Baguio City News January 2012

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Ube Jam Shortage - Nuns Restrict Purchase to 2 Jars Per Person

By Manila, Philippines (PRWEB)


At the Good Shepherd Convent in Baguio City, a tourist destination and Philippines’ summer capital, Ube Jam is prepared by a group of cooking nuns. There always seems to be an obnoxiously long line at The Shepherd store, where people are allowed to buy a maximum of 2 jars at time. Due to the dessert's increasing popularity among international visitors, the imposed shortage can prove quite a disappointment. However, in the interest of providing foreign guests with in-depth information, including historical background and nutritional value on this Filipino delight, a brand new website called UbeJam.com is up for viewing and even provides recipes for those who love to experiment.

There are two places in the Philippines where Ube jam is made; Baguio, a city north of Luzon, and the home of the Chocolate Hills, Bohol, further to the south. Ube Jam, or otherwise known as Purple Yam, is a Filipino delicacy; though “jam” may not be entirely the right word to describe what it truly is. UbeJam.com is a site dedicated to this exotic dessert made famous in the Philippines and is now live and ready for viewing.

The locals call it Halaya, a word derived from “jalea” or the Spanish for “jelly”. This unusual dessert is often prepared by the elderly, or those who are familiar with the traditional way of preparing it.

Ube, as it is called in Philippines, is a root crop mixed with milk and sugar, so technically it is more of a pudding rather than a jam.

Another tourist destination, Bohol, is famous for its many sights and sounds such as the Chocolate Hills, but equally so, for its purple yam. They say the locals have long perfected their recipes. Tasting ube jam prepared by a Boholano is a guaranteed treat.

UbeJam.com offers more in-depth information on this Filipino delight, including recipes and several of its health benefits.






NCIP joins 4Ps planning workshop in Baguio city

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 30 (PIA)-- The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program(4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ensures that the rights and welfare of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are protected and upheld in its implementation particularly among cultural communities such as the Cordillera region. The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) recently joined the orientation and planning workshop on the Indigenous People’s Agenda under the DSWD-led Pantawid Pamilya. DSWD Cordillera regional director Leonardo Reynoso described the partnership as a milestone in making poverty reduction a personal concern among IP beneficiaries. NCIP officials are expected to become members of the Regional and Provincial Advisory Committees composed of line agencies and local chief executives that oversee the implementation of the program in various levels to ensure that IP concerns are also addressed, Reynoso said. He said that as an agency committed to serve the IP community, the NCIP will be of big help in providing technical assistance and strategy not only for the 4Ps but also for other poverty reduction programs such as the Kalahi-CIDSS and the Sustainable Livelihood. The NCIP Cordillera regional director Sancho Buquing has expressed support to the 4Ps particularly in monitoring the program, validation and verification of program documents, addressing grievances and joining community assemblies. Data shows that some 20,458 of the 25,065 beneficiary households are members of IP groups. There are 14 major ethno-linguistic groups in the Cordillera Administrative Region making it a cultural haven. *(JDP/JBZ PIA)

Festival official: Baguio City to gain at least P1B from Panagbenga

By Maria Elena Gonzalez with Carmela Lapeña /LBG GMA Neww


BAGUIO CITY— Business will be blooming in the summer capital of the Philippines as this year's annual flower festival draws at least a million visitors.

“The City of Baguio is poised to gain around a billion pesos with the Panagbenga 2012 festivities,” said Dangal “Amboy” Guevarra, chief of staff of the Panagbenga 2012-Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc.

Guevarra said the figure is a roughly computed estimate of what the city would earn with the month-long festival, which is a popular tourist attraction.

According to him, “the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation will not earn anything from this but this will be earned by those in the tourism industry related businesses in the city.”

The Department of Tourism estimated that there were over a million visitors during the Street Dancing and Float Parade events of the festivities last year. If at an average, each individual would just spend a thousand pesos for transportation, food, and buying some souvenirs, that would easily convert into a billion pesos of fresh infusion for a day’s activity, explained Guevarra.

Although there are no official figures of how much the city really gains during a festival, Guevarra noted that in the case of the bus company Victory Liner, the festival brings them more than twice their normal volume of passengers.

While the bus company regularly has 80 trips plying the Baguio and Manila route, they add an additional 100 trips during the main events of the festival. "This is only a single bus company we are talking about," he added.

"If the transportation sector experiences a business boom during the festival, so would other businesses such as restaurants, hotels and would trickle down to the cottage industry sector to the simple street vendors," he averred.

According to Guevarra, this event is really a boost to the Baguio economy.

"The BFFI is just here to promote and manage the event, those who actually gain is the community itself," he said.

DPWH assures better road in time for Panagbenga

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 28(PIA)- - Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) Regional Director Edilberto Carrabacan assured better road networks for the city’s visitors in time for the staging of the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2012 this February. He appealed to the public to bear with the inconveniences brought about by the road works. “Our temporary pain will translate to a better road network for Baguio, so I want to appeal to everyone to bear with us,” he said in an interview Thursday during the public forum on ‘Recreating a People- Friendly Session Road’ at the University of Cordilleras. He said that in programming their road projects they have taken in consideration the scheduled events of Baguio, thus the staggered implementation of projects for the city’s road network. He cited the Marcos Highway, which is supposed to be a 120 days project but is now almost complete except for the junctions which they can not work on yet as it will affect the flow of traffic. “We are working double time just to have Marcos Highway practically completed before the major events of Panagbenga. Our initial target is February 18 but the way our contractor is moving we can perhaps completely open the road earlier than the set deadline,” Carrabacan said. “We are trying our best to minimize the inconvenience. In which, if you go around you can see tarpaulins announcing road works, including all the necessary details and we are also giving leaflets to our motorists bearing the same information, so that upon seeing or receiving the information they can outright decide what routes to take to avoid the traffic,” he added. According to Carrabacan, these are some of the schemes they are doing now to pre-empt or avoid heavy traffic jams. “This is a continuous learning experience to the DPWH and we welcome any suggestion. If you think what we are doing is not enough give us a call or write us. Give us your idea. We will entertain them as we are all for a better Baguio”, Carrabacan stressed. Meantime, Carrabacan also disclosed that DPWH is in for a massive infrastructure development in the Cordillera this year. “We have more than P3 Billion appropriations for the whole of Cordillera, which include preventive maintenance and upgrading of roads from gravel to concrete, as it is part of President Aquino’s vision that by 2014, all national primary or arterial roads will all be concreted and by 2016 hopefully all roads are concreted, which will result to a smooth and safe flow, to and from the market place, to improve commerce and the movement of people”, Carrabacan said. For Baguio City, DPWH has 18 road projects which are scheduled for staggered implementation. These include short span asphalting works that are normally done at night. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Baguio city mayor reiterates call for waste segregation, commits to obey SC order on use of Irisan dumpsite

By Lito Dar & Mari Cruz


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 27 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan recently reiterated his call on the citizenry to segregate their garbage. Domogan issued the statement in the wake of a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) issued by the Supreme Court ordering the city to stop dumping garbage at the Irisan Dumpsite as well as using it as a transfer and holding station. Domogan announced that the city will abide by the TEPO assuring that there is no problem complying with the said SC order as the Irisan dumpsite has long been closed and that since 2008, dumping of garbage in the area was already stopped. He added that the city is also no longer using Irisan as a garbage transfer or holding station and that the only operations on-going in the area is the loading of bio-degradable waste to the City’s Environment Recycling System (ERS) machines. It can be recalled that the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite collapsed during typhoon Mina last year causing a trashslide that killed five persons. Domogan again reiterated his call on every city resident to do his obligation and segregate the garbages in their own homes. "If only everybody will cooperate, hindi naman natin magiging masyadong problema iyung garbage. (Garbage will not much be a problem for the city)”, he said. He explained that only bio-degradable garbage will be hauled by the city which will be loaded to the ERS machine for composting, while the recyclable garbage should be brought to the different identified buying stations or Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).He appealed again to the residents to maximize the use of the MRFs which are located in the barangays. Said MRFs are doable approach to solid waste management which is not only environment-friendly but economically viable as well. For the non-biodegradable waste, Domogan explained that it is part of the obligation of Protech Machineries Corporation, the company which provided the city with the ERS machines, to haul such garbages and bring it to their disposal system in the lowlands. He reminded the barangay officials to really monitor those who do not comply with our obligation to segregate for this is punishable under Republic Act No. 9003. Domogan also stressed that the city does not like have any intention to pollute the nearby barangays or municipalities as what happened in the Irisan tragedy. He said the city is much open for any help or suggestions from the neighboring areas as far as the city’s garbage is concerned. (JDP/LD/MC-PIA CAR)

All set for Panagbenga 2012 opening

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) -- It's all systems go for Panagbenga 2012, thus assured officials of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) in a kapihan media forum here yesterday. On February 1, Panagbenga 2012 will formally take-off with a grand opening program at 7:00 a.m.at the Panagbenga Park along Military Cut-off Loop, to be followed by the Drum and Lyre parade and competition. Baguio Cultural Society President Bing Bangaoet, whose group was tapped by the BFFFI to handle and bring in something new to all the parades of Baguio’s Flower Festival, disclosed that there will be 16 contingents from various elementary schools in the city in the drum and lyre competition on the opening day.Each team will showcase different presentation concept, costumes and props. Other highlights of Panagbenga 2012 are: the Market Encounter along Burnham Park which will run from Feb. 1 to March 4; Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom at Melvin Jones on Feb. 11; Handog ng Panagbenga sa Baguio and Fluvial Parade at Burnham Park on Feb. 12; Grand Street Dancing Parade on Feb. 25; Grand Float Parade on Feb. 26; Pony Boys Day on March 2 to 3; and the Session Road in Bloom which will run from Feb. 27 to March 4. More community- led activities are embedded in the five-week celebration.The culminating program and fireworks display are slated on March 4. Strated in 1995, the Panagbenga or Baguio Flower Festival reflects the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras. It has since steadily grown to become one of famous festivals in the country. Panagbenga is a Kankana-ey (local dialect among people from the Mountain Province and Northern part Benguet) term meaning “a season for blossoming.” Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who chairs the BFFFI Executive Committee, has issued an administrative order declaring February 1 as a holiday or no classes on all school levels in Baguio. In the said kapihan, Domogan also affirmed that the city government has allocated P2 million budget for the Baguio Flower Festival, in addition to the P2 million that was also allocated by Congressman Bernardo Vergara for the said festival. Meantime, BFFFI co-chairperson Freddie Alquiros, in the same Kapihan forum, disclosed that the foundation is targetting a P7 Million fund from sponsorships for this year’s staging of Panagbenga. In line with Panagbenga 2012’s theme, ‘Community Convergence for a Sustainable Tourism Growth’, Alquiros called on the citizenry especially to all business owners in the city to support the successful staging of the festival. Afterall, this is our own festival which in one way or another will benefit all of us, he said. BFFFI co-chair Anthony De Leon, general manager of the Baguio Country Club and also the Vice President of the Tourism Congress, called on the public to support in welcoming all visitors and in ensuring their convenience and comfort. He said organizers are expecting about a million visitors to visit the City for the five weeks celebration of Panagbenga 2012. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Baguio court stops BCDA takeover of John Hay

By ABS-CBNnews.com


MANILA, Philippines - The Baguio City regional trial court has barred state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) from taking over the establishments, facilities and administrative offices of its lessee Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) in connection to a dispute between the two due to the latter's unpaid debt.

In a single-page cease-and-desist order dated Jan. 24, Executive Judge Iluminada Cabato said Sobrepeña-led CJHDevCo, the consortium contracted to develop the American rest and recreation center in Baguio, "would suffer grave and irreparable injury" if the BCDA continued with its plan to take over its establishments, including the Camp John Hay Golf Club, the Manor Hotel, Camp John Hay Suites Hotel and its administrative offices.

“Upon consideration of the allegations contained in the present verified complaint in support of the prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order, and it appearing that before the matter could be heard on notice, the plaintiff would suffer grave and irreparable injury, the court hereby orders the defendants BCDA and all other persons acting in their behalf, to cease and desist, for a period of seventy two (72) hours only from date hereof, to restrain the BCDA from committing any act tending to wrest control and/or possession of the leased property or any portions thereof, including improvements thereon, from Camp John Hay Development ,” the order read.

The lower court also enjoined the BCDA and other persons claiming rights to the leased property, “including forceful occupation or ejectment from the leased premises and/or the award of the rights in the leased property to a new entity.”

The Baguio court issued the order after CJHDevCo filed a complaint for mandamus seeking to compel the BCDA to comply with its contractual obligations as stipulated under the 2008 Restructuring Memorandum of Agreement (RMOA), particularly the setting up of the so-called One-Stop Action Center (OSAC), an effective mechanism that would facilitate development of the John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ).

CJHDevCo and the BCDA have been at odds as the former continually defaulted on its lease payments to BCDA for the JHSEZ.

The RMOA was a compromise entered into by the parties, where CJHDevCo agreed to several substantial concessions, including the assumption of “prior rental obligations” amounting to more than P2.69 billion and current rental of P150 million.

In exchange, the BCDA has been mandated to establish the OSAC, which was supposed to facilitate the granting of permits to CJHDevCo and its locators in the JHSEZ.

CJHDevCo is now claiming the absence of a fully functioning OSAC and wants to rescind its contract with the BCDA.

The BCDA, however, said that the OSAC has actually been issuing around 80 permits each year to CJHDevCo, and in instances it could not grant permits to the company, it was because CJHDevCo has not complied with certain requirements.

OFW families, scholars join city’s re-greening effort

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 24 (PIA) -- Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) leaders, families and scholars, in partnership with the Overseas Workers Administration Cordillera Regional Welfare Office (OWWA-CAR) showed their care for the environment as they joined the city’s re-greening effort through a tree-planting and clean-up drive in a tree park here last January 21. The activity was held in a remote part of Burnham Park, along Kisad road near the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Building, which is adopted by Baguio-Benguet Federation of OFWs Returnees and Dependents(BBFORD) as well as other OWWA member OFW families and scholars, for reforestation and maintenance to ensure that the planted trees in the area will survive. OWWA Regional Director Manuela Peña, in an interview, said the activity aims to instill civic consciousness and environment-friendly values to OFWs and their dependents, and it is also in support to city's greening program. “We have here today our (OWWA-CAR) personnel, OFW leaders, including their families and some of our OWWA scholars. Our objective here, aside from supporting the city greening and eco-tourism program, is to campaign against cutting of trees and inculcating good values to our OFWs and their families, by involving them in preserving the environment in this part of the city," Peña stressed. According to Peña, the BBFORD started the move to adopt the said area of Burnham Park in 2010 through a tree-planting activity and that they are there again to show their commitment to sustain what they have started. OWWA scholar Ahmed Abdullah Khayef, a BS Information Technology graduate presently working at Texas Instrument – Baguio, in an interview, expressed his willingness to support the program. “I am happy to be here, to help in such OWWA led environmental program. Even if our parents are working abroad, we are representing them in this activity, which in a way shows our willingness to support other people, in caring for the environmen," he stressed. The activity was monitored by City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) Regreening, reforestation section chief Walter Aguirre. He bared that as the OWWA- led OFW group has shown its commitment to re-green and maintain the tree park, the city government, through their office will prepare a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a formal adoption of the park. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Mayor okays carless Session Road on Jan. 27

By Juliet D. Pilotin


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week approved the temporary closure of Session Road to vehicular traffic on Friday, January 27. The mayor said this is in line with a forum entitled, ‘Recreating People Friendly Session Road’ which will be participated in by residents, students and visitors from Manila. Domogan said, ‘the temporary closure of Session Road during the conduct of the activity will popularize the concept of public space and road sharing.’ ‘This will also entail people to have a feel of the city’s landmark structures so they can appreciate Baguio City as it is,’ he said. The organizers of the activity has lined up an array of events which would spice up the forum at the University of the Cordilleras theater. The main concept would focus on the dream of some stakeholders for a carless Session Road which would in turn be replicated in major cities around the country. The temporary closure will affect the whole stretch of Session Road from its junction with Magsaysay Avenue up to its junction with Fr. Carlo Loop from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The junction of Session Road with Upper Lower Mabini street will be kept open as alternate route for private and public vehicles. Meantime, Domogan also ordered the temporary closure of major roads in and around the Central Business District (CBD) come February for the 17th Panabenga Festival. The South Drive Teachers Camp Gate to Military Cut-off rotunda to Lower Session Road and Harrison Road will be closed on February 1, 25, and 26 from 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the Flower Festival Opening parade, Grand Street parade, and Grand Float Parade. Upper Session Road (SM rotunda to Mercury Drug of Malcolm Square) to include roads and backstreets intersecting Session Road and Gov. Pack Road will also be closed on February 28 to March 6 midnight for the Session Road in Bloom. (PIA CAR/PR-Baguio City PIO)

Mayor to call for dialogue on tree-cutting issue

By Aileen Refuerzo


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan Wednesday bared plans to broker a dialogue on the SM Baguio tree-cutting issue which continued to heat up amid snowballing opposition that started in a popular social networking site and which spread on the streets with a mass rally staged by environmental groups last Friday. In his Ugnayang Panlungsod press briefing, the mayor said the city will schedule a public consultation to give opportunity to both sides to come face-to-face to air their sentiments and clarify issues on SM’s expansion project that will entail the clearing of trees at its newly acquired property adjacent to the mall’s present site in Luneta Hill. “Hopefully during the hearing, SM will listen to the sentiments of those opposing the project and the opposition will likewise take into consideration SM’s viewpoint,” the mayor said. He said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) representatives will also be invited to also explain its issuance of the permit “to cut, ball or prune” a total of 182 trees within the planned expansion site of the mall. The mayor clarified that it was the DENR that issued the said permit along with the Environmental Clearance Certification (ECC) for the expansion project. "When the matter came to our office, the plans have been made complete with the DENR permit and the ECC,” the mayor said. He said the lot was sold to SM by the national government as approved by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III and therefore is now a private property of the retail giant. “We cannot just stop the plan of SM because under our laws, they have their rights as private owner of that property and moreover, they were able to secure the necessary permits from the proper agency,” the mayor said. Described by SM management as “green development,” the project will involve the construction of another seven-story building with a new parking facility, roof garden and rainwater collection system. In a press statement, SM clarified that they will not cut any tree in the area and instead will undertake “balling out” of some trees to be replanted within the SM property under the supervision of tree balling experts to ensure survival of the trees. “In addition, rather than merely complying with the stipulation that we plant 20 saplings for every tree balled out, we decided to go beyond this requirement, and have increased this to 50 saplings for every tree we will transfer,” SM said. Oppositionists to the project led by Cordillera Ecological Center director Dr. Michael Bengwayan who drummed up support to an on-line petition against the issue denounced SM’s plan as anti-environment and anti-people. They questioned the reliability of the earth-balling technique which they said does not guarantee the survivability of the trees. Protesters, Friday, showed force, drawing in massive participation during the rally dubbed “Occupy SM Baguio” to dramatize their objection to the plan. The on-line petition started in Facebook was said to have gone viral and has gathered more than 4,000 signatures as of press time.(PIA-CAR/ A Refuerzo –Baguio City PIO)

5,300 Cordi youth set to benefit from SPES program

By PIA Press Release


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 21(PIA) -- More poor but deserving students are set to benefit from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE-CAR) Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) for this year. According to DOLE-CAR Regional Director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez, from the P8 million SPES budget for Cordillera in 2011, budget allocation for this year is increased to P30 Million, which from the 4,000 beneficiaries of the program in 2011, the target beneficiaries for this year also increase to 5,300. “Encouraging poor but deserving students or out of school youth (OSYs) to participate in the SPES program would mean giving them the opportunity not only to raise money for their education but most importantly preparing them or exposing them to actual work situation”, Rodriguez said. “Through the program, the student beneficiaries while working will be able to acquire basic skills and work experiences and at the same time, may learn the aspect of values formation and work appreciation,” he added. Rodriguez also encouraged interested youths to visit the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in their respective areas to enlist or inquire about the SPES program. DOLE-CAR’s target beneficiaries are distributed as follows: Abra, 685; Apayao, 265; Benguet, 1,459; Baguio City, 1,459; Ifugao, 477; Kalinga, 478, and Mt. Province, 477. Under the SPES, an employment facilitation program of DOLE, partner employers, may it be a local government unit or private establishment, pays 60 percent of the students wage while the remaining 40 percent will be shouldered by DOLE. As for qualification requirement, any student or youth applicant to the program should be at least 15 years of age but not more than 25 years old; enrolled or intending to enroll in any educational institution for secondary, tertiary or technical-vocation education and must also have a good standing or an average passing grade in the last semester or last school year attended ; and whose combined net income after tax of parents does not exceed the poverty threshold for a family of six in CAR or P117, 318.00 per annum. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Protesters insist trees will suffer

By JM Agreda


PROTESTERS scheduled to march down Session Road Friday lambasted SM’s recent statement claiming it will not cut 182 trees during its mall expansion and instead transfer the trees to other locations.

Environmentalist Michael Bengwayan said the earth-balling process is also a death sentence to Alnus and pine trees that will be affected by the expansion.

Bengwayan stressed the low survival rate of past pine tree earth-balled in the city even with Department of Environment and Natural Resources having monitored the activity.

In Camp John Hay alone sometime in 1990s, Benwayan said, out of the 475 pine trees transferred, only 17 percent survived. The trees that survived, he said, are either sick or are in the brink of dying too.

This is because a tree with a diameter of more than 15 centimeters has less chance for survival, he said.

“They are subjected to stress-related problems due to tremendous root loss when dug. This condition, commonly called transplant shock, results in increased vulnerability to drought, insects, diseases and other problems,” he said.

The environmentalist said transplant shock lasts until the natural balance between the root system and the top or crown of the transplanted tree is restored.

“Old trees do not survive, most die during this root establishment period. A tree’s chance of survival can be drastically improved through practices that favor establishment of the root system. This involves regular care during the first three years following transplanting,” he added.

Aside from shock, trees will also experience nutrient and water deprivation as roots are often destroyed during the transplant process, he said.

Bengwayan and leaders of groups joining the rally Friday promised to keep their protest peaceful and an enlightening experience to city residents who are still not aware of the negative effects of tree cutting.

Aside from the effects on trees, the group reiterated the effect of earth balling of trees to the overall environment in the Luneta Hill area.

The trees, he said, have been effective carbon sinks protecting the area from pollutants produced by the nearby bus terminal and high-traffic area while more concrete structures will only cause heat island effect.

He added the trees have been effective in preventing flooding in the area when it rains, noting the artificial water reservoir to be built by the mall can only hold as much water to its capacity while excess water will only flow down to the city center.

After the rally, the group said they are willing to have a dialogue with mall officials, including city and environmental officials whom they alleged to have kept mum on the issue and allowed the destruction of the few remaining green patches in the city.

DOH advocates healthy lifestyle for cancer prevention

By Carlito C. Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) -- In line with country’s observance of National Cancer Awareness Week from January 18 to 22, the Department of Health (DOH-CAR) reiterated to the public its healthy lifestyle campaign as an effective preventive measure against cancer. DOH-CAR consultant Dr. Jennifer Balatian, an oncologist of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), in a kapihan forum Wednesday, explained that the health department’s thrust focuses on prevention. “Prevention is really better than treatment as aside from the life that would be saved, it would also save possible patients from expensive cancer treatment. Though, we at the BGHMC has the capability to manage cancer cases in terms of facility and health experts, we still promote healthy lifestyle for cancer prevention”, Balatian said. According to Balatian, cancer remains among the top causes of mortality and morbidity in the country. At the BGHMC , it ranks 10th among the medical cases received and 7th among the leading cause of death. Dr. Jasmin Igama, also an oncologist of BGHMC, shared that of the cancer cases they have handled, only one one-third of the caees are hereditary while two-thirds are lifestyle-related. Thus, she is pushing for a more intensified advocacy campaign against cancer through healthy lifestyle. The Healthy Lifestyle advocacy campaign of the DOH includes seven healthy practices which are: no smoking; do not drink alcohol; no to illegal drugs; keep low salt, low fat diet; prevention of hypertension; do physical exercise or activity; and manage stress. According to Igama, though there is better public awareness now, there is a need to do more for the prevention and early detection as many of the cancer cases they are receiving are already in stage three and four. She is also urging for stricter implementation of laws particularly those those involving anti-smoking as she affirmed that lung cancer still remains as the top kind of cancer in the country. Based on DOH data, lung cancer is followed by breast, colon, rectal and liver cancer. Igama expressed concern that lung cancer may soon overtake breast cancer as the top cancer among women since smoking is becoming more prevalent among female including young girls. With most of cancer cases related to tobacco smoking, Igama reiterated the importance for the public to join the advocacy especially for parents to be role models in their own homes.(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

City gives police P35M, jail P8M

By Aure Galacgac


THE CITY Council has initially approved the 2012 budget of at least 18 departments of the Baguio City Government that include the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) with P35 million.

Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas, City Council presiding officer, said Baguio could operate with more than P1-billion budget this year.

He said the amount will be earmarked for priority concerns of the city like peace and order, health, environment protection and other basic services to the people.

Fariñas said the Baguio City Jail will receive P8 million, and those of the courts, public attorney’s office, city library, city health, City Prosecutor’s Office and several others.

The vice mayor said the council has also approved a P15-million budget for the City Veterinary Office.

“Those with deferred hearings include the City Environment and Parks Management Office as we have to go to every detail of what that office would do in the improvement of our parks and more importantly the management of solid wastes,” Fariñas said.

Waste management and sanitation are now a primordial concern of Baguio due to its pending case for “Writ of Kalikasan” in the Supreme Court.

The case was triggered by the death of five residents in Barangay Irisan when they were hit by a trash slide from the open dumpsite which was closed since 2008.

JHMC stresses support to Baguio city’s tourism, environment preservation

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 17 (PIA) - - The John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) stressed its support to boost the city’s tourism and at the same time to help in the protection and preservation of the city’s remaining forest reserve. This was affirmed by JHMC President and CEO Jamie Eloise Agbayani, during the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR)- led Regional Tourism Conference here last week. According to Agbayani, JHMC is set to implement a Medium Term Development Plan for Camp John Hay starting this 2012 whose primary objective is to help boost the city’s tourism by putting in more attractions inside the camp for both local and foreign visitors. “We would like to bring more visitors including the city folks inside Camp John Hay,” Agbayani stressed. First on the JHMC’s agenda is the rehabilitation of the camp’s Historical Core, which according to Agbayani, is the soul of Camp John Hay and one of the remaining original American architecture inside the camp. “We are going to rehabilitate the core and we will put in activities such as arts festivals and concerts. I have already talked to the academe to help in bringing in the Cordillera culture, hoping to preserve such culture, not only by educating the tourists but the youth and the locals as well,” Agbayani added. She also disclosed other agro-forestry project through a partnership with Canadian company, Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee. “We are going to plant coffee on about 60 hectare area inside the camp, which somehow would also help in reforestation effort of the city”, Agbayani said. For other environmental projects, Agbayani said the JHMC is also pushing for renewable energy. It will be upgrading the mini-hydro inside the John Hay reservation which would not only benefit the camp but the city as well. The said mini-hydro which was built by the Americans is a 500kw power plant, but according to the initial studies made by JHMC’s proponent, it can be upgraded to 3.8 Mwatts which could be shared to the city as the camp’s energy requirement is only about 1.5 Mwatts. Agbayani, in an interview, also dismissed the issue that there is an indiscriminate cutting of trees inside Camp John Hay. He stressed that they have close coordination with the city government through Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Clarence Baguio as far as monitoring and overseeing tree cutting inside the camp is concerned. Agbayani outlined the five-point development plan for JHMC to include IT Service Export Processing Zone; Medical Tourism Zone; Educational Tourism Zone; Sports and Recreation Centers; and Eco Cultural Tourism.(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

New NSO online query system to open in Local Civil Registry Offices

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- After four-months of pilot testing, the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) OnDDot Query Service (ODDQS) will now be shared to the different Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) nationwide. The ODDQS is a web or internet based service system which provides the latest status of transactions paid at any Census Serbilis Outlet and forwarded to the Civil Registration Department of NSO in Quezon City. Such service facility applies to all documents that are endorsed bearing the effects of court decrees, legal instruments, supplemental reports and/or other laws that affect the status of any individual. Thus the system includes legitimation, acknowledgement, adoption, annulment, nullity of marriage, clerical error, change of first name and other legal instruments/court decrees affecting an individual’s civil status. NSO Regional Director Olivia Gulla, in an interview stressed that the ODDQS, which will be implemented here in Cordillera starting February 1, will allow all civil registrars or LCROs to directly inquire or access the status of client’s request in their respective areas. “This new system or service is also a remedial measure to de-clog any NSO outlet or service area of the increasing number of clients and will also partly solve the human resource constraints that is currently besetting our regional office”, Gulla stressed. “With ODDQS, local civil registrars shall have the option to directly submit their requests to the Office of the Civil Registrar General at the NSO Quezon City Office or through the NSO Provincial Office in their areas for endorsement of such request for priority loading”, Gulla added. According to Gulla, to access the ODDQS, each LCRO is required to register online for better monitoring and usage assessment of the said query system. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)






Uniforms for drivers and conductors to be enforced

By Julie Fianza


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 15 (PIA) -- A uniform system shall be required of all drivers, conductors and inspectors of all utility vehicles plying their routes in the city, as issued in Administrative Order 008, 2012 of Mayor Mauricio Domogan. This is in compliance with the Baguio Tourism Summit and to the Memorandum Order of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that Public Utility Vehicle operators provide the required uniforms for their personnel while on duty. Thus, after deliberation by the TTMC and as approved, all drivers, conductors and inspectors of PUVs in the city should be in their uniforms on scheduled days. As to standards PUJs in the city are composed of four trunk lines, with their respective uniforms. Green Trunklines are for Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Loakan Road. Drivers’ uniform for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (MWF) shall be light blue t-shirt with collar and for Tuesdays, Thursdays (TTS) and Saturdays, green shirt with collar. Yellow Trunklines are for Naguilian Road or Quirino Highway and Asin Road. Drivers shall use when plying their routes on MWF, light blue t-shirt with collar, while during TTS, yellow shirt with collar. Blue Trunklines are for Trinidad, Halsema Highway, Rimando Road, Aurora Hill, Bonifacio Road, and Trancoville-Magsaysay Road. Drivers’ uniform shall be light blue t-shirt with collar for MWF, and for TTS, white shirt with collar. Red Trunklines are for Leonard Wood Road, Itogon, Binga, Ambuklao Road and South Drive. MWF uniform shall be same as the other trunk line route drivers, light blue t-shirt with collar, while on TTS, red shirt with collar. All the drivers shall use casual or Sunday attire during Sundays. Van and utility van express drivers, taxi drivers, school service, tourist transport and shuttle service drivers should wear during MWF, short sleeve white polo or white t-shirt with collar. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, van and UV express drivers shall use green shirt with collar while taxi drivers shall use red shirt with collar. School service drivers, tourist transport drivers and shuttle service drivers shall use yellow shirt with collar, on mentioned days. Trucks for hire drivers are also required to be in maroon shirt with collar from Mondays to Sundays, every trip, while drivers-conductors and inspectors of public utility buses shall wear white polo uniform, short sleeves bearing the name of the driver, conductor or inspector and logo of the company/business name, if applicable. Drivers, conductors and inspectors should wear long pants of any color and shoes. Slippers, sandals, short pants and sando are not allowed. All drivers are required to sport proper haircut and project a wholly hygienic appearance. They should also possess at all times their Department of Transportation and Communication-LTFRB identification card, with seatbelt, and with early warning devices. The Traffic Management Branch of the Baguio City Police Office (TMB-BCPO), as authorized, shall enforce the AO. As stated, the AO shall take effect immediately. (PIA CAR-JF Baguio City PIO)

‘Sagip Buhay’ bloodletting set on Jan 21

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 14 (PIA) -- A mass bloodletting donation activity dubbed “Tambalang Sagip Buhay, Karamay Habang Buhay Part III” will be conducted at the city’s Malcolm Square on Saturday, January 21. Now on its third staging, the activity is in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) - Baguio and E Carta Media Production and Promotions, Z Radio, and other agencies. “Blood is life, that is why I call all able bodied people to come and donate blood. Who knows, the life you’re saving might be a friend or a relative,” said Eddie Carta, a board member of the PRC-Baguio Chapter. We saw the success and the eagerness of the people to help by donating blood with the first and second Tambalang Sagip Buhay last year, Carta said. ‘We hope we have more blood donors, volunteers, and sponsors to support this worthy cause,” he added. Annie Tamayo, PRC-Baguio administrator, said the donated blood will help a lot of patients especially with dengue cases needing blood. With the third Tambalang Sagip Buhay, we are asking the usual support of everyone, Tamayo said. She again clarified that PRC is not selling blood; what is being charged are the processing and laboratory fee in screening the blood.(JDP/JBZ-PIA CAR)

DOT targets to bring in 10-M foreign tourists by 2016'

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- To become the ‘must experience’ destination in Asia is the strategic vision of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) National Tourism Development Plan 2011 to 2016 as it targets to bring in 10 million tourist to the Philippines. This was shared by DOT Regional Director Purificacion Molintas during the Regional Tourism Summit held at Hotel Supreme here, Wednesday, that was attended by various local chief executives, government line agency officials and multi-sectoral leaders from various parts of the region. According to Molintas, the goal for such vision is to develop an environmentally and socially responsible tourism industry that delivers more widely distributed income and employment opportunities targeting 6.62 million international arrivals and 34.78 million domestic travellers by 2016, contributing 6.78% to Gross Domestic Product and directly employing 6.6 million people. “The goal set by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez is to bring in a minimum of six up to a maximum of 10 million foreign tourists in the country by 2016,” Molintas said. She also disclosed that they are now converging their programs with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for the fast development of infrastructures particularly roads leading to key tourist destinations and the improvement of all airports that would link such destinations to other parts of the country and abroad. Included in the development plan are 21 strategic thematic tourism destination clusters, covering 77 Tourism Development Areas, in Northern, Central and Southern Philippines. Molintas also reported that they have initially set eight tourism products to promote namely nature based, cultural, sun and beach, shopping, leisure and entertainment, MICE (Meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition), health and wellness, cruise and nautical tourism. As part of efforts to promote the country as a must experience destination, Molintas also confirmed that DOT has already set a new international campaign slogan, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” She also reported that 2011 was good year for tourism with more than 3.5 million foreign tourists visiting the country from January to November of last year which showed a 12.66 increase compared to the 3.12 million foreign tourists recorder during the same period in 2010. Other speakers invited in the said Tourism Congress were John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) President and CEO Jamie Louise Manzano-Agbayani, Mountain Province Congressman Maximo Dalog Sr. who chairs the North Quad Special House Committee, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Area Manager II Ronald Estabillo, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-CAR) Regional Director Edilberto Carabaccan and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) consultant Atty. Niño Aquino.(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Mayor assures road repairs causing traffic jams in Baguio to be finished before 'Panagbenga'

By (PNA)

FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) - Mayor Mauricio Domogan Thursday assured that hundreds of expected visitors next month for the Baguio Flower Festival or "Panagbenga" will not experience the present long traffic jams here.

The mayor said the contractor of the repair of the Marcos Highway with a project cost of P20 million assured that the work will be finished before February 1.

The massive road and drainage repairs here since July last year, which cost the government hundreds of millions of pesos, was programmed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to give Baguio roads international standards.

"Smooth traffic flow here is indispensable if we do not allow our flower festival visitors to suffer from inconveniences," Domogan said.

The festival is the yearly biggest event in the city drawing an average of one million visitors since 14 years ago.

"Panagbenga" not only benefited farmers who can sell their tons of fresh flowers grown in their farms and terraces but also the tourism-oriented establishments in this city.

2 million tourists expected in 2012

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO City Tourism Officer Benedicto Alhambra expressed optimism at the start of the year, saying Baguio will surpass its 1.7 million tourist arrival target last year.

This is despite a 10 percent decrease in foreign tourist arrivals which the city experienced in 2011 after foreign tourists, particularly those coming from Europe, decreased due to economic slowdown in Western countries.

But despite this slowdown in foreign tourist arrivals, Alhambra said this was complemented by a high domestic tourist arrival which made the city hit 1.7 million target tourists after culling reports from hotels, inns and other accommodations in the city.

Alhambra said with additional data coming from other forms of accommodations like transient houses, dormitories, boarding houses and convents, which housed some of the tourists, the tourism office was able to get a good database of tourist arrivals compared to the previous years.

He said tourist arrivals in the city primarily rely on hotel bookings which do not entirely depict the tourist arrivals in the city.

He also reported a sudden surge of tourist arrivals in the last week of the year where tourists estimated to be around 200,000 who have spent colder nights in the city’s tourist spots.

But the tourism officer said the city should work hard to stay on target by offering something new to tourists.

In the budget deliberations this year, the city tourism office will receive an additional P3-million budget from its previous budget of P5 million as part of the city’s thrusts to improve tourist arrivals by conducting more events and activities that would encourage tourists to visit the Summer Capital.

CAR tops NSO survey on average business, industry revenue and profit

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) posted the highest in terms of average revenue and profit per establishment based on the result of the nationwide 2009 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) recently presented by the National Statistics Office (NSO-CAR). In the 2009 ASPBI result presented by NSO Regional Director Olivia Gulla, Cordillera topped other regions as far as average revenue per establishment is concerned with P662 Million, followed by CALABARZON and Eastern Visayas regions at P556 million and P434 million, respectively. Cordillera again topped all other regions in the average profit per establishment with P336 million, followed by MIMAROPA and Eastern Visayas at P218 million and P115 million, respectively. According to Gulla, in the said survey, for Cordillera businesses and industries, manufacturing is the highest in terms of total employment, total revenue, revenue per worker, value added per worker, average revenue and profit per establishment, as well as profit margin. On per total value added and average number of workers, Gulla also disclosed that mining and quarrying still top in the region while for the most number of establishments is the sector of hotel and restaurants. Despite the global financial crisis in 2009, the said ASPBI result still shows an increasing trend, as far as the number of businesses and industries in the country and the employment they produce. Based on the 2009 ASPBI results, the total number of business establishments and industries in the Philippines grew to 23,941 from 21,572 in 2008, which also resulted to an increase in employment by four percent or to 2,970,640 in 2009 compared to the 2,862,621 total employment that were recorded in 2008. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also affirmed an increasing trend in employment opportunities in the country. In a recent statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz reported that the 2011 full-year employment in the country grew by 3.2 percent compared a year ago, with the increase equivalent to 1.156 million in new employment generated. Baldoz also gladly reported that the country’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.4 percent in 2010 to only seven percent last year. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

20M rehab of portion of Marcos Highway ongoing

By (PNA)

LDV/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Monday assured that the P20-million rehabilitation project of a portion of Marcos Highway will be finished in one month.

This is in time for the arrival of expected hundreds of visitors for the month-long flower festival in February.

Baguio district engineer Ireneo Gallato said the contractor's capability to meet deadlines was shown so many times here especially in the recent completion of the Bokawkan Road which connects Halsema Highway to the central business district.

Gallato made the assurance after the transport sector complained of frequent heavy traffic in the area.

He said "as a lesson learned last year, only the contractors who can accomplish projects in accordance with approved work plans shall be given infrastructure contracts here."

The slow pace of work in the repair of the portion of Naguilian Road last year was criticized to have slowed down not only traffic flow but also the arrival of tourists from lowland provinces in northern Luzon.

Gallato added the strict standards shall be imposed in the other 17 infrastructure projects.





Business permit renewals made simpler

By Julie Fianza/Baguio City PIO


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 7 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week issued Administrative Order 002, series of 2012, enforcing a simpler method for the processing of business permit renewals at city hall. “There is an urgent appeal by taxpayers to accelerate the pace of processing business permits,” the AO states. Thus, a streaming of procedure of processing business permit renewal is enforced; where only the sanitary permit, barangay clearance, clearance from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) and certification of payment of taxes is required. The business permit from the CTO may then be secured. Other requirements for the completion of validity of a business permit; clearances from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) should be secured after the issuance of the permit. Closure of the business establishment may be pursued if said documents are not acquired, the AO further states. The said procedure was sought as it was learned that taxpayers are discouraged from processing their business permits as they experience difficulties acquiring clearances from other government agencies. Earlier also, the mayor issued another administrative order prohibiting city employees from interceding or working out business permits unless they are directly involved in the processing of said permit in their respective offices. “To avoid favoritism and ensure fairness in the application for new, or renewal of business permits,” “no employees shall intercede and/or hand carry in behalf of any applicant/permittee for issuance of new, or renewal of, business.” Administrative sanctions would be meted out for violators; reprimand for the first offense, suspension for one to 30 days, and dismissal for the third offense. Business permit processing and payment of real property taxes without penalty have started on the first day of working day of 2012 and shall go on until March. Percentage discounts shall be granted to early taxpayers. (PIA CAR/JGF-Baguio City PIO)

Cordillera firecracker and stray bullets victims rise 5 days after revelries - DOH

By (PNA)

LAP/AAG/AAGalacgac


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) - The Department of Health (DOH) said Friday the firecracker and stray bullet victims in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) rose five days after the New Year revelries, to the dismay of health workers.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, DOH-CAR regional director said there is now a total of 52 firecracker and pyrotechnics victims and three victims of stray bullets.

"Abra Province has the most number of firecracker and pyrotechnics injuries with a total of 23 and two victims of astray bullets mostly in the capital town of Bangued," she said.

Other areas where firecracker and fireworks injuries happened were: Baguio City, 13; Kalinga, five; Mountain Province, four; Benguet, three; Apayao, two and Ifugao, two.

"I hope that the statistics of injuries as of today would be the last. But we will have until January 8 to monitor and count just like last year," Cabotaje said.

She said the DOH "Goodbye Paputok" with the help of the media, barangay and other local leaders and local health workers not only assisted the victims but was also instrumental to CAR achieving a reduction of some 36 percent in the number of victims.

Records show that in 2010, a total of 96 people were victims of similar injuries compared to 2011's 52.





Gov assures enough flowers and vegetables for Panagbenga 2012

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 5 (PIA) -- There will be enough supply of flowers and vegetables in time for the staging of Panagbenga 2012 come February. This was assured by Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, in a kapihan forum here, Wednesday. According to Fongwan, as early as mid-December, Benguet flower growers particularly in the municipality of La Trinidad, have already been timing their planting to assure enough harvest in time for the opening of Baguio’s Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2012 next month. Fongwan also stressed that Benguet has been the major supplier of flowers for the Panagbenga season and though Panagbenga is an event of Baguio, indirectly it is also benefitting the province especially the flower growers due to peak in the demand for flowers. For the Benguet vegetables, which are among the favorite ‘pasalubong’ of tourists visiting Baguio and the nearby municipalities of Benguet, Fongwan also assured that enough supplies are now available in the market. “Last month or just this December, Benguet’s vegetable industry has already recovered from the damages brought by the typhoons that hit the region; supply has already matched the needed demand. This January, the price of some of Benguet’s temperate vegetables are now even getting lower as there are more supply being produce compared to the demand,” Fongwan explained. Meantime, Fongwan also affirmed the willingness of the province to join and support Panagbenga 2012, as tourism is also among the major industries that the province is pushing for. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Baguio records 9.8-degree temp

By Dexter See


January 4, 2011, 5:20pm BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Local residents and tourists are now enjoying the chilly mornings in this mountain resort city following the continuous drop of the prevailing temperature in the country’s Summer Capital.

For the first four days of the year, the city experienced drops in temperature, with the lowest, 9.8-degree Celsius, recorded at around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) This was 0.2 degrees Celsius lower than the 10 degrees Celsius recorded on Monday morning.

During New Year’s Day, the coldest temperature was 12.8 degrees Celsius before it registered at 11 degrees Celsius on January 2, 2011.

The lowest temperature recorded in the city was 6.3 degrees Celsius which was registered by PAGASA on January 18, 1961 while the fifth lowest temperature was recorded by the weather bureau on January 15, 2009 which was at 7.5 degrees Celsius.

After dropping during the early mornings, the city temperature warms during the day with the warmest recorded from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius before it again drops during the late afternoon and early evenings between 17 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Businesses and industries are growing - NSO

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 4 (PIA) -- The total number of business establishments and industries in the country including the Cordillera Administrative Region continues to grow. Thus reported National Statistics Office (NSO) regional director Olivia Gulla during the presentation of the preliminary results of the 2009 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) at the Pines View Hotel here recently. Based on the 2009 survey, the total number of business establishments and industries in the Philippines grew to 23,941 from 21,572 in 2008. In the Cordillera, it grew to 240 from the 233 recorded in the 2008 ASPBI. The Hotel and Restaurants and Education sectors recorded increasing trend by 17 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Gulla also reported that the increase in the number of establishments also resulted in the increase in employment. Nationwide, based on the survey, employment increased by four percent or to 2,970,640 in 2009 compared to the 2,862,621 total employment, recorded in 2008. For Cordillera, an 11 percent increase in employment was also noted in the 2009 ASPBI. From 27,436 in 2008, it grew to 30,378 in 2009, with manufacturing and real estate, renting and business activities sectors leading the way with 15 percent and 24 percent increase, respectively. As per revenue, the country posted a five percent increase from P7.5 trillion in 2008 to P7.9 trillion in 2009, with the manufacturing sector posting the highest revenue at P3.3 trillion. For Cordillera though, the global financial crisis has somehow caught up in the region as revenue decreased by 18.3 percent from P195 billion in 2008 to P159 billion in 2009, with manufacturing decreasing by 21 percent and mining and quarrying showed an 18 percent decrease in revenue. According to Gulla, the ASPBI is a continuing activity of NSO which aims to provide key measures on the performance, levels, structure, and trends of economic activities in the entire country. ‘The data collected from the ASPBI will constitute bases upon which the government and the private sector can formulate policies and evolve economic development plans,’ Gulla added. The 2009 ASPBI data is now posted at the NSO website – www.nso.gov.ph. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Saving the Cordillera watershed thru PES

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 3(PIA) -- There is an urgent need to revive and to sustain the source of water which is necessity for the survival of all living creatures that include human, plants and animals. Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Marilyn Sta. Catalina said one of the ways to address this is through the Payment for Environmental and Ecological Services (PES) which is especially created to ensure financial sustainability and support to community watershed management initiatives. Watershed management in the Cordillera region is a struggle with a large portion of its mountains is denuded causing problems on the environment. With the rapid deterioration of natural resources in the country, the remaining forest areas and other potential natural resources should be protected, preserved and conserved, Sta. Catalina explained. The PES technology carries out two principles. These are payment for environmental-ecological services if you benefit from them and payment to those land owners-stewards whose natural capital produces the services. The implementation follows the following steps: establish a baseline which is essential to plan and later assessment for PES; identify the product or service that will be transacted; identify the service provider which covers the determining of property rights on the production system for the product or service; identify the beneficiaries; agree on the mechanism of transaction; agree on the mode of payment; determine need for mediator and identify roles; identify constraints to sustainability of transactions and lastly define and institute a conflict resolution mechanism, Sta Catalina explained. Through PES, financial sustainability for watershed management could be attained and reviving watersheds is not too far from reach, Sta Catalina added. *(JDP/JBZ-PIA CAR)

DOH says APIR a success in CAR

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 2(PIA) -- “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR)" toward a safe holiday celebration campaign is a success, the Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordillera reported. Initial record shows from December 21, 2011 to January 2, 2012, listed were 36 cases injuries compared to 82 cases of the same period last year or a 56% drop on wounded individuals. According to Dr. Myrna Cabotage, regional director of DOH-Center for Health Development, the public is slowly learning its lesson on the dangers of firecrackers. She said the province of Abra has the highest number of injuries with 13, followed by Baguio City with 10, Kalinga, 4; Mt. Province, 3; Benguet 2, Apayao, 2 and Ifugao, 2. The age of those affected is from six years old to 14 years old. There are more males with 32 and four females, Cabotaje explained. The firecrackers that inflicted inhuries are piccolo, kwitis, pla-pla, luces, five star, fountain, whistle bomb, baby rocket and watusi, Cabotaje said. We would like to thank the local government units for their support for the APIR campaign, our office will continue advocating “iwas paputok” and hope there will be zero injury in the years to come, Cabotaje added. (JDP/JBZ PIA CAR)

Ube Jam Shortage - Nuns Restrict Purchase to 2 Jars Per Person

By Manila, Philippines (PRWEB)


At the Good Shepherd Convent in Baguio City, a tourist destination and Philippines’ summer capital, Ube Jam is prepared by a group of cooking nuns. There always seems to be an obnoxiously long line at The Shepherd store, where people are allowed to buy a maximum of 2 jars at time. Due to the dessert's increasing popularity among international visitors, the imposed shortage can prove quite a disappointment. However, in the interest of providing foreign guests with in-depth information, including historical background and nutritional value on this Filipino delight, a brand new website called UbeJam.com is up for viewing and even provides recipes for those who love to experiment.

There are two places in the Philippines where Ube jam is made; Baguio, a city north of Luzon, and the home of the Chocolate Hills, Bohol, further to the south. Ube Jam, or otherwise known as Purple Yam, is a Filipino delicacy; though “jam” may not be entirely the right word to describe what it truly is. UbeJam.com is a site dedicated to this exotic dessert made famous in the Philippines and is now live and ready for viewing.

The locals call it Halaya, a word derived from “jalea” or the Spanish for “jelly”. This unusual dessert is often prepared by the elderly, or those who are familiar with the traditional way of preparing it.

Ube, as it is called in Philippines, is a root crop mixed with milk and sugar, so technically it is more of a pudding rather than a jam.

Another tourist destination, Bohol, is famous for its many sights and sounds such as the Chocolate Hills, but equally so, for its purple yam. They say the locals have long perfected their recipes. Tasting ube jam prepared by a Boholano is a guaranteed treat.

UbeJam.com offers more in-depth information on this Filipino delight, including recipes and several of its health benefits.






NCIP joins 4Ps planning workshop in Baguio city

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 30 (PIA)-- The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program(4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ensures that the rights and welfare of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) are protected and upheld in its implementation particularly among cultural communities such as the Cordillera region. The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) recently joined the orientation and planning workshop on the Indigenous People’s Agenda under the DSWD-led Pantawid Pamilya. DSWD Cordillera regional director Leonardo Reynoso described the partnership as a milestone in making poverty reduction a personal concern among IP beneficiaries. NCIP officials are expected to become members of the Regional and Provincial Advisory Committees composed of line agencies and local chief executives that oversee the implementation of the program in various levels to ensure that IP concerns are also addressed, Reynoso said. He said that as an agency committed to serve the IP community, the NCIP will be of big help in providing technical assistance and strategy not only for the 4Ps but also for other poverty reduction programs such as the Kalahi-CIDSS and the Sustainable Livelihood. The NCIP Cordillera regional director Sancho Buquing has expressed support to the 4Ps particularly in monitoring the program, validation and verification of program documents, addressing grievances and joining community assemblies. Data shows that some 20,458 of the 25,065 beneficiary households are members of IP groups. There are 14 major ethno-linguistic groups in the Cordillera Administrative Region making it a cultural haven. *(JDP/JBZ PIA)

Festival official: Baguio City to gain at least P1B from Panagbenga

By Maria Elena Gonzalez with Carmela Lapeña /LBG GMA Neww


BAGUIO CITY— Business will be blooming in the summer capital of the Philippines as this year's annual flower festival draws at least a million visitors.

“The City of Baguio is poised to gain around a billion pesos with the Panagbenga 2012 festivities,” said Dangal “Amboy” Guevarra, chief of staff of the Panagbenga 2012-Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc.

Guevarra said the figure is a roughly computed estimate of what the city would earn with the month-long festival, which is a popular tourist attraction.

According to him, “the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation will not earn anything from this but this will be earned by those in the tourism industry related businesses in the city.”

The Department of Tourism estimated that there were over a million visitors during the Street Dancing and Float Parade events of the festivities last year. If at an average, each individual would just spend a thousand pesos for transportation, food, and buying some souvenirs, that would easily convert into a billion pesos of fresh infusion for a day’s activity, explained Guevarra.

Although there are no official figures of how much the city really gains during a festival, Guevarra noted that in the case of the bus company Victory Liner, the festival brings them more than twice their normal volume of passengers.

While the bus company regularly has 80 trips plying the Baguio and Manila route, they add an additional 100 trips during the main events of the festival. "This is only a single bus company we are talking about," he added.

"If the transportation sector experiences a business boom during the festival, so would other businesses such as restaurants, hotels and would trickle down to the cottage industry sector to the simple street vendors," he averred.

According to Guevarra, this event is really a boost to the Baguio economy.

"The BFFI is just here to promote and manage the event, those who actually gain is the community itself," he said.

DPWH assures better road in time for Panagbenga

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 28(PIA)- - Department of Public Works and Highways-Cordillera (DPWH-CAR) Regional Director Edilberto Carrabacan assured better road networks for the city’s visitors in time for the staging of the Baguio Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2012 this February. He appealed to the public to bear with the inconveniences brought about by the road works. “Our temporary pain will translate to a better road network for Baguio, so I want to appeal to everyone to bear with us,” he said in an interview Thursday during the public forum on ‘Recreating a People- Friendly Session Road’ at the University of Cordilleras. He said that in programming their road projects they have taken in consideration the scheduled events of Baguio, thus the staggered implementation of projects for the city’s road network. He cited the Marcos Highway, which is supposed to be a 120 days project but is now almost complete except for the junctions which they can not work on yet as it will affect the flow of traffic. “We are working double time just to have Marcos Highway practically completed before the major events of Panagbenga. Our initial target is February 18 but the way our contractor is moving we can perhaps completely open the road earlier than the set deadline,” Carrabacan said. “We are trying our best to minimize the inconvenience. In which, if you go around you can see tarpaulins announcing road works, including all the necessary details and we are also giving leaflets to our motorists bearing the same information, so that upon seeing or receiving the information they can outright decide what routes to take to avoid the traffic,” he added. According to Carrabacan, these are some of the schemes they are doing now to pre-empt or avoid heavy traffic jams. “This is a continuous learning experience to the DPWH and we welcome any suggestion. If you think what we are doing is not enough give us a call or write us. Give us your idea. We will entertain them as we are all for a better Baguio”, Carrabacan stressed. Meantime, Carrabacan also disclosed that DPWH is in for a massive infrastructure development in the Cordillera this year. “We have more than P3 Billion appropriations for the whole of Cordillera, which include preventive maintenance and upgrading of roads from gravel to concrete, as it is part of President Aquino’s vision that by 2014, all national primary or arterial roads will all be concreted and by 2016 hopefully all roads are concreted, which will result to a smooth and safe flow, to and from the market place, to improve commerce and the movement of people”, Carrabacan said. For Baguio City, DPWH has 18 road projects which are scheduled for staggered implementation. These include short span asphalting works that are normally done at night. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Baguio city mayor reiterates call for waste segregation, commits to obey SC order on use of Irisan dumpsite

By Lito Dar & Mari Cruz


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 27 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan recently reiterated his call on the citizenry to segregate their garbage. Domogan issued the statement in the wake of a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) issued by the Supreme Court ordering the city to stop dumping garbage at the Irisan Dumpsite as well as using it as a transfer and holding station. Domogan announced that the city will abide by the TEPO assuring that there is no problem complying with the said SC order as the Irisan dumpsite has long been closed and that since 2008, dumping of garbage in the area was already stopped. He added that the city is also no longer using Irisan as a garbage transfer or holding station and that the only operations on-going in the area is the loading of bio-degradable waste to the City’s Environment Recycling System (ERS) machines. It can be recalled that the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite collapsed during typhoon Mina last year causing a trashslide that killed five persons. Domogan again reiterated his call on every city resident to do his obligation and segregate the garbages in their own homes. "If only everybody will cooperate, hindi naman natin magiging masyadong problema iyung garbage. (Garbage will not much be a problem for the city)”, he said. He explained that only bio-degradable garbage will be hauled by the city which will be loaded to the ERS machine for composting, while the recyclable garbage should be brought to the different identified buying stations or Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).He appealed again to the residents to maximize the use of the MRFs which are located in the barangays. Said MRFs are doable approach to solid waste management which is not only environment-friendly but economically viable as well. For the non-biodegradable waste, Domogan explained that it is part of the obligation of Protech Machineries Corporation, the company which provided the city with the ERS machines, to haul such garbages and bring it to their disposal system in the lowlands. He reminded the barangay officials to really monitor those who do not comply with our obligation to segregate for this is punishable under Republic Act No. 9003. Domogan also stressed that the city does not like have any intention to pollute the nearby barangays or municipalities as what happened in the Irisan tragedy. He said the city is much open for any help or suggestions from the neighboring areas as far as the city’s garbage is concerned. (JDP/LD/MC-PIA CAR)

All set for Panagbenga 2012 opening

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 26 (PIA) -- It's all systems go for Panagbenga 2012, thus assured officials of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation Inc. (BFFFI) in a kapihan media forum here yesterday. On February 1, Panagbenga 2012 will formally take-off with a grand opening program at 7:00 a.m.at the Panagbenga Park along Military Cut-off Loop, to be followed by the Drum and Lyre parade and competition. Baguio Cultural Society President Bing Bangaoet, whose group was tapped by the BFFFI to handle and bring in something new to all the parades of Baguio’s Flower Festival, disclosed that there will be 16 contingents from various elementary schools in the city in the drum and lyre competition on the opening day.Each team will showcase different presentation concept, costumes and props. Other highlights of Panagbenga 2012 are: the Market Encounter along Burnham Park which will run from Feb. 1 to March 4; Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom at Melvin Jones on Feb. 11; Handog ng Panagbenga sa Baguio and Fluvial Parade at Burnham Park on Feb. 12; Grand Street Dancing Parade on Feb. 25; Grand Float Parade on Feb. 26; Pony Boys Day on March 2 to 3; and the Session Road in Bloom which will run from Feb. 27 to March 4. More community- led activities are embedded in the five-week celebration.The culminating program and fireworks display are slated on March 4. Strated in 1995, the Panagbenga or Baguio Flower Festival reflects the history, traditions and values of Baguio and the Cordilleras. It has since steadily grown to become one of famous festivals in the country. Panagbenga is a Kankana-ey (local dialect among people from the Mountain Province and Northern part Benguet) term meaning “a season for blossoming.” Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who chairs the BFFFI Executive Committee, has issued an administrative order declaring February 1 as a holiday or no classes on all school levels in Baguio. In the said kapihan, Domogan also affirmed that the city government has allocated P2 million budget for the Baguio Flower Festival, in addition to the P2 million that was also allocated by Congressman Bernardo Vergara for the said festival. Meantime, BFFFI co-chairperson Freddie Alquiros, in the same Kapihan forum, disclosed that the foundation is targetting a P7 Million fund from sponsorships for this year’s staging of Panagbenga. In line with Panagbenga 2012’s theme, ‘Community Convergence for a Sustainable Tourism Growth’, Alquiros called on the citizenry especially to all business owners in the city to support the successful staging of the festival. Afterall, this is our own festival which in one way or another will benefit all of us, he said. BFFFI co-chair Anthony De Leon, general manager of the Baguio Country Club and also the Vice President of the Tourism Congress, called on the public to support in welcoming all visitors and in ensuring their convenience and comfort. He said organizers are expecting about a million visitors to visit the City for the five weeks celebration of Panagbenga 2012. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Baguio court stops BCDA takeover of John Hay

By ABS-CBNnews.com


MANILA, Philippines - The Baguio City regional trial court has barred state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) from taking over the establishments, facilities and administrative offices of its lessee Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) in connection to a dispute between the two due to the latter's unpaid debt.

In a single-page cease-and-desist order dated Jan. 24, Executive Judge Iluminada Cabato said Sobrepeña-led CJHDevCo, the consortium contracted to develop the American rest and recreation center in Baguio, "would suffer grave and irreparable injury" if the BCDA continued with its plan to take over its establishments, including the Camp John Hay Golf Club, the Manor Hotel, Camp John Hay Suites Hotel and its administrative offices.

“Upon consideration of the allegations contained in the present verified complaint in support of the prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order, and it appearing that before the matter could be heard on notice, the plaintiff would suffer grave and irreparable injury, the court hereby orders the defendants BCDA and all other persons acting in their behalf, to cease and desist, for a period of seventy two (72) hours only from date hereof, to restrain the BCDA from committing any act tending to wrest control and/or possession of the leased property or any portions thereof, including improvements thereon, from Camp John Hay Development ,” the order read.

The lower court also enjoined the BCDA and other persons claiming rights to the leased property, “including forceful occupation or ejectment from the leased premises and/or the award of the rights in the leased property to a new entity.”

The Baguio court issued the order after CJHDevCo filed a complaint for mandamus seeking to compel the BCDA to comply with its contractual obligations as stipulated under the 2008 Restructuring Memorandum of Agreement (RMOA), particularly the setting up of the so-called One-Stop Action Center (OSAC), an effective mechanism that would facilitate development of the John Hay Special Economic Zone (JHSEZ).

CJHDevCo and the BCDA have been at odds as the former continually defaulted on its lease payments to BCDA for the JHSEZ.

The RMOA was a compromise entered into by the parties, where CJHDevCo agreed to several substantial concessions, including the assumption of “prior rental obligations” amounting to more than P2.69 billion and current rental of P150 million.

In exchange, the BCDA has been mandated to establish the OSAC, which was supposed to facilitate the granting of permits to CJHDevCo and its locators in the JHSEZ.

CJHDevCo is now claiming the absence of a fully functioning OSAC and wants to rescind its contract with the BCDA.

The BCDA, however, said that the OSAC has actually been issuing around 80 permits each year to CJHDevCo, and in instances it could not grant permits to the company, it was because CJHDevCo has not complied with certain requirements.

OFW families, scholars join city’s re-greening effort

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 24 (PIA) -- Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) leaders, families and scholars, in partnership with the Overseas Workers Administration Cordillera Regional Welfare Office (OWWA-CAR) showed their care for the environment as they joined the city’s re-greening effort through a tree-planting and clean-up drive in a tree park here last January 21. The activity was held in a remote part of Burnham Park, along Kisad road near the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Building, which is adopted by Baguio-Benguet Federation of OFWs Returnees and Dependents(BBFORD) as well as other OWWA member OFW families and scholars, for reforestation and maintenance to ensure that the planted trees in the area will survive. OWWA Regional Director Manuela Peña, in an interview, said the activity aims to instill civic consciousness and environment-friendly values to OFWs and their dependents, and it is also in support to city's greening program. “We have here today our (OWWA-CAR) personnel, OFW leaders, including their families and some of our OWWA scholars. Our objective here, aside from supporting the city greening and eco-tourism program, is to campaign against cutting of trees and inculcating good values to our OFWs and their families, by involving them in preserving the environment in this part of the city," Peña stressed. According to Peña, the BBFORD started the move to adopt the said area of Burnham Park in 2010 through a tree-planting activity and that they are there again to show their commitment to sustain what they have started. OWWA scholar Ahmed Abdullah Khayef, a BS Information Technology graduate presently working at Texas Instrument – Baguio, in an interview, expressed his willingness to support the program. “I am happy to be here, to help in such OWWA led environmental program. Even if our parents are working abroad, we are representing them in this activity, which in a way shows our willingness to support other people, in caring for the environmen," he stressed. The activity was monitored by City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) Regreening, reforestation section chief Walter Aguirre. He bared that as the OWWA- led OFW group has shown its commitment to re-green and maintain the tree park, the city government, through their office will prepare a memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a formal adoption of the park. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Mayor okays carless Session Road on Jan. 27

By Juliet D. Pilotin


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 23 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week approved the temporary closure of Session Road to vehicular traffic on Friday, January 27. The mayor said this is in line with a forum entitled, ‘Recreating People Friendly Session Road’ which will be participated in by residents, students and visitors from Manila. Domogan said, ‘the temporary closure of Session Road during the conduct of the activity will popularize the concept of public space and road sharing.’ ‘This will also entail people to have a feel of the city’s landmark structures so they can appreciate Baguio City as it is,’ he said. The organizers of the activity has lined up an array of events which would spice up the forum at the University of the Cordilleras theater. The main concept would focus on the dream of some stakeholders for a carless Session Road which would in turn be replicated in major cities around the country. The temporary closure will affect the whole stretch of Session Road from its junction with Magsaysay Avenue up to its junction with Fr. Carlo Loop from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The junction of Session Road with Upper Lower Mabini street will be kept open as alternate route for private and public vehicles. Meantime, Domogan also ordered the temporary closure of major roads in and around the Central Business District (CBD) come February for the 17th Panabenga Festival. The South Drive Teachers Camp Gate to Military Cut-off rotunda to Lower Session Road and Harrison Road will be closed on February 1, 25, and 26 from 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for the Flower Festival Opening parade, Grand Street parade, and Grand Float Parade. Upper Session Road (SM rotunda to Mercury Drug of Malcolm Square) to include roads and backstreets intersecting Session Road and Gov. Pack Road will also be closed on February 28 to March 6 midnight for the Session Road in Bloom. (PIA CAR/PR-Baguio City PIO)

Mayor to call for dialogue on tree-cutting issue

By Aileen Refuerzo


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan Wednesday bared plans to broker a dialogue on the SM Baguio tree-cutting issue which continued to heat up amid snowballing opposition that started in a popular social networking site and which spread on the streets with a mass rally staged by environmental groups last Friday. In his Ugnayang Panlungsod press briefing, the mayor said the city will schedule a public consultation to give opportunity to both sides to come face-to-face to air their sentiments and clarify issues on SM’s expansion project that will entail the clearing of trees at its newly acquired property adjacent to the mall’s present site in Luneta Hill. “Hopefully during the hearing, SM will listen to the sentiments of those opposing the project and the opposition will likewise take into consideration SM’s viewpoint,” the mayor said. He said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) representatives will also be invited to also explain its issuance of the permit “to cut, ball or prune” a total of 182 trees within the planned expansion site of the mall. The mayor clarified that it was the DENR that issued the said permit along with the Environmental Clearance Certification (ECC) for the expansion project. "When the matter came to our office, the plans have been made complete with the DENR permit and the ECC,” the mayor said. He said the lot was sold to SM by the national government as approved by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III and therefore is now a private property of the retail giant. “We cannot just stop the plan of SM because under our laws, they have their rights as private owner of that property and moreover, they were able to secure the necessary permits from the proper agency,” the mayor said. Described by SM management as “green development,” the project will involve the construction of another seven-story building with a new parking facility, roof garden and rainwater collection system. In a press statement, SM clarified that they will not cut any tree in the area and instead will undertake “balling out” of some trees to be replanted within the SM property under the supervision of tree balling experts to ensure survival of the trees. “In addition, rather than merely complying with the stipulation that we plant 20 saplings for every tree balled out, we decided to go beyond this requirement, and have increased this to 50 saplings for every tree we will transfer,” SM said. Oppositionists to the project led by Cordillera Ecological Center director Dr. Michael Bengwayan who drummed up support to an on-line petition against the issue denounced SM’s plan as anti-environment and anti-people. They questioned the reliability of the earth-balling technique which they said does not guarantee the survivability of the trees. Protesters, Friday, showed force, drawing in massive participation during the rally dubbed “Occupy SM Baguio” to dramatize their objection to the plan. The on-line petition started in Facebook was said to have gone viral and has gathered more than 4,000 signatures as of press time.(PIA-CAR/ A Refuerzo –Baguio City PIO)

5,300 Cordi youth set to benefit from SPES program

By PIA Press Release


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 21(PIA) -- More poor but deserving students are set to benefit from the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE-CAR) Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) for this year. According to DOLE-CAR Regional Director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez, from the P8 million SPES budget for Cordillera in 2011, budget allocation for this year is increased to P30 Million, which from the 4,000 beneficiaries of the program in 2011, the target beneficiaries for this year also increase to 5,300. “Encouraging poor but deserving students or out of school youth (OSYs) to participate in the SPES program would mean giving them the opportunity not only to raise money for their education but most importantly preparing them or exposing them to actual work situation”, Rodriguez said. “Through the program, the student beneficiaries while working will be able to acquire basic skills and work experiences and at the same time, may learn the aspect of values formation and work appreciation,” he added. Rodriguez also encouraged interested youths to visit the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in their respective areas to enlist or inquire about the SPES program. DOLE-CAR’s target beneficiaries are distributed as follows: Abra, 685; Apayao, 265; Benguet, 1,459; Baguio City, 1,459; Ifugao, 477; Kalinga, 478, and Mt. Province, 477. Under the SPES, an employment facilitation program of DOLE, partner employers, may it be a local government unit or private establishment, pays 60 percent of the students wage while the remaining 40 percent will be shouldered by DOLE. As for qualification requirement, any student or youth applicant to the program should be at least 15 years of age but not more than 25 years old; enrolled or intending to enroll in any educational institution for secondary, tertiary or technical-vocation education and must also have a good standing or an average passing grade in the last semester or last school year attended ; and whose combined net income after tax of parents does not exceed the poverty threshold for a family of six in CAR or P117, 318.00 per annum. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Protesters insist trees will suffer

By JM Agreda


PROTESTERS scheduled to march down Session Road Friday lambasted SM’s recent statement claiming it will not cut 182 trees during its mall expansion and instead transfer the trees to other locations.

Environmentalist Michael Bengwayan said the earth-balling process is also a death sentence to Alnus and pine trees that will be affected by the expansion.

Bengwayan stressed the low survival rate of past pine tree earth-balled in the city even with Department of Environment and Natural Resources having monitored the activity.

In Camp John Hay alone sometime in 1990s, Benwayan said, out of the 475 pine trees transferred, only 17 percent survived. The trees that survived, he said, are either sick or are in the brink of dying too.

This is because a tree with a diameter of more than 15 centimeters has less chance for survival, he said.

“They are subjected to stress-related problems due to tremendous root loss when dug. This condition, commonly called transplant shock, results in increased vulnerability to drought, insects, diseases and other problems,” he said.

The environmentalist said transplant shock lasts until the natural balance between the root system and the top or crown of the transplanted tree is restored.

“Old trees do not survive, most die during this root establishment period. A tree’s chance of survival can be drastically improved through practices that favor establishment of the root system. This involves regular care during the first three years following transplanting,” he added.

Aside from shock, trees will also experience nutrient and water deprivation as roots are often destroyed during the transplant process, he said.

Bengwayan and leaders of groups joining the rally Friday promised to keep their protest peaceful and an enlightening experience to city residents who are still not aware of the negative effects of tree cutting.

Aside from the effects on trees, the group reiterated the effect of earth balling of trees to the overall environment in the Luneta Hill area.

The trees, he said, have been effective carbon sinks protecting the area from pollutants produced by the nearby bus terminal and high-traffic area while more concrete structures will only cause heat island effect.

He added the trees have been effective in preventing flooding in the area when it rains, noting the artificial water reservoir to be built by the mall can only hold as much water to its capacity while excess water will only flow down to the city center.

After the rally, the group said they are willing to have a dialogue with mall officials, including city and environmental officials whom they alleged to have kept mum on the issue and allowed the destruction of the few remaining green patches in the city.

DOH advocates healthy lifestyle for cancer prevention

By Carlito C. Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 19 (PIA) -- In line with country’s observance of National Cancer Awareness Week from January 18 to 22, the Department of Health (DOH-CAR) reiterated to the public its healthy lifestyle campaign as an effective preventive measure against cancer. DOH-CAR consultant Dr. Jennifer Balatian, an oncologist of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), in a kapihan forum Wednesday, explained that the health department’s thrust focuses on prevention. “Prevention is really better than treatment as aside from the life that would be saved, it would also save possible patients from expensive cancer treatment. Though, we at the BGHMC has the capability to manage cancer cases in terms of facility and health experts, we still promote healthy lifestyle for cancer prevention”, Balatian said. According to Balatian, cancer remains among the top causes of mortality and morbidity in the country. At the BGHMC , it ranks 10th among the medical cases received and 7th among the leading cause of death. Dr. Jasmin Igama, also an oncologist of BGHMC, shared that of the cancer cases they have handled, only one one-third of the caees are hereditary while two-thirds are lifestyle-related. Thus, she is pushing for a more intensified advocacy campaign against cancer through healthy lifestyle. The Healthy Lifestyle advocacy campaign of the DOH includes seven healthy practices which are: no smoking; do not drink alcohol; no to illegal drugs; keep low salt, low fat diet; prevention of hypertension; do physical exercise or activity; and manage stress. According to Igama, though there is better public awareness now, there is a need to do more for the prevention and early detection as many of the cancer cases they are receiving are already in stage three and four. She is also urging for stricter implementation of laws particularly those those involving anti-smoking as she affirmed that lung cancer still remains as the top kind of cancer in the country. Based on DOH data, lung cancer is followed by breast, colon, rectal and liver cancer. Igama expressed concern that lung cancer may soon overtake breast cancer as the top cancer among women since smoking is becoming more prevalent among female including young girls. With most of cancer cases related to tobacco smoking, Igama reiterated the importance for the public to join the advocacy especially for parents to be role models in their own homes.(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

City gives police P35M, jail P8M

By Aure Galacgac


THE CITY Council has initially approved the 2012 budget of at least 18 departments of the Baguio City Government that include the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) with P35 million.

Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas, City Council presiding officer, said Baguio could operate with more than P1-billion budget this year.

He said the amount will be earmarked for priority concerns of the city like peace and order, health, environment protection and other basic services to the people.

Fariñas said the Baguio City Jail will receive P8 million, and those of the courts, public attorney’s office, city library, city health, City Prosecutor’s Office and several others.

The vice mayor said the council has also approved a P15-million budget for the City Veterinary Office.

“Those with deferred hearings include the City Environment and Parks Management Office as we have to go to every detail of what that office would do in the improvement of our parks and more importantly the management of solid wastes,” Fariñas said.

Waste management and sanitation are now a primordial concern of Baguio due to its pending case for “Writ of Kalikasan” in the Supreme Court.

The case was triggered by the death of five residents in Barangay Irisan when they were hit by a trash slide from the open dumpsite which was closed since 2008.

JHMC stresses support to Baguio city’s tourism, environment preservation

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 17 (PIA) - - The John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) stressed its support to boost the city’s tourism and at the same time to help in the protection and preservation of the city’s remaining forest reserve. This was affirmed by JHMC President and CEO Jamie Eloise Agbayani, during the Department of Tourism (DOT-CAR)- led Regional Tourism Conference here last week. According to Agbayani, JHMC is set to implement a Medium Term Development Plan for Camp John Hay starting this 2012 whose primary objective is to help boost the city’s tourism by putting in more attractions inside the camp for both local and foreign visitors. “We would like to bring more visitors including the city folks inside Camp John Hay,” Agbayani stressed. First on the JHMC’s agenda is the rehabilitation of the camp’s Historical Core, which according to Agbayani, is the soul of Camp John Hay and one of the remaining original American architecture inside the camp. “We are going to rehabilitate the core and we will put in activities such as arts festivals and concerts. I have already talked to the academe to help in bringing in the Cordillera culture, hoping to preserve such culture, not only by educating the tourists but the youth and the locals as well,” Agbayani added. She also disclosed other agro-forestry project through a partnership with Canadian company, Rocky Mountain Arabica Coffee. “We are going to plant coffee on about 60 hectare area inside the camp, which somehow would also help in reforestation effort of the city”, Agbayani said. For other environmental projects, Agbayani said the JHMC is also pushing for renewable energy. It will be upgrading the mini-hydro inside the John Hay reservation which would not only benefit the camp but the city as well. The said mini-hydro which was built by the Americans is a 500kw power plant, but according to the initial studies made by JHMC’s proponent, it can be upgraded to 3.8 Mwatts which could be shared to the city as the camp’s energy requirement is only about 1.5 Mwatts. Agbayani, in an interview, also dismissed the issue that there is an indiscriminate cutting of trees inside Camp John Hay. He stressed that they have close coordination with the city government through Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Clarence Baguio as far as monitoring and overseeing tree cutting inside the camp is concerned. Agbayani outlined the five-point development plan for JHMC to include IT Service Export Processing Zone; Medical Tourism Zone; Educational Tourism Zone; Sports and Recreation Centers; and Eco Cultural Tourism.(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

New NSO online query system to open in Local Civil Registry Offices

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 16 (PIA) -- After four-months of pilot testing, the National Statistics Office’s (NSO) OnDDot Query Service (ODDQS) will now be shared to the different Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) nationwide. The ODDQS is a web or internet based service system which provides the latest status of transactions paid at any Census Serbilis Outlet and forwarded to the Civil Registration Department of NSO in Quezon City. Such service facility applies to all documents that are endorsed bearing the effects of court decrees, legal instruments, supplemental reports and/or other laws that affect the status of any individual. Thus the system includes legitimation, acknowledgement, adoption, annulment, nullity of marriage, clerical error, change of first name and other legal instruments/court decrees affecting an individual’s civil status. NSO Regional Director Olivia Gulla, in an interview stressed that the ODDQS, which will be implemented here in Cordillera starting February 1, will allow all civil registrars or LCROs to directly inquire or access the status of client’s request in their respective areas. “This new system or service is also a remedial measure to de-clog any NSO outlet or service area of the increasing number of clients and will also partly solve the human resource constraints that is currently besetting our regional office”, Gulla stressed. “With ODDQS, local civil registrars shall have the option to directly submit their requests to the Office of the Civil Registrar General at the NSO Quezon City Office or through the NSO Provincial Office in their areas for endorsement of such request for priority loading”, Gulla added. According to Gulla, to access the ODDQS, each LCRO is required to register online for better monitoring and usage assessment of the said query system. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)






Uniforms for drivers and conductors to be enforced

By Julie Fianza


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 15 (PIA) -- A uniform system shall be required of all drivers, conductors and inspectors of all utility vehicles plying their routes in the city, as issued in Administrative Order 008, 2012 of Mayor Mauricio Domogan. This is in compliance with the Baguio Tourism Summit and to the Memorandum Order of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that Public Utility Vehicle operators provide the required uniforms for their personnel while on duty. Thus, after deliberation by the TTMC and as approved, all drivers, conductors and inspectors of PUVs in the city should be in their uniforms on scheduled days. As to standards PUJs in the city are composed of four trunk lines, with their respective uniforms. Green Trunklines are for Kennon Road, Marcos Highway and Loakan Road. Drivers’ uniform for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (MWF) shall be light blue t-shirt with collar and for Tuesdays, Thursdays (TTS) and Saturdays, green shirt with collar. Yellow Trunklines are for Naguilian Road or Quirino Highway and Asin Road. Drivers shall use when plying their routes on MWF, light blue t-shirt with collar, while during TTS, yellow shirt with collar. Blue Trunklines are for Trinidad, Halsema Highway, Rimando Road, Aurora Hill, Bonifacio Road, and Trancoville-Magsaysay Road. Drivers’ uniform shall be light blue t-shirt with collar for MWF, and for TTS, white shirt with collar. Red Trunklines are for Leonard Wood Road, Itogon, Binga, Ambuklao Road and South Drive. MWF uniform shall be same as the other trunk line route drivers, light blue t-shirt with collar, while on TTS, red shirt with collar. All the drivers shall use casual or Sunday attire during Sundays. Van and utility van express drivers, taxi drivers, school service, tourist transport and shuttle service drivers should wear during MWF, short sleeve white polo or white t-shirt with collar. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, van and UV express drivers shall use green shirt with collar while taxi drivers shall use red shirt with collar. School service drivers, tourist transport drivers and shuttle service drivers shall use yellow shirt with collar, on mentioned days. Trucks for hire drivers are also required to be in maroon shirt with collar from Mondays to Sundays, every trip, while drivers-conductors and inspectors of public utility buses shall wear white polo uniform, short sleeves bearing the name of the driver, conductor or inspector and logo of the company/business name, if applicable. Drivers, conductors and inspectors should wear long pants of any color and shoes. Slippers, sandals, short pants and sando are not allowed. All drivers are required to sport proper haircut and project a wholly hygienic appearance. They should also possess at all times their Department of Transportation and Communication-LTFRB identification card, with seatbelt, and with early warning devices. The Traffic Management Branch of the Baguio City Police Office (TMB-BCPO), as authorized, shall enforce the AO. As stated, the AO shall take effect immediately. (PIA CAR-JF Baguio City PIO)

‘Sagip Buhay’ bloodletting set on Jan 21

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 14 (PIA) -- A mass bloodletting donation activity dubbed “Tambalang Sagip Buhay, Karamay Habang Buhay Part III” will be conducted at the city’s Malcolm Square on Saturday, January 21. Now on its third staging, the activity is in cooperation with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) - Baguio and E Carta Media Production and Promotions, Z Radio, and other agencies. “Blood is life, that is why I call all able bodied people to come and donate blood. Who knows, the life you’re saving might be a friend or a relative,” said Eddie Carta, a board member of the PRC-Baguio Chapter. We saw the success and the eagerness of the people to help by donating blood with the first and second Tambalang Sagip Buhay last year, Carta said. ‘We hope we have more blood donors, volunteers, and sponsors to support this worthy cause,” he added. Annie Tamayo, PRC-Baguio administrator, said the donated blood will help a lot of patients especially with dengue cases needing blood. With the third Tambalang Sagip Buhay, we are asking the usual support of everyone, Tamayo said. She again clarified that PRC is not selling blood; what is being charged are the processing and laboratory fee in screening the blood.(JDP/JBZ-PIA CAR)

DOT targets to bring in 10-M foreign tourists by 2016'

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- To become the ‘must experience’ destination in Asia is the strategic vision of the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) National Tourism Development Plan 2011 to 2016 as it targets to bring in 10 million tourist to the Philippines. This was shared by DOT Regional Director Purificacion Molintas during the Regional Tourism Summit held at Hotel Supreme here, Wednesday, that was attended by various local chief executives, government line agency officials and multi-sectoral leaders from various parts of the region. According to Molintas, the goal for such vision is to develop an environmentally and socially responsible tourism industry that delivers more widely distributed income and employment opportunities targeting 6.62 million international arrivals and 34.78 million domestic travellers by 2016, contributing 6.78% to Gross Domestic Product and directly employing 6.6 million people. “The goal set by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez is to bring in a minimum of six up to a maximum of 10 million foreign tourists in the country by 2016,” Molintas said. She also disclosed that they are now converging their programs with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for the fast development of infrastructures particularly roads leading to key tourist destinations and the improvement of all airports that would link such destinations to other parts of the country and abroad. Included in the development plan are 21 strategic thematic tourism destination clusters, covering 77 Tourism Development Areas, in Northern, Central and Southern Philippines. Molintas also reported that they have initially set eight tourism products to promote namely nature based, cultural, sun and beach, shopping, leisure and entertainment, MICE (Meetings, incentives, convention and exhibition), health and wellness, cruise and nautical tourism. As part of efforts to promote the country as a must experience destination, Molintas also confirmed that DOT has already set a new international campaign slogan, “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.” She also reported that 2011 was good year for tourism with more than 3.5 million foreign tourists visiting the country from January to November of last year which showed a 12.66 increase compared to the 3.12 million foreign tourists recorder during the same period in 2010. Other speakers invited in the said Tourism Congress were John Hay Management Corporation (JHMC) President and CEO Jamie Louise Manzano-Agbayani, Mountain Province Congressman Maximo Dalog Sr. who chairs the North Quad Special House Committee, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Area Manager II Ronald Estabillo, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-CAR) Regional Director Edilberto Carabaccan and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) consultant Atty. Niño Aquino.(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Mayor assures road repairs causing traffic jams in Baguio to be finished before 'Panagbenga'

By (PNA)

FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 12 (PNA) - Mayor Mauricio Domogan Thursday assured that hundreds of expected visitors next month for the Baguio Flower Festival or "Panagbenga" will not experience the present long traffic jams here.

The mayor said the contractor of the repair of the Marcos Highway with a project cost of P20 million assured that the work will be finished before February 1.

The massive road and drainage repairs here since July last year, which cost the government hundreds of millions of pesos, was programmed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to give Baguio roads international standards.

"Smooth traffic flow here is indispensable if we do not allow our flower festival visitors to suffer from inconveniences," Domogan said.

The festival is the yearly biggest event in the city drawing an average of one million visitors since 14 years ago.

"Panagbenga" not only benefited farmers who can sell their tons of fresh flowers grown in their farms and terraces but also the tourism-oriented establishments in this city.

2 million tourists expected in 2012

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO City Tourism Officer Benedicto Alhambra expressed optimism at the start of the year, saying Baguio will surpass its 1.7 million tourist arrival target last year.

This is despite a 10 percent decrease in foreign tourist arrivals which the city experienced in 2011 after foreign tourists, particularly those coming from Europe, decreased due to economic slowdown in Western countries.

But despite this slowdown in foreign tourist arrivals, Alhambra said this was complemented by a high domestic tourist arrival which made the city hit 1.7 million target tourists after culling reports from hotels, inns and other accommodations in the city.

Alhambra said with additional data coming from other forms of accommodations like transient houses, dormitories, boarding houses and convents, which housed some of the tourists, the tourism office was able to get a good database of tourist arrivals compared to the previous years.

He said tourist arrivals in the city primarily rely on hotel bookings which do not entirely depict the tourist arrivals in the city.

He also reported a sudden surge of tourist arrivals in the last week of the year where tourists estimated to be around 200,000 who have spent colder nights in the city’s tourist spots.

But the tourism officer said the city should work hard to stay on target by offering something new to tourists.

In the budget deliberations this year, the city tourism office will receive an additional P3-million budget from its previous budget of P5 million as part of the city’s thrusts to improve tourist arrivals by conducting more events and activities that would encourage tourists to visit the Summer Capital.

CAR tops NSO survey on average business, industry revenue and profit

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) posted the highest in terms of average revenue and profit per establishment based on the result of the nationwide 2009 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) recently presented by the National Statistics Office (NSO-CAR). In the 2009 ASPBI result presented by NSO Regional Director Olivia Gulla, Cordillera topped other regions as far as average revenue per establishment is concerned with P662 Million, followed by CALABARZON and Eastern Visayas regions at P556 million and P434 million, respectively. Cordillera again topped all other regions in the average profit per establishment with P336 million, followed by MIMAROPA and Eastern Visayas at P218 million and P115 million, respectively. According to Gulla, in the said survey, for Cordillera businesses and industries, manufacturing is the highest in terms of total employment, total revenue, revenue per worker, value added per worker, average revenue and profit per establishment, as well as profit margin. On per total value added and average number of workers, Gulla also disclosed that mining and quarrying still top in the region while for the most number of establishments is the sector of hotel and restaurants. Despite the global financial crisis in 2009, the said ASPBI result still shows an increasing trend, as far as the number of businesses and industries in the country and the employment they produce. Based on the 2009 ASPBI results, the total number of business establishments and industries in the Philippines grew to 23,941 from 21,572 in 2008, which also resulted to an increase in employment by four percent or to 2,970,640 in 2009 compared to the 2,862,621 total employment that were recorded in 2008. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) also affirmed an increasing trend in employment opportunities in the country. In a recent statement, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz reported that the 2011 full-year employment in the country grew by 3.2 percent compared a year ago, with the increase equivalent to 1.156 million in new employment generated. Baldoz also gladly reported that the country’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.4 percent in 2010 to only seven percent last year. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

20M rehab of portion of Marcos Highway ongoing

By (PNA)

LDV/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 9 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Monday assured that the P20-million rehabilitation project of a portion of Marcos Highway will be finished in one month.

This is in time for the arrival of expected hundreds of visitors for the month-long flower festival in February.

Baguio district engineer Ireneo Gallato said the contractor's capability to meet deadlines was shown so many times here especially in the recent completion of the Bokawkan Road which connects Halsema Highway to the central business district.

Gallato made the assurance after the transport sector complained of frequent heavy traffic in the area.

He said "as a lesson learned last year, only the contractors who can accomplish projects in accordance with approved work plans shall be given infrastructure contracts here."

The slow pace of work in the repair of the portion of Naguilian Road last year was criticized to have slowed down not only traffic flow but also the arrival of tourists from lowland provinces in northern Luzon.

Gallato added the strict standards shall be imposed in the other 17 infrastructure projects.





Business permit renewals made simpler

By Julie Fianza/Baguio City PIO


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 7 (PIA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan last week issued Administrative Order 002, series of 2012, enforcing a simpler method for the processing of business permit renewals at city hall. “There is an urgent appeal by taxpayers to accelerate the pace of processing business permits,” the AO states. Thus, a streaming of procedure of processing business permit renewal is enforced; where only the sanitary permit, barangay clearance, clearance from the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) and certification of payment of taxes is required. The business permit from the CTO may then be secured. Other requirements for the completion of validity of a business permit; clearances from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Philhealth and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) should be secured after the issuance of the permit. Closure of the business establishment may be pursued if said documents are not acquired, the AO further states. The said procedure was sought as it was learned that taxpayers are discouraged from processing their business permits as they experience difficulties acquiring clearances from other government agencies. Earlier also, the mayor issued another administrative order prohibiting city employees from interceding or working out business permits unless they are directly involved in the processing of said permit in their respective offices. “To avoid favoritism and ensure fairness in the application for new, or renewal of business permits,” “no employees shall intercede and/or hand carry in behalf of any applicant/permittee for issuance of new, or renewal of, business.” Administrative sanctions would be meted out for violators; reprimand for the first offense, suspension for one to 30 days, and dismissal for the third offense. Business permit processing and payment of real property taxes without penalty have started on the first day of working day of 2012 and shall go on until March. Percentage discounts shall be granted to early taxpayers. (PIA CAR/JGF-Baguio City PIO)

Cordillera firecracker and stray bullets victims rise 5 days after revelries - DOH

By (PNA)

LAP/AAG/AAGalacgac


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 6 (PNA) - The Department of Health (DOH) said Friday the firecracker and stray bullet victims in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) rose five days after the New Year revelries, to the dismay of health workers.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, DOH-CAR regional director said there is now a total of 52 firecracker and pyrotechnics victims and three victims of stray bullets.

"Abra Province has the most number of firecracker and pyrotechnics injuries with a total of 23 and two victims of astray bullets mostly in the capital town of Bangued," she said.

Other areas where firecracker and fireworks injuries happened were: Baguio City, 13; Kalinga, five; Mountain Province, four; Benguet, three; Apayao, two and Ifugao, two.

"I hope that the statistics of injuries as of today would be the last. But we will have until January 8 to monitor and count just like last year," Cabotaje said.

She said the DOH "Goodbye Paputok" with the help of the media, barangay and other local leaders and local health workers not only assisted the victims but was also instrumental to CAR achieving a reduction of some 36 percent in the number of victims.

Records show that in 2010, a total of 96 people were victims of similar injuries compared to 2011's 52.





Gov assures enough flowers and vegetables for Panagbenga 2012

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 5 (PIA) -- There will be enough supply of flowers and vegetables in time for the staging of Panagbenga 2012 come February. This was assured by Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan, in a kapihan forum here, Wednesday. According to Fongwan, as early as mid-December, Benguet flower growers particularly in the municipality of La Trinidad, have already been timing their planting to assure enough harvest in time for the opening of Baguio’s Flower Festival or Panagbenga 2012 next month. Fongwan also stressed that Benguet has been the major supplier of flowers for the Panagbenga season and though Panagbenga is an event of Baguio, indirectly it is also benefitting the province especially the flower growers due to peak in the demand for flowers. For the Benguet vegetables, which are among the favorite ‘pasalubong’ of tourists visiting Baguio and the nearby municipalities of Benguet, Fongwan also assured that enough supplies are now available in the market. “Last month or just this December, Benguet’s vegetable industry has already recovered from the damages brought by the typhoons that hit the region; supply has already matched the needed demand. This January, the price of some of Benguet’s temperate vegetables are now even getting lower as there are more supply being produce compared to the demand,” Fongwan explained. Meantime, Fongwan also affirmed the willingness of the province to join and support Panagbenga 2012, as tourism is also among the major industries that the province is pushing for. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Baguio records 9.8-degree temp

By Dexter See


January 4, 2011, 5:20pm BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Local residents and tourists are now enjoying the chilly mornings in this mountain resort city following the continuous drop of the prevailing temperature in the country’s Summer Capital.

For the first four days of the year, the city experienced drops in temperature, with the lowest, 9.8-degree Celsius, recorded at around 5 a.m. Tuesday morning by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) This was 0.2 degrees Celsius lower than the 10 degrees Celsius recorded on Monday morning.

During New Year’s Day, the coldest temperature was 12.8 degrees Celsius before it registered at 11 degrees Celsius on January 2, 2011.

The lowest temperature recorded in the city was 6.3 degrees Celsius which was registered by PAGASA on January 18, 1961 while the fifth lowest temperature was recorded by the weather bureau on January 15, 2009 which was at 7.5 degrees Celsius.

After dropping during the early mornings, the city temperature warms during the day with the warmest recorded from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius before it again drops during the late afternoon and early evenings between 17 to 20 degrees Celsius.

Businesses and industries are growing - NSO

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 4 (PIA) -- The total number of business establishments and industries in the country including the Cordillera Administrative Region continues to grow. Thus reported National Statistics Office (NSO) regional director Olivia Gulla during the presentation of the preliminary results of the 2009 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI) at the Pines View Hotel here recently. Based on the 2009 survey, the total number of business establishments and industries in the Philippines grew to 23,941 from 21,572 in 2008. In the Cordillera, it grew to 240 from the 233 recorded in the 2008 ASPBI. The Hotel and Restaurants and Education sectors recorded increasing trend by 17 percent and 8 percent, respectively. Gulla also reported that the increase in the number of establishments also resulted in the increase in employment. Nationwide, based on the survey, employment increased by four percent or to 2,970,640 in 2009 compared to the 2,862,621 total employment, recorded in 2008. For Cordillera, an 11 percent increase in employment was also noted in the 2009 ASPBI. From 27,436 in 2008, it grew to 30,378 in 2009, with manufacturing and real estate, renting and business activities sectors leading the way with 15 percent and 24 percent increase, respectively. As per revenue, the country posted a five percent increase from P7.5 trillion in 2008 to P7.9 trillion in 2009, with the manufacturing sector posting the highest revenue at P3.3 trillion. For Cordillera though, the global financial crisis has somehow caught up in the region as revenue decreased by 18.3 percent from P195 billion in 2008 to P159 billion in 2009, with manufacturing decreasing by 21 percent and mining and quarrying showed an 18 percent decrease in revenue. According to Gulla, the ASPBI is a continuing activity of NSO which aims to provide key measures on the performance, levels, structure, and trends of economic activities in the entire country. ‘The data collected from the ASPBI will constitute bases upon which the government and the private sector can formulate policies and evolve economic development plans,’ Gulla added. The 2009 ASPBI data is now posted at the NSO website – www.nso.gov.ph. (JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Saving the Cordillera watershed thru PES

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 3(PIA) -- There is an urgent need to revive and to sustain the source of water which is necessity for the survival of all living creatures that include human, plants and animals. Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Marilyn Sta. Catalina said one of the ways to address this is through the Payment for Environmental and Ecological Services (PES) which is especially created to ensure financial sustainability and support to community watershed management initiatives. Watershed management in the Cordillera region is a struggle with a large portion of its mountains is denuded causing problems on the environment. With the rapid deterioration of natural resources in the country, the remaining forest areas and other potential natural resources should be protected, preserved and conserved, Sta. Catalina explained. The PES technology carries out two principles. These are payment for environmental-ecological services if you benefit from them and payment to those land owners-stewards whose natural capital produces the services. The implementation follows the following steps: establish a baseline which is essential to plan and later assessment for PES; identify the product or service that will be transacted; identify the service provider which covers the determining of property rights on the production system for the product or service; identify the beneficiaries; agree on the mechanism of transaction; agree on the mode of payment; determine need for mediator and identify roles; identify constraints to sustainability of transactions and lastly define and institute a conflict resolution mechanism, Sta Catalina explained. Through PES, financial sustainability for watershed management could be attained and reviving watersheds is not too far from reach, Sta Catalina added. *(JDP/JBZ-PIA CAR)

DOH says APIR a success in CAR

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 2(PIA) -- “Aksyon: Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR)" toward a safe holiday celebration campaign is a success, the Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordillera reported. Initial record shows from December 21, 2011 to January 2, 2012, listed were 36 cases injuries compared to 82 cases of the same period last year or a 56% drop on wounded individuals. According to Dr. Myrna Cabotage, regional director of DOH-Center for Health Development, the public is slowly learning its lesson on the dangers of firecrackers. She said the province of Abra has the highest number of injuries with 13, followed by Baguio City with 10, Kalinga, 4; Mt. Province, 3; Benguet 2, Apayao, 2 and Ifugao, 2. The age of those affected is from six years old to 14 years old. There are more males with 32 and four females, Cabotaje explained. The firecrackers that inflicted inhuries are piccolo, kwitis, pla-pla, luces, five star, fountain, whistle bomb, baby rocket and watusi, Cabotaje said. We would like to thank the local government units for their support for the APIR campaign, our office will continue advocating “iwas paputok” and hope there will be zero injury in the years to come, Cabotaje added. (JDP/JBZ PIA CAR)

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