacacay.

The late Bishop Teotimo Pacis of the Diocese of Legazpi invited Gier to start the mission work of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) in the country. Pacis gave him Cagraray island which eventually become known as the “cradle of SOLT mission in Asia.” Gier stayed in Barangay Cabasan, Cagraray from where he conducted his mission work from the early 80’s until the late 90’s.

After his death, he was succeeded by Filipino priests from the same congregation. Bacacay is currently home to three parishes: St. Rose of Lima, St. John Nepomucene in Barangay Bonga and Sacred Heart in Barangay Cabasan, all manned by priests from SOLT.

Records of the diocese of Legazpi showed that 93 percent of the 1.2 million population in Albay are Catholics. The diocese has 45 parishes serving in 15 municipalities and 3 cities in the province.

Just as Bicol has for its patroness, the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, lovingly called “Ina,” (mother), whose novena procession in Naga City in Camarines Sur, from Sept. 9 to 18, is expected to be witnessed by around half a million devotees, the townsfolk of Bacacay has its own “Ina.” Since the 1900s, Bacacayanons have been venerating the Nuestra Señora de los Desamparado as its own patroness, protector and “Ina.” “History tells that our Blessed Mother appeared at the foot of Mayon Volcano in (Barangay) Bonga, Bacacay before some abandoned Aetas,” said Bernarte.

He said since then the devotion to her flourished among the local Catholic Christians.

“This devotion, whose feast is celebrated every August 31, has made Bacacay truly “un pueblo amante de Maria,”(a town truly loving of Mary) said Bernarte.

He said the Marian tradition must be the major reason for Bacacay’s abundance in religious vocation, making it a “cradle of priestly vocation,” not just in the (Bicol) region but in the entire country.

Bernarte said just like the other towns of Albay that were on the path of strong typhoons in the past, such as Olive, Sisang, Reming and the most recent, Glenda in 2014, Bacacay and its townspeople were able to withstand the challenges.

“Amid the pain and burden brought by calamities, the people’s faith gets stronger, putting full trust in God despite the manifold ordeals,” he said.

Bernarte added that families in Bacacay have continued to give their sons for the endless mission of the Church, “that we all love to serve as teacher of the Word, minister of the sacraments and servant of the community.”

PHP170.7-B South Railway project to be pursued this year -- Albay solon

(PNA), BNB/GVR/MSA/CBD/PJN

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 18 (PNA) -- Two infrastructure projects, including the PHP170.7-billion South Railway project that will revive the Philippine National Railways’ (PNR) Manila-Legazpi “Bicol Express” Line, will be pursued this year, an Albay lawmaker said.

Albay second district Representative Joey Salceda identified the PHP4.79-billion Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) area of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) project as the second infrastructure project to be pursued.

He said the two transport projects are now in the pipeline following their approval by the National Economic and Development Investment Coordination Committee.

Salceda, in a statement sent via e-mail, said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, in a recent meeting, had assured him that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will pursue the multi-billion south line railway project as previously approved by the past administration.

He said DOTr will start to work where the past administration left off, specifically the publication of Instruction to Bidders and the firming up of the project timelines.

Salceda, in an earlier interview, said that Ayala Corp., which will partner with Metro Pacific and San Miguel Corp. had expressed interest in participating in the bidding process for the south line railway project from PNR Tutuban to Legazpi City then to Matnog, Sorsogon.

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

Salceda, an economist, said the railway project investment would carry a 24 percent pure Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 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 growth of a project.

The project would revive the PNR Manila-Legazpi “Bicol Express” Line which has a total span of 653 kilometers. It starts at Tutuban Center in Manila and run through Laguna, Batangas, Quezon before ending in Matnog, Sorsogon.

Salceda said this year DOTr earmarked PHP4.79-billion for construction of the PTB of the BIA, previously named Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA).

The project is being implemented in two packages.

He said package 1 is an ongoing project involving construction of the runway, taxiway and apron and the putting up of a PHP708-million perimeter fence that was funded under calendar year 2012.

“This project consists of the concrete paving of a 2,100-meter by 45-meter runway, 2-stub taxiways and apron and the perimeter fence for the entire airport complex,” said Salceda.

He said there will be a rebidding based on the existing Terms of Reference for the PHP1.4 billion for the runway completion and PTB.

The airport project will also have a passenger boarding bridge or tube that is modularly designed to accommodate the addition of tubes.

Salceda said Tugade made a committment that the BIA would have two tubes worth PHP105 million which would be included in the budget once construction of the PTB starts.

“The DOTr management team assured that the BIA will be at par to international standards,” Salceda said.

Under package 2 the project will cover the construction of 17 buildings, including the control tower, cargo, administration and other auxiliary buildings and site developments such as the embankment work for the landslide area.

The two-story PTB will cover an area of 13,220 square meters while the runway extension will be from 2,100 meters to 2,500 meters of concrete pavement.

Site development will include the construction of a perimeter road and the completion of developments on the land side such as drainage and the water and power utilities.

US-funded agri-water project helps Bicol farmers cope with El Niño

(MAL/SAA/DA5/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – To help Bicol farmers produce and maintain their crops amidst impact of El Niño on availability of water supply, the Bicol Agri-Water Project (BAWP) has initially set up supplemental irrigation water sources in the region.

Department of Agrarian (DA) Bicol Director Abelardo Bragas said the small scale irrigation systems installed in Camarines Sur and Albay are climate risk management technologies serving as supplemental irrigation water sources for forty-one BAWP farmer-beneficiaries.

With these systems, farmers can produce crops even during the onslaught of El Niño.

For Buhi and Nabua in Camarines Sur, shallow tube wells (STWs) were Small Farm Reservoirs (SFR) were put up in Polangui Albay.

Based on BAWP monitoring date, the STWs installed in barangay Iraya in Buhi irrigated 15.5 hectares of land producing an average of 11.61% increase in yield of 12 farmer beneficiaries recorded during the wet season in 2015 as compared to the same season of the previous year.

Likewise, the STWs in Nabua irrigated 6.5 hectares of land in barangay San Esteban with eight farmer-beneficiaries and 5.45 hectares in barangay San Roque-Madawon with 16 farmer-beneficiaries.

Bragas said Increase in yield in both baran- gays were similarly observed at 9.67% and 9.23%, respectively.

Meanwhile, the collected and stored water from the Small Farm Reservoirs (SFRs) at barangays La Medalla and Kinuartelan, Polangui, Albay were used to irrigate 4.3 hectares of rice fields.

The average yield of five farmers benefitting from it increased by two cavans of palay per hectare equivalent to a P1,300.00 monetary increase per hectare.

Bragas bared that the project applied 50 kilograms of chicken dung to the SFR to reduce the amount of water seepage. The organic material covers the bottom of the SFR by sealing it with manure, thus blocking soil pores and producing secondary biological clogging later on due to slime-forming organisms.

To maintain the SFRs’ working conditions and to minimize soil erosion along the reservoir, the Municipal Agricultural Services Office of Polangui, Albay facilitated the construction of slope protection facility on February 3 - 15, 2016.

BAWP is a grant project funded by the U.S. Embassy's United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the UP Los Banos Foundation, Inc. (UPLBFI) in partnership with the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office V (DA-RFO V).

BAWP is further supported by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society-Columbia University (IRI-CU), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Central Bicol State University of Agriculture and Bicol University College of Agriculture and Forestry.

Legazpi gets 3.7-M grant from DOLE for farm, fishing equipment

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) -- Fisherfolk and farmers of this city will get farm and fishing equipment from the local government through a P3.7-million grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s Kabuhayan (livelihood) starter kit program.

DOLE’s livelihood program gives funds that local government units (LGU) could use to generate livelihood opportunities and ease poverty among the marginalized sectors in the community.

Carol Trayvilla, DOLE officer-in-charge regional director, said the P3.7-million grant represents the first tranche of the P7 million grant to the LGU which will be used to purchase equipment for the program beneficiaries.

Mayor Noel E. Rosal and City Agriculturist Jess Kallos recently received from Trayvilla the check for the first tranche to be used to implement the program.

Trayvilla said another tranche will soon be given to the city administration to complete the P7-million grant to the LGU.

The grant came after a project proposal supporting the marginalized segments of the city was submitted by the city administration to the DOLE regional office.

Rosal said that since agricultural produce and marine resources are needed for the people’s daily consumption the agricultural and fishery sectors hold much promise because they contribute a lot to local revenues and help fuel the city’s economic growth.

He said DOLE’s financial grant will ensure sufficient supply of marine resources and help “achieve mass production of agricultural produce.”

He urged recipients of the Kabuhayan livelihood project to help protect the fishing grounds and prevent illegal fishing activities.

“As watchdogs of the sea, the fishermen can help protect mangrove areas and coral reefs to ensure a healthy eco-system and a sustainable marine environment,” said Rosal.

Hero's welcome awaits PHL's first woman Chess Grandmaster in Legazpi City

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

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 15 (PNA) -- A hero’s welcome awaits 20-year-old Janelle Mae Frayna, the first ever woman chess Grandmaster (GM) of the Philippines, when she comes home here.

“She is a Legazpeña who brought us this big honor, which is a historic achievement for all of us as Filipinos,” said Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal.

Janelle achieved the momentous feat at the 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan Sunday night, September 11.

“I'm proud to announce that WIM (Woman International Master) Janelle Mae Frayna achieved the third and last result to become the first Woman Grandmaster from the Philippines,” said a press statement issued immediately after Frayna’s triumph by GM Jayson Gonzales, Frayna’s personal trainer and coach at the Far Eastern University (FEU).

Frayna scored six points on four wins and four draws against just one loss in nine games that earned for her the GM title.

Her opponents included three men's GM, among them Georgia's Nana Dzagnidze and India's Dronavali Harika. A major rival, Nomin Erdene, has a men's International Master title while two other WIM, Sabrina Latreche of Algeria and Alejandra Guerrero Rodrigiez of Mexico had fought against Janelle.

Rosal said Janelle’s achievement is something her “kababayans” (townmates) are very proud of.

He said the lady GM will receive an incentive from the local government.

The Mayor’s Office has ordered all the department heads and employees to prepare a heroes’ welcome for her.

A motorcade will tour Janelle around the city’s main streets while the local government is preparing a program to honor her.

Albay second district Representative Jose Salceda on Tuesday morning House filed Resolution 334 congratulating Janelle.

“The plan is to give her a congressional commendation as she is the first female Grandmaster of the Philippines,” he said.

Salceda has promised to give Janelle his one-month salary from Congress while pushing for support from among his colleagues in the Lower House for additional incentives.

“We (the family) almost forgot to sleep the whole night of Sunday after Janelle told us about the good news,” said Janelle’s mother Corazon Frayna, 55, an engineer working at the City Planning and Development Office of the local government.

She said the family, who is staying at the Teachers’ Village Subd., Washington Drive, in this city, was too stunned and excited to be thinking of anything but sleep after getting the call from Azerbaijan.

The family consists of Janelle’s father George and her two older brothers Don Marifil and Kevin.

Janelle is the youngest and only daughter in the brood.

Her mother remembers that Janelle was a typical pupil in kinder and prep school until her elementary years.

“She always fell asleep inside her class, especially when she was in grade 1 until grade 3,” said Corazon.

But during grades 5 and 6 at the Divine Word High School Janelle suddenly began to excel in class and aspired to be on top of all her endeavors.

“She graduated as the second salutatorian in elementary," said Corazon.

On her first year and second year in high school at the same school, Janelle continued to top her class.

During her third and fourth year, when she left Legazpi and transferred to Far Eastern University as a scholar on account of her acumen as a chess player, Janelle did not earn academic honors because most of her time was spent practicing for chess competitions.

“While at FEU Janelle initially was able to attend classes four times a week until it became three times a week and later two times a week. It came to a point that she was only present during their examination days,” said Corazon.

She said it was very difficult for Janelle to balance the schedules of her classes and chess practices and competition.

“But eventually she managed to cope despite the difficulties,” she added.

Corazon said during the days when Janelle was absent due to her obligations with chess, her classmates would text her about the lessons that were taken up in her absence.

"On such occasions Janelle always managed to squeeze the time to study hard,” she said.

Corazon said the family is very happy because all of Janelle’s hard work has paid off.

“Aside from being the first Pinay Grandmaster, Janelle is now a candidate for cum laude in BS Psychology upon graduation,” she said.

Corazon said her daughter began to show interest in chess when she was 12 years old and in grade six.

“This was when her Kuya Don taught her how to play chess,” she said.

The Frayna family loved toying with the chessboard as a past time which helped motivate Janelle to play the board game.

Her mother, however, said at that time Janelle was not that good yet in playing chess.

Corazon recalled how she handily beat Janelle a lot of times whenever they played chess at home.

When Janelle was a freshman at the Divine Word High School, Corazon enrolled her daughter at the Magayon Chess Club, a local chess club in Legazpi City, where she received her first serious training as a chess player.

Janelle was a club member for nearly three years during which she was able to hone her mettle as she was competing with the club’s brightest players.

“Her opponents were amazed at her because she was able to defeat all of them, including the more seasoned and senior players,” said Corazon.

This was until July 2010 when she transferred to FEU. "When Janelle defeated all the good players of their local chess club she began to ask me to go to other places to play,” she said.

Mother and daughter would then frequent Metro Manila and other places during Saturdays and Sundays just to get a chance to play in the invitationals.

“We were leaving Friday afternoons and returning Sunday evenings. From the terminal (after the 11-12 hour overnight bus trips) I would go directly to my office at the Legazpi City Hall and Janelle to her class on Mondays," narrated Corazon.

Janelle started earning berths in chess at the Department of Education Regional Meet or Palarong Bicol while in elementary and in her early adolescent years.

In 2008 when she was in grade six, Janelle competed at the Palarong Pambansa. “She emerged in fifth place in the overall under 14 years old category,” said her mother.

In March 2010, Janelle entered the “Davao Competition for National Age Group” and clinched the second spot.

Two months later, in May 2010, she joined the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Age Group Competition in Subic, Zambales, which Janelle topped.

Her win in this tilt earned her the opportunity to represent the country at the ASEAN Chess Olympic in Beijing, China in June of the same year. Janelle got the fourth spot. Janelle’s performances in the national and international competitions so impressed GM Jason Gonzales, a native of Libon town in Albay, who was also head coach of FEU in chess.

He offered Janelle to play with the university’s chess group.

The offer came with a free tuition fee but Corazon refused as she was afraid for her daughter’s safety in Metro Manila.

Corazon told the FEU coach she also had no means to support Janelle’s board and lodging and other personal needs.

Gonzales, however, saw a big potential in Janelle and insisted on providing, aside from the free tuition fee, the board and lodging expenses.

Corazon said Gonzales told her that it was the “first time the school had offered such a package to a player.”

Janelle transferred to FEU as a junior high school student and went to play with the university team.

During tournaments at the university, Janelle consistently shone.

“GM Gonzales even said Janelle was able to beat the female star player of their university and almost defeated the top male player of the school,” reminisced Corazon.

She said during Janelle’s early years in high school and in her college days they could not afford the three chess books costing P1,000 each that would help Janelle learn more about the board game.

Corazon said “someone” (whom she named as Efren Bagamasmad) lent Janelle the three chess books.

"And now, Janelle was able to fulfill her ultimate dream, that of becoming the first female Filipina Grandmaster," she said.

Legazpi City, Daegu Korea sign friendship pact

(MAL/SAA/EPS-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) – The city government here and Daegu Metropolitan City of South Korea recently signed a friendship agreement to strengthen partnership and facilitate mutual sharing of best practices for good governance and development.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said the good relationship between this city and Daegu City would facilitate the sharing of good governance knowledge and experiences for continuous progress and urban development. This is turn could open windows for opportunities to uplift the lives of the people of both cities.

The friendship pact will also facilitate the mutual sharing of knowledge in tourism promotion between the two cities separated by hundreds of miles of distance with different culture, language and political orientation.

Legazpi City Vice-Mayor Bobby Cristobal and Daegu City Vice-Mayor Kim Yon Chang signed the agreement at the City Mayor’s Office witnessed by officials of both cities.

The pact materialized after City Councilor Melissa Abadeza passed a resolution authorizing the city mayor to enter into an agreement by and between the City Government of Legazpi and the Daegu Metropolitan, South Korea.

“This friendship agreement would serve as a vehicle to improve their initiatives towards the adoption of medical tourism that includes the holding of medical mission and training to the members of the medical team and also to develop the medical system and improve the sanitary situation in the community,” Rosal said.

He furthered that the agreement will also serve as an accelerator for economic growth of both cities and an engine to improve their initiatives towards the adoption of Public Health and Social Services, Planning and Urban Development and Culture and Arts.

Chang on the other hand said that the friendship between Philippines and South Korea started during the Korean War when this country sent an almost 7,000 Filipino troops.

He added that they intend to provide good service system to the people of this city not just for earning money but to maintain the strong relationship of both cities.

Legazpi City is classified as a component city and a capital of the Albay Province located on the East or Pacific Coast of the Province that plays host to the iconic Mt. Mayon, the world’s most perfect cone volcano with its tag line The City of Fun and Adventure captioned by the International Travel Market Industry.

It was also named by the USAID as the number two most livable city across the country and recently declared by the National Competitive Council as the 3rd Most Competitive locality under component city category in its 4th Regional Competitiveness Council Summit and Awards ceremony for best practices in the field of good government efficiency, economic dynamism and infrastructure development.

The Daegu City on the other hand is the 3rd largest Metropolitan area located in Southeastern Korea about 80 kilometers (50miles) from the Sea Coast near the Geumho River and its mainstream.

It was an Economic motor of Korea during the period of 1960s until 1980s and especially known for its electronic industry.

(Features) Coastal town of Bacacay cradles 'harvest' of priests in its arms

By Rhaydz B. Barcia [(PNA), JMC/GVR/RBB/CBD]

BACACAY, Albay, Sept. 13 (PNA)-- While the slums of Calcutta, India have produced a saint in Mother Teresa, the coastal community of Bacacay town in Albay that faces the Pacific Ocean is credited for being the cradle of the most number of clergy, or those ordained to become priests, in the Philippines.

“Bacacay is one of the smallest towns in Albay without any Catholic schools but it is blessed with 100 living priests,” said Bishop Joel Baylon of the Diocese of Legazpi.

Located on the eastern slopes of the famous Mayon Volcano, Bacacay is composed of the mainland and Cagraray island, with about 11 islets strategically scattered within its coasts. It has a population of nearly 70,000.

The predominantly agricultural town, which has 143 kilometers of irregular coastline, takes pride in having the longest shoreline in Albay, most of which is composed of black sands which are due to the erosion of volcanic rocks.

Baylon told the 100 priests, who returned recently to the town for a homecoming, known as a “centuplex” celebration, that Bacacay is the “number one producer of priests in the Philippines despite its being a small and poor municipality.”

The clergy came from various parishes in Bicol and elsewhere in the country, as well as from their mission work overseas.

Msgr. Crispin Bernarte Jr., current parish priest of the Parish of St. Rose Lima in downtown Bacacay, which organized the homecoming with support from the diocese, explained that centuplex is a Latin word for “a hundredfold.”

He said they had come together to be thankful to God for the “gift of a hundredfold of priestly vocation.”

“At a time when many parts of the world are experiencing a shortage of priests to serve the pastoral needs of the Church, the town of Bacacay, Albay joyfully celebrates an upsurge in priestly vocation,” said Bernarte.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the term clergy, which “includes the orders of bishop, priest and deacon, is understood as persons functioning within the priesthood of all the people.”

According to www.britannica.com, they are “ordained, or set aside, for particular service, especially in connection with eucharistic ministry.”

Bernarte said the Filipino clergy, who trace their roots to Bacacay, include one bishop, 98 priests and three deacons--all of them still living.

These ordained men work either in various dioceses or outside the diocese as members of different religious orders.

Retired Legazpi Bishop Lucilo B. Quiambao, was among those who concelebrated the Mass for the centuplex celebration on August 31.

Quiambao, 83, is himself a native of Bacacay. Born in Barangay Napao, Cagraray island, the bishop emeritus of the diocese of Legazpi served as a priest for 56 years and bishop for 34 years.

Aside from Baylon and Quiambao, Legazpi Bishop Emeritus José Crisologo Sorra, 87, graced the concelebrated Mass.

During the homily for the Mass, Msgr. Sabino Vengco, echoed the uniqueness of Bacacay in being the midwife to 100 living priests.

Vengco, a seminary professor, serves as parish priest of Malolos in Bulacan, the town which comes next to Bacacay as having the most number of clergy in the country.

He said Oas town in Albay used to produce the most number of priests in the country but in past decades Oas had been surpassed by Bacacay town.

Vengco said every town has a vocation which in Bacacay has been translated into a “strong brotherhood at the service of the Catholic Church throughout the country and even abroad.”

“Through the years, the cross that was planted by the first Christian missionaries on the coastal town of Bacacay did not only bring in a big catch of believers from among its people but also a big number of fishers of men,” according to Bernarte.

He said Christianity found its place in the hearts of Bacacayanos not long after the first Franciscan missionaries set foot in Albay.

Bacacay was founded in 1649 as a barrio of Tabaco. In 1660 it became independent and developed into a town, the same year it became a parish.

St. Rose of Lima, a Peruvian saint, who was canonized by Pope Clement in 1671 thereafter became the patron saint of Bacacay. Her feast day falls on Aug. 30.

Two years ago, the St. Rose of Lima Parish celebrated its 350th founding anniversary.

The Church of the St. Rose of Lima here, one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in Albay, stands as a “strong symbol of faith,” according to the town’s official history.

Bernarte said located on the left side of the church are the ruins of the old church and belfry named Porta Fidei 1649.

“My guess is these are the ruins of the church built in 1660,” he said.

The ruins are located just beside the present church, which Bernarte said was “probably built in the 1800s.”

Bernarte said Fr. Thomas Gier, an American priest, who arrived in the country on Feb. 3, 1975, had instituted a strong sense of Christianity among the Catholic population in Bacacay.

The late Bishop Teotimo Pacis of the Diocese of Legazpi invited Gier to start the mission work of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) in the country. Pacis gave him Cagraray island which eventually become known as the “cradle of SOLT mission in Asia.”

Gier stayed in Barangay Cabasan, Cagraray from where he conducted his mission work from the early 80’s until the late 90’s.

After his death, he was succeeded by Filipino priests from the same congregation. Bacacay is currently home to three parishes: St. Rose of Lima, St. John Nepomucene in Barangay Bonga and Sacred Heart in Barangay Cabasan, all manned by priests from SOLT.

Records of the diocese of Legazpi showed that 93 percent of the 1.2 million population in Albay are Catholics. The diocese has 45 parishes serving in 15 municipalities and 3 cities in the province.

Just as Bicol has for its patroness, the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, lovingly called “Ina,” (mother), whose novena procession in Naga City in Camarines Sur, from Sept. 9 to 18, is expected to be witnessed by around half a million devotees, the townsfolk of Bacacay has its own “Ina.”

Since the 1900s, Bacacayanons have been venerating the Nuestra Señora de los Desamparado as its own patroness, protector and “Ina.”

“History tells that our Blessed Mother appeared at the foot of Mayon Volcano in (Barangay) Bonga, Bacacay before some abandoned Aetas,” said Bernarte.

He said since then the devotion to her flourished among the local Catholic Christians.

“This devotion, whose feast is celebrated every August 31, has made Bacacay truly “un pueblo amante de Maria,”(a town truly loving of Mary) said Bernarte.

He said the Marian tradition must be the major reason for Bacacay’s abundance in religious vocation, making it a “cradle of priestly vocation,” not just in the (Bicol) region but in the entire country.

Bernarte said just like the other towns of Albay that were on the path of strong typhoons in the past, such as Olive, Sisang, Reming and the most recent, Glenda in 2014, Bacacay and its townspeople were able to withstand the challenges.

“Amid the pain and burden brought by calamities, the people’s faith gets stronger, putting full trust in God despite the manifold ordeals,” he said.

Bernarte added that families in Bacacay have continued to give their sons for the endless mission of the Church, “that we all love to serve as teacher of the Word, minister of the sacraments and servant of the community.”

Mayon lava wall may collapse – Phivolcs

By RHAYDZ B. BARCIA

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reiterated its warning against entering the 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone (PDZ) as lava wall collapse may occur that could lead to pyroclastic flow in the southeast quadrant of the restive Mount Mayon here.

“Possible collapse of lava wall might occur due to brittleness of the wall instigated by molten materials. Wall collapse is very dangerous because that could trigger pyroclastic flow,” Phivolcs regional director Ed Laguerta said on Monday.

He explained that if the lava dome currently blocking the volcano’s rim explodes side by side with the wall collapse then pyroclastic flow may fall anytime.

Pyroclastic is the hottest molten volcanic material and can travel as fast as 60 kilometer per hour.

The southeast quadrant of the volcano is facing the towns of Santo Domingo, Daraga and Camalig and the city of Legazpi.

“So we are reiterating to the public not to enter the six-kilometer danger zone even though Mayon Volcano appears very calm. We don’t know when the volcano may erupt but fresh magma beneath the volcano is activating,” Laguerta said.

Over the weekend, Phivolcs led by Laguerta with Raffy Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense in Bicol; Cedric Daep, chief of Albay Public Safety Emergency Management Office; and Air Force Major Arvin Buan of Tactical Operations Group 5-Philippine Air Force conducted an aerial survey to check possible development of new lava dome in the northern part of the volcano aside from the existing dome in the southeast quadrant.

Daep told The Manila Times that they are not discounting the possibility of lava wall collapse in the coming days specifically when the volcano is expected to become more restive.

Mayon is an active stratovolcano and the most active in the country, having erupted more than 50 times in the past 400 years.

Rediscovering Albay

By Margaux Salcedo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Legend has it that Mount Mayon only shows herself to virgins or, as Enderun VP Tricia Tensuan puts it, those who are “pure in heart.”

Folklore also has it that Mayon, named after the mythical beauty “Daragang Magayon” (beautiful maiden), was a virgin of incomparable beauty, and Ulap (the clouds) is her protective lover who covers her so that she cannot be seen by those who are not pure of heart.

We must have been a bus full of virgins when we visited Legazpi upon the invitation of Albay Rep. Joey Salceda because Mt. Mayon not only welcomed us in her full glory as we landed but stayed with us, tip and all, throughout our entire trip, allowing us to enjoy her beauty against two magical sunsets.

Five views

Legazpi is not an uncommon destination for tourists, with Mt. Mayon among the top 10 tourist spots in Luzon. But to see Mayon’s tip is a special sighting, as it is often covered by clouds and fog.

One of the best places from which to behold Mt. Mayon is 5 Views—where you have a view of Mt. Mayon, Mt. Isarog, Mt. Masaraga, Mt. Malinao and Mt. Iriga.

Enjoy the hospitality of Misibis Bay, managed by graduates of Enderun Colleges, for a first class appreciation of the majestic view.

The resort brings guests to 5 Views for sunset cocktails. Colorful bean bags are laid out and you are enticed to be one with nature with a glass of champagne or Prosecco in hand as well as hors d’ouevres to tide you over till dinner.

Note, though, that 5 Views is not exclusive to Misibis; it is open to the public—it’s land that is just sitting there—so you can bring your own poison and picnic bag if you wish! (Although the first-class Misibis pampering may be hard to replicate.)

First class tour

If you are able to visit, try to get a learned tour guide because Albay is not only filled with breathtaking sights but also rich in history and culture.

We were lucky to have been toured by Jun Balde, an award-winning writer and history buff, who gave extensive cultural and historical details as we visited the usual sites: Daraga Church, Cagsawa Ruins Park where we got the obligatory trick shots, Lingñon Hill, and Embarcadero, among other sites. Balde pointed out, among other things, that certain church sections of the Nuestra Señora de la Porteria or Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church, popularly called Daraga Church, established in 1773, like the facade of the church, have been declared as National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines.

Listening to Balde explain how Legazpi promotes and protects its tourism industry. our friend Claire de Leon Papa of Unilab noted, “I am impressed that Albay’s history and natural resources go through the Discovery, Appreciation, Protection and Utilization phases, through the leadership of the local government.”

In a previous interview, Salceda explained that the tourism surge in Bicol was a product not only of hard work but also of resilience, showing that Bicolanos can literally weather the storms. Some storms had wiped out almost half of their crops but this only pushed Bicolanos, led by their local government, to further promote Bicol.

“We made sure that Albay is safe for tourists and traders,” Salceda said.

Then they proceeded to promote Albay as “maganda, maraming magagawa, masaya, masarap ang pagkain, mayaman ang kultura na may bago, na ’pag pumunta ka tiyak may maaalala ka”—beautiful, exciting, fun, with delicious food and rich culture.

What to eat

In food alone, you will not be bored. Being the chili capital of the Philippines, people have added the spice to almost anything, from spicy viands like the Bicol Express to chili ice cream.

At Colonial Grill, which also has a branch at the mall, the chili ice cream becomes a conversation piece as you can choose the spice level.

Level 1 is tolerable, with just a hint of chili. Level 3 means burning your tonsils! It’s quite the conversation piece when anyone dares take on the high levels.

Don’t miss out on eating Tinutungan. Native chicken is cooked in coconut milk (gata) from smoked coconut meat.

If you are looking for the best restaurants, here are Rep. Salceda’s favorites: Bob Marlin’s, Lava Resto, Jasmine, Balak Cena Una and Ysabels. Then, of course, there is the original Colonial Grill (Rizal Avenue, Old Albay District, Legaspi). Aside from tinutungang manok, be sure to order laing (taro leaves and chili cooked in coconut milk), pinangat (taro leaves, chili, meat and coconut milk wrapped in gabi leaves and tied securely with coconut leaf), and Colonial Grill’s ice cream.

Sunset cocktails

For a first class vacation, splurge on Misibis Bay. You are treated to your own villa, some with its own infinity pool so you can see the stretch of the beach, as well as your own private exit to the beach. Depending on the location of your room, you may just spot the Bicol sunrise from your personal pool.

At 5 p.m., enjoy the sunset cruise. A speedboat will bring you from the beach to a cove nearby. If you are lucky, as we were, Mt. Mayon may just join you and you will see the perfectly shaped volcano against a beautiful pink sunset sky during your boat ride to the cove. When you get to the cove, breathe it all in with a glass of champagne or Prosecco and some tapas. Nature trip the Misibis way!

In the evenings, Misibis can set up a beautiful dinner literally on the beach. Perfectly cooked kilawin, traditionally cooked laing, or freshly grilled seafood are all available for the luxurious traveler, with the ambiance made even more memorable by the beautiful live acoustics and vocals by the soft jazz band First String.

Come back

Salceda said, “There are no goodbyes in Albay.” I don’t know if that’s just because it rhymes but it is hard to part with the beauty of Legazpi. One thing’s for sure: You will want to come back! This city is living testament that it is really “more fun in the Philippines!”

For updates on Albay, follow Cong. Joey Salceda on Facebook. Search Joey Sarte Salceda (Constant Kindness).

Misibis Bay, Cagraray Island, Bacacay, Albay Province, Bicol Region, Philippines. For inquiries, call +63917-5991606 or +63 921-4873869. E-mail reservations@misibisbay.com.

More from the author in margauxsalcedo.com Follow @margauxsalcedo on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.

Bicol’s epic legend Ibalong turns 25

(The Standard Lifestyle)

From the dustbins of history to the street theater of Legazpi City is the unfolding saga of Ibalong, Bicol region’s epic legend which has been given a new lease on life through a festival named after it in Albay’s scenic capital city.

Bicol’s biggest non-religious festival, Ibalong Festival is based on indigenous folklore and perhaps the only cultural event in the country, which relives an epic.

Now in its 25th staging, it is a popular recreation of a mid-19th century fragments of 60-stanza epic poem penned by Franciscan friar Bernardino de Melendreras about the ancient civilization of Ibalong or present-day Bicol.

The story is inspired by the oral accounts of Kadunung, a wandering minstrel regarded as the bard of Ibalong for being a fountainhead of indigenous folklore.

Cast in the mold of classic mythologies, Ibalong tells about its three legendary heroes—Baltog, Handyong and Bantong—who, with their supernatural strengths, rid the land of beasts and helped it attain its golden era.

Arriving at various points in history, these warriors who came from a faraway land, vanquished the dreaded beasts, which sowed terror among the populace. Among these dreaded beasts were Tandayag (giant wild boar) and Rabot (a half-man, half beast creature).

Another prominent character is the villain-turned-heroine Oryol, a beautiful half woman-half serpent, that had a change of heart as she fell in love with Handyong and joined his forces to defeat the other monsters of the land.

The legendary heroes later cultivated the land, established a government and a justice system, followed by an age of discovery and invention that helped civilization flourish.

After recounting their heroic exploits, Kadunung suddenly stopped and promised to continue telling the story some other time.

Scholars noted that while the epic appears to be an unfinished story, it is a living legend where the readers can freely continue the saga with their own interpretations of modern-day heroism.

The epic first got into mass exposure in 1895 when editor Wenceslao Retana compiled and annotated the fragments of the poem in the book Archivo del Bibliofilo Filipino.

While the original Spanish manuscripts were lost, fragments copied by Fray Jose Castaño in Breve Noticia are included in the Bibliofilo of Retana published in Madrid, Spain.

The title “Ibalong” was supplied by noted Bicolano essayist Jose Ma. Panganiban, a colleague of Dr. Jose Rizal in the Propaganda Movement, because the original 60 quatrains had no title.

In 1992, the late mayor Imelda Roces staged the maiden edition of the festival to rescue the epic from the dustbins of history and make it a source of pride for the people of the city and the entire Bicolandia.

And when Legazpeños breathe life into a legend, guests can expect an equally legendary celebration with the pomp and pageantry of epic proportions.

In 2013, Ibalong was adapted for the stage as a dance musical at the Cultural Center of the Philippines by playwright Rody Vera and directed by Tuxqs Rutaquio with Carol Bello’s musical direction, as part of Tanghalang Pilipino’s 26th season.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal said that Ibalong Festival puts to the fore Bicol’s rich heritage and resilient character despite the adversities they encounter in life as can be gleaned from the epic’s unfolding story.

He said that in transforming an almost-forgotten legend into a colorful festival, the city has put a visual touch into the epic to make it more understandable by the people.

Rosal noted that the festivity showcases the city’s strides in investment, economic development, governance and tourism.

The festival was held on Aug. 30 where the scenes of the legend were acted out in a street theater competition.

Another highlight was the modern stage adaption of the epic based on CCP’s dance musical shown to the public at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation.

A much-awaited event in the two-week festivity was the star-studded Mutya ng Ibalong on Aug. 24, one of Bicol’s biggest pageants.

Other events were Mt. Mayon Triathlon, a dragonboat race, and an array of socio-civic and cultural activities.

Dubbed as the “City of Fun and Adventure,” Legazpi is one of the country’s top tourist destinations, being the home to Mayon Volcano, the world’s most perfect-cone.

The bustling urban hub is also home to adventure recreational activities such as the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to the Mayon lava watch, jetskiing and scuba diving in Albay Gulf, three ziplines at different parts of the city, and a host of cozy homegrown restaurants that have made Legazpi a culinary capital.

Bicol to host Regional Consultation on Youth Plan for 2017-2022

(MAL/NYC Bicol/PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 9 (PIA) -- At least 54 stakeholders composed of representatives from national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations and youth organizations will gather on Friday next week, Sept. 19, here to take part in regional consultation on the crafting of Philippine Youth Development Plan 2017-2022.

Bicol regional head Nydia Delfin of the National Youth Commission (NYC), stakeholders will provide the inputs and craft p[rovisions to complete the 6-year PYDP which shall provide policy and program direction for the development and participation of the Filipino youth in nation.

“Earlier, NYC chair Aiza Sequerra said the Commission needs to come-up with a coherent and pro-youth PYDP that identifies strategies to effectively address key issues especially those affecting the youth sector," Delfin recalled.

The PYDP 2017-2022, according to her, shall be formulated through a participatory and inclusive approach to identify the following: (a) key issues facing the youth, (b) opportunities enabling conditions, proposed strategies and policies which government, other duty bearers and stakeholders should further create and provide (c) the role of the Filipino youth as rights holders and duty bearers.

“Bringing the PYDP to the grassroots is just the first step in bringing the NYC closer to its clientele. Starting this year, the NYC will be more reachable and accessible for the Filipino youth”. Sequerra added.

The Bicol regional consultation is the seventh leg simultaneously scheduled with Region II among the series of consultations throughout the 18 regions of the country that started last August 31 until October 5, 2016.

Ligao offers new sports tourism site

By Niño N. Luces (Tempo Online)

LIGAO CITY, Albay – One of the most strategic sites for sports tourism, like biking, hiking and camping has been discovered in Ligao City as the local government opened up the Mt. Masaraga as the new tourism site in the province.

Mt. Masaraga is known as the twin mountain of Mayon Volcano, located few kilometers in the North-Western part of the world famous Mt. Mayon and a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS).

Last weekend, the two-day 1st Mayor’s Cup Mt. Masaraga National Enduro Challenge kicked off as 152 participants from different provinces in the country, and even as far as Los Angeles California, in the United States have tried their luck to pedal the 60 degrees slope downhill of the starting point of the race track to meet the shortest time of travel in the 1st stage. Cliff, grassland and water await to them in the 2nd stage as participants describe the track as challenging.

Mayor Patty Gonzales-Alsua said that Mt Masaraga as one of the protected area, sports tourism such as biking, hiking and even camping will promote awareness on how to protect our environment and at the same time provide livelihood through tourism rather than cutting of trees or “kaingin”.

“To make them aware also on how Mt. Masaraga is being protected and at the same time, as we held a small event last year, the participants were very happy of the trail and we further improve it to be more challenging,” Alsua said.

Albay town goes ‘green’ to protect tourism sites

By Nino Luces

Sto. Domingo, Albay – This Albay town has revived its municipal ordinances aimed at protecting its tourism sites.

On Sunday the town launched the “Bayong Day,” a free distribution of “bayong” for market goers as an intention to strengthen the Anti-Plastic Ordinance.

Mayor Herbie Aguas said, at least 200 pieces of bayong were given to residents to be utilized as shopping bags.

“The purpose is to lessen or even stop the use of plastic bags during market days. Waste plastic bags are washed away by floods especially during rainy days,” Aguas said.

He added that the town is abundant of karagumoy (ChlorophoraExcelsa, also known as pandan), the raw material for making bayong and mats. Weaving is a thriving industry in some villages in the province.

“Aside from the regulation of plastic use, we also gave livelihood to farmers to plant and weave karagumoy,” he explained.

Situated at the foot of majestic Mayon volcano, the town boasts of its sparkling black sand beaches where pod of frolicking dolphins may be seen close to shore.

“We really have to do our part in eliminating plastic wastes in our town because our tourism site is at stake. Plastic is harmful to these marine mammals. We stopped blast fishing with the help of our people so I think this is the next best move,” Aguas said.

In 2014, the presence of dolphins attracted more than 50 visitors daily.

Bayong Day is part of the town’s advocacy program dubbed as “Sto. Domingo Goes Green Again.”

The chief executive, including the Sangguniang Bayan officials, non-governmental organizations and other volunteers, moved to San Andres relocation site to plant trees immediately after the launching.

The municipal government also activated the Anti-Smoking Task Group to strictly implement the Anti-Smoking Ordinance prohibiting smoking in all public places in the municipality.

Likewise, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program pursuant to Republic Act 9003 was also launched and turned-over “Eco Padyak” units to every barangay after an orientation on the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy for every stakeholder concerned.

Three years ago, Sto. Domingo partnered with Junior Chamber International Legazpi Chapter in installing the “Coral Genesis Project”, a rosary-themed modern technique in restoring degraded and damaged corals in this resort town, using underwater micro-solar electric power.

Police rescue 2-year-old boy taken hostage inside passenger bus

(Northbound Philippines News Online)

LEGAZPI CITY — Police of Oas, Albay rescued Monday a two-year-old boy taken hostage for around eight hours inside a passenger bus by a man, who used a crumpled mineral water bottle as weapon and forced the bus to stop in Oas town, shortly after midnight.

Senior Insp. Domingo Tapel Jr, Oas police chief, in an interview, said at 8:30 a.m., members of the hostage-negotiating team consisting of the town’s policemen were able to find an opportunity to grab hostage-taker Dakila Bayani Dalanon, 48, from behind his back and extricate from him his hostage, Vince Malabarbas.

investigation showed Dalanon was despondent and facing a rape complaint filed against him by his own daughter when he boarded the Masbate-bound bus that departed from Manila on Sunday evening.

“Dalanon grabbed the child from the grip of his mother, Marlyn, who was seated beside him in the Raymond Bus passenger line before pointing at the face of the child a crushed empty bottle of mineral water which he used as a weapon,” said Tapel.

It was at this point when Dalanon announced the hostage and forced the bus to stop as it was cruising along Maharlika Highway in Barangay Ilaor Norte in Oas town.

Police investigators said both the victim and the suspect are residents of Milagros town in Masbate.

Bicol soldiers join war on terror

By Juan Escandor Jr., Mar S. Arguelles, Delfin T. Mallari Jr. (Inquirer Southern Luzon)

PILI, CAMARINES SUR — Heeding an order from President Duterte to launch a full-scale war on terror groups operating in Mindanao, an Army battalion left here on Saturday to join a massive military operation against members of the Abu Sayyaf and Maute group, which are being held responsible for a series of kidnappings and terror attacks in parts of Mindanao.

Maj. Gen. Manolito Orense, former head of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division and now commanding officer of the military’s Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), would be in Butig, Lanao del Sur province, where the Maute group operates.

He said the Maute group had been a longtime security problem in the Lanao del Sur area. Members of the group have pledged loyalty to the international terrorist group Islamic State (IS).

The Philippine National Police in Bicol was placed on full alert on Saturday in response to the President’s declaration of a state of lawlessness in the country following the bombing in a Davao City night market that killed at least 10 people and wounded scores of others.

Senior Insp. Ma. Luisa Calubaquib, regional PNP spokesperson, said the highest state of alert has been declared in the region, which would put the entire regional police force on 24-hour duty.

The nationwide full alert declaration by Malacañang required all police regional directors, provincial police directors, including hundreds of chiefs of police, to closely supervise and step up security measures in airports, seaports, bus and public utility terminals, malls and public places.

The Maute group had been tagged in a daring raid on the Lanao del Sur provincial jail to spring members of the group that had been detained there. A total of 23 inmates were sprung from the jail during the raid on Aug. 27.

While Abu Sayyaf had issued a denial of involvement in the Davao bombing, authorities are closely looking at the group that is also involved in a spate of kidnappings and beheadings.

Orense said the 49th Infantry Battalion would reinforce the 101st Brigade in providing security in the Lanao area after the raid on the provincial jail in Lanao del Sur.

Orense said the 49th IB was selected for its record in combat, discipline and teamwork. But he admitted that the situation in Mindanao is different from that in Bicol.

Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Quidilla, commanding officer of the 9th ID, called on the people of Southern Luzon to join the condemnation of the terror attack in Davao City.

“We solicit also the support of the local peace and order councils for our quest to have a safe and secure community,” he said.

Calubaquib, quoting a directive from the PNP central office, said all regional and provincial, city, town police units were directed to fortify all police stations, detachments and camps against possible terror attacks.

They were also directed to set up checkpoints and deploy police patrols in public places and areas where people converge. Patrols were also ordered in sites of vital infrastructure installations such as power and communication lines.

Police checkpoints would be set up in all major road networks in the six provinces of Bicol.

While conducting checkpoints, police were ordered to exercise extreme caution and told to coordinate with the military and other agencies.

Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigations here issued a warning to the public to be cautious in going to malls following unconfirmed reports about a possible attack by suicide bombers from Mindanao who are out to sow terror in Legazpi City.

The NBI later lifted the alarm status after it found the report to be a hoax.

The Joint Police Security Coordinating Council (JPSCC) would hold simulation and communication exercises for effective coordinated security measures soon.

Quidilla said the full alert status would not have an impact on the ceasefire with the New People’s Army.

“The AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) shall continue to perform its mandate of protecting the people and the communities through the conduct of security operations focused on the neutralization of threats to national security such as the ASG (Abu Sayyaf Group) and other terrorist groups, and the protection of communities,” Quidilla said.

Quidilla said soldiers would also ensure “the security of government facilities, military camps, development and economic infrastructures and flagship projects against any armed attacks or sabotage.”

He said the military would continue to support law enforcement operations to ensure peace and order in communities in the entire region.

The battalion of soldiers was given departure honors.

Josephine Clamonte, wife of Sgt. Jimmy Clamonte, was holding back her tears during the sendoff ceremony for the 49th IB. She said she was worried because it is the first time her husband is deployed in Mindanao.

“I am used to having my husband deployed somewhere else. But this is different because it is in Mindanao,” Josephine said.

Clamonte’s two sons wept as they embraced their father to say goodbye.

But for Cpl. Michael Babul, the deployment to Mindanao is a blessing in disguise because his family is in nearby Iligan City.

PNP Bicol on full alert, sets up checkpoints in highways and vital installations

(PNA)

LEGAZPI CITY, 4 Sept 2016 — The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol was placed on full alert on Saturday in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration placing the entire country under a “state of lawlessness” after a bomb exploded before midnight on Saturday at a night market area in Davao City.

Sr. Insp. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO5), said the thousand strong police forces in the entire region were placed under 24/7 full alert status.

Calubaquib, quoting a directive from the Philippine National Police (PNP) central headquarters at the National Capital Region (NCR) said all regional as well as provincial, city and town police units were directed to strengthen and fortify all police stations, detachments and camps against possible terrorist attacks in their respective areas.

She said they were directed to “set up checkpoints and deploy police patrols in areas of convergence and vital infrastructure installations such as power and communication lines.”

The nationwide full alert declaration called on the Bicol police regional director, the six provincial police directors in the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes, including the chiefs of police in Bicol’s 108 towns and six cities to “closely supervise and intensify their security measures in airports, seaports, bus and public utility terminals, malls and public places.”

Calubaquib said police checkpoints would be set up in all major road networks in the six provinces of Bicol.

“While conducting checkpoints they were ordered to exercise extreme caution and told to coordinate with the military and other agencies,” she said.

Earlier, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) here issued a warning to the public to be cautious in going to malls following unconfirmed reports about a possible bomb threat by suicide bombers from Mindanao who wanted to sow terror in this premier city.

The NBI, however, later lifted the alarm status after it verified that the report was a hoax.

“The Joint Police Security Coordinating Council or JPSCC would hold simulation and communication exercises for effective coordinated security measures,” added Calubaquib.

Citem commends Albay crafts marketing strides

(BusinessMirror)

The Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, has commended what it described as “impressive strides and gains” Albay has attained in the crafts market. The agency said Albay crafts were in fact a huge hit during the 2016 Manila FAME Artisans Village expo earlier this year at the World Trade Center.

Manila FAME is the country’s premiere design and lifestyle event, which showcases craftsmanship, design innovations and artisanship in Philippine products. Organized by Citem, the expo is attended by local and global buyers and prospectors. Citem Executive Director Rosvi C. Gaetos, in her recent report, praised Albay’s performance during the April 2016 Manila FAME event, where the province registered dramatic sales hikes from their previous October 2015 edition at the SMX Mall of Asia.

The Citem report said Albay’s 13 companies, which participated in the two events have overwhelmingly higher group sales than other group participants from Laguna, Cagayan Valley and Davao Region. The Albay firms include Aim Handicraft, EmEl Mape, Disenio de Craftico, Forcast, JM Handicrafts, Natural Carpet Industry, Ness Crafts, NGC Decor, Prime Legacy, RCB Crafts & Design, Rains Handicrafts, Shelmed Cottage Treasures and Starcrest. The Albayano participants in the Manila FAME were sponsored by Rep. Joey S. Salceda of the Second District of Albay, who was then provincial governor. He encourages local design and craft companies to link up with both global and domestic markets as a means of improving its local economy and tourism.

Albay’s total export sales during the last April event was $603,021, accounting for more than 65 percent of the $922,634 entire sales of the Artisans Village expo. For domestic sales, Gaetos’s report said Albay registered a total of P4,700,760, which was more than 66 percent of the combined entire domestic sales of the event.

Gaetos’s report said Albay’s export sales of $603,021 for the April 2016 event represented a 164.5-percent increase from 2015’s $228,000, while its 2016 domestic sales of P4,700,760 was 550 percent up from 2015’s P723,000. The province’s 2016’s retail sales of P152,900 for the same period was 3,456 percent higher than the previous year’s event of only P4,300. Gaetos attributed Albay’s significant sales hike to intensive product development by the participating firms; their development of 294 new products showcased in April 2016 under the creative direction of PJ Aranador and Rachelle Dagnalan; improved visual merchandising and product labelling; and change in the event’s venue from SMX to World Trade Center, which was more accessible.

Salceda pointed out what he considers as Albay’s more significant achievements during the past two Manila FAME events—the introduction of the local companies to international buyers and the business relationships they are bound to establish, subsequently.

He said Albay’s crafts have played a major role in the province’s tourism industry, largely because their raw materials are endemic to the area, and the products were polished by craftsmanship of local artisans and design talents. Albay is now recognized as the fastest growing tourist destination in the country. It was recently honored as a global “new frontiers destination” by the Pacific Asia Travel Association, after winning its 2015 Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Challenge award.

Albay fisherfolks get BFAR livelihood assistance

(MAL/SAA/BFAR5-PIA5/Albay)

LEGAZPI CITY (PIA) -- The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Bicol has recently turned-over some 50 livelihood assistance packages to fisher folk groups in Albay as part of the agency’s intervention program in ensuring sustainable livelihood among the fishing community in the province.

BFAR Bicol regional director Dennis V. Del Socorro said the assistance aims to improve the livelihood of fisher folks in the province and boost shared efforts in protecting, preserving and managing the sea as a source of life and aquatic resources.

Socorro led the ceremonial turn-over of 50 units of fiber glass non-motorized fishing boats, locally called sibidsibid at Fatima Fish port, Tabaco City.

He furthered that these units are also given in response to the request of Albay 1st District Congressman Edcel Lagman during Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol’s visit in Bicol on July this year.

The fisher folk beneficiaries come from the towns of Malilipot, Malinao, Bacacay, Sto. Domingo, Tiwi and Tabaco City.

Aside from the requested boats, the bureau will also distribute one unit of twin engine motorized boat and 100 units of bottom set gill nets as additional assistance.

Socorro further reminded the recipients to take great care of the assistance being extended to them by the government for their long-term usage. As counterpart, the fisherfolk-beneficiaries will shoulder the accessories of the sibidsibid boats and its maintenance.

Tabaco City Mayor Cielo Krisel Lagman-Luistro lauded the speedy action in granting their request. She also assured their commitment in helping the national government in its goal for sustainable fishing industry through strengthening the campaign against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the municipal level.

Salalima cites ICT as “fast becoming” country’s top dollar earner

(PNA),FPV/GVR/MSA/CBD

LEGAZPI CITY (PNA)--Information and Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima on Tuesday said the information and communication technology (ICT) industry is fast becoming the country’s top dollar earner and its capacity to generate jobs is projected to surpass the big dollar remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OWFs) to the Philippines.

Salalima said the fast growing ICT industry may be attributed to the emergence of hundreds of major players putting up businesses in various capital cities and towns across the country.

He said the “driving forces” of the industry are the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms, software developers, Internet service providers, telecommunication companies and educational institutions.

The BPO industry, which has registered USD19 billion in total revenue in the past year, is expected to grow this year.

According to Pinnacle Real Estate Consulting Services Inc., the BPO industry is expected to further grow this year with “revenues expected to hit USD25 billion.”

The Philippines remains the top destination of BPO firms given the support of educational centers, presence of infrastructure, cost competitiveness and adequate government support given to the industry.

Internet speed

Salalima however said one factor hindering the industry is the slow internet speed given by telecommunications providers to their subscribers.

Statistics indicate that the Philippines is among countries in the world that has a very poor internet service.

Facing the problem on “poor and slow internet speed and services,” Salalima said the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT), which he heads, plans to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with various telecommunication companies to find ways to address the problem.

He said he is optimistic the problem on internet signals and speed will be settled or the government will look for other players who are interested to invest in the telecommunications business.

Salalima also plans to put up free WIFI services in all public places in towns and cities across the country.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte warned telecommunications firms operating in the country that could not give satisfactory service to “shape up” or else he would open the industry to other ICT players.

Salalima, a schoolmate of President Duterte at the San Beda College of Law, is a Bicolano who hails from Polangui, Albay.

He was chief legal counsel and senior advisor of Globe Telecoms Inc. and had served as senior vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs of Ayala Corp. where he was also managing director.

ICT in Albay

In Albay, the ICT industry is becoming a fast growing business with around 20 major players engaged in BPO and software development, data from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Albay showed.

Providing support to the ICTs are seven telecommunication companies (telcos) that provide regular voice/call and GSM/SMS services in the province.

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication, an international telecommunications standard for the transmission of voice and data between cell phones and other mobile devices while SMS is an acronym for Short Message Service or texting.

The seven telcos operating in Albay are PLDT Inc., Smart Communications, Globe Telecom Inc., Southern Telecommunications Co. or SOTELCO, Bicol Telephone amd Telegraph or BTTI and DCTV Cable Network and Broadband Services Inc., also known as DCTV.

As to Internet service providers in the province, they include Globalink, Bicol Web Inc., Digitelone, Globe Telecom Inc./Bayantel, DSL and DCTV.

The educational institutions that provide the BPOs with their manpower requirements are 50 private and one public tertiary schools in Albay. Bicol University, which has six campuses within and outside of Albay, is the public tertiary school being referred to.

Five of the these institutions are fully accredited with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) while the rest are mostly schools offering short-term technical courses, that are accredited by the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or have degree course offerings accredited by CHED.

Data from CHED and TESDA showed that in 2008, there were 22,754 graduates of various degree programs under CHED-accredited schools and universities while 25,863 were TESDA graduates.

“Of this number, only 7,268 graduated from ICT-related subjects,” said the same data from CHED and TESDA.

Rosemarie Rey, president of Albay ICT Association Inc., and head of the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, in an earlier interview, said “the province has a gold mine of talents which can bridge the ICT gap.”

Rey, who is owner of the Southern Luzon Technological College Foundation Inc., said there is a need to further improve the schools’ curricula that will be attuned to the needs of the industry.

“This way it can supply the industry with skilled and professional ICT specialists,” she said.

Hall of fame

Rey said the ICT industry in Albay is moving forward and having a bright future despite the challenges brought by natural calamities that befell the province.

She had previously stated that investors and ICT locators were discouraged to put up their business in Albay because of a wrong notion that the place is calamity-prone because of frequent typhoons, floods and volcanic eruption.

She said another concern that needs to be addressed are the “readiness, adequacy and reliability of infrastructure support facilities, especially the power requirements.”

Rey, however, said this perception changed after Albay and Legazpi City were given the “Gawad Kalasag” hall of fame award by the Department of Interior and Local Government for their Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) efforts and for constantly attaining the “zero casualty” goal during disaster operations.

Rey said the BPO industry is a job generation powerhouse with 5,000 to 8,000 employed in various BPO firms, including the home-based online servers.

She said a call center agent’s monthly salary ranges from PHP10,000 to PHP30,000.

Rey noted the feasibility of doing business in Albay as it is an accredited area of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

She said Albay also offers economical rentals in offices and buildings and the wage is lower than in the National Capital Region.

Rey said the local government also guarantees support by giving tax incentives.

She said that as tax incentives, the province and the city grant the investors with tax holidays for three to four years and also allow tax-free entry of importation.

Rey said with the support of local government units by way of incentives, she expects three to five new players to come in every year.

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