Baguio City News November 2011

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UNFPA Project review tackles teenage pregnancy in Ifugao

By Vency D. Bulayungan


BAGUIO City, Nov. 30(PIA)-- The issue on increasing teenage pregnancy in the province of Ifugao cropped up as a major concern of implementing government and non-government agencies during the start of the three-day UNFPA’s (United Nation Population Fund) 6th Country Programme of Assistance Project Implementation Review here. Miriam Baguidudol, the Provincial Division Chief of the Provincial Sustainable Development Division (PSDD) said that a baseline survey was conducted recently by their office to identify issues and concerns among the young and why this concern is happening to said sector. The survey shows that there is a trend of teenage pregnancies in the province. In 2006 there were 265 cases of teenage pregnancies; 293 cases in 2007; 305 cases in 2008; 342 cases in 2009; 472 in 2010, and 248 cases from January to June this year. Topping the causes of teenage pregnancies is drunkenness which occurs mostly in boarding houses and public places. “Due to lack of guidance of parents, teenagers tend to be influenced by their peers,” Baguidudol said adding that when they got drunk they did not know what they are doing. She also mentioned media as another factor of teenage pregnancy. Movies and social networking like the internet contribute to increasing cases of teenage pregnancy since the young are curious of trying what they watch, she averred. To counter said issue, the PSDD established teen centers in schools such as the Ifugao State University where Adolescent Reproductive Health issues and concerns are being taken up and information materials are displayed for the youth to read. In trying to cope with modern technology, the PSDD launched recently the text tanong wherein teenagers ask questions to the hotline of the PSDD and the staff will give the right answer. Baguidudol said that they find this effective since most of the young ones are shy to come out into the open to tell their problems as adolescents thus when this text tanong was launched, the PSDD received many concerns from the youth and were acted upon immediately. Ifugao is a beneficiary of the UNFPA’s 6th Country Programme for the development of the youth with three indicators namely RH component, gender component and population and development strategies.* (JDP/VDB-PIA CAR, Ifugao)

Cordillera officials burn P2.6-M seized marijuana bricks

By (PNA)

LAP/AAG/AAGalacgac


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 29 (PNA) - Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) civilian and police officials on Tuesday burned at the football grounds of Burnham Park 2.6 million worth of seized marijuana bricks in various anti-drug operations in the region. City Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas said the marijuana bricks and other processed products of marijuana plants were already duly exhibited in Courts to prosecute suspects in the illegal trade of marijuana. The ceremonial burning was part of the activities of the week-long observance of "Anti-prohibited drugs Week" here and the rest of the region. According to Police Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, regional director of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR), the seized marijuana bricks were part of the total volume of marijuana confiscated in various plantation raids and buy bust operations in the area since September 2010 to September 2011. Magalong lauded the participation of the Cordillera communities in the eradication of the sources of marijuana in the area which in the past proved to produce good quality of the "grass". Farinas, on the other hand, thanked the students who have started to take part in the education campaign towards the elimination of the drug problem here and the rest of Cordillera urban centers.

Baguio mayor says ban on firecrackers sale stays

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 28 (PNA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan Monday said he is inclined to allow the sale of aerial pyrotechnics normally used for fireworks display during the celebrations in this mountain resort for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

However, Domogan said the city council should pass the resolution that all kinds of firecrackers should not be sold here to avoid injuries of residents, especially children, and further decrease the air pollutants.

Last October, the city mayor was all for the total ban of all firecrackers and pyrotechnics, a stand which was supported by the Department of Health (DOH) which have similar project called "Iwas Paputok."

Two weeks ago, however, the Baguio city council passed a resolution allowing firecracker vendors here to sell their legitimate products in accordance with existing regulations.

To capitulate the issue, however, Domogan has to give in for the fireworks display in keeping with the holiday mood of the residents and visitors.

"If soon the council will pass the resolution, then the policemen will have basis to arrest those selling firecrackers without permit and to seize the illegally-manufactured firecrackers and pyrotechnics. We want this measure to protect our citizenry from accidents and to further protect our environment," said Mayor Domogan.

Swimmer gives Baguio big start in B Pinoy

By Redjie Cawis


BAGUIO, Philippines – Swimmer Jenkins Lorenzo Labao churned out four gold medals, leading the host city’s dominant showing at the start of the Batang Pinoy 2011 Central and Northern Luzon qualifying stage at the Athletic Bowl here.

Labao, a 13-year-old freshman at the University of Baguio, reigned supreme in the boys’ 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m medley relay and 50m butterfly.

Filipino-American Nathania Rockwood of La Union and Patricia Jem Pangan of Angeles City likewise sparkled with three gold medals each.

Rockwood ruled the girls 12-13 100m breast, 50m fly and 50m free while Pangan topped the girls 14-15 years old 200m relay, 50m free and 50m fly.

The Batang Pinoy, designed for athletes 15 years old and below, is run by the Philippine Sports Commission in partnership with Smart, Maynilad and Summit Mineral Drinking Water.

Dexter John Lacuna, brother of 2011 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Jessie King Lacuna, emerged as a double-gold winner, topping the boys 14-15 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Baguio City copped five gold medals in judo courtesy of Floyd Derek Rillera in the 42kg, Rainer Zaparita in the 46kg, Jerald Andre Kim in the 55kg, Htai Andro Kienh Cudao in the 60kg and Derek Clarence Dino in the 66kg.

The Baguio wrestlers were not to be outdone with David Caoili (38 kg), Elizur Cayat (42 kg), Val Kindapan (47 kg), Jerald Bosicao (53 kg), Cristendon Martin (59 kg), Roselyn Malbja (girls 44kg) and Minalyn Foy-os (girls 52 kg) ruling their respective categories.

The hosts had their share of victories in athletics, gaining top honors courtesy of Ike Kevin Yagin in the boys 1,500m run, Agustina Anganayon in the girls 1,500m run, Reagan Contic in the boys javelin throw, Stefanny Florez in the 1,600 girls walk, Jasmine Felix in the girls javelin throw and the 4x100m and 4x400m relay for boys and girls.

Baguio City quickly broke away in the medal tally of the games supported by Milo, Jollibee, The British Council, Standard Insurance, Negros Navigation-Super Ferry, Kids 3 Food Supplement at RELIV Now for Kids with 44 golds.

Run for Hope set December 3

By Redjie Cawis


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 26 (PIA) -- Get involved. Raise awareness. Help make a difference. Get the chance to help change the world by becoming a part of a once-in-a-lifetime event. This is an invitation from the organizers of the upcoming Centennial Run for Hope scheduled December 3 as running enthusiasts are again encouraged to join and support another run for cause. The Centennial Run for Hope organized by the Saint Louis University-Sunflower Centennial Halfway Home for Boys in cooperation with the Marketing Mixers, will support the SLU Centennial Halfway Home for Boys which is an extension program of SLU. The SLU Centennial Halfway Home for Boys provides psychosocial services including shelter, psychological assessment, counseling, crisis intervention, education and case management to boys in order to assist their reintegration into society by working with individuals, families, communities, organizations, other residential centers and concerned professionals. The Run for Hope project will help sustain the needs of the Halfway Home as well as raise the awareness of the general public on the issues about young boys needing special protection. The event will kick off at 5:30am at the Burnham Park Lake Drive. Interested runners are welcome to join either in the 3km, 5km or 10km run categories. The registration period is on going until November 30 at the Diego Silang Building lobby, Bonifacio main campus; Devesse Plaza, Maryheights Campus, Bakakeng; or at the Laperal Building along Session Road, care of race director Rosario "Che" Alberto. Registration fees are at P250 for the 3km, P300 for the 5km, and P400 for the 10km for students while P300 for the 3km, P400 for the 5km, and P500 for the 10km for non students. The registration fee includes a race kit consisting of a race number bib, a t-shirt and a copy of the route. Medals, trophies, certificates and surprises await the top runners of the event. For inquiries please contact 0927-213-4541 or Dulcy Balatero at 0905-880-3377, Evangeline Patal-e at 0927-213-4541 or visit the SLU-Sunflower Children’s Center facebook account. (JDP/RC-PIA CAR)

Vice mayor lauds implementors of drug-free, smoke-free Baguio

By (PNA)

LAP/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 25 (PNA) - City Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas on Friday lauded implementors of various programs toward making this mountain resort 250 kilometers north of Manila as drug-free and smoke-free.

He met with various village leaders to give commendations and awards for outstanding performers in curving the menace brought by the peddling and use of prohibited drugs as well as implementing the ban on smoking in public places and conveyances.

Hundreds of players and visitors to the on-going Fil-Am golf international tournament were among those who observed that not one person was seen smoking in public places.

Likewise, the rate of arrest and conviction of drug pushers had been commendable in the past 15 months when the government itself moved to crack down on perceived rise of drug peddling.

This came when the government strengthened its information campaign on the ills of the drug problem when a number of Filipino expatriates were turned into "drug mules" resulting in their incarceration abroad as well as execution of some like what happened last year in China.

According to Farinas, the umbrella organization Baguio Anti-drug Association (BADAC) will see to it that the community would further help in the suppression of distribution or sale of prohibited drugs, educate the people on the ill effects of these drugs, cut off any supply route from drug pushers to victims and the due process application to all those going against the existing laws punishing the cultivation, distribution and use of prohibited drugs.

Councilor seeks pedestrian lane near high school

By Raymund Castro


COUNCILORS unanimously approved Monday requests of parents and teachers to provide pedestrian lanes near a high school in Baguio City.

Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said the pedestrian lanes would accommodate students, especially those crossing the Leonard Wood Road near teacher’s Camp.


Councilor Edison Bilog, also the president of the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, told the council the SLU administration has plans of putting up overpasses instead.

“As the president of the PTA will respond to your concerns, but as of now, the SLU administration has already plans to construct overpasses which will connect the school buildings, from one building to another,” he told Tabanda.

Meanwhile, Councilor Fred Bagbagen and Councilor Perlita Rondez also stressed their concerns regarding the proposed resolution.

“We should also consider the city planners for the construction of pedestrian lanes, and also, we should refer it to the planning officer,” Bagbagen said.

Rondez added to consider the budget of the City Engineers Office that will implement the project.

Trade department holds first veggie noodle cookfest=

By Art Tibaldo


A VEGGIE Noodle Cookfest was recently held in Baguio at the Easter College’s Hospitality and Management Laboratory as part of the commemoration of the 2011 Consumer Welfare Month (CWM).

Eight contestants from three schools offering hospitality, tourism and culinary management in Baguio City pitted for the major prices for the first-ever contest of its kind in the region.

The activity was conceptualization and collaborated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Cordillera through its Business Development Division and the Consumer Welfare and Trade Regulation Division as a way of highlighting a major program of DTI that can also be a part of the ConsumerNet activity.

Locally-manufactured veggie noodles are being promoted by DTI as a flagship program of the region as a commercially viable consumer item suitable for production using indigenous vegetables.

The contest highlighted the theme of this year’s CWM commemoration, “Sapat, Ligtas as Abot-Kayang Pagkain Para Sa Lahat” by promoting consumer patronage to vegetable enriched noodles as an alternative to noodles that may have undergone artificial processing.

The University of the Cordilleras and Easter College each had three contestants from their schools, while Saint Louis University fielded two of its HRM students.

The contestants were given two hours to prepare three dishes - a hot or cold appetizer, a main dish, and dessert – all incorporating veggie noodles as the primary ingredient.

Baguio Country Club Chef Napoleon Arrieta headed the panel of judges composed of Joelinda T. De Venecia of the Department of Agriculture – CAR Field Unit, Joseph Sab-It of the Baguio City School of Arts and Trade – TESDA, and Provincial Director Freda M. Gawisan of DTI-Benguet.

After a thorough review and inspection of the entries, the judges awarded Shelwyn Mark G. Garrido of Saint Louis University top honors for his entry, California Noodle Maki, Veggie Noodle Ravioli and Carrot Miki Basket con Fruit Mania.

Bagging the second and third was a tandem of students from the University of the Cordilleras, James Dave A. Reyes and Brent Dacquigan.

The winners received medals and cash prizes of P4,000, P3,000 and P2,000 for first, second and third respectively, while their schools received trophies.

Non-winning participants received certificates and consolation prizes.

The First Veggie Noodle Cookfest was successfully implemented with the help of Easter College Hospitality and Management Department, which provided the venue and MJ Gacad Incorporated that lent the LPG fuel and two-burner stoves.

Showdown looms on firecrackers ban in Baguio

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 22 (PNA) -- The Baguio city council on Monday approved in a resolution sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics here during the Christmas season.

The resolution runs counter to the earlier announcement of City Mayor Mauricio Domogan that firecrackers and pyrotechnics will be banned here because of the materials' proven effects on the health of the residents as well as the adverse effects on the environment.

Agnes Montoya, one of the leaders of the vendors of the firecrackers, said her group appreciates the stand on the issue of the city council as "the traditional use of firecrackers and pyrotechnics give cheer to the celebration of Christmas and New Year."

Besides, she said her group would have their regular livelihood affected, especially that everybody needs some cash to celebrate the Yuletide Season.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) has given support to Domogan's stand on the total ban of the firecrackers as it fortified its similar campaign called the "Iwas Paputok."

For the past years, dozens of persons here were injured and structural fires happened due to the use of the firecrackers and pyrotechnics.

This fact led the authorities to campaign to stop the tradition and instead celebrate the Christmas holidays by other means like loud music and beating of gongs.

Whether or not Domogan will exercise his veto power on the resolution allowing firecrackers sale here will be closely monitored by groups opting for more healthful Christmas season.

Baguio makes bid for 2012 National Games from the Baguio Midland Courier

By pirieandrew


The city government of Baguio is set to bid for the hosting of the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games next year. This after the city council approved Monday the resolution for the city to host one of the well-attended sports events in the country today. Majority of the members of the city council supported the resolution sponsored by Councilor Elmer Datuin after some issues were raised when the measure was discussed. City Mayor Mauricio Domogan is likely to sign the resolution after he told earlier that Baguio is capable to host in the nearest future the Palarong Pambansa, another well-attended sports event. A number of city officials shared the same view of Datuin that the hosting of the POC-PSC National Games in 2012 can be successful if the city government partners with Benguet province, especially members of the BLISTT area. The cities of Bacolod, Silay, Bago and Talisay teamed up reason why Negros Occidental was successful in hosting the 2011 POC-PSA National Games last month. The councilor likewise said the city government is likely to get support from PSC for the much needed funding for repair of existing sports facilities. Of late, Domogan said he sees no major obstacle in hosting national sports events in Baguio although he said that other local government units are persistent in bidding for the event because of the huge amount given to host LGUs. Baguio City once joined the bid to host the Palarong Pambansa during the mid-‘90s but it lost to Naga City. Bidding to host the event is too competitive because the host city or municipality or cluster of cities or towns will be given P350 million or higher for improvement of sports facilities

DPWH urged to speed up road works for a hassle-free holiday

By Aileen Refuerzo


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 20 -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan appealed to the Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the road improvement projects currently being implemented within and outside the city to avoid further inconvenience in time for the Christmas holidays and the upcoming activities that the city will host. During the Ugnayan Panglungsod press briefing last Wednesday, the mayor expressed hope that the DPWH will hasten the road works in Tarlac and Pangasinan so that travel time to the city will revert to normal and that tourists will be encouraged to come up to the city for the holidays. Last Monday, Baguio Flower Festival executive committee chair Anthony De Leon made the same pitch and expressed hope that the road network leading to the city will be cleared in time for the staging of the 17th Panagbenga festival to ensure its success. The mayor said he has also urged Baguio City District Engineering Office Engineer Ireneo Gallato to hasten repair and improvement works along roads in the city to avert the traffic problems being experienced particularly along Magsaysay Avenue and Naguilian Road. “We kept on asking Engr. Gallato to do something about the problem in said areas and I hope the contractors are now complying with our request,” the mayor said. The city council recently urged the DPWH to improve its public consultation and information strategies on their public works projects to allow people more opportunities to be informed, ventilate their opinions and to prepare for the inconvenience that may result from the implementation of the projects. The body felt that the department’s strategy was lacking after the DPWH successively implemented road works in various parts of the city resulting to traffic snarls. The body also asked the DPWH to improve coordination with the local government units in the implementation of the projects as well as the basis in deciding on the road repairs in view of observations that some roads being improved are still in good condition while those needing repair are not being touched. The city supports the move in Congress to speed up bidding procedures of projects funded under the General Appropriations Act to avoid delay that causes disturbance to the public. *(PIA CAR/RD-PIO Baguio City)

Canadian medical mission coming for 3rd straight year

By Ramon Dacawi


A CANADA-based medical mission founded barely two years ago will be on its third straight surgical outreach early next year at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).

Greater Outreach Medical/Educational Destinations (GO-MED), which membership includes nursing graduates of the BGHMC, has scheduled free surgical procedures for indigent patients from January 30 to February 12, according to medical center chief Dr. Manny Factora.

Aside from the two previous surgical missions conducted here in early 2010 and this year, GO-MED had donated two operating room beds, two anesthesia machines, 30 hospital beds and numerous surgical and medical supplies to the top regional hospital of the Cordillera, Factora said.

The mission is expected to be headed again by Dr. Peter Blair, a general surgeon who was elected GO-MED president during its annual general meeting in May last year.

Also coming in, as she did in several missions here she had helped organize, is Baguio Mission 2011 coordinator Shirley Pinlac-Maas, a native of Baguio and a graduate of the BGH School of Nursing and the Baguio City National High School.

The team, Factora said, will do laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystecomy, hernia repairs, mastectomies, thyroidectomies, ovarian tumor excision, abdominal hysterectomy and other surgeries.

He announced last week that people in need of any of these procedures may start signing up at the out-patient department of the medical center.

“We’re looking forward to meet and work with you again,” mission logistics coordinator Miechiel Maas e-mailed Factora late last month to firm up the outreach.

Last January, the visiting mission notched 75 procedures.

As in the previous missions, the visiting team members will shoulder their transport, food and billeting expenses. The team normally includes a mission leader, surgical leader, anesthesiology leader, nursing leader, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and support staff, including health educators and other non-medical volunteers.

PDEA arrests four suspected selling prohibited drugs

By (PNA)

FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 18 (PNA) - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has arrested four persons here since last week for alleged peddling illegal drugs during two separate buy bust operations along Magsaysay Avenue and Barangay Bakakeng as it intensified drive against pushers.

This was learned from PDEA investigating officer Cesario Castro who said that the four suspects are now at the Baguio City Jail.

"All the four suspects are facing charges of violations against R.A. 9165 otherwise known as Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002", he said.

PDEA has tightened the noose against suspected drug pushers in the city when they found out that drug addicted persons have become younger. The youngest victim identified is still in the elementary grades.

Castro said that PDEA not only have to deny the supply of the drug addicts but also to go deeper to the problem like eliminating the sources of prohibited drugs and help in the rehabilitation of youths who were victims of the nefarious trade.

State of the art rice harvester to help farmers

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 17(PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Cordillera showcased a locally-designed and manufactured state-of-the- art rice harvester which combines harvesting, threshing, cleaning, and bagging in one operation to help farmers in harvesting their produce. According to DA regional executive director Marilyn Sta. Catalina, the rice harvester was specifically built to help aid in harvest which lack labor force and thresher facility. It also minimizes time and energy and allows harvesting even during night time. The unit can work on field, having a capacity of 1-1.5 hectares per day with an estimate of 18-20 bags of palay per day. With that, it consumes a maximum of 14 horsepower gasoline engine, Sta. Catalina said. To operate the machine, it requires three persons as main operators from driving to bagging of the threshed palay. One person drives the engine while two persons assist in bagging at the back, she explained. Its traction has a pair of lugged rubber tires with metal lugs suitable to freely run in the field. Thus, it fits in small paddy fields whether it is dry or wet season harvesting, she said. A numnber of farmers who witnessed how the machine works in the field appreciated the speed of the machine to perform three tasks at one time and they made some recommendations to improve further the performance and be suitable in the ricefields, Sta. Catalina added.*(JDP/JBZ PIA-CAR).

DOH advocates traditional and alternative health care

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 16 (PIA) - - Traditional medicines and health care practices have long been part of the country’s system passed on from generation to generation. In 1997, in line with the policy of the state to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people, Republic Act 8423 otherwise known as Traditional and Alternative Medical Act of 1997 was enacted. The Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) was also established. Today, there are now accredited practitioners of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (TAHC) modalities such as massage therapy and acupuncture and through PITAHC, the Department of Health (DOH) is now advocating for the use of 10 herbal medicines with approved therapeutic value. These include akapulco (ringworm bush), ampalaya (bitter gourd), bawang (garlic), bayabas (guava), lagundi (five-leaf chaste tree), niyog-niyogan (Chinese Honey Suckle), sambong (Blumea Campora), yerba buena (pepper mint), pansit-pansitan, and tsaang gubat. With the country’s rich and diverse culture, as well as flora and fauna, the DOH believes that there are more herbal plants with medicinal value and indigenous traditional health care practices that have not yet been discovered or properly researched and documented. This was pointed out by Teresita Foman-eg, nurse of DOH-CAR, to the representatives of various agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and educational institutions during the regional Healthy Lifestyle (HL) coalition meeting at the DOH Regional Training Center, Tuesday. Foman-eg called on the HL coalition members to help in the advocacy of TAHC in their respective agencies, offices, institutions, or communities. She also urged educational institutions to share with them any student or institution research that involves TAHC so that together with the government, through PITAHC, they could work together for the advancement of such research. Aside from research, it is also the DOH’s objective to further intensify the advocacy on the use of TAHC and to fully integrate it into the country’s health care system, Foman-eg said. Moreover, the DOH is also pushing for the listing (accreditation and licensing) of traditional and alternative practitioners in the country. In Baguio City, there are two accredited acupuncture therapy practitioners – Dr. Manuel Quirino of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and Dr. Charles Cheng of the Baguio Chinese Hospital, according to Foman-eg. For massage therapy, Foman-eg admitted that they are still working on the listing of the licensed massage therapists in establishments here in the city offering such service. This November, the DOH is leading the observance of Traditional and Health Care Month. *(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

DTI monitors sub-standard Christmas lights as shopping spree starts

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 15 (PNA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) started on Tuesday the monitoring of Christmas lights and other decorative lights put on sale as the seasonal shopping spree begins.

DTI regional director Myrna Pablo said the move is to totally prevent the purchase of sub-standard Christmas lights which had been found out to have caused structural fires during the Yuletide Season.

The move also prevents any act of infringement against owners of patents and trademarks of the legitimate merchandise which passed all the safety standards imposed by the government.

Records show that the Philippine government has been strict in safeguarding the intellectual properties duly registered under its laws which include Republic Act 8293 otherwise known as the "Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines."

Pablo said that with just a month before Christmas Day, many families buy in advance what they need to celebrate the season.

Next month, DTI is also expected to closely monitor prices of commodities normally purchased in bulk for the season to avoid any violation of price manipulation.

Simultaneous lighting of Christmas lanterns in Baguio City set on December 1

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 14 (PNA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to complete the installation of Christmas lanterns in all main streets and Burnham Park of this mountain resort which will be simultaneously lighted on December 1. This was learned from Baguio Rep. Bernardo Vergara who observed that the city has regained its high rate of tourist arrivals in the past two months after a perceived slump due to the effects of typhoons. Vergara said that with the lighting of the Christmas and other decorative lights of the city on December 1, "many Christmas activities will serve to entertain our visitors and residents during the most joyous part of the year." The solon also noted how Baguio has steadily recovered from the usual problems of metropolitan area like the effective waste disposal system as well as the gridlocks of traffic flow. He assured that most of the on-going road and drainage repairs within and around Baguio would be finished before Christmas and New Year.

Firm seeking minerals in Benguet air stand

By Larry Madarang


BAGUIO CITY: “We are not mining, we are merely exploring,” so said, Joey R. Ayson, country manager of Royalco Resources Limited an Australia-based company to explain their presence in Bakun and Kibungan in Benguet. “Exploring and mining are two different processes and different ballgames,” Ayson said.

Exploring he explained is merely the process where one will verify if indeed there is the presence of substantial minerals to be mined and what type of minerals are in the different test sites; mining is the actual retrieval of minerals from the mining site.

Sometimes the community has misconceptions that exploration is equated to actual mining, he said. In fact, he said, the geological maps that have been created by the different exploration companies in the different municipalities in the country could be a good source of information for the geological hazard mapping project of the government.

Earlier this year, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño and Gabriela Party List Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan authored a resolution directing the Congress Committee on Indigenous Peoples to specifically probe the questionable issuance of a Certificate of Compliance and an Exploration Permit issued to Royalco despite the opposition of tribal residents of Gambang village in Bakun.

Royalco according to the opposing residents is using these permits to justify their on-going operations in the area.

Casiño in a statement said, “we (the members of the congressional team) are intent on determining why the NCIP-issued certificates of compliance to the free and prior consent process conducted by Royalco and why the NCIP and MGD aided the mining firm in getting around the said process to get a renewal of their exploration permit”.

Bakun residents oppose Royalco operations.

The residents have brought the issue of alleged irregularities committed by the NCIP and the Mining and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) before the House of Representatives.

Ambassadors say foreign mining firms willing to invest in PH

By Redjie Cawis


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 12 (PIA) -- Five foreign ambassadors are united in saying that mining firms from their countries are very much willing to invest in the Philippines. Thus announced Ambassadors Roderick Richard Campbell Smith of Australia, Alcides Gastao Rostand Prates of Brazil, Roberto Mayorga of Chile, Agnes Nyamande-Pitso of South Africa and Stephen Lillie from the United Kingdom, who were guests during the 58th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference here in Baguio City last week. The ambassadors, who gave the situation of mining in their respective countries before more than 700 participants and delegates from all over the country including foreign investors, said that the Philippines is rich in mineral resources and it is good to have foreign mining firms to invest here. Ambassador Lille said there is a tremendous potential for more mining in the country as evidenced by three companies from the United Kingdom doing business here. South African Company Gold Fields recently established the Gold Fields Philippines Corporation and together hwith the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation, they acquired the Far Southeast Gold Resources, Inc. (FSGRI) project in Lepanto, Mankayan in Benguet. Meanwhile, former Secretary of Foreign Affairs Delia Albert said that the Philippines has to compete with investors to get their interest. “If we do not, investors will go to other countries where they will have better value for their money.” Albert stressed the country is endowed with mineral reserves and has a firm legal framework for an investment guide. “These are some of the reasons people want to come here to invest.” A former special envoy of the President for mining, Albert , a Baguio girl, had been overseeing procedures that will speed up the mining business and attending regional and international conferences where mining was discussed. She organized a Minerals Development Council, patterned after similar institutions in other mining countries, but tailoring its functions to the unique Philippine situation. It aims to ensure responsible mining practices, including transparency, environmental concerns and safety measures. With this year’s theme of “Responsible Mining: Enabling a Better Future,” Albert stressed that although foreign firms are welcome to invest in the country, they have to make sure that responsible mining will be practiced. *(JDP/RC- PIA CAR)

Mayor stands pat with firecracker ban

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan maintained his stand on a citywide ban of firecrackers due to environmental and safety reasons, despite call from several vendors to allow them to sell their products. The mayor said the City Council should amend City Ordinance 53 regulating the sale of firecrackers and pyrotechnics and banning sale of illegal firecrackers in the city, claiming this is ineffective without a few amendments. Domogan said the existing ordinance currently lacks provisions to confiscate firecrackers bought outside the city, rendering a citywide ban ineffective. The City Council has not held session for two weeks due to the holidays, which coincided with their regular session but is scheduled to act on the request of firecracker vendors on Monday. Agnes Montoya, head of the Baguio retailers of firecrackers, said they proposed to the city to allow them to sell aerial pyrotechnics, as it is safer than firecrackers used on land. Councilor Elmer Datuin, meanwhile, said the city is gearing towards a more peaceful New Year’s celebration, citing the recent removal of fireworks displays in the scheduled holiday activities spearheaded by the City Government. The councilor, however, said if the firecracker ban will push through, the weekly fireworks display in malls should also be banned by the city mayor. Datuin said reports reached him saying the city already allowed the mall chain to conduct its weekly fireworks display but the mayor, in his Ugnayang Panlungsod program, denied issuing any permit. Domogan ordered Dr. Rowena Galpo of the City Health Services Office to coordinate closely with the Department of Health (DOH) on regulations on firecracker use. DOH-Health Emergency Services head Elnoria Bugnosen, meanwhile, stressed local governments should be vigilant in protecting their residents from accidents and health effects which may arise from use of firecrackers. Bugnosen added local government officials should have the political will to implement these regulations, as they are the ones who must look into the safety of their residents. She also answered proposal of firecracker vendors, claiming a supposedly safe aerial pyrotechnics caused the death of a Baguio resident in 2009, while sparklers and lusis are known to cause injuries like burns and accidental explosion. Based on DOH records, firecracker-related injuries have been rising in Baguio City from 23 reported injuries in 2009 to 25 last year. In the region, reported injuries have also increased from 85 reported injuries in 2009 to 96 last year. Baguio Fire Marshall Richard Villanueva also said like last year, he will not issue fire safety inspection certificates to firecracker vendors, citing they continue to violate the fire code. He said the stalls located at the Old City Auditorium are near eateries with open flames, which may trigger explosions. Vendors, meanwhile, said the city should reconsider their proposal, saying the New Year’s celebration will not be the same celebration without fireworks and they sell for only 10 days in a year.

Cordillera on track to become malaria-free

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 10 (PIA) - - ‘Through unified efforts, we can eliminate malaria in Cordillera, in line with the country’s goal to be Malaria-free by 2020.’ This was stated by the Department of Health (DOH) Center for Health and Development (CHD-CAR) Entomologist II Ursula Segundo, in a Kapihan Media Forum, in line with the observance of Malaria Awareness Month this November. According to Segundo, based on their data, Cordillera shows a significant decrease in recorded malaria cases in the region. “From the 4,095 cases recorded in 2002, malaria cases were down to 20 in 2010, a 99 percent decrease”, she said. Segundo also reported that based on their 2010 data, the provinces of Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province remains to have malaria cases with three, one, two, and 14 cases, respectively. For this year, only three confirmed cases from Kalinga have been reported so far. Abra has no recorded malaria cases since 2009 and Benguet has already been declared a Malaria-free province since 2009, she added. Segundo also affirmed that they are on track in eliminating malaria in the region. “Basta magtulong-tulong tayo as a region, we are very hopeful that the endemic areas in Cordillera can become Malaria-free,” she said. The main strategy of the Health Department in eradicating malaria is the distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated nets (kulambo) especially in endemic areas. According to Segundo, through the assistance of Global Fund, they have already distributed 50,000 of these nets in 2010 and as an augmentation, the DOH also purchased 10,000 more, which are on standby and ready for distribution. She also stressed that the DOH focus on monitoring the nearby regions to prevent the importation of malaria cases in Cordillera. “People who are working or moving in and out of malaria endemic areas in the nearby regions are also susceptible to get afflicted and import it back to the already malaria-free areas here in the region,” Segundo stressed. Meantime, Segundo also announced that they will be launching the regional Malaria Awareness Month program in Kalinga on November 24 with activities such as discussions on how to maintain the low status of malaria in Cordillera and on how to eventually totally eliminate it. *(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

DSWD-CAR not in favor of lowering age of criminal responsibility of childrent

By Joseph B. Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Nov.9 (PIA) -- Recent developments concerning minors caught in criminal activities had sharply divided Filipinos to the point of sectors crying for lowering the age of criminal liability of these children. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rejected proposals to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 years old to nine, saying that children in conflict with the law (CICL) are also victims of circumstances. DSWD Cordillera regional director Leonard Reynoso emphasized that most CICLs are those neglected and lacked parental love and guidance, those who come from impoverished and dysfunctional families whose parents are jobless or separated, whose environment is filled with violence, or whose community is tolerant of offending crimes as their normal way of living. Reynoso explained that government’s primary concern is assure the best interest of the child - it needs a multi-sector approach from government, non-government groups, and the community to give a better rehabilitative intervention for CICLs. He said that the so-called "restorative justice" enshrined in the law believes that children have the capacity to embrace reform and change moral values with parental care and guidance from the community. Children deserve to live the best of their childhood and that juvenile justice does not mean exempting a child from any form of accountability. They are not entirely or absolutely free of accountability but a different justice system is prescribed by law, Reynoso added. Five years ago, the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA) of 2006 or Republic Act 9344 was enacted to address the problem on Filipino children languishing in jails and living in inhumane conditions and cruel treatment. Within the framework of restorative justice, RA 9344 provides that children are exempt from criminal responsibility but need to undergo appropriate intervention programs designed in consideration of several factors such as circumstances of the child, needs of the child, influences of the environment, and willingness of the parents to supervise the child. The DSWD has rehabilitation facilities nationwide that cater to CICLs. In the region, the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) located in Sablan, Benguet currently houses 12 children. The DSWD also works with local government units through local social welfare and development offices for community-based CICLs. *(JDP/JBZ-PIA CAR)

Mining firm, union to ink new bargaining agreement

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO CITY -- Successful mediation prevented a threat of strike of members of Lepanto Employees Union (LEU), as the group is set to sign a collective bargaining agreement with the Lepanto mining firm.

National Conciliation and Mediation Board Regional Director Brenda Odsey said both parties will sign the agreement within the week.

Odsey facilitated the negotiations between management of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corporation (LCMC), one of the biggest mining firms in the country, and the workers represented by LEU president Manuel Binhaon Jr.

LEU filed a notice of strike on September 9, claiming collective bargaining agreement deadlock particularly on wage increase, which LCMC allegedly refuses to give.

In a meeting before the filing of notice of strike, LCMC management maintained a lower wage increase of 0-19-19 percent spread in three years.

But demands of LEU are 35-40-40 percent in wage increase spread in three years.

Other informal offers that transpired during negotiations between both parties include additional P2,000 to be given to each worker on the first year and lesser increase in the following years.

Odsey and Labor Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said both parties signed a memorandum of agreement last October 15 to put an end to their brewing labor dispute.

Both parties also agreed that workers will receive P6,000 for the first year and additional P25 per work day for the second and third years.

After settling negotiations on wages, both parties also discussed other company benefits.

Binhaon said they agreed on a medical plan worth P100,000 per year and an increased cost of living allowance from P292 to P305 per year.

Union members also expect an increased kitchen allowance from P1,000 per year to P1,400 per year to be given in two installments every May and November.

Work-related death assistance was increased from P28,000 to P30,000, while non work-related death assistance was increased from P18,000 to P20,000. The dependent death assistance was also increased from P10,000 to P12,000.

Binhaon said members will continue to enjoy other added benefits as prescribed during previous collective bargaining agreements.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, in a press statement, said LEU is an affiliate of one of the biggest and most active trade union centers in the country, which could have carried the fight for their locals if conciliation failed.

She also lauded the extra efforts of the NCMB in facilitating the settlement of the dispute.

In a related development, Baldoz said some 11,484 workers will benefit from the more than P4.1 billion benefits from case settlements in the country from January to October 15. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)

Baguio urban poor form federation to address housing concerns

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 7 (PIA) - - Urban poor associations in the city launched the federation called, PUDNU or ‘Pinagbibinnulig Ken Urnos Dagiti Nagkakaysa nga Umili ’ in a simple program at the Baguio City National High School gymnasium last week. PUDNU secretary general Ma. Teresa Arnedo, in an interview, explained that the federation’s name in the local dialect means the coming or joining together of organizations for a single or common goal. “The federation was established under a common goal of addressing the problems or concerns of land here in Baguio. Most of the federation members have their own problems in their respective lands where they reside. They do not have security of tenure in their areas and this is what we want to focus on,” Arnedo said. “We established the federation to give justice to the people living in Baguio whose lands are being claimed by others or by people who do not even live here. It involves ancestral claims and land title proclamations that are not being proclaimed for whatever reason,” Arnedo added. According to Arnedo, the federation is composed by 11 urban poor associations from the different parts of the city with about a thousand members. Invited guest speakers during the PUDNU federation launching was Akbayan Party List Representative Arlene ‘Kaka’ Bagao. In her message, Bagao announced the programs and proposed law that they are pushing in Congress to help improve the plight of the country’s urban poor especially on socialized housing, which she said that they are pushing for a ‘Balanced Housing Act,’ which will be an amendment to the UDHA or the country Urban Development and Housing Act. Bagao also had a dialogue with the federation officials to hear their concerns about lands and housing in the city of Baguio. She also promised to spearhead a congressional hearing on their concerns, if warranted or needed, especially on the issue of alleged fraudulent titles. Meantime, City Council’s Committee on Urban Poor chairperson, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, in an statement, lauded the establishment of the federation and expressed her hope that this would unify and solidify the land concerns and problems of the city’s urban poor, which she admits to be one of Baguio’s primary concerns. Tabanda also advised the federation officials to be sincere in their jobs and to practice transparency and accountability for the realization of their objectives. Bagao’s presence on the event, Tabanda noted, would be a big help for the city’s land concerns/problems. The congresswoman could work with Baguio Congressman Vergara for the approval of the city’s resolutions especially on the segregation and declaration of certain portions of government reservations that are not being used - for socialized housing purposes. “We have already drafted several resolutions on this that has not been acted upon, and we can ask congresswoman Bagao to team-up with Congressman Vergara, for a possible congressional act that would help declare portions of idle government reservation for socialized housing, which we really need here in Baguio,” Tabanda said. Tabanda also stated the city government’s support for the federation, in which she also affirmed that they will be spearheading an Urban Poor Summit by next year to hear all their concerns and find possible solutions and actions for such concerns. *(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Golf-for-a-cause benefits environmental programs

By Julie Fianza


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 6 -- Environmental programs, through the Alay Sa Kalinisan Foundation (ASK), shall be funded with proceeds from the just-concluded Domogan-Vergara Golf Tournament. ASK is the main beneficiary, with P250,000 shared from the said golf competition. Mayor Mauricio Domogan disclosed other beneficiaries during the regular media forum last week in his office. The palliative section of the Saint Louis Sacred Heart Hospital was allotted P150,000; the Miss Baguio Contest also received support funding of P100,000. Balikatan sa Kaunlaran Day Care Center shall have P50,000 as aid funding while the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) and Philippine Military Academy Host Parents were given P20,000 each. Everlasting Lions Club, Host Lion Club, Kindasan Foundation, Brotherhood of Saint Andrews, the Baguio General Hospital Advisory Board, and the Save Our School Children Foundation, Inc. (SOSFI) will get P20,000 each as beneficiaries. A total of P710,000 was doled out, with the remaining for expenses and seed money for the next tournament, the Mayor said. Domogan also acknowledged SM’s cash donation of P50,000 directly deposited to the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) to the ASK foundation. The Domogan-Vergara golf cup was played out October 29-30 at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay greens with nearly 200 participants. (PIA CAR/JF-PIO Baguio City)

‘No takers of Baguio trash’

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO City’s waste solution provider is having a hard time looking for a transfer and sorting station for the city's non-biodegradable trash.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan told Sun.Star Baguio Friday that Rosario, La Union Mayor Bellarmin Flores III offered Pro Tech Machineries Corp. a four-hectare private lot to be used as a transfer and sorting station for the city’s residual waste.

But Neil Orras, who claimed to be the owner of the lot, aired his protest against Flores’s action, saying the lot is not for the mayor to offer since Orras allegedly inherited it from his parents.

Domogan admitted the city is pressed to look for a private lot to be used as a transfer and sorting station for its residual and recyclable wastes after the city delegated Pro Tech last month to collect non-biodegradable wastes.

This prompted the city's waste solution provider and supplier of Environmental Recycling System (ERS) to search for an area outside the city where they could sort out trash.

But as of now, there are still no takers except the offer from Mayor Flores.

Domogan said prior to Pro Tech's collection of garbage from the barangays, they have allowed waste segregators to collect at least 30 kilos of recyclables inside the Irisan facility.

But this only resulted in residuals being left out, scattered and stockpiled.

The stockpiling of residuals has also been the main contention of Tuba residents, claiming the city has been continuously dumping trash in Irisan despite its closure order a few years ago.

In response to numerous complaints on continued dumping, the mayor issued Administrative Order 125, allowing Pro Tech to collect the city's trash through a two-truck system.

But waste segregators remain a problem, as Mayor Domogan claimed enterprising individuals have been following Pro Tech in the barangays during collection schedules, taking away the recyclables and leaving most of the trash unsorted, resulting again in mixed wastes.

The waste solution company then decided to look for a transfer station as staging ground for the city's non-biodegradable wastes, Domogan added.

He also said that at first, Pangasinan municipalities, like San Manuel, offered to accept the city's trash. Rosales, Urdaneta and Sison in Pangasinan also made an offer since both are closer to Baguio compared to the Capas, Tarlac facility where the city currently hauls its trash.

All these proposals, however, did not materialize as problems on expensive tipping fees, lack of available space to accommodate residual wastes, opposition from community and municipal leaders and host community complaints met Pro Tech's plans to haul out trash there, said Domogan.

“Certainly, there were no takers for the city's residual trash until the offer from Rosario town Mayor Flores came,” the mayor said.

But with Orras, who claims ownership of the private lot, another round of opposition will be faced by Pro Tech and Mayor Flores.

Mayor Domogan reiterated that the private lot will only be used by Pro Tech as a transfer and sorting station for non-biodegradable trash and not for malodorous biodegradable wastes.

“The biodegradable wastes will still be fed into the ERS machines in Irisan,” he said.

The owner said they are not even amenable to the area being proposed as a transfer and sorting area for Baguio's wastes.

With this ongoing problem of continuous opposition of host communities to accept the city's wastes, Pro Tech is now left at a quandary where to temporarily store the city's recyclable and residual wastes before it is finally hauled to their facility in Malasiqui, Pangasinan, which the mayor claims is the final destination of the city's wastes.

This transpired after Pro Tech's transfer facility in Carmen West, Rosales, Pangasinan, reportedly has also been opposed by neighboring establishments and residents, prompting the Municipal Government to disallow processing of residuals there.

Mayor asks council to ban firecrackers

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan implored to the city councilors to ban pyrotechnics and firecrackers all over the summer capital.

The mayor said the total ban includes the selling of firecrackers and pyrotechnics in all establishments in the city.

He said the ban will cover the Christmas and New Year’s Eve, stressing there is no budget earmarked for a city-sponsored fireworks display, usually held during holidays.

However, Domogan did not discount the likelihood of residents gaining access to these from neighboring towns and provinces.

He said he is supporting the Department of Health’s call for a safer holiday celebration with less accidents and pollution.

He added the city would have a more peaceful and meaningful celebration even without sky light displays.

Meanwhile, the mayor earlier issued Administrative Order 145 creating the Christmas in Baguio executive committee composed of city officials and representatives from the private sector to organize crowd-drawing events next month.

Different program committees were created to supervise yearly city-wide celebrations such Bonifacio and Rizal Day, Silahis ng Pasko, Diwa ng Pasko, charismatic and religious services, Baguio Christmas cultural events, Fil-Am Golf Tournament, tallest Christmas tree lighting, City Hall Christmas party, foreign and balikbayan homecoming celebrations, and other technical and aesthetic programs needed to spruce up the yuletide celebrations.

Residents lauded for improved waste segregation

By Aileen Refuerzo


MAYOR Mauricio Domogan lauded barangay officials and residents Wednesday for their efforts to comply with the waste segregation policy, resulting to the improved garbage collection in Baguio City.

“We thank our barangay officials and residents for taking waste segregation seriously so much so that we are happy that we have also improved our waste collection efficiency. We hope that we can sustain our efforts so we will not return to our old ways and experience the same garbage problem again,” the mayor said.

City environment and parks management officer Cordelia Lacsamana estimated the waste segregation compliance around 70-75 percent during the last two weeks, owing to the improved efforts of the barangays especially those that were earlier named in the delinquency list.

Domogan said alongside improving the collection efficiency, the city is also finding ways to relocate the sorting and transfer station from the Irisan-controlled dump facility to another area to avoid misconceptions that the city is still using the area for open dumping.

“We still use the facility as sorting and transfer area for the wastes to be segregated into biodegradables which are processed by the Environmental Recycling System machines, which are still stationed in the area; and non-biodegradables which are being transported out of the city, but people should not mistake it for open dumping,” the mayor said.

He said the ongoing experiment allowing Pro Tech Machinery Corporation to directly collect non-biodegradable refuse from the barangays and transport them to its disposal facility is proving to be helpful in sparing the use of Irisan dumpsite as sorting area and also in boosting the efficiency of the city’s waste collection system.

He assured the city is doing its best to address the plight of the waste sorters whose livelihood was affected by the experiment.

He said negotiations are underway for the possible hiring of these sorters by Pro Tech, even as he also assured that no City Government employees will also be displaced when the Pro Tech direct collection scheme is made permanent.

Lacsamana said the improved segregation increased the daily biodegradable output from the previous 66 tons to 70 tons and maximized the operation of the two erstwhile underused machines which now process their combined maximum load of 48 tons per day.

Lacsamana said the excess biodegradable wastes collected are currently being processed using the “turon” composting style.

Due to the excessive fertilizer output which the city cannot sell as it is still awaiting its permit to sell, the City Government decided to give away some of the compost fertilizer to those interested for free.

Domogan advised interested persons to coordinate with the City Environment and Parks Management Authority for the free fertilizers.

City inaugurates Mines View satellite market

By Ramon Dacawi


BAGUIO CITY, Nov. 2 -- The city inaugurated last Monday, Oct. 31, a four-floor satellite market at Mines View Park to serve as relocation area for souvenir shops blocking the steps to the popular rock view deck overlooking the former gold mines and mountains of Itogon, Benguet. Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Rep. Bernardo Vergara led in the ceremonies, with Bishop Carlito Cenzon, Catholic vicar apostolic of Baguio, heading religious leaders in blessing the edifice that will soon house 201 souvenir stalls, the barangay hall, and district clinic. “This multi-purpose hall is our commitment since years back,” the mayor said of the long-delayed project that was finally launched in January last year. “After seven years, it is (now) a fulfilled dream,” noted Vergara who, as the city mayor then, signed in February 2004 with the Mines View Barangay and the Mines View Open Market Vendors Association, an agreement setting the guidelines for the construction and awarding of stalls on a joint management scheme. With the building completed, Domogan said the foremost issue would be the rate of lease of the stalls the city will impose after consultation with the beneficiary vendors and the barangay officials, in accordance with the agreement. City councilor Peter Fianza, who had talks with officers of the association and barangay officials during his term as city administrator, recalled the vendors had sought a rental rate that would allow them to develop their business rather than based on the city’s recouping capital for the construction. The agreement created a Mines View Park Satellite Market Committee composed of the city mayor, the punong barangay, and a representative from the vendors association. It will oversee and supervise the awarding of stalls to members of the association, “as legitimate occupants,” determine the qualification of applicants other than members of the association, perform other functions as may be assigned by the mayor, and to jointly manage the satellite market. The agreement was required by the city council prior to the confirmation of the contract for the construction of the building. Construction, supervised by the city building and architecture office headed by Engr. Oscar Flores, began in January last year under Goodrich construction with an initial fund of P38.2 million. The city council last January added P12 million for the completion of the same. The relocation of the vendors to the building may yet lead to the restoration of the park’s status as a national tourist destination. The Department of Tourism de-listed it as such for the proliferation of stalls that destroyed its ambiance. The park’s down-grading, however, appeared to have no effect on the flow of tourists who, aside from finding their way through the maze of stalls, are offered commercial photo opportunities on horseback or with pet dogs at the rock promontory. *(PIA CAR/RD-PIO Baguio City)

Universities to offer courses on disaster management

By Desiree Caluza


BAGUIO CITY—-Starting next school year, expect colleges and universities to offer courses on climate control and mitigation as part of their curriculum. School officials and teachers from Central and northern Luzon and the National Capital Region have designed school activities, research programs and teaching modules on disaster-risk management and weather studies in a two-day trainers’ meeting at the Saint Louis University (SLU) here this week. They composed the last batch to undergo training aimed at elevating teacher knowledge on the basic concepts and scientific evidence of climate change. The teachers represented disciplines in forestry, agriculture, nursing, fisheries, engineering and marine biology. Even teachers in charge of the National Service Training Program (NSTP) were asked to design programs that incorporate disaster risk management and rescue courses. Agriculture teachers proposed to enhance the farm science curriculum with principles in climate change to develop climate-friendly farming practices. Marine biology teachers proposed to increase student aptitude in research to develop ways of preserving fish population from extreme weather. NSTP instructors offered to develop ecowaste management subjects for college students and to increase their participation in tree planting, coastal cleanup exercises, and disaster response training. The output from the SLU meeting will be consolidated with other proposals in Palawan on Nov. 23 when the Senior Educators’ Congress convenes to polish climate change-oriented curriculum. The congress participants are mostly university and college presidents and members of the Philippine Association of Tertiary Level Educational Institutions in Environmental and Protection Management, said Dr. Roger Guzman, adviser to the association’s board of directors. Guzman said the Commission on Higher Education was expected to enforce the curriculum insertions. The association had been gathering school officials and teachers from Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao for training, pursuing a project financed by the United Nations Development Program and the National Economic and Development Authority that intends to “build capacities for climate change adaptation.” Teachers are also provided information to help train nurses or engineers understand and employ solutions to disasters triggered by extreme weather patterns. “We are tapping academic institutions to be proactive,” said Guzman. “With more schools involved, more communities [will be] benefited,” said a training document.

Indigents get business aid from city

By Paul Rillorta


BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan recently released P161,000 from his Priority Development and Assistance Fund when he was still congressman to 17 beneficiaries.

Pinget Women’s Livelihood Organization received a total of P50,000 for its micro-lending business, while six families received a maximum of P20,000 and a minimum of P5,000 for their soap making, knitting, sari-sari store and other livelihood programs they wish to enter into.

Ten individuals were also given P5,000 to P3,000 each.

The livelihood fund is loaned to low-income and moderate income individuals, organizations and groups from the barangays screened by the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OCSWADO) without interest.

Its primary goal is for the grantees to indulge in financial livelihood activities for them to enhance their self-sufficiency and uplift their social status and capability.

The project is being implemented by the OCSWADO under the leadership of City Social Welfare Officer Betty Fangasan.

Baguio City garners first world record

By Paul Rillorta


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) -- It’s now official, the Ten Commandments Tablet donated to the city government has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records. Erected at the Dominican Heritage Hill and Prayer Mountain, it stands majestically at 152.90 square meters (1,645 ft.) and is now considered the tallest Ten Commandments Tablet in the world and the first Guinness World Record of Baguio. Grace Galindez Gupana, President and Founder of the Kingdom of Jerusalem Hallelujah Foundation International funded the approximately P5 million worth, three-story structure. It houses a prayer room, fully furnished office and a relaxation room complete with restrooms and massage area for physical rejuvenation. Guinness World Records representative Vic Fabellana personally handed the certificate to city officials headed by Congressman Bernardo Vergara and Mayor Mauricio Domogan on October 26. Among the guests who witnessed the official proclamation are H.E. Menashe Bar-on, Ambassador of Israel to the Philippines, Nigerian Minister of Culture and Information Abraham Ocolico representing Nigerian Royalty King Governor Jonah David Jang and officials of other government agencies. Domogan said, "the building will not only serve as an added tourist attraction for the city but will act as a place for spiritual rejuvenation and healing as well." Councilor Phillian Louise Weygan-Allan, who heads the Character City Council, emphasized the importance of having a site in the city where all religions are welcome and where one can enrich his faith. The program ended with Israeli Ambassador Bar-on planting the first ever ‘Olive Tree’ from Israel in front of the structure with a prayer in Hebrew ‘for the country and Baguio City to move forward’ in faith and progress .(PIA CAR/PR-PIO Baguio City)

OWWA focuses on strengthening solidarity of OFW families

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 29 (PIA) - - The outward movement of Filipinos to other countries, either to migrate or for overseas employment, has caused significant pressures on the integrity of the family and community life. According to Manuela Pena of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), this is the reason why they are focusing on programs and activities that aim to strengthen family ties and give recognition to the sacrifices being made by both the Filipino migrant workers and their families just to attain family progress and success. Last week, OWWA-CAR spearheaded a seminar-workshop on Strengthening Family Values of OFW Families with the theme, “Pamilyang Migranteng Pilipino: Paunlarin at Palakasin,” participated by 11 OFW families from Baguio and La Trinidad. “It is through activities like this that OWWA attempts to buffer the social costs of migration through continuous emphasis on family values,” Pena stressed. The changing dynamics of Filipino families due to the increasing number of Filipinos migrating abroad is one of the contributing factors in the erosion of family values. Thus, avenues should be provided where families can share their experiences as well as best practices of other OFW families, in order to highlight the importance of investing in harmonious family relationships, alongside working to provide a better life for their families. Resource speaker Karryl Mae Ngina, guided by the Family Resilience Perspective, constructed the training design and made use of structured learning experience, group discussions, story-telling, film viewing, and creative presentation for the seminar’s methodology. “It is important to use a variety of methods in these types of activities in order to maximize learning and sharing which will involve both the mind and the heart towards a positive action and commitment among participants,” said Ngina. Earlier this month, OWWA-CAR also spearheaded the regional awarding of the annual Model OFW Family of Year Award (MOFYA) search at the SM City Baguio wherein the families of OFW Mary Tumapang from Dagdag, Sagada Mt. Province and Bobby Sauri of Buyagan ,La Trinidad, Benguet, were recognized and will represent the region in the national MOFYA search for the land-based and sea-based category, respectively. According to Peña, the MOFYA aims to give proper recognition to the OFWs and their families, and serve as the role models for the whole population, as well as to seek to promote the success stories of our model OFW families, which exemplify the best practices of OFW families towards optimizing the gains of overseas migration, their endurance over the challenges on their family relations and uplift the image of the OFW families in the community. *(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Oplan Kaluluwa to ease traffic on Nov. 1, 2

By Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper


WITH ongoing constructions at Magsaysay Avenue and Naguilan Road, the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) will assign additional personnel to man city streets coinciding with the long holiday weekend starting October 29 to November 1.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan stressed traffic is the main concern BCPO will address in the coming weeks as flocks of tourists are expected to visit the city during the observance of All Saints Day, which happens to fall on a weekend.

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The mayor said it is during long weekends when tourists start to arrive and spend time with their families in this mountain resort city.

Thousands are also expected to flock in private and public cemeteries in the city during the observance of All Souls and All Saints Days.

As part of Oplan Kaluluwa, Traffic Management Branch head Superintendent James Logan said on November 1, they will designate one-way road system, several alternate or rerouting schemes and strictly implement no parking areas to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

The one-way road scheme will be implemented along Naguilian and Dominican Roads (from Bokawkan Road junction to Dominican), San Luis, San Roque, Sofia De Vera Roads including 1st and 2nd Quezon Hill Roads (from Naguilian Junction to Sofia De Vera and Ponce Streets).

All private vehicles except trucks and buses are allowed to pass through Naguilian Road.

Motorists coming from the Central Business District areas intending to load or unload passengers at Baguio Cemetery may do so but have to turn towards First Road along San Carlos Heights before proceeding to the designated parking area at Recoletos Seminary.

Those intending to park at the Cooyeesan Pay parking area will have to take the alternate route from San Carlos Heights to Quezon Hill.

In going back to the Central Business District, they shall exit through Dominican Road towards Queen of Peace Road or Rock Quarry Road to their destination.

Taxi cabs conveying passengers to the Baguio cemetery shall load or unload at the back of BCPO Station 1 (in front of Recoletos Seminary) and shall take San Luis or San Roque Road as exit route, turn right at Dominican Road towards Queen of Peace and Lourdes Road in going back to Central Business District.

Irisan, San Carlos Heights, NPC and other Naguilian public utility jeepneys in going towards Central Business District area shall take Naguilian Road, turn right at Dominican Road going down to either Queen of Peace or Apostles Road towards their designated loading terminals at Central Business District taking the usual route in going back to point of origin.

Passengers coming from the Central Business District intending to go to the cemetery shall be unloaded along the junction of these roads.

No parking will strictly be implemented as early as 5 a.m. inside the Baguio cemetery; Naguilian Road (from junction of Bokawkan Road up to 1st Road San Carlos Heights, both sides); whole stretch of San Roque Road (both sides); San Luis Road (from junction of Naguilian Road up to San Roque Road., both sides); Dominican Road (from junction of Naguilian Road up to Queen of Angels St., both sides); whole stretch of Queen of Peace, Queen of Apostles, Sofia De Vera Streets (both sides).

Baguio ready to host 64th annual Fil-Am golf

By (PNA)

LDV/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 26 (PNA) - All preparations are now undertaken to welcome next month more than 1,100 local and foreign amateur golfers to take part in annual Fil-Am golf tournament.

Steve McDonald, an official of the Camp John Hay (CJH), said the 64th edition of the world's biggest amateur tournament will be played at the greens of CJH and Baguio Country Club.

"Local powerhouse teams like Southwoods, Mizuno and others will compete in the prestigious event. Like in previous years, we expect players from the United States and various Asian countries," he said.

McDonald said prizes this year include cars for designated hole-in-one areas, trophies, cash and various raffle prizes.

He said tournament organizers have also invited teams of Philippines celebrities like Senator Lito Lapid from Pampanga and Congressman Ace Barbers from Surigao.

"It will surely be gonna lot of fun and camaraderie while we play the tournament for two weeks. I am sure that we shall have a lot of guests to our city," he added.

CCTV proves helpful in prevention, solution of crimes in Baguio

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 25 (PNA) -- Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas Tuesday said the close circuit television camera (CCTV) now operational in various strategic areas in this mountain resort have helped authorities in both prevention and solution of crimes.

Farinas made the disclosure after the council confirmed the donation of the CCTV from the Benguet Electric Cooperative (BENECO).

"The council is also considering the offer of BENECO to take over the maintenance of all our streetlights as further deterrent of crimes as well as give convenience to all our visitors and residents," he said.

Farinas said that the city government is doing all possible measures to keep Baguio not only the cleanest and greenest urban area in the country but also the most peaceful and orderly being a destination of international tourism.

Baguio, as "summer capital of the Philippines" some 250 kilometers north of Manila, has started the peak season of tourist arrivals mainly due to its cool weather despite the country is in the tropics.

"The city council is ready to cooperate with all the other offices here in order that we can undertake all other projects and programs which redound to the benefit of our people and ultimately our country," he said.

DSWD’s NHTS-PR identifies 79,816 poor households in Cordillera, 5.2M nationwide

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 24 (PIA) - - The National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) database, which the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) launched last week, has listed about 79,816 poor households or about 34.08 percent of the 234,233 households assessed in the region. The NHTS-PR is a data management system that would identify who and where poor households are and could give other important information that are essential in bringing in the needed social protection programs to poor households. According to DSWD regional director Leonardo Reynoso, based on the 2009 statistics of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), there are about 80,000 poor households in the region and through the NHTS-PR, they have identified who these poor households are, where they are, as well as the gathered other important facts and data that would help the government effectively bring in social protection and poverty reduction programs to these poor households. During the said NHTS-PR launching event, Reynoso reported that the NHTS-PR, through Proxy Means Test – a statistical model of gathering data that is being used internationally, has identified 5,255,118 poor households nationwide, out of the about 10.84 million households assessed. In the Cordillera, the NHTS-PR listed about 79,816 poor households distributed in Abra with 47,138; Apayao – 10,838; Benguet – 14,180; Baguio City -3,767; Ifugao – 12,229; Kalinga – 13,605; and Mountain Province – 30,866. “What is important here is not just identifying who and where these poor households are, but what makes it better is that we have regional profile where we can also get other important data from the NHTS-PR database,” Reynoso said. Reynoso also presented the housing condition, access to electricity, safe water, and sanitation - which includes toilet facility and access to health services - and other programs and services being offered by national government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations. Aside from the household’s profile such as its composition, education of family member, occupations, tenure, status of housing tenure, other information or data that can be accessed on the NHTS-PR database and Geographical Information System Map. Reynoso also stressed that aside from being the basis of DSWD’s beneficiaries for their banner social protection programs such as the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Department of Health and PhilHealth are now also using the NHTS-PR in line with the Aquino Health Agenda of providing free Philhealth membership and health care services to all the poor households in the country. Reynoso also stated that other NGAs could also use the NHTS-PR in converging their programs in ensuring a better and quality life for the poor Filipino families.*(JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

City mandates brgy heads to implement own disaster plan

By Paul Rillorta


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 23 (PIA) - - Familiarity of barangay captains with their areas of jurisdiction will be tested once again. In order to prepare for calamities, the city government is now looking into the most basic government institution to help out, the barangays. The city government has tasked the village chiefs to identify actual or probable disaster prone areas of their barangays to better the city’s risk reduction management system. City Mayor Mauricio Domogan approved City Council Resolution No. 330 introduced by Councilor Elmer Datuin urging barangay officials to implement a disaster preparedness plan to identify risk areas within their jurisdictions. Datuin said the barangays are in a much better position to identify such disaster prone areas such as flood, landslide, sink holes, precarious electric posts, and others as they are more familiar with their respective areas. The resolution also tasks the barangays to immediately create and activate their respective Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (BDRRMC) and prepare their barangay disaster preparedness plan as soon as possible to have remedial solutions once calamities strike their barangays. Risk assessment and mapping activities will be done with the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CDRRMC) for better assessment and coordination. The barangay councils are expected to submit their reports on risk prone areas of their jurisdictions immediately for appropriate and immediate action. *(PIA CAR/PR-PIO Baguio City)

Baguio ready for All Saints, All Souls Days

By Joseph B. Zambrano


ALL systems are in place in Baguio City for the traditional observance of All Saints and All Souls Days on November 1 and 2, respectively, where people are expected to flock to the different cemeteries and memorial parks in the city.

The City Government, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and other government agencies, is ready for these events through “Oplan Kaluluwa 2011.”

The departments of Transportation and Communications, Public Works and Highways, Health, Interior and Local Government, the Philippine Red Cross, as well as concerned socio-civic, and radio groups teamed up for Oplan Kaluluwa 2011.

Baguio City police director Senior Superintendent David Lacdan is enjoining the public to remain vigilant and cooperative and secure their homes by unplugging electrical appliances, locking up all doors and windows, and activating the alarm system if any.

“Do not bring too much cash and jewelry or expensive gadgets when going out to the cemeteries or memorial parks,” Lacdan said.

Lacdan advised the public to observe the prescribed liquor ban and report to authorities any suspicious-looking elements or activities.

“Let us keep in mind that the security and safety measures put in place by our authorities for our protection and well-being can be made more effective by our own vigilance and cooperation,” he said.

Baguio solon asks contractor of Naguilian Road repairs to work on 24 hour basis

By (PNA)

FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 21 (PNA) - Baguio Rep. Bernardo Vergara Friday asked the contractor of a road repair along Naguilian Road here to work on 24-hour basis because of the complaints from thousands of motorists which already persisted for the past two months.

"I ask the contractor to maximize the working hours of the project. They should also work at night. Many of our residents and visitors have already send to my office their persistent complaints," he said.

The traffic problem here due to various repair works has inconvenienced commuters that even the Department of Tourism (DOT) has also made the observation that repair projects must now be completed.

"I already asked our city engineer Ireneo Gallato as well as DPWH regional director Edilberto Carabacan to monitor all these on-going projects in order that our contractors would not incur too much delay," he said.

The ongoing multi-million infrastructure repairs in this mountain are among the first projects of the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

Baguio airport services can boost tourism during the period of All Saints Day -DOT

By (PNA)

LDV/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 20 (PNA) -- The resumption of domestic flights at the Loakan Airport with special discounted air fare rates from October 18 to November 18 can further boost the tourism industry of this mountain resort 250 kilometers north of Manila.

This was learned from Department of Tourism (DOT) regional director Purificacion Molintas who was informed that the Sky Pasada air company servicing Manila-Baguio and Baguio-Tuguegara routes will do their best to serve the air passengers towards and out of this city during the observance of All Saints Day.

The discounted rate for one way trip between Baguio and Manila during the period was pegged at 985 pesos.

Molintas observed that the resumption of air transportation from this city will created an improved perception of the accessibility of Baguio.

Movement of people especially tourists, businessmen and students to and from this city is seen to be heavy next week due to forthcoming long period of vacation as well as the fact that tertiary students are going for their vacation for the end of the first semester.

DENR conducts probe into Irisan dumpsite slide; monitors effects on water potability

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 19 (PNA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started technical investigation on the cause on the breach of the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite here last August 27 at the height of typhoon "Mina."

The avalanche of tons of solid wastes washed away a part of a community nearby killing five persons, blocked a part of the Asin Road in the adjacent town of Tuba, Benguet and suspected to have contaminated local water sources in proximity to the trash slide.

DENR regional executive director Clarance Baguilat said the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of their office are completing their investigations which would be finished in due time.

Meanwhile, he said that both the DENR and the Department of Health (DOH) have separate water samplings within the wide area affected by the water flow from the dumpsite in order to keep the residents posted on the potability from local water sources.

Baguilat said that being strictly monitored are nearby springs and waterfalls which could have been affected by the seepage from the more than 30 year old dam.

So far, neither of the government agencies had confirmed any contamination of the local water sources.

Also, Baguilat said that DENR "is closely monitoring how the city of Baguio repairs the dumpsite's damaged retaining wall and the permanent closure of the open facility in consonance to Republic Act 9003."

Baguio improves management of garbage collection

By (PNA)

DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 18 (PNA) - The city government of this mountain resort has finally resumed its standard of cleanliness and sanitation after it resumed efficiency of its garbage collection and proper disposal of its average of more than 2,000 tons of solid wastes generated daily.

Baguio, which remains as one of the favorite destinations for international tourism, remains in the Hall of Fame of the countrywide yearly contest for cleanliness and regreening.

Ruben Cervantes, in-charge of the solid waste management of the City Environment and Parks management Office (CEPMO), said this came about just few days before thousands of visitors are expected here for the observance of All Saints Day on November 1.

He said that through a private contractor managing the P128-million environment recycling system (ERS) of the city, solid wastes are now hauled outside this city to be handled by an engineered sanitary landfill (ESL).

The organic fertilizer produced by the ERS is now subject to tests by an agency of the government before it shall be sold commercially.

Mine safety confab set in Baguio

By The Philippine Star


MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is expected to grace the 58th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) on Nov. 8-11, 2011 in Baguio City, according to Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) President Louie Sarmiento.

According to Sarmiento, “significant activities have been lined up for the guests and participants to this year’s grandest four-day event of the country’s minerals industry to ensure a meaningful gathering experience.”

Sarmiento pointed out that the PMSEA testimonial dinner and annual awards night, on 11-11-11 (Nov. 11, 2011), will highlight the yearly mining and environmental tradition which is expected to be graced by President Aquino, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje, foreign ambassadors, church and religious leaders, the academe, non-government organizations and other government officials including Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

The 58th ANMSEC with the theme, Responsible Mining: Enabling A Better Future, would officially begin its first day with a tree planting ceremony at 2 p.m. by the PMSEA and the city government of Baguio inside the summer capital’s Botanical Garden as a form of “giving back” the fruits of Mother Nature.

Under a memorandum of agreement signed last year, PMSEA adopted a 1,000-square meter area inside the Botanical Garden by the Baguio government to develop and nurture for five years.

This would be immediately followed by a press conference at the same venue before the welcome cocktails at the Veranda of the Baguio Country Club at 6 p.m.

On the second day, at 6 a.m., the golf, bowling and lawn tennis tournaments would formally and simultaneously kick off at the Baguio Country Club, Baguio Center Mall and Baguio Tennis Club, respectively.

The winners would be awarded during the Mining Night at 6:30 p.m. in Camp John Hay’s Ampitheater.


The last day of the 58th ANMSEC would be marked with a Minerals Industry Parade at 6:30 a.m. starting from SM Baguio before the much anticipated Mine Safety Field Demonstration and Field Competition at Melvin Jones where victors would be honored at the Garden Wing of Camp John Hay, 3 p.m.

City, GSIS settle legal rift over convention center for P200M

By Isagani S. Liporada


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 16 --Mayor Mauricio Domogan and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) chief Robert Vergara last week inked settlement effecting transfer of the Baguio Convention Center (BCC) from GSIS to the city government of Baguio for P200, 185, 880.05. This compromise was penned by Municipal Trial Court Branch 1 presiding Judge Robert Mabalot, ending a possible long-drawn legal battle that would mean more ‘cash out’ than ‘in’ for both quarters. Mayor Mauricio Domogan and City Legal Office chief Melchor Carlos Rabanes went to Manila October 7, to meet with top GSIS officials. Before the agreement, the city owed GSIS P318 million in unpaid amortizations, including 12 percent annual penalties. In the four-page judgment upon compromise presented by Domogan during the ‘Ugnayan’ presser hosted by DZEQ last week, it was revealed the city via the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) recently tendered P60 million. On top of this, GSIS condoned P50 million in interests aside from city-overpaid premiums in 1996 and 1997 totaling to P7.8 million, leaving a total of P200,185,880.05 in debts the city owed GSIS. With the signing of the compromise agreement, Baguio extended the entire balance of P200,185,880.05 by way of a Landbank check dated August 11 and in return, GSIS issued a Deed of Absolute Sale naming Baguio as owner of the BCC. The BCC buy was initially for P250 million which, by contract among the city, GSIS, and BCDA, was supposed to be paid from the city’s 25-percent share from the lease of Camp John Hay (CJH). The Baguio government sourced out the entire balance from its own coffers and appropriated the same by virtue of Ordinance 25-2011. In his decision, Mabalot wrote, “[The] compromise agreement likewise settles all other claims and counterclaims of the parties… including the claim of the city government of Baguio for overpayment for the premiums for the years 1996 to 1997.” Meanwhile, during the same press conference, Domogan revealed the city will be looking into the possible privatization of the city’s lone convention venue. “I have not received formal proposals from the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Baguio (HRAB),” the mayor claimed adding, “But aside from proposals we have received from other interested groups, we have been advised, albeit informally, of HRAB’s plan by its president Anthony De Leon.” He said, “We will definitely look into the possibility of partnering with a private group” but clarified in the same sweep there is a need to study provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9184 to determine whether or not management can be directly awarded to HRAB. RA 9184 is the Government Procurement Act which includes regulations on the acquisition of services. Domogan said, “If it is permissible under the RA 8184, then we can explore possible partnership with HRAB after considering all pros and cons.” “If not, then we have to come up with a Terms of Reference (TOR) to ensure the city would benefit from a privatization scheme.”*(PIA CAR/ISL- Baguio City PIO)

OWWA honors Cordillera model OFW families

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 14 (PIA) - - The Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) gave recognition to the region’s model overseas Filipino worker (OFW) families from Sagada, Mountain Province and La Trinidad, Benguet in an awarding ceremony held at the SM City Baguio, Thursday. OFW Mary Tumapang and her family from Dagdag, Sagada, Mt. Province is the regional winner of the 2011 Model OFW Family of the Year Awards (MOFYA) in the land-based category. Mary, wife of Benito and mother of six children, had been a school teacher for 22 years before she worked in Israel as a caregiver from 1998 to 2004. MOFYA sea-based category winner is Bobby Sauri and his family from Buyagan, La Trinidad, Benguet. Suari is an active OFW currently employed as a diving supervisor. Bobby and his wife, Ma. Rowie, are blessed with four children including a special child. The couple also supported the college education of two nieces. OWWA-CAR regional director Manuela Peña, Department of Labor and Employment assistant regional director Ted Delson, Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, and Sagada Mt. Province mayor Eduardo Latawan Jr., headed the awarding of prizes to the winners which include P20,000 G-Cash from Globe, P10,000 worth of gift certificates from SM City Baguio, and a P5,000 savings account from Banco De Oro. For winning the regional MOFYA search, both the Tumapang and Sauri families will be the region’s representatives to the national MOFYA search, the awarding of which is set on December in Manila. Peña explained that the MOFYA, which is an annual search that started by OWWA in 2005, aims to give proper recognition to OFWs and their families, and serve as the role models for the whole population. According to Peña, MOFYA seeks to promote the success stories of model OFW families, which exemplify the best practices of OFW families towards optimizing the gains of overseas migration, their endurance over the challenges on their family relations and uplift the image of the OFW families in the community. Meanwhile, Governor Nestor Fongwan lauded the government, through OWWA and DOLE, for having a program such as the MOFYA, as he underlined the importance of giving recognition to the OFWs, who have their own stories of joys and sacrifices working abroad to earn income for their families which also contribute to their community and to the country’s economy. *(JDP/LD -PIA CAR)

Land Bank assures quality service to GSIS members

By Lito Dar


BAGUIO CITY, Oct 13 (PIA) - - After years of frustrating service from the GSIS-appointed bank in the past, GSIS members are now assured of quality service by the Land Bank of the Philippines(LBP) LBP– Baguio assistant vice president (AVP) Nomerlito Juatchon assured the delivery of fast and quality service to those who will opt to transfer their Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) account to Land Bank. Juatchon made the assurance during the Philippine Information Agency-led meeting of information officers and IO designates of government line agencies and local government units last Monday. This, after GSIS-Baguio branch head Veronica Perez told the participants of the new GSIS policy wherein members can choose to transfer their account to Land Bank, in lieu of their present Union Bank account. According to Perez, the optional transfer of account of GSIS members - from Union Bank to Land Bank - started September 15 and will continue up to November 30. Application for transfer can be submitted to any GSIS branch nearest the employees, or it can also be done electronically. Seven days after application, the LBP will issue the applicants with a new Land Bank compliant UMID (Universal Membership Identification Card) card. With Land Bank present in all provinces in Cordillera and with more than 20 automated teller machines (ATMs) each member is assured of 24/7 service, Juatchon assured. On the offline issue, Juatchon said it may only occur when there is a communication problem with other banks or other ATM cards. He assured that LBP has point persons who are on 24/7 standby status and ready to visit the machine anytime to make it available. ”Our performance appraisal target is the uptime rate of the machine and not the number of persons who are visiting the ATMs. The ATMs uptime rate must be more than 90 percent and seldom going on a machine unavailable mode,” Juatchon said. Juatchon also announced that Land Bank has e-access, wherein account holders would know their real-time account balance by just logging on to internet. Members can also transfer money from one LBP account to another without any charge and on a real time basis. Meanwhile, as an additional enhancement of their services, the LBP will be putting up an ATM machine at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office for the easy access of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program beneficiaries. He also bared that they will be putting up a parking area for their Harrison Road, Baguio branch and will be the transferring the Naguilian, Baguio branch to a more strategic location.*( JDP/LD-PIA CAR)

Pacquiao starts training in LA

By ADMIN


BAGUIO CITY — Filipino boxing great Manny Pacquiao starts his real training in Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles in preparation for his defense of the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown against Juan Manual Marquez on November 12 in Las Vegas.

The team Pacquiao, including trainer and Wild Card owner Freddie Roach, arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport early evening of Saturday (Sunday in Manila) from the first stop of training that lasted three weeks under the cold and often rainy Baguio City.

Fans were at the airport to greet the pound-for-pound king. Roach said Pacquiao looked very happy when he left Manila Saturday night.

Pacquiao was quoted as saying he was ready to resume preparing for the fight.

“I like it when he’s happy because that means he’s focused and will do whatever I want him to do in the course of his training,” the 51-year-old boxing guru said in an interview.

Roach added he wanted Pacquiao to remain focused because the time has come to “really crack him down.”

The fighting Congressman representing the lone district of Sarangani must win by knockout no less.

“I want him to always remember that Marquez has, for the past three years, been telling the whole world that he was robbed of victory in their previous two fights,” he said.

“I want him to bear in mind that we consented in fighting Marquez to end all doubts of the results of that fights,” he added.

Pacquiao and Marquez fought for the first time in May 2004 when the Filipino dropped the Mexican three times in the first round but could only settle for a draw.

Pacquiao, again, sent Marquez kissing the canvas in the third round of their 2008 rematch but only managed a split decision leading Marquez to proclaim he won both fights, going to the extent of wearing a T-shirt proclaiming “Marquez Twice” during one of his fights.

Marquez even came to Manila with his followers to personally hurl a challenge for Pacquiao to fight him.

Pacquiao ignored the challenge, saying he had already settled the issue of who is the best fighter between them.

But doubts linger throughout the years forcing Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum to set this third fight.

“Besides continuing with what we started in Baguio as far as training is concerned, we will be concentrating on our game plan here in LA,” Roach said. “The plan is to stop Marquez and that’s what we will be preparing for.”

“Yes, we’ll go for a knockout. If not in the early rounds, midway through, say the sixth or seventh,” he added.

Baguio General Hospital faces lack of nurses

By JM Agreda


FOR A public hospital servicing hundreds of patients from the region and nearby provinces, taking away close to a thousand nurse volunteers is like crippling its operations.

Dr. Nieves Macaranas, head of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center’s (BGHMC) Under-five clinic, said catering to 100 clients daily composed of mothers and their children is tasking now that nurse volunteers are no longer available to assist patients.

She said quality of time for patients has also been affected, as attention and time given are no longer the same compared when the time volunteer and trainee nurses are there to assist.

With the implementation of Department of Health (DOH) Order 238 terminating all nurse volunteers and training programs, service of close to 1,000 volunteer nurses in BGHMC have been affected, said DOH Human Resources and Management officer Caridad Binwag.

More have also been affected in other DOH-retained hospitals such as Luis Hora Memorial Hospital in Mt. Province and Conner District Hospital and Far North Hospital and Training Center in Apayao.

Binwag said the department made the move in answer to complaints of nurses and their parents who have been paying for training services in government hospitals.

Meanwhile, hospital doctors and staff are now worried on the order’s effects on their operations especially during disasters, outbreaks and months where they have many patients.

Binwag, however, stressed hospital administrators assured the department they will address this current lack of manpower, which came as a result of the order.

She also said government hospitals, such as the BGHMC, have been following standard staffing requirements, assuring patients and clients they have enough specialists and staff nurses to attend to a growing number of patients.

As the 2012 budget of the DOH and rationalization program nears implementation, she added these terminated nurses will be hired again through the Registered Nurses for Health Enhancement and Local Service or RN HEALS.

An additional 10,000 nurses will be hired for staffing government- operated hospitals starting next year. She said they will prioritize those who have been terminated.

Other requirements for the program include residency in place of employment and an unemployed status for three years.

With the program, nurses will be given compensation compared when they were still volunteering, where they are the ones paying for services they render.

DENR implements program on hunger mitigation

By Joseph B Zambrano


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 10 (PIA)- - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Cordillera is embarking on hunger mitigation projects through its project, the Community Base Forest Management (CBFM) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP). Regional executive director Clarence Baguilat said the project is aimed at enhancing the socio-economic conditions of the stakeholders while improving and protecting their community area and improving the forest and backyard vegetation. The program provides alternative livelihood projects reducing pressure on the intensive use of the upland ecosystem . At the same time, to introduce farm productivity interventions compatible in the consumption and protection of the forest resources, Baguilat explained. In Kalinga, the project being implemented is the agro-forestry enhancement. The stakeholders target to increase the productivity of their 218-hectare areas by increasing the existing species of forest trees like mahogany, gemelina, and the fruiting trees like mango, he said. Involved in the project is the municipality of Pinukpuk particularly barangays Cawagayan and Mapaco through the Cawagayan-Mapaco Forestland Management Association, Inc. The free range chicken production was introduced that can mitigate hunger in the area as it will provide immediate food and income to the project participants. A total of 5,000 day-old chicks, waterers, drinkers, vitamins, and incubators were given ro beneficiaries, Baguilat said. In Tadian, Mt. Province, the project implemented consisted of three components - enhancement of the coffee plantation, integration of short-term cash crops in sugar cane farming for muscovado and vinegar production, and free-range chicken raising as livelihood, he said. These projects when fully supported and strictly managed, will be a sustainable source of food income for the villagers while enhancing environmental condition in the area, Baguilat added. (JDP/JBZ PIA CAR)

42 couples join mass wedding ceremony

By Redjie Cawis


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 9 (PIA) - - Love is sweeter the second time around. Despite their ages, 65-year-old Michael Agmeyengyeng and 40-year-old Wilma Wadwadan, tied the knot along with 41 other couples in a mass wedding ceremony at the Baguio Convention Center last Friday.It was the second marriage for both. Michael and Wilma, with nine and six children, respectively from previous marriages, had been living together since January this year. Both are widowed. Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who was the solemnizing officer, highlighted in his message the importance of love and understanding to make a marriage work and be successful couples. Domogan stressed that the contract they have entered into has no limit but death. “I hope na pinag usapan nyo nang mabuti and bagay na ito, dahil hindi lang ito pang ilang araw o taon kundi lifetime contract,” said Domogan. The mayor added the 4 Cs of marriage or the obligations they should always remember - communication between the couples should be open; continuous courtship after the marriage to nurture and take care of love; compromise to admit mistake and forgive and ask for forgiveness, and the commitment not to do the wrong things both couple did. He also commended the couples for making such decision to legalize their wedding and to legitimize their children who were born before the marriage. City councilors, department heads, line agency directors, barangay officials, and other known personalities in the city stood as principal sponsors for the couples. The mass wedding was the 17th organized by the City Social Welfare and Development Office as highlight of the city’s Family Week Celebration. OCSWAD officer Betty Fangasan said that some of the couples had been living together from five years to 18 years and as organizers they are happy that the couples have made their union legal. Fangasan said at least 1,500 couples were wed through the mass wedding ceremony being done during the annual Family Week celebration.*(JDP/RC-PIA CAR)

Barnachea coasts home virtual champ

By Joey Villar


BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Eastern Pangasinan’s Santy Barnachea kept his pursuers in check with another gutsy ride in the mountains and hurdled the last stumbling block to his quest for cycling glory in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas here yesterday.

Barnachea, who wrested the overall lead with a strong fourth place finish in the crucial Vigan-Baguio Stage Nine Thursday, chased the breakaway group that included his chief rivals for the top P1 million purse and finished tied at 14th with one-hour, 48-minute, 45.9-second clocking in the 46.4 km Stage 10 that started in Agoo, La Union and ended at Lake Drive at Burnham Park.

“I just stayed closely behind the breakaway group that included some of my chief rivals,” said the 35-year-old Barnachea, who also won a four-leg cycling event in 2002 and an eight-lap meet in 2006, in Filipino.

“Barring any trouble, the title is mine now,” said Barnachea.

Although Nueve Ecija’s skipper Joel Calderon, the six-stage leader whom Barnachea toppled in the ninth leg, chopped off some four minutes to the new leader’s previous 10-minute lead, Barnachea remained in control with a six-minute lead heading to the last two stages of the 12-leg circuit – a pair of relatively easy rides with no major shakeup expected.

After 10 stages, Barnachea pooled a total time of 32:14:31, more than six minutes ahead of Calderon, who wrested the second spot after tumbling down from the top to No. 3 with a mediocre performance in the Vigan-Baguio run. Calderon had an aggregate clocking of 32:20:59.

Still, Barnachea remains wary of his title chances, stressing the importance of his teammates to help preserve his lead – and clinch the win.

“I will definitely need their help in the last two stages,” said Barnachea.

Mark John Lexer Galedo, recruited by 7-Eleven after winning another tour crown two years ago, took the lap honors and the top P50,000 purse after he clocked 1:42:29, over two minutes ahead of his team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante and Barnachea’s teammate Baler Ravina, who submitted identical 1:44:48 clockings.

“I’m happy to have finally won at least one stage in this event,” said the 26-year-old Galedo.

Rounding up the Top 10 are Phl Under-23’s George Oconer (32:21:16), Cycleline Extreme-Butuan City’s March McQuinn Aleonar (32:21:45), Reynante (32:22:40), Ravina (32:22:56), American Vinyl’s Cris Joven (32:25:41), Tarlac’s Tomas Martinez (32:26:55), American Vinyl’s Rudy Roque (32:27:34) and the National Capital Region’s Frederick Feliciano (32:30:41).

Irish Valenzuela of 7-Eleven finished fourth in the lap but crowned himself the Magnolia Purewater King of the Mountain champion, besting Galedo and Tarlac’s Daniel Asto.

It was the 24-year-old Valenzuela’s third KOM title since winning it five years ago in his rookie year when he also finished second overall. He also topped the 2008 Manila-Baguio race.

But it failed to catapult Valenzuela, also the leading rider in the Air Asia Sprint category, back into the Top 10 after a poor finish in Stage Nine where he tumbled down from No. 3 overall to No. 23.

“It was my worst performance,” said Valenzuela, who also won the Tour of Camsur early this year.

The 7-Eleven riders, meanwhile, made a big move in the team event yesterday as Galedo, Reynante and Valenzuela all finished among the top four but it came a bit too late to dislodge American Vinyl, which has built enough cushion to secure the top P1 million prize. American Vinyl has an aggregate time of 96:54:50.

Reynante and his crew, however, moved up to No. 2 from No. 4 with a time of 97:07:05 followed by Tarlac (97:14:03) and Nueva Ecija (97:15:34).

The other squads in the top 10 were Eastern Pangasinan (97:39:10), Cebu (97:42:55), NCR Standard (97:45:30), W&C Pangasinan (97:49:14), Cycleline Extreme-Butuan (98:06:22) and Ilocos Sur (98:15:06).

Ronda resumes today with the penultimate 129.6 km Baguio-Angeles City, Pampanga Stage 11 while the last leg is a 41.4 km Angeles-Manila Stage 12 tomorrow, a pair of relatively easy laps with no major shakeup expected.

The 12-leg, 20-day event is offering a total cash pot of P7 million with the individual and team champions receiving P1 million apiece courtesy of main sponsor LBC Hari ng Padala and backers Rudy Project, Air Asia.com, Magnolia Purewater, Versa two-way radios and Starlite Ferries, Inc. with The Philippine STAR, C! and AKTV as media partners.

Mayor tells villages to fix garbage mess

By JM Agreda


SOME 34 villages in Baguio City were given fair warning by Mayor Mauricio Domogan to observe proper waste segregation.

Domogan, in his weekly Ugnayang Panlungsod program, said these villages have not been following the proper way of segregating biodegradables from non-biodegradables, which led to the city’s earlier non-collection of their garbage.

The mayor, in a memorandum order to village heads, directed them to ensure their presence and of volunteers to guard garbage collection points during scheduled collection dates to make sure garbage being brought is properly segregated.

Domogan also told village officials to conduct massive information and education campaign to all their constituents, reminding them of the need to segregate their garbage at source pursuant to the City Government’s “no segregation, no collection policy.”

Among the villages meted with this warning from the local chief executive are Padre Zamora, Sto. Niño-Slaughterhouse, Magsaysay-Private Road, Holy Ghost Proper, Upper Magsaysay, Lower Magsaysay, Lower General Luna, Holy Ghost-Honeymoon, ABCR, New Lucban, Alfonso Tabora, Manuel Roxas, San Luis Village, Irisan, San Roque Village and Kayang Extension.

Also, with poor compliance with the waste segregation policy are Camp Allen, Cresencia Village, AZCKO, Campo Filipino, Happy Homes-Old Lucban, East Quirino Hill, Upper Market Subdivision, Kayang-Hilltop, Loakan Liwanag, Camp 7, Camp 8, Poliwes, San Vicente, BGH, Millitary Cut-off, Lower Rock Quarry and Pinget.

In an administrative order to be released within the week, Domogan also ordered deputizing village officials to collect garbage fees and conduct census of households.

He said these village officials will undergo trainings with the City Treasurer’s and City Accountant’s offices to discuss allocation of funds for hiring of village residents who will be tasked to monitor the proper implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Earlier this week, the mayor authorized the city’s waste management firm Protech Machinery Corporation and another private partner to haul out garbage using their trucks from the barangays and transport them directly to their facility in Rosales, Pangasinan, and not in Irisan dumpsite.

Last August, the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite collapsed due to heavy rains spawned by Typhoon Mina.

This, he said, will be an experimental measure in effect for 30 days starting October 1.

Biodegradable wastes, meanwhile, will be processed by the city’s Environmental Recycling System and will be turned into compost fertilizer, which based on the city’s memorandum of agreement with the Protech, will be sold to consumers.

Also last Monday, the mayor gave senior citizens the authority to monitor their respective villages’ compliance to the city’s intensive waste segregation scheme.

Mayor allows wastes solution provider to haul garbage

By JM Agreda


BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan recently authorized its wastes solution provider to collect garbage in all barangays in the city to address poor management of solid wastes.

Domogan signed Administrative Order 125 last Monday, giving authority to Protech Machinery Corporation to collect garbage from the 128 barangays in the city.

While the Irisan dumpsite is currently permitted as a sorting and transfer area for residuals and recyclables wastes, Domogan said the city is moving towards the direction of discontinuing the use of the facility due to the clamor of the residents living near the area.

Domogan stressed an immediate need for the city to employ private haulers in efficiently addressing the city’s garbage woes.

The average 166 tons of garbage produced in the city will now be collected by Protech at their own expense - for an experimental period of 30 days from October 1 to 31, subject to extension upon mutual agreement of both parties.

Domogan said Protech Machinery Corporation volunteered to help in the collection of garbage in pick-up points in accordance to the collection schedules.

Protech will then haul the garbage directly out of the City, while the City Government is still looking for a permanent transfer station for its non-biodegradable wastes.

This was based on the pledge of Protech vice president Luis Arquiza Lu to the City Council to help address the city’s garbage problem particularly in its hauling operations.

Protech said they will hire private garbage truck haulers, since their company does not have enough trucks to collect from all the barangays.

Earlier this week, the mayor scolded several barangays for not adhering to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act as most garbage collected in their areas remains unsorted.

City Environment Parks Management Office (Cepmo) head Cordelia Lacsamana also reported that most of the barangays in the city continue to segregate in their collection areas instead of segregating at the source household.

Cepmo also implemented a more stringent method of collecting garbage in the barangays last month, such as the two truck system designating collection of residual and biodegradables to each truck.

Baguio in all out efforts to manage solid wastes; second day of good weather favor rehabilitation work

By (PNA) DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 5 (PNA) -- Mayor Mauricio Domogan Wednesday said all efforts to effectively manage the proper disposal of its tons of solid wastes daily are now being pursued.

Domogan said this include the operations of more garbage trucks which would saturate the 129 barangays, further campaign on waste segregation by households, and sustained negotiations for an engineered sanitary landfill.

Environment leaders of the Philippines like Senator Loren Legarda and former Senator Heherson Alvarez arrived in this mountain resort where they encouraged all the officials and residents not only to work for recycling of wastes but also to sustain the tree planting program.

According to Mayor Domogan, both programs are pursued in the area as shown by the operations of a P128 million recycling machine which turn the tons of biodegradable wastes into organic fertilizer.

Likewise, he noted the efforts of various groups who are working over the years for the re-greening the city, especially at the Busol watershed.

To recall, at the height of of typhoon "Quiel" last Saturday, members of the Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) planted some 1,000 tree seedlings within the watershed as contribution in the Baguio re-greening program.

Baguio weather improves, road and public works repairs resume

By (PNA) DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 4 (PNA) -- Sunny weather with just cloudy periods and brief rainshowers Tuesday prevail in this mountain resort, 250 kilometers north of Manila, which, for more than two weeks, was drenched with heavy monsoon rains and buffeted by the strong winds of Typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel."

City vice mayor Daniel Farinas said that with the good weather, the long delayed completion of various road and drainage repairs which inconvenienced motorists and visitors for the past two months will resume.

According to the weather forecaster Letty Dispo of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the sudden change of the former gloomy weather was due to the dissipation of a low pressure area (LPA) east of the Visayas group of islands.

In the past, certain contractors of repair projects here associated the delay of their projects here with the inclement weather.

According to Farinas, people expect that with the good weather and with no further weather disturbance on sight, the projects would be finished the soonest possible time, the debris of the two typhoons will be cleared, damaged houses will be repaired, the all the uncollected garbage would be cleared.

"With barely more than 80 days before Christmas, we can expect to have all the preparations of our city to welcome our tourists and visitors," he said. He added that Ifugao is now the concern of relief operations because of the collapse of the Burnay Bridge in Lagawe town which stalled the immediate transport of needed relief items for the typhoon victims.

DSWD to assist 1,407 families with damaged houses in Cordilleras

By (PNA) DCT/FFC/AAG


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 3 (PNA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to assist 1,407 poor families in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) to repair their damaged houses due to typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel." This was according to the collated semi-final reports of government agencies monitored by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) here. Alex Uy, OCD assistant director, said that 88t of the damaged houses in Ifugao Province. The rest of the damaged houses were in: Mountain Province, 100; Baguio, 20; Benguet, 14 and Kalinga, two. The two successive typhoons lashed the area with center winds of 150 kilometers per hour that most houses with light materials did not withstand the gustiness of the winds. Meanwhile, Uy said OCD is still monitoring more damages as "Quiel" which just exited out of the country severely affected Benguet and La Union, both placed under storm signal number 3 during the weekend. Uy said all government agencies which have a role in disasters are now doing everything they can to alleviate the sufferings of the people in the calamity areas. He added that Ifugao is now the concern of relief operations because of the collapse of the Burnay Bridge in Lagawe town which stalled the immediate transport of needed relief items for the typhoon victims.=

Remedial measures up for Irisan dump protection

By Paul Rillorta


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 2 -- The city is now addressing fears of another collapse at the Irisan dump facility to ensure the safety of nearby residents. Members of the City Engineers Office (CEO) and City Environment and Parks and Management Office (CEPMO) has completed covering the top most portion of the exposed trash with a thick tarpaulin canvas which would reduce and prevent the infiltration of water into the innate garbage for stabilization purposes. CEPMO head Cordelia lacsamana said, ‘volume of rain water from the typhoon might cause the remaining garbage not yet stabilized to slide down’. ‘We need to cover a large area of the garbage to prevent water from seeping in, this is part of the remedial measures we have discussed with the DENR’, she said. Some personnel of the CEO and CEPMO have also started clearing mud and trash to ascertain that the drainage system of the facility will not be compromised. Authorities believe the abnormal volume of water which directly sipped through the facility might have triggered the retaining wall to collapse. ‘We are in the process of stabilizing critical slopes to avoid erosion during typhoons, I think there is another one coming’, Lacsamana said. Sand bags are also being placed in critical areas of the embankments. Meanwhile, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the clearing of remaining garbage which spilled is still on-going and has asked the Punong Barangaysof Asin and the neighboring Tuba municipality to provide the list of volunteers who are helping in the clearing operations. He said the list of names is needed so ‘job orders’ can be prepared. Domogan also said he is happy that majority of the barangays of the city are complying with waste segregation at source. ‘The ERS machines are now being used in its full capacity because of the increase of the biodegradable wastes which we are collecting’, he said. ‘We still have a lot to do, I have already sent personnel of the City Engineers office to assess other damages, we will do everything we can to help’, he added. *(PIA CAR/PR-Baguio City PIO)

'CPLA MOA to push through - OPAPP'

By Redjie Cawis


BAGUIO CITY, Oct. 1 (PIA) - - The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process(OPAPP) assured that the memorandum of agreement for the closure agreement of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army(CPLA) signed between the Philippine Government will push through after consulting with Cordillera officials and other CPLA factions. OPAPP Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles said that the Executive 49, “Mandating the Implementation of the MOA for the closure agreement” will be laid to the Cordillera Region particularly the CPLA communities. Deles, in an interview during the Peace Month celebration in Makati City last week, reiterated that all the contents of the MOA including projects and the livelihood programs will be implemented immediately after she met with several Cordillera officials. Deles said that she met with the governors, congressmen and mayors during her visit here in Baguio City recently. She also met with some officials of the Regional Development Council and directors of the national line agencies in the region as part of the consultation being asked in the region. The Secretary also reported that she had consultations with the other factions of CPLA particularly the Ngao-i –Sugguiyao group. She said they are going through negotiations that will ensure the other CPLA factions are included in the government’s economic package. “We are really working very hard to make the MOA inclusive sa lahat ng naging parte ng CPLA,” Deles said adding that all the queries of the CPLA factions will be addressed by OPAPP and the government. It can be recalled that the RDC Cordillera filed a resolution asking President Aquino, who was a witness of the signing in Malacanang, to suspend the implementation of EO 49 pending the resolution of issues. She informed that the implementation of the economic packages and livelihood will start to pour in the different provinces within the next months. This will be followed by the laying down of arms by the armed group and the slowly, the transformation of the CPLA into a potent socio-economic and unarmed force. Deles also explained the issue of the show of force by the CPLA during the celebration of the 25th year anniversary of the Mount Data Peace Accord saying that ‘there was no show of force but to show that the groups are willing to be transformed but not instantly.’ “The final disposition of arms and forces is not an easy task for the CPLA but the group assured that the armed group will go through the process and they will eventually turn down their arms as mandated in the MOA,” Deles said. (JDP/RC- PIA CAR)

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