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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government received the 2016 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

DSWD has chosen this city as among the 33 local governmeunits (LGUs) in Region 9 to receive the child-friendly seal.

Ma. Socorro Rojas, city social welfare and development office (CSWDO) chief, received the child-friendly certificate during the policy forum headed by DSWD regionaldirector Araceli Solamillo on Wednesday.

Rojas on Friday said the award was given to LGUs that passed the annual mandatory Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA).

The DSWD first conducted the CFLGA with its 12 indicators.

The indicators included the following: increased number of children attending day-care services; reduced number of children who are victims of violence and abuse; and, absence or reduced number of child labor cases.

The other LGU-recipients of the child-friendly seal are: Buug, Imelda, Ipil and Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay province; Dapitan and Dipolog Cities, Leon Postigo, Mutia, Polanco, Rizal, and, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Norte; Pagadian City, Aurora, Bayog, Dumingag, Guipos, Vicenzo Sagun, Lapuyan, Lakewood, Molave, San Pablo, San Miguel, Sominot, Ramon Magsaysay, Midsalip, Pitogo, Margosatubig, Tambulig, Mahayag, Tambulig, Tabina, and Tukuran, Zamboanga del Sur. (TPGJR/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The National Competitive Council (NCC) adjudged this city as "Most Improved Local Government Unit (LGU)" among 33 highly-urbanized cities in the country.

The city ranked first in this category.

The City Hall Information office said in a statement Friday that Zamboanga City also ranked fourth  in "Resiliency for Highly Urbanized Cities."

Among 145 cities nationwide, Zamboanga  ranked 16th in "Overall Competitiveness" category, and 19th  in terms of infrastructure projects.

The award was conferred during the 5th Regional Competitive Summit held on Wednesday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

These awards were anchored on the "Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index," an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities based on competitiveness framework developed by Michael Porter, which is being used in a number of global surveys on competitiveness.

The most competitive and improved local government unit (LGU) is awarded based on such indicators or measurements as economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.

The NCC is a public-private sector organization in the Philippines with a mandate to promote and develop national competitiveness strategies and push for the implementation of the Action Agenda of Competitiveness and link it to the Philippine Development Plan.

The NCC is specifically directed to measure performance and provide recommendations on the following: Agri-trade logistics, anti-corruption, budget transparency, business permits and licensing system, education and human resource development, information and communication technology (ICT) governance, infrastructure, judicial system, national quality infrastructure, national single window, performance government system, and power and energy services

It is chaired by Department Trade and Industry (DTI) Sec. Ramon Lopez, with Guillermo Luz, a private sector representative, as vice-chair.

The NCC has 10 members, five of them are department secretaries--Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Education (DepEd), and the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)--and five private sector representatives. (TPGJR/PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- Efforts are underway for safe release of abducted police officer in North Cotabato, Mayor Joseph Evangelista of Kidapawan today said.

Evangelista refused to reveal details of their plan, but said the city government in partnership with the local police will exert all peaceful efforts for the safe release of PO1 Bristol Catalan, an intelligence operative of Makilala police  who was seized Wednesday morning.

As of Friday, the communist New Peoples (NPA) operating in North Cotabato has yet to issue statement on the abduction of Catalan.

Four villages have been identified by the provincial peace and order council in a meeting as possible hiding place of gunmen who seized Catalan, a resident of Barangay Katipunan in Makilala.

These villages are Katipunan, Linangkob, Sto Nino and Sikitan believed to be influenced by communist movement.

Catalan's wife remained puzzled what motivated the gunmen to abduct her husband.

Catalan's abduction came two weeks after police and military authorities arrested an alleged NPA commander and seized four high powered guns and bomb making materials. 

Supt. Joyce Birrey, speaking for North Cotabato PNP, could not say if Catalan's abduction was related to the arrest of an NPA commander, also in Makilala.

She made public a police hotline where the public can send information about sightings of the abducted police.  Information may be relayed to PNP through textline 0918-390-6069.

Birrey described Catalan as good father and a good police officer who has no known enemies in town.(PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- After two weeks of lobbying and negotiations, the Philippine Army based in Maguindanao successfully brought together warring Moro families to finally settle peacefully their conflict.

In a statement released here Friday, Col.  Florencio Pulitud, commander of the 37th Infantry Battalion, said the settlement of "rido" (clan war), involving six Moro families in the towns of Barira and Buldon, both in Maguindanao, was part of the Army's peace advocacy in partnership with local government units.

In his report to Maj. Gen. Arnel dela Vega, commander of the 6th Infantry Division,  Pulitud said the Army efforts will continue to reach out to warring families in its area of jurisdiction.

"I would like to appreciate the families involved for coming over and show we all want peace in our communities," Pulitud said.

He said the warring families agreed to end decades of bloody conflict that stemmed from territorial dispute and personal grudges. They signed peace covenant in front of police and military officials witnessed by family and clan members.

The Army official said major players in the peace covenant signing at the Army's Camp Iranun in Barangay Tugaig in Barira were the families of Manalilsig, Gampong, Mamualas, all from Barira town and the families of Bantuas and Malambot family from Buldon.

Warring families also surrendered several firearms to military authorities to prevent them from using rifles in settling misunderstanding.

Pulitud admitted that "rido" has been preventing the attainment of peace and development in Muslim communities.

He said more "rido" settlement will come as the Army continues to reach out to other Muslim families locked in clan wars.(PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi on Frida  lauded all city government workers and the people of Cotabato City for another feat the city recently received as one of the country's most competitive cities in the Philippines.

Cotabato City earned the second top spot for government efficiency category of the 2017 search for most competitive cities in the Philippines.

"We want to put Cotabato City in the map of good governance and we have succeeded," Sayadi told reporters here after she received the recognition in Manila Thursday.

The city government's efforts to bring in investors have boosted the economy to the highest level in history of Cotabato City.

"We have earned investors' confidence through good governance and the development that changed the city economic landscape was an indicator," she told reporters.

"If the local government is not efficient, they

will not invest in the city, good governance is among the issues investors look before putting up capital in a particular area," Sayadi said, quoting an investor who looked at Cotabato City as among its investment destination in Mindanao.

Sayadi received the award during the 5th Regional Competitiveness Summit Awards Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.

The annual grant of awards to competitive cities in the country is an activity of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

"To be chosen from among 1,587 cities is something that the city people should be proud of," she said.

NCC is a non-profit entity composed of various state agencies and public organizations promoting good governance, peace and economic stability in line with the Philippine Development Plan.

Composing the NCC are representatives from the trade, finance, energy, tourism and education departments, from the National Economic Development Authority.

Drive to reduce crime incidents in Cotabato City was one of the indicators of good governance.  During the first three months of 2017, crime incidents have been reduced to 65 percent as compared to last year.

Businesswoman Bai Sandra Siang, head of Kutawato Muslim Business Club, the award will surely help further improve the city's economy.

"It simply means Cotabato City is safe for investors and traders," Piang said.(PNA)



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CEBU CITY -- Livestock technicians and municipal agriculturists from all over Cebu gathered here on Friday for a general assembly to identify problems and to come up with countermeasures against bird flu virus. 

The provincial government, through its veterinary office, called for the assembly held at the Capitol social hall to also brief and orient the participants on the Avian Influenza Protection Program Manual of Procedures (AIPP). 

 

Dr. Mary Vincoy, Cebu Provincial Veterinary, reminded owners of their responsibility to report poultry deaths in their farms to the municipal, city or provincial agriculture offices.  "Reports sent to these offices will always be verified," said Vincoy.

The reminder was issued after the Provincial Agriculture Office received reports of mortalities from poultary farms in both northern and southern parts of Cebu. However, Vincoy withheld the names of the areas until an official report has been filed.

 

"There is no reason to panic. Livestock could perish anytime because of any other factors, like heat strokes, unsanitary environment in the farms or in their neighbourhood, and lack of proper vaccination," said Vincoy.

She assured that the outbreak investigation teams were maintaining strict surveillance on the safety of livestock and poultry products in Cebu. 

Stressing that prevention is better than cure, Vincoy said that poultry owners should invest in proper vaccination while food-processing corporations should also have their own company veterinarians to check on their livestock. 

"The bacterial infections that have been reported do not jump from one species to another. However, it is still unhealthy to eat the infected chickens," said Vincoy. (With reports from USJR intern Ador Menchavez/PNA)



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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- Governor Lilia Pineda has asked barangay health workers (BHWs) in the province to be vigilant and report cases of people having flu-like symptoms in their communities as part of the preventive measures to prevent the spread of bird flu virus.

The governor told the 3,483 BHWs in an assembly at the Lubao Gymnasium and Heroes Hall Thursday that even if the Department of Health (DOH) has said the H5 strain of avian influenza could not be transferred from chicken to humans, they must report if there are people with flu-like symptoms to rural health units or to the nearest district hospitals.

Pineda asked the BHWs  to monitor the health condition of their constituents and advised them to immediately inform authorities if there are people living in areas near the bird flu-affected farms who fall ill.

Likewise, she asked the BHWs to observe and report cases of dead or sick chickens so these could be inspected and isolated or burned immediately.

"Observe your chickens, pigeons, quails, and ducks. See whether they are sick or still alive and report immediately if something is suspicious so we can have them checked," Pineda said.

The governor stressed that the provincial government is working closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to promptly eliminate the avian influenza problem and revive the poultry industry in the province. (PNA)



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MANGATAREM -- Four packs of "hot" meat consisting of chicken and pork were seized from four vendors inside the town plaza here by a joint team from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), municipal officials and the local police strictly implementing  quarantine regulations on account of the avian flu outbreak  in San Luis, Pampanga.

The four vendors were caught in the act of selling their products without corresponding permits at past 2:00 p.m. on Thursday and were slapped with a case of  illegal shipment of chicken and pork, the Mangatarem police reported.

Rommel Rosario, 24; Joselito Gabotin, 40; Mark Benconsejo, 31; and Edmar Buenconsejo, all of Barangay Malibong, Urbiztondo, were found selling meat inside the public plaza of Mangatarem instead of at the town's public market.

They were caught by joint elements of BAI of the Department of Agriculture led by Benito Jazmin, Municipal Agriculture Officer, Municipal Meat Inspector's Office led by Marlou Montoya, Mangatarem Meat Vendors Association president Estrella Vergara and local policemen.

Mangatarem is the border town of Pangasinan with Tarlac where a quarantine station as well as checkpoint are located to prevent the entry of chicken, fowls, birds and their bi-products believed infected by avian flu virus.    

The arrested suspects were  selling meat products on board a motorcycle fitted with a livestock carrier called "garong" without business permit from the Municipal Treasurer's  Office here, shipping permit as required by BAI and Health Certificate from the Municipal Health Office.

The four were also accused of allegedly mishandling the meat products that they are selling in violation of the regulations set by the National Meat and Inspection Service (NMIS). 

The suspects and the confiscated items were turned over to the office of the Meat Inspector of the town for proper for investigation and disposition. (PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – The National Food Authority (NFA) is stepping up its campaign for food guardians in Palawan to curb rice wastage and help in ensuring that the grain is available, accessible, visible, and affordable in public markets.

NFA-Palawan information officer Roxanne Bunoan informed the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Friday morning that currently, only 11,511 Palaweños have signed up so far, for the campaign that was started in September 2015.

"This is a serious campaign where food guardians are expected not to waste rice; support in making sure that rice is available, accessible, affordable and visible in public markets; and should know austere food handling measures so that rice will be safe for the public to consume," Bunoan said.

The NFA campaign also calls for food guardians to actively report to the Bantay Bigas Hotline 09064363133 or its social media accounts any area in the city and the province of Palawan where its rice is being sold improperly, according to her.

According to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), every day, each Filipino wastes an average of two tablespoons of rice, which could add up to 3.3 kilograms a year.

With the over 100 million population of the country, the rice wastage could reach up to 330,000 metric tons every year (worth around Php27 million daily or Php10 billion yearly).

Bunoan said to prevent avoidable food loss in Palawan, the NFA is continuing its campaign for volunteer food guardians who can help remind the public on the importance of rice and encourage the people not to waste it.

She said that Palaweños, every time they eat at home with their families, or in restaurants, should be conscious enough to only get rice portions they can manage to consume to avoid wasting food.

The NFA is taking its role of being the guardian of food security seriously – giving it equal weight as national security itself. This is the essence, she said, of the #1for100iNFAntry campaign.

In 2016, the NFA announced that it exceeded its target to gather 1 million food guardian volunteers across the country to raise the awareness of Filipinos to the basic responsibility of taking good care of their staple food.

Despite this, NFA-Palawan OIC Provincial Manager Ferlita Ancheta said it will remain campaigning for more volunteers to continue the advocacy of best practices for ensuring food security for the 100 million Filipinos. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Health authorities in South Cotabato province alerted residents anew over the rising cases of rabies infection that already resulted to 16 confirmed deaths since January.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) chief, said Friday the latest fatality was recorded last Sunday, Aug. 13, at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City.

"That's already our 16th case. Last year, we had eight total deaths. We still have four months left (for the year) and we already recorded 16 fatalities," he said.

A report released by the IPHO's epidemiology and surveillance unit (Pesu) showed that the province's rabies cases and deaths have continued to increase since January.

The municipalities of Lake Sebu and T'boli posted the most number of cases with four each, followed by Polomolok with three, Koronadal City with two, and Banga, Sto, Nino and Norala with one each.

The Pesu report said the victims were aged between five to 70 years-old and majority of them were males.

At least 12 of the cases or 75 percent involved rabid dogs that did not undergo rabies vaccination.

Aturdido reminded residents to immediately seek treatment in the Animal Bite Centers (ABC) in case they are bitten by warm blooded animals, especially dogs.

In Koronadal City, he said the main ABC is located at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital and they have accredited another facility at the Doctors' Clinic and Hospital.

He said the others ABC are at the Upper Valley Community Hospital in Surallah town and the rural health units in Polomolok and Tantangan.

"Please don't hesitate to seek treatment in our bite centers as rabies is now in alarming status in South Cotabato," he said.

Aturdido assured that the IPHO and the bite centers have enough anti-rabies vaccines for postexposure prophylaxis and are given for free to bite victims.

He said the Department of Health (DOH) has provided vaccines to augment the IPHO's standby stocks.

The DOH provides 60 percent of the province's needs for anti-rabies vaccines for humans, which cost PHP1800 per vial.

The IPHO has also requested augmentation from other local government units in the province for the purchase of anti-rabies vaccines.(AVE/PNA)



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LAOAG CITY — A cargo van filled with live chickens was apprehended in a police checkpoint in Solsona town early Friday, Aug. 18.

Inspector Ralph Dayag, Deputy Chief of Police of Solsona, reported that at about 4:30 a.m., the truck containing about 2,000 heads of chickens to be delivered to Batac City passed by the checkpoint.

Police apprehended it as the poultry farm where they sourced the chickens is currently padlocked by the local government unit of Solsona town for violation of sanitary code.

Owned by former Solsona town mayor Joseph de Lara with contract growing scheme with Bounty Fresh, the poultry farm was closed earlier following a complaint of foul odor by its neighbors.

For humanitarian reasons, town mayor Alexander Calucag said Friday he may consider releasing the poultry products inside the de Lara farm if the owner or management will talk to them and pay taxes due the local government unit.

According to Calucag, he has ordered the review of all commercial establishments with Php 500,000 capital and up in Solsona to settle their obligations to the government. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- A wounded New People's Army (NPA) rebel  surrendered to government troops in Sarangani Province after reportedly being abandoned by his comrades, an Army official said.

Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Army's 1002nd Brigade, said the rebel yielded nearly a month after being seriously wounded in an encounter with troops from the 73rd Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Paglidong, Barangay Little Baguio, Malita town in Davao Occidental.

He said the rebel, whose identity was withheld for security reasons, was a member of a field unit of the NPA's Front 71.

"He decided to surrender due to the hardship he was facing after being left by his comrades in the mountains," he said.

Ancan said their troops are currently treating the wounded NPA surrenderer in an undisclosed location in Sarangani.

He said they were supposed to evacuate him through a chopper on Thursday but was rescheduled to Saturday due to weather problems.

73IB troops have intensified their security operations in the last two weeks in the mountains of Alabel and Malapatan towns in Sarangani due reported harassments by NPA rebels in local communities.

"Our units are currently conducting community security patrols to ensure peace and security in these areas," Ancan said.

1Lt. Daryll Cansancio, 73IB spokesperson, said their units have figured in a series of encounters with the rebels since Aug. 3.

He said the major clashes ensued in portions of Barangays Upper Suyan and Kihan in Malapatan that left a rebel dead and three others wounded.

Cansancio said their troops responded to the area following reports of renewed extortion activities by the rebels on civilians.   

He said they recovered a landmine unit and a backpack containing personal valuables and subversive documents from the lone fatality, who was identified as Jimmy Tumbo, 22, a resident of Sitio Akbual, Barangay Upper Suyan in Malapatan.

There were no casualties so far from the government side, he said.

As a result of the clashes, more than 30 families have evacuated from Sitio Akbual and the neighboring areas.

Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon said the local government has initially sent five days of food and relief rations to the affected residents.

He said the rations, which were sent via chooper, comprise rice, canned goods, medicines and other essential relief items.(AVE/PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Health personnel in Sarangani Province are targeting to immunize some 33,575 learners this year under the government's school-based immunization program.

Ma. Razel Bustaria, maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition coordinator of the Sarangani Provincial Health Office (PHO), said Friday their preparations are underway for the implementation of the program in various schools in the province.  

She said the Department of Health (DOH) set the start of the annual school-based immunization program this month.

Citing their records, she said they are aiming to cover a total of 12,770 Grade 1 and 12,102 Grade 7 learners and 8,703 girls aged nine years-old.

"Vaccination has been proven to be the most effective public health intervention and in countering disease outbreak," she said in a statement.

Bustaria said the DOH has come up with the routine immunization plan due to the increasing cases disease outbreaks, especially measles.

She said Grades 1 and 7 learners will be vaccinated with Measles-Rubella (MR) and Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td).

MR vaccine is for measles and rubella, which are highly contagious and could spread through the air from person to person, through coughing, sneezing, or simply breathing.

Td vaccine is for tetanus, which is also a serious illness caused by tetanus bacteria.

She said girls aged nine years-old will be given with Human papilloma vaccine (HPV) in coordination with the health centers.

"The HPV is one of the preventive interventions for cervical cancer in later life," she said.

Bustaria said the immunization activities will be done in coordination with DOH Region 12 and public schools in Sarangani.

In 2016, the Sarangani PHO was cited as Region 12's top performer in the implementation of the school-based immunization program.

The province posted an accomplishment rating of 94 percent for Grade 1 and 91 percent for Grade 7.(AVE/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT) is eyeing to produce 5,000 jobs in the healthcare information management (HIM) industry  by year 2022.

Lawyer Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, executive director of BNEFIT, said it is projected that 210,000 jobs will be available in the Philippines' HIM industry  and it is expected to generate  USD5 billion in revenues.

"We hope that 5,000 of these jobs will be in Bacolod City," she said.

BNEFIT, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and MedStar Philippines HealthCare Information Management Corporation,  held the 1st Bacolod HIM Conference at SMX Convention Center Bacolod on Thursday and Friday.

The conference gathered local stakeholders to scale-up the potentials of the countryside in attracting HIM jobs, opportunities and investments.

DICT Undersecretary Monchito Ibrahim, who was the keynote speaker on the second day, said Bacolod is capable of achieving even more than the target 5,000 jobs mainly because of its huge talent pool potential.

It just have to work on changing the mindset that HIM is not a call center job, he added

Themed "Building Pathways for Digital Healthcare Careers," the conference was attended by about 300 graduating high school and college students of medical, health, and information technology-related tracks and courses from various schools in Negros Occidental.

Raymond Ang, director of HIM Association of the Philippines, presented the outlook of HIM industry in the Philippines.

The students were also oriented on topics like challenges and opportunities in growing HIM industry in the countryside, careers and job opportunities for graduates, digital careers, and creating a thriving ecosystem for HIM-related investments, jobs and opportunities, among others.

Towards the end of the two-day conference, Ibrahim led industry stakeholders in their pledge of commitment to help achieve 5,000 HIM-related jobs for Bacolod.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The public has been urged to support the programs of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) in this city.

Gloria Ibañez, PCSO department manager for Mindanao, made the call as she led Friday the launch of the Small Town Lottery (STL) operations here.

Ibañez said the public should support the STL operations in order for the PCSO to generate more funds for the government.

Ibañez said they launched the STL in response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte "to increase the funds of the government through the PCSO."

She said the city government will receive monthly three percent revenue share from the gross sales of the local approved Authorized Agent Corporation (AAC).

The local AAC of the PCSO is the DJL1 Gaming Corp. that has established an office in Barangay Sta. Maria.

PCSO-Zamboanga branch manager Raul Regondola said that the DJL1 Gaming will be the sole AAC in this city.

Ibañez said the operation of the STL is to help the government eliminate illegal gambling and to provide decent job to the people.

Regondola said the DJL1 Gaming Corporation have employed coordinators and sale agents in the different barangays of this city.

Regondola said the establishment of the STL is to help the PCSO source out more funds for charity program of the agency.

Regondola said the opening of the STL in this city is the third here in the region.

The first was in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, which opened on June 23 and second was in Isabela City, Basilan that was launched on Thursday, August 17.

The STL draws is thrice daily; 11 a.m., 4 p.m., and 9 p.m.

The DJL1 will officially start operations on Monday, August 21. (TPGJR/PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Energy (DOE) reported that three more power plants damaged by the July 6, 2017 earthquake are still up for restoration for another month.

DOE Visayas field office Director Antonio Labios said that as of August 11   facilities under repair are the 186-megawatt (MW) Mahanagdong Units of Unified Leyte Geothermal Plants, 40-MW capacity from Unit 1 of Tongonan Power Plant, and the 400-MW High Voltage Direct Current cable facilities linking Luzon and Visayas grids.

"The transfer of power between Luzon to Visayas is still not possible at the moment. The NGCP (National Grid Corporation of the Philippines) are still on the process  of procuring  spare parts from abroad," Labios said.

The ongoing restoration is the cause of rotational brownout in Eastern Visayas region, the official said. The target is to fully complete the repair within September.

The DOE is continuously monitoring the power situation within the Visayas grid to ensure that the remaining damaged facilities will be restored as soon as possible.

Labios presented before members of the Regional Development Council on the real power situation in Leyte and Samar provinces during a meeting here on Friday.

The official clarified that contrary to previous press releases, power supply is not yet fully back in quake-hit provinces in Eastern Visayas. (with reports by Madelene B. Perez, OJT/PNA) 

(photo from NGCP official FB page)



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COTABATO CITY -- Clashes between Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which signed a peace with the government, and ISIS inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) erupted anew in Maguindanao, leaving five MILF men dead and five others injured, including a minor hit by stray bullets, police said.

The clash erupted at around 5 a.m. Friday in Datu Salibo, Maguindanao, according to Senior Supt. Agustin Tello, Maguindanao provincial police director.

Tello said MILF forces, all belonging to MILF Task Force Ittihad (Unity), discovered BIFF members were planting improvised explosive device at sitio Digadeng, Barangay Tee in Datu Salibo.

"It triggered exchange of gunfires," Tello said.

A civilian minor, identified as Rohaimen Kamid, 13, was hit by stray bullet, Tello said, quoting a report from Datu Salibo municipal police station.

Killed MILF fighters were identified as Mahmod Laguiab, Darigs Kendag, Kuzak Ali, Anwar Maulana and Kalidin Ulama, all task force Ittihad members.

Injured were Batinti Sabidra, Kunyang Guiama, Nasir Talib and Jery Buka, also task force Ittihad members.

Fighting between MILF's 108th base command and the BIFF erupted two weeks ago when the ISIS inspired group set off improvised bomb in Barangay Tee that injured 10 MILF fighters. The MILF retaliated and sporadic fighting continued to date.

Since the clashes have started, 10 MILF and 20 BIFF were killed. A dozen other MILF were injured, three of them were brought to military hospital in Camp Siongco, Maguindanao, the home of the 6th Infantry Division.

Tello said fighting in Barangay Tee is still going on as of posting.(PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY – Officials of Benguet signed Thursday Ordinance No. 204  series of 2017, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Code to strengthen the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law passed five years ago, at Hotel Supreme here.

Provincial Board Member Jim Botiwey, who chairs the Committee on Health of the legislative body, said the only way to strengthen the national law is through the passage of local RH ordinances.

He noted that Benguet allocates 30 percent or more of its fiscal budget for health programs.

Benguet, he added, has a problem on teenage pregnancy, which is one of the reasons they pushed for the passage of the local RH Code, that is hoped to address the problem long besetting the province.

A total budget of Php 10 million or more is needed in order to implement the programs under the code, which include family planning; maternal, infant, child health and nutrition; proscription of abortion and management of abortion complications; adolescent and youth reproductive health guidance and counseling at the point of care; prevention, treatment, and management of reproductive tract diseases, HIV and AIDS (human immuno virus- acquired immune deficiency syndrome) and other sexually transmitted infections.

Also included in the implementation is the elimination of violence against women and children and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence; age and development-appropriate education and counseling on sexuality and reproductive health; treatment of breast and reproductive tract cancers and other gynaecological conditions and disorders; male responsibility and involvement and men's reproductive health aside from the prevention, treatment and management of infertility and sexual dysfunction; age and development-appropriate RH education for adolescents in formal and non-formal educational settings and the mental health aspect of reproductive health care. 

Upon the approval of the ordinance, an initial Php3 million will be allocated for the implementation of the programs starting 2018.

The approved code also mandates the creation of a council, the function of which is to prepare the investment plan and decide the priority projects, programs or activitites that will be undertaken for the implementation of the ordinance.

Forum for Family Planning and Development president Benjamin De Leon expressed confidence that once the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certifies contraceptives as non-abortifacient, the Supreme Court will lift the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) it issued on the RH law.

FDA will also be responsible for providing the guidelines that will serve as the "bible" for the national implementation of the five-year-old RH law which remains to be on hold.

De Leon said "there is a chance that within the next 60 days, probably September or October, we, including the Department of Health, will be able to implement the RH law".

Earlier, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte urged local government units to come up with their Reproductive Health ordinances which would strengthen the national law that has yet to be fully implemented due to the issuance of a TRO by the Supreme Court. (Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA)



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COTABATO CITY  -- A 13-year-old Maguindanaon pupil made waves before the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP).

Christian James Pragados dela Peña, a student of a public school in Buldon, Maguindanao, has been named as one of the winners in the international WFP Children's Design Competition for 2017 organized by the UN-WFP.

In his winning piece, dela Peña painted his vision of a world that saves food for the next generation, including him, besting 20 other finalists selected from a short list of 22 paintings by school children from across the globe.

On Tuesday, dela Peña, was presented a prize of US$350, of which US$150 for himself and US$200 for his school, Dinganen Central Elementary School in Buldon, Maguindanao to promote painting and art work as noble profession.

In a statement, the UN-WFP said all participating students were attending schools that have been involved in WFP's worldwide school meal program, designed to both fortify the health of school children as well as keep them in the classroom even during difficult times.

Under the program, pupils receive meals or snacks in school and take-home rations.

Across the globe to date, WFP provides food to more than 16 million children in school meal program in 60 countries.

Education plays a significant role in breaking the cycle of hunger, and WFP strives to reach the poorest and most vulnerable children, it said in a statement.

Themed "Zero Hunger: The future begins with food," the competition involved both an art piece and explanatory note.
In between drawings at home, dela Peña, played basketball and dreamed of becoming a successful painter someday.

Mats Persson, WFP country director ad interim for the Philippines, said the art work will help UN-WFP see the future of children and what they hope for.

"The illustrations made by the school children help us see the hopes, visions, and potentials they have, reminding us the importance of investing in their future," Persson said.

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, executive secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm), was elated a Maguindanaon made it to the UN painting search.

"Thanks to WFP for helping nurture the potentials of our children to pursue their hopes and dreams for a better future," she said in a statement.

"Congratulations to our children artists! Continue to dream big and excel in your chosen field. The entire Bangsamoro is proud of you," Alamia added.

In the competition, five drawings from the Philippines were submitted to the competition judges at WFP Headquarters in Rome, Italy. Of the 20 winners, 3 artworks from the Philippines made it to semi-finals.

"All of us at WFP congratulate the young artists for creating such unique and inspiring works. They made us all proud," Persson said.

April Carlen Ardoña of WFP-Philippines said the artwork of Dela Peña will be displayed in the WFP headquarters.

The same art will be featured in wall calendars and greeting cards for global distribution to continue raising awareness of the WFP's works. (PNA)



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ISULAN, Sultan Kudarat -- Five members of a private armed group operating in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat were arrested Thursday morning in a raid conducted by joint police and Philippine Marines, police said.

Elements of Sultan Kudarat Police Office, Kalamansig and Lebak town police personnel and 2nd Marine Battalion Landing Team swooped down on the house of Tenti Tau Mangarin alias Commander Winston, alleged leader of an armed group, at around 4:30 a.m.

The raid was covered by search warrants and warrants of arrest against Mangarin, according to Sr. Supt. Raul Supiter, Sultan Kudarat provincial police director.

Supiter said Mangarin apparently sensed the raid and escaped before the law enforcers entered his residential compound in Barangay Datu Ito Andong in Kalamansig.

However, five of his armed followers were arrested and did not put up a fight.

"Mangarin is a high value target (HVT) of police and facing charges for illegal possession of firearms and explosives," Supiter said.

Arrested were Bonao Mangarin, Usop Mangarin, Mimong Agam, Osik Mangarin and Seleno Ogib.

Seized from them were four Armalite Rifles, a Garand rifle, one .45 caliber pistol, two fragmentation grenades, military uniform, a binocular, assorted ammunition and magazines.

Supiter said the suspects are now detained at Kalamansig police lock-up cell while charges for violation of Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives) are being prepared against them.

Supiter said Mangarin's group is among the PNP listed private armed groups in Sultan Kudarat. (PNA)



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KORONADAL CITY -- Police operatives seized suspected illegal drugs and more than P5 million cash and jewelries in a raid early Thursday at the house of an employee of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 here.  

Supt. Roland Allan Peñaverde, Koronadal City police chief, said they recovered the illegal items at the residence of couple Aga Khan and Norania Sarip in San Antonio Village-Phase II, Barangay Sta Cruz.

Armed with 40 search warrants issued by Judge Alandrex Betoya of the Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Kabacan, North Cotabato, he said they stormed four houses in the area owned by the Sarips and their relatives at past 3 a.m.

The operation was joined by elements from the Police Regional Office-12's Regional Drug Enforcement Unit, Regional Public Safety Battalion, Special Action Force and the Koronadal City police station.

The search warrants were for alleged maintenance of a drug den, possession of dangerous drugs and paraphernalia, and illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosives, among others.

Peñaverde said they first searched the house of the Sarip couple where they found several sachets of suspected shabu, P1.4 million cash, around P4 million worth of jewelries, and, handheld radios.

He said they also found suspected shabu and cash from three other nearby houses owned by their relatives.

Operatives recovered a total of 15 sachets of shabu weighing about 35 grams and valued at P262,500.

Also seized were five vehicles composed of the latest models of Toyota Fortuner sports utility vehicle, Grandia van, Vios sedan (two units) and a Hilux pickup.

The pickup was reportedly owned by the Sarips but carried markings and seal of the DSWD-12 disaster operations.

During the raid, the police official said they failed to arrest the couple, who reportedly left for Manila on Wednesday.

Arrested were three helpers of the Sarips identified as Samir Maruhom, Nashib Alyudin and Asrudin Alyudin, and a relative identified as Sagat Maruhom.

The Sarips were originally from Malabang town in Lanao del Sur but transferred here several years ago. Norania is a program focal person of the DSWD-12.

"We're currently preparing the charges against them," Peñaverde added.(PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Hundreds of artists and cultural performers from the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) will gather here next month for the sub-region's first-ever grand "festival of festivals."

Dubbed "Budayaw: The BIMP-EAGA Festival of Culture and the Arts," the event will mainly showcase the rich culture, heritage and artistry of peoples within the sub-regional grouping in a pioneering festivity slated from Sept. 20-24.

Adelina Suemith, acting executive director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), said the upcoming festivity is a unique event that is aimed to celebrate the diverse culture and at the same time the oneness of the people of BIMP-EAGA.

"We want to rekindle the traditional exchanges among our peoples as well as foster a sense of connectivity and belongingness to the EAGA," she said during the festival's formal launching at the SM Mall Atrium here in Wednesday afternoon.

Spearheaded by the NCCA, she said the festival was an offshoot of the decision of the sub-region's ministers in 2015 to include socio-cultural and education as its fifth strategic pillar of cooperation.

Last year, Suemith said the committee in-charge for the socio-cultural and education pillar decided to launch a signature culture and arts event for the sub-region.

She said the festivity was eventually called "Budayaw," which is a combination of Bahasa term "budaya" for culture and Filipino term "dayaw" that means "something beautiful or something good."

Nestor Horfilla, NCCA's head of festival organizing team, said Budayaw Festival is a banner project of the BIMP-EAGA cooperating countries to advance culture and development in the sub-regional grouping.

He said it was designed to showcase the diverse creative expressions of the people in the EAGA; advance opportunities for cultural exchanges among peoples, communities, artists and cultural workers; and, forge collaboration between public and private sector in support for the festival.   

"We also aiming to raise public awareness and appreciation on the BIMP-EAGA cultures and history," he said.

As of Wednesday, he said Malaysia has confirmed to send a contingent of 50 artists and cultural performers while the Indonesian delegation will be led by 16 cultural dancers.

Horfilla said a core group of performers commissioned by the Indonesian consulate in Davao City will also join the festivity.

Brunei Darussalam will be sending 30 cultural performers but such number could still increase based on an ongoing review by its Ministry in-charge, he said.

He said more than 200 artists and cultural performers from parts of Mindanao and Palawan will also participate in the lined up events.

Horfilla said these include cultural performances, visual arts exhibitions, young chorale concerts, "Ikat" weaving showcases, indigenous traditional music exchanges, culture and history colloquium, and tourism exhibition.

City Mayor Ronnel Rivera reiterated the city government's full support to the hosting of the festival, which will be held every two years.

"We take pride and deeply honored to be chosen as venue for this international event," he said.

Malaysian Vice Consul Saifulnizam Wahid, who joined the launching, said the event is an important step towards the building of more cooperation and exchanges within the BIMP-EAGA.

"We are very excited with the event. We hope that our participation will become a bridge that will connect the people of Malaysia and the Philippines, not only this generation but in the years to come," he said.    

The first Budayaw Festival is supported by the city government of General Santos, Mindanao State University-General Santos, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Department of Tourism, Sarangani provincial government and the Mindanao Development Authority.   

NCCA has allotted some P10 million for the holding of the festivity and raised another P10 million from various partners. (AVE/PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the opening by next year of a halfway home for former and returning New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the area.

Ma. Ana Uy, acting head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said Thursday they have started the preparatory works for the establishment of a halfway home in Barangay Morales, Koronadal City.

She said South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes earlier endorsed the construction of the facility at a portion of a two-hectare lot donated by the local government to the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office (SCPPO).

She said the project will specifically occupy around 1,000 square meters of the entire site, which was intended for the new headquarters of the SCPPO, she said.  

But since the lot was already donated to the SCPPO, Uy said the local government still needs to seek formal endorsement from Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald "Bato" Del Rosa for the use of the lot.

She said the governor has already sent a formal letter request to the PNP chief regarding the matter.

"(But) we're already in the pre-implementation phase and we expect the project to go full swing soon," she said.

Uy said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had signified to help fund the construction of the halfway home.

She said the DILG has allotted grants of P5 million to local government units, including the province, who have signified to establish a halfway home for returning rebels.

"One we receive the endorsement from the PNP chief, we will formally avail of the funding from the DILG," she said.

A halfway home or house refers to the temporary residence that serves as the processing center for former rebels.

The facility could also be used to cater to other individuals in crisis situations such as victims of violence against women and children, juvenile delinquents, former convicts and times of disaster.

The DILG issued last June the guidelines that detailed the systems and procedures on the establishment of the "halfway homes," which is a component of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).

The CLIP started in 2014 and aims to facilitate the mainstreaming of former NPA rebels as productive citizens; enhance capacities of LGUs and national government agencies in the implementation and sustainability of the CLIP; and compensate and remunerate all surrendered firearms, including those coming from the NPA.(PNA)



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CALAMBA CITY, Laguna -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has heightening its watch over migratory birds as an offshoot of the avian influenza or the bird flu outbreak several days ago in a town of Pampanga.

Arturo E. Fadriquela, DENR Calabarzon assistant regional director for management services, said on Thursday that their regional office has tightened the "bird watch" over migratory birds and sites in the region.

In the Calabarzon region, DENR has identified around 45 migratory bird sites with three in Cavite; nine in Batangas; 10 in Laguna; and 23 in Quezon. Calabarzon Region comprises the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon
The DENR's monitoring of migrant bird and migratory bird sites here is in sync with the advisory of the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) on the temporary ban on the movement of live domestic and wild birds, including products like poultry meat, eggs, semen and manure, from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao.

"While the poultry part of the issue is under the mandate of DA, our concern here is the wild migratory birds," said Oliver Viado, DENR Calabarzon Conservation and Development Division.

Viado said the watch on migratory birds stemmed from a directive of the DENR central office to closely monitor migratory bird sites "so as to check whether there are any incidences of wild bird die out."

He said the Department always implements the "no touch" protocol whenever they observe dead wild birds, and reports such observation to the DA.

He added DENR Calabarzon is directed to suspend the issuance of all transport permits for any wild bird species to and from Pampanga and nearby provinces.

Viado said they have already alerted all wildlife traffic monitoring unit checkpoints in Calabarzon to strictly enforce measures and to stop and immediately report occurrence of wild bird transport passing through or in the region.

"As of now, bird flu incidence is not yet observed in the Calabarzon Region since the outbreak in Pampanga, but we urge the public to immediately report to the DA any observation of dead wild birds and poultry," Viado said.

Meanwhile, the DENR-Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) also released an advisory calling on the public to help protect migratory birds as these species are not the culprit of the flu but rather a victim, like some domestic birds.

The DENR-BMB strongly advised the public to stop culling, poisoning or chasing away migratory birds as these practices are proven ineffective and counterproductive.

DENR also cautioned the public to avoid handling any sick or dead wild birds; and separate poultry and domestic animals from wild birds and other wildlife.

Czarina Maria Gandeza, officer-in-charge of the DENR regional strategic communication and initiatives office, told PNA here that they have launched their information campaign through various media outlets on the bird flu advisory  particularly on migrant and wild birds.

Gandeza said the public should also be aware that migratory birds are species that constantly migrate to various countries and continents in order to survive, and these are frequently sighted in the region.

She added the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) studies that wild migratory water birds worldwide naturally carry these viruses but in a low pathogenic and harmless form.

However, these viruses can turn into a harmful, high pathogenic form when such bird species come in contact with a crowded and unhygienic poultry farm. The harmful virus can quickly spread among the poultry and wild birds, and may cause its death.
DENR officials here explained that in the Philippines, the bird migration season is from late September this year to March next year.

These birds stay along wetlands such as swamps, marshes, intertidal and coastal areas, rivers, ponds, lakes and forests. (Saul E. Pa-a/PNA)



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TAGBILARAN CITY -- Bohol Governor  Edgar Chatto met with the local school board and other relevant agencies on Wednesday in preparation for the province's hosting of the 2018 Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) national meet in April.

Chatto earlier expressed confidence the leading sports facilities in the province would be ready for the meet. 

At least a thousand student-athletes and officials will be coming to Bohol next year to compete for medals in different events.

Before the Prisaa, the province will also host the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association (CVIRAA) meet in February next year.

The CVIRAA meet is the qualifying event for the Palarong Pambansa, which will be hosted by Baguio City and Benguet Province also next year.

Back in July, Governor Chatto already alerted key provincial government agencies including the engineering department to spruce up key sporting venues.

At least 16 venues for various competitions were identified by the organizers, said Fr. Vic Uy of Holy Name University and a ranking official of the National Prisaa. (Dave Albarado/PNA)



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PALO, Leyte --The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) on Thursday urged businessmen in Eastern Visayas to take advantage of growing demand for coconut products.

Speakingduring the 7th Eastern Visayas Regional Business Conference at the Oriental Hotel here, PCCI President George Barcelon said investing in coconut development in the region is worthwhile.

"There's a lot of opportunity in agriculture. One of this is coconut, the primary agricultural product of Eastern Visayas. The market for coconut is expected to grow 25 percent every year in the future," said Barcelon.

He encouraged chamber members to contribute to the full recovery of the industry in the region after super typhoon "Yolanda" heavily destroyed coconut trees when it struck in 2013.

The growth demand is buoyed by investments of giant firms such as Coca Cola, Pepsi-Co, and Vita Coco in selling of coconut drinks, according to the official.

Coconut water is a clear liquid in the fruit's centern which contains calcium, magnesium and potassium. It is an increasingly popular drink in the US and even in Philippines, said Barcelon.

Eastern Visayas, with an annual average yield of one billion nuts, reported 33.82 million trees damaged by the 2013 disaster, almost half of the previously 72.75 million thriving coconut trees.

The Philippine Coconut Authority said massive replanting is ongoing to ensure full production recovery in the region.

The holding of business conference is a proof of recovery from the Yolanda's devastation, according to Wilson Uy, PCCI Leyte-Tacloban chapter president.

"Despite the destruction, we rose up and fought back with the help of local as well as international organizations. It is evident in the growth we have generated in agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, information technology and other sectors," Uy told the participants.

The gathering aims to promote the region as a business destination and highlight its investment potentials. (with reports from Reynadel F. Costillas &  Patricia P. Salvo, OJTs/PNA)


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BACOOR CITY, Cavite – Manila and Bacoor have forged a sister-city agreement that would open opportunities to more educational, cultural and business exchanges

The signing took place at the Manila City Hall Wednesday afternoon between Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Bacoor Mayor Lani Mercado Revilla witnessed by councilors from both cities.

Mercado-Revilla said the sister-city pact was pursuant to the Bacoor Sangguniang Panglungsod (city legislative council) Resolution No. 333 Series of 2016 that authorized her to enter and execute the agreement.

Former President and Mayor Estrada said he was granted the authority to enter, execute and sign the Sister City Agreement through Manila City Council Resolution CR ‎‎2016-147 Series of 2017.

Mercado-Revilla said "it is a coincidence that both of us became cities in June with Bacoor on June 23, 2012 while Manila's chartered cityhood was June 24, 1976 when in terms of date, we are ahead by one day."

She added that by June 2018, "we have a marching Band Competition where Manila and Bacoor will be part of the big event to be held in Bacoor City as it hosts various participants from different parts of the world. And I hope Manila will also join this competition."

For his part, Estrada said Manila is looking forward "to having more educational, cultural and business exchanges with Bacoor, a first class urban component city in the province of Cavite."

"This is a very important agreement between the cities of Manila and Bacoor. This will formalize our ties as cities," Estrada said.
Estrada said Manila and Bacoor have some similarities. "While Manila is the country's capital, there was a brief period when Bacoor also served as the country's capital at the time General Emilio F. Aguinaldo declared it as capital of his revolutionary government in 1898."

Before the signing rite, video presentations of both Bacoor and Manila were shown depicting the past and present developments and other services benefitting their respective constituents.

Guests were in Filipiniana attire and entertained by singers from the two cities.

Manila is the 3rd twin city of Bacoor after forging city agreements with Mandaue and Davao Cities.
Manila has inked similar pacts with cities of Dili in Timor-Leste; Beijing, China; Honolulu, Hawaii; Moscow, Russia; Taipei, Taiwan; and Winnipeg, Canada, among others. (Rogelio Limpin/PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already disbursed PHP30.6 million worth of free medicines to Western Visayas  indigents under the "Libreng Gamot sa Masa (LinGap sa Masa)" program of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a press conference on Thursday, DSWD-6 information officer May Castillo said the free medicines benefited 4,887 indigent patients in the region as of August 11.

Bulk of the fund or PHP21.9 million went to 3,859 indigent patients under the program's family head and other needy adult (FHONA) client category.

A total of 904 indigent patients under the senior citizens client category availed of the free medicines with a total cost of PHP6.6 million; 102 patients under the Persons with Disability (PWD) client category with medicines amounting to PHP1.9 million and 22 women in especially difficult circumstances (WEDC) with PHP123,788 worth of medicines.

Western Visayas has PHP138 million fund for the LinGap program. It was implemented starting March this year in partnership with the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Mandurrriao, Iloilo City. 

Castillo said that the utilization of fund was moving fast when compared with previous months.

 She said that the utilization would even be faster once the program coverage would be expanded to three more hospitals in the region to include Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in Kalibo, Aklan; Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Roxas City, Capiz; and Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

Castillo said that they were still waiting for the guidelines from the DSWD central office for the expansion of the program.

If the fund will not be fully utilized by the end of December, the remaining money will still be used next year as it was sourced from the trust fund of the President, Castillo said. 

Patients in the region, especially those admitted at the WVMC, are further encouraged to avail of the free medicines.

Requirements needed to be qualified include doctor's prescription, certificate of indigency and valid identification card.

Eligible patients will be issued a DSWD LinGap sa Masa Guarantee Letter (GL),  which includes the needed amount of patient for their medicines, to be presented to the pharmacy of the hospital. (PNA)

 



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TACLOBAN CITY--The Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Eastern Visayas has proposed for the allocation of PHP12 billion "peace fund" from the national government for rebel-infested areas in the region.

 

"If we have a common fund, it will be easier for us to access the budget because it takes time if the funding requirement is delegated to national government agencies because of prioritization," said Samar Governor and RPOC chairperson Sharee Ann Tan on Thursday. 

 

The official, however, clarified that she has nothing against national government agencies controlling the budget and implementing projects because they could easily work with the local government unit.

 

"The only problem is, it takes some time before the project is implemented by the agency and it takes away the sense of urgency," Tan added.

 

She said the "peace fund" would be used to finance projects identified by locals.

 

The funding can be allocated by tranche every year, according to her.

 

Under the proposal, the budget will not only focus on funding infrastructure projects, but also include livelihood support to make the program more integrated.

 

The Philippine Army has tagged 32 towns and one city in Eastern Visayas as priority in their anti-insurgency drive, citing recent reports of attacks and fortification activities of armed rebels.

 

These areas are San Isidro, Victoria, Bobon, Catarman, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Laoang, Palapag, and Lapinig in Northern Samar; Matuguinao, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Jiabong, Motiong, Hinabangan, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Basey, and Marabut in Samar.

 

Also listed are Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Balangiga, and Giporlos in Eastern Samar; Carigara, Jaro, Albuera, Burauen, Mahaplag, Baybay City, and Hilongos in Leyte.

 

Insurgency remains a top concern, especially in areas inaccessible or isolated making residents vulnerable to influence of rebellion.

 

Among the reasons why insurgency thrives in remote villages are land reform issues, lack of economic activities, and poor road network. (PNA) (Photo from Gov. Sharee Ann Tan Facebook page) 



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ILOILO CITY -- The city government here is set to reconstitute its avian influenza task force amid the avian influenza (AI) or the bird flu outbreak in Pampanga.

City veterinarian, Dr. Tomas Forteza, said that the city's AI task force was created wayback in 1997, thus  there would be a need to update the membership as some members have already retired.   

An executive order has to be signed by Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog for the reactivation.

The task force will be chaired by the mayor with the city veterinarian as co-chair.  The members include the city health office, city agriculture office, city treasurer, city environment and natural resources office, Philippine National Police, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, representative from the private sector and the media.

"This is just for the preparedness, everything is under control; no need to worry," he said.

While they are yet preparing for the reactivation, Forteza said that the committee on animal health protection, which he heads, was activated. Under his committee are four teams namely surveillance, rapid action team, quarantine, census.

The surveillance team will undergo training next week. "Hopefully they could already collect samples from critical areas," he expressed.

Iloilo City and Western Visayas as a whole is vulnerable because the region's monthly egg consumption of around three million mostly come from Luzon such as in Batangas, Bulacan and Pampanga, he said. If products coming from them are contaminated, then they can enter the region.

However, the animal quarantine office of the Department of Agriculture has implemented a border control monitoring, he added

Memorandum circular 9 issued by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) prohibits the local trans-shipment of live domestic and wild birds, including poultry meat, day old chicks, semen and manure from Visayas to Mindanao and  vice-versa via Luzon, he assured.

Meanwhile, Donna Magno, head of the city disaster risk reduction and management office (CDRRMO) said that they can assist Forteza's office by allotting portion of their quick response fund for  the printing of information and education (IEC) materials.  (PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan-- The National Food Authority (NFA) here said that Palawan farmers need additional post-harvest facilities to meet the demand for rice grains on time during the lean months and to achieve reasonable prices for them.

Ferlita Ancheta, officer-in-charge of the NFA in Palawan, said farmers need post-harvest drying facilities that would lessen grain moisture content to a safe level for storing.

"Not having post-harvest facilities, like the dryers, is what we found out as the main problem of farmers in Palawan," Ancheta said in a Kapihan hosted Thursday by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).  

Ancheta explained that in the province, the NFA has two units of dryers in Brooke's Point and three units in Narra town, the "rice granary" of the province.

However, only three units can be used as the two other units need to undergo repairs.

"We are bidding for repairs for the other two units to be used," she said, adding biddings are now being conducted by her office.

The NFA chief explicated further that when rice is harvested, it contains moisture, and without the dryers to help during the rainy season, high level moisture during storage could cause grain discoloration, develop molds, and increase pest attacks.

"It is important to dry the rice grains as soon as they are harvested. If it is delayed, or drying is incomplete because of rain, that can reduce grain quality and result in losses on the part of our farmers," Ancheta furthered.

Traditional sun drying remains in practice, particularly among small farmers, but during the rainy season, their means of livelihood suffer as their rice harvests are ineffectively dried.

"This is the reason why we are encouraging the post-harvest technology, of using mechanical dryers, because it is a primary need among farmers. If rice has no good quality, the farmers cannot dictate the price," she stated.

Meanwhile, in sustaining Palawan's self-sufficiency on rice, Ancheta raised the alarm too, on the loss of interest of young people in farming families to continue tilling the lands.

"The average age of farmers is now 55, and in five years, they will be 60. Of course, their physical strength will really slow down. This is why we encourage local government units to continue to provide scholarship grants on farming courses to encourage the youth not to leave the lands," she said.

For 2017, the NFA's main crop procurement target will be more than 200,000 bags as reserve supply, and also for use during the lean season, which is between the months of July to September, Ancheta said.

Out of the national rice import of 250,000 metric tons, or five million bags, Palawan has been allotted 60,000 bags, which will soon arrive either in September or in October. (PNA)



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CAMP MARCELO A ADDURU,Tuguegarao City -- The Police Regional  Office (PRO2)-Cagayan Valley has 343 new recruits after going through a rigorous selection and screening by the region's Recruitment and Selection Board. 

 PRO2 Regional Director CSupt. Robert G. Quenery administered the oathtaking ceremony of the said police recruits, composed of 283 males and 60 females, on Wednesday  at the PRO2 Grandstand, Camp Marcelo A  Adduru, Tuguegarao City. The activity was witnessed by PRO2 officers, parents, relatives and friends of the new recruits.

Quenery challenged  the police recruits to serve the community with dedication, pride and honor.

"Men who adopt the profession of arms, submit their own free will to a law of perpetual constraints of their own accord. They resist their right to live where they choose, to say what they think, to dress as they like. It needs but an order to settle them from their families and dislocate their normal lives. In the world of commands, they must rise, march, run, endure bad weather, and go out without sleep or food, be isolated in some distant post, work until they drop. They have ceased to become masters of their own fate. If they drop on their tracks, their ashes shall be scattered in the four winds. That is all part and parcel of their job." Quenery said.

After the traditional reception, the said recruits were immediately turned-over to the Regional Training Center 2, Cauayan City, Isabela for their six  months Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC), five months Field Training Exercise (FTX) in the different police stations selected as Filed Training Centers (FTC) and a month Field Training Evaluation and Assessment (FTA) to complete the one  year Field Training Program (FTP). Said batch of recruits is one of the biggest PRO2 quota in the history of PRO2 Recruitment. (PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City on Thursday launched the "Brigada Eskwela" in preparation for the resumption of classes amid the continued armed conflict in the area.

The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) said the launch came after recommendations by the administration that classes be resumed and security arrangement be made as high-ranking security officials joined the round-table discussion last August 8.

The university administration is eyeing to resume classes on Tuesday, August 22.

"It is worth mentioning in this occasion that the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), indeed, did not limit itself to providing kind help and support to the university. Just a few days ago, Colonel Romeo Brawner, Lt. Col. Roseno Abad, Lt. Col. Jake Jumawan, and the rest of their company came to us and talked to us about the sustainable security of the MSU so that our faculty, staff, and students will be safe and secured as we finally open the regular classes on August 22, 2017, barring any obstacle or impediment," Dr. Florencio Recoleto, OIC vice chancellor for academic affairs, was quoted by Westmincom as saying.

Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Westmincom chief, welcomed the launching of Brigada Eskwela as soldiers joined the MSU staff in repairing the facilities and in cleaning the university premises.

"The plan for a the long-term security arrangement is a product of the collaboration between AFP, PNP, and PKF," Recoleto added.

"That is the reason why MSU is now still standing perhaps as the only remaining shining hope and inspiration to the Maranaos, to the entire Moro people, and to our Christian brothers and sisters alike who have been part of and have given so much love to the university, both as their alma mater and their home for the rest of their lives. Our profuse thanks to General Galvez and all officers of the AFP for coming and for taking care of the university and its constituents. In our hearts, you are indeed our heroes," he said.

"Guns can kill terrorists, but education can kill terrorism," Galvez said, quoting the youngest Nobel Prize Awardee Malala Yousofzai from India, a known advocate for freedom of education.

Yousofzai was shot and wounded by a Taliban gunman on October 9, 2012 while riding a bus home after taking an examination in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school.

On October 10, 2014, Yousafzai was announced as the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. She was then 17 years old.

Inspired by Yusofzai, Galvez was easily convinced to work out the security problem in order to open the classes at MSU the soonest because it is his personal belief that "education is the antidote for terrorism."

Galvez said that like Yusofzai, MSU stayed strong and stood her ground amid the intense fighting and dangers just a few kilometers away.

"MSU is the center of hope and the center of freedom; with education, everyone can have freedom," he said.

The MSU caters to marginalized students across the country, especially scholars from Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan. It has produced a number of professionals and topnotchers in its 56 years of operation. (TPGJR/PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan-- Residents in this city welcomed the proposal to establish a PHP63-million state-of-the-art traffic operations center (TOC) to improve road vehicle flow and increase overall public safety and security.

Councilor Rolando Amurao on Monday proposed for a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)-like TOC that would keep an eye on major transportation corridors here complete with real time closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV).

"I am for it because it will also help solve crimes in Puerto Princesa. We need that if we want to keep our residents safe from crimes being committed on the road, like those perpetrated by these riding in tandems," businesswoman Grace Arambulo said onThursday.

She said her car got dented while it was park along Rizal Avenue, a major road artery in Puerto Princesa, and she did not know who to run after as no one saw what happened.

But with CCTVs, this problem can be addressed, she said. 

She  also wished for the number of tricycle franchise owners to decrease, especially in the national highways. "Maybe while they are waiting to set that up, they should already think about lessening the tricycles passing in our national highways daily, or maybe re-route them to ease the traffic," she said.

Joseph Vargas, a checker in a construction supplies store, said it was about time that the city has a TOC that could help ease its growing traffic problem. "Grabe na katindi ang traffic natin. Minsan kahit maaga ka, talo ka pa rin sa sobrang traffic (Our traffic is now in worst condition. Even if you go to work early,  you will still be late.)," Vargas told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) also Thursday.

Amurao on Monday said his resolution would be called the "Puerto Princesa City Traffic Operations Center."

"I went to visit the MMDA's Metro Base Traffic Operations, and I observed how it is operating, and I saw how effective it is monitoring traffic violations and even crimes being perpetrated," he said.

After his visit, he wrote a letter to Mayor Lucilo Bayron to request him to include the fund for the proposed TOC in the 2018 Annual Budget of the city government.

"What we encountered as an issue about this was the specifications of the cameras, and we were told that including that and the labor to set it up, the fund that we would need would reach the said amount," Amurao said. 

He did not say what was Bayron's reaction, or if he was told to first file a measure in the Sangguniang Panlungsod about it.

"What we want to happen here is, first, monitoring of traffic; monitoring of criminality – help solve riding in tandem cases with the CCTV; and discipline erring drivers and even passengers," he said.

Studies will also be made on how internet speed in the city can help run the TOC. "That is one thing we need to study if," and the MMDA engineers are willing to help, Amurao said. (PNA)



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SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique -- The Antique Provincial Veterinary (ProVet) is coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for a close monitoring of the Antique ports against the entry of Avian Influenza or bird flu. 

Dr. Romeo Magdatu, ProVet head, said  they have coordinated with the PCG in San Jose and would be meetin with the coast guard in Culasi and Libertad on Friday.  "Next week I will be in Caluya also," the ProVet head said. 

The ports in the Antique towns of San Jose, Culasi, Libertad and Semirara in Caluya are being closely watched in the wake of bird flu outbreak in Pampanga.  

These ports are possible entry points of egg shipments from Pampanga.

However, most of the eggs in the Antique markets are being supplied by two big local and backyard poultry farms.

Antique remains free from the Avian flu virus.  (PNA)  



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TACLOBAN CITY -- Majority of local officials in Samar province will join the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party of President Rodrigo Duterte, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan confirmed on Thursday.

 

At least 19 out of 24 mayors and all provincial board members in Samar province will move to PDP-Laban. They will take their oath as new party members next week.

 

Tan said she and her mother, Samar 2nd District Rep. Milagrosa Tan  have earlier joined the ruling party. To be sworn in also is her brother, Vice Governor Stephen James Tan. 

 

The governor and the congresswoman ran in the 2016 elections under the Nationalist People's Coalition.

 

"President Duterte is very supportive to the province and there is no reason for us to go against him," Tan told reporters.

 

Not only the Chief Executive but also cabinet members have been extending support to the local development programs, she said. 

 

Once officially sworn in as PDP-Laban members, the Tan family of Samar will be the third political clan in Eastern Visayas to join the PDP-Laban.

 

The Mercado clan of Southern Leyte and all 19 mayors in the province were also sworn in as new ruling party members.

 

They were followed by Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla and his brother, former Energy secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, a senatorial bet under the Liberal Party in the 2016 elections.

 

Leyte 5th District Rep. Jose Carlos Cari, cousin of the Petillas,  also joined the administration party. Her mother, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari said she would also move to PDP-Laban.

 

Last week, the Espina family of Biliran and all eight mayors of the province joined the administration party. (PNA)( Photo from Gov. Ann Tan Facebook page) 



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DAVAO CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) launched Thursday its PUV Drivers' Academy where more than 50 taxi drivers in Davao City took the one-day mandatory course on road safety and good driving habits seminar.

They are the pioneering class of the LTFRB's PUV Drivers' Academy which offers five modules on Certificate of Public Conveyance Terms and Conditions, Road Safety, Road Rage and Anger Management, Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings, and Good Manners on Driving. The registration is free.

LTFRB XI director Teresita Yniguez said the mandatory seminar will cover about 50,000 public utility drivers in the region. Also included are drivers of school and tourist transports. There are about 19,000 public utility units registered with LTFRB.

Yniguez said the drivers will take an examination at the end of the lecture. If they fail in one module they need to re-take it again before they can be given certification of completion which qualifies them to drive public utility vehicles.

Yniguez said the drivers who passed the examination will be issued an ID with a validity of one year. After the IDs expiration, the drivers will undergo a re-training before their IDs are renewed. The ID fee has yet to be determined by LTFRB central office.

According to Yniguez, the operator of the public utility vehicle will be fined P5,000 per violation if their drivers did not undergo the mandatory seminar.

Yniguez said the seminar is aimed at providing skills for the public utility drivers on road safety. She said the modules are developed by the Ateneo de Manila, Dela Salle, the University of the Philippines, Automobile Association of the Philippines, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Each are represented to speak in the seminar.

During the opening, Yniguez asked the participants not to degrade themselves as mere drivers although they need to their upgrade skills.

She said Davao drivers should be proud of themselves that they are better in terms of manners compared to their counterparts in Manila. "Being a driver is a noble profession," she said.

Yniguez hoped such good impression will remain for Davao drivers. Taxi driver Aurelio Pellerin has no complaints undergoing the seminar but he was surprised there is an exam at the end of the seminar.

He admitted he did not know there is an exam. "Paningkamutan na lang nako ni makapasa (I will just try my best to pass)," said Pellerin who has been a taxi driver for 14 years.

The mandatory road safety seminar is implemented nationwide by LTFRB.

 LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra said the academy is not just being launched, but a start of one of the major programs of the agency.

"This program aims to upgrade the competence and skills and enhance the character of our public utility drivers all over the country,' he said.

Delgra hopes LTFRB will achieve its mission if ensuring safe, convenient and reliable public transport by investing on the drivers. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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LEGAZPI CITY -- A village chief in Sorsogon City, Sorsogon province was gunned down Wednesday night by unidentified persons believed to be members of the New People's Army (NPA).

Oscar Jetomo, head of Barangay (village) Marinas, was shot dead in his residence at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday after at least three persons supposedly seeking assistance approached him.

Sorsogon Police director, Senior Supt. Marlo Tejada, in a phone interview Thursday, said as the victim met the suspects, two of them drew their pistols and shot him at close range.

He said police investigators are looking at two angles as the possible motive for the murder – first is that the NPA suspects Jetomo to be a military asset, and second is personal grudge.

Barangay Marinas is a remote village in Sorsogon City, located in the vicinity of Casiguran and Gubat towns. (PNA)

 



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SAN LUIS, Pampanga -- Two poultry workers here on Wednesday denied reports that they contracted avian influenza commonly known as bird flu that hit this town.

The farmers who were suspected to show symptoms of bird flu were identified as Aris Rogenio Jimenez of Pedro Sumat Farm and Gerald Paitan Bandico of Arsha Abiline Farm, both of Barangay San Carlos, here.

The Department of Health (DOH) immediately summoned Jimenez and Bandico to assess their condition and clear any misinformation spreading in the province.

The two farmers denied the "malicious" news that they were the first case of avian influenza on humans.

"The other day, I had a cough but  got rid of it quickly. I do not have a fever too," Jimenez said.

In a similar interview, the farm owner expressed shock over the news that her poultry workers were under suspicion of having avian influenza, noting that they are all fit for work.

She also appealed to the media to correct the reports to prevent misinformation to the public.

"The report of some media that there are farm workers confined at the San Luis Emergency District hospital is not true," she pointed out.

Provincial health officer Marcelo Jaochico also appealed to correct the news.

"Based on the medical records, there are no patients here that exhibited symptoms of avian influenza," Jaochico said.

He also said that there is nothing to be scared of since the bird flu strain is not transmissible to humans.

Meanwhile, San Luis municipal health officer Margarita Regala confirmed that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has started the evaluation of poultry farms that fall under the seven-kilometer radius from Barangay San Carlos in the town where the bird flu outbreak was reported last week. (PNA)



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KIDAPAWAN CITY -- The Kidapawan City government's Public Employment Service Office (Peso) and the Department of labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted on Monday the first-ever Jobstart Employers' Partnership Forum here.

Dubbed as "Jobstart program," it seeks to assist unemployed youth to find decent job by supporting them to make informed decisions through technical skills and develop life skills competency significant to stiffer competition in the labor market.

Mary Joy Pasigan, Jobstart Program Officer of DOLE-12 Bureau of Local Employment, outlined  these mechanics of Jobstart before some 100 human resource officers and establishment owners.

Sisinio Cano, DOLE-12 regional director, said the project enables DOLE to partner with local employers through three-months training and three months internship as a stage of skills enhancement to fill-up the company's vacant job.

Employers who will commit to engage the program will also receive funding in exchange to the commitment.

"It will answer the current problem on job mismatch due to the unsuited career degrees earned by our graduates," Cano stressed. 

Under the program, the youth beneficiary will receive stipends during the training and at least 75% of the minimum wage from the employer during the same period.

Kidapawan City and General Santos City are the only LGUs in Soccsksargen chosen to pioneer the implementation of Jobstart in the region.

Of the 200 slots for the program, 105 were filled-up by employers in the city, mostly hiring for skilled workers.

"We're hoping but I am confident to earn more nods from our partners to fill-up the remaining slots for Jobstart," Herminia Infanta, Kidapawan City PESO manager, said. 

She also urged unemployed youth to apply and value the program to ease unemployment in the locality.(John Andrew G. Tabugoc/PNA)



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DAGUPAN CITY -- The city council here has ratified the Joint Venture Agreement  (JVA) entered into last August 10 by Mayor Belen Fernandez and the president of the Sure Global W2W1 PTE, Ltd) (SGW)  assuring the establishment soon of  the  first waste-to-energy facility here and in Region 1. 

The resolution proposed jointly by Councilors Jeslito Seen and Alvin  Coquia  during their regular session on Aug. 14 ratifying the JVA gained the support of nine councilors with just one  abstaining.

 

The JVA was signed by Mayor Fernandez with Julia C. Boughton, also chief executive officer of Sure Global W2W1, the company which was awarded the contract to build the facility costing USD 11 million dollars or approximately P551 million at no cost at all to the Dagupan City government.

 

If fully operational after one year of construction, the facility can  process Dagupan's daily 30 tons of solid wastes from homes and establishments  into 6,000 kilograms of methane gas and 4,000 liters of diesel fuel.

 

The same facility is being set up in Angeles City and Cabuyao, Laguna. 

 

 The JVA signed by both parties defines the respective responsibilities, interests, and liabilities of the parties in connection with the development and operation of the Waste to Worth Facility.   

 

The facility  will  be set up on a parcel of land in Barangay Bonuan Binloc, Dagupan City earlier segregated and reserved for "Waste Management  Facility purposes of the City Government of Dagupan" by virtue of  Proclamation No. 1302 dated Oct. 23,2016 of then President Benigno Aquino Jr.

 

Councilor Seen said prior to the signing of the JVA, the city council enacted Ordinance No. 2062-1016 otherwise known as "The Waste Management Facility Joint Venture Ordinance of the City of Dagupan"for the city government to enter the JVA for the establishment of the facility. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -- Anti-narcotics agents and police arrested here Monday night five people, including a woman, in an anti-drug operation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.

Director Juvenal Azurin, director for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-Armm), said the raid was conducted in Little Talitay, Barangay Rosary Heights 7, Cotabato City after agents confirmed the illegal drug trade in the village.

Azurin said a PDEA agent posed as buyer and after securing stuff, the raid was conducted.

Armed with search warrants, the team aided by members of Police Station 2, raided the house of Datu Ronnie Rajamuda, a suspected big-time illegal drug peddler operating in Maguindanao and Cotabato City.

But Azurin admitted Rajamuda managed to escape when lawmen were approaching his home at past 7 p.m.

His wife, Aireen Talusan Rajamuda was arrested along with Mohammad Menak Rajamuda, Jomar Aman Rajamuda, Bailinang Menap Rajamuda and Nasser Maticayan Cader.

Seized from Rajamuda were several sachets of methamphetamine hydrochloride, two .45 cal. pistol and several ammunition.

Narcotics agents said Rajamuda was among the high value target of PDEA-Armm and believed to be connected to a bigger drug ring linked to a drug syndicate in Manila and Visayas.   

Azurin said the suspects are now detained at PDEA-Armm lock up cell while charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Republic Act 10591 (Illegal Possession of Firearms and Explosives).(EOF/PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY – The Bureau of Animal Industry in Negros Oriental has ordered the disposal of 6,600 embryonated eggs or "balut" that were shipped from Luzon to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, amid the bird flu virus scare.

Veterinary quarantine officer Dr. Alfonzo Tundag convinced the consignee, Roxanne Pahayay, to have the "balut" buried Tuesday afternoon following a memorandum received by the Bureau of Animal Industry here from the regional office.

Pahayay, a resident of Candauay, Dumaguete City, acceded to the request of Dr. Tundag to have all the "balut" buried, even though she felt sad of the losses it would incur.

The 22 crates of "balut" arrived at the port of Dumaguete City Monday night on board an inter-island vessel but were held at the port area until noontime Tuesday before they were claimed by the consignee and brought to the quarantine office of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Pahayay said she ordered the "balut" from her supplier in Candaba, Pangasinan, as she was told these were safe for consumption if properly cooked because they were tested negative for the virus through the blood samples taken before the shipment.

In fact, she volunteered the information to the quarantine officer, Dr. Tundag, that she has a shipment from Luzon of about 6,600 pieces of balut.

Questions were raised as to why it was allowed to be loaded to an inter-island vessel on Sunday evening when the outbreak of the bird flu in Pampanga started last Friday.

The memorandum circular, however, arrived on Monday, August 14, 2017.

Concerned of the safety of "balut" eaters in the city and the province, Pahayahay had mobilized her personnel and buried all the 22 crates of balut inside the quarantine office compound in the presence of quarantine officer Tundag and other personnel.

She said the 6,600 pieces of balut had a market value of P120,000.

Pahayay is supplying "balut" to vendors in Dumaguete, Siaton and Sta. Catalina in Negros Oriental, and even in the nearby island of Siquijor. (Juancho Gallarde/PNA) (Photos by Juancho Gallarde) 



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY  -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Region 12 seeks to start operation by early next year of its P75 million national halal laboratory in Koronadal City.

Dr. Zenaida Hadji Raof Laidan, DOST-12 regional director, said Wednesday the construction of the project's final phase is ongoing and they are expecting its full completion by October.

She said the four-level facility, which sits in a one-hectare lot in Barangay Paraiso, Koronadal City, is the second in the region and considered as the largest in the country.

The halal laboratory is part of the P255.5-million Philippine National Halal Laboratory and Halal Science Center being developed by the DOST in the area.

The phased construction of the laboratory started in 2009 but its completion was delayed due funding problems.

"This is a robust infrastructure for halal and will become the Philippine halal center," Laidan said in an interview over local television program Magandang Umaga South Central Mindanao.

The official said the laboratory will be equipped with "world-class and state-of-the-art" equipment and support facilities, which will include microbiological, pysico-chemical and metrological laboratories.

She said the facility will serve as a "one-stop-shop" for halal testing, certification and other related requirements.

In line with the construction of the laboratory, she said they have started the development of a "halal innovation center" in the region. 

Laidan said the initiative is aimed to facilitate the development of technologies for new halal food and non-food products.

Through the program, she said they help address the needs of the halal markets by training entrepreneurs on the production various new products.

These includes alternative halal food, beauty care and pharmaceutical products, she said.

"We also provide support through science and technology interventions, focusing on the the production of authentic or certified halal products," she said.

In terms of halal certification, Laidan said DOST-12 was issued a permit or accreditation in June last year by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (OIC-SMIC) to adopt its unified global halal standards.

She said the permit has allowed the agency to certify halal products for markets in all Islamic countries.

Owing to this, Laidan they developed a Philippine halal center logo or seal of quality that adopted the OIC-SMIC standards.

She said DOST-12 has been using the seal to label products that have passed the testing and certification processes through their existing halal laboratory in Cotabato City.

She said the tests are conducted in partnership with the National Ulama Council and Muslim scientists and experts.

Halal is Arabic for "permissible" but is also largely referring to food that is allowed for consumption among Muslims.

Presently, the global halal market comprises 112 countries with an estimated population of 1.8 billion.(AVE/PNA)



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PALO, Leyte-- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing a more effective drive against illegal drugs and terrorism with the Japanese donation of 45 hybrid patrol cars in Eastern Visayas.

Police Director Jose Ma Victor Ramos, chief of PNP logistics, said the donation from the Japanese government was very timely as it would augment mobility assets of the police regional office here.

"This will be used to serve the people. This will capacitate policemen to win the fight against illegal drugs and terrorism. Government will save a lot with the fuel cost," Ramos said.

Takuei Nakayama, first secretary of Japan Embassy in Manila said the donation further strengthened diplomatic ties between Philippines and Japan.

"We saw the extent of damage caused by super typhoon 'Yolanda' in this region same as the destruction wrought by tsunami in Japan. These cars will be used not just against criminality, but also during emergency situations," Takuei said.

"The Japanese government sincerely hopes that these patrol cars will have a great help in the region." 

The 45 cars comprise the second batch of Toyota hybrid cars donated by Japan to the country. Last February 18, the foreign government distributed 32 units to national government agencies in the National Capital Region and Eastern Visayas.

Still up for distribution are 11 hybrid meant for central offices of government agencies in Manila.

Of the 45 units, 20 are for Leyte police provincial office; eight for Eastern Samar; eight for regional office; three for Tacloban City; two for Ormoc City; and one each for Samar, Biliran, Northern Samar, and the police regional public safety battalion.

Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Benito Ranque said the donation is part of the promotion of hybrid cars to attain sustainable energy consumption.

"The Philippine government has increasingly recognized that technology and innovation are the key components for the socio-economic developments and resiliency," Ranque said.

PNP Eastern Visayas Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar thanked the DOE for prioritizing the police regional office here. The new vehicles are meant to replace police cars damaged by "Yolanda" in 2013.

"For the entrusted officers, I want all provincial chiefs, city head and directors to be responsible of proper maintenance of this patrol cars," Beltejar said.

The Japanese government and the energy department provide maintenance fund of PHP200 per year for five years.

The hybrid cars are powered using electricity and fuel.

The Japanese government provided to the Philippine government 500-million-yen (about PHP250 million) grant for the procurement and delivery of the hybrid vehicles under the Japan Non-Project Grant Aid. (with reports by Patricia P. Salvo, Reynadel F. Costillas, OJTs/PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has released an initial P4.75 million for the educational assistance of public elementary and high school learners or students the province.

Jerry Gamu, chief of the local government's Barangay Affairs Unit (BAU), said Wednesday the funds were released to 170 elementary and high schools in six towns in the province.

These are the municipalities of Banga, Lake Sebu, Polomolok, Tampakan, and Sto. Nino and in Koronadal City.

"It will benefit a total of 15,290 learners in these areas," Gamu said in an interview.

The official said the funds will cover the annual Parents and Teachers Association or PTA and other related fees of the students.      

BAU mainly implements the program in coordination with the barangay councils and public elementary and high schools, he said.

Gamu said they allotted 50 slots for each of the province's 199 barangays for the elementary and high school levels.

But he said some barangays have exceeded their quota based on the need and the area's population.

Gamu said they directly released the funds to the schools, through the principals and PTA treasurers.

Of the released funds, he said 8, 371 elementary learners received assistance of P500 and 6, 912 high school students got P800 each.

The assistance is part of the provincial government's continuing educational grants to elementary and high school students enrolled in public schools, under the grant-in-aid component of its flagship Kabugwason-Paglaum Scholarship Program (KPSP).

In 2016, the local government released a total of P12 million for the implementation of the KPSP grant-in-aid program.

The KPSP, which is now on its 13th year, also provides scholarship assistance to "poor but deserving students" enrolled in technical-vocational courses, college undergraduate courses, and postgraduate studies in law and medicine.(FKA/PNA)    



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KORONADAL CITY -- The city government set aside some P21 million for the installation of traffic lights and improvement of city's street lighting system and structures.

Ruel Tianchon, chief of the City Engineer's Office, said Wednesday preparations are underway for the implementation of the two projects in major roads and highways within the city.

He said these are mainly aimed to ease the flow of traffic in the city's center or downtown area as well as ensure the safety of motorists along the highways.

For the traffic lights, which has a funding of P16 million, he said they are planning to initially install them at the junction of General Santos Drive or national highway and Arellano Street and at the junction of General Santos Drive and Posadas Street.

Tianchon said the two road junctions are considered among the busiest areas in the city in terms of vehicular traffic, especially during the peak or rush hours.  

"We're currently fast tracking the required processes for the project's implementation," he said.

The official said the traffic lighting system would be similar to those installed in the cities of General Santos and Davao, where diversion roads were opened beside the structures.

He said they had coordinated the project's design with the Department of Public Works and Highways in Region 12, especially with its plan to adopt underground cabling system for the traffic lights.

Tianchon assured that no private properties, commercial establishments and related structures, including telecommunication and power lines, would be affected by the project.

"We will put up concrete islands at two sites and we will install the traffic lights there," he said.

For the street lights, he said they have allotted some P5 million for the installation of additional units along the national highway leading to the Prime Regional Center site of Region 12 in Barangay Carpenter Hill.  

He said the project will include the improvement of the foundation of posts hosting the street lights.(AVE/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY -- The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental (HRANO) is  closely coordinating with concerned  government agencies to ensure the safety of the future supply of poultry products in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in Pampanga.

HRANO Director Roberto Magalona said they want government to continue implementing strict quarantine measures while food establishments were also doing necessary precautionary measures for safety.

"Since all hotels and restaurants are using chickens, thus animal diseases like bird flu, if not prevented, would really affect the industry," Magalona said.

As of Tuesday, restaurants have yet to report  a  slowdown in the consumption of dishes with chickens and other poultry products as main ingredient.

The reported bird flu outbreak in Luzon has not created fear among Negrenses and did not limit their chicken consumption, Magalona said. 

Still, the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO)  said that "lack of awareness" could  result to lower chicken consumption.  

The next  market monitoring on August 21 will  determine the movement in supply, demand, and price of the commodity.

Negros Occidental does not source out chicken from Pampanga or any part of Luzon as it  has a surplus in local supply.

Every month, the province has an average production of seven million heads of backyard native chicken, including gamefowl and free-range.

For  broiler or white chicken, Negros Occidental has an average monthly production of 1.5 to two million heads.

The supply is more than the province's average daily consumption requirement of only 55.32 metric tons for native and dressed chicken, PVO figures showed.(PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY --  The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has conducted a Brand Equity Awareness Seminar (BEAS) to help micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs) penetrate and capture bigger markets.

Rolando Acuña, Department of Trade and Industry-9 (DTI-9) assistant director, on Wednesday said branding gives MSMEs recognition among consumers, thus, creating followers of their products.

Acuña said 33 local MSMEs joined the seminar held on Monday, which aims to instill awareness among the participants the importance branding and help them build better image fir their priducts.

"As in any business, branding is critical for your products to compete in the market. Once you create your brand it gives your products personality and reputation. A good reputation creates or produces loyal brand users which in turn help you promote your product by word of mouth and testimonials from satisfied consumers," Acuña said.

He said that branding is synonymous to good quality and is a means to communicate to consumers to patronize a particular product.

He said that MSMEs in the region should really take branding seriously to help them differentiate their products to their competitors.

"Your brand is your image. Building a good image is hard, but if you come up with a good brand, you can have an edge over your competitors and have better image in the consumers' perception", he added.

Aside from creating good brands for the MSMEs, Acuña said the seminar was also aimed to create a brand synonymous to the Zamboanga Peninsula.

"Aside from assisting our MSMEs promote their products, increase their prestige and status, and offer MSMEs the various strategies and multiple platforms on branding, we also would like to create a brand that truly represents the culture and traditions of Zamboanga Peninsula. Brand that will showcase our region not just here in the country, but worldwide," he said. (TPGJR/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Zamboanga City is still a bird flu-free city despite being a pathway of migratory birds known as swallows, officials said.

Dr. Arnedo Agbayani, assistant city veterinarian, on Wednesday disclosed that they have never stopped conducting blood sampling and other related laboratory tests to monitor the presence of avian influenza even before the bird flu outbreak in Luzon.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol declared last week an avian influenza outbreak in the province of Pampanga.

Agbayani said the numerous samples they regularly submitted to the avian influenza laboratory yielded negative result for any strain of bird flu.

The Office of the City Veterinarian (OCVet) maintains an avian influenza laboratory in Barangay Tumaga, this city.

"Hopefully, we can maintain the negative avian flu strain here in Zamboanga City. Rest assured that the City Veterinarian Office is regularly conducting activities to monitor the presence or absence of bird flu in our city," Agbayani said.

Herds of swallows usually flock daily to this city and stay overnight on electrical cables in downtown area. They are gone before sunrise.

Agbayani has advised owners of poultry and duck farms to strictly implement biosecurity measures to prevent the entry of avian flu influenza in this city.

Biosecurity refers to procedures used to prevent the introduction and spread of disease-causing organisms in poultry flocks.

Dr. Joseleo Galicia, regional veterinary officer of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), said they have been vigilant in coordination with the local government partners to prevent the entry of avian influenza in this city. (TPGJR/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Avian Influenza Coordinator, Dr. Dannie Apelo, allayed fears of bird flu contamination in Davao region as the agency readies for the migration of birds in September.

Apelo said DA in Region 11 continuously monitors the entry of migratory birds to the Davao Region in September when the winter months set in until March when birds fly out from the Philippines. Apelo said migratory birds come to the Philippines because of the country's tropical climate.

Apelo said DA is implementing preventive measures and their surveillance monitoring and testing team is ready for any blood sampling.

Davao region does not import chicken products from Luzon. Among the biggest producers in the region are Vitarich, San Miguel, Magnolia, Bounty, and some independent growers.

He said the entry of chicken and its by-products from Luzon are not accepted in Davao, which has an excess supply of poultry products.

Following the bird-flu outbreak in Pampanga, Apelo said DA central office has issued a memorandum circular temporarily banning the export of chicken, poultry meat, manure, broilers' semen from Visayas and Mindanao.

For now, Apelo assured there is no reported Avian Influenza or bird flu case in the region. DA is also conducting surveillance and takes blood sampling of birds and fowl in so-called hotspot areas in Davao, Carmen and Dujali towns in Davao del Norte and Malalag in Davao Occidental where migratory birds from China fly-in in September and fly-out in March.

These migratory birds fly to the Philippines during the winter months. In Malalag, Davao del Sur where the hotspot area is surrounded by six barangays, they will collect 30 samples per barangay.

Starting next week and in September, Apelo added DA will visit poultry farms. He added that poultry owners have own veterinarians who can check conditions of the chicken and other fowls.

During an outbreak, poultry growers immediately call DA's hotline number. "One case is already an outbreak," Apelo said in an interview.

Apelo said the supply of poultry products in Davao Region remains steady.

Last Friday, the governor of Pampanga declared the province under a state of calamity after an outbreak of avian flu virus in San Luis town.

During the business forum at Dermpath on Tuesday, Apelo said the Avian Influenza Protection Program Task Force Probinsiya in the region has been activated to undertake different responsibilities.

The Task Force is composed of the DA, Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police (PNP), Coast Guard and local government units.

"We are ready to address the issue and kaya nating gawin dito sa Davao Region," he said. 

Davao Region has a strong poultry industry where it ranked second in Mindanao and 6th in the country. Northern Mindanao is top producer in the island. (Lilian C. Mellejor and Digna D. Banzon/PNA)



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CAMP GEN. ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan -- The intensified campaign of the Bulacan Police Provincial Office pushes through without let-up in their simultaneous "One Time, Big Time" operations in the different parts of the province since early Tuesday morning.

From 21 in the early hours of Tuesday, the number of slain armed drug dealers climbed to 32 as 11 more drug suspects were killed while the number of arrested suspects rose to 109 from 64 as the Bulacan police stepped up their operations to protect the province from the scourge of the dope menace on Wednesday noon, according to  Bulacan police director, Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr.,  

Caramat said that illegal drugs, grenades, firearms and ammunition were also recovered in the simultaneous One Time Big Time operations conducted by the Bulacan Police the whole day of Tuesday that coincided with the celebration of Bulacan Day.

He said that a total of 67 operations were conducted by the 24 police stations in Bulacan, including the Bulacan Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB) and Provincial Public Safety Company (PPSC) in the campaign against hard drugs, loose firearms and implementation of search warrant all over the province. 
 
The suspects were killed when they resisted and fired at arresting police operatives while the more than 100 who yielded without resistance were arrested, Caramat said.
 
The suspects were identified, most of them only by their aliases, as: Alvin who was killed in Balagtas; Pugeng Manyak in Baliwag; Ronnie in Bulacan; Jojo de Belen in Calumpit; Yayot and two of his unidentified cohorts in Guiguinto; Wilfredo Alapide, Jeffrey, Alvin, Victoria dela Cruz and Quintin in the City of Malolos; Jimmy Gongon and Marie Bartolome in Marilao; Allan Almojuela in Norzagaray; Enan and Justine in Obando; Ansiong in Pandi; Wilfredo Pleno and Jerome Crisostomo in Plaridel; Berth in Pulilan; Joseph Gentolia in San Ildefonso; Elias and Leogie Medrno in the City of San Jose del Monte; Christopher Tecson in San Miguel; Macoy, Rommel Victorino and two unidentified in Santa Maria; Jessie Andles and an unidentified one in operations conducted by PPSC; and Bryan Velayo who was killed in an operation conducted by PIB and SWAT.
 
A total of 359 plastic sachets of suspected "shabu" weighing 235.0792 grams; 765 grams of marijuana leaves; two grenades: 33 assorted firearms; and 112 pieces of ammunition were recovered and confiscated in the 50 buy-bust operations, serving of 15 search warrants and two police checkpoint operations, he said.

Caramat said that the Bulacan police have neutralized many drug dealers and offenders but it seems that many are still on the loose and selling their illegal stuff.

He stressed, however, that the Bulacan police will never stop going after them.

"Kung lagi silang gising dahil sa tama ng shabu, lagi ding gising ang ating kapulisan para tugisin sila (If they are always awake due to the effect of shabu, our police also always awake to chase them). It is quite obvious that many of those killed are no longer in their right minds because instead of surrendering like most of those arrested, they are inclined to fight it out with our policemen," Caramat said.

In the  City of San Jose del Monte, police operatives led by city police chief Supt. Fitz Macariola dismantled a "shabu tiangge" and arrested at least 50 persons caught in the act of buying and sniffing prohibited drugs inside rows of shanties that serve as dope dens in Barangay Bagong Buhay.

Macariola said that one of the suspected drug dealers and owner of the "kubol" (dope den shanty) who was identified only as a certain "Elias" engaged police operatives into a firefight and was killed.

Five other drug dealers identied as Ederlina Garcia, Emmanuel David, Aldrin Aquirre, Van Riener Aporto and Josephine Niepes, all residents of said areas where arrested. The suspected drug dealers also own the so-called "kubols," Macariola added.

At least 50 other drug suspects, mostly clients, were also subsequently arrested.

"We have been monitoring the area after receiving reports that the place is being frequented by many people who are non-residents there. And there they are, still awake at the wee hours of the morning sniffing shabu," Macariola said.

Police recovered a still undetermined amount of shabu, assorted drug paraphernalia and a handgun from the slain drug dealer.

The arrested suspects will be subjected to drug tests while appropriate charges will be filed against them, Macariola said. (PNA)
 



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DAVAO CITY – The number of tourist arrivals in Davao City is picking up after suffering losses in May, the City Tourism Operations Office reported.

City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson said most hotels are fully booked since the early days of the month, which is a very welcone sign.

Tecson said the city has about 10,000 rooms, including accommodation in pension houses and similar other categories. Of the total rooms, about 3,200 are accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In comparison to arrival in 2016, Tecson said the city has more arrivals this year. The city's target arrival for 2017 is two million.

During the first half of the year, she said arrivals already accounted to 930,136 or an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 896,983 in the same period last year.

She admitted however that there was a drop in June when martial law was declared but the arrivals has started to pick up starting July maybe because there is confidence to travel here is back.

The city has also beefed up tourism promotions even putting billboards bearing Davao events, activities and destinations in Manila, Bacolod and Cebu.

This is part of the Kadayawan Festival promotional campaign. The holding of conventions has also been put on schedule.

Tecson said she is happy with the increasing number of visitors and hopes this will continue.

As foreign visitors comprise only about 10 per cent of the total figure, she is hoping foreign tourists will visit Davao City especially when the Kuala Lumpur-Davao direct route of AirAsia starts in December.

Tecson said that the tourist both domestic and foreign spends about P7,000 per visit for 3 days and 2 nights stay.

Meanwhile, Tecson welcomed the visit of a group of millennials from Manila who worked as software engineers in Taguig's McKinley area for a multinational IT company.

The group is now seeing a different perspective about Davao City after ending a four-day visit here this week.

First time Davao visitors John Montano and Kimberley Ann Gonzales from Quezon City were not scared anymore while Erika Demanarig of Antipolo City and Paolo Polondey of Marikina City who came for a return visit never changed their mind of putting off Davao among their must visit destinations this year, together with their officemate Jose Banzon III, a native of Davao City.

Montano said he makes sure to correct the wrong impression that people in Manila think about this place, blessed with rich natural resources, good food, nice people, a very peaceful place, a clean city and awesome diving sites.

"With our happy and fun experience we will come back to Davao City and make sure we will time our next visit during the Kadayawan Festival," the young software engineer said. (Digna D. Banzon/PNA)



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DAVAO CITY – A ranking official of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional office has denied accusation that NBI agents are extorting money from the owner of a night bar in the city.

At Wednesday's AFP-PNP Press Corps at Royal Mandaya Hotel, NBI assistant regional director Exzel Hernandez said there was no attempt to ask money from the owners of Plaza Roman KTV Bar Miguel Efren Aquino and his floor manager when it was raided last August 7.

"We never asked money. We just implemented the law without fear or favor," Hernandez said, but refused to further discuss the issue because a case has been filed against the bar owners and four of the agency's personnel are now under investigation.

Hernandez said he learned about the incident when NBI central office Internal Affairs team came to Davao to investigate the accusation.

He also denied knowledge about the alleged PHP5,000 weekly payola as protection money from the bar owners.

Hernandez believes the issue can be addressed legally. "The truth shall set us free and that our moral is high, and we treat such as part of our job," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said NBI is not affected by the issue as this is part of the humps or hiccups in the NBI's role.

"We remain focus on our job," he told reporters. The NBI regional office is in the center of controversy after its Regional Director was accused of asking P500,000 reportedly as bribe in order that a case against the Aquinos will not prosper. Rosales reportedly took the money from the Holiday Spa after the raid.

Rosales has denied the allegation. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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LEGAZPI CITY --- For the failure to rid of illegal gambling operations in their respective areas, at least three town police chiefs in Bicol are facing removal from their posts after failing to meet the 15-day anti-illegal gambling deadline by the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Ronald Dela Rosa.


These town police chiefs are assigned in the provinces of Camarines Norte and Sorsogon, said Senior Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib PNPO Bicol spokesperson.


She declined to name the town police chiefs as they are still waiting for the official relief order signed by Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola, Bicol police director.


Calubaquib said investigation team sent to check on the status of the campaign in their towns showed these police officers failed to wipe out illegal gambling operations in their respective areas.


The PNP chief gave regional police directors across the country a 15-day deadline to stop illegal gambling particularly the illegal numbers game "jueteng."


PNP report indicated that for the period Aug. 1 to 15, various police units have arrested 1,511 persons involved in illegal gambling including 20 were gambling operators while close to P300,000 in bet money were confiscated.


Of the 620 anti-illegal gambling operations carried out by the PNP, Calubaquib said 70 were found involved in STL bookies while three in jueteng operations.


In Albay, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution last Aug. 2 recommending to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) for the cancellation of the Agency agreement and the authority granted to Lucky V Prime Enterprise Corporation to operate the Small Town Lottery (STL) operation in Albay for allegedly failing to comply with the agreements stipulated in the STIL Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).


Albay Vice Governor Harold Imperia, in an interview, said that all the provisions under the IRR were violated by the Lucky V operator.


He said jueteng still exists in the guise of STL as one cannot distinguish a "bookies" from a PCSO STL-bet collector who under the IRR should wear a prescribe identification card and vest and must issue a receipt.


He said the result of the daily draw is supposed to be open to public viewing through a CCTV network and from radio and TV stations operating in Albay.


Imperial also expressed disappointment over the share that the PCSO remits following the two months STL operations.
The provincial treasurer only received P18,000 from the PCSO Charity Fund, Imperial said


He also added that under PCSO Presumptive Monthly Retail Receipt (PMRR) the operator should have collected P77 million in gross monthly draws.


Of this collection 55 percent goes to prizes, 30 percent to the Charity Fund and the rest goes to operations. (PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – A group of Filipino-Chinese businessmen is looking at the possibility of venturing in fish port and water system development projects in this city, and tourism investments in the northern town of San Vicente because of their competitive advantages compared to other areas in the country.

Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) vice president Mary Go Ng said their interest was kindled by a presentation Tuesday night of an interesting development master plan made by Palafox Associates.

"We are thinking of your fish port and your water system that were presented. These are very interesting for us," Ng said in a media conference Wednesday.

She said the development master plan has not yet been officially presented for approval to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

"We're very impressed with your local government. Your local government presented to us a very, very impressive plan. We have never gone to any region that made any presentation like what your local officials, who are proactive, did," she said.

Part of the presentation for the members of the FFCCCII is the Environmental Estate in Barangay Sta. Lucia, which the city government has been trying to develop into an eco-tourism park and environmental center.

Businessman Jeffrey Ng, owner of Astoria Palawan eco-friendly resort, who is also a vice president of the FFCCCII, said the competitive advantages of Puerto Princesa compared to other cities are access to abundant lands that are still very reasonably priced, the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR), and the recently opened international airport.

"I'm sure these will bring in a lot of tourists from other countries like Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. These are your three big competitive advantages, which is why we invested in Astoria Palawan. We've been doing good business for the past two years, and we know it will be improving dramatically in the next few years," he said.

Sterling Paper Products Enterprises (SPPE) owner and hybrid rice pioneer of SL Agritech Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong, who is the executive vice president and board member of the FFCCCII, said he has invested in several hectares of properties in San Vicente but only visited the area on Tuesday.

"San Vicente can really rival Boracay because it is only five kilometers of white sand beaches while San Vicente is three times longer, and has the longest beach in the Philippines," said Lim, adding he is very optimistic about the place.

Lim said the completion of the regional airport has made investors in San Vicente very excited but it still needs to be upgraded into an international airport.

Meanwhile, paint and realty tycoon and FFCCCII president Domingo Yap said Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan have better-run local governments that will confidently bring in more investments in the next few years.

"We saw those ambitious plans last night, and in our minds we are thinking that when we go back to Manila, we will also tell these to other businessmen. Maybe some of them might come here and invest," Yap said.

The visit of the members of the FFCCCII in Puerto Princesa was hosted by the city government of Puerto Princesa, and the Palawan Economic Development Council (PEDCO) led by its president, Engineer Benedicto Guaño Jr.

Guaño said he hopes the businessmen would come back to Puerto Princesa and help its economic growth by investing on worthy tourism projects and other ventures.

Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida, in his message at the press conference, said Puerto Princesa has been clamoring for visitors like  members of FFCCCII who can open business opportunities for residents, as well as boost the local economy.

"Right now, the biggest employers here are the city and provincial governments. But investments are starting to pour and we would like to accept more investments in the tourism industry," he said. (PNA)



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LEGAZPI CITY -- Activities like harvesting, selling, buying and eating of shellfish species from the coastal waters of Mandaon and Placer towns in Masbate are still forbidden by authorities due to red tide.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) regional office based in Pili, Camarines Sur, on Thursday said a ban on shellfishes like tahong (green mussel), clams, oysters Acetes sp. or alamang is in effect in the areas affected by red toxins.

The latest red tide bulletin issued by the BFAR central office in Quezon City shellfish bulletin No. 27 said "laboratory results on collected samples from coastal waters of Mandaon and Placer, Masbate, found positive paralytic shellfish poison beyond the regulatory limit."

"All types of shellfish and Acetes sp. from the said areas in Masbate are not safe for human consumptions -- we already advised the local governments of Mandaon and Placer on the enforcement of the ban to avoid the toxic and deadly effects of this contamination to consumers of marine food products particularly shellfish," BFAR Regional Director Dennis Del Socorro said in a phone interview here Thursday.

Del Socorro emphasized that for a span of 12 days, four bodies of water recorded occurrence of the red tide phenomenon from the Aug. 3 shellfish bulletin on redtide covering only six areas.

It may be linked to inclement weather condition which could have triggered the red tide causing organisms to be active, adding to the possibility of upwelling brought by strong waves and current that likewise affected the organisms dormancy, Del Socorro said.

The regional director added that no casualty caused by shellfish poisoning in red tide affected Mandaon and Placer municipalities in Masbate has been recorded. He cautioned though, for those engaged in the shellfish industry particularly scallops to still remain to be cautious in harvesting and processing and to utilize only the adductor muscle or 'tinga' as that is the only part not affected by red tide toxin.

For the municipalities, they should be vigilant in issuing auxiliary invoice for fisheries products in redtide affected areas and those fishes that were caught illegally, he said.

Other sea products from the area like fishes, squids and crustaceans, however, are safe for human consumption provided they are cleaned thoroughly by removing internal organs and cooked well before serving, Del Socorro clarified.

Placer town chief of police PSI Rey Anthony Villanueva told the Philippine News Agency in a phone interview that all necessary measures in relation to the shellfish ban advised by BFAR are in place in the locality.

"We visited all coastal barangays and disseminated the advisory by the BFAR, we are also conducting check points and our seaborne patrol (bantay-dagat) is strictly enforcing the ban on harvesting shellfish products from our municipal waters," Villanueva said.

The police chief pointed out that red tide in Placer is not a new occurrence in his town as this has been experienced on and off in the locality.

"We are still waiting for the BFAR 3rd laboratory test since we need 3 consecutive negative result to clear from the red-tide alert," Villanueva added.

Red tide is a marine phenomenon in which water is stained with a red, brown, or yellowish color because of the temporary abundance of "blooms" which is also called phytoplankton, or planktonic algae, which are single-celled organisms that move using a tail-like structure called a flagellum.

The bulletin also declared under red tide infestations the municipal waters of Iron-irong Bay, Catbalogan, Villaruel and Maqueda Bays in Western Samar; Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar; Inner Malampaya Sound, Taytay; Puerto Princesa Bay, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan; coastal waters of Tambobo Bay, Siaton in Negros Oriental; and Balite Bay, Mati in Davao Oriental; coastal waters of Gigantes Island, Carles in Iloilo. (PNA)



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COTABATO CITY -– Two of the scholars of the Aboitiz-owned Cotabato Light and Power Company (Cotabato Light) wanted to be an accountant and a teacher or a journalist.

Bai Zehan B. Kalim, of Barangay Rosary Heights 3, Cotabato City and Ace Christen Tanghal, Grade 12 pupil of Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, both studying at Cotabato City National High School (CCNHS-main campus), wanted to be a certified accountant and a teacher/journalist, respectively.

Kalim and Tanghal were among the 35 scholars of Cotabato Light who received P7,000 monetary allowance for school year 2017-2018.

"I am good in numbers and I wish to be a certified accountant someday, thanks to the Aboitiz scholarship," Kalim, a consistent honor student since grade 6, said.

Kalim said she valued education more than anything else. "This is the best I can do to repay the sacrifices of my parents," she said.  Her mother is a sidewalk vendor while her father is sick and stayed at home.

Tanghal said the monetary allowance she received would help her finance school projects.

"This is very helpful for me because we have a lot of projects that I need to comply," Tanghal said in Filipino as she opened the envelope that contained the monetary allowance.

Kalim said the scholarship grant "gave me the opportunity to excel both in and off school."

Anna Lee Natano, Cotabato Light's media affairs department, said students need to maintain an 88 percent average grade per year level to stay in the scholarship project.

Speaking during the turnover of cash assistance, Natano urged the students "to continue to excel in your studies."

"Cotabato Light is only a catalyst for your success," she told the pupils. "This is for your future, soar high, continue dreaming," she said.(PNA) 



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BACOLOD CITY-- A total of eight policemen and eight police units led the awardees during the 116th Police Service Anniversary rites of the Police Regional Office-18 held at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. grandstand here on Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Edmund Gonzales, director of PRO-18, led the ceremony which also honored stakeholders, including individuals, local government units, and non-government organizations who have been a partner of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In his message, Gonzales said police officers deserve recognition as they perform their duties, preserving and protecting lives and properties, and carrying enormous risks and sacrifices.

"This is especially in operation, particularly in the fight against all forms of lawlessness and illegal drugs. The lives of police officers are often at risk," he added.

Gonzales also expressed his thanks to the stakeholders for being accommodating and very generous to the PNP.

The awardees were Senior Superintendent Moises Villaceran Jr. and Superintendent Rhea Santos, Best Police Commissioned Officer for Administration and Operation, respectively; Senior Inspector Aireen Cordua and Chief Inspector Mark Anthony Darroca, Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration and Operation, respectively;

Senior Police Officer 1 Duane Aquino and Senior Police Officer 2 Tito Sia, Best Senior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Administration and Operation, respectively; Police Officer 2 Jerry Garcia Jr. and PO2 Christian Gacon, Best Junior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Administration and Operation, respectively.

Nicole Sitchon was awarded Best Non-Uniform Personnel, non-supervisory level.

Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO) was recognized as Best Police Provincial Office; San Carlos City Police Station, Outstanding City Police Station; and Bacolod City Police Station 5 as Best Police Municipal/Station.

The 1st Maneuver Company awarded Best Regional Public Safety Battalion Maneuver Company while the Negros Occidental Police Public Safety Company as Best Provincial/City Public Safety Company.

Best Provincial/City Women and Children Protection Desk awardee was the NORPPO WCPD while Best Provincial Strategy Management Unit was the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office PSMU. Bacolod City Police Office was recognized for Best Practice in Human Rights Affairs and the Project Double Barrel.

For Best Supportive Local Government Unit, recognized were the Province of Negros Occidental as Best Provincial/Highly Urbanized City; La Carlota City as Best Component City; Municipality of La Castellana as Best Municipality Category A (1st to 2nd class); and Municipality of Candoni as Best Municipality Category B (3rd and 4th class).

The 303rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army led by Col. Elizer Losañes was recognized as Best Supportive Government Agency for Operations; Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital headed by Dr. Julius Drilon as the Best Supportive Government Agency for Administration; and Professional and Young Businessmen Against Crime led by Larry Dormindo as the Best Supportive Non-Government Organization. (PNA)



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ILOILO CITY-- Performing units and supportive stakeholders of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO 6) were recognized during the 116th Police Service Anniversary held at the Camp Martin Delgado here.

Police Director-General Ronald M. Dela Rosa, who was in this city for the two-day celebration starting Monday, led in the giving of awards.

"As we pay tribute to the gallantry of our past police heroes , we now also celebrate the achievements and victories of our present day heroes—the awardees," he said in his message.

"Continue with the good work and be the model of exemplary service to the rest of the PRO 6 members," he urged.

[http://media]Iloilo CIty Police Office receives the award as Best Police Provincial/City Office during the 116th Police Service Anniversary held at Camp Martin Delgado, Iloilo City

 

The individual awardees included Senior Superintendent Julio T. Gustilo Jr for Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration,  Senior Superintendent Christopher E. Tambungan, Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations and non-uniformed personnel Mylene Peldonia  (supervisory level) and Maria Liz E. Gabayeron (non-supervisory level).

Also, Chief Inspector Aron Palomo was Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration; Chief Inspector Charlie B Sustento Jr, Best Junior Police Commissioned Officer for Operation; SPO1 Nida L Gregas, Best Senior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Administration; SPO1 Michael D Pontoy,  Best Senior Police Non-Commissioned Officer for Operation;  PO2 Gerome P Jalbuena, Best Junior   Police Non-Commissioned Office for Administration; PO3 Shaney P Allanic, Best Junior   Police Non-Commissioned Office for Operation.

The Iloilo City Police Office was awarded Best Police Provincial/City Office; Roxas City Police Station, Roxas City Police Station, Best Component City Police Station; San Jose MPS, Antique PPO, Best Municipal Police Station (Category A); Sibalom MPS, Antique PPO, Best Municipal Police Station (Category B and C); Iloilo City Police Station 6, Best Numbered Police Station; Capiz Provincial Public Safety Company, Best Provincial Public Safety Company.

[http://media]The Regional Communications and Electronics 6 receives citation as Best Regional Administrative Unit of the Police Regional Office 6 during the celebration of the 116th Police Service Anniversary held at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo CIty

 

The Regional Communications and Electronics 6 as best regional administrative unit; Regional Public Safety Company, best regional public safety company and Regional Highway Patrol Unit 6 as best regional operational support unit for unit awardees.

The Regional Operations and Plans Division 6 was awarded as outstanding unit performance evaluation rating of PRO 6 for 2016 nationwide.

PO2 Ryan S Alfin and PO1 Jan Brave A Vicente received citation for wounded police in action while Nelson C Uygongco, Architect Ma. Regina Falconite and Keven Kristopher K Wong were cited for their support to the improvement of some PRO 6 facilities.

PRO 6 also recognized outstanding barangay peace action teams (BPATs) and outstanding local government units to include Iloilo City for highly urbanized city.

Dela Rosa today witnessed Special Weapons and Tactic (SWAT) challenge participated by three competing teams.  (PNA)



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KALIBO, Aklan -- Workers are rushing to fix the damaged irrigation canal in the hinterlands of Malinao, Aklan which served some 4,000 farmers in the province's four towns. 

The ongoing repair is considered just a first aid solution, Engr. Wilson Rey, head of the Aklan-Capiz Irrigation Management Office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), said in an interview Monday afternoon.

 While the irrigation is still being repaired, some 4,000 farmers from Malinao, Numancia, Makato and Lezo towns have no water on their respective irrigation canals. The area covers around 1, 675 hectares of farmlands.

 

"The Aklan provincial government through the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) has deployed a backhoe to fix the river system. We hope to create a temporary channel from the mouth of the Aklan River to the irrigation canals. The channel has been damaged because of the series of heavy pouring of rains recently experienced in the province," said Rey.

 

The provincial NIA office, however, realized that the small backhoe from the PEO would be inadequate to solve the problem. The NIA regional office from Iloilo City has been requested to send in huge equipment to fix the damaged channel.

 

However, enough water for irrigation at the Aklan River is being guaranteed by Aklan-Capiz Irrigation Management Office. The problem mainly lies on the damaged channel for the distribution of water to the irrigation.

 

"If this continues, the rice production in the province may be affected due to the absence of water in the field," he said.

 

Rey said they would spend at least PHP50,000 a month "just to again and again make a temporary channel for the distribution of water to the irrigation canals."  (Jun Aguirre/PNA) 



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ILOILO CITY-- Coastal local government units in Western Visayas are urged to join the search for "Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan" (MMK) of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resoruces (BFAR).

MMK, one of the banner programs of President Rodrigo Duterte, aims to recognize outstanding initiatives and contributions of coastal municipalities and cities to sustainable fisheries resource management.

Specifically, it aims to identify coastal municipalities and cities that have exemplary initiatives against illegal fishing and observance of ecosystem-approach to fisheries resource management. 

 It also aims to document the best practices and strategies of outstanding municipalities and cities,  and promote these for replication of other local government units. 

The local government units are urged to join as there are only few participants since the search started last year, said Cris Rale Aaron-Abuan, Fishing Regulations Officer of BFAR-6, in an interview on Tuesday.

The nomination of a local government unit must be done through or by the office of the municipality or city mayor. Duly accomplished nomination forms and documentary requirements shall be submitted to the regional office of BFAR-6 for regional technical evaluation, she added.

Under the criteria for evaluation, Abuan disclosed that the coastal municipality or city should have no illegal fishing cases; there shall be observance of the off-fishing season; declared marine protected areas; clean coastal waters without any garbage or industrial influence flowing to the sea; and effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program.

Regional winners are entitled to livelihood projects such as fishing gears and paraphernalia, marine engines, municipal banca below three gross tons, post-harvest equipment and utensils, seaweed dryer, among others.

First place will get PHP2 million worth of livelihood projects; second place, PHP1 million; and PHP500,000 for the third place.

Last year's search was won by San Carlos City, Negros Occidental with Panay Capiz and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras placing second and third place, respectively.

For further details in joining the search, Abuan said that LGUs could inquire from their respective provincial fisheries office. (PNA)



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GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is working on the reactivation of its special task force against avian influenza or bird flu to coordinate efforts in preventing the entry of the disease in any part of the province.

Dr. Flora Bigot, acting head of the Provincial Veterinary Office, said Tuesday they are set to convene the members of the task force to facilitate the implementation of necessary measures in the wake of the declared bird flu outbreak in Pampanga.

She said they will initially review and update the protocols as well as mechanisms of the special body, which is dubbed Provincial Avian Influenza Task force.

The task force was created by the provincial government 10 years ago in response to the national government's calls for proactive actions on the problem.

Its composite team is spearheaded by personnel from the Provincial Veterinary Office and involve representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Department of Agriculture (DA), and the area's city and municipal governments.

Bigot said they have intensified their monitoring activities to ensure the proper implementation of the ban on the entry of live fowl, egg and meat products within the province's 10 towns and lone city.

"There is an order on the restriction of accepting poultry products from Luzon as of this moment until the outbreak is contained," she said.

She said they have alerted their inspection posts in the province's entry and exit points.

Last week, she said boxes of chicken meat and eggs from Luzon were confiscated in Cagayan De Oro City following the DA's confirmation of the bird flu outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga.

With the reactivation of the task force in the next few days, Bigot said they will strengthen their collaboration with other stakeholders and disease surveillance activities.

"We will implement mechanisms that will facilitate appropriate ways of taking actions on the matter," she said.

She said they will visit the municipalities of Norala, Tantangan and Banga this week to meet with local officials and enlist their active cooperation.

The towns of Norala and Tantangan border Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat, where a sanctuary of migratory birds is located.

Banga hosts a number of large poultry farms and produces the most number of chickens in South Cotabato.

As of Tuesday, Bigot said the province remains negative of bird flu based on the regular blood sampling that they conducted in local poultry farms.

South Cotabato has an inventory of more than one million heads of chickens, ducks, and other poultry animals.

She urged the public to immediately report any suspicious cases among backyard and poultry farms in the province.

"If you notice growers losing 15 percent of their chickens, it could indicate an attack by infectious diseases," she explained.

Aside from the monitoring of poultry farms, she said they have been tracking the movement of ducks and requires the issuance of avian influenza certificates for such purpose.(PNA)



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CLARK, Pampanga -- Jetstar Asia on Tuesday  announced its new direct flight from Clark to Singapore, broadening the low-fares options for more than 24 million residents from the Clark Airport's catchment population who are currently underserved. 

The launching of the newest flight will start on November 28, and will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between Clark and Singapore.

In his speech, Jetstar Asia's head commercial Francis Loi said the airline is committed to provide low airfare to Luzon.

The budget carrier first took to the skies in December 2004 and currently operates more than 600 weekly return flights to 25 destinations across 13 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bara Pasupathi, Jetstar Asia CEO, said the Clark-Singapore route would be the airline's first service from Clark, considered as the complementary gateway to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

"Filipinos working in Singapore along with their family members will be able to travel on Asia's best budget carrier," Pasupathi added.

The airline was recognized as the top budget airline in a travel poll by smarttravelasia.com in 2017 after surveying more than 30,000 frequent travellers from Asia, China, US and Europe. 

It was also listed as one of the top 10 safest low-cost airlines in the world in 2017 by airlineratings.com.

"Low fares travel in the Philippines is booming, and these additional services give another option for direct services to Singapore, Southeast Asia and beyond," Pasupathi said.

The airline executive also said their new route will provide more than 410,000 seats a year in total capacity between the Philippines and Singapore.

Alexander Cauguiran, president and CEO of Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC), welcomed this development,  saying that Jetstar's business decision to mount flights at Clark is in recognition of the latter's marketability and the increasing number of the airport's local destinations.

"The (Clark-Singapore) flights will definitely boost our operations as we are looking at more travellers who may now choose Clark to fly Jetstar," Cauguiran added.

The new service will be operated by Jetstar Asia's 180-seat Airbus A320.

"Adding more than 56,000 extra seats in a year will be a step towards supporting the Philippine government's agenda to ease congestion at NAIA," Pasupathi said. 

Airline officials also announced special ticket sales from PHP1,000 via jetstar.com beginning August 15 to celebrate the new Clark-Singapore flights.

Clark airport's catchment population consists of Regions I (Ilocos) at 5 million; Region II (Cagayan Valley) at 3.4million; Region III (Central Luzon) at 11.2 million; the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 1.7 million; and the CAMANAVA area (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) with 2.8 million, totaling more than 24 million potential passengers.

Clark Airport (CRK) currently has 134 international flights and 104 domestic flights weekly and passenger traffic is projected to reach 1.5 million by end of 2017.

Meanwhile, China Eastern Airlines, China's second largest carrier by passenger numbers, will begin its Clark-Shanghai flights on October 18.

Also within the year, Philippine Airlines will add its Tagbilaran, Bacolod and Cagayan de Oro routes from Clark.

In addition to expanding its commercial horizons, the construction of CRK's new terminal-building that can take in 8 million passengers annually is scheduled to be finished by the first quarter of 2020.

The project is spearheaded by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Vince Dizon. (PNA)



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KIDAPAWAN CITY -- To strengthen its security component and deter any terroristic plot, the city government here on Monday officially activated "Task Group Kidapawan" in simple rites held at the city gymnasium.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista led the ceremony together with Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Army's 1002nd Brigade; Lt Col. Harold Argamosa, 39th Infantry Battalion commander; Senior Supt. Leonardo Suan, PRO-12 deputy director for operations; and Senior Supt. Emmanuel Peralta, North Cotabato police director.

According to Evangelista, the Task Group will augment the current security set-up and would beef up the PNP personnel who are securing the city's 150,000 residents.

Task Group Kidapawan is comprised of personnel from the 39th IB and 72nd IB and would team up with the Local PNP, Traffic Management Unit (TMU), Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT), and 911 Response Unit to address potential threats and swiftly attend to emergencies.

"We envision Kidapawan as a place to live, to invest, to study, and to retire. And to those who want to destroy and disturb us make sure you can sustain because I will give you one big shot," Evangelista said.

During the ceremony, the mayor turned over a mobile patrol car, and eight tri-cabs and communication equipment to equip the task group.

In his message, Ancan expressed gratitude to the LGU for the support in implementing security efforts.

He also emphasized few points for members of the new unit to always uphold human rights, secure the people, work as a team and always seek guidance from the Almighty.

After the ceremony, the team was immediately deployed to perform their duties, coinciding with the on-going celebration of "Kasadya sa Timpupo," a fruit festival celebrating the city's foundation anniversary. (John Andrew G. Tabugoc/PNA)





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BANGUED, Abra -- Winged animals, poultry, day-old chicks, eggs and even chicken manure from Pampanga are now banned from entering this province.

Governor Jocelyn Bernos on Tuesday said they have already set up animal quarantine checkpoints in all entry points of the province to closely monitor all meat and animal products entering Abra.

Since Sunday, a quarantine team from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), provincial veterinary office, police, in coordination with the meat inspectors of the local government units, have been guarding 24/7 all entry points to the province.  

Bernos said Executive Order 13-2017 was issued on August 13 as preventive measure to assure the province is free from the Avian Influenza disease which has affected chickens in Pampanga.

"In view of the said outbreak and to prevent further spread of the disease in the province, there is a need to ban the movement of live domestic and wild birds including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and poultry semen from the province of Pampanga."

Even chicken manure from Pampanga used as fertilizer in farms is banned from entry.

The main checkpoint was set-up in Tangadan, at the road connecting Abra with Ilocos Sur. 

The order came following an emergency meeting on Sunday with the poultry breeders and end users to come up with preventive measures that will protect the poultry industry and residents in Abra.

She said the ban, regulation and movement is merely temporary. "The entry of fresh, uncooked poultry products from other provinces must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the veterinary office of the local government where the animals are coming from. The certification must specifically state that the products were sourced from farms with no incidence of Avian Influenza virus."

Bernos revealed there are two suppliers from Pampanga who deliver poultry products in Abra. The last delivery was last Thursday. "We are not risking it. We tested and monitored the deliveries that came in last Thursday," she said.

Despite the ban, Bernos assured residents that there will be enough supplies from Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan.

As of Tuesday, Bernos said Abra is still free from the bird flu virus. 

Danding Antolin, Animal Inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry in Abra, in an interview at the quarantine checkpoint in Tangadan, San Quintin, said that since Sunday, a number of truckers carrying winged animals, including dressed chicken have been disallowed entry.  (Dionisio Dennis Jr/ PNA)



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BATANGAS CITY -- The Batangas provincial government has set up "disinfectant" checkpoints at provincial entry points as preventive measure to avoid the spread of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus.

In an advisory, the provincial government warned that the spread of the virus, which started in Pampanga province, is "highly possible."

All livestock and feed transport carriers entering the province are now required to be disinfected at the animal inspection and disinfection checkpoints situated at different areas of Batangas.

Governor HermilandoMandanas and Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Romelito Marasigan have called on Batangueños to be alert and vigilant and help protect the province's poultry industry.

Mandanas said under the Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160, local government units (LGUs) should take the necessary measures to prevent all forms of animal diseases.

He said Provincial Ordinance No. 006 otherwise known as "The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Prevention and Control Ordinance of the Province of Batangas" dated May 11, 2016, has banned the placing of chickens, ducks, and pigs together in the same area, cages or pens and to allow chicken to roam freely.

He also called on Batangas local officials, veterinarians, agriculturist/agricultural officers, technicians, farm owners/manager to monitor closely the commercial and backyard poultry farms in their areas and report immediately to the Provincial Veterinary Office if they have observed signs of the avian flu in the flock.

Backyard poultry raisers are urged to report "any unexplained mortality of two or more poultry farm households within a barangay/purok in a span of two days."

The provincial government is also strictly enforcing the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) temporary ban on the movement of live domestic and wild birds and their products including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, semen and manure from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao and from Pampanga to other parts of Luzon.

Batangas agriculture and animal industry authorities here have been alerted on the movement of fresh meat, eggs and other uncooked poultry products within Luzon, which requires shipping permit and health certificate issued by port authorities for the past 21 days prior to shipment, especially at the Batangas International Port and other ports of entry. (PNA)



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LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The province of Pangasinan continues to be an avian influenza-free province.

Thus said Dr. Eric Jose Perez, provincial veterinarian, before  the provincial board on Monday as he declared that it is safe to consume chicken meat.

He made the declaration three days after  Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol confirmed last August 11 during the Luzon Mango Stakeholders' Forum at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen that  there is now an outbreak  of bird flu  in San Luis, Pampanga that already infected some 200,000 fowls, which included chicken and ducks.

Perez said the Office of the  Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) swiftly acted by alerting all field personnel assigned at established animal checkpoints  in various entry points of the province to  prevent  contaminated fowls from getting into the province.

He  said a 24/7 quarantine alert is now being implemented in these checkpoints to ensure that fowl from Pampanga infescted with the H5 virus could enter the province.

The checkpoints are situated in Bakit-bakit and Carmen, Rosales; Umingan, Bayambang, Mangatarem, Infanta, Sison and San Fabian.

Perez said he will meet with  sanitary and meat inspectors shortly because of the need to conduct intensive information dissemination to caution the public to stay away from avian flu virus.

Perez  assured  the provincial board that there is enough supply of chicken in Pangasinan even if  the province would not import chicken from  other provinces.

Meanwhile, Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, a doctor by profession, urged Pangasinenses to practice proper hygiene at all times for them to stay away from avian flu.

Amid the bird flu outbreak, Vice Governor  Jose Ferdinand Calimlim,  warned the public to remain calm but at the same time vigilant.

In his talk before the provincial board, Dr. Perez cited a memorandum circular of the  Bureau of Animal Industry directing that:  "No movement of live domestic and wild birds, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen will be allowed from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao."   (PNA)



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TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The Department of Public Works and Highways-Nueva Vizcaya Second District Engineering Office (DPWH-NVSDEO) has completed all its flood control projects with a total cost of PHP102 million in Nueva Vizcaya this month. 

The flood-control projects are located in the barangays of Banganan and Calitlitan in the municipality of Aritao; in Barangay Lamo in the municipality of Dupax del Norte; and in Barangay Gabut in the municipality of Dupax del Sur.

These barangays are located in low-lying areas and are vulnerable to flooding during rainy season, said DPWH-Nueva Vizcaya District Engineer Ronald P. Reyes. 

"This flood-control project will plug water inflow, thus preventing damage to the properaties, especially to the lives of the residents," Reyes added. 

Reyes said they fast-tracked the construction to be ready for the rainy season. (PNA) 



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CAGAYAN DE ORO, August 14 — At least 500 electric jeepneys are expected to ply this city's roads next year, in a move seen to prepare the city's transport sector for the eventual phase out of dilapidated public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Bernardo Jamaca, president of  Cagayan de Oro First Taxi Drivers Alliance (Cafitada), said the 500 units of e-jeepneys will be provided by Australia-based Star 8 Green Technology Corporation.

Jamaca said the project is a partnership between Star 8 Green Technology and Cafitada, which started as an organization for taxi drivers but has grown to become an umbrella group for all public transport associations including Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs).

Under the partnership agreement signed between the two enties, the Australian firm will mass produce the battery-operated jeepneys for Cafitada members for free.

In return, Cafitada recipient-members will retire their dilapidated PUJ units and to ensure that every e-jeepney unit is not altered or re-modelled in any way.

Jamaca said the Australian firm would recoup the cost for assembling each e-jeepneys by putting advertisements on the exterior portions of each e-jeepney.

 The Cafitada president also allayed fears that the additional infusion of 500 e-jeepneys on the road would aggravate traffic, pointing out that the agreement requires the retirement of the same number of PUJs.

Under the Department of Transportation (DOTr)'s Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) Modernization Program, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will no longer renew the yearly franchises of operators plying dilapidated PUJs.

Jamaca also addressed concerns of rising fare rates, assuring commuters that e-jeepney operators will adhere to LTFRB regulations governing diesel-run PUJs.

To make the venture with the Australian firm sustainable, Jamaca said Cafitada will organize a fleet management cooperative to manage their e-jeepney fleet.

Cooperative members, he said, will have full ownership of their e-jeepney units after five years.

Star 8 Green Technology will deliver the first batch of e-jeepneys to Cafitada  in January 2018, while the rest will be delivered by year end. (PNA/Mark D. Fancisco)

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LUCBAN, Quezon Aug. 14 – Around 44 drug surrenderers are this year's first batch of "graduates" who completed their skills training and disaster preparedness capacity building sessions during the first month of their six-month "campers" rehab sessions.

In an interview with PNA here on Monday, Police Chief Inspector Alejandro D. Onquit, Lucban chief of police, said the graduates completed their skills training and disaster preparedness sessions at the "Pagbabago at Pagasa Reflection Camp" (PPRC) under the auspices of the Yakap Bayan Program in Barangay Palola here.

Onquit said the graduation ceremony is only the first part of training for the PPRC campers under the rehabilitation program which began July 10 this year.

He said their next training and hands-on exposure is when they go back to their respective communities for the barangay immersion for their re-orientation and eventual return to society as renewed persons.

The camp will now usher in the second batch of surrenderers for the similar skills training and capacity building seminar in Lucban's unique "campsite."

This town's drug rehabilitation camp in Palola Village opened last July and accepting drug surrenderers by batches who will have to undergo the six-month rehabilitation program.

Preparatory and orientation sessions, skills training and seminars are featured during a month's duration for the surrenderers-campers in the one-hectare lot with refurbished building turned into a campsite.

Lucban Mayor Celso Olivier Dator initiated project in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Yakap Bayan program to cater to some 543 drug surrenderers in this town.

Dator said the camp volunteers and PPRC officers help the surrenderers shed off their old image as "cancer of the society" and mold them into productive citizens.

He said the local government finance the rehabilitation cost with the assistance of the Department of Health (DoH) and the Bureau of Parole and Probation based in Quezon province.

The six-month rehabilitation program includes physical conditioning, training on fire fighting and rescue, spiritual enlightenment seminar and community immersion.  (Gideon Belen/PNA)



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SAN JOSE De BUENAVISTA, Antique -- Government and health officials of Antique  on Monday called on the public to carry out massive clean-up of their surroundings following reports of eight deaths in the province due to dengue. 

From January 1-August 10 this year, there are 310 dengue cases recorded in the 17 out of 18  towns of Antique, with only the municipality of Libertad being free from the mosquito-borne disease. 

Vice Governor Edgar Denosta, in an interview, said his call was meant primarily for the mayors to activate their respective health teams to prevent further increase in the number of dengue cases in the province.  "There is a need to undertake massive clean-up to get rid of the mosquito vector's breeding places," Denosta said.

Dr. Ric Noel Naciongyo, provincial health officer, said the latest death due to dengue was that of a two-year old child from Valderrama town  last Thursday. 

A total of three fatalities were also reported from the municipality of San Jose since January 1 this year.  Other deaths were from Anini-y, Culasi, Hamtic, and Patnongon.

There is another fatality in Tibiao, who was not included among the number of deaths recorded in the province, as the victim contracted the disease outside Antique. 

Compared to the same period last year,  there were only three deaths monitored by the IPHO despite more cases of dengue at 1,157.  (PNA) 



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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga -- The city government of San Fernando on Monday came up with contingency plans and strategies to keep the city free from the Avian Influenza or bird flu following the reported outbreak in San Luis town, this province.

City Mayor Edwin Santiago, in a meeting with agriculture and health officials as well as meat vendors' association, ordered the creation of a task force that will be in charge of the strict monitoring and surveillance of poultry products in all public and private markets in the city.

An agricultural checkpoint is also set to be implemented to temporarily ban the movement and trading of live or dressed birds such as chicken, ducks and quails, among others.

"Let us not create panic among ourselves. What is important is that we are prepared to ensure the safety of the Fernandinos. The better way to prevent this is our united efforts towards a secured agricultural (poultry) production through proper food handling and strict monitoring," the mayor said. (PNA)

 

 



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DAVAO CITY, Aug. 14 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA 11) has assured that Davao Region remains free of Avian Influenza (AI) Virus.

DA 11 issued the assurance alongside first case of bird flu outbreak in San Luis, Pampanga where close to 40,000 chickens were culled and placed the province in a state of calamity on Friday.

Bird flu is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds and can affect human's health.

Dr. Dannie Apelo, DA-AI coordinator, clarified that it is safe to consume chicken sold in the region. Despite its safety, he also asked the public to be vigilant especially on the source of poultry products.

"If we are consuming chicken, please ask kung saan ito galing. Right now, there is nothing to worry about because there is no reported case of AI in Region 11 since we mostly sourced our poultry supplies locally," Apelo said.

In the advent of the outbreak in Pampanga, Apelo said DA's mandate in addressing the problem is to ensure the region to be bird flu-free by preventing contamination to our domestic fowl.

"As of now, our quarantine service is closely monitoring to prevent entry of poultry and its products from infected areas to enter the region. Even just one confirmed bird-flu case in a particular area, it will already be considered an outbreak," Apelo added.

Despite the outbreak of AI in Luzon, the supply of poultry products in Davao Region remains steady, according to DA.

Apelo said there is no reported shortage since most of the poultry products sold in Region XI are sourced from local suppliers. "We have enough supply of poultry products since we have our regular suppliers from local poultry farms like Magnolia, Bounty, Davao Farms, Vitarich in Davao City as well as from the provinces within the region particularly Tagum City and Compostela Valley," he said.

Ricardo Oñate Jr., DA-XI regional director, met with city veterinarian Dr. Cerelyn Pinili and Councilor Marissa Abella, committee chair on food and agriculture, to discuss measures to maintain Davao Region AI-free status.

"We observe and implement quarantine protocol which includes confiscation shipment of poultry products without permits by the DA-Quarantine. If it is coming from Luzon, we will not allow it to enter the region. We will conduct surveillance by getting blood samples of chicken of various poultry raisers," Oñate added. He added,

"We will also intensify information campaign across various communication platforms for the general public to be cautious of the signs and symptoms of bird flu virus." Oñate also said they are currently contacting game fowl and poultry breeders for an emergency meeting to further address the issue. (Cherry Mae Palicte/PNA)



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ILOILO CITY -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Director-General Ronald Dela Rosa on Monday announced that the government's all-out war against drugs was moving strong as he vowed to continue the fight until they claim "victory over drugs and crime." 

"We are gaining significant headway in the war on drugs and the peace and order across the nation. We will sustain this momentum with all the energy we can muster," he said during the celebration of the 116th Police Service Anniversary held at Camp Martin Teofilo Delgado here.

He said the anti-illegal drugs campaign nationwide recorded 1,309, 000 drug surrenderers, around 21, 000 of them from Western Visayas. Likewise, the PNP was able to make 86,030 arrests with 3,264 deaths recorded from 64,527 police operations against hard drug suspects from July 2016 to June 30, 2017.

"The numbers continue to increase. This is unprecedented in the history of the Philippine police service," he cited.

"The best part is that crime has gone down nationwide, which means we are well on the way to achieving truly safer and more peaceful streets and communities," he added. However, he reminded the strong police force "not to let our guard down."

"We are fighting against drug lords and personalities who continue to find ways to spread their illegal trade despite the odds," he said. He expressed confidence that he has with him a strong police force "who will stop at nothing to eradicate illegal drugs from all corners of our country."

"And I know that we have right here in PRO6 personnel who are up to the challenge and determined to win this war," he said.

He added that the 116th celebration of the PNP Service Anniversary became more meaningful as it came "at the time when the nation is at the road to change as advocated by no less than the President."

"And the PNP is among the crucial players in this change that is now happening across the nation, particularly in the relentless war against illegal drugs, crime and corruption," he underscored.

In addition to campaign against illegal drugs, he reminded that they were doing internal cleansing of PNP ranks, while at the same time fighting terrorism and insurgency and waging war against illegal gambling.

With the 15-day grace period to end illegal gambling already over, an oversight committee is evaluating who among the regional directors will stay in their respective posts.

He also gave full authority to the regional directors to relieve their provincial and city police directors (PDs/CDs) not performing their tasks.  The PDs also have authority to determine who among their chiefs of police will be removed for their failure to curb illegal gambling.

He likewise added that efforts were being done to cleanse their ranks of scalawags even as he emphasized that "this is the best time to become a member of the PNP" because of the "unlimited" support of the administration.  (PNA)



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MASBATE CITY, Aug. 14 -- Tens of thousands of political leaders and supporters from various political camps in Masbate province on Sunday took their oath as members of President Rodrigo Duterte's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, concurrent PDP-Laban president, administered the oath to the 35,000 new party members in Masbate led by Masbate Governor Antonio Kho at the Masbate Sports Arena.

The huge number of political leaders from the Governor, House of Representatives, 21 city and town mayors, vice mayors and leaders from the 550 villages converged as early as 6 a.m. Sunday at the province's sports arena to join in the mass oath-taking ceremony organized by the province.

Pimentel, impressed by the enormous attendance, said the show of unity and the willingness to join the party despite their previous political alliances is a manifestation that the people believe in PDP-Laban's ideology and its political programs.

"The 35,000 strong new party members in Masbate is a record breaking event for the party – this has outnumbered the oath-taking ceremonies held in other provinces," Pimentel said.

[http://media]Thousands of Masbate political leaders take their oath as members of the Pres. Rodrigo Duterte's party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban.


Pimentel said he would report this record breaking event to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez who will hold on August 28 a mass oath-taking ceremony in his home region of Davao. "This would be a challenge for the Speaker," he said.

Masbate political unification
Pimentel said the united effort of political leaders with diverse agenda indeed makes the party a "Super Majority" not only in Congress but also in the whole country.

"The unification in Masbate will make the province a shooting star for the next story of LGU development in the Philippine history," the Senate president said.

Mario Espinosa, PDP-Laban Deputy Secretary General for Bicol, was on the verge of tears when he narrated how his family members became victims of intense political rivalries that even claimed the lives of his father Moises, brother Moises Jr., and uncle Tito.

Espinosa, a former Masbate vice governor, made amends with the family's political arch-rival, Gov. Kho, after the latter including his leaders and supporters decided to join the PDP-Laban party.

"I asked Gov. Kho that I will support his political career provided you give me a free hand in doing business in the province," Espinosa said.

Pimentel said that when Kho approached him to signify his intention to join the PDP-Laban, he told Kho to consult with Espinosa, who immediately gave a thumb up sign.

Pimentel, reacting to the unification message of Espinosa, said that the scenario was the same formula that Duterte used in Davao when he was the mayor. He once told businessmen, "ibigay ninyo sa akin ang pagpatakbo ng Davao at kayo na ang bahala sa pagnenegosyo."

Masbate, one of the two island provinces in Bicol, is known as an area of concern during elections due to intense political rivalries among political clans such as the Espinosas, Khos, Seachon-Lanetes, and the Bravos.

Masbate is also popularly known as the Rodeo Capital of the country and visited by thousands of foreign, national and local tourists during the month of May.

Federalism
Pimentel said PDP-Laban would support the call of President Duterte to change the Constitution and transform the system of government from a unitary form to a federal type.

Under the party's Federal system model, there would be two centers of government -- the national federal state and the 11 regional states.

He said the party would adopt the "French Federal System" where there would be a President who is the head of state and a Prime Minister who will run every department of the government.

Cabinet secretaries would also come from Congress while the Senate would be tasked to work on foreign policies and approve international agreements. (Mar Arguelles/PNA)



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DUMAGUETE CITY, Aug. 14 – The Red Tide alert against shellfish consumption is still up in Tambobo Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental pending results of laboratory tests of water and shellfish meat samples.

Wilmencita Pialogo, who heads the Provincial Task Force on Red Tide at the Provincial Agriculturist's Office (PAO), disclosed Monday that they took some water samples again today but were not able to do an analysis.

Pialogo, a marine biologist, further disclosed that shellfish meat samples taken from Tambobo Bay last week for bio-assay testing in the central office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Manila was forwarded only today.

According to Pialogo, due to the absence of the test results, the collection of shells from Tambobo Bay is still suspended.

The BFAR declared a Red Tide alert more than a week ago in Tambobo Bay after higher concentrations of the organism that causes algal bloom were noted.

The specific species of the dino flagellate that was monitored in Tambobo Bay was identified as pyrodinium bahamense, said Pialogo.

It is something "new" in the area, having not seen this kind previously, she added.

Pialogo had reported last week that another round of water sampling already showed a decline in the Red Tide toxicity, however, it is only the BFAR who can declare the area safe once more for shellfish gathering once the bio-assay results are out.

The Red Tide, also known as algal bloom, is believed to have been caused by agricultural run-offs with high concentrations of nitrates and phosphates that had triggered the event, she said. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 14 – In the midst of bird flu virus outbreak in Pampanga province, the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office here is activating its Regional Avian Influenza Protection Program Task Force to conduct surveillance and monitoring activities.

"The group will also regularly check prices of poultry commodities in the region," said Andrew Rodolfo T. Orais, DA Eastern Visayas regional technical director for operations.  

Orais echoed the announcement of temporary ban on movement and transfer of live domestic and wild birds and their products and by- products from Luzon to the Visayas and Mindanao regions in coordination with the Veterinary Quarantine personnel. 

As of press time, there has been no report of bird to human contamination here. 

Malacañang released a statement on the outbreak in Pampanga and asked the citizenry to remain calm, but be extra vigilant.

Heightened surveillance is  in effect for flu-like symptoms in Pampanga within the 7-km radius of the affected farms in San Luis, Pampanga.

The agency is conducting series of meetings with regional veterinarians here and getting updates and situationers and instructions from the regional office, Orais said. 

This week, the Regional Advisory Committee on Animal Disease Control and Emergency will convene to further discuss  activities on the Avian Influenza Protection Program. 

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol asked the public to help contain the bird flu virus.

"I am calling on all Filipinos to please help government contain this crisis by cleaning up their farms and closely monitoring their chicken for any signs of disease," Piñol said in a statement posted on social media. (PNA) (Photo from Facebook page of Secretary Piñol)



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CEBU CITY -- Three suspected drug pushers were arrested in a series of buy-bust operations Sunday afternoon in Sitio Magtalisay, Barangay Balud, San Fernando, Cebu.

Cebu Provincial Police Office identified the suspects as Allan Lawas, 42; Jesus Tangarorang, 29; and Oliver Malaza, 42.

The Municipal Drug Enforcement Unit (MDEU) of San Fernando, with the coordination of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7), carried out the first the operation against Lawas, reported as a newly-identified drug personality in San Fernando.

Arresting police officers, headed by Senior Inspector Adrian Nalua, recovered four small packs of  suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu."

 A follow-up operation was then conducted on Tangarorang and Malaza, who yielded two sachets containing suspected  "shabu".

San Fernando Police is not letting up in their anti-drug drive as the town was previously under the control of self-confessed drug lord Franz Sabalones, whose underlings are believed to be still operating in the area.  

The arrested suspects are temporarily detained at the San Fernando Police Station pending the filing of cases against them in court. (With reports by USJR intern Levirose Caballero)



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LAOAG CITY, Aug. 14 — Representatives of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) based in San Fernando City, La Union visited Ilocos Norte on Monday to personally deliver assistance to victims of the storm surge in Pasuquin town recently.

OWWA Acting Regional Director Gerardo Rimorin said about 150 recipients in four barangays of Pasuquin, who have both active and non-active overseas Filipino worker family members, were given cash assistance up to PHP 1,000.

Last July 31, the coastal villages of Caruan, Pragata, Dilavo and Davila in Pasuquin town were hit by storm surge brought about by the howling winds of tropical storm "Huaning" as typhoon "Gorio" exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

More than 100 fishing boats were totally or partially damaged while at least 17 houses made of lightweight materials destroyed. This prompted the municipality of Pasuquin to declare a state of calamity.

During the visit, OWWA also released cash assistance to some 200 victims of super typhoon Lawin last year.

"There are claimants who were on our waiting list and upon verification, they were qualified, so we gave them assistance as well," he said. (PNA)



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CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan -- Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado on Monday reactivated the provincial avian influenza task force to mitigate the effects of the bird flu virus detection in nearby San Luis town in Pampanga. 

Alvarado, the task force chairman, said he instructed the Provincial Veterinary Office headed by Dr. Voltaire Basinang and the Bulacan Police Provincial Office headed by Senior Supt. Romeo Caramat Jr., to establish 24-hour checkpoints and ensure that transport of fowls like chickens,  ducks, pigeons and quails will not enter Bulacan so that it cannot compromise the bio-security of their poultry industry which as of this time is safe and not affected by the avian flu case that hit San Luis,Pampanga.

Since Saturday, Alvarado said that checkpoints has been put in the towns of San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Baliwag, Pulilan, Calumpit and some exits of the North Luzon Expressway.

The governor also presided an emergency meeting attended by hundreds of  stakeholders of the local poultry industry in Bulacan where Basinang instructed to monitor and immediately report any signs or detection of fowl sickness.

"The task force is ready to deploy teams to monitor poultry farms. We are requesting our stakeholders to religiously clean their farms and follow guidelines issued by the Provincial Veterinary Office, " Alvarado said.

The governor said that rigid inspection of farms is needed since Bulacan has also become an "airport" of migratory birds that has become common visitors in nearby Candaba swamp in Pampanga.

"We are regulating the industry in support of the actions of the national government and we will be strictly monitoring the movements of the delivery and transport of all poultry products and check their point of origin because at the same time, we do not want the industry to suffer," Alvarado said.

"It is safe to eat the chicken, duck, eggs, "balot" and penoy that come from Bulacan. Just make sure that those are properly cooked," he said. 

He added that 60 percent of the meat, poultry and vegetable supply of Metro Manila comes from Bulacan.

Alvarado also announced that the task force will request  Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol to consider the plight of poultry raisers and egg producers whose animals are not infected with the avian flu.

He said that the Philippine Duck Raisers and Egg Managers represented by Ike Illescas reported that since Friday, at least 500,000 duck eggs have not been sold, thus, badly affecting  the duck raisers and egg producers even if their poultry products are not infected by the avian influenza disease.

Illescas said that if this continues, it will ruin the local poultry and egg industry.

In a related development,  Malolos City Mayor Christian D. Natividad said that the City Agriculture Office has also set up checkpoints to ensure that no movement of fowls will enter the capital city.

"We have been strict even to other meats and we are regularly monitoring meat products that are entering our markets," Natividad said.

Natividad said they are also monitoring petshops selling birds like pigeons and love birds as well as game fowls. (PNA)



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BALANGA CITY, Bataan -- The reported case of bird flu or Avian Influenza Virus in San Luis, Pampanga has greatly affected the sale of chicken meat and eggs in Bataan. 

There are no reports of the virus in Bataan but it is one of the provinces in Central Luzon nearest to Pampanga.

Chicken meat stalls at the Balanga City Public Market were almost empty of buyers Monday with stall holders having the same complaint.

"There is slack in sales. We are being affected by bird flu. The price is low and yet the sales do not pick up," Evelyn Avocado said when asked about her sale of chicken meat.

She said that from PHP160 per kilo of dressed chicken, their price has now been  lowered to PHP130 but still, they have few customers.

Fe Dacayan, another chicken meat seller, said even restaurants in Balanga City that they used to supply have greatly cut orders.

"From 100 percent, their ordered chicken meat is now only about 10 percent ," she said.

Another market stall owner disclosed a 50-percent drop in her sale of eggs.  (PNA)



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PALO, Leyte -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas will receive 45 brand new Toyota Prius hybrid cars from the Department of Energy (DOE) on Wednesday. 

The cars were donated by the Japanese government to areas affected by super typhoon "Yolanda". 

PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar said the ceremonial turn-over would be attended by the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and Police Attaché of Japan and key officials from the DOE.

The turn-over was supposed to take place last July, but signatories of the donation were not available, prompting the regional police to postpone the activity.

The hybrid patrol cars will be distributed to police offices in Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte and Tacloban City.

"The DOE will also provide PHP200,000 annual budget for the next five years for maintenance of the car," Beltejar told PNA.

Before the turn-over, three policemen for each recipient police station were trained on the handling, driving and maintenance of the cars. 

The hybrid cars will help police personnel in patrolling their area to maintain peace and order and respond to emergency situations.

Earlier, the DOE also turned-over eight hybrid cars to national government agencies in Eastern Visayas such as the Philippine Information Agency, Department of Trade and Industry and Office of Civil Defense.

Part of the agreement for the donation of hybrid cars is for the recipients to help DOE in the research, performance testing and promotion of alternative fuel vehicles for local adaptation.

The hybrid cars are powered using electricity and fuel. 

The Japanese government provided to the Philippine government 500-million-yen (about PHP250 million) grant for the procurement and delivery of the hybrid vehicles under the Japan Non-Project Grant Aid. (PNA)



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TANAUAN, Leyte -- Nearly four years after super typhoon "Yolanda" flattened this town, residents here depicted their stories of resilience through "Pasaka Festival", an annual ritual dance competition.

Thousands of residents here gathered at the plaza Monday afternoon to be entertained by the performances of dancers in colorful costumes moved to the rhythm of festival beats.  

The local government held the main event at the town plaza, the same place where about 900 out of 1,252 typhoon casualties were buried after the November 8, 2013 catastrophe. Just a stone's throw away is a memorial wall carved with names of typhoon victims.

Rehabilitation of the town plaza was recently completed. It was primarily funded through a PHP30-million donation from Injap Group of Companies headed by Ferdinand J. Sia, founder of Mang Inasal.

"By restoring the plaza and making it better, people will start to forget sad memories. If the plaza is okay, it will snowball other development projects," Sia said in an earlier interview.

"Pasaka Festival" is part of the town's fiesta. "Pasaka" is a local term for "to call progress, good health, and a bounty of fortune in the coming years."

The highlight of this year's "Pasaka Festival" is the ritual dance competition of different stories interpreted by the participating schools in town.

Each contingent performed their dances, telling stories on how locals worked together to rebuild their lives shattered by killer winds and giant waves that flattened coastal communities.

Tanauan Mayor Pelagio Tecson said the local government had been preparing for the festival in the past three months, involving council members, department heads, school officials, and local businessmen.

"We celebrate this year's 'Pasaka Festival' because it represents the unity of the people of Tanauan, our collaboration, and resiliency. It's a story of the values of Tanauan that has been the driving force in our recovery since the destruction of super typhoon Yolanda," Tecson said.

Picked as this year's grand champion was the Tanauan National High School, the biggest secondary school in town.

Their dancers portrayed as Tribu "Karasikas" a combination of local term which means bamboo sounds. The group bagged six other major awards.

"It is a story about the process of how to make bamboo crafts like furniture sets, lamp shades, and others," said Dieldon Casilan,  the group's chreographer .

Processing bamboos into marketable products is one of the first livelihood programs revived after the 2013 disaster.

The town is one of the badly hit areas by the monster typhoon, leaving a trail of destruction worth PHP91.41 billion. At least 1,207 people were killed by big waves and 45 by killer winds.

The second class town, located 18 kilometers north of Tacloban, has been tagged as model of post-disaster recovery in central Philippines for being the first to get back on its feet. (With reports by Patricia Salvo, Madelene Perez & Reynadel Costillas, OJTs/PNA)



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PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- Recurrent crocodile sightings in a Southern Palawan island town prompted residents to plead with environment authorities to help keep their communities safe from the large aquatic reptile.

Frequent sightings have been reported in Barangay Rabor, Balabac, and the most recent was  on Saturday, where one was seen trudging through the grass 200 meters away from the Rabor Elementary School in the town of Balabac.

The crocodile was sighted by a public school teacher Dionisio Latawan while walking to school with a co-teacher.

"Thank u (sic) Lord for always keeping us safe. Meet our neighbors," Latawan posted on his Facebook account to refer to the crocodile. He also posted a selfie with the animal.

Latawan said he was particularly concerned about his students, who regularly travel to the elementary school by sea. "Other students who come to school by sea are scared. When it's high tide, the crocodiles go up to the dry land," the public teacher said.

In response to the call, the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) told  residents to be careful and be on alert against crocodile attacks. Frequent sightings may be due to the reptile's hunt for food and the destruction of their habitat.

PCSD Staff spokesperson Jovic Fabello also warned residents not to hurt  and not to hunt the protected wildlife. 

[http://media]The spiked tail of the saltwater crocodile spotted in Balabac town, southern Palawan. (Photo by D. Latawan)

"What we need to do is to be careful and to strengthen the information and education campaign to ensure the safety of the residents," said Fabello.

Saltwater crocodiles  can not stay long underwater, particularly if their habitat mangrove areas are flooded during high tide, he explained. 

The saltwater crocodile is the largest of all living reptiles in the world.

 

In May this year, a four-foot saltwater crocodile was found caught in a fish pen by a fisherman in Rizal town, also in southern Palawan.  (Catherine Santos/PNA)



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TACLOBAN CITY -- The Philippine Army has tagged 32 towns and a city in Eastern Visayas as priority in their anti-insurgency drive, citing recent reports of attacks and fortification activities of armed rebels in these areas.

The areas identified as rebel-infested are San Isidro, Victoria, Bobon, Catarman, Lope de Vega, Las Navas, Silvino Lobos, Laoang, Palapag, and Lapinig in Northern Samar; Matuguinao, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Jiabong, Motiong, Hinabangan, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Basey, and Marabut in Samar.

Also listed are Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Balangiga, and Giporlos in Eastern Samar; Carigara, Jaro, Albuera, Burauen, Mahaplag, Baybay City, and Hilongos in Leyte.

During the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting here on Wednesday, Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division Commander Major Gen. Raul Farnacio confirmed that members of the New People's Army (NPA) had launched 34 violent attacks this year such as harassment, murder, detonation of landmines, raids, ambush, and attempted assassination.

From January to August 10 this year, rebels had 847 other activities, which include sightings, meetings, recruitment, and extortion.

"The NPA continues to recruit members by use of the communist theology, propaganda, lie, deceit and intimidation. They have been doing extortion as well to generate needed funds for procurement of firearms,"  Farnacio said.

Of the 847 rebel activities, 332 were recorded in Northern Samar, 230 in Samar, 190 in Eastern Samar, and 95 Leyte province. No activity of armed rebels was reported in Southern Leyte and Biliran provinces.

"The reason why many Northern Samar villages is conflict-affected, because many areas are isolated. It has been said that insurgency begins where the road ends. The road network is the solution to poverty and insurgency. If people earn and go to schools, insurgency will become irrelevant," said Northern Samar Vice Governor Garry Lavin.

Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, RPOC chairperson , said they had asked the Department of Budget and Management to allocate PHP12 billion for road opening and concreting in three Samar provinces.

"We will ask members of the House of Representatives to help us, that proposed funds will be included in budget hearings," Tan told council members.

Farnacio reiterated his call for collaboration to curb insurgency in Eastern Visayas region since the problem can not be resolved without the participation of other agencies and stakeholders.

The military official also urged governors and mayors to issue Executive Orders directing the support of community support programs in conflict-affected areas.

The army has been pushing for development-governance-security approach through harmonization of military operation and development projects, engage all stakeholders, and sense of concern for the environment. (PNA)



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LEGAZPI CITY, Aug. 15 -- The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial Telecommunication meeting set at the Misibis Bay Resort on August 21 to 25 has been canceled because of security threats, according to a top official of the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council (NOC).

Ambassador Marciano Paynor, Jr. said the cancellation of the event was recommended by the ASEAN Committee on Security.

Paynor, also the Director General for Operations, ASEAN NOC, in his letter to Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said the cancellation of the Ministerial meeting was primarily due to intelligence information gathered that the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (NPA/CPP), plans to launch violent activities in the region as an act of retaliation to the military force.

According to Paynor, the ASEAN Security Committee has been advised that the situation in Legazpi is further complicated by communication from NOC's  Information Fusion Center that 800 ready-to-deploy improvised explosive devices or IED have been distributed by the NPA elements in the neighboring province of Camarines Sur.

The security center further said the communist rebels' plan threatens the ASEAN delegates during land travel from the Legazpi domestic terminal airport here to the Misibis Bay Resort in Bacacay town, the venue of the five-day ministerial meeting.

The distance from Legazpi Domestic Airport to Misibis Bay Resort in Bacacay town is about 37 kilometers.

Paynor said, "Due to the increased atrocities in the region it has been assessed that holding an ASEAN event in Misibis Bay Resort, in Bacacay Albay is too high-risk and unsafe."

Last August 7 in Catanduanes, two policemen were killed while four others were wounded including a chief of police in two separate attacks staged by suspected NPAs in Barangay (village) Sagrada, Viga town.

In Sorsogon last August 9, two Army soldiers were killed while seven others were wounded in a clash between military troops and NPAs in Gubat town, the military said.

Reports reaching the Southern Luzon Command said that aside from the gunfight, the NPA rebels also used and planted landmines against the government troops.

The rebel attack coincided with the interment at the Casiguran Public Cemetery of ranking rebel leader Andres "Ka Magno" Hubilla and NPA member Miguel "Ka Billy" Himor.

The NOC decided to give priority to the safety and security of the ASEAN delegation and all its personnel, hence, it has been decided that the meeting be moved to Metro Manila.

In a Department of Interior and Local Government advisory received by PNA, it said that the ASEAN meeting hosted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) was transferred to Marriot Hotel in Manila.

Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, in an interview Tuesday, said the cancellation is a sad development for Albayanos.

"It could have been a shining moment, it's another setback for us but we cannot question that decision --- matters are already been stated, the security of these people are of utmost concern," he said.

Rosal added he is still confident that Albay will host another prestigous event at the right time,.

Rep. Joey Salceda posted on his social media account:  "So sad. But we will try again. The holding of two ASEAN SOMs in Legazpi, Albay was a commitment to me by the DFA and ASEAN NOC together with DICT during the budget hearing last year. During our trip to Davao together with DFA Sec. Alan Cayetano, I tried to argue the assessment." (PNA)



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LAOAG CITY, Aug. 15 — Ilocanos in this northern gateway of Luzon have welcomed the passage of a law extending the validity of Philippine passports from five to 10 years.

As part of the national government's desire to streamline and simplify government transactions, Republic Act 10928 was recently passed by lawmakers.

RA 10928 amends the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 or the RA 8239. Five-year validity remains, however, for passport holders under 18 years of age.

Marjorie Tuliao from Sarrat town said she looks forward to renewing her expired passport with 10 years validity. "I wish the DFA will set up their own office here soon so that we will no longer have to wait for the next mobile passporting schedule or travel to San Fernando City, La Union just to renew our passports," she added.

In Ilocos Norte, about 61 percent of families receive financial assistance in the form of remittances from relatives working abroad. This is a result of Ilocano outmigration that began in the early 1900s with the Sakadas -- groups of Ilocanos who left to work in Hawaiian plantations.

For her part, Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos said the rise of budget airlines has widened opportunities and the desire for travel, hence, having a 10-year valid passport would certainly increase travels particularly among Ilocanos with so many families and loved ones to visit abroad.

She also emphasized travel as a demand of "an increasingly globalized economy and job market, kaya ito nga, lubos kaming nagpapasalamat dito sa Ilocos Norte kay Presidente Duterte, si Apo Digong, pati na rin sa lahat ng ating mga senador at congressman na pumabor sa pagpapahaba ng passport validity." (PNA)



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TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The people of Tuguegarao City will be given full opportunity to celebrate the Pavvulurun Afi Festival 2017 on Wednesday as the Palace declared a non-working holiday here. 

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, signed proclamation No. 272  declaring August 16 as a special non-working holiday in this city in line with the Pavvulurun celebration, a fire-themed festival. 

Tuguegarao Mayor Benben De Guzman earlier requested for the day be  a special non-working  day in the city. 

The people of Tuguegarao City be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion with appropriate ceremonies and allow students and employees to enjoy and participate as the city marks another year of merry making, De Guzman added.

The city government showcases the Ibanag culture and tradition in the celebration of Pavvulurun Afi Festival the highlight of its 293rd patronal fiesta from Aug. 11-17.

Pavvulurun is an Ibanag word which means "get together," that gathers residents and visitors to a week-long festival culminating with a mass and procession in honor of St. Hyacinth, the city's patron saint. (PNA) (Photo by Tuguegarao CIPC)

 



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BAGUIO CITY, Aug.13 -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar has committed to help in Baguio and Benguet province's joint bid to host the 2018 Palarong Pambansa.

Andanar, who met with Information officers of the different national line agencies and member of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Saturday has given a commitment to help the two local government units by endorsing their quest to host the 2018 games to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)

 

 

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Andanar said he is hoping for the committee to look at all of the bids.

 

He said that he will be giving a recommendation to PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez supporting the coolest Palaro ever.

On Thursday, the two local governments, accommodation industries, utility companies and the media joined hands and signed a commitment to support the promotion as well as the preparations needed to be done in all the local government units.

This as Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan announced that they have already received the communication from the Department of Education that the technical inspection team will be arriving this coming week to inspect venues in the two localities, which are already in place.   

Domogan also encouraged the officials of the other provinces in the Cordillera and agency heads to support their bid. The other bidders include  Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Tarlac; Marikina, Puerto Princesa and Ilagan, Isabela.

In addition, he also said that Baguio and Benguet that carries the tag "coolest Palaro" are conducive for sports competition and will be hosting the Palaro Pambansa. Once granted by the PSC and the Department of Education (DepEd), the two high-land local government units will be hosting the event for the first time.

Aside from Andanar, mixed-martial arts 1FC world champion Edward Folayang and World Pomsei champion Jordan Dominguez also expressed support to the Baguio and Benguet's bid for 2018 "coolest Palarong Pambansa".  (Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY, Aug. 13 -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday said the agency will extend its support to the quest for the Cordillera Administrative Region's (CAR) autonomy by allowing the use of its media infrastructures for the dissemination of information to the grassroots.

During the meeting with Cordillera leaders and members of the Regional Development Council (RDC) at the Baguio Country Club, he said PCOO will support Cordillera through the Provincial Communications Officers Network (PCO Net) for disseminating information that will help achieve the region's clamor for an autonomous region.

Andanar also said that there are different media platforms owned and managed by the government that operates in the Cordillera which the RDC can link with to help them disseminate information. The People's Television (PTV) is expected to have a full-blast operation within the year; there is also the Radyo Pilipinas which is located in Baguio, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Abra; the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Andanar also committed to helping bring to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte the call of the region for him to certify as urgent the Cordillera Organic Act which is pending in Congress. Its passage will lead to the scheduling of the plebiscite where the region's voters will decide in a vote to approve or reject autonomy for the region.

 

[http://media]PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag joins Cordillera leaders on Saturday for a meeting to discuss federalism where Andanar expressed his support to autonomy towards federalism.. (Liza T. Agoot/ PNA)

 

Mayor Mauricio Domogan briefed Andanar and said that the quest for Cordillera autonomy is provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which specifically states that: "There shall be created autonomous regions in Muslim Mindanao and in the Cordilleras consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities, and geographical areas sharing common and distinctive historical and cultural heritage, economic and social structures, and other relevant characteristics within the framework of this Constitution and the national sovereignty as well as territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines."

Domogan said "our clamor for autonomy is achievable and what we want is the decentralization of power, authority, and independence to govern ourselves and natural resources," aside from the region's leaders fully supportive of the shift from Cordillera administrative region to autonomous region.

Domogan also mentioned his support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's plan to shifting from unitary form of government to a federal form, which is the same as the autonomy that the region is pushing for.

He, as well as other local chief executives, are one in saying that they are for autonomy towards federalism.

PCOO Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag, who was also present during the event, said the RDC should come up with a communication system, a design on how to do the information campaign to be able to reach the grassroots level.(Nestor Castañeda Jr./ PNA)



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MANILA, Aug. 13 -- Kabacan Elementary School swept all its elimination round assignments to lead the semifinalists in the Philippine Sports Commission-Kadayawan Girls Volleyball tournament at the University of Mindanao gym in Davao City.

Kabacan Elementary School (KES), the 2017 Davao Children's Games champion, will face Vicente Hizon Sr. Elementary School (VHSES), while Talandang Elementary School will battle Tambobong Elementary School.

KES defeated Tambobong Elementary School (25-18, 25-20), Sirawan Elementary School (25-14, 25-13), VF Corcuera Elementary School (25-23, 25-9) and Matina Central Elementary School (25-8), 25-7).

Talandang and Tambobong both have identical 3-1 (win-loss) records after the elimination round of the three-day tournament held in celebration of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Sports Festival.

Tournament director Abet Bernan of the Balibolista de Dabaw said he was impressed with the players from the Talandang and Tambobong teams.

"Magagaling sila, may potential ang mga bata," Bernan in a statement released by the PSC on Sunday.

Talandang and Tambobong players attended the clinic conducted by Bernan on Saturday. He was assisted by University of Mindanao sports director Joaquin "Boy" Sarabia.

The PSC-Kadayawan Girls Volleyball tournament is organized n coordination with the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO), Philippine Sports Institute, Department of Education Davao City and UM.

Meanwhile, PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez and PSC Commissioner Charles Raymond A. Maxey graced the opening ceremony of the Kadayawan Dragon Boat tournament held at Sta. Ana Pier. (PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 13 -- The average prevailing market price of dressed chicken in Negros Occidental dropped by PHP1.63 per kilo, market monitoring of the Provincial Veterinary Office showed.

As of Sunday, the PVO reported that from PHP158.79 per kilo in the last week of July, the price of dressed chicken in the province dropped to P157.15 per kilo.

Dr. Renante Decena, provincial veterinarian, said the low price is mainly attributed to low demand of chicken in some localities due to the decrease in social activities.

When both supply and demand are low, the price of the commodity will most likely decrease, he said.

Markets in Isabela town sell the highest price of dressed chicken at PHP175 per kilo.

The movement the price of the product in every locality also vary depending on the transport and handling cost from the dressing plant to the different selling points.

This is the second reported decrease in the average prevailing market price of dressed chicken in Negros Occidental since middle of last month.

In the previous monitoring, the PVO reported average price per kilogram of dressed chicken of PHP156, which is PHP2.75 per kilogram lower than the PHP158.75 reported in the past week.

Decena said the drop in price of the commodity during that time was due to the intra-provincial movement affected by intermittent rains.(Erwin P. Nicavera/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 13 -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will hold the fourth leg of its 2017 Economic and Financial Learning Program (EFLP) in Victorias City, Negros Occidental from August 14 to 17.

The four-day activity includes a series of learning sessions aim to promote greater public awareness and understanding of key economic and financial issues.

On August 14, the Project BRO (BSP Reaches Out), A Savings Campaign for Kids and Teens, will be held at Victorias Elementary School Covered Court for Grades 1 to 6 pupils of 19 public elementary schools and for Grades 7 to 10 of seven public secondary schools.

On August 15, it will be held at Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias Integrated School for Grades 1 to 6 pupils of six private elementary schools and for Grades 7 to 10 students of four private secondary schools.

The "Be up to SPeed on BSP" Information Campaign on the Role of the BSP in the Economy will be held also on August 15 for the workforce, and on August 16 for the students along with the "Know Your Money" Briefing for cash handlers at Weng Weng's Lawn, Osmeña Avenue in Barangay 21.

The Financial Education Expo will be held on August 16 and 17 for the workforce and students, respectively, at Don Alejandro Acuña Yap Quiña Arts and Cultural Center.

Also on August 17, the "Paghahanda sa Kinabukasan," Financial Learning Campaign for Overseas Filipinos and their Beneficiaries will be held at Weng Weng's Lawn.

The EFLP embodies the goal of the BSP to promote economic and financial education among its stakeholders, who can then become more effective partners of the agency in safeguarding price stability and in ensuring a stronger and safer banking and payments system.(Erwin P. Nicavera/PNA)



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BACOLOD CITY, Aug. 13 -- The Bacolod City College (BCC) is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its students to avail of free tuition under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Bacolod City (Lone District) Rep. Greg Gasataya said over the weekend that the BCC needs to submit all the requirements soon, adding that the CHED is willing to provide assistance.

BCC is being run and funded by the city government of Bacolod. Gasataya said the BCC has already complied with the initial requirements.

The lawmaker said he expects an increase in enrollment among state-owned universities and colleges because of the free tertiary education.

Established in 1997 during the first term of Mayor Evelio Leonardia, the BCC offers Bachelor in Elementary Education, Bachelor in Secondary Education, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing Management, Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology Major in Electronics Technology and Civil Technology, and Bachelor of Science in Office Administration.

It also offers a two-year Ladderized Program in Associate Computer Technology leading to the degree Bachelor Of Science in Information System.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently signed into law the bill that would provide free tuition for state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that free tertiary education in SUCs is a very strong pillar and cornerstone of the President's social development policy. (Nanette L. Guadalquiver/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 14 -- An Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) leader , described as a well-experienced navigator, was killed in an encounter with government troops in Sulu, military officials said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Joint Task Force Sulu commander, identified the slain ASG sub-leader as Salvador Muktadil alias Badong, who was a well-experienced speedboat operator.

Sobejana said the troops killed Muktadil in a heavy gunfight at around 1:10 a.m. Sunday in Silangkan, Parang, Sulu.

Sobejana said Muktadil had an arrest warrant for kidnapping and serious illegal detention and nine-count murder.

He said the ASG usually tapped the services of Muktadil in the execution of high profile and cross-border kidnappings.

"Badong is well-experienced in operating speedboats utilized by the Abu Sayyaf as getaway vehicle n executing kidnapping ploy," he said.

"His death rendered high seas kidnappings, particularly in Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, suppressed," he added.

He said Muktadil was involved in the kidnappings of Yahong Lim in Sempornah, Sabah; Evelyn Chang of Tawau, Sabah; and, Mayor Gemma Adana of Naga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said the remains of Muktadil was brought to Camp General Teodulfo Bautista Trauma Hospital in Barangay Busbus, Jolo, Sulu for proper procedure.

Muktadil was a sub-leader operating in Sabah, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga City, and Zamboanga Sibugay.

"His neutralization was a result of the maximized intelligence operations of our troops and the cooperation and support of the local leaders and folks," Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief.

"I commend the troops of the Joint Task Force Sulu led by their Commander Brigadier General Sobejana for this recent accomplishment," Galvez added. (TPGJR/PNA)



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ZAMBOANGA CITY, Aug. 14 -- Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar has expressed gratitude to government troops for their efforts that led to the safe rescue of the three Zamboangueño construction workers in Marawi City.

Rescued by the Navy Special Forces in Marawi City were siblings Romar, 39, and Roel Marjolino, 37 of Barangay Pasonanca and Jimmy Esperat, 43 of Canelar.

The three were among hundreds of people taken hostage when the Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23.

Based on their accounts, they escaped a few days ago and were eventually rescued by Navy Special Forces in Lake Lanao.

They arrived at the Majini pier of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) aboard a Navy vessel midnight Saturday.

Rear Adm. Rene Medina, NFWM commander, on Sunday turned them over to Salazar and consequently to their families after they have undergone medical check-ups and other procedures.

Salazar also turned over to the rescued workers financial assistance as well as relief goods as part of the support from the local government.

The three were among the several Zamboangueños who opted to work in Marawi City since they were paid a higher salary rate.

But because of their sad experience, they vowed not to return to Marawi City even though they will be offered bigger salary. (TPGJR/PNA)



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BAGUIO CITY, Aug. 14 -- Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar relayed during a press conference on Saturday that the agency is looking at how to financially help members of the fourth estate with their medical needs.

Andanar said "sinabi ko po sa mga staff ko, kay Assistant Secretary Banaag, tinanong ko po sila kung ano yung maaring gawing paraan ng PCOO na makapagbigay ng medical assistance sa lahat po ng mga journalist or mga former journalist sa buong bansa (I asked my staff, Assistant Secretary Banaag, I asked them how the PCOO can help give medical assistance to all journalists or former journalists in the whole country)."

 

[http://media]PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar and Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag tell the media in a press conference on Saturday what the PCOO is doing to help the practicing journalists in their medical woes. (Liza T. Agoot/PNA)

 

He said that he wants to leave as a legacy when his term ends after five years, an institutionalized program that will support the medical needs of the media. This is aside from Administrative Order 1 (AO1) creating the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, to assure the safety and security of the messengers of information.  

"I am one of you and after five years, I will go back to the industry of where I am, where I was and where you are right now. And kung meron man siguro akong gusting maiwan na legacy  bukod doon sa administrative order number (AO 1) creating the Presidential Task Force on Media Security na talagang itinulak namin na mapirmahan ni Presidente, na sa current administration po at ng PCOO po to napirmahan, ang pangalawa po na gusto kong mabuo natin ay yung medical assistance para sa mga mediamen."

 

[http://media]PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar talks to Bagio newsman Ramon Dacawi on the department's initiative to help mediamen in the entire country during a one-on-one interview on Sunday at the PIA-CAR Regional Office (Ryan Mangusan)

 

He said he has talked with some businessmen to include Ramon Ang and Manuel Pangilinan, who have expressed willingness to set-up a fund for the mediamen, especially those in the provinces, so that they can be extended help for their health needs.  

He solicited from the media more ideas so he could work things out.

Andanar talked about a media practitioner in Manila who called for help to settle the P20,000 hospital bill of her mother who is confined in a hospital, undergoing dialysis.

He related that he earlier had talks with the National Press Club (NPC) and media associations in Mindanao  during his visits to the provinces. "Umiikot po ako sa buong Pilipinas bilang kalihim at hindi ko po matanggap at masakit po ang dibdib ko na nakikita ko yung mga may edad na, na mga broadcaster at alam mo na hindi maganda yung kanilang lagay, may sakit (I go around the country as Secretary and It pains me to see and meet aged mediamen who are sick)."

Earlier, the Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters' Club (BCBC), the umbrella organization of the Baguio media, initiated a signature campaign calling on the government to make dialysis sessions free of charge for newsmen.

Ramon Dacawi, a past president of the BCBC, who started the initiative, said, "I hope that your offices will consider this and this is in memory of our two of our media practitioners- two of the best- Cid Chamag and the late Peppot Ilagan who died because they had no money for dialysis."

 

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Baguio newsman Ramon Dacawi relays to PCOO SecretaryM Martin Andanar the 'Free Dialysis' campaign of the local media (Liza T. Agoot/PNA)

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PCOO Assistant Secretary Marie Rafael-Banaag and newsmanR Ramon Dacawi share a light moment after Saturday's pressc conference where the Baguio media's 'free dialysis' campaignw was shared to the PCOO officials (from ASec Banaag's FB)

 

On the other hand,  Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Marie Rafael-Banaag related that Secretary Andanar has instructed them to meet with Philhealth, Department of Health, Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) and the NPC to discuss ways to help the ailing media members from the provinces.

She said they are looking at the implementation of programs to help the media in the provinces, aside from the medical aid coming from the Philhealth.

She said, "for Monday, if we can have the letter, the documents, we can start from here. Per region approach para mas localized and we would know how to handle the particularities in each area."

Banaag assured that Secretary Andanar is willing to help. "This is what Secretary really wanted, ang problem lang is how. The BCBC and KBP here would know who their members are and we will start from there," Banaag said. (PNA)



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ABUCAY, Bataan, Aug. 14-- Members of the Police Public Safety Company (PPSC), Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT), Bomb Squad and the Abucay police conducted Sunday an anti-terrorism simulation exercise as part of the preparation strategy to combat terrorism and other criminal groups.

"This is part of the continuing drill on the preparedness of the police station against the possible attack of any criminal group," explained Police Inspector Eric Manuel, Abucay deputy police chief.

SPO2 Roy Castillo of the PPSC briefed the participants before the drill.

During the simulation exercise, five local terrorists "died" as they tried to "attack" the police station here.

On board a car, the armed men, one in police uniform, approached the closed front gate of the police station and told police officers they were there on inspection.

Police officers on duty asked for a "password" but instead, the armed men opened fire.

Two police officers bravely stood their ground and fired back, hitting one of the terrorists. By this time, the deputy police chief already called for reinforcement.

Another terrorist aimed to throw a hand grenade but was also slain.

Three remaining armed men then escaped on board their car but in a checkpoint put up by responding government troops a few meters before the Roman Superhighway, they were flagged down.

The armed men, instead of surrendering, fought back but in the process were slain by the more superior lawmen.

The Abucay deputy police chief said the exercise is regularly being held in all police stations in the province as per directive of Police Senior Supt. Benjamin Silo, Jr., Bataan police director. (PNA)



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DAVAO CITY, Aug 14 -- The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Task Force Davao iare implementing stricter security measures in Davao City as the week-long activities for the celebration of Kadayawan Festival opens at 4 p.m. Monday.

City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio leads the opening ceremonies at Magsaysay Park.

Task Force Davao Chief Col. Bernard Neri said the security plan for the 32nd Kadayawan Festival has been in place in the past week and it is only a matter of implementing measures to ensure a safe celebration and secure the public. More police and security forces with the support of the other units, Cafgus and reservists will be seen on streets.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) already released posters on the do's and don'ts whenever the public go to event venues. The public is asked to observe security measures to be implemented during the duration of the festival.

People going to converging points are not allowed to bring backpacks, cola drinks in bottle and canisters, bottled water, firearms, and other bladed or sharp weapons.

Duterte-Carpio had earlier ordered security forces to harden security preparation for the Kadayawan more than what is currently implemented in the city.

The city mayor wanted an "over preparation". This means, "prepare more than the standard preparation for the Kadayawan, to excess all possible means for the security of Davao City," she said.

She said the security forces cannot just simply prepare for the Kadayawan celebration, but to prepare more than their usual procedure to ensure a safe celebration of the Kadayawan Festival.

Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief Benito De Leon said an estimated 17,000 personnel will be deployed in the entire city to implement security measures.

He added the security forces will implement stop and frisk procedure to ensure that no person will carry bladed weapons, explosives, and firearms especially inside venues of the events.

De Leon said the security forces may conduct warrantless searches through stop and frisk procedure following the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus, De Leon said.

While the Kadayawan Festival is officially celebrated from August 14 to 20, City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Chief Generose Tecson said Kadayawan-related events will still continue the whole month of August. Last Friday, the Kadayawan Dragon Boat Festival was held at Sta. Wharf.

This year's events include the Kadayawan Village and Bantawan (Cultural Show); Hiyas ng Kadayawan Talent Competition on August 15; Habi Kadayawan (Fashion Competition) on August 17; Kaondayawan (Food and Music) on August 17; Tribal Games, mugan Kadayawan, river float parade, Doodle Competition, Hiyas ng kadayawan (finals) on August 18; Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan on August 19; and the Floral float parade on August 20.

Tecson said the city government and the executive committee have not invited guests or politicians to grace events but everybody is welcome to celebrate the Festival with the Davaoenos. She said the city is still expecting many visitors during the Kadayawan. (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)



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