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First District Congresswoman Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar distributed health insurance cards to the members of the Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in this city’s west coast in line with the observance of the PWD week.

Salazar has been hopping from one barangay to the other since July 17, the start of the PWD week until its culmination Thursday, to distribute the cards to the beneficiaries that will ensure the recipients and members of their families of privileges in cases of emergencies or hospitalization.

The first congressional district covers 37 barangays and all located in this city’s west coast.

Salazar said almost 200 PWDs and their immediate families benefited from her program, the first of its kind for the PWD sector in this southern port city.

Salazar is a staunch advocate of the welfare and protection of PWDs.

Salazar said the granting of health insurance benefits to PWDs is part of her advocacy and is meant to express gratitude to the sector for its contributions to the society.

The health insurance card’s effectivity is from June 2009 to July 2010 and renewable for the next few years.

She stressed that the program is only one of the initiatives aimed to empower the PWDs. (PNA)

Maj. Gen.Reynaldo Mapagu, commander of 10th Infantry Division on Friday strongly condemned the recent atrocities perpetrated by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

Mapagu made the condemnation after the NPAs staged an ambushed Thursday, the second this week, that resulted to the deaths of a militiaman and a former village chief.

Another militiaman was reportedly injured.

Capt. Rosa Ma. Cristina Manuel, Public Affairs Officer of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the ambush took place around 9 a.m. Thursday in Barangay Marilog, Marilog District, Davao City.

Manuel identified the fatalities as Celso Agumay, a militiaman, and former Salaysay village chief Canoto Lumbayon.

Wounded was militiaman Ernesto Sauyan, who is undergoing treatment at the Davao Medical Center.

Manuel said Lumbayon was on his way home aboard a motorcycle together with Agumay and Sauyan when at least 10 NPAs ambushed them.

The two militiamen were unarmed when they were ambushed, Manuel said.

The Thursday’s incident was the second ambush staged by the NPAs this week in southern Mindanao area.

Last Wednesday, Juan Bacharo, the village chief of Banlag in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley and two unarmed soldiers were killed in an ambush staged by the rebels.

They were doing coordination works for the implementation of a development project in Banlag when they were ambushed.

“It is clear enough that these criminals are anti-people and anti-development,” Mapagu said, citing the victims were unarmed when ambushed.

“Treacherous attacks are what they can easily do now because they cannot face the reality that they have already lost their mass base support,” he said.

“Just like Evelyn Pitao, the sister of a well-known NPA leader in the region, they easily killed these innocent people who are public servants, law-abiding citizens and who desire to live a peaceful life in a more improved environment. These bandits are the ones who repeatedly abuse the basic rights of the people,” he added. (PNA)

By Mar S. Arguelles

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave Albay province various types of medicines to be used for medical missions in areas considered as high risk zone once the 2,760 meters high volcano erupts.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda expressed his gratitude to Secretary Duque for the medicines to be used in medical missions in five towns and three cities surrounding Mayon volcano.

Salceda said the medical mission is a preemptive health care measure, a new strategy adopted by his administration designed to reduce potential spread of disease in times of mass evacuation once a full blown eruption occurs anytime.

“We have to prevent spread of diseases inside the evacuation centers by holding medical missions to determine the residents health conditions and make curative or preventive medical measures to curb potential disease outbreak to take place in evacuation camps,” Salceda said.

The medical mission will be held in 56 villages at risk to eruption covering 127,000 residents in Malilipot, Sto Domingo, Daraga, Camalig, Guinobatan towns and the cities of Legazpi, Tabaco and Ligao.

He said the medicines would be of great help as this will mean conservation of the limited calamity funds not only for Mayon but also for upcoming typhoons.

Meanwhile, Mayon volcano continue to manifest intense seismic abnormality signified by low intensity volcanic quakes, crater glow and moderate steaming.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the agency instrument monitoring the volcano seismic activity for the past 24 hours recorded 12 low frequency earthquakes.

Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist said that the quakes are manifestation that magma is building up inside the volcano.

Asked about the steaming intensity of the volcano, Laguerta said the agency could not yet determine the measurement and extent of steam puff out by the volcano due to the absence of the COSPEC instrument used to measure sulfur dioxide emission.

The volcano crater glow continue to intensify at level 2 delighting viewers watching the volcano at nighttime.

Ground deformation survey indicate that the volcano’s swelling event in the bu**** and Lidong Levelling lines have not change and still at 8.0 mm and 5.0 mm respectively.

Alert level 2 remains hoisted meaning the volcano is still on a state of unrest which could lead to ash explosions or eventually to hazardous magmatic eruption.

Police and military authorities are still manning their respective check points to prevent any human activity inside the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone including the 7-km extended danger zone at the southeast quadrant of the volcano. (PNA)

The Provincial Government of Bulacan has enforced a “strictly no visit” policy at the Bulacan Provincial Jail after nine inmates were found positive of the A (H1N1) virus during a medical test conducted last week.

Provincial Administrator Perlie Mendoza, however, said that the nine inmates have already undergone medical treatment and are all now in good health condition.

“No visitors allowed to provincial jail until there is no go signal from the Department of Health (DoH),” Mendoza said. The measures are now being undertaken to contain the spread of the virus at the provincial jail.

She said the nine inmates were found positive of the A(H1N1) virus after health authorities conducted a swab test among prisoners last week.

Mendoza said the Provincial Health Office will continue monitoring the health condition of the inmates.

She said health officials are still determining the origin or the source of the virus. (PNA)

Representing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Presidential Assistant for Western Mindanao Crisanto Dela Cruz inaugurated the P8.8 million communal irrigation system in this southern port of Zamboanga City.

Dela Cruz said the irrigation system located in Barangay Talisayan, 26 kilometers west of this southern port city, was inaugurated last Wednesday.

Dela Cruz said the irrigation project is funded by the national government through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and local government.

Dela Cruz said the project will benefit the farmer association in Talisayan and in nearby barangays whose planting area covers 100-hectares of palay and other crops.

He advised the members of the farmer association to help preserve, maintain and put to good use the project so that they will continue to reap the benefits it provides to them.

He told the farmers that the project is part of President Arroyo’s priority to ensure stability of food security in the country.

He said with the irrigation project in place, the farmers can now plant rice twice or even thrice a year as they are ensured of steady water supply.

Dela Cruz noted that as he entered Barangay Talisayan, he was welcomed by the beautiful rice fields on both sides of the highway coming from downtown. (PNA)

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) in Bicol is targeting at least 85 percent coverage of the region’s population with health insurance protection.

Orlando Iñigo Jr., PhilHealth Bicol regional vice president, said the agency is geared towards ensuring all Bicolanos be covered by social health insurance.

This in accordance with the principles of universality and compulsory coverage as mandated by RA 7875 or The National Health Insurance Act of 1995 and RA 9241.

“This tall order is now what PhilHealth is hoping to accomplish on its way to the agency’s 15th year anniversary in 2010,” Iñigo said.

He said the PhilHealth Bicol is equipped with all its armors driven towards universal coverage.

As of April 30 this year, Albay province has a total number of 281,258 enrolled members, including employees from the government and private sectors, to PhilHealth’s programs such as Sponsored Program, Individually Paying Program, Lifetime Member Program and the Overseas Workers Program.

“This figure is actually 138.3 percent of the total baseline set for the province’s enrollment,” he said.

Records also showed that Sorsogon province follows the uptrend to universal coverage, covering a total number of 101,016 members for all the programs

”That is 92.1 percent of the 109,656 potential members in the province,” he said.

Meanwhile, the island province of Catanduanes already covers around 90 percent of its population with social health insurance, ensuring 32,123 residents and their dependents.

On the other hand, Camarines Norte has an enrollment that covers 78 percent of its population which is translated as 68,185 members plus their dependents who can enjoy the PhilHealth benefits.

Camarines Sur was able to cover 51.4 percent of their population which is only 148,879 out of the 289,701 identified potential members of PhilHealth.

Due to limiting factors, particularly geographical in nature, Masbate province only has 43,529 members or only 34.8 percent of its people are covered by PhilHealth.

“With this statistics at hand, truly there are still areas for collaboration as we seek more partnerships with out stakeholders in the implementation of our programs,” he said.

He said the Sponsored Program, which is considered as the heart of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), continues to seek for alliances as PhilHealth recognizes the need to extend its services to the marginalized sectors of the society.

“On this note, we, at PhilHealth Bicol, would like to exert all possible means to ensure that the sustainable, affordable and progressive health care service that Bicolanos deserve is delivered,” he said.

The PhilHealth Bicol chief is also appealing to all local chief executives across the region to enroll every household, particularly the underprivileged, to the health care program.

“Let us uplift the value of social solidarity through the NHIP as the means for the healthy to pay for the care of the sick and for those can afford medical care to subsidize those who cannot,” he said.

“We strengthen more our linkages with our partners and we are optimistic that soon enough there will be no more Bicolanos who will pose in despair for financial difficulties in seeking health care services,” he added. (PNA)

At least 35,834 beneficiaries received President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" (4Ps) in Northern Mindanao, said social welfare information officer Recthie B. Tolinero on Friday.

Under the Set 1 of 4P’s program, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-Northern Mindanao) has already released P95,745,642 for the 443 barangays in Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte and Cagayan de Oro City municipalities, Tolinero said.

The DSWD is set to implement the Set 2 in areas of Talacag, Magsaysay and Balo-I, after the recent seminar on the supply side assessment (SSA) of 4P’s to the local government units (LGUs) in the expansion program, with the National House Targeting System (NHTS) in said areas, said the social information officer.

The NHTS composed of the regional staff of Northern Mindanao DSWD led by Regional Director Atty. Araceli F. Solamillo and Jerwin Navarro, 4Ps program coordinator of DSWD with other staff.

During the activity, Atty. Solamillo shared that 4Ps is the department’s response to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in a way that it provides cash subsidy to the poorest households in the country to improve the health, nutrition and education.

“The program fully supports the realization of DSWD’s vision, mission and mandate and is also aligned with the goal of poverty reduction and empowering the poor,” Director Solamillo said.

According to Solamillo, Talakag, Magsaysay and Balo-i municipalities were selected as the new 4Ps areas through the Small Area Estimates and Family Income Expenditure Survey just like the first set of 4Ps areas in Northern Mindanao.

As of June 2009, there are already 5,505 potential beneficiaries in Talakag, 3,292 in Magsaysay and 5,444 in Balo-I, she said.

The target beneficiaries were already oriented on the program’s conditionalities, gains and their roles in its implementation.

Social welfare officers in targeted areas also gave the mechanics in conducting community assembly, which are essential in the registration and validation of the potential beneficiaries in the areas. (PNA)

Local officials in the province recently inspected the ongoing construction of the multi-million 85-kilometer Talaingod-Bukidnon Road project, which is expected to spur economic activities in Davao del Norte and Bukidnon provinces.

The 85-kilometer road project, worth P1.59-billion, is expected to be completed early next year.

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario, together with six mayors of the province, said they toured Davao del Norte to see the progress of the ongoing mega project.

The six mayors were Talaingod Mayor Pilar Libayao, New Corella Mayor Nestor Alcoran, Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy, B.E. Dujali Mayor Lolita Moral, Kapalong Mayor Edgardo Timbol and Asuncion Mayor Joseph Nilo Pareñas.

Local officials are optimistic for a much vibrant economy for the province once the mega project is completed.

Del Rosario said the project is tagged as a key alternate road that would significantly cut travel time from Davao City to Cagayan de Oro by almost half.

He said it is expected to capture a significant volume of passenger vehicles and cargo trucks directly plying the Davao City-Cagayan de Oro City route.

In preparation for the opening of the project, Del Rosario has ordered the fast track construction of the coastal road in Panabo City and Carmen.

He expected the unprecedented socio-economic growth of the two locl government units once the road is completed next year.

Meanwhile, Tagum City is planning to build a stop-over passenger terminal along the Canocotan Road, where buses from Davao City en route to Bukidnon or Cagayan de Oro City and vise versa will take the mega project. (PNA)

One communist-New People’s Army (NPA) rebel was killed while unaccounted number of other rebels were believed critically wounded when combat maneuvering troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) attack a rebel encampment in Tabon-Tabon area, Barangay Mahagsay, San Luis, Agusan del Sur, said regional Army spokesman Maj. Mitchele B. Anayron Jr., on Friday.

Maj. Anayron also said the NPA camp was finally overran after 20 minutes fierce gunbattle.

The camp belong to guerrilla-Front Committee 88 of the CPP-NPA North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC), the Army spokesman said.

In a flash report to Northeastern and Northern Mindanao Fourth Infantry (Diamond) Division chief Brig. Gen. Mario Chan, Lt. Col. Andres Centeno, commanding officer of the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion, said the NPA camp was completely captured at 3 pm on Thursday.

The encampment, consist of eight bunkers with kitchen and makeshift huts, training ground and posting stations, he said.

Operating combat troops also seized war materials such as M16 and shotgun rifles, assorted live ammunition, foods, personal belongings and anti-government documents with high intelligence value, said Maj. Anayron.

“As of press time we cannot still determined if how many wounded to the fleeing communists as hot pursuit operation is still going on,” added Maj. Anayron.

Gen. Chan already deployed gunship attack helicopters of the Philippine Air Force strike wing and helicopter wing to extend air cover to the pursuing ground troops.

No reported casualty on the government side.

“Just like what the commanding general of the Army wanted, 4th ID troops can be counted to help the Philippine Army deliver the winning shot,” said Gen. Chan.

He added: “This is just one of 4ID’s efforts and the populace under our area of responsibility can expect their soldiers to do their very best to secure them and help the local government units and local government agency bring peace and development in the area”. (PNA)

By Rosalina B. Palacio

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has already implemented some 95 projects of the Arroyo Administration to be finished before the end of 2010.

DPWH regional director Osop L. Ali reported that these projects, with an allocation of some P3.6-billion, were distributed to the eight DPWH Engineering offices while about 16 projects are being implemented by the regional office.

Ali specifically identified the priority of the President's SONA projects such as the improvement and construction of Kapalong-Talaingod-Valencia road in Davao del Norte; and the rehabilitation and improvement along Surigao-Davao Coastal road (Manay-Boston) in Mati, Davao Oriental.

The full implementation of these projects, as a whole, he said is a reaffirmation of the President's commitment to provide adequate transport facilities in the countryside in order to enhance agricultural and commercial productivity and thus develop faster the economic well-being among rural folks.

“We are trying our outmost best to finish all pump-priming projects of the President as scheduled and if God permits, we are positive that we can make it,” he said.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, in her last July 17 visit here, committed to develop Mindanao and have a massive road development program, enhance economic growth, agricultural and tourism development that will definitely increase transport mobility and accessibility within and outside the Mindanao region.

With the President, Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane Jr. told his men in a briefing that the road development projects of the President which were undertaken by the department. "We will turn the blueprint of a robust Philippine economy into a reality," he said.

“As ordered by Ebdane, we are putting our efforts into doing not only what is programmed for today but also for tomorrow,” Ali said.

“We are here to do our jobs, and as much as possible, I want my men to achieve more than expected, and try to achieve the highest efficiency,” he further said.

Judging from his policy of transparency, openness and adherence to rules and regulations governing transactions, Ali stressed that “wala kaming itinatago dito, nagtatrabaho kami ng husto” (we never kept secrets, we’re just doing our job) and I want things to be truly transparent, he emphasized. (PNA)

The newly-passed Renewable Energy Law "could open doors for the Philippines to capture part of more than USD 70 billion investments" in the field, British Ambassador Peter Beckingham said recently.

The ambassador said the Philippines could do this by "providing incentives to investors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers."

He also urged local government units (LGU) to push for alternative sources of energy for their constituents by opening their municipalities to investors in renewable technologies.

Beckingham said that by pushing the Renewable Energy Law, which supports the country's goal of 60 per cent energy self-sufficiency level by 2010, the Philippines has taken steps to tackle climate change.

It "could open doors for the country to capture part of more than USD70 billion investments in renewable energy development world-wide by providing incentives to investors, equipment manufacturers and suppliers."

Beckingham made the remarks at a renewable energy forum hosted by the World Wildlife Fund Philippines (WWF-P)in Cebu City.

Beckingham said that Britain has taken advantage of the demand for green projects, which opened major opportunities for British businesses to create jobs in the new low carbon economy. He noted that in the UK, this has grown into a three trillion-pound market employing nearly 900,000 people.

"The Philippines can do the same," Beckingham prodded.

The forum presented a unique venue to magnify the tremendous opportunities that the Philippines has, specifically local communities, in pursuing low-carbon and renewable energy options in providing power to our communities," according to WWF-P president, Lory Tan.

Adoption of these solutions shall foster sustainable development and contribute significantly in addressing climate change, according to Tan.

Tan expressed hope that local governments would embrace renewables and create a sustainable energy future for their communities and for the country.

The forum was funded by the British Embassy Manila.

It was attended by municipal mayors from across the nation and representatives of development agencies to build links between LGUs and local investors in coastal areas in exploring sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions.

Among local leaders who attended were Mayor Elmer Codilla of Kananga, Leyte, who related the economic benefits to his municipality of hosting geothermal plants.

Kananga plays host to a number of geothermal plants which fulfills 40 per cent of the power requirement in Luzon.

Between 1992 to 2008, Kananga has received in total over P200 million in Royalty Shares based on the gross receipts of the Energy Development Corporation (EDC, formerly PNOC-EDC). This does not include the millions in annual taxes from the operators.

"Such huge revenues and benefits enjoyed by the host LGU, has paved the way for the elevation of Kananga, Leyte into a first class municipality. Because of this, the (municipality) has embarked on various projects in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and other priority programs with the use of proceeds from EDC," Codilla said.(PNA)

By Judy Flores-Partlow

The Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCDC) is highly considering the province of Negros Oriental as its pilot area for a program that will professionalize day care workers in the country.

At a press conference Wednesday evening, ECCD Council officials disclosed the move is in response to the need of focusing on making day care centers not just a child-minding facility but also as a learning institution for children aged 0 to 6.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had created the ECCDC through Republic Act 8980 and had allocated about P100 million as start up fund for the council which is attached to the Office of the President.

The ECCDC functions as the principal agency that would implement government’s early childhood care and development programs on health, nutrition and early education.

Studies have shown that the brain development of a child starts from that age level, said Andrea Trinidad Echavez, Communications and Advocacy Consultant of the ECCDC.

Home-based and public day care center workers must have the proper skills, modules and training to be able to run these facilities, she said.

According to ECCDC field operations manager Rolando Cucio, a law that was passed some 45 years ago and which was devolved to the barangays to run day care centers need to be re-evaluated.

This particular group of workers, with about 48,000 total in the Philippines, has to be professionalized through capacity-building, training, and making day care employment a career.

Accreditation of day care workers is also being pushed under such proposal, Cucio added.

The ECCDC, composed of government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of Health, the Nutrition Council, and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), is currently undertaking a universal profiling of day care workers in the country, said Cucio.

Most of the regions in the Philippines, except for Regions 1, 2, 3 and 7, have already completed the universal profiling, he added.

To be able to achieve its goals of professionalizing the day care workers, the ECCDC has tapped non-government organizations such as the Australian Business Volunteers and the Oriental Negros Child Advocacy Network (ONCAN) to assist them.

ABV in-country manager for the Philippines, Waya Araos, who joined the ECCDC team during Wednesday’s visit to Dumaguete, said that they provide technical assistance to partners from local governments, NGOs, and even the private sector.

Araos said about 400 volunteers have been assigned in the Philippines over the last ten years, working with their partner NGOs on strategic planning, human resources, geographical information systems, business planning and product development.

ABV does not provide grants or financial assistance; however, volunteers’ expenses are being paid for by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), she added.

Araos said ABV will assist ONCAN on strategic planning and other areas as required. (PNA)

The Energy Development Corporation (EDC) on Thursday inked an agreement with the Negros Oriental local government for the concreting of a 6.8-kilometer road that will lead to the five-hectare Industrial Park within the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Valencia town.

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by EDC president and CEO Paul A. Aquino, Gov. Emilio Macias II, Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez, Jr. of Valencia, and barangay captains Nestor Timosan, Ma. Lea Salvoro, and Los Santos Russell of the geothermal host communities Caidiocan, Puhagan and Malaunay, respectively.

As agreed, all parties have pooled their resources to finance the P50-million road concreting project which is expected to be implemented by December 2009.

Dubbed as the “Road to Industrialization”, the highway will also be a vital link to EDC’s 192-MW geothermal steam field in Palinpinon, Valencia.

The road project is the provincial government’s response to Executive Order 661 that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed on Sept. 11, 2007, declaring the country’s seven geothermal sites as Special Economic Zones under the government’s Generating Investments in Geothermal Areas (GIGA) project.

Five of the seven geothermal fields are owned by EDC, including its steam field in Palinpinon, and those in Tongonan, Leyte; Bacon-Manito in Albay and Sorsogon; Mt. Apo in North Cotabato and Baco City and Murcia in Negros Occidental.

The geothermal facilities in Tiwi, Albay and Makban, Laguna are also included in the President’s Executive Order on the SEZs.

GIGA aims to encourage more investors to take advantage of cheap and clean power by setting up their businesses in these SEZs, as royalty fees generated by the host communities will be used to subsidize the industries’ power bills.

The road concreting project in Valencia is expected to usher in more employment opportunities and boost the economic activity in that town.

At present, a Norwegian-owned hydraulic company engaged in the manufacture of underwater equipment parts has begun construction of its operating plant in the Special Economic Zone in Valencia.

The company, Valencia Hydraulic Systems Technology, will be hiring at least 50 special-skilled welders and local laborers, some of them already being trained by the Provincial Integrated Skills Training Center (PISTC).

President Arroyo, in her 2007 State-Of-The-Nation-Address, had cited Valencia as a potential electronics capital of the country.

“Our (Philippine) government has encouraged local and foreign investors to take advantage of the cheap and clean power by building their businesses near our geothermal sites. The synergy of geothermal power and economic zones can only power up progress and empower more people in our host communities,” said EDC president and CEO Paul Aquino.

The farm-to-market road should provide more livelihood opportunities to all farmers’ associations, create more jobs from the industries that will operate in the zone, and attract more tourists to visit Valencia, he added.

Meanwhile, Macias described the MOA signing as an important event in the history of Valencia town and the province of Negros Oriental.

He noted that in many instances, the provincial government had endeavored to undertake development projects bankrolled by local funds to ease the lives of its constituents.

He lauded the “Road to Industrialization” as a good example of a partnership and commitment among LGUs and the private sector.

The governor said that once the road is completed, it will pave the way for industrialization in Valencia,

He, however, recommended for a 40-megawatt (MW )power allocation guaranteed for the SEZ which is eyed to cover about 20 hectares.

He said having good roads would complement the Special Economic Zone in Valencia.

For their part, the village chiefs of the three geothermal host communities expressed their appreciation for the multi-million peso road concreting project.

They said it has long been a dream for them to see the road leading to their barangays cemented and as such, upon learning of the proposed collaboration, they did not hesitate to allocate counterpart funds for it. (PNA)

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has ordered a comprehensive inventory of an “abandoned” city housing project in Pavia municipality, Iloilo after he was informed on the presence of some families illegally occupying at least two housing units.

Treñas said he has directed the city engineer’s office to conduct the inventory starting July 23, 2009 to determine the truth about the invasion of some informal settlers of the housing project in barangay Ungka, Pavia.

The city owns the six-hectare housing project funded by P130 million loan facility from the Philippine Veterans Bank in 2002 to build low cost housing units for city hall employees and other low income earners.

However, project contractor Ace Builders and Enterprise (ABE), headed by Alexander Trinidad, practically abandoned the project in 2003 before before its actual completion compounded by the rejection of payment of its fourth billing amounting more than P4 million.

The payment rejection came after complaints were raised on the alleged use sub-standard construction materials by the contractor to build the housing units.

Treñas said that as of latest count, there are three pending cases before the courts sorrounding the housing project.

The city mayor said he ordered the putting up of enclosure fence of cyclone wire at the back portion of the project area so as not to allow the entry of stray animals and other persons who would like to occupy the housing units.

It was reported that the two families now occupy the two housing units and have expanded the houses by putting up annexes. One family has even built a a repair shop. Both families claimed they are there as temporary residents by being flood victims of Typhoon Frank and would vacate the area if given a relocation site. (PNA)

Three schools in Albay province suspended their classes on Thursday due to reported positive A(H1N1) cases.

Administrators of Tabaco National High School, St. Agnes Academy and Aquinas University declared class suspensions this afternoon.

Dr. Aurora Daluro, Department of Health (DOH) regional epidemiology said that health authorities are taking necessary measures to curtail the spread of A(H1N1) throughout the Bicol region.

She urged the public to stay in their houses and avoid going to mall or in other crowded places. (PNA)

The government’s flagship poverty alleviation project implemented in three Negros Occidental municipalities ended its three-year engagement with a total of 26 pro-poor projects completed amounting to P46.6 million.

Alma Jornadal, marketing officer of Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), said the project was implemented in Don Salvador Benedicto, Moises Padilla and Hinoba-an municipalities.

Of the 26 projects, six are in Don Salvador Benedicto; seven in Moises Padilla and 13 in Hinoba-an.

Regional Director Teresita S. Rosales of the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI (DSWD-6) said these areas are under the KALAHI-CIDSS Phase 4 that started implementation in 2007.

Completed projects include eight community production and service facilities; six environmental protection structures; four foot and small bridges; four road improvements; two health stations; one multi-use building; and one water system level 2.

Of the P46.6 million total project cost, KALAHI-CIDSS’ grant for the three municipalities amounted to P32,210,808. The rest came from contributions of the municipal and barangay local government units and the community.

“The local counterpart component of the project invokes among the community a strong sense of ownership of the projects that they themselves identified, designed and labored hard to complete. Through this, we are confident that they will also remain vigilant to maintain the functionality of their projects,” Rosales said.

KALAHI-CIDSS is a community-driven development project that empowers the poor by strengthening their participation in local governance to reduce poverty.

KALAHI-CIDSS is implemented in 184 municipalities nationwide. As of March 2009, it has funded 5,289 sub-projects in 3,675 barangays.

In Region 6, the project has covered 20 municipalities from the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Negros Occidental and funded 715 infrastructure and basic support services amounting to some P541.7 million. (PNA)

The Commission on Elections (Comelec)has underscored the vital role of media in its education and information campaign on poll automation as well as in the prevention of election-related incidents.

Lawyer Dennis Ausan, Comelec regional director, said they consider the media as viable partners in the forthcoming elections for a transparent and credible first-time poll automation.

"The Comelec is currently drafting a new set of guidelines for media coverage. But, we assured the media that we will be giving our full support for their coverages as they do their tasks in informing the public about the conduct of the election," Ausan said.

In Western Visayas, Ausan said, the poll body is preparing for a hundred percent automation of election.

He said part of the preparations is the conduct of series of forum among the voters.

He also said the COMELEC will place satellite disks in areas needing special attention.

"To date, we already have reduced 230,000 of multiple voters from our lists and we expect that the numbers will increase as the election period nears," he said.

Ausan also urged voters to respect the sanctity of their ballots and not engage in vote-buying.(PNA)

The new leadership of the local Philippine National Police (PNP) has vowed to restore the good image of policemen here, notably among the stakeholders in this resort island.

Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro, Jr. acting PNP provincial police director and chief of the PNP regional operations and planning division here, said they are currently coordinating with the resort owners to maintain peace and order in the island.

Resort owners have recently expressed disgust with the local PNP following the relief of five Boracay policemen on allegations that they committed mismanagement in a police operation on land dispute cases.

Due to mismanagement allegations, the five policemen headed by former Boracay chief Supt. Arnold Ardiente were sent to Pampanga for re-training on values education.

After the relief of the five policemen, resort owners complained of surge of petty crime cases such as snatching and robbery incidents in Boracay.

Aside from Floro who served as the new acting provincial police director, the Boracay police is also being headed by new police personnel Chief Inspector Eugene Rebadom.

Floro asked the resort owners to give them a chance to prove that they are “no-nonsense police enforcers.” (PNA)

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has quietly put on the ground a novel project in partnership with local government units in 779 of the poorest towns in 41 provinces from the Southern Tagalog Region, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and the whole of Mindanao.

This is the Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector (InfRES) funded with a U.S. 150 million dollars (roughly P7 billion) supervised loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) plus counterpart funding by the national government and local government partners.

Undersecretary for Field Operations and Infres Project Director Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras, in his report to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, said that the physical infrastructure component of the project, as of June 30 this year, was 60 percent complete.

Of the targeted 1,478 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, 1,039 kilometers are either finished or in final stages of completion, representing 70 percent.

The communal irrigation system component has completed the repair of a 1,454 hectares or 100 percent of the revised target, while 18 out of the targeted 37 potable water systems have been built representing 49 percent.

The two other components of the project include capability building of local government units (LGUs), beneficiary communities, non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations and the DA, and project management coordination that facilitates project implementation.

The bulk of the funding, Paras said, went into the roads, irrigation systems and potable water systems which got U.S. 109 million dollars from the ADB, national government and local governments.

In all, Paras reported, 148 contract packages were awarded. Of these, 47 have been completed and 96 are in various stages of construction, one under contract review and four contract packages have been canceled due to the failure of the concerned LGUs in complying with project requirements.

Released funds have totaled P998,588,842 or roughly one seventh of the total loan. Three fourths of the released fund have been liquidated.

Paras said that all of the sub-projects were closely monitored through consultation visits by DA Regional Field Units whose technical staffs helped local governments fix engineering, financial and other concerns.

The progress of each of the sub-projects were all documented with photos and video images in close coordination with ADB.

According to Infres Program Manager Director Roy M. Abaya, “for the roads and irrigation systems to gain maximum impact in the fight against rural poverty, the partner towns were required to draw their own agriculture intensification plans (AIP) which they are bound to implement.”

Lessons drawn from towns that have prepared and implemented their plans have been used in developing a template for those who are yet to draw their own plans as part of the whole development package, Abaya added. (PNA)

An Army soldier was killed and another one was wounded in a recent gun battle between government troopers and New People’s Army (NPA) in the upland village of Cumao, Gattaran, Cagayan, the military said.

Army Col.Remegio De Vera,501st Infantry Brigade commander, identified the fatality as Pfc. Charlie Saquing of Tanudan, Kalinga and the wounded as Pfc. Celso Arzadon, both of the Alpha Company of the 17th Infantry Battalion based in Cagayan.

De Vera said the benefits will be given to immediate relatives of Saquing.

Military report said that army soldiers were conducting a combat patrol in Cumao village when they chanced upon a group of about 12 communist rebels belonging to the Northern Front led by cadre Dominador Javier alias Ka Babing, which resulted in a 20-minute firefight.

The military official believed that there were dead rebels who were carried away by their comrades in the gun battle as shown by bloodstains on their route of withdrawal. (PNA)

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Wednesday entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with mayors and barangay chairmen in the province for the adoption of a solid waste management system in their localities.

Aside from the MOA, the Cebu Provincial Government will also distribute P15,000 to each barangay to buy recyclable materials from households. Each barangay is projected to earn P2 per kilo of recyclable materials.

The amount will come from the P100 million financial assistance by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as seed money to all 1,093 barangays in the province.

A materials recovery facility will also have to be set up in each barangay.

”As an example, the barangay can purchase the recyclable materials from the household at P12 then sell it at P14 to the municipal level. It can then be sold to the Province at P16. The Province can then sell it at P18. You will find it very sustainable and income-generating,” Garcia said.

Each barangay and town will have their own bank account and will be issued individual ledgers. The bank will help monitor these accounts since only withdrawals are allowed specifically for buying recyclables. Revenues will not be allowed to be used for any other purpose for at least a year.

Garcia said this will be strictly monitored and a monthly on-site monitoring team will also visit the towns and barangays.

If there are expenses shown in the ledger other than for the purchase of recyclable materials, she said officials will be sued for malversation of public funds. (PNA)

Property developer Robinsons Land Corp (RLC) is set to open in the last quarter this year its multi-million-peso Robinsons Cybergate Cebu, a mixed-use development at Fuente Osmena rotunda in Cebu City’s uptown area.

The seven-storey building, which is 90 percent complete, sits on the company-owned property on Don Gil Garcia St., Cebu City, in front of Chong Hua Hospital and just across the Robinsons mall and the Cebu Midtown Hotel.

Robinsons Cybergate Cebu while is expected to house more business process outsourcing (BPO) offices, it will also feature retail, health and wellness and medical establishments, according to RLC director for corporate lease Lourdes Alano and RLC group property manager for Cebu Hermosilla Irizari.

Alano and Irizari said the construction is on schedule and the building is set to open in October.

Robinsons Cybergate Cebu sits on a 5,500-square meter lot and has a gross floor area of 26,500 square meters and a gross leasable area of 12,500 square meters. It also has two basement parking levels with a combined capacity of 229 parking slots.

The building’s first two levels will house restaurants, banks, drug stores, food courts, specialty shops and al fresco dining outlets.

Alano estimated the first floor to house about 10 tenants while the second floor will accommodate about 20 to 30 tenants.

Health and wellness outlets, such as a health management organizations, a spa and massage outlet and salon, among others, will occupy the third level of the building.

The fourth level, dedicated for medical practitioners, can accommodate a maximum of 37 clinics.

Levels five to seven will be allotted for offices, BPO firms and call centers.

The company is still negotiating with several Cebu-based BPO players as potential locators, especially those with expansion needs, said Alano.

Despite the global financial crisis, she said they are getting “good feedback” from potential tenants, including doctors.

She added that they expect the retail spaces alone to be about 90 percent occupied by the time the building will open,

RLC operates 25 shopping malls, 33 housing projects, 29 residential building and four hotels nationwide. (PNA)

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has urged some 175 municipal mayors from Mindanao to invest in solid waste management facilities, using their Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA).

At the Mindanao leg of the "Zero Basura" Caravan in Davao City, about 175 municipal mayors from Regions XI, XII and the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao likewise made a commitment to close down all existing open dumps in their area as part of compliance to the Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The Zero Basura Caravan, a joint project of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), is part of the Green Movement Agenda: Strategies for Local Action which aims to accelerate the provisions of RA 9003.

The President exhorted the local government units (LGUs) to invest in material recovery facilities or MRFs in their barangays urging them to use their Internal Revenue Allotment to fund these facilities; the program aims to reduce waste generation by as much as 50 percent.

NSWMC Executive Director Gerardo Calderon, said that the mayors in attendance also drew a plan which includes the immediate phase out of open dumpsites and converting them to sanitary landfills and then to ecological parks. As of the second quarter of 2009 there are 901 open dumpsites across the country as compared to 936 dumpsites in the 4th quarter of 2008.

He added that many LGUs are investing in modern landfills and converting some of into eco-parks. Davao City for one, has invested in a P216-million modern sanitary landfill which is the first in Mindanao. It has a 3.8 hectare, 46-meter pit lined with high-density polypropylene liners that will prevent leachates from seeping underground.

Calderon, who is also a DENR Assistant Secretary, explained that the facility also has retention ponds for leachates, plus drainage canals and ponds which will prevent seepage of waste materials to adjoining waterways. The landfill is designed to handle residual wastes or trash that can no longer be recycled or reused.

Calderon also cited Santo Tomas municipality in Davao del Norte, which has established its own eco-park. The eco-park, it was learned, was formerly a controlled dumpsite turned into a processing center where trash is recycled and converted into compost or other reusable materials. The former dumpsite is now a lush green picnic ground frequented by tourists and visitors.

The need to minimize garbage is borne out of the growing concern on climate change as methane which is the by-product of decomposing garbage is a greenhouse gas which has a warming potential 20 times greater than Carbon Dioxide.

According to President Arroyo, the Philippines is part of the growing international solidarity on climate change. She sounded off the warning that a 2 percent increase in global temperatures would endanger low-lying coastlines and islets of the archipelago. (PNA).

Children in this province now have more opportunities to learn better by reading good books with the recent opening by the Department of Education (DepED) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) of the region’s first Library Hub in this town.

The Library Hub addresses the lack of library facilities in public schools in the province by making books available for borrowing in bulk by local teachers for 25 days, for their use in the classroom or for their students to borrow.

To kick the hub’s opening, DepEd-ARMM partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Education Quality and Access for Learning and Livelihood Skills (EQuALLS2) Project, in the provision of close to 6,000 English, math and science books for the hub.

The books were donations of the US-based Brother’s Brother Foundation, one of the world’s largest private book donors.

The opening of Library Hubs nationwide is a project of DepEd to realize its goal of enhancing the country’s literacy by making more Filipino children readers.

The ARMM especially needs assistance in raising the local functional literacy level, which is the lowest nationwide, due to widespread poverty and armed conflict.

“We have pledged to face the challenges of education in the ARMM and we are serious in improving the literacy level of our schoolchildren and youth here in the region,” said DepEd-ARMM Secretary Udtog Kawit.

USAID’s EQuALLS2 Project has already provided 800,000 books to 741 public elementary schools in the ARMM and Regions 9 and 12, and will provide a million more books by 2011. It is helping DepEd improve basic education in the ARMM and Regions 9 and 12 by supplementing educational infrastructure and materials, strengthening capacity for teaching English, math and science, and training out-of-school youth. (PNA)

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said she has accepted an invitation to speak during the Philippine Investment Forum at the Metropolitan Club in New York on Sept. 22 where she will again showcase Cebu as an investment destination.

This is Garcia’s third time to speak before executives and owners of the international companies, which she said “have helped a lot in trying to project to the global stage and to present huge potential that Cebu has for the manufacturing, service sectors and the tourism industry.”

”This is also an opportunity to show what we have accomplished and how much more can be done together with potential investors in preparing Cebu for major investment, with government focusing on preparing Cebu for major investment,” she said.

Also invited to speak in the forum are Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes who will talk about eco-tourism and Lance Gokongwei, chief executive officer of budget airline Cebu Pacific.

Garcia said she can assure investors of enough power supply in Cebu in the next eight to 10 years with the additional 436 megawatts in two major power plants under construction in Naga and Toledo.

Garcia said the highly trained workforce from information technology courses and graduates that are needed in the service industry, such as hotels and restaurants, are considered the biggest assets of Cebu.

As this developed, Gammon Engineering, a company-based in Hong Kong has indicated its intention to undertake projects in the province.

Among the projects that caught their attention was the proposed P45-billion Cebu trans-axial highway traversing the whole length of the island from the north to the south, building of the new generation terminal for the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and the expansion of the Cebu port.

Also included are the bulk water supply development and solid waste development projects in Metro Cebu.

Cebu businesswoman and socialite Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung and Hong Kong-based husband Carlos Yeung linked up the firm with the Cebu Provincial Government. (PNA)

Members of the Bacolod City Police Force (BCPO) planted around 500 pieces of mangroves, locally known as "bakawan" along the shoreline of Purok Villa Servando in Barangay Singcang Airport this city recently.

The activity was in line with the 14th Police Community Relations Month celebration with the theme “Pagbinuligay Sang Kapulisan kag Pumuloyo Padulong sa Kalinungan kag Katawhayan”.

The group was led by Police Inspector Jovy Cabcaban, officer-in-charge of BCPO-Police Community Relations (PCR) Branch with the different PCR officers of the 10 police stations together with Police Officer’s 1 who are undergoing their Field Training Program (FTP).

Police Inspector Cabcaban explained to residents the value of mangroves in the eco-system and their part in taking good care of it.

Meanwhile, the Bantay Bayan Foundation Incorporated (BBFI), Community Movement and Reaction against Crime and Illegal Drugs Incorporated (COMRAID) and the Bacolod Crime Stoppers will undertake similar mangrove planting on July 26. (PNA)

An employee of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has made it as semi-finalist in the Presidential “Lingkod Bayan” Award, the highest category in the annual search by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for outstanding government workers in the country.

Edmond de Jesus, a community development officer III at the SBMA Ecology Center, was among the 23 public officials and employees nominated to the individual category of the “Lingkod Bayan” competition, according to the CSC awards secretariat.

Nominees in the same category this year included Commissioner Marcelino Libanan of the Bureau of Immigration, Home Guaranty Corp. president Gonzalo Benjamin Bongolan, Mayor Jerry Pelayo of Candaba, Pampanga, and Philippine Merchant Marine Academy president Fidel Diñoso.

Meanwhile, 19 other candidates have made it to the semi-finals of the “Dangal ng Bayan” competition, the next level in the honor awards program, and 12 in the CSC Pagasa award category, the CSC added.

De Jesus, who was named SBMA employee of the year in 2008, was nominated by the agency for his passionate undertaking of a mission to organize Aeta tribesmen in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone for the purpose of forest conservation.

According to SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza, De Jesus began living with the Aetas for weeks at a time since 2004 in order to introduce the concept of conserving the forest as a resource base, and to inculcate among the tribesmen their unique role as stewards of the environment.

“It was an uphill struggle for the first year or so,” De Jesus said, recalling his experiences with the tribe who then still practiced slash-and-burn agriculture, or "kaingin", in the foothills of Subic’s forested mountains.

But De Jesus, an agriculture graduate with a background in education and psychology, persevered until he virtually became an adopted child of the Aetas.

According to Amethya dela Llana-Koval, manager of the SBMA Ecology Center, De Jesus “has become an Aeta at heart” in the process of accomplishing his mission for the agency. “Edmond lives with them, eats with them, and fights for them â€" especially on issues regarding the Aeta culture and their ancestral domain,” she said.

The patience and passion of De Jesus soon paid off, as his band of Aeta “environmental warriors” were later credited for planting and nurturing more than 100,000 new trees in the Subic Bay Freeport in the last four years.

It then became the job of De Jesus and his hundred-strong Pastolan Forest Conservation Group (PFCG) to replant areas where previous projects had failed, as well as to scout for new reforestation sites in the 140 hectares of grasslands that the SBMA has designated for tree planting.

De Jesus said the Aetas became very effective in tree-planting programs because members of the PFCG lived in areas near the reforestation sites and could thus devote more time to crucial care of the tree seedlings in the first three years.

As a result, it was determined that of the 152,713 new trees that survived under the various reforestation programs in Subic, a total of 102,100 were planted by De Jesus’ group since 2005. The PCFG group also posted a high survival rate of 94 percent for its reforestation projects, thus exceeding its annual reforestation target of 20,000 trees.

De Jesus, meanwhile, said he has found much satisfaction in working with the Aeta tribesmen.

“The Aetas have also taught me a lot,” De Jesus said, pointing out the two-way exchange of knowledge and skills that marked his relationship with the indigenous people of Subic. “They have been one of my best companions in this journey through life.”

He added that his nomination as a semi-finalist for the Presidential “Lingkod Bayan” Award was a feat “beyond my wildest dreams.”

“This too, I would like to share with the Pastolan Aetas,” De Jesus said. (PNA)

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here is optimistic that Davao Region’s economy will make a rebound this year amid the global financial slowdown.

NEDA assistant regional director lawyer Bonifacio Uy said the economy is projected to recover early next year, particularly the economy of Davao Region.

Uy anchored his optimism on the impressive gain of the sub-sectors such as forestry which posted a three-digit growth rate of 125.1 percent.

The growth rate can be attributed with the harvesting of plantation species, lifting of the moratorium on logging that resulted in the granting of tree-cutting permits for Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA) and IFMA holders as well as for private timber lands and integrated social forestry areas and the increasing demand for pallet boards in USA, Europe and Korea.

NEDA regional director Maria Lourdes Lim, on the other hand, said the gain in export earnings of 11 percent in the last five years is also encouraging to maintain a positive outlook this year.

Other development prospects which NEDA Davao considered in achieving this year’s growth target include among others, the growth in the investment and tourism industry as well as the development in the mining sector.

The economy of Davao Region took a nosedive in 2008 as major economic drivers markedly plummeted compared to previous year.

Based on the report of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Davao of the 2008 Economic Performance of Davao Region, all economic indicators significantly dropped except for ownership of dwelling and real estate (ODRE) sub-sector and government services.

The ODRE inched up from 4.5 percent in 2007 to 5.4 percent in 2008, while government services increased to 6.6 percent in 2008 from 2.4 percent the previous year.

NSCB report further showed that Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry (AFF) two- percent growth in 2007 has remained dormant in 2008.

Industry sector significantly dropped to 5.5 percent in 2008 from 11.4 percent in 2007 and the services sector also slipped to 3.5 percent growth from 5.9 percent in 2007.

The drop in the industry and service sectors resulted the Davao Region’s economy to slow down to 3.7 percent from 6.6 percent growth in 2007, Uy said.

He said the 3.7 percent growth regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2008 is two percent short of the 5.7 percent growth target. (PNA)

Inter-island passenger “RoRo” ships from Masbate, Romblon and Marinduque have benefited from the completion of the P480 million breakwater project at the Dalahican Port here.

Benjamin Ilao, Phil. Ports Authority manager at the Dalahican Port, said that since the Lucena Port Protection Project was completed last April, RoRo (roll on, roll off) vessels from the three neighboring provinces, namely Masbate, Romblon and Marinduque, have been docking more frequently at the Dalahican Port.

The breakwater project started in March 2007 as part of the Regional Nautical Highway Program of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Its phase 1 and phase 2 constructions were completed on target schedule, Ilao said.

Ben Chaves, president of Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Dalahican, said that the construction of the breakwater in Dalahican Port provides safety for their fishing vessels and houses built along the shorelines.

Chavez thanked Pres. Arroyo for showing concern for the marginalized fishermen in Barangay Dalahican. (PNA)

The Philippine Navy intercepted a boat loaded with P2.7 million worth of contraband items off shore Basilan province, a military official said here Thursday.

Philippine Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo said the boat loaded with smuggled goods was intercepted shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday northeast of Pilas Island, Hadji Muhtamad town.

Arevalo said the Navy personnel aboard BRP-Anastacio Cacayurin skippered by Lt. Bernie Lim were on maritime patrol in the west coast of Basilan province when it sighted an unknown watercraft transiting northeast of Pilas Island.

Arevalo said the patrolling Navy personnel immediately intercepted the vessel which was later identified as M/L Fatima Zhiea and conducted board and search procedure.

M/L Fatima Zhiea is operated by Nursin Aukusa and owned by Hadji Eyam Kajibon of Isabela City, the capital of Basilan province, Arevalo said.

He said the troops discovered aboard M/L Fatima Zhiea P2.7 million worth of dutiable goods that came from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

He said the cargoes includes 3,000 bags of 25 kilos each of Vietnamese long grain white rice and 2,000 bags of 50 kilos each Thai refined sugar.

Arevalo said the Navy personnel escorted the boat-load of contraband items to Isabela City, where the goods were turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Arevalo said the conduct of maritime patrols by the Navy especially in the so-called “southern backdoor” has so far been successful.

He said the maritime patrols deny the lawless elements the use of vital sea lanes in carrying out their nefarious activities. (PNA)

For the second straight year, Governor Victor Yap will be one of the awardees for this year’s National Sandugo Awards for Outstanding Local Government Executives.

Yap will receive the award in a ceremony to be held at the Grand Ballroom of the Diamond Hotel in Manila on July 29.

The “Sandugo” award is given by the Department of Health (DoH) to local government executives who have shown support and commitment to the National Voluntary Blood Service Program (NVBSP).

In a statement, Yap thanked the Sandugo awards committee for recognizing his valuable contribution.

“With this award, I will further extend my support and commitment to the NVBSP,” Yap said.

Other Central Luzon governor who will receive the prestigious award is Bulacan Govenor Joselito Mendoza.

Last year, Yap was the lone Central Luzon governor to be named as one of the Sandugo awardees.

Other Tarlaquenos to be awarded this year are Mayors Dennis Norman Go of Gerona, Edgardo Felipe of Anao and Genaro Mendoza of this city.

In a related development, Yap will award on July 28 certificates of recognition to advocates, stakeholders and benefactors of the Voluntary Blood Donation Program in the province with DoH Region III Director Dr. Rio Magpantay as guest of honor.

“The provincial government has to recognize also our local heroes of this Voluntary Blood Donation Program…we consider this activity a very important one in order to create peoples’ awareness to the realization of our them Towards a 100% Voluntary Blood Donation Program,” Yap said. - PNA

A six-day hearing on a controversial provincial ordinance which imposes a ban on the entry of genetically modified organisms (provincial ordinance 007-2007)in Negros Occidental has kicked Wednesday at the Provincial Board (PB) session hall.

Vice Governor Emilio Yulo III said the hearings will determine whether or not the Sangguniang Panlalawigan will repeal or amend the ordinance that has been the subject of a series of discussions in the province in the past months.

The ordinance strictly calls for the banning of the entry of agriculture products with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) specifically on corn and other grain products.

“The result will be used as our basis in what final decision we could take for the ordinance,” Yulo said.

But, in the meantime, the ordinance remains in effect as it is still an existing law continuously banning the entry of GMO products into the province.

Yulo said they will be inviting speaker from here and abroad to shed light on issues being raised on products with GMO.

The speakers include Dr. Camilo Beltran of Third World Network, Malaysia, Dr. Charito Medina, Dr. Santiago Obien of the Department of Health, Dr. Romy Quijano, professor of UP Manila for the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology College of Medicine, Dr. Randy Hautea, global coordinator and SEAsia Center, center director for International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications, Dr. Saturnina Halos of the Department of Agriculture ,Alicia Ilaga of the DA, director for DA Biotech Program Office, and Dr. Nina Gloriani, the dean of College of Public Health of UP Manila and president of Biotech Coalition of the Philippines.(PNA)

The Department of Agricultureâ€"Regional Field Unit 6 (DA-RFU 6) is ready for the anticipated El Nino phenomenon, according to DA regional executive director Larry Nacionales.

In an interview, Nacionales said the region has its ready mitigating plan which includes the choice of commodity that thrives during the El Nino such as mangoes.

He said that if the phenomenon will hit sometime September, it will be better because it coincides with the rice harvest season.

The only fear, he said, is if the phenomenon will be longer.

He said that Secretary Arthur Yap will make the pronouncement about the integration of mitigating plans to DA programs.

He also said that the possibility of El Nino was already presented during their meetings.

“But we have mitigating plans in place which we will be implementing once the phenomenon occurs,” he stressed. (PNA)
FFC/PGL/vlo

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is planning to establish 300 community-based organic fertilizer manufacturing in Western Visayas, which happens to be one of the components of the FIELDS program of the agency.

FIELDS stands for fertilizers, infrastructure, education/extension services, loan, dryers and seeds which are being made available by the DA to ensure higher agriculture production.

DA regional executive director Larry Nacionales said the initial 80 communities will be installed in Iloilo this month.

Each community after completion of training will be provided with facilities such as shredder machine, vermicast and a broiler that will be used for liquid.

“We are encouraging our farmers to minimize the use of inorganic fertilizer. This will not only augment their income but it can help address the problem on climate change,” he said.

Nacionales said that the use of organic fertilizer will be promoted in their Citizens Charter which will be presented during a forum with local government units and non-government organizations on July 30.

At present, organic fertilizers are being marketed through commercial suppliers.

Nacionales said there is a big market for organic producers in Panay because at present only about 20 percent are utilizing the product. (PNA)
FFC/PGL/vlo

At least 3,000 residents already benefited from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s employment and livelihood assistance in cooperation with the provincial government program of Lanao del Norte, said provincial information officer Lyndon G. Calica.

Most of the beneficiaries are out-of-school youths (OSY), farmers and displaced overseas workers, he said.

Non-government organizations (NGOs), national government agencies (NGAs), Golden Arrow Vision of Life Foundation, Inc. (GAVOLFI), Lanao Aquamarine Fisheries Center for Community Development (LAFCCOD), Ecosystems Works for Essential Benefits (ECOWEB), Maranding Women Investors Multi-purpose Cooperative (MWIMPC), AIM Coop, Lorenzo Tan Multi-purpose Cooperative (LTMPC), and Alternative Center for Health Development (ACHDE) are in the forefront extending their services and benefits to the residents of this province, said Calica.

Services and benefits availed of by the people are scholarship programs for the OSY, health services and Chinese traditional medicine; sustainable agriculture techniques; therapeutic massage; membership for savings and credit services; acupressure and acupuncture; and feeding program.

Beneficiaries and residents of Lanao del Norte expressed their gratitude to Gov. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo for leading in the employment generation and livelihood program in the province.

President Arroyo’s Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) also helped the residents in the province.

Meanwhile, to provide more emergency employment, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with the provincial government through the Provincial Cooperative Office, facilitated a training for 20 cooperative members on skills enhancement on rattan basket weaving cum production last week, July 15-17 at the Macapagal Training Center here.

The trainees presented their quality output for export during the training.

Part of the training was the rattan basket making called tip towel that is made of "nito", a local material found in riversides. A market in Cebu City is awaiting for 300 pieces finished products by August 15, 2009 which will be shipped to the United States.

The training, under the Sub-contracting Partnership Innovation (SPIN) project, is a component of the CLEEP program of DTI. SPIN project is also aimed at making local products globally competitive and introduces the said products to foreign markets “by forging a supply contract with an established exporter.”

Gov. Dimaporo is pleased to have the most affected sectors of the economic recession be given this opportunity for alternative livelihood and income generation program. The governor is also happy with the project which supports two of his three-point-agenda.

Cooperatives which were represented during the training were Lanao del Norte Comrades Multi-purpose, Lanipao Women’s Association, Golden Arrow Women’s Association of El Savador, Association of Abaga Women’s Advocates, Golden Arrow Women’s Association of San Manuel and Cabasagan Women’s Association. (PNA)

Economic boom continues in this growing and progressive capital city of Caraga region due to the many completed road and bridges projects and the completion of the giant P2.159 billion Diosdado Macapagal Bridge.

The Diosdado Macapagal Bridge is one of the mega projects of the “Mindanao Super Region” economic development plan that was mentioned by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in her 2008 State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA). This contributed a lot to the urban transport needs of commerce and industry in the Caraga region through the efficient flow of businessmen, truckers, people, goods and services among the major growth centers in the northeastern part of Mindanao.

The Diosdado Macapagal Bridge was inaugurated in May 2007, along with the Butuan City Bypass Road Project.

It crosses the giant Agusan River and three kilometers away from the old Magsaysay bridge.

The bridge, which has a length of 907.6 meters and the Butuan Bypass Road Project, was funded through a Special Yen Loan Package from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The new Diosdado Macapagal Bridge has provided a more reliable infrastructure with a greater design capacity and safer traffic measures than the existing bridge while the Butuan Bypass Road also diverted the traffic passing through the center of the city, said Butuan City Mayor Democrito Plaza.

“The Diosdado Macapagal Bridge cut short the distance in the hauling of our agricultural products and planted tree species to our plant,” said businessman Carlos Tanjay.

It also fast-tracked our hauling business because we no longer pass the heavy traffic at the heart of city,” said Johnjohn Morano, a 10-wheeler truck driver.

“The bridge also lessened the heavy traffic jams in the city,” a passenger bus driver said.

The Diosdado Macapagal Bridge was among the many physical infrastructure projects the Arroyo administration has invested for the development of the Mindanao Super Region as the country’s "Agribusiness Center in the South," said Northeastern Mindanao Public Works and Highways Regional Director Dr. Evelyn T. Barroso.

In her 2006 SONA, the President bared her new economic development plan through the "Super Regions" category. The Super Regions economic plan grouped the country’s 17 regions into four super regions namely the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines Tourism Center and Mindanao as the "Agribusiness Center in the South." The fifth Super Region---the IT Corridor, cuts across the north in Baguio City to the south in the cities of Zamboanga and Davao. (PNA)
FFC/MUC/mec

Thousands of residents in Northern Mindanao and its neighboring areas benefited from the government’s multi-million 210-megawatt (MW) Mindanao coal-fired plant in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.

Since President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated the Mindanao coal-fired plant in January 8, 2007, the project brings good outlook to the economy as well as contributes as alternative fuel in response to government’s campaign for investments in electric power energy.

The project also expects to contribute 15 percent of the total power demand in the southern island aimed at attaining stability in electric power supply.

Likewise, the project helps the unemployment problem in the area.

One of the many businesses and cooperatives benefited from the project include the Villa Kusina Kitchenette Livelihood Project, which it said “is a big help in the town of Villanueva, the province of Misamis Oriental and neighboring areas”.

Officers and members of the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Organic Garden Projects at the San Roque GK Village, likewise, get additional income due to the coal-fired plant.

“The sufficient salary given by the power plant here supported my two college students,” said coal-fired plant worker Robert, who requested to withheld his full name.

The first ever Mindanao coal-fired plant is located in the 55.42- hectare PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Villanueva town, Misamis Oriental.

At present, the coal-fired power plant is supporting the supply of electricity to Mindanao, representing 15 percent of the island's total electricity requirement.

With this development, Misamis Oriental Gov. Oscar Moreno expressed his deepest gratitude to the Arroyo Administration for the establishment of the coal-fired plant in his province which has contributed income and generated employment. (PNA)

Mining would continue to constitute a major driver of the Davao Region economy as a result of the recent improvement in the price of gold ore.

NEDA assistant regional director Atty. Bonifacio Uy said that although investments in the mining industry has softened for the meantime, the price of gold has improved and became an alternative investments in some countries.

Based on the region's development outlook for 2009, the growth target of 5.9 percent is attainable given the resiliency of the regional economy and growth drivers to include mini, Uy said.

He said the development of mining industry will accelerate this year, adding “now is the time to fully develop mineral areas and as things are going by next year the prices of products would improve.”

He said it is high time to develop mineral area, “so that the time the economy improves we are ready with our products.”

Maria Fe M. Talento, OIC-Chief of Production Accounts Division of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Manila, said prices of gold depends on the world metal prices and because of the global financial crisis, the trend towards the fourth quarter of 2008 showed a decline in the prices.

She said with many seeing a good price for gold they would tend to produce more as they take advantage of the high price.

Report from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that 80 percent of the country’s gold production comes from Davao Region and a big percentage or about half of this figure comes from small and scale mining. (PNA)

The famous Batik of Indonesia will be showcased in a Batik Fashion Show to be held at the Marco Polo Davao on July 31, and in a trade and exhibit at SM City Davao on August 1 and 2.

Consul General Lalu Malik Partawana announced the twin events in Davao City to promote Indonesian fabrics, a highly developed art from that country.

Partawana said a variety of batik made products will be brought in from Indonesia, which are not available in the local market, will be on sale during the exhibit.

The activity will open with ribbon cutting with Indonesian performers on August 1.

Consul Partawana said Batik is Indonesia's traditional practice of dying cloth through wax resist methods, an intangible cultural heritage.

He said the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will officially name batik as a cultural heritage in September this year.

The main batik making center is located in Central Java particularly from Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Pekalongan, Semarang, the Indonesian official said.

In a fact sheet issued by the Indonesian Consulate, batik meaning "to tattoo" from the use of a needed in process has been both an art and a craft for centuries. In Java, Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still there.

Indonesian batik used for clothing normally has an intricate pattern. Traditionally, wider curves were reserved for batik produced for nobles. The traditional cloth has natural colors (tones of indigo and brown) while contemporary pieces have more varieties of colors.

Contemporary batik, while owing much to the past, is markedly different from the more traditional and formal styles. Like the artist may use etching, discharge dyeing, stencils, different tools for waxing and dyeing, wax recipes with different resist values and work with silk, cotton, wool, leather, paper or even wood and ceramics.

The melted wax (Javanese: malam) is applied to cloth before being dipped in dye. It is common for people to use a mixture of beeswax and paraffin wax. The beeswax will hold to the fabric and the paraffin wax will allow cracking, which is a characteristic of batik. Wherever the wax was seeped through the fabric, the dye will not penetrate. Sometimes several colors are used, with a series of dyeing, drying and waxing steps.(PNA)

The emergence of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) boosts the economic growth of Davao Region this year.

In the 2008 Report on the Economy of Davao Region, it showed that Davao Region ranked third in Mindanao with 3.7 percent growth rate.

Northern Mindanao came first with 5.3 percent growth rate followed by Socsksargen with 4.6 percent.

National Economic and Development Administration (NEDA) assistant regional director Atty. Bonifacio Uy said Davao Region has the competitive advantage and could even exceed the growth of North Mindanao in 2009.

Investments in BPOs remain upbeat with commitments reaching P1.9 billion to include expansion of two major players by at least 1,200 call center seats within the third quarter of the year, Uy said.

Industry player of the Information Technology (IT) sector earlier reported that aside from the 13 big and medium- sized BPOs operating in the city, two more big players are planning to transfer here.

Major BPO players that earlier established its branches in Cagayan de Oro City had transferred to Davao City, ICT Davao City Could board of advisers Andrei Fournier said.

Aside from the entry of more BPOs, Uy said, mining and agriculture are posting positive performance with proposed establishment of water generating plants and additional power generating plants.

Real estate will flourish given the private companies' commitment to set-up mid-rise condominiums, he said.

Agricultural production, especially for exports, will also improve to meet the demand of the additional and new markets, he also said.

Uy also said the region's exports are expected to remain stable especially for banana, pineapple, mango and coconut products.

Tourism industry will also accelerate, he added. (PNA)

Caraga Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) Director Chief Supt. Jaime E. Milla on Wednesday vowed to strictly implement the National Firearms Control Program in the region.

In line with the Executive Order No 817, the government is now in its massive campaign against loose firearms by offering amnesty for holders of loose firearms.

There will be no let-up in the campaign to rid the society of these tools of criminality. Stiffer penalty will now be imposed for firearms law violators, Milla said.

“As ordered by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo pursuant to Executive Order No. 817 implementing the National Firearms Control Program, the Philippine National Police shall, henceforth, conduct aggressive interdiction operations to confiscate loose firearms in the hands of threat groups, criminal elements, civilian gun holders, and delinquent license firearms owners,” Milla said as he quoted the statement of PNP chief director general Jesus Versoza.

Milla also said the National Firearms Control Program seeks to account for all firearms in the possession of the general population including those covered by expired licenses: to account for all captured, confiscated, surrendered, deposited, abandoned and forfeited firearms in the custody of the AFP, PNP and other law enforcement agencies; to account for all firearms under custodia legis or firearms submitted as evidence in court; and to account for loose firearms in the possession of the threat groups and criminal elements.

Police operations against unregistered firearms will continue with random weapons check operations in crime-prone areas; mobile checkpoints and chokepoint operations; intelligence build-up; internal security operations; application of Search Warrants; and dismantling of private armed groups, he said.

Part of the over-all effort in support of the program for effective firearms control, Milla also said, is the legislative agenda that seeks stiffer penalty for possession of firearms particularly when offenders are known members of organized crime groups.

We are particularly seeking legislation that will make possession of three or more loose firearms a non-bailable offense, he added.

Milla said among the measures on firearms as recommended during the Firearms Control Summit convened by stakeholders representing the different sectors of society, was that they have generated a list of more then 500,000 delinquent gun owners, who have failed to renew their respective firearm licenses, thus adding to the over-all estimated 1.1 million loose firearms in the country.

Effective October 1, 2009, the PNP is offering a Final General Firearms Amnesty for loose firearms under the National Firearms Control Program, he added.

However, Milla said, as early as August 1, 2009, processing applications will start for registration of loose firearms and renewal of expired licenses.

“We are starting early in anticipation of the heavy volume of applicants when the month-long general firearms amnesty comes into effect in October. By that time, we hope we will be able to process all applications and issue the updated firearms license cards,” he said.

From August 1 until October 31, 2009, all holders of firearms with expired licenses will be given the chance to renew their expired licenses waived of penalties and surcharges, he said.

Likewise, the PNP is giving all holders of undocumented firearms the chance to peacefully surrender these illegal weapons during the last and final amnesty period 1-31 October to avoid criminal prosecution.

At the same time, we are giving those holders of loose firearms the opportunity to legalize their ownership of these unregistered guns to become duly license firearms, he said.

To ensure effective implementation of the Amnesty Program for loose firearms and expired licenses, the PNP streamlining systems and procedures to facilitate convenient and simplified processing of all firearms license applications, he said.

“This is the ultimate amnesty we are offering for holders of loose firearms. After this, aggressive police operations will commence against firearms law violators, and there will be no let-up or sacred cows in this campaign to rid our society of these tools of criminality,” he added.

Milla expressed optimism that upon the termination of the last and final gun amnesty on October 31, laws imposing higher penalties and non-bailable offenses shall have been enacted.

Among the actions against those who will fail to register their guns or renew their licenses include: confiscation of firearms; legal action such as application of search warrant; prospect of facing the non-bailabe offense of illegal possession of firearms as legislated.

The certainty of punishment is fully provided under our justice system that prescribes 1 to 12 years imprisonment of firearms law violators, he added.

To encourage greater citizen participation in the campaign against loose firearms, we are offering monetary reward for information leading to the confiscation of stashes or cache of loose firearm, he added

In anticipation to the sudden influx and heavy volume of applications, the PNP urged applicants to file their applications early to avoid the rush.

All city and municipal police stations as well as police provincial and regional offices will be available to accommodate and assist applicants.

“We appeal to our concerned sectors for support in this national undertaking to rid our society of the instruments of crime and violence to establish lasting peace in our country,” Milla added. (PNA)

The privatization of geothermal power industry in the Bicol region will pave the way for more energy generation for Luzon.

With the partnership between Chevron Geothermal Philippines Holding Incorporated (CGPHI) and the Aboitiz Power Renewables Inc. (APRI), the expansion of the capacity of the geothermal field here is now underway.

From its present 175 megawatts (MW) power output, the partnership is working on the drilling of additional steam production wells that would expand Tiwi’s production to at least 200 MWs.

APRI senior vice president Luis Miguel Aboitiz said the plan is to invest an additional US$ 150 million over the next four to five years to rehabilitate and provide for additional steam supply for the Tiwi geothermal field and that of the Makiling-Banahaw (Makban) within Laguna and Quezon Provinces.

CGPHI intends to drill three more wells with a capacity of at least eight MWs each for the Tiwi steam field and hopes to start the project by the second quarter of 2010, its president and general manager Antonio Yee said in a statement here on Wednesday.

Yee said five to six more wells would be developed in the Makban field to expand its current output of 458 MWs to more than 600 MWs.

The development of each well would entail an investment of about US$ 6 million, Yee said.

Yee also said they are in the process of evaluating and discussing with APRI the project costs, where CGPHI is proposed to shoulder 45 percent of the drilling cost while APRI taking care of the 55 percent.

APRI has taken over ownership of the power generating plants of the National Power Corporation (NPC) here and that of Makban) following its acquisition of the facilities from the government for US$ 446.8 million in July last year.

Last May, Aboitiz turned over P8 billion to the government representing 40 percent down payment and the balance will be deferred in semi-annual payments over seven years.

A combination of the Tiwi and Makban power plants makes the present power output of over 637 MWs that is supplied to the Luzon power grid of the NPC, making APRI the dominant renewable energy supplier of the country.

The sale of the Tiwi-Makban power generating plants was facilitated by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation which was created in 2001 to dispose the assets and liabilities of the NPC.

This was the 12th facility that PSALM has auctioned off as it also works on trimming down NPC's foreign obligations through either, bond flotation, power rate increases and other mechanisms.

In the middle of last May, it was able to generate billion of bond floats, the part of which will be used to pay off the debts of NPC totaling US$ 17 billion plus interests so that consumers are not burdened with power rate adjustments, Conrad Tolentino, PSALM’s chief of staff said.

Under the assets and liabilities management program of PSALM, part of the obligations are being passed to the consumers through either the ICERA (international currency exchange rate adjustments) or the basic fuel GRAM (generation rate adjustment mechanism).

The bidding for the Tiwi-Makban plants began in September 2005 with 15 prospective bidders participating.

The opening of the bids was first set for the second semester of 2006, which, however, was delayed because of the non resolution of the issue on the effectivity of the Geothermal Resources Sales Contract (GRSC) between PSALM and CGPHI.

The sale to APRI that emerged as the winning bidder was formalized in May 25 last year and the 40 percent down payment was paid to the PSALM.

The Tiwi geothermal energy field was developed more than 20 years ago by CGPHI under its former corporate name Philippine Geothermal Inc., a subsidiary of the Union Oil of California, USA. It started commercial operations in partnership with the NPC in 1979 with a power output of 350 megawatts.

Among the geothermal facilities sold by PSALM was the 150-MW BacMan (Bacon-Manito) geothermal project of the Philippine National Oil Co. - Energy Development Corp. (PNOC-EDC) within the boundaries of Sorsogon City and Manito, Albay. It was acquired for P58 billion by the Lopez-owned FirstGen Holdings in late 2007.

Under private ownership, EDC is now drilling two steam wells in the Rangas-Tanawon area of the vast geothermal reservation to produce at least 50MW power as part of its expansion program.

EDC is also eyeing another expansion project at the Kayabon sector within the municipality of Manito whose expected power output is 40MWs.

Some P20 billion have been earmarked for these expansion projects that would significantly boost the country’s geothermal energy production, according to EDC-BAcMan general manager Liberato Virata.

Yee explained that geothermal energy is created by the heat of the earth. It generates reliable power and emits almost no greenhouse gases.

When groundwater seeps below the earth's surface near a dormant volcano, the water is heated by reservoirs of molten rock, usually at depths of up to 9,800 feet (3,000 m). Wells similar to those used to produce crude oil and natural gas are drilled to recover the water, he said.

Once captured, steam and hot water are separated. The steam is cleaned and sent to the power plant. The separated water is returned to the reservoir, helping to regenerate the steam source, he added.

Yee also said only a small group of sites around the globe â€" primarily in the Pacific Rim region â€" provide the special conditions needed to generate geothermal energy.

At these locations, deep fractures in the earth's crust allow the molten rock to surge close enough to the earth's surface to heat water that goes underground, he said.

In addition to providing clean, renewable power, geothermal energy has significant environmental advantages. Geothermal emissions contain no chemical pollutants or waste â€" they consist mostly of water, which is re-injected underground.

Geothermal energy is a reliable source of power that reduces the need for imported fuels. It is also renewable because it is based on a practically limitless resource â€" natural heat within the earth.

By Danny O. Calleja, PNA

Two ranking leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) operating in Ilocos and Cordillera regions surrendered after successful negotiations last Monday.

Chief Inspector Julius Suriben, chief of the Police Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG), identified the NPA leaders as Samuel Compalas alias "Dawing", 53, team leader of Party Group (PG) Polaris Team 2 of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG) De Lara; and Dominador Angdos, 47, assistant team leader of NPA's PG Venus.

Both units belong to the NPA's Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee (ICRC).

The two NPA leaders surrendered to joint elements of RSOG, Naval Intelligence and Security Group-Northern Luzon NISG-NL), Candon City Police Station and Regional Mobile Group 1 at about 4:00 p.m. Monday in Barangay San Juan, Candon City.

Chief Superintendent Ramon V. Gatan, Police Regional Director of Region 1, said that Compalas and Angdos have standing warrant of arrests for murder cases issued by Judge Gabino Balbin Jr. of the Regional Trial, Court Branch 23 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.

“Compalas is also wanted for another crime of murder (CC No. 1978-C) and for robbery (CC No. 2191) filed before the same court,” Gatan said.

Before his surrender, Compalas was the target of Police Region 1 COPLAN “DAWING” as he carries a P150,000 bounty for his capture as provided for under Joint Order 10-2009 dated April 23, 2009.

Gatan said the series of surrenders among the communist rebels and supporters show that they are already fed up and dismayed with the false promises and horrible lifestyle of the underground movement.

He also said that the surrender of the two ranking NPA leaders was another breakthrough in achieving the goal of the Arroyo administration of eradicating the insurgency problem posed by communist rebels at least by 2010.

“The surrender of Compalas and Angdos was attributed to the massive information campaign and tactical operations conducted by anti-insurgency elements in the area with the cooperation of various sectors of the community,” he added.

He called on other members and supporters of the NPA to lay down their arms and return to mainstream society.

Likewise, he expressed gratitude to the people of Ilocos Sur for their unwavering support to the troops operating in the province.(PNA)

/V3/ZST/LVM/Freddie G. Lazaro/rma

By Mike Crismundo
PNA

Five depressed elementary schools in Agusan del Sur received educational aid from the Japanese children.

Through the Philippine National Red Cross, Agusan del Sur Chapter, the school materials were distributed as an act of friendship extended by the Japanese children to poor but determined children in Agusan del Sur.

Lyn Garcia, National Red Cross Youth governor, said the 600 bags contain notebooks, drawing books, crayons, pencils and other school supplies needed by elementary school children.

"These school supplies that you received came from the children of Japan through the Japanese Red Cross. I want you to know that children like you in Japan spare 1 Japanese Yen every day out of their allowances in order to buy these school materials for you as gesture of genuine friendship that they want to extend to Filipino children thru the International Friendship Project of the Red Cross", said Garcia.

Coalition Elementary School principal Babylinda Doysabas of Barangay Coalition, San Luis, advised the pupils to take extra care of the educational aid they received because it is the only way they can show their gratitude to the generosity of their fellow children from Japan.

In response, with tears on her eyes, the president of the Pupils’ Supreme Council of Coalition Elementary School said, they did not expect they will receive "gifts" like what they received from children outside the country.

She also promised they will repay the gesture of friendship by taking good care of the materials in order that the love behind the "gifts" will linger forever and friendship will flourish.

Rev. Solomon Bilaoen, chairperson of PNRC Agusan del Sur Chapter Board of Directors, said the "gift" giving is just the start of a deeper development of friendship between the Filipino and Japanese children.

"Someday, when our children and the Japanese children and the children around the world would share ideas and experiences through writing and other means of communication, then true friendship will grow and that will mean better cooperation and understanding which will lead to international peace that is so elusive", said Rev. Bilaoen.

Rev. Bilaoen and Christyll Basan, PNRC provincial Administrator, led the team composed of PNRC Board of Directors and Red Cross Youth volunteers in the distribution of the educational materials to New Visayas Elementary School in San Francisco, San Vicente Elementary School in Veruela, Noveli Elementary School in Rosario, Coalition Elementary School in San Luis and Mabuhay Elementary School in Prosperidad who were chosen to be the recipients of the Red Corss Youth International Friendship Project since July 13, this year.

Agusan del Sur Ma. Valentina Plaza expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Japanese children through the effort of the PNRC Agusan del Sur Chapter.(PNA)
LDV/MUC/ebp

After long years of being powerless and in the dark, electric power has dawned upon the province of Lanao del Sur.

This was the fulfillment after the Lanao del Sur Electric Cooperative (LASURECO) energized the 7.5 MVA Dansalan Substation and completed the new three-phase distribution line.

This will serve the Mindanao State University (MSU), a pilot project of the cooperative, and more importantly it has served the World Ijtima, an annual gathering of Muslims worldwide last July 1-17 held at the “Tent City” in Upper Barangay Marawi, Marawi City.

The World Iztima (Congregation) of the Tableegh was first-of-its-kind occasion in the province.

Edita Bueno, Administrator of National Electrification Administration (NEA) said the electrification not only addressed the power needs of the Maranaos but also its social responsibilities to all Muslims worldwide.

This breakthrough in Mindanao to deliver electricity in the countryside is a major component of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's 10-point development program through the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

“We, at the NEA, are glad that Team LASURECO is taking a very proactive stance in rehabilitating the cooperative. This year alone, it has already energized 49 barangays in addition to the 61 electrified in 2008. It has likewise, inaugurated a new headquarters and drawn-up an Integrated Rehabilitation Plan, a three-year program aimed at completing the electrification project of the province. The Team has NEA’s 100% support in this landmark undertaking in order to serve better our Muslim brothers”, said Bueno.

Sultan Ashary P. Maongco, General Manager of Lasureco is very grateful to NEA for the agency’s assistance, both monetary and non-monetary.

He also cited the efforts extended by the National Power Corporation (NPC) and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in the realization of the project, as part of their corporate social responsibility.

As of December 31, 2008, electrification level in the country was placed at 97.71 percent.

Department of Energy data also indicated that only 962 barangays remain without power supply out of 41,980 barangays in the country.(PNA)
/V3/MSN/

Bicol University (BU) has been given a P17-million financial grant for the implementation of curriculum enhancement interventions towards entrepreneurial development involving agriculture, forestry and natural resources (AFNR) through science and technology (S&T).

The grant is part of the P200-million program dubbed “Enhancing the Demand for AFNR Graduates through Science and Technology,” being undertaken by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).

PCARRD executive director Patricio Faylon said Tuesday the program aims to take stock of the current state and future capacity of human capital in the sector and provide direct intervention to enhance the supply and demand for AFNR graduates.

Included in the programs are mechanism for human capital, innovation, and entrepreneurial development.

“Through the program, graduates become more than just scientists and professionals but a new breed of agribusiness entrepreneurs who can help fuel economic development in the countryside,” Faylon said.

The program would make BU graduates of AFNR courses the personification of knowledge and innovation to lead the innovation trail to be prime movers of development not only in the Bicol Region but in the whole country as well, he said.

PCARRD has instituted the program as a national effort to mitigate the crisis in the AFNR sectors. It is proactively implementing strategic programs in support of the government’s overall plan, he said.

AFNR remain the major sources of livelihood for most Filipinos and the lifeblood of the economy but underemployment in these sectors, which comprises 35% of the country’s employed workforce, has increased from 44.6% in 2007 to 46.9% last year making employment a not so bright prospect for the new graduates, he said.

“However, not everything in AFNR is gloomy. Knowledge and innovation remain constant and vital assets in the development process and the potentials of science as venue for knowledge generation, application, and development must be maximized,” he also said.

To achieve these, highly educated and innovative workforces must be created and sustained at the national and local government levels. These workforces must be empowered to generate and apply new knowledge, supported by policies and investments in developing human capital, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial development, he added.

As a strategy, he said,PCARRD is accelerating human capital build up in AFNR sectors through the program on enhancing the demand for AFNR graduates.

The P200-million program aims to increase enrollment in AFNR courses by an average of 10 â€" 15 %; increase employment for AFNR graduates by 10%; and establish at least 51 educational business projects with high S&T content among others, he said.

Faylon said the program will generate two major products: agricultural and natural resources management system adapted to climate change; and adaptation strategies for sustainable development.

“With all these efforts in place and running, the crossroad may be a great opportunity for agriculture to be more relevant and contribute more to the growth of the economy.

But first, agriculture must rise to the challenge,” he said.

Agriculture faces one of its toughest challenges. In the midst of two huge global crises â€" financial and climate change â€" agriculture becomes both sides of the coin.

With the impending destructive changes in the environment, the agriculture sector is seen to incur the biggest losses. This would impact on the sector’s ability to provide for the needs of the people thus, affecting its contribution to the overall economy, he said.

In a recent report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) noted that “rice outputs may fall by 50 â€" 70 percent from its current levels by 2020 if efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change fail. The decline could continue until the end of this century if business-as-usual attitude prevails.”

“Moreover, climate change would seriously threaten the country’s economic development. This could mean 6.7 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP), which would dwarf the losses being incurred in the current global financial crisis, ” the ADB report said.

But not everything’s bleak for Philippine agriculture. Experts believe that agriculture may indeed initially pull down the economy as a result of climate change but would eventually assume a bigger role in addressing the two crises.

In fact, in 2008, amid the financial crisis, agriculture provided a positive growth of 3.2 percent to the national GDP of 4.6 percent. This was lower than its 2007 growth of 4.9 percent but the gap was a result of the drop in rice and corn production due to typhoon and high fertilizer cost, Faylon said.

A total of 21 city barangays representing seven city districts here will compete in the citywide Clean and Green contest spearheaded by city mayor Jerry P. Treñas and the Solid Waste Management Board.

The 21 barangays will vie for cash prizes of P30,000 for the first place; P20,000 for second and P10,000 for the third on top of P500,000 worth of barangay projects as a windfall prize for the champion barangay.

Treñas said barangay chairmen will receive their certificate of recognition as finalists in the clean and green contest Barangay Category on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 in his office with the expected presence of DENR-Environment Management Bureau Regional Director Oscar Cabanayan and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta.

Treñas said aside from the barangays, the competition is also open for the selection of cleanest and greenest district and plaza with the winner staking its claim to P1 million worth in development projects.

The competition kicked off in June with the start of elimination round of city barangays per district by a board of judges composed of representatives from civic clubs, non-government organizations and government agencies. The eliminations culminated last July 10, 2009.

The 21 finalist barangays will be re-evaluated including inspection of plazas and districts starting July 16 until August 31 while the grand awarding ceremony will be held on September 15, 2009 for the champion in barangay, plaza and district categories.

The finalists are barangays Dungon A, San Jose and Ma. Cristina in Jaro district; barangays San Isidro, Jereos and Magsaysay Village in La Paz district; barangays Mansaya, Progreso and Don Esteban in Lapuz district; barangays Sto Domingo, Sta Cruz and Dulonan in Arevalo district; barangays Monica-Blumentritt, Villa Anita and San Jose in the city proper district; barangays San Rafael, Bakhaw and PHHC Blk 17 in Mandurriao district; and barangays San Pedro, North Fundidor and North Baluarte in Molo district.

Treñas said that the contest is an initiative by the city to attract barangay residents to comply with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 and to make their surroundings clean and green for healthy living.

The city is also slated to vie in the regional and national Clean and Green or Gawad sa Kapaligiran competition slated to start by October this year.

The city is a Hall of Fame regional awardee in the same competition in 2006-2008 in the Highly Urbanized City Category.(PNA)/V3/LCPendon/vlo

The country’s economy is expected to remain on positive track this year, contributing to an aggregate three percent growth for Emerging East Asia, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In the July issue of its Asia’s Economic Monitor, the ADB retained its 2009 gross domestic product (GDP) forecast for the Philippines at 2.5 percent. It said economic activity in the country along with Indonesia , Malaysia and Thailand should start to strengthen during the second half of 2009.

“The 2009 growth forecast of 2.5 percent for the Philippines has downside risks, as remittances from Filipinos working overseas may not stay robust,” the ADB said in its report released today in Bangkok .

The report noted that Indonesia , which it expects to grow at 3.6 percent this year, and the Philippines managed to maintain positive growth during the worst of the global downturn as both are less reliant on exports.

“In the face of contagion through trade and finance channels, their governments rolled out larger stimulus packages than previously announced, with their central banks cutting interest rates as well,” the report said.

While Malaysia and Thailand fared worse, the ADB report said the worst appears to be over for these neighboring countries. But the two economies are expected to shrink this year before recovering in 2010.

Jong-Wha Lee, ADB chief economist and head of its Office of Regional Economic Integration, said the worst seems to be over for Asia .

“There are some signs that Emerging Asia has entered the transition from recession to recovery,” he said in a podcast. “The external demand for Asia ’s export are still stagnant but the GDP growth is coming more from the domestic demand side as stimulus policies have gained traction.”

Emerging East Asia covers the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with the People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; the Republic of Korea; and Taipei, China.

Lee also said major industrialized countries as a whole would see their economies shrink by four percent this year, before recovering at one-percent growth in 2010. “The recession in the United States, Europe and Japan is still continuing and the global financial conditions improved a little bit but still very tight,” he said in the podcast..

Lee noted that any return to pre-crisis growth levels would still be hinged on industrialized countries, despite growth being exhibited by Asian economies. A more prolonged recession and weaker recovery in industrialized countries would threaten Asia ’s recovery, he added.

“China or Asia alone cannot be the region’s sole engine of growth. We need the others plus the more important engine of growth from the major industrialized countries,” he said.

But to prevent crises in the future, the ADB chief economist said Asian economies must continue to develop their own domestic demand, and strengthen regional trade.

“In the long-term, we need a rebalancing of the sources of growth. It’s clear even though the industrial countries return to the pre-crisis economic development but it cannot meet Asia’s expanding exports continuously so Asia should strengthen its own domestic and regional demand. That is a very important policy priority,” Lee said. (PNA)
V3/LJMC//rsm
<<< Back

In line with the national government’s campaign against climate change and environment protection, the Malabon City Solid Waste Management Office (MCSWMO) announced that it will distribute free “malunggay” (moringa oliefera) seeds to individuals or groups interested in re-greening their respective areas.

MCSWMO spokesperson Flor Austria said that the seeds were donated by the Rotary Club of Malabon (RCM).

Austria said that the “malunggay” is an ideal tree in combating the effects of climate change as it is drought resistant and can grow quite fast in dry sandy soil without any water and can be planted with ease in vacant lots or any unused plot of land.

She also added that the “malunggay” can be compared to the coconut tree as all of its parts can be used for food or animal forage.

”The immature green pods are probably the most valued and widely used part of the tree. They are commonly consumed in India, and are generally prepared in a similar fashion to green beans and have a slight asparagus taste. The seeds are sometimes removed from more mature pods and eaten like peas or roasted like nuts. The flowers are edible when cooked, and are said to taste like mushrooms,” Austria added.

She also said that “malunggay” leaves, eaten cooked or fresh, are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron and potassium.

Aside from its nutritional value, Austria said that “malunggay” bark, roots, fruit, flowers, leaves, seeds and gum are also used as antiseptic and in treating rheumatism aside from venomous insect bites.

She also said that matured “malunggay” seeds when pulped yield 38 to 40 percent edible oil (called ben oil, from the high concentration of behenic acid contained in the oil).

The refined oil is clear, odorless, and resists rancidity at least as well as any other botanical oil. The seed cake remaining after oil extraction may be used as a fertilizer or as a flocculent to purify water. (PNA)
FFC/PFN

Another civilian was inhumanely executed by 10 New People's Army (NPA) rebels under Guerrilla Front 54 at crossing Lumundao, Barangay Marilog, Marilog District, Davao City Thursday.

The victim who sustained gunshot wounds was identified as Canoto Lumbayon, a former barangay chairman of Salaysay, Marilog District.

Lumbayon was on his way home from Calinan, on-board a motorcycle, together with Celso Agumay, a CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) and Ernesto Sauyan, a member of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO) of Salaysay when NPA rebels simultaneously fired towards them.

CAA Agumay who was unarmed also sustained fatal wounds that caused his instantaneous death. The latter was on his off-duty and on his way home to attend to the needs of his family. Sauyan, on the other hand, was wounded and presently undergoing treatment at Davao Medical Center.

On Wednesday, the NPA bandits also murdered Juan Bacharo, a purok leader of Barangay Banlag in Monkayo Compostella Valley and two unarmed soldiers who were facilitating the delivery of development projects in the said barangay.

At 1:30 pm also Wednesday, about seven NPA bandits, under Sentro de Grabidad (SDG), Guerrilla Front 20 (GF), burned a 10-wheeler truck at Sitio Mahu, Barangay Aragon, Cateel, Davao Oriental.

The said truck, owned by Maverick Construction, was flagged down while delivering supplies to development projects implemented in the area. The said company was reportedly receiving threats and extortion demands but refused to give in.

Major General Reynaldo B Mapagu, Commander of 10th Infantry Division, vehemently condemned the recent atrocities perpetrated by NPA.

“It is clear enough that these criminals are anti-people and anti-development. Treacherous attacks are what they can easily do now because they cannot face the reality that they have already lost their mass base support,” he said.

“Just like Evelyn Pitao, the sister of a well-known NPA leader in the region, they easily killed these innocent people who are public servants, law-abiding citizens and who desire to live a peaceful life in a more improved environment. These bandits are the ones who repeatedly abuse the basic rights of the people,” added Mapagu. (PNA)
FFC/VR

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Friday announced major accomplishment in its intensified campaign against carnapping syndicates and group and individuals engaged in falsifying Land Transportation Office (LTO) documents to register stolen vehicles.

Chief Supt. Roberto Rosales, NCRPO director, said only last Wednesday joint elements of the NCRPO Regional Traffic Enforcement and Anti-Carnapping Unit (RTEUâ€"ANCAR) and Talipapa Police Station of the Quezon City Police District (PS3-QCPD) launched successful raid against a suspected den of a group engaged in falsifying LTO documents.

Armed with a Search Warrant issued by Judge Edgar D. Dantos, Quezon City RTC Branch 222, the police operatives raided the house of a certain Dante Chua located at No. 356 Vipra St., Brgy. Sangandaan near Quirino Avenue, Quezon City and seized various items used in the illegal activity.

Confiscated were seven motorcycles without LTO records, three pairs blank LTO Certificate of Registration (CR), four pieces LTO Official Receipts, one unit Colt Super 38 Automatic with serial Nos. 082159, one unit Taurus 357 Magnum with serial Nos. QC505417, two magazines for Colt Super 38, and 30 pieces live ammunition for Colt 38.

The service of the Search Warrant was conducted in an orderly manner in the presence of a certain James Chan, 27 years old, a resident of the same address and nephew of Dante Chua.

Chan also voluntarily turned-over several motor vehicles, suspected to be “hot cars” to the RTEU-ANCAR after he failed to present the necessary documents/proof of ownership of the said vehicles.

Surrendered were one unit Ford 150, dark green with plate number WJC-179, a Mitsubishi Canter Truck Van with plate No. ZKK-586, and a Honda CRV, metallic gold with plate No. XLF-782.

Appropriate cases for Violation of the Anti-Carnapping Law (RA No. 6539) and Article 172, paragraph 1 in relation to Article 171, paragraphs 2, 4 and 7 of the Revised Penal Code (Falsification of Public Documents) will be filed against the suspect Dante Chua.

Earlier, the NCRPO also arrested three LTO employees engaged in falsifying LTO documents and licensed plates. (PNA)
FFC/MM

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.

Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation.

UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UNV volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive, and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

Based in Bonn, Germany, UNV is active in 140 countries. It is represented worldwide through the offices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and reports to the UNDP Executive Board.

What is UNV's mission?
Volunteering brings benefits to both society at large and the individual volunteer. It makes important contributions, economically as well as socially. It contributes to a more cohesive society by building trust and reciprocity among citizens.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that supports sustainable human development globally through the promotion of volunteerism, including the mobilization of volunteers. It serves the causes of peace and development by enhancing opportunities for participation by all peoples. It is universal, inclusive and embraces volunteer action in all its diversity. It values free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity, which are the foundations of volunteerism.

Who is in charge?
Read about the UNV Executive Coordinator, Flavia Pansieri.

Who are the UNV volunteers?
Some 7,000 qualified and experienced women and men of nearly 160 nationalities serving each year in developing countries as UN Volunteers. Since 1971, some 30,000 UN Volunteers have worked in about 140 countries. Currently, nearly 70 per cent are citizens of developing countries while the remaining 30 per cent come from the industrialized world. See the Volunteer Statistics.

What do they do?
They work in technical cooperation with governments, with community-based initiatives, in humanitarian relief and rehabilitation and in support of human rights, electoral and peace-building processes. They are professionals who work on a peer basis. They listen and discuss; teach and train; encourage and facilitate. Volunteers also share and exchange ideas, skills and experience.

In which sectors do they work?
The UNV programme involves a wide spread of sectors: it maintains a roster covering 115 professional categories. Agriculture, health and education feature prominently, as do human rights promotion, information and communication technology, community development, vocational training, industry and population.

Where are they working?
Over the years, they have served in about 140 countries. Today 40 per cent are at work in Africa, 26 per cent in Asia and the Pacific, and 15 per cent in Central and Eastern Europe; the remainder are to be found in the Arab States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Thirty per cent serve in the world's poorest nations -- the least developed. Half work outside capital cities, frequently in remote towns and villages. This is in response to expressed needs, and it reflects the commitment which volunteers bring. Included here are the field workers serving at the grassroots level in Asia, the Pacific and Africa. These are practitioners with excellent track records in village-level community work; they exchange skills and knowledge among countries of those regions.

How does the programme operate?
It works in partnership with governments, UN Agencies, development banks and non-governmental and community-based organizations. The programmes within which UNV specialists serve are usually managed by governments; often there is technical input and supervision from one of the UN system's specialized agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) or from the World Bank. At the request of some governments UNV itself acts as executing agent.

How is it funded?
Part of UNV's resources come from country and regional funds provided by UNDP. Other significant sources include the regular programme budgets of UN agencies, contributions from host governments, special purpose grants by donor governments, and the UNV Special Voluntary Fund. Contributions to UNV's Special Voluntary Fund and other funds exceed $17 million annually.

How do I become a UNV Volunteer?
Visit our Becoming a UNV volunteer section to read all about it.

source: http://www.unv.org

ADVANCED CRITIQUES OF JOSE CARILLO’S
“GIVE YOUR ENGLISH THE WINNING EDGE”:

Jose Dalisay, Jr., PhD, Director of the Institute of Creative Writing, University of the Philippines: “Jose A. Carillo’s Give Your English the Winning Edge is the latest book in a series of what’s become the definitive guide to the English language for Filipinos (and Americans, the English, and others). It builds on the foundations Carillo raised in English Plain and Simple and The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors to present the reader with ways to gain mastery over the English language by showing how such seemingly simple but tricky concepts as ellipsis, paragraph transitions, modifiers, parallelism, and negation work. More than a grammar textbook, Give Your English the Winning Edge is an enjoyable, invigorating, and often challenging romp through the hills and valleys of language, profusely illustrated with both local and foreign examples. Fans of Carilloâ€"count me among themâ€"will not be disappointed. He makes perfect sense of what I and other professional writers have been trying to do intuitively over these past many years.”

John Nery, Senior Editor and Columnist, Philippine Daily Inquirer: “‘Our words define us,’ writes the preternaturally positive Jose Carillo. Yes, and our sentences reveal us for who we are. In Give Your English the Winning Edge, Carillo offers 155 well-tempered essays on grammar, usage, and style that we can readâ€"that we must readâ€"to help us in our own acts of revelation. His loving mastery of the English language is a source of hopeâ€"and a happy standard we can all aspire to.”

Ma. Lourdes S. Bautista, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of English and Applied Linguistics, De La Salle University-Manila: “Obviously, Jose Carillo loves the English language, knows his grammar, and has a style so engaging that he makes learning grammar almost painless. Indeed, the book can well be subtitled ‘English Grammar Without Tears or Fears.’ On top of everything, he is up-to-date on current thinking about grammar, ably highlighting the distinction between formal and informal style and deftly tackling the issue of sexist language.”

Sonny Coloma, PhD in Organizational Development; Professor, Asian Institute of Management, and columnist, Business World: “This book provides a much-needed boost to the advocacy for correct and proper English speaking and writing. It is a timely resource book, especially for younger Filipinos and their parents, considering the way the current culture of text messaging has caused a massive depreciation of our ability to speak and write good English.”

Maria Luz C. Vilches, PhD, Associate Professor and Dean of the School of Humanities, Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University: “In an engaging way, this book offers a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of how the English language works for good, effective, and winning communication. It meticulously focuses on the grammatical makeup of English and its impact on making meaning, then considers problematic usage and how it can be avoided by paying attention to appropriate register and style in given communication contexts. Students, teachers, and professionals can trust this book to be their companion to success!”

Ed Maranan, Carlos Palanca Hall of Fame writer; winner, NCCA Writer’s Prize for the English essay: “With his first two books, we thought that Jose Carillo had given us sufficient ammunition to overcome our inadequacies with English. Now he offers up yet another excellent guide to the grammatical rules and correct usage of the world’s global language. The table of contents appears daunting, but one feels rewarded with a new-found confidence after going through the book. This is definitely essential reading for teachers, columnists and reporters, lawyers, public officials, job seekers, and all those who need to be competent and credible in their use of English. For the accomplished as well as for the aspiring writer, reading this book promises to be a delightful voyage of discovery.”

Who is Jose Carillo

Jose Carillo is a nationally awarded writer and editor and an internationally awarded corporate communicator. He won a National Book Award for linguistics from the Manila Critics Circle in 2005 for his first English-usage book, English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today’s Global Language. Previously, he had won a total of nine major industry awards in the Philippines for his work as company editor and public affairs executive. He later gained international recognition for his work as a corporate communicator, winning the Gold Quill Award of the U.S.-based International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) in 1989 and the Golden World Award of the U.K.-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA) in 1990.

A former college newspaper editor in chief, national newspaper reporter, company editor, and corporate communications executive, he ran a Metro Manila-based English-language services company as its general manager for nearly five years until mid-2005. He is now an independent editor and communication consultant based in Metro Manila, and writes a weekly English-usage column for both the print and online editions of The Manila Times.

After English Plain and Simple, Carillo came out with The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors in mid-2008, followed by Give Your English the Winning Edge in July 2009. He has also maintains Jose Carillo’s English Forum at http://josecarilloforum.com, a website that provides a venue for wide-ranging discussions on the use and misuse of the English language.

Give Your English the Winning Edge, the third book in Jose Carillo’s English-usage trilogy, was formally launched last Monday (July 20) in ceremonies at the Centennial Hall A of The Manila Hotel in Manila.

Carillo and Manila Times Publishing executives led by its president and CEO Dante Francis Ang II were joined during the launching by Dr. Isagani R. Cruz, the multi-awarded writer, critic, and educator; Dr. Ma. Lourdes Bautista, professor emeritus of English and applied linguistics of the De La Salle University-Manila; John Nery, senior editor and columnist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer; Ed Maranan, writer and Hall of Famer of the Palanca Awards for Literature, and several other guests. A lively discussion about English usage in Philippine literature and journalism ensued during the program.

The 486-page volume by the National Book Award-winning author discusses the various mechanisms and tools of English for combining words and ideas into clear, logical, and engaging writing. It shows how the various connectivesâ€"the conjunctions, the conjunctive adverbs, and the prepositionsâ€"establish the six basic logical relationships in language, then demonstrates how to make them work with the various other grammar elements to form more effective, convincing, and readable expositions.

            Carillo, a nationally awarded writer and editor and an internationally awarded corporate communicator, won the National Book Award for linguistics from the Manila Critics Circle in 2005 for his first English-usage book, English Plain and Simple: No-Nonsense Ways to Learn Today’s Global Language. He came out in mid-2008 with his second English-usage book, The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors.

A former newspaper journalist and corporate communications executive, Carillo ran a Metro Manila-based English-language services company as its general manager for nearly five years until mid-2005. He is now an independent editor and communication consultant based in Metro Manila, and writes a weekly English-usage column for both the print and online editions of The Manila Times.

Published by Manila Times Publishing, Give Your English the Winning Edge comes in regular softcover and, by order, in premium hardcover. Copies are now available in the major Metro Manila outlets of National Book Store, Powerbooks, Bestsellers, Goodwill Bookstore, Fully Booked, and Expressions. Distribution to their outlets in major cities outside Metro Manila will follow in the next few weeks.

- press release

Happy Birthday Bran. I just read this thread greeting. I've been very busy and until now I still don't have a decent Internet connection.

On your birthday, I wish you to know that we've been touched by your gentle wisdom and generous friendship. I should say that you've shaken our thoughts and touched our hearts and your plethora of profound insights on any topics discussed here has cemented your iconic intelligence perfected by your humility and faith in God.

May the Son of God, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, continue to endow you with eternal love and peace, a peace that the world cannot give.

- mike L.

Bohol Capitol makes itself liable for citizen’s complaints over poor service when it launched its own citizen’s charter Wednesday, July 15.

No less than Commissioner Ricardo Saludo of the Civil Service Commission officiated the Citizen’s charter unveiling at the Bohol Cultural Center Wednesday while Capitol employees witnessed the ceremony.

With the launching of the Citizen’s charter, Capitol substantially cuts 1/3 of document processing time, Capitol’s Human Resource Officer Romeo S. Teruel hinted.

From the traditional 15 days maximum document processing time allowed, Bohol Capitol now implies 10 days maximum processing as Bohol trailblazes again in Central Visayas as the first province to respond to the call to cut bureaucratic red tape and do away with every opportunity for graft and corruption, said Capitol Chief of Staff Antonieto Pernia recently.

The country’s Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007 or RA 9485 provides for the formulation of Citizen’s Charter by each Local Government Unit in the country before September 2009.

A Citizen’s Charter is a document that contains information of the frontline services being provided by the local government unit to its citizens, Teruel summed.

A Capitol Task Force consisting local executives formulated the Charter which shall then be placed on information billboards posted at the main entrance of offices or at most conspicuous places for the citizens to know which services is available at the office, he added.

According to the law, the Citizen’s Charter should include the office’s vision and mission; identification of the frontline services offered, and the clientele; step-by-step procedure to obtain a particular service; and officer or employee responsible for each step.

The Charter shall also include the maximum time to conclude the process; documents to be presented by the client; amount of fees, if necessary, procedure for filing of complaints in relation to requests and applications, among others.

With the citizen's charter, the public can clearly follow the steps of the services offered, and easily identify the loopholes in the given system, Teruel explained.

This, he said should help eliminate bureaucratic red tape, avert graft and corruption practices and improve the efficiency of government frontline services. (PIA)

The first of the country’s biggest lode of jatropha oil to hit loop of clean energy markets may not be from Bohol yet, but local authorities are certain getting into the top seat is not impossible.

  With the country’s biggest jatropha curcas nursery here, Capitol chief of staff and spokesperson Antonieto Pernia over the Governor Reports bared that anchoring Bohol’s dream of hitching in the local loop starts with at least a thousand hectares by the end of the month. 

  Now with about 500 hectares already planted, Pernia was positive the thousand hectares by the end of the year is achievable.

  After that, Bohol aims to hit 6,000 hectares next year to complete the 10,000 hectare legacy. 

  This is before the Governor signs a memorandum of agreement with Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) this Wednesday, to formalize the financing agreement for the ambitious project set as a legacy of the Aumentado leadership.

  Gov. Aumentado earlier wanted some 10,000 hectares of Bohol idle lands converted into jatropha plantations and more expansions after his term.

  President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who comes to Bohol on that day would be a witness to the signing of the agreements to be entered into by Bohol through Governor Erico Aumentado and PNOC through Alternative Fuels Corporation (AFC) Romeo P. Tolentino, Capitol said.   

  The project, Pernia revealed would entail Bohol putting up 10,000 hectares of jatropha plantation while the PNOC apportioning at least P25 million for it. 

  Succeeding expansion plans would also be available as the contract with PNOC expires after 25 years. 

  Pernia named the villages of Bayong, Cantaub Sierra Bullones and Biabas Guindulman within the ancestral domains of the Eskaya tribe as the site for the nurseries.   

  With the market for cleaner energy now becoming more attractive, jatropha as biodiesel alternative solves the issue of food versus fuel concerns, research would show. 

  Next year, the country’s biggest lode: about 30 million gallons of jatropha oil would be exported by the Philippine unit of Monterey, California-based Abundant Biofuels Corp. (ABC) as quoted from an email by the company’s chairman, Dr. Charles V. Fishel to the Philippine News Agency. 

  ABC, which offers long-term contracts of up to ten years in multiples of 50,000 barrels sell bio-diesel feedstock to refineries in the US. The company also offers project financing.

  Said to be the largest contract for non-food biodiesel, ABC has tied up with a subsidiary called JatrophaBioJet Corporation here. 

  Since 2007, ABC through JatrophaBioJet Corporation sealed a partnership with the Supreme Council of Datus Alimaong â€" the Holy Warriors (SCODA), which represents ancestral domain holders in Northern Mindanao. 

  “In this time of worldwide economic uncertainty, the export revenues will help (boost) the Philippines’ balance of payments,” Fisher was quoted as saying. (PIA)

In memory of a grandmother who was blind when she died a year ago, the Tambis Clan of Cortes town makes her first death anniversary memorable by helping indigents overcome eye and vision impaired problems.

In Cortes, the medically allied children and grandchildren of Anselma Tambis partnered with Ideal Vision and the Bohol Eye and Ear Clinic to bring in a mission to give free eye screening and check-up to Cortes residents with eye problems.

Apart form that, mission partners also give about 200 free reading glasses, brought in prescription glasses and screening equipment, specialists and technical support to serve the most number of indigent residents they could help in a day, says organizer Edgar Allan Tambis Rebosura.

Homing for their lolas first death anniversary and in time for the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan in Bohol (TBTK), grandchildren of the clan whose works abroad are allied with medical courses, pitch in their counterpart in assisting their fellows during the mission held at the Rebosura residence in Barngay Salvador Friday, July 17, 2009.

We are targeting to help as much Cortesanons who could be struggling from the debility of being visually impaired, said another nurse grandchild who is also working in the US.

According to Rebosura, Dr. Roel Cabigting of the Bohol Eye and Ear Clinic also said those mission beneficiaries needing surgeries can also avail of another free mission, with the clan providing transport and food requirements during a separate eye surgery activity to be held in August.

Personally handing out free eyeglasses to their determined indigent recipients are Dr. Ryan Patrollia, Ideal vision Center manager and Ideal optician Jason Lazara.

If we can prevent somebody from becoming blind, we know we can make our Lola Mameng happy, wherever she is right now, Rebosura, who is on vacation from his work as a nurse in Florida, said.

As late as 2:00 PM, Friday, the mission group dealt with about 20 possible patients for cataract surgery apart from those whose problems only need the right pair of glasses.

The mission also gave free eye screening for Infant King Academy freshmen and sophomores.

“They are about 214 students who would have the chance to get help, Rebosura explained as he cited a fact that most young people who have felt eye problems go to denial seeing it as a problem only for the mature people.

Besides, asking money form parents for the eye screening and additional pair of reading glasses may be too much for these kids, so we are here to help them, clan spokesperson shared.

We are giving them the chance to get the right prescription glasses and perhaps give them the right glasses for free so their eye problems do not graduate into bigger trouble in the future, he summed. (PIA)

Pinay charm.

Truly a Pinay beauty

Newsletter from Cebu Pacific Air

We're celebrating the first anniversary of our operations in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (T3) on July 22, 2009 with a first-of-its-kind 50% off seat sale.

You can avail of the 50% discount on all domestic and international flights starting now until July 24, 2009. This is valid for travel from September 1 to November 30, 2009.

Fly CEB with the lowest fares, newest planes, most flights and destinations and a world class airport. Hurry, book now at www.cebupacificair.com.

By the Bohol Chronicle

The federated Liga ng mga Barangay or the Association of Barangay Councils wanted their federated lady president Concepcion O. Lim to throw her hat in the vice-gubernatorial race come electoral exercises next year.

If she pursue, it would be a three-cornered fight in the vice-gubernatorial derby as she would be pitted against provincial administrator Tomas Abapo, Jr. and Rep. Roberto Cajes.

In a resolution approved on June 16, 2009, Liga reiterated that "the vast experience of Concepcion O. Lim in local governance fits her to become the vice governor."

Duly signed by Liga officers and members, the resolution earnestly request Gov. Erico Aumentado, Lakas-Kampi-CMD provincial party chair to consider the endorsement.

This latest twist has surfaced as confirmed by Liga vice-president Dr. Romulo Cepedoza in an interview yesterday.
         
Cepedoza said that the Liga officially passed a manifesto strongly endorsing Lim for vice-governor. The manifesto did not, however, mention to whom Lim wanted to be in tandem with, Cepedoza said.

At least three gubernatorial aspirants are already on the go crisscrossing the countryside. They are Vice-Gov. Julius Herrera, Rep. Edgar Chatto and movie actor Cesar Montano. They have already reportedly spoken their intention to run for the provincial highest post.

However, some Liga members did not sign yet the manifesto, Cepedoza.

They are Elenito Llorente of Balilihan; Teofredo Tongco, Catigbian; Martin Anabieza, Getafe; Justino Logronio, Buenavista; Reynaldo Salera, Clarin; Hospicio Quiao, Sagbayan; Rolando Ibale, Trinidad; and Efren Tanjay, Ubay; and Dominador Salmeron, Talibon.

Cepedoza said that those who have yet to ink the manifesto like Balilihan and Getafe have to consult first their "superiors."

Abapo has been seen together with Herrera in the distribution of provincial financial aid to barangays and other gatherings while Cajes has been "inviting" Chatto to his turf in the second district while both took a recess. And Montano also appeared in some gatherings and annual fiestas, reliable reports said.

Boholana in employment
fraud in US involving $4.6-M 

     A Cebuana married to a Boholano was wanted by federal authorities after she was accused as part of those who defrauded the  California Medicaid involving nearly $4.6 million putting  lives of disabled children at risk. The fraud case was considered the largest in   California’s Medicaid history.
     Last time, it was reported, the suspect was in Cebu and had since been reunited with her Boholano husband.
     An Associated Press report quoted US Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek as saying that most of the people involved are Filipinos, half of whom are illegally residing in the US.  The same report said that 22 of the accused remain at large as only 20 were arrested.
     The suspect was identified as Susan Bendigo, a registered nurse, who is also the director of Sante Fe Springs' Excel Plus Home Health Services, a provider of nurses to home health services, according to the indictment. 
      Bendigo who is married to a Boholano was charged last year but has reportedly fled to the country.
      The defendants are accused of either posing as licensed nurses or organizing a scheme to send unlicensed nurses to provide home or school based care to disabled patients, many of them children with cerebral palsy or other developmental disabilities, the office of the US attorney for central California said in a written statement.
      Each defendant has been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and at least one one count of health care fraud. 
     Some parents and patients became suspicious of the nurses when they notced their lack of skills.
      In one case, a "nurse" was unable to replace a tracheotomy tube  that had fallen out of a young patient's neck. In another case, an impostor nurse simply fled a medical situation when she apparently was unable to provide assistance according to the statement.
      Bendigo and a certain Priscilla Villabroza were accused as ringleaders who were charged separately.   
      A news report said Bendigo and Villabroza instructed the workers to lie about their status and used the names of licensed nurses for documents, the indictment stated.
      Bendigo was reported missing in the US while Villabroza has pleaded guilty to five counts of health care fraud  and faces up to 50 years  in prison.
      According to court documents, some of the unlicensed workers had foreign training but had never passed a US nursing exam.  Others had no medical training or were illegal immigrants, prosecutors said.

source: Sunday Post

By Jonathan Head
BBC Bangkok Bureau

Bangkok's showcase new international airport is no stranger to controversy.

Built between 2002 and 2006, under the governments of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the opening date was repeatedly delayed.

It has been dogged by allegations of corruption, as well as criticism of the design and poor quality of construction.

Then, at the end of last year, the airport was shut down for a week after being occupied by anti-government protesters.

Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.

That is what happened to Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, two IT experts from Cambridge, as they were about to board their flight to London on the night of 25 April this year.

They had been browsing in the duty free shop at the airport, and were later approached by security guards, who twice asked to search their bags.

Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin
Mr Ingram and Ms Xi were told they had to pay £7,500

They were told a wallet had gone missing, and that Ms Lin had been seen on a security camera taking it out of the shop.

The company that owns the duty free shop, King Power, has since put the CCTV video on its website, which does appear to show her putting something in her bag. However the security guards found no wallet on either of them.

Despite that, they were both taken from the departure gate, back through immigration, and held in an airport police office. That is when their ordeal started to become frightening.

Interpreter

"We were questioned in separate rooms," Mr Ingram said. "We felt really intimidated. They went through our bags and demanded that we tell them where the wallet was."

The two were then put in what Mr Ingram describes as a "hot, humid, smelly cell with graffiti and blood on the walls".

Mr Ingram managed to phone a Foreign Office helpline he found in a travel guide, and was told someone in the Bangkok embassy would try to help them.

The next morning the two were given an interpreter, a Sri Lankan national called Tony, who works part-time for the police.

They were taken by Tony to meet the local police commander - but, says Mr Ingram, for three hours all they discussed was how much money they would have to pay to get out.

They were told the charge was very serious. If they did not pay, they would be transferred to the infamous Bangkok Hilton prison, and would have to wait two months for their case to be processed.

Mr Ingram says they wanted £7,500 ($12,250) - for that the police would try to get him back to the UK in time for his mother's funeral on 28 April.

But he could not arrange to get that much money transferred in time.

'Zig-zag' scheme

Tony then took them to an ATM machine at the police station, and told Ms Lin to withdraw as much as she could from her own account - £600 - and Mr Ingram then withdrew the equivalent of £3,400 from his account.

This was apparently handed over to the police as "bail", and they were both made to sign a number of papers.

Later they were allowed to move to a squalid hotel within the airport perimeter, but their passports were held and they were warned not to leave or try to contact a lawyer or their embassy.

"I will be watching you," Tony told them, adding that they would have to stay there until the £7,500 was transferred into Tony's account.

On the Monday they managed to sneak out and get a taxi to Bangkok, and met an official at the British Embassy.

She gave the name of a Thai lawyer, and, says Mr Ingram, told them they were being subjected to a classic Thai scam called the "zig-zag".

Their lawyer urged them to expose Tony - but also warned them that if they fought the case it could take months, and they risked a long prison sentence.

After five days the money was transferred to Tony's account, and they were allowed to leave.

Mr Ingram had missed his mother's funeral, but at least they were given a court document stating that there was insufficient evidence against them, and no charge.

"It was a harrowing, stressful experience," he said.

The couple say they now want to take legal action to recover their money.

'Typical' scam

The BBC has spoken to Tony and the regional police commander, Colonel Teeradej Phanuphan.

They both say Tony was merely helping the couple with translation, and raising bail to keep them out of prison.

Tony says about half the £7,500 was for bail, while the rest were "fees" for the bail, for his work, and for a lawyer he says he consulted on their behalf.

In theory, he says, they could try to get the bail portion refunded.

Colonel Teeradej says he will investigate any possible irregularities in their treatment. But he said any arrangement between the couple and Tony was a private affair, which did not involve the police.

Letters of complaint to the papers here in Thailand make it clear that passengers are regularly detained at the airport for alleged shoplifting, and then made to pay middlemen to win their freedom.

The Danish Embassy says one of its nationals was recently subjected to a very similar scam, and earlier this month an Irish scientist managed to flee Thailand with her husband and one year-old son after being arrested at the airport and accused of stealing an eyeliner worth around £17.

Tony told the BBC that so far this year he has "helped" about 150 foreigners in trouble with the police. He says sometimes he does it for no charge.

The British Embassy has also warned passengers at Bangkok Airport to take care not to move items around in the duty free shopping area before paying for them, as this could result in arrest and imprisonment.

By Sunday Post

Millions of pesos worth of consumers goods, computers, copying machines, jewelries, etc. were lost in a con game involving bouncing checks that  spanned  four months of undetected operations.

Scores of victims showed up to tell their sad stories but  many others refused to come to terms with the swindle apparently  because they don’t want to be at the losing end of a “bad bargain”.   

Those who remain silent about their losses were big establishments like Shoppers’ Mart that as of last report refused to cooperate with co-victims as to how much worth of goods was carted away by the syndicate.

The list of victims with their corresponding losses were a soft drink distributor, P85,000 worth of soft drinks; Rusco Motors, one multicab van; Philcopy Corp., two photo copiers worth P180,000; Ruchele Computers, computer units worth P229,200; Sonjay Microsystems, notebook computers worth P190,000; Fullerlife, beauty products worth, P39,000; Esther Felisarta, jewelries worth, P103,000; Dranix, cigarettes worth more than P100,000; Natures Spring Water, bottled water of commercial quantity; and Magor Trading, two photo copiers including school supplies, P100,000nmore or less; NCC Menthos candy agent,P41,000 worth of Menthos candy; Jeffrey Appliance, one air conditioning unit and Globelines, one unit Nokia E71 celfone worth P18,000 and unpaid celfone bills worth P3,800. 

Another jeweler and a lending investor were also listed as victims but the Post source failed to identify them and their corresponding losses. But, the way the gang operated on their other victims, it was possible that it was in the thousands of pesos.

THE SYNDICATE 

Believed part of a syndicate operating nationwide, the modus was quite simple.

In the Bohol setting, the gang first operated  a store along Visarra St., this city last April.

The starting business was an orange juice distributor. Named Sweet-o Orange, it has a manager identified as Lamberto Medalla with last known address as Bongavella St., Victoria Subdivision, Victoria City Negros Occindental. He was also known as Albert Santiago Enterprises of Maypajo, Caloocan City.

With a compliment of several employees including ambulant sales persons, the orange juice distributor  also pretended to be in the business of dealing ranging from food products, soft drinks to cigarettes.

After getting the trust and confidence of unsuspecting consumer goods dealers, the gang leader then issued post dated checks to cover the purchase of stocks displayed in the two stores.

Along the way, the gang opened another outlet near the Dauis junction to convince their suppliers that business was making good.

The checks issued during the early days of the sting operations were cleared for sufficient funds back up.

As in any con game, the turnover of good checks proved to be short-lived.

It was last July 13, when the city suppliers realized that they were duped. The prospective victims were alarmed when they learned that two employees of the “food distributor” found to their surprise that their store was closed for no apparent reason.

A clerk identified only as Rhea wondered aloud why the Visarra outlet was closed. She then remembered the Saturday before that her boss, Medalla, asked for the keys and she handed them to him.

The clerk then proceeded to the Dauis branch and together with another sales agent discovered that the store was emptied of all its product display and it was in complete disarray.

The news of the manager and his cohorts’ disappearing act sent alarm bells ringing to innocent employees. The panic wave also caught up with the dealers who were issued post-dated checks. With PDCs in hand, they trooped to RCBC Savings only to find out that the current account in the name of Lamberto Lim Medalla was already closed. 

SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS

Subsequent investigations showed that Medalla left his  Dauis station  at dawn on July 12 on board the Multicab he acquired through mortgage at the Rusco Motors. Fully loaded with the stolen goods, the vehicle left for Ubay and took the roro route via Bato, Leyte.

Since the multicab was purchased through PDC, the dealer required him to pause for a picture in front of the vehicle for purposes of identification. This explained the picture in support of the banner story appearing in the front page of this paper.

The manager’s secretary identified as  Divina Garcia Rodrigo also known as Alma was found to have took the early flight of Philippine Air Lines that day for Manila. She was seen hurriedly riding a tricycle with several baggage. In fact, it was learned, she was charged for carrying excess load.

Another cohort, identified as Mildred Sy, was found to have boarded a fast craft bound for Cebu City together with a certain Shiela.

The other accomplices of the syndicated crime were identified as Julie Acenas Aguimatang of Caloocan City; Irish Barasolla alias Sam and Shiela Mendez whose last known address was Bacolod City.

Twenty-eight-year-old Erik Jon Celino Spoelstra, the present head coach of Miami Heat, a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, USA, is a Filipino-American.

Born on November 1, 1970 in Evanston, Illinois, his father is Irish-Dutch Jon Spoelstra, a long-time NBA executive involved with the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and New Jersey Nets. His mother is former Elisa G. Celino of Barangay Mavenida in San Pablo City or a Lagunense

According to Dr. Leandro Celino Dimayuga, his San Pablo City-based cousin, Erik Spoelstra, as published in various websites, is the first Asian Filipino-American head coach in the National Basketball Association, as well as the first Asian Filipino-American head coach of any North American Professional Sports Team.

He is currently the youngest head coach in the NBA, a conference of 30 professional teams.

Website reports added that Erik grew up in Portland, Oregon, where he graduated from Jesuit High School in 1988, and from the University of Portland in 1992.

As a high school player, he was third all-time high in assists (488), tied for third in three-pointers made (156), and sixth in both three-point percentage (384) and free throw percentage (824).

He will be visiting the Philippines soon with his team for a series of exhibition games, but his hectic schedule may not make a visit to his mother’s homecity possible. (PNA)
scs/Ruben E. Taningco/rsm

i miss tubag bohol

busy pa kaayo ko. igo ra ko ko ning lili.

- Ginger

Danao again
By Romy Teruel
Sunday Post

Danao did it again!  No not the Danao, Cebu.  It’s the Danao, Bohol. The former is known for its gun-making industry while the latter is that municipality in central Bohol that was almost forgotten for sleeping too long.  Only the police and military could not forget Danao, Bohol because it was the site of many bloody encounters with the local insurgents before. But today Danao, Bohol is a beehive of adventure tourism. Further in the past, Danao is of course remembered for  the exploits of Boholano hero Francisco Dagohoy who led the Boholanos in the longest rebellion against Mighty Spain.

Danao has aroused pride again among Boholanos for carving not only a name in local tourism but also made the map of Bohol shine more brightly in the tourism map of the world. After only a little more than two years of establishing a market in eco/educational/extreme adventure tourism with its caving or spelunking and rubber tubing and less than a year for its zip line, it again launched two more heart- pounding adventure activities in its sky ride and plunge projects.

No less than Tourism Secretary Joseph ‘Ace’ Durano came to preside over the launching of the two projects last Thursday. Sky ride is actually a cable car experience while the plunge is a canyon swing experience where one is secured in a harness and dropped 30 meters down before being swung like a pendulum at almost 180 degrees swing. Only the healthiest and the bravest of heart are allowed to experience the plunge.

I was in Danao Friday with Facility Director Milalin Javellana of the Phlippines-Australia Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) and her staff to show off what Danao has become and, of course, to thicken the file of endorsers for my favorite tourism adventures.  Mayor Tom Gonzaga and Loinda Saluan, the indefatigable tourism officer of Danao, can be sure that the drove of tourists wanting to experience e.a.t. Danao will include Australians in the near future.

I wanted to do the plunge to test whether the stent Dr. John Viola planted in my heart when he performed the angioplasty would hold but Loinda had strict instructions to her staff manning the plunge not to put me in harness unless they wanted to be out of work that very minute.   

So I just contented myself with the sky ride that took about 15 minutes to complete. It’s a very safe trip inside a car hitched to a cable that span the whole Wahig River gorge in Brgy. Magtangtang. It did not really look like a car (more like a contraption) but because the pulleys look like wheels running on the cable that can hold 54 tons of weight, that’s probably why it’s called a car.  The car could accommodate six passengers.

The car is a good venue for proposing marriage because the intended bride will be forced to say yes. That is, if she does not want to get thrown out of the car into the Wahig River 200 meters below.   So for those who do not want to get married yet but are suspecting that their boyfriends have intentions to propose marriage, be sure you get more company when he asks you to take the sky ride with him.

Better still, Mayor Tom should field a car that is enclosed in unbreakable glass.

For the less daring, the zip line or suislide is still the best experience.  This will be so especially when the 1.5 kilometers new zip lines gets completed this year.  The foundations for the cable are already being constructed for all lovers of human flying like me.

What probably separates the Danao adventure tourism  from the others in the country is that in Danao no one businessman can monopolize business.  Mayor Tom said any body who wants to do business at e.a.t. Danao must involve a people’s organization in Danao’s community.  That is the essence of eco-tourism.  The local community must be benefited for it to succeed. 

It is not a long way yet for Danao, Bohol but the way things are going and businesses are conducted, the way of progress is getting longer everyday.

NOTES: On Wednesday, July 15th, the provincial government of Bohol will launch its Citizen Charter.  Chairman Ricardo L. Saludo o f the Civil Service Commission will be the guest of honor and speaker at the ceremony.  The Citizen Charter is a document that contains all the frontline services of a government agency where the step by step procedures are shown for the transacting public to know.  Here the length of time for every step is reflected, the fees, if there is any, and the personnel who will provide the service in every step is known.  This way fixers and corruption are eliminated.  All the officials of the provincial government will sign their names on the performance pledge that will be printed on a tarpaulin to be unrolled on the stage during the ceremony. 

Agence France-Presse

The Philippines will likely avoid a recession this year due to remittances, strong consumption, low inflation and interest rates and high liquidity, business analysts said Tuesday.

Speaking at a forum at the Philippine Stock Exchange, they said the economy likely grew in the second quarter and the momentum is expected to be sustained for the whole of 2009.

"The performance of the stock market mirrored the performance of the economy," said stock exchange president Francis Lim, citing the composite index which has risen 26.2 percent since the start of the year.

Eduardo Francisco, president of BDO Capital and Investment Corp., said there was about P1.2 trillion ($24.8 billion) of liquidity in the system.

"My clients are seeing growth... they are just looking for avenues to invest," he told reporters.

The optimistic forecasts were in contrast to those of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which have forecast a contraction of 0.5 to 1.0 percent respectively for the Philippines this year.

They cited the gross domestic product growth of only 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2009 as evidence of a slowing economy.

Jaime Ysmael, chief finance officer of property giant Ayala Land Inc. said the country's property sector was up 31 percent.

He attributed this to continued positive GDP growth despite the global turmoil, large remittances from the millions of Filipinos working overseas, inflation falling to 22-year lows and the reduction in interest rates.

By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post

       A typical Boholana, in terms of beauty, charm and talents, but definitely smarter than not just a few, she comes to Bohol regularly for a brief visit; but during the TBTK (Tigum Bol-anon Tibuok Kalibutan), a gathering of Boholanos all over the world every three years, she comes home months before July, the Sandugo season (where TBTK is a highlight). This year, she was already in town before the fiesta month of May, and would be home long after the merriment has shifted to low gear.

       Carlita Gallares-Schroeder is a name not familiar to many, but her moniker “Lik-Lik” is, and always rings a bell. She tends to TBTK as nobody else does, since it commenced inspiring Boholanos in the Philippines and abroad in the year 1999. Triggered by Dr. Nick Lopez as the movement’s Founding President, and later by Betty Garcia (as the succeeding President), TBTK has been a great success, that it won the interest of the then Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, who wanted it duplicated in the other provinces of the nation.

       Nurturing TBTK is never a joking matter, but Lik-Lik has long proven capable of the oftentimes “thankless” job. Spending one’s own money for the travel expenses, especially in the coordination chore, could drain a shallow pocket. But not her pocket, which can never be drained. Coordinating with people with varied idiosyncrasies is a totally absorbing and tiring task, to the point of exasperation. But, thanks, God… Lik-Lik has enough patience, and more than enough charisma to get things done. If Presidents of TBTK come and go, Lik-Lik Schoeder stays. She is a virtual necessity.

       This interview took place at the Garcia Museum at 8:00 AM last July 10, Friday. With Rose Soy and ten others, he was a “hands-on” manager cleaning the site that has already shown signs of neglect. She believes the memorabilia of The Greatest Boholano is a legacy everybody owes to the succeeding generations.   

LMP: When did you arrive from the States?

CMS: I left San Francisco on April 27. I was in Manila on April 29. I arrived here  in Tagbilaran on the same day, because I really wanted to attend the  fiesta.

LMP: But your main objective is TBTK?

CMS: Yes, my main objective is to follow-up the activities of TBTK, being the  over-all Coordinator of the movement.

LMP: You have been doing this for TBTK?

CMS: Yes, since the time of Nick Lopez.

LMP: Why not just you becoming the President of TBTK? That is basically the  job of the President?

CMS: One thing is, I don’t want any position that many people will be aware of,  especially in media. I want that my job will be “behind the scene”  only.

LMP: But even if you say “behind the scene”, you have been doing many  things months before July. You have been spending your own money,  your transportation, everything… that is a very big blow to the pocket.

CMS: Yes, but I’ am doing it for the love of Bohol, since I was born here in  Tagbilaran.

LMP: Anyway, because of that love of Bohol, why not you as a President?

CMS:  No, I don’t want to accept the position. Let’s just give it to the others  who are interested in that position.

LMP: This is the 4th TBTK and every TBTK there is always a head of everybody  else. It seems as if you are the reception committee of one person. And  do even this cleaning right now. 

CMS: Actually I made the schedule a year ahead, because you know, in America  you have to plan ahead, especially a big family. That’s the reason why the  schedule of TBTK is in July because it’s the school vacation of the  students in the States. They want to bring their children, they want to  come back here as a family.

LMP: On this 4th TBTK, who are those who are expected?

CMS:  The Lapez family I saw here in Tagbilaran the Borja family, Rocha  family,  and also our first Mrs. Bohol International which is Inday Sarabosing- Parras, the wife of Justin, also with her whole family. Then I came across  last week a group from Australia who registered, and also from Hong  Kong and other foreign countries.     

LMP: You are the one coordinating with them even before you came here in  Bohol?

CMS: Yes, being the TBTK coordinator, together with Betty Veloso, the  Chairperson and Cora from New Jersey. We’re sending letters to update  them about the schedule. 

LMP: Are you expecting that there will be more people from abroad coming to  TBTK this year than before?

CMS:  I think so, because this the first time the Boholanos from Europe will join  the celebration; and also from the Middle East and Africa. TBTK is  not  just for the couple but for all the Boholanos and friends.

LMP: But there is one thing that is very obvious. There was a CONBUSAC  Convention in Seattle last week, and you missed it.

CMS: Yes, I missed it.

LMP: In favor of TBTK here?

CMS: Actually, CONBUSAC is supposed to be scheduled this week, so we  thanked the President of CONBUSAC Carlos Caga-anan because they re- scheduled the conference earlier.

LMP: But the CONBUSAC last year was made in August.

CMS: The reason the CONBUSAC was made last year is because there was no  TBTK.

LMP: So, TBTK is supposed to come ahead of the schedule?

CMS: It depends; like next year there will be no TBTK, for we only have it every  3 years. CONBUSAC is every year.

LMP: In the Florida Convention of CONBUSAC, it was made clear that TBTK is a  movement and CONBUSAC is the organization, what is the connection as  of now between CONBUSAC and TBTK?

CMS: We coordinated with the officers of the CONBUSAC about the  activities and events. 

LMP: Is Nick Lopez coming?

CMS: I haven’t talked to him, but Betty told me that some of the CONBUSAC people are coming.

LMP: How about Betty, when is she coming here?

CMS: Betty will arrive today; she’s taking care of the Journal.

LMP: Will she be there for the Malacañang visit?

CMS: Yes.

LMP: How about you?

CMS: I cannot go this time; I will be here because some Boholanos will be here and not all of the balikbayans will go to Manila with the whole family. I think I should be here when they arrive.

LMP: You will meet them at the airport?

CMS: Not actually at the airport, we will go to the Registration Center at Metro Centre Hotel.

LMP: So, you also become the registrar?

CMS: Yes, I will be there. I am just directing what to do and help the others.

LMP: What are the highlights of TBTK this year? What would you consider as one thing that has not been done before which you are doing now?

CMS: We scheduled activities that were not done before. We want the Boholanos to enjoy their vacation here in Bohol. We coordinated with the Bohol Sandugo group and we’re proud that Sandugo has a Bohol Day Celebration.

LMP: From the TBTK point of view, what would you consider as the most important, the highlight?

CMS: The most important is, we invite all the Boholanos and not only Boholanos but also their friends. We want to promote Tourism, we want to invest. We have lots of events here, we started the Malacañang visit, and on 15 the registration, the Mrs. Bohol International Coronation will be on the 17.

LMP: How many candidates do you have?

CMS: We have 8 candidates.

LMP: Is it the same as before when money was involved?

CMS:  Actually, the money paid is for the registration. Even me, I registered. Our registration for the Mrs. TBTK is the only event that involves money.

LMP: What are your beneficiaries this year?

CMS: Our beneficiary this year is Partners Intervention, the kids who are abused. There are 20 kids, the youngest is 5 years old and the oldest is 15. I went there 3 times already and I feel bad with the living condition of the kids. In July 16, we will bring all the candidates to the place; I just want them to see the situation.

LMP: Basically one reason for the TBTK is to help.

CMS: Yes, we want to help. The abused children really need some help. I want them to be comfortable in their living conditions right now. These kids have a project, using the rubber slippers, where they put some beads to make them look nice. And sell each pair at P100.

LMP: As of now, is this a private entity or of the Government?

CMS: Actually it’s the Province’s, I invited some officials.

LMP: With donations from the private sector?

CMS: Yes. We cannot take pictures with the kids to protect them because some of them have in court cases. I was really touched.

LMP: So, the proceeds of Mrs. TBTK will be for the kids?

CMS: Yes, but not at all.

LMP: How about Ms. Bohol International, are you expecting surplus money?

CMS: The one in charge of the Ms. Bohol is the Bohol Chocolate Hills Jaycees. They are the ones who organized it. I know that they also have projects. The money we collect for the TBTK is not that big. We pay for the dinner, production, and other expenses.

LMP: People who have not been involved in any preparation would only come to surface and enjoy?

CMS: Yes, but they think that we have millions of money in TBTK. Some of the money will go to the beneficiaries.

LMP: When will this be held?

CMS: On July 17 at Metro Centre Hotel.

LMP: How about Ms. Bohol International?

CMS: It will be held at the Holy Name University Gym.

LMP: There was a time when I asked Ms. Yorong about the Coronation, and she mentioned about Calape.

CMS: Yes, I heard, that but we hold it here in Tagbilaran because there’s the problem of transportation if it will be held in Calape.

LMP: So, everything is settled?

CMS: Yes, with the help of the Almighty God, guiding me what to do. And people who helped me. I’m doing this for my love of Bohol, I just want o help and coordinate. Tagbilaran now is really different than before.

LMP: You are expecting that this TBTK now will a big success?

CMS: Yes, it will be a big success if we work together. Teamwork is very important, we want to welcome everybody. We want to show our love to the people.

LMP: What’s the schedule?

CMS: On July 20th, Monday and Tuesday there will be a Medical Mission, a  reunion of Holynamians in Metro Centre. The special guest will be Giselle  Sanchez. And also the reunion of University of Bohol. In Tuesday, it’s the  reunion of the Bohol Provincial School of Nursing, BIT and Bohol High  School, and in July 24, 7’oclock will be a basketball game at HNU Gym,  HNU vs. TBTK teens and movie celebrities led by Cesar Montano and a  local team. And in the 21st there is a Red Carpet Showing of the  “Kamoteng Kahoy”  directed by Maryo J. de los Reyes, it will be held at  the Screenville, Island City Mall.   

LMP: It must be something new. It has not happened yet in Bohol.

CMS: Yes, actually Maryo is here right now shooting the movie “Bohol, Nandito  Ako”, some of the actors and actresses are here already. We all know that  Maryo really loves Bohol. So, everybody is invited for the Red Carpet  Showing at Island City Mall. He is also inviting some artists like Gloria  Romero which is part of the movie, also Nash Aguas and Sharlene San  Pedro. It so happened, Anna Capri was here last night and with her  mother which is a daughter of a Boholano, Felipe Acharon. It is their first  time to visit here, that’s the reason why they are here.

LMP: I heard about a film festival.

CMS:  It is the movie about what happened to the children in Mabini that will be  shown in July 22nd at Island City Mall. Since Maryo would be here so, we  moved it to 21st. It would be a launching of the “Kamoteng Kahoy”.  I hope people will watch it.

LMP: Maryo is here?

CMS: Yes, he is here already preparing for the movie. He wants to promote Tourism in Bohol. It is also one of the reasons why I came home early  because I want to promote Tourism. I want to help, for the  development  of Bohol.

LMP: What is your message to the people coming from all over the world to  attend the TBTK celebration?

CMS: My message for them is that, come home and please enjoy your stay  here. There are lots of opportunities to enjoy here in Bohol. Spend time  with your families that you haven’t seen for long time, go to the beautiful  spots here where you haven’t visited yet. Enjoy and have fun in our own  place. Don’t forget to pray to God that everything will be okey.

       Being a Gallares carries with it a birthmark of competence and excellence, dating back to the yesteryears when Celestino Gallares was Governor of the Province of Bohol and Atty. Ondoy Gallares was a Boholano anchor in Malacañang. That Lik-Lik exhibits the formidable genes of achievers, could be traced to her roots.

       She has a BS in Business administration degree, Major in Economics, from the University of the East, at a time when only a few Boholanos could afford being educated in Manila. She worked at PATTS Flying School and Aeronautics Parañaque City; then at Family Savings Bank in Manila. When she learned that a branch could be opened in Tagbilaran City she requested for a transfer (to be back home), for her mother then was migrating to USA. She stayed at FSB for seven years, until she decided to go abroad. Because of her banking experience, finding a job was not a problem. She landed a good-paying job at Crocker Bank in San Francisco. When she heard of the Crocker Bank and Wells Fargo Bank Merger in Sacramento, California, she applied for a transfer and, despite 10 other aspirants (she was the only Filipina), she was the one chosen.

       In 1989, at Sacramento International airport she met Gene Schroeder. On May 2, 1992 they came to Tagbilaran and had their grand church wedding at the Saint Joseph Cathedral. They settled in Sacramento. During the 50th Anniversary of Holy Name College, she came back as the Golden Jubilee Queen, with her husband as escort.

       Life has been kind to her, she wants to share what she has. A kind-hearted philanthropist (she doesn’t like to advertise her projects), she finds TBTK an outlet for her benevolence.

By Maggie Shiels
Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley

Microsoft has fired its latest salvo at Google, announcing a free web-based version of its Office software.

Office 2010 will include lightweight versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote when it ships next year.

The new web offering will compete with Google's free online Docs suite launched three years ago.

Last week Google took aim at Windows with news of a free operating system while in June Microsoft introduced a new search engine called Bing.

"We believe the web has a lot to offer in terms of connectivity," Microsoft's group product manager for Office told the BBC.

"We have over a half a billion customers world-wide and what we hear from them is that they really want the power of the web without compromise. They want collaboration without compromise.

"And what they tell us today is that going to the web often means they sacrifice fidelity, functionality and the quality of the content they care about. We knew that if and when we were ever going to bring applications into a web environment, we needed to do the hard work first because we hold such a high bar," said Mr Bryant.

Microsoft said that 400 million customers who are Windows Live consumers will have access to the Office web applications at no cost.

Glacier, glacier, over there yonder on the sea,
To us sailors, sailwomen, captains, waiting to see
With hearts abounding, ears awaiting with glee.

Glacier, glacier, your pen and paper calling you to print, print, print,
So that we, your readers, fans, comrades, can enjoy, laugh in reverie.

So do come back, you knight of words, you.
Come back with your steed, your pen, your jolly character
to light and guide
this humble abode with lifes most wanted precious laughter.

So we call to you, Glacier, Glacier, our dear loved friend,
To cool this website from this summer's heat.

hehehehe.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has declared July 27 of this year and every year thereafter as “Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Day.”

The Chief Executive issued the declaration in keeping with Republic Act 9645, which she signed into law June 12 this year declaring the said day as a special national working holiday in recognition of the founding anniversary of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in the Philippines.

The declaration coincides with the INC’s 95th founding anniversary this year.

The group had its beginnings in 1914 in Punta Sta. Ana, Manila inspired by the preaching of Felix Y. Manalo whom this church recognizes as God’s Messenger.

Over signing the declaration, the president congratulated the denomination in advance, on their landmark anniversary.

She likewise thanked the INC for the very active and significant roles its leaders and its members have “always played not only in the spiritual and moral formation of our people over the past several decades, but in nation-building as well.” (PIA)

An audience with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and commemorative rites at the President Carlos P. Garcia Highway (formerly C5) in Taguig City this Tuesday July 14 top bills the Manila leg of the Tigum Bol-anon sa Tibuok Kalibutan (TBTK) before homecoming balikbayans fly to Bohol for the celebrations.

Boholano organization based in Manila, the Boholano Association of Metro Manila Inc. (BAMMI) through its president ascertains that the crowd of balikbayans could also attend the wreath laying rites at the foot of the monument of Boholano and former Philippine President Carlos P. Garcia in Taguig, Provincial administrator Tomas Abapo said during the weekly The Governor’s Reports Friday.

According to the Capitol lawyer, the Department of Tourism also invites the homecoming group for a luncheon before proceeding to the Malacanang Heroes Hall for the president’s meeting.

The TBTK however does not start in Bohol until July 16, when the formal registration and the daily activities for the homecoming start until July 26 when the group gives out recognition rites to outstanding Boholanos.

The TBTK has become a vital development partner for Bohol development with balikbayans investing their money and time to help Bohol.

Aside from the usual investment forum and business matching activity, the TBTK also puts in various medical and dental missions, related community development projects, parades, reunions, trade fairs puts in a recognition night for outstanding residents or balikbayans.

On the recognition night of the TBTK July 26, the governor is reportedly handing out the prestigious Datu Sikatuna Award to ten outstanding Boholanos, says Capitol spokesperson June Blanco.

This as Boholanos await the biennial homecoming of Boholanos to discuss on development initiatives and possibly fund some of the priority projects here as identified by the provincial Government.

The TBTK was a concept made into reality when past local leaders saw the need to engage the private sector, especially better-off Boholanos abroad to help the government fund development here.

Following the first successful gatherings, investors have been coming in droves confident that the money they invest here is well managed by a tandem of the government and private sector partners. (PIA)

While reports have been sketchy, Capitol sources have revealed Malacanang’s confirmation of the attendance of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (PGMA) to the 155th Foundation Anniversary and Bohol Day celebration this July 22.

“We received a communication from the Office of the President through assistant secretary Ronald M. Jorvis confirming the attendance of the president,” Provincial Administrator Tomas Abapo relayed to the media during the weekly Governor’s Reports.

Earlier, Bohol local officials led by Governor Erico Aumentado and Vice Governor Julius Caesar Herrera have aired the desire to have the president as guest of honor and speaker to the Bohol Day in 2009.

When the president comes, it would be her second this year; she was here last April 1 to launch the Samasama para sa Kalikasan youth environment program and this time for the Bohol Day.

Governor Erico Aumentado, who has been so vocal about the President’s support for the infrastructure development drastically helping change the economic landscape in Bohol has called the Arroyo as the patroness for Bohol’s development and progress.

In fact, in recognition to PGMA’s outstanding contribution to the over-all development of the province, Bohol officials are reported to hand the Datu Sikatuna Award of Excellence to the President when she comes, Capitol spokesperson June Blanco revealed. 

The President is also expected to formally launch a project here called Skills Training Advocating Reliance and Self-employment (STARS), which is targeted to generate at least 22,180 more jobs in the rural areas here.

Seeing the project as in line with the government’s economic resiliency plan by starting employment, the president has reportedly committed P13M from her social funds which counterparts Bohol sourced funds to get the project going.

The P13M from the President forms half of the amount needed to keep the project moving, Capitol sources said.

On the other hand, PGMA is also set to inaugurate the multi million Bohol Diagnostic Center at Dao District in this city. (PIA)

List of Cheap Pension House / Inn / Lodging House in Tagbilaran, Bohol

Please share your own list. Please include the rate if you know it.

Another window of opportunity opens for Boholano local and overseas job seekers this Saturday July 18, as the Capitol based Bohol Employment and Placement Office (BEPO) brings back a job fair at the Island City Mall.

Job applicants however need to pre-register at the BEPO, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Municipal PES Offices to be able to secure gate passes, says an advisory from Romulo Tagaan, BEPO head.

Similar job fairs in the past also run from 8:00 to 5 PM, and this time, with the fair incorporated with the annual Sandugo activities, a bigger crowd is expected, organizers said.

Organized by the Provincial government through the BEPO, DOLE, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the municipal government’s employment offices, the fair has become a priority project of Capitol under Governor Erico Aumentado and Vice Gov. Julius Caesar Herrera to bring employment opportunities closer to the people.

According to Tagaan, target sectors include information communication technologists, engineering and construction, Medical and dental services, hospitals and allied health services, sports and physical fitness, hotels and restaurants workers, building maintenance, housekeeping, merchandising, seafaring and general administrative services.   

BEPO did not however detail on the number of employers and agencies coming but past similar activities unroll several chances as agencies and manning consultants tend their separate tables at the fair grounds.

Over these, Tagaan asks applicants to come to the fair in a business attire, pre-registered and bringing in as many copies of their relevant employment documents to make use of the different agencies who are looking at prospects of hiring.

This too as the country has given its all out support to starting the small engines of development in the country sides by opening credit access to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to start as many jobs.

Since the government has stepped on the gas in giving emergency employment and livelihood, the country’s unemployment rate has dropped from 8% in April last year to 7.5% this year.

In fact, elated over the vast local employment generated by these jobs matching activities, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has said there is a great patriotism in setting up businesses that give jobs and feed the stomachs and spirit of our countrymen and their families. (PIA)

Let's build an encyclopaedia of Bisaya/Cebuano words that cannot be translated into English.

tinigib = refers to a variety of corn
lawog-baboy = refers to the maturity stage of a coconut shell

What do you think of this year's TBTK? Please share your thoughts...

By MARK KENNEDY
Associated Press Writer

Michael Jackson's glimmering casket took center stage at the Staples Center, sitting for more than two hours as celebrities memorialized the King of Pop under the watchful eyes of millions. And when the ceremony was over, it was gone.

By law, the golden casket that presumably held Jackson's body should be exactly where his death certificate says it is: back at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills cemetery, the site of a private family memorial service held before the Staples ceremony. Los Angeles County records show the cemetery as the temporary location, where it must stay until those records are officially updated.

But where Jackson's body will eventually be laid to rest remained a mystery, fed by the same level of rumor and speculation that surrounded much of his life. Will he be interred at Forest Lawn? Is Neverland Ranch still a possibility?

What if he's not buried at all, but cremated? The family isn't talking - and may not even have decided yet.

The casket was first seen leaving the mortuary at Forest Lawn, where it got into a hearse for the 10-mile trip to the Staples Center. But before the service even started, the hearse was seen leaving the facility - empty - and wasn't spotted again.

But to keep in good standing with the law, the casket would have needed to return to Forest Lawn at some point, presumably after the crowds went home and the television cameras were long gone.

By PATRICIO G. BALONA
Staff Writer

A woman raking her yard this morning was attacked by a man who tried to rape her, prompting her to yell at him that she was an octogenarian, police said.

"I'm 80 years old, what's wrong with you!" police said the woman yelled.

The suspect pushed the woman to the ground, removed her shorts and tried to have sex with her, said police spokesman Jimmie Flynt.

According to Flynt, the woman was raking leaves in her yard near Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard at 8:30 a.m. when she was approached by the suspect. The woman thought the man was going to offer to help her but when the suspect got closer, she noticed his face was covered with a bandana.

The would-be rapist grabbed the woman by the arms and pushed her toward a shed in the backyard. When the victim started to scream, the suspect covered her mouth with his hand and continued to push her toward the shed, Flynt said. Once behind the shed, he pushed her to the ground, removed her shorts and unsuccessfully tried to have sex with the woman, Flynt said.

Police were called at 11:30 a.m. after the woman confided in her friend what had happened. The friend urged her to call the police, Flynt said.

The victim suffered injuries to he the right side of her torso where the suspect grabbed her, Flynt said.

The suspect is described as man in his 40s, 5 feet 7 inches tall and of medium build. He was last seen wearing a blue and white horizontally striped polo shirt. The suspect had dark jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Elaina Golsen at 386-671-5205.
   
source: www.news-journalonline.com

A British judge sentenced a 76-year-old man to jail for calling for an ambulance more than 40 times to complain about a sore throat. Walter Emms, 76, of Firmley, Surrey, was given six months in custody this week after pleading guilty to two counts of causing a public nuisance and violating conditions of a suspended sentence for similar actions in a previous case.

The Daily Telegraph said Wednesday the sentence capped a brief but intense war of words between Emms and ambulance dispatchers who insisted that a sore throat was not something that required transport to an emergency room.

source: www.us97.com

A rural town in Australia has voted overwhelmingly to ban the sale of bottled water over concerns about its environmental impact.

Campaigners say Bundanoon, in New South Wales, may be the first community in the world to have such a ban.

They say huge amounts of resources are used to extract, package and transport bottled water.

The discarded plastic bottles then end up as litter or go into landfill sites, the "Bundy on Tap" campaign says.

More than 350 residents turned out to vote at the public meeting in the town hall.

Only one resident voted against the ban, along with a representative from the bottled water industry, ABC news reported. - BBC

By Maggie Shiels
Technology reporter, BBC News, Silicon Valley

Google is developing an operating system (OS) for personal computers, in a direct challenge to market leader Microsoft and its Windows system.

Google Chrome OS will be aimed initially at small, low-cost netbooks, but will eventually be used on PCs as well.

Google said netbooks with Chrome OS could be on sale by the middle of 2010.

"Speed, simplicity and security are the key aspects of Google Chrome OS," the firm said in its official blog.

The operating system, which will run on an open source licence, was a "natural extension" of its Chrome browser, the firm said.

The news comes just months before Microsoft launches the latest version of its operating system, called Windows 7.

Many of us struggle with themâ€"postponement problems. A professor at the University of Calgary in Alberta studied the problem of procrastination for 5 years and reported that 95 percent of us put off doing one thing or another. One estimate showed that Americans lose approximately $400 million a year by putting off filing taxes! Because of fear of failure or other insecurities, we wait and wait before starting a project or making a decision.

Procrastination is a problem in the church too. Many of us postpone serving God. We know we should reach out to others, but we feel insecure or worried about what to do. Because we’re unsure of our gifts or interests, we put off our involvement in the church. We worry, What if I do a poor job? What if I find out I can’t even do it?

Romans 12 gives us some encouragement. Serving starts with presenting ourselves to God as “a living sacrifice” (v.1). Pray and give yourself anew to the Lord and His work. Then look around at what others are doing in your church and ask if you can join in. Start small if you need to, and try a number of things.

Your church needs you. Ask God to help you overcome your postponement problems.
  â€" Anne Cetas, Our Daily Bread

Right now, I have coffee in my cup. Placed next to my laptop. My work associate. ha,

Coffe is also known as : Work Associate.

Amen! This is a beautiful thread! Sing! Sing a new song~
Sing to the Lord for He is Kind and Meek.
Sing to the Lord the shouts of Praise. For he is Merciful and filled with Lovingkindness.

Sing to the Lord with voices and praise that He, in his Brilliance, has given us.
Formed in us, when we were knit by His hands in our mother's wombs.

Sing to the Lord...~

It was rather dusty outside today.
I wish it wasn't so dusty and hot this time of the year.

One can't help but to 'blow some steam' due to the heat outside.

What say you, Tubag Bolanons?

Dear Diary,

Why is it that Melrose hasn't posted in this diary? Diary, I wish Melrose would post more of her thoughts.


Humbly,

May the Lord God Bless and Comfort the bereaved families.

The Lord God is the consolation of the affected.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless and protect those who have Faith in Him.
And in Christ ALONE.

About 800 pages of the earliest surviving Christian Bible have been recovered and put on the internet.

Visitors to the website www.codexsinaiticus.org can now see images of more than half the 1,600-year-old Codex Sinaiticus manuscript.

Fragments of the 4th Century document - written in Greek on parchment leaves - have been worked on by institutions in the UK, Germany, Egypt and Russia.

Experts say it is "a window into the development of early Christianity". - BBC News

“Judge, How About in 2013?”
By Loy Palapos
Sunday Post

      Early in life Judge Suceso Araoarao Arcamo (SAA) knew that existence is never a bed of roses. He had to work hard, scrimp, and persevere through his elementary and secondary school years, labored harder while taking up Bachelor of Laws at the University of San Carlos (earning his keeps courtesy of an aunt and an elder brother), and took and passed the Bar, all these despite the odds resulting from financial needs.

      Today, Judge Arcamo can look back with his head held high for he prospered through his own sweat. It is a laurel well-earned, and a life worth-living. His odyssey took him to Butuan City, Surigao del Sur and Siquijor. Now as Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 47, Tagbilaran City he takes life in strides, knowing so fondly well that sometimes the runner stumbles.

      This interview took place at the City Hall during the 43rd Charter Day Celebration of Tagbilaran City, after a sumptuous lunch shared by hundreds of people. No more the gawking non-entity that he was several years ago, he is now an imposing albeit non-arrogant figure, that endears him to all. Remnants of the rural ways are still there, but super-imposed by an urban air of one who has known how to succeed in life.   
LMP: What is your present designation?

SAA: I’ am now the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court Branch 47, at the same time designated at the Election and Environmental Court. Now, I am Vice Executive Judge of all the Judges in Tagbilaran City, as well as, the Municipal Circuit of Judges within the territorial jurisdiction of Tagbilaran. 

LMP: It is been a hard and long climb before your designation as a Judge. For  some people it is unprecedented. What is this thing in you that propels  you to be an achiever?

SAA: It’s maybe because of my family background. We’re not born on a silver platter. My father was just a mere public school teacher and  my mother was a plain housewife. So, I was really financially hard-up during my studies; that’s why I endeavored to study hard to become a  Lawyer; and ultimately now, as a Regional Trial Court Judge, from being a Fiscal for about 10 years.

LMP: It follows that when it comes to making a place in the sun being poor is never a reason to be down. In your case it has become an inspiration. Now, that you have attained your goals, have this perspective changed?

SAA: No, it still remains, I’ m still down-to-earth and a humble guy. As a matter of fact, every weekend, we go home to Panglao and meet my relatives there, as if I’ m not a Residing Judge. I consider myself as the same as before… an ordinary guy.

LMP: So, you believe that looking back is really something that makes you a  real man, that you don’t forget your roots?

SAA: Yes, because there is a saying that “Ang taong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay walang patutunguhan” so, I never consider myself, my status as a presiding judge, to be superior to the others.

LMP: We understand that you had a lot of hardships along the way before you passed the Bar.

SAA: I finished my College of Law course at the University of San Carlos. It does not mean that just because I was able to study in Cebu, we were well-off. On the contrary I was a working student in the house of my aunt in Cebu City. Early in the morning I was to polish the floors and do errands.

LMP: Would you like to consider yourself a self-made man?

SAA: I consider myself a self-made man because through hard work I was  able to climb and achieve what I wanted in life.

LMP: Basically, you are a Boholano, during your growing up years, especially the formative years and up to now, what have you noticed about Bohol and Tagbilaran? Has there been a lot of changes?

SAA: Of course, there are lots of changes. Before, when I was still a student of Holy Name University, during my high school days, there was no night life. We were just contented playing, had a little drink during our college days. Unlike now there are big stores and malls, etc.

LMP: Would you consider that as a part of progress?

SAA: Yes, that is part of progress, it’s part of the modern life.

LMP: On the Economic side, what kind of changes have you observed throughout  these years especially that you were assigned one time in Siquijor?

SAA: Tagbilaran City in particular and Bohol in general, are very progressive city  and province, as of now compared to my student days, I have been in  Bohol since 1986 after the EDSA revolution. After becoming a lawyer, I  was working in Mindanao.

LMP: What part in Mindanao?

SAA: In Surigao as a City Legal Officer. During the 1980 election, I was  elected as Counselor.

LMP: What particular municipality?

SAA: Cagwait, Surigao del Sur. Then after that I transferred to Davao City because I was offered a good paying job by my classmate in San Carlos. After two years, I was hired by the City Mayor of Butuan as his City Legal Officer then City Administrator when EDSA took over.

LMP: And during these assignments it is expected that you have learned a lot?

SAA: Of course, when I came back to Bohol, I found out that Bohol is my  place to stay.

LMP: What was your first assignment?

SAA: As an aftermath of the EDSA revolution, my boss the City Mayor of Butuan,  was also replaced. When the EDSA Revolt took place, Atty. Sylvestre Bello III became an Under Secretary of  Justice, so I resigned as a City Legal Officer. Then luckily  through my  friend I was transferred to Bohol as Third Assistant City  Fiscal of Tagbilaran City, I took my oath as Fiscal before the OIC Mayor of Tagbilaran, Mayor Dan Neri Lim.   

LMP: How long ago was that? How long did you stay as a fiscal?

SAA: From October 1986 to August 1996, ten years.

LMP: And then you became a Judge after that.

SAA: I assumed office on August 20, 1996 as Presiding Judge in the Regional  Trial Court Branch 46 in Larena Siquijor.

LMP: How long did you stay there?

SAA: For 9 years. I was transferred to Bohol last July 2005.

LMP: Was it a promotion?

SAA: No, it was a lateral transfer after the demise of the Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 47.

LMP: What’s the difference as far as stress and; obstacles are concerned  between a Fiscal and a Judge?

SAA: As an Assistant City Fiscal, there was only little stress because all you had to do was to prosecute the case in court then leave everything to the Judge to decide. All you have to do was to present evidence and present witnesses. So, the job of an Assistant City Fiscal was less stressful as compared to the Judge. The Judge is the one who presides and hears the case; then decides the case based on the merits. The hardest part is to prepare a decision. All decisions are always supported with strong evidence; if they don’t agree with my decision then they have the right to appeal to the higher court.

LMP: What can you say about public governance?

SAA: Personally, I’m not in a consonance with the system of governance which they have now. There are traditional politicians who want to perpetuate themselves in power and going to the extent of establishing a dynasty.

LMP: So, you are anti-dynasty?

SAA: Of course.

LMP: But then even if you are, there are still lots of people, the same family  running for offices because they’ve got a lot of money and influence. They  still win. What can we do about it?

SAA: That is the weakness and problem of our electoral process. It is discouraging to enter into politics, even if you are highly qualified but you have no resources, especially the funds. You will lose to a mere high school or elementary graduate who is loaded with money.

LMP: Is there a way to change this system?

SAA: Well it is really hard because it is already the culture of our  people. Like for an example the politics in Panglao. I’ m a native of Panglao. If you have no money, no funds, you will not win. You lose against an opponent who has not even finished high school.

LMP: What is heard from the media is, there are a lot of clamor especially in  Panglao for a change of administration, and in fact many people have  been mentioning your name. How do you react to that situation?   

SAA: Well, even now that I’ m an RTC Judge I still remain a humble and friendly person. In short I have the character of a politician, but the sad thing is that, I cannot sacrifice my position as an RTC Judge to enter politics in Panglao.

LMP: Can you not do it as a sacrifice? Everybody understands that it’s not a lucrative job, but for the sake of the welfare of the community, can you not do a some good Samaritan act, sacrificing a little even for a short duration of time, not forever?

SAA: Could be in some distant future… not now.

LMP: What have you noticed about Tagbilaran as a progressive city?

SAA: Tagbilaran City, is really an envy to other cities. It is excellent, there’s the saying “Res Epsa Loquitor” “the thing speaks for itself”. If you go around Tagbilaran City, you will see big establishments sprouting throughout the City; for example is the City Square. For 14 years it was idle. Now, it is a modern and spanking shopping mall. Tagbilaran might be small in area but it is big in terms o business establishments, we have 3 shopping malls, Plaza Marcela, ICM, BQ, not to mention the other business establishments all over the city. 

LMP: So you believe that Tagbilaran has a very bright future?

SAA: Yes. I believe that Tagbilaran is in good hands.

LMP: When you say in good hands meaning to say, it is well governed?

SAA: Yes.

LMP: And the present governance is something that is acceptable to the  people?

SAA: Yes, as what we heard all over the radio.

LMP: How about the critics of the Mayor? Even if how good you are, you cannot please them all.

SAA: Of course, critics will come, as long as it is for the sake of the welfare of  the Tagbilaranon not just for their own.

LMP: But you cannot help it, critics also have their own self-interest, particularly in politics, because moves could be politically motivated. How can you get rid of that?

SAA: Criticisms are good so long as it is constructive, you cannot really get rid  of it, otherwise the people would just be considered as robots.

LMP: Is it possible to get rid of it?

SAA: It can be minimized or lessen but not altogether removed.

LMP: Today is the 43rd Charter Day of Tagbilaran City, what can you see about  the future of Tagbilaran?

SAA: Tagbilaran has a good and bright future as a City, especially  in terms of the quality of life of the residents. As long as Tagbilaran is administered by a person who has the interest of the poor, then Tagbilaran will grow.

LMP: What do you expect to become to Tagbilaran 10 years from now?

SAA: 10 years from now, I believe Tagbilaran is not anymore a component city  but a highly urbanized city in terms of resources, population and progress.

LMP: As long as the kind of governance goes on?

SAA: I hope so, that the present administration will be equaled in the future. Everybody can be a good administrator so long as he focuses on the interest of the people.

      In Panglao where Judge Arcamo is from, the grapevine is rife with a rumor that he has been approached by well-meaning individuals enticing him to run for the position of Municipal Mayor. He has not denied the rumor, now has he watered-down the speculation of many Panglaoanon that he is the individual who could change the political climate of the town. As everybody knows, the situation of the island Municipality leaves much to be desired, with the tag-of-war that has left the population totally exasperated.

      Although Judge Arcamo has made it clear that joining the political frenzy now is like striking a hammer into his own head, he has made it understood that he may change his stand in the not so distant future. For instance, in 2013, when he may avail of early retirement, when he would have the time to concentrate on a political career for the good of his town-folks.

      But as of now, what people have speculated is a tall order. That time will come, and during that time he would be ready.

    There are three things that the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) wants to hear during Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s state-of-the-nation-address (Sona).
    “First, that she will abandon all efforts to convene Congress into a constituent assembly; second, that she will step down in 2010; and third, that she is not running for any position, not congresswoman or even municipal councilor in the 2010 elections,” Bayan-Bohol said in a statement.
    To the militant group, “that is all that matters”.
    “That’s all we want to hear from PGMA,” said John Ruiz III, Bayan-Bohol secretary general.
    Quoting Bayan Muna Rep. Teodoro Casiño, Ruiz said this is all Bayan wants to hear from Pres. Arroyo.
    “She should make her last Sona short and sweet. Enough of her lies,” Casiño said in a separate press statement.
    The militant lawmaker said the President’s alter egos in Malacañang do not need to fool the people about a “resilient Philippine economy”, the “improved fight against corruption” and her “numerous achievements.
    “PGMA’s claims of economic development are obviously far from reality,” Casiño’s statement concluded.
    Citing the nationwide disgust for Pres. Arroyo and her administration, Ruiz said the three things people want to hear from her is the least that she can do to spare the people of more inconvenience during the Sona.

source: Sunday Post

By JUNE S. BLANCO

Bohol stands to get seven new bridges under the Urgent Bridges Construction Project for Rural Development (UBCPRD) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

  In a letter to Gov. Erico Aumentado, Project Engineers Edgardo Tarriela Jr. and Edmundo Mangaoil said the “flagship project” of the government is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with the DPWH-President’s Bridge Program as the implementing office.

  Katahira and Engineers International (KEI) will undertake the construction supervision while the Toyo-Tobishima Joint Venture is the contractor.

  Aumentado who is still in the United States as guest speaker during the 13th biennial convention of the Confederation of Boholanos, USA and Canada, Inc. (Conbusac) had welcomed the development.

  He said the bridges will make travel easier and safer, accelerate the bringing of farm products to the market, cut travel time especially from one town to the next and to tourist destinations as well.

  The Bago Creek 1 and Bago Creek 2 bridges in Buenavista town along the Junction Loay Interior Road (LIR)-Buenavista-Carmen-Danao-Getafe Road will be 14.8 meters and 20.8 meters long respectively, single-span integral reinforced concrete deck girder (RCDG) type on concrete pile foundation on both abutments. A total of 162 meters of Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) roadway will also be constructed on the approaches of both bridges.

  Along the same road will be the 12.56-meter Lubang Bridge, single-span concrete flat slab type on spread footing foundation, with 159.34 meters of PCCP approach roadway, as well as the 15.8-meter single-span integral RCDG type Malid Bridge with 144.2 meters of PCCP approach roadway.

  On the other hand, along the LIR are the Wahig and the Quinoguitan bridges. The former will be a 63.66-meter three-span Pre-Stressed Concrete Deck Girder (PCDG) bridge on reinforced concrete pile foundation on both abutments and spread footing type foundation at piers 1 and 2 with a 241.34-meter PCCP approach roadway.

  The latter is only 25.7 meters, single-span steel, H-beam on spread footing type foundation on both abutments with 214.3 meters of PCCP approach roadway.

  Meanwhile, the Moawa Bridge on the Carmen-Sagbayan-Bacani Road is 30.8 meters long, single-span integral PCDG type with concrete pile foundation on both abutments. It will have a 249.2-meter PCCP approach roadway.

      Municipal employees of Baclayon have to expect higher take-home pays in the next payday after the Sangguniang Bayan passed a resolution pushing for the implementation of salary increase as the town notched up to a fourth class municipality.

      During its regular session on June 15, SB approved a resolution authorizing Baclayon Mayor Alvin Uy to implement the upgrading of the salaries of municipal officials and employees based on the standard of a fourth class municipal level.

      As a support, the SB also passed another resolution in their next regular session the following week, appropriating funds for its implementation, through a supplemental budget in the amount of P3,352,410.45.

      In the municipal budget officer’s recent presentation about the budget for personal services during a committee meeting showed that the municipality can afford to implement the new salary rates of municipal officials and employees at the standard of a fourth class municipal.

      The computation showed that the 55 percent personal services for calendar year 2007 amounted to P13,556,927.51, while the 55 percent personal services for calendar year 2009 amounted to P12,650,618.48.

      In his resolution, Municipal Councilor Romulo Balangkig cited that the figures indicate a difference of P906,309.03 which showed that the municipality met the 55 percent PS regulation.

      Upon the motion of Councilor Balangkig, SB approved the resolution as seconded in mass.

      In their regular session on June 22, the SB members approved a resolution appropriating P3,352,410.45 as Supplemental Budget No. 1 for calendar year 2009.

      The resolution, also authored by Councilor Balangkig, cited the need to appropriate additional funding for additional projects and programs for the development and maintenance of the municipality and for adjustment of salaries of officials and employees from fifth class municipality to a fourth class municipality standard.

      The resolution cited that the municipality has identified additional income in the amount of P3,039,304.19 from the General Fund Surplus for calendar year 2008 and P313,106.26 from the surplus of the market operations for calendar year 2008 or a total savings of P3,352.410.45.

      On motion of Councilor Balangkig and as seconded also in mass, the SB approved the resolution which means making available the amount of P3,039,304.19  from the General Fund Surplus for CY 2008 and the amount of P313,106.26 from the surplus of the market operations for CY 2008.

      The resolution also allocates funding for additional programs, projects and salaries of officials and employees of the local government unit as stated in the Statement of Supplemental Appropriation of Supplemental Budget 1 of 2009 attached to the ordinance.

source: Sunday Post

     THE Office of the municipal local government operations officer of Tubigon, in coordination with the municipal government, conducted its annual Gabay sa Mamamayan Action Center (GMAC) evaluation in the 34 barangays of the town on June 9-18.

      The MLGOO conducted ocular inspection, on-site observation and evaluation of the barangays and GMACs, interview and discussion with barangay officials of the 34 barangays.

      MLGOO Ma. Sharon Marimon-Halasan initiated this annual event, in line with DILG’s roles and functions in the LGUs.

      Moreover, the evaluation has been designed to enhance the capability of the barangays in their daily operations and in the performance of their functions.

      The output of the evaluation serves as guide in improving the systems adopted by the barangays in their operations and in delivering their services to the people.

      Mayor Luna Piezas facilitated the funding for the conduct of the evaluation in the municipal level.   

source: Sunday Post 

      Three island barangays in the municipality of Tubigon received P600-thousand worth of grants from the Department of Labor and Employment.

      On behalf of Bilangbilangan, Barangay Captain Rogelio Obguia received P206,000, while Mocaboc Barangay Captain Rogelio Ybañez received P200,000 for is barangay and Bagongbanwa  Barangay  Captain Jovencia  Heluano received P194,000 for his barangay.

      The financial assistance was intended for the fish cage projects of the three island barangays.

      Beneficiaries of the project were overwhelmed upon the seeing their dream come true after years of waiting.

      Tubigon Mayor Luna Piezas hosted the event’s guests that included Department of Labor and Employment and the Office Regional Director Elias Cayanong, DOLE-Bohol Provincial Head Nelson Cenas, OWWA OIC Director May Cordillo,  POEA Director Evelia Durato.

source: Sunday Post

Drinking five cups of coffee a day could reverse memory problems seen in Alzheimer's disease, US scientists say.

The Florida research, carried out on mice, also suggested caffeine hampered the production of the protein plaques which are the hallmark of the disease.

Previous research has also suggested a protective effect from caffeine.

But British experts said the Journal of Alzheimer's disease study did not mean that dementia patients should start using caffeine supplements. - BBC News

     Labor Regional Director Elias Cayanong made the first jobs fair in Tubigon last July 1 at the town cultural center a significant event to start the celebration-packed month of July.

      The Department of Labor and Employment and the Office of Tubigon Mayor Luna Piezas sponsored the event.

      Cayanong, who represented DOLE Undersecretary for Policy, Program and International Relations Arturo Sodusta Jr., joined DOLE Provincial Head Nelson Cenas, DOLE Consultant Gerry Guidaben, DOLE Cebu Provincial Head Grace Diaz,  OWWA OIC Director May Cordillo, and POEA Director  Evelia Durato.

      The activity started at 8 am with a short program.

      Cebu-based ABSâ€"CBN news team, led by Leo Lastimosa had a full coverage of the event.

      The guests list also included Sangguniang Bayan members and department heads of the municipal government.

      Tubigon PESO Manager Marie Quider and PESO managers from the neighboring towns of Calape, Sierra-Bullones, Corella, Pilar assisted job seekers in matching their credentials with the qualifications that the agencies had set for the personnel they wanted to hire.

      Applicants were required to register first at the registration booth before they proceeded on presenting their credentials to representatives of companies.

      There were also applicants from neighboring towns who came to join the jobs fair as it was not limited to constituents of Tubigon only.

      That’s why it was published in local papers and announced through ABSâ€"CBN.

      Overseas and local agencies who participated the activity included the Mother’s Way Overseas Manpower, LEXUS Incorporated Quezon City, AL-ALAMIA International Manpower Services Inc, EMERALD International Manpower Services Corp, GRAND PLACEMENT, MIP International Manpower Services, AL- CARE Manpower Services Corporation, GBMLT Manpower Services Inc., MORI International Agency Corp., JEMSTON Global Agency, IQUEST International Manpower, IUPPâ€"Incorporated, MMLâ€"Recruitment Services Inc., Lite Shipping Corporation, Alturas Supermarket Corporation, Bohol Quality Corporation, MaryWood’s Manpower and Recruitment Services, and Mitsumi of Danao City in Cebu province.

      Among the applicants, three were hired on the spot by MMLâ€"Recruitment Services Inc. - -Cherry Lapiz and Arlene Caduyao of Tubigon, and Leonora Codiñera of Calape.

      Other applicants who were hired by other agencies still have to submit more documents. (Ghaya Astronomo â€" Castillo/MPIO-designate)

source: Sunday Post