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==New fisherman’s banca: Fast, cheap and do-it-yourself==
*Source: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/06/30/new-fisherman-s-banca-fast-cheap-and-do-it-yourself-/
*Monday, June 30, 2014 12:01 am
:By Gregg Yan and Sophia Dedace (MST News)
The future banca: fast, cheaper and Do-It-Yourself.
And just in time for the fisherfolk of the Visayas and Palawan who lost 30,000 of their double outrigger canoes to Typhoon Yolanda.
Blueprints and molds to make a lightweight fiberglass version of the banca have been rolled out for fisherfolk by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-Philippines.
Fishermen and boat builders in Leyte and Northern Palawan have made 600 fiberglass banca and they have been trained to train others to make the sleek craft.
“Fiberglass boats are faster, cheaper and easier to make,” explained naval architect and indigenous watercraft expert Ramon Binamira, Jr. who designed WWF’s fiberglass model that is 15 feet long, 14 inches wide and weighs 30 kilograms.
Two persons can easily carry the fiberglass banca for fast safekeeping whenever a typhoon nears.
“Fiberglass is now widely available, relatively cheap, and easy to build boats from,” Binamira said.
Compared to wooden bancas, fiberglass boats are watertight because of the fiber-reinforced plastic hulls that are one continuous piece, preventing leaks and reducing maintenance costs.
Fiberglass boats do not shrink in contrast to wooden hulls that shrink or swell when brought out of  the water and laid up under the sun. The fiberglass is rot-proof and resistant to shipworms and other marine borers.
Binamira said the fiberglass hull is at least thrice more puncture-resistant than a banca with an 8- to 10-millimeter wooden frame. 
“My wooden boats last for only two to three years,” said Benjamin Pedrero of Tacloban who lost his home, boat and 30 relatives in the deadly storm. “This can probably last me 20 years, even a lifetime.”
A traditional wooden boat takes him 10 to 20 days, on average, to build; a fiberglass boat only takes about one to two days to construct, said Pedrero, one of the trainees in fiberglass boat-building.
To veer away from band-aid solutions and dole-outs, the program teaches fishermen who lost their boats how to build their own fiberglass bancas and replicate boat molds for future use by succeeding generations.
The fishermen and boat-builders, who received training for a week, can then transfer their knowledge and skills to fellow mariners in their coastal communities. Key resources like boat molds, tools and training modules are provided to sustain the building of fiberglass bancas for the long term.
“Bancas for the Philippines went beyond physical re-engineering,” said WWF-Philippines Vice-chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan. “In a sense, it involved re-booting social software.”
The boats of the future, fiberglass bancas allow for simpler and more efficient construction through open-access technology. One mold can be used to make at least 20 banca hulls.
“Our goal is to meld the old with the new – modernizing the way we build a boat whose design was already refined by generations of fishers,” said Binamira whose extensive body of work in naval architecture includes two decades of boat-making in Bohol. SciPhil
(Gregg Yan is the Communications Manager and Sophia Dedace is the Communications Officer of  WWF-Philippines.)
==Puerto Princesa praised as sports events host==
*Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/puerto-princesa-praised-as-sports-events-host/
*Sunday, June 29, 2014
:By Rey C. Lachica
Puerto Princesa City — The 1st Puerto Princesa Canoe Kayak Dragonboat Championships is just halfway through its competition yesterday but the Philippine Canoe Kayak Federation (PCKF) already gave the city an excellent grade for its first hosting job.
“We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the city government. They did an excellent job,” said Jonne Go, president of (PCKF). “I just hope this is just the start of our partnership in developing the sport here.
“First time host sila but they left no stone unturned,” said Go. “From the planning stage up to the tournament proper, andyan sila at karamay mo.”
With its strategic location, Go believes the city has a strong potential to become a haven of paddlers, small wonder that thousands showed up to witness the morning heats dominated by the Philippine Marine Corps.
With the growing number of hotels, Go said staging an international tournament in this city known for its underground river poses no problem.
The race course, Go said, just needs little improvements to pass international standard.
“Right now we are looking for young paddlers whom we can train and nurture to become future members of the Philippine team,” said Go. “Malaki talaga ang potential ng Puerto Princessa.”
Aside from its ideal location, Go said the city government, led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron, is sincere in its drive to promote the sport.
Bayron, meantime, vowed to stage more tournaments here to encourage and inspire his constituents to take up the sport or any kind of watersports because of the vastness of their natural resources, not to mention the luxury of having an open sea.
Three more teams beat the deadline Saturday night, raising the number of participants in the tournament also sponsored by Smart, Globe, Cignal TV, Itoy’s Coffe haus, Sunlight Guest Hotel, BET Construction and AR Lustre Construction to 15.
Aside from the Marines, also taking part in the one-day tournament offering prize money are Boracay All Stars, Kata Bom, Honda Bay Team, Navy, Naraga (Palawan), Manila Dragons, John Lacson College (Iloilo City), Manila Blazing Paddlers, PDRT Fireblades, Raha (Palawan), Pyros, Phil. Titans, La Salle and Iwahig.
==DOH Region IV-B Targets Patients in Remote Locations ==
*Source: http://medicalobserverph.com/news-doh-region-iv-b-targets-patients-in-remote-locations/
*Saturday, June 28, 2014
:(DFF, Medical Observer)
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – No tough terrain, harsh clime or intolerable distance should stop a frontline government agency in providing a basic public service, especially those designed to save lives and limbs, to the people.
Thus, the persistence award goes to the Department of Health regional office  in MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) as it vowed to turn over more bicycles with sidecars, boats or water ambulance and even horses to deliver basic health services in the community especially in far-flung areas where transportation is limited.
Initially, 20 utility bicycles were turned over to barangay health workers (BHWs)  in these provinces to deliver basic health services in remote communities where transportation is limited.
mimaA BHW is a volunteer health worker who has undergone a BHW training program accredited by government or non-government organization and accredited by the Local Health Board of the province.
“We are identifying more areas in the region where we can provide simple but essential means of transportation for our BHWs to reach distant communities faster and more efficient. These bicycles will be the initial provision and we are looking to distribute more bicycles with sidecars to transport patients, boats or water ambulance and even horses in the mountainous areas of the provinces”, said DoH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.
Janairo issued the statement during the 3rd Community Volunteer Health Workers Convention held at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, Palawan last June 21.
He noted that bicycles are useful as a commuter vehicle, and they can also be equipped with a basket where a BHW can place his/her belongings. Also to be given are BHW Kit with blood-pressure apparatus, first-aid medicines, and vest for easy identification of the health worker.
There are currently 13,765 BHWs currently serving in five provinces of MIMAROPA with 239 males and 13,538 females. Oriental Mindoro has the largest number with 4,051; Palawan with 3,596; Occidental Mindoro with 2,818; Romblon – 1,879; and Marinduque – 1,421.
Janairo said…
“…the regional DoH office, in coordination with the local governments of MIMAROPA, aims to deploy BHWs (barangay health workers)  in all the barangays of the five provinces.”
He added that the regional office would continue conducting series of BHW training course to upgrade the skills and competencies of health workers in the region to be able to attain the 1BHW:20 household ratio.
“Each BHW must be knowledgeable about Primary Health Care such as duties and responsibilities in the community as primary service providers, maternal and child health, disease prevention and control, intensive family planning, NHIP or Philhealth, oral health and basic instruction on first aid during emergencies,” the regional DoH chief said.
The target number of BHWs to be deployed is 28,202 for the total population of 2,820,248 in the region.
A total of 234 BHWs have already been trained from March to May this year and are now deployed in six municipalities in Marinduque and 14 municipalities of Oriental Mindoro.
==WESCOM rescues missing Malaysian-owned barge off West Philippines Sea==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=657528
*Friday, June 27, 2014
:By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), CTB/CARF/JSD]
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 27 (PNA) – The reported missing Malaysian-owned barge was rescued off the West Philippines Sea (WPS) by air and naval assets that went on a search and rescue mission since second week of June under the Western Command (WESCOM) in Palawan.
Lt. Cherryl Tindog, spokesperson of the WESCOM, said Friday that “utilizing air and naval assets, WESCOM conducted search and rescue mission on the reported missing Malaysian-owned civilian barge off the WPS waters.”
As of 7 a.m. Friday, the barge is anchored at Ulugan Bay in Barangay Marufinas in this city, while Philippine authorities are still awaiting for its owner to tow it back to Malaysia.
Tindog said WESCOM’s search and rescue mission was ordered after officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Palawan District alerted them regarding the missing civilian barge and tugboat.
The military spokesperson said developing reports hold that a fishing vessel sighted an abandoned barge floating 5 nautical miles east off Hasa-Hasa (also Half Moon) Shoal, which was later identified as the missing Malaysian-owned flat-bottomed boat Hub 18 that carries around a hundred container vans.
She did not say if the fishing vessel that made the sighting is owned by Filipino fishermen.
”Upon receipt of the report, the WESCOM immediately alerted its units for possible search and rescue mission and dispatched Philippine Navy Islander 314 to conduct aerial search. PNI 314 sighted the missing barge 15 nautical miles southwest off Abad Santos Shoal drifting to northeast direction,” said Tindog in a statement released to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Naval supply ship BRP Bacolod City (LC 550) scoured the seas and located Wednesday morning the said missing barge about 22 nautical miles northeast off Abad Santos Shoal.
Tindog added that the owner of the barge confirmed to authorities that its crewmen were rescued by a Vietnamese boat on June 22, and were brought to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
The owner expressed that a tugboat will be sent to tow the barge back to Malaysia.
According to the Philippine Navy International Liaison Officer in Singapore, the container vans aboard the barge contain used cars, spares, frozen fish and personal effects. The owner declared that there are no dangerous items among the cargoes.
At present, WESCOM continues to collaborate with concerned agencies in order to ensure that lives and properties at sea are safeguarded during emergency crisis.
The WESCOM maintains its position to ensure that the incident will not pose any threat or disaster, and hazard to navigation.
==WESCOM ups efforts to bring gov't services to people in Puerto Princesa==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=12&rid=657049
*Thursday, June 26, 2014
:By Clarinda I. Catimpo [(PNA), CTB/CARF/CIC/EBP]
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 26 (PNA) -- Intent on bringing government services to indigent residents here, the Western Command (WESCOM) and leaders of the city government joined together anew for the second round of “Damayan” in three barangays Wednesday.
Held in barangays Napsan, Bagong Bayan and Simpocan in the west coast of this city, Damayan which was launched in April under the administration of Mayor Lucilo Bayron, aims to bring public service to far-flung areas in Puerto Princesa through supplementary assistance and free services to the indigents.
The services it provides are health services, giving proper information to the locality through information, education and communication (IEC) on health, and training through capability and skills building.
The outreach program is a collaborative effort of the City Government of Puerto Princesa, the Western Command, 570th Composite Tactical Wing, Naval Forces West, 3rd Marine Brigade and Joint Task Force Peacock.
The church, different national and local government agencies, are also partnering to bring health services to the community, said the WESCOM.
The program’s thrust is to carry-out the city government’s programs in education, health and livelihood in the 66 barangays in the city.
More than 1,000 residents of these barangays, most of whom cannot afford to pay for even the most basic medical service, availed of the free medical check-up, dental services, and medicines brought by the soldiers.
“We wish to establish our role not only as protector of the people but also as a reliable partner in achieving progress and development for the community,” WESCOM Chief Lt. Gen. Roy O. Deveraturda said.
In April this year, “Damayan” was brought to barangays Langogan, Binduyan and Concepcion, located north of Puerto Princesa City.
The program works on the principles of cooperation and unified efforts of all concerned – much like the present Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) of the AFP which is called “Bayanihan.”
“The principle at work here is very simple and – as our recent activities have shown—very effective: if we all work together, then, we can achieve whatever it is that we set out to do,” the WESCOM Chief said.
==Palawan solon stresses importance of day care workers in development of children==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=656678
*Wednesday, June 25, 2014
:By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), CTB/CARF/JSD]
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 25 (PNA) – Day care workers should be appreciated for their contributions in early childhood education and development, a Palawan solon said Tuesday following the holding of the 21st Provincial Annual Day Care Workers Forum during the recently concluded Baragatan 2014.
Provincial Board Member Roseller Pineda said day care workers in the province should be lauded for their pre-school support and positive influences that can have long-term impacts in the lives of many Palaweño children despite having scanty resources.
“Our day care workers are the first to be there in the pre-school lives of our children. They are the ones to provide the care our children need in the day care centers when parents need to work for the family to stay above water,” Pineda said, adding something must be done to also improve their standards of living for them to be able to work more and be inspired to take the temporary roles of parents.
Pineda spoke well of the day care workers in Palawan after he attended as guests the 21st Provincial Annual Day Care Workers Forum held during the Baragatan 2014 celebration on June 20-21 with the theme “Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Paunlarin, Kapakanan ng Day Care Workers Siguraduhin.”
Attended by over 900 day care workers, the 2-day annual convention was called by the leadership of Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez to determine their needs and how else the provincial government can help them in their areas, said Pineda.
On ECCD, Pineda said the goal of the provincial leadership is to evaluate the competency and the commitment of the day care workers in the kind of service they provide, its current quality, the facilities that support it and what else is needed to be done, community and local government support, and others, for an effective transition of day care students to formal education.
He furthered said that as education is one of the most important agenda under IHELP, Alvarez’s leadership is steadfast in its commitment to ensure that pre-schoolers are given the kind of support they need to be able to move to formal education successfully, and eventually become good citizens for Palawan.
The event was also an opportunity, he added, for day care updates; ECCD Literacy Updates for 3-4 years old, as well as the Dance Therapy for Pre-School Children approach.
For their hard work, the provincial government, led by Vice Governor Dennis Socrates and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Apolonia David, provided incentives to day care workers who have already served for many years.
Four day care workers were awarded P5,000 each for rendering 25 years service. They are Dulce Amor Maat of Agutaya, Floriana Bonales and Joy Bawing of Narra, and Rebecca Manalo of Taytay.
At least 21 day care workers, on the other hand, received P4,000 for 20 years in service; 79 day care workers received P1,000 for 10 years in service; and 93 received P600 each for 10 years in service.
==Street dancing, fireworks display end Baragatan 2014 celebration in Palawan==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=656480
*Tuesday, June 24, 2014
:(PNA), FPV/CARF/UTB
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, June 24 (PNA) – A colorful and friendly street dancing competition called “Saraotan sa Dalan”held early afternoon Monday, and a 20-minute beautiful fireworks display early evening successfully ended the week-long celebration of Baragatan 2014 in Palawan Monday.
Caesar Sammy Magbanua, the overall chairman of the celebration, said this year’s annual convergence event not only highlighted the importance of commemorating the 112th Civil Government Anniversary of Palawan but also the cohesiveness of all Palaweños though they all come from different political backgrounds, beliefs and traditions.
“I think the most important thing during this year’s Baragatan is the display of unity, of cohesiveness… that no matter what you’re political beliefs are, or who you rooted for before, we’re here together celebrating the past that made Palawan what it is today,” Magbanua told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Of the 23 municipalities that Palawan has, 20 participated in the Local Government Unit Trade Fair and set up their own booths as early as June 9, to market their own produce. Some sold products under the One Town, One Product (OTOP).
Even the distant island town of Coron, which was affected by super typhoon Yolanda in November 2013, actively participated. Its booth was among those frequented at the Capitol Grounds for the Abaca woven bags it sold.
On June 23, which is a Special Non-Working Public Holiday in Palawan based on Republic Act 9748, the week-long Baragatan was capped with the “Saraotan sa Dalan” (street dancing in Cuyunon dialect) competition with eight rival dance groups from eight municipalities.
Wearing colorful costumes, body paints and big smiles on their faces, all participating dance groups performed in two stations along the main road Jose Rizal Avenue, with one final for the judges at the Cory Park, Provincial Capitol Compound.
The dance group from the municipality of Bataraza won in the competition with P200,000 cash prize from the organizers and sponsors of Baragatan 2014.
The town of Quezon came in second with P100,000 cash prize, and the third by the municipality of Narra. All three winning dance groups are from municipalities in southern Palawan.
In the evening, a 20-minute fireworks display illuminated the Cory Park and the Junction 1 area shortly before midnight while the popular rock band Spongecola performed.
“Governor (Jose) Alvarez is thankful for the participation and support of everyone to the successful celebration of Baragatan in Palawan. This year’s celebration was his first Baragatan and he made it a venue to mark his development plans for the province and most importantly, its people,” he said.
Earlier, during the opening, it can be recalled that Alvarez announced some of his big dreams for the province, including his hope for the construction of two international airports that would open fresh opportunities, particularly in the tourism industry.
==DOH provides bicycles, other transport to barangay health workers in MIMAROPA==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=656097
*Monday, June 23, 2014
:By Lady Marie dela Torre [(PNA), LAM/SDT/UTB]
MANILA, June 23 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) in MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) has vowed to turn over more bicycles with sidecars, boats or water ambulance and even horses to deliver basic health services in the community especially in far-flung areas where transportation is limited.
Initially, 20 utility bicycles were turned-over to barangay health workers (BHW) in these provinces to be used in their delivery of basic health services in remote communities where transportation is limited.
“We are identifying more areas in the region where we can provide simple but essential means of transportation for our BHWs to reach distant communities faster and more efficient. These bicycles will be the initial provision and we are looking to distribute more bicycles with sidecars to transport patients, boats or water ambulance and even horses in the mountainous areas of the provinces”, said DOH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Eduardo Janairo.
Janairo issued the statement during the 3rd Community Volunteer Health Workers Convention held at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum, Palawan last June 21.
Janairo said that bicycles are useful as a commuter vehicle and they are also equipped with a basket where a BHW can place his/her belongings. Also to be given are BHW Kit with Blood Pressure Apparatus, first aid medicines and vest for easy identification of the health worker.
Currently, there are 13,765 BHWs currently serving in five provinces of MIMAROPA with 239 males and 13,538 females. Oriental Mindoro has the largest number with 4,051; Palawan with 3,596; Occidental Mindoro with 2,818; Romblon – 1,879; and Marinduque – 1,421.
According to Janairo, the region in coordination with the local governments of MIMAROPA aims to deploy BHWs in all the barangays of the five provinces.
He added they will continue conducting series of BHW Training Course to upgrade the skills and competencies of health workers in the region to be able to attain the 1BHW:20 household ratio.
"Each BHW must be knowledgeable about Primary Health Care such as duties and responsibilities in the community as primary service providers, maternal and child health, disease prevention and control, intensive family planning, NHIP or Philhealth, oral health and basic instruction on first aid during emergencies”, said Janairo.
The target number of BHWs to be deployed is 28,202 for the total population of 2,820,248 in the region.
A total of 234 BHWs were already trained from March to May 2014 and are now deployed in six municipalities in the province of Marinduque and 14 municipalities of Oriental Mindoro.
A BHW is a volunteer health worker who has undergone a BHW training program accredited by government or non-government organization and accredited by the Local Health Board of the province.
==Murderers wander with machetes at idyllic Palawan prison==
*Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/366809/lifestyle/travel/murderers-wander-with-machetes-at-idyllic-palawan-prison
*Sunday, June 22, 2014 2:01 pm 
:By CECIL MORELLA (Agence France-Presse)
IWAHIG - One hundred convicts armed with machetes wander through a vast prison without walls in one of the Philippines' most beautiful islands, a unique approach to reforming criminals.
Two token guards with shotguns slung on their shoulders relax in the shade nearby as the blue-shirted group of inmates chop weeds at a rice paddy at the Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm in Palawan.
But Arturo, who is 21 years into a life sentence for murder, has no plans to escape, preferring to keep his chances of an eventual commutation or even a pardon.
"I don't want to live the life of a rat, panicked into bolting into a hole each time a policeman comes my way," the 51-year-old inmate, whose full name cannot be used in keeping with prison regulations, told AFP.
Surrounded by a thick coastal mangrove forest, a mountain range and a highway, the 26,000-hectare (64,000-acre) Iwahig jail is one of the world's largest open prisons, more than two times the size of Paris.
A single guard sits at its largely ceremonial main gate, routinely waving visitors through without inspection.
A shallow ditch, but no walls, is all that separates the 3,186 prisoners from the outside world.
A mere 14 kilometers (nine miles) away is Puerto Princesa, a city of 250,000 people and a top tourist destination as the gateway to an island famed for stunning dive sites, a giant underground river system and beautiful beaches.
A steady stream of local and foreign tourists visit Iwahig's quaint, pre-World War II prison administration buildings and a handicrafts shop, which is manned by inmates who have made the items on sale.
A few hundred hectares of the land is devoted to rice paddies, which sit picturesquely on either side of a fire-tree-lined dirt road. Ducks, goats, cattle and egrets feed quietly on newly harvested plots.
Fish ponds, coconut plantations, corn fields and vegetable plots are scattered across the prison, although the bulk of the land remains covered by forest and mangroves.
:Penal colony's harsh history
US colonial rulers established Iwahig in 1904 for political prisoners and Manila's worst inmates, seeking to isolate them in what was then a sparsely inhabited frontier about 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the nation's capital.
Prisoners were used to clear virgin rainforests for farming, which would in turn encourage migration from the archipelago's more populous areas.
After the Philippines won independence post-World War II, those who had served out their term were also given the option to clear and own up to six hectares of land.
Up until the 1970s, the prisons had much tougher security than today, with chain gangs of inmates the norm.
Most other jails in the Philippines continue with brutal conditions, with inmates packed beyond capacity in dingy, airless cells and having to take turns sleeping.
:A fresh breath of reform
But at Iwahig, and four smaller penal farms in other provincial areas, authorities have sought to take advantage of the open spaces to create conditions that encourage the rehabilitation of inmates.
"This [farm work] serves as their preparation for getting back into a free society once they are released. It helps them adapt back to life as free men," said prison superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf.
Iwahig's inmates mostly come from Manila's main Bilibid prison, a far smaller facility that holds about 22,000 convicts and which requires periodic prisoner transfers to ease the over-crowding.
Instead of the squalid, sardine can-like cells of Bilibid, night quarters for most of Iwahig's inmates are lightly guarded buildings that are bigger than a basketball court, surrounded by barbed wire rather than concrete or metal walls.
About 50 lucky minimum-security inmates live full-time in straw-and-bamboo huts scattered along the penal farm, assigned to guard the crops, tractors and other implements.
There are just 150 maximum-security inmates who must work indoors and remain in a more tightly secured environment.
However, murderers and other previous maximum-security prisoners can qualify for the outdoors if they have served at least half their sentence and have a record of good behavior. A life sentence is regarded as a 40-year term.
Schwarzkopf said the modern approach to penology had been a success. He said less than 10 percent of Iwahig's prisoners became repeat offenders after being released, lower than the national average.
The jail has also had no recent history of riots or mass breakouts.
Schwarzkopf said there had been just one breakout since he took over leadership of the prison in 2012: involving four inmates serving terms for murder, attempted murder and car theft.
Three of them were swiftly captured, according to Schwarzkopf, although he declined to say which one of the four remained at large.
Prominent Puerto Princesa lawyer Herminia Caabay said she also regarded Iwahig's "humane" approach to inmates as a success.
"Riots are a sign of depression brought about by prison conditions. These usually happen at places where people are kept behind bars," Caabay said.
Convicted drug dealer Gamay, 39, said he treasured his time working the land as it helped him keep his mind off his wife, who had left him for another man.
"It stops me thinking bad things," said the stocky, tattooed former fish vendor, who began his 30-year sentence in Manila's Bilibid but was transferred to Iwahig seven years ago.
Gamay said living at Iwahig had allowed him to dream and prepare for a successful life back in society.
"The work experience helps you learn to stand on your own two feet... I want to go back to selling fish and save up to build my own house," he said.
==Feature: UN, NGOs seek to ease pressure on coral reefs==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/06/21/1337445/feature-un-ngos-seek-ease-pressure-coral-reefs
*Saturday, June 21, 2014 7:00 pm
: (philstar.com)
EL NIDO, Philippines (Xinhua) - While patrolling the seas around the clock and chasing down errant fishermen are ideal interventions to preserve marine resources such as coral reefs, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) believes that simply changing the way people do business or their habits when they go on vacation would also boost the efforts.
This is because, UNEP said, human activities have a big impact on marine resources. Aside from climate change, population increase and coastal development have also contributed significantly to the damage on coral reefs.
"A fifth of the world's coral reefs have been lost, and more than 60 percent is under immediate, direct threat. Climate change and ocean acidification will increasingly affect all reefs. What we do impact on reef health," said Jerker Tamelander, head of UNEP 's Coral Reef Unit.
UNEP singled out tourism as constituting a "significant pressure" on coral reefs. While tourism can bring in much-needed revenues for developing countries, the tendency of businesses to disregard the need to protect the environment so they can rake in more profits can exact a heavy toll on the natural resources of the Philippines.
For UNEP, this is simply unacceptable especially since this would mean the destruction of more natural resources such as coral reefs. Recognizing the need to put in place doable "best practices " that can be adopted by businesses, locals, and tourists, the UN unit partnered with Britain-based charity The Reef World Foundation and local non-government organization El Nido Foundation (ENF) to roll out the Green Fins approach in the Philippines.
Green Fins is a set of simple measures that seek to preserve coral reefs in popular diving sites in the country. UNEP and ENF organized a study tour for foreign and local journalists in El Nido town in the western Philippine province of Palawan. The tour is meant to showcase how the Green Fins approach is being implemented in El Nido.
:GREEN FINS IN EL NIDO
El Nido (Spanish term for 'the nest') is a first class municipality located in the northwestern tip of Palawan province. It covers 18 villages, of which 16 are coastal villages and has a population of 39,095.
It was in the 1980s when the beauty of the town was discovered by a handful of tourists and domestic visitors. Scuba diving tours in El Nido became popular after Ten Knots Development Corp. (TKDC), a subsidiary of Japanese firm Nissin Sugar Manufacturing Corp., put up a resort for divers. To preserve El Nido and its marine resources, TKDC and Andres Soriano Corp. spearheaded the set up of ENF.
"Tourists shied away from El Nido due to malaria, criminals, and leprosy," said ENF Chairman Alberto Lim, who is also the country's former Tourism Secretary. Palawan Province, Lim noted, is home to the Iwahig Penal Colony and the Culion Leper Colony.
With malaria cases now significantly reduced in Palawan province and leprosy no longer a threat in Culion Island, El Nido and other towns in Palawan province have seen an influx of tourists and diving enthusiasts in recent years. Citing figures from the Municipal Tourism Office, Lim said tourist arrivals in El Nido rose to 62,960 last year, from 10,000 in 1994. Tourism has become the number one source of revenues for the local government in recent years.
"This alone has made it imperative to put in place a management strategy that will ensure the protection of remaining coral reefs in El Nido," he said.
ENF Executive Director Irma Rose Marcelo said El Nido has 447 reef-building coral species and 44 unconfirmed species. El Nido reefs are home to more than 800 fish species.
It is for this reason that the ENF decided to bring in the Green Fins approach to El Nido in 2012. Under the Green Fins approach, diving centers are assessed based on their adherence to the Code of Conduct which consists of 15 "best practices" that seek to minimize the impact of the diving and snorkeling industry on coral reefs. To protect marine resources, the Code of Conduct calls on diving centers to implement simple measures such as no stepping on coral.
"It makes sense to engage the diving and snorkeling industry because of the passion of people who are involved in it. Divers serve as 'eyes' that alert us about the damage on coral reefs," said Samantha Craven, project manager of The Reef-World Foundation.
Centers who agree to follow the Code of Conduct have to undergo a training session, followed by an assessment of their dive center at least once a year. This process requires allowing a fully- trained Green Fins coordinator to go to the dive center and carry out a one-hour training presentation. An assessor would then join one of the dive trips of the establishment to observe staff and their customers.
Assessors will then give corresponding scores to each criteria. Scores range from 0 (no environmental impact) to a maximum of 330. A lower score indicates that the establishment is more adherent to the Green Fins Code of Conduct.
In return for observing the Code of Conduct, a diving center becomes a Green Fins member. While UNEP and Reef World officials would not say whether membership in Green Fins has a direct impact on an establishment's bottom lines, they agree that a Green Fins establishment tends to attract more customers who want to patronize environmentally responsible businesses.
The local government of El Nido is looking at institutionalizing the Green Fins approach by requiring them to become a member before getting their license. El Nido Vice Mayor Nieves Rosento said this may be implemented next year.
To protect the town's marine resources, Rosento said there is a proposed "Eco-Tourism Ordinance" which will impose fines against tourists and boat men who will break coral reefs. "The local government is also planning to award outstanding establishments and eco-friendly dive shops."
:BUSINESSES TOE THE LINE
Caera Travel & Tours is one of the pioneer Green Fins members that has seen its business grow exponentially in the last four years. Proprietor Ramil Panganiban said he started his business in March 2010 with a capital of only P500 ($11). His informed people about his business via a notice printed on a small coupon bond.
"When I started, I rented boats for my tours. Through hard work and diligence as well as our focus on providing excellent customer service, we now own three boats," Panganiban said.
Before he became a Green Fins member, Panganiban said he already understood the value of preserving the town's marine resources to ensure that future generations will continue to be able to earn from them. Because of this, he said he did not have a hard time complying with the Green Fins guidelines.
"If we don't take care of the corals, if tourists see only dead corals, it would be bad for business. Tourists will no longer come here to visit our town so it only makes sense to preserve our coral reefs," he said.
==(Special Report) Palawan health officer says ‘nothing to fear in using alternative medicine to cure common illnesses’==
==(Special Report) Palawan health officer says ‘nothing to fear in using alternative medicine to cure common illnesses’==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=655446
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=655446
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