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Phivolcs tells Bicolanos toalways be on alert on quakes

CARD Bank hones skillsof its managers in Bicol

Sergio leads donation drive for quake victims

bohol welcomes team Albay-ocD5 humanitarian mission

P-5

LAGUERTA

LEGAZPI CITY – The Philip-pine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) observatory center here has advised Bicolanos to remain on alert and vigilant anytime for no one knows when a strong earthquake will hit the region similar to one that hit Car-men town in Bohol.

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10-20-13 <www.skycrapercity.com>

NAGA CITY --- Scal-ing the devastation as one of the worst effects of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake and dubbed as one of the disastrous natural calam-ity to struck the country, Naga City Councilor Na-than Casper Sergio urged his colleagues to provide assistance to the quake victims from the provinc-

es of Bohol and Cebu now placed under the State of Calamity.

In his privilege speech dur-ing the Sangguniang Panlung-sod session on Wednesday, Sergio submitted an urgent proposal before the members of the august body to support his suggestion to implore the assistance of other organiza-

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by NANcY i. MeDiAViLLo

LEGAZPI CITY – The province of Bohol welcomed the six-service humanitar-ian mission of the Team Al-bay-Offi ce of Civil Defense 5, Albay's tenth assistance project to local government units hit by natural calami-ties, Dr. Cedric Daep, Albay Public Safety and Emer-gency Offi ce chief, told the

PNA in an emailed state-ment on Saturday.

Governor Edgardo M. Chatto said the mission is a big help to areas in the prov-ince hit by a magnitude-7.2 earthquake on Tuesday.

“It further strengthens the sisterhood relations between Bohol and Albay,” Chatto said.

In a briefi ng held Fri-day between Team Albay-OCD5 and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) of Bohol, Daep disclosed the com-position and the services brought by the team to the province.

He said the team is com-posed of 49 members.

The fi rst batch is a 13-man contingent from the Philippine Navy and Phil-ippine Army; the second batch composed of fi ve men from the Governor’s Of-fi ce, Bicol Regional Train-ing and Teaching Hospital, Provincial Health Offi ce and Provincial Engineering Offi ce.

The third batch consists of 23 personnel from Al-

bikol reporter2 october 20-26, 2013opinion

The budgetary impasse is crucial

to the economies of the world - considering that the US is the leader of the industrial nations. As of now, the developing countries are the ones already feeling the adversities of the US financial partial shutdown. The global stock markets are showing jitters even as investors are keeping their funds closer to their chests. Stock prices all around are gradually on the downtrend.

BIR RDOs: With one surprise mighty stroke of her pen – BIR Commissioner Kim Henares reshuffled the nationwide roster of district officers. RDO transfers involved travel orders that uprooted district key persons – some of them from Luzon to Southern Philippines, and from the Visayas to Luzon or to Mindanao. Complaints from the involved officers were not heard – but what they gasped about were the high collection goals assigned to them.

The excellent BIR record is not coming in easy – as far as the district people are concerned. Tax men are mandated to go out and meet

taxpayers they want to collect from. Tax-mapping sessions are being conducted to flush out businessmen who are evading taxes. The most effective BIR instrument is the Relief System whereby data submitted by third parties (buyers/suppliers) are used to counter the info in the taxpayers’ returns, resulting in computed deficiency taxes.

INC POWER: The last elections in Quezon Province showed the incumbent governor defeating his INC-supported adversary. He proved to all and sundry that he can win despite the solid endorsement by the INC of his opponent. Observers are saying his victory is now being frustrated by the powers-that-be through budget squeeze. As of now the Provincial Treasury is almost dried up and some vital projects usually funded from the national budget may have to be cancelled.

The situation in Lucena City is different. The INC-supported candidate dethroned the Talaga clan in the city. Another Alcala is now congressman of Quezon’s second district. So, infrastructure projects in Quezon Province are now executed – courtesy of the governor’s political opponents. In recognition of the INC-support, many applicants in offices are being hired to fill up confidential positions using CVs with the magic note “INC member”.

WISDOM: The fruit of noble struggles is a glorious one; and unfailing is the root of understanding.

(Atty. APA – chairs Acyatan & Co., CPAs-DFK International – is PICPA past president and Hall-of-Famer, past chair of ASEAN Federation of CPAs, and ACPAPP Lifetime Achievement Awardee).

POLITICS: The current congressional haggling over the US budget has caused the shutdown of many businesses including those that provide auxiliary services to government. Immigrant workers of the affected industrial and commercial establishments are now in limbo – hoping that the deadlock between the Democrat administration and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will soon be resolved.

Because of the closure of certain executive offices including the Office of Foreign Labor Certification - many companies that employ foreign workers face hardships once the service windows are reopened. Foreign workers with valid working visa face the hardship of having their visa reprocessed even as their employers will have to file new applications to be allowed to hire foreign workers. All because the US partisan politicians refuse to compromise their positions

US DEFAULT: Business and financial leaders of the biggest economies are urging the US government leaders to act quickly in settling their differences to avoid possible default in their maturing obligations.

The US political deadlock has delayed the approval of the annual budget even as Congress has put on hold the proposal to raise the nation’s $16.7 trillion debt cap. G20 financial leaders are asking the USA to urgently address sort term fiscal uncertainties.

lee G. Dullesco iiHead, Advertising Associates

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everyone without distinction. Mama Mary is saying “Jesus is here. I am here. The priest who said mass on TV said “Lumapit kayo sa Diyos at lalapit ang Diyos sainyo.”

It would be good if every family and every individual is prepared for any calamity, be it an earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire, etc. They should have ready emergency medicine kits, food, water, flashlights, clothing and some cash. They should now know where they should go in case of flood, earthquake and fire. In case government help comes late, we can alrelady give ourselves first aid.

* * * * * Our country is populated with many

drinkers (para inom) be they heavy drinkers or not. Even women drink alcoholic but I believe they are much less than the males. I’m writing the following about hangover to help both men and women drinkers. I got these informations from Philippine Graphic dated October 14, 2013 written by Henrilito D. Tacio in the page for health.

“A hangover is associated with a variety of symptoms that may include dehydration,

fatigue, headache and body aches. Some cases manifest vomiting, diarrhea, fatulences, weakness and elevated body temperature and heart rate.

There is no one thing that cures a hangover except time. But these are few things you can do to relieve the symptoms. Here are some of them - as listed in “ The Doctors Book of Home Remedies I and II.:

1. Drink fruit juice - a large amount of orange juice or tomato juice. Fruit juice contains a form of sugar called fructose which help the body burn alcohol faster. Fruit juices are high in vitamin C which help minimize the effects of alcohol.

2. Get help from honey. - Eating a slice of bread or cracker spread with honey or any food that’s high in fructose.

3. Sip bouillon. It can help replenish the salt, potassium and other vitamins and minerals you lose from drinking.

4. Avoid coffee. There is no scientific evidence that caffein helps a hangover. Since caffein is a diuretic, it may worsen your dehydrated state.

5. Replenish your water supply. Drink as much as you can before going to bed.

6. Don’t take aspirin before you imbibe. Taking aspirin before or during drinking increases blood alcohol concentrations, inducing a quicker and more severe state of intoxication.

7. Load up on Vitamin C. Taking Vitamin C before drinking has been shown to counteract some of the effects of alcohol in some people.

8. Eat amino acids. Eating small amount of carbohydrates will help get amino acids back in the bloodstream.”

If former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino had the Mt. Pinatubo eruptions that lasted not only for one day but a longer time. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino has the killer earthquake with 7.2 intensity that greatly damaged Central Visayas particularly the provinces of Bohol and Cebu last Tuesday.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 568,390 families or 2,841,956 people from 27 towns and three cities in Region 7 were affected. Offices, homes, buildings, heritage churches, hospitals, roads, bridges, etc. were severely damaged. It’s so pitiiful to see destructions, the fears and needs of the victims on TV. President Aquino needs to buy more helicopters for quick aid and relief operations to calamity victims. These can also be used for military operations.

The President can use his President’s Social Fund (PSF) and the PAGCOR which reportedly earned P30 billion last year, the Road Users Tax and the 4Ps (Cash Transfer Certificates) for the earthquake victims who lost their homes, lives of some members of the family and even their source of income.

What can we do? We can pray for the calamity victims beside give whatever material assistance we can give. It’s surprising if not a miracle to see two statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary “Our Lady of Light” without blemish in the rubbles of stones of the 180 year old church in Loon, Bohol as shown in the Daily Inquirer dated Oct. 17, 2013 and also Our Lady of Lourdes standing in the ruins of the Maribojoc Church in Bohol as shown in the “Tempo” of Oct. 17, 2013.

For me, this is a message of hope to

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With the barangay election just days away, barangay San Juan in Iriga City where I reside and where I have voted since I came home to my hometown I am very much enthused on how the barangay elections will turn out. In the first place, it is quite not very easy to whom my vote will be cast. Most of the candidates are people I know and know them very well to either vote or not vote for them. I really have to be very choosy, the barangay being the government unit of the place. I have seen known barangay officials who did nothing. I am not, however. referring to the local barangay officials but elsewhere. I have knowledge of barangay officials who ran if only to serve their own purposes and I am sorry for them.

In barangay San Juan, I am batting for one candidate for kagawad who is someone who will do my barangay good. She is a woman who has dedicated her life to teaching and had been outstanding in the field but now retired, I am very happy she has thrown her hat in the ring.

The name is MeLLY ALbAÑo MAtubis toLeNtiNo. A consistent scholar during her school days, she was valedictorian in her primary, salutatorian in her intermediate and with honors in her secondary education at La Consolacion Academy (now a college). Her study at the Colegio de Santa Isabel (Naga City) now a university where she was graduated her bachelor’s degree in Education (inverted course) (there was such a course) merited her a with distinction and later continuing her bachelors degree in English she was awarded cum laude, an academic excellence. She is a Master of Arts degree holder with units in doctoral education and a CSC eligible teacher. She had taught in the elementary, secondary and collegiate level and at Nabua National High School where she taught the longest, she headed the Nabua National High School Teachers and Employees Assocation.

Melly as she is fondly called is not just a teacher because she is a very concerned person in matters of service to fellow men, a concerned teacher to her students who would remember her even after many years. I am a witness to this.

The commitment of Melly to her barangay is her involvement in barangay activities like rabus, health and sanitation and children’s care are programs she desires to pursue once elected. This is my very personal reason why I am batting for her as a kagawad over other candidates.

Send Melly Tolentino to the San Juan Barangay Council and I know the constituents in the barangay will have very smooth sailing. They would be grateful she ran and made it.

bikol reporter 3october 20-26, 2013

Mayor sArioN

100-DAY REPORT CARD gbc/ArciLLA/MMec

After a quarter-year of stewardship of the province, governor Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte presented in kilometric facts and figures an impressive accomplishment report of his first 100 days in office founded on an avowed advocacy of people-oriented programs focused on growth, anti-poverty and people empowerment. A dynamic initial performance has significantly boosted the credibility of the youngest elected governor in the political history of the country who has been chosen regional chairman and vice-president for Luzon of the League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), the official organization of provincial executives of the country.

The Local Government Unit of Goa recently won the 2013 Outstanding Organic Agriculture Local government unit Awards, held recently at the Philippine international convention center. Photo shows Goa Mayor Antero Lim (third from left) receiving the plaque and the 1 million pesos facsimile check. Also in photo from left Agriculture secretary Proceso J. Alcala, undersecretary for special concerns bernadette romulo-Puyat , Municipal Agriculturist Felina sanoy, senator grace Llamanzares-Poe and oic regional executive Director Abelardo r. bragas. Arlene Dayo of the same municipality also won as the outstanding Municipal organic Focal Person. she also received a plaque and cash award of P30,000. -mabelle roa-ilan

by sALLY A. AteNto

LEGAZPI CITY – Six out of eight entries of the Bicol region in this year’s National Gawad Kalasag Search were adjudged national winners in different categories, according to the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) regional office here recently.

LEGAZPI CITY - The local media practitioners here had more than a cupful of serving of information about rice as they attended a one-day Seminar on Rice and Nutrition held in St. Ellis Hotel here on Octo-ber 18. A battery of speak-ers shared their knowledge and experiences as they ap-praised the participants on the nutritional and eco-nomic importance of rice, the healthy options avail-able in consuming rice, and the recent developments and initiatives being undertak-en both by government and other organizations to de-velop healthier rice varieties not only for this generation but also for the next.

Moreover, the participants composed of practitioners from the print and broadcast media were briefed on the rationale for the observance of the National Year of Rice (NYR) and the activities lined up for the nationwide celebration. Through the sem-inar, the media practitioners

DAET, Camarines Norte – Mayor Tito Sarion of this town has solicited support of personnel, especially the participants to the Seminar-Workshop on Newswriting and Production on October 9-11, to help revive the “Daet on the Go!” newsletter that will serve as avenue to show-case the local government's programs, projects, policies and initiatives.

Sarion urged the 27 partic-ipants of the 3-day workshop to be part of the “Daet on the Go!” newsletter of the mu-nicipal government that aims to inform, inspire and involve Daeteños in the implementa-tion of programs and projects of the municipal government.

He said that one of the objectives of the seminar-workshop is to restore the said publication of the local gov-ernment which was circulated for seven (7) years and was stopped in 2008.

The newsletter will help uplift the standard of perfor-mance in the delivery of basic services of the local govern-ment unit of Daet in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016.

He said that the “Daet on the Go!” is the flagship pro-gram slogan of a town of ac-tion with firm determination to achieve its goals and to catch its ultimate dream for

the development of the mu-nicipality.

The “Daet on the Go!” newsletter is a quarterly pub-lication and was advised by the local chief executive to resume in the last quarter of this year.

Representatives from the different line offices of the municipal government of Daet, advisers and campus writers from the selected

schools in town and members of the Daet Press Corps par-ticipated in the said training.

Resource persons basically delved on introduction to the development communication, communicating the Philip-pine Development Plan 2011-2016, the law of print media, newswriting for print and broadcast, feature story writ-ing, headline writing, copy editing, newsletter manage-ment and photo journalism.

The activity was spear-headed by the local govern-ment unit of Daet and the Philippine Information Agen-cy (PIA) in cooperation of the Daet Press Corps.

Hector Villegas of the “Kaya Natin” in his visit dur-ing the activity on the other hand shared some informa-tions of the movement for good governance and ethical leadership to the participants.

OCD 5 regional direc-tor Raffy Alejandro said the local disaster risk reduction and management council (DRRMC) of Legazpi City was acclaimed the Best City DRRMC in the independent city category, while Barangay Oro Site, also in this city, was named as the Best Barangay

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NAGA CITY --- Naga City Mayor John Bongat has issued a directive for the reorganization of the Blood Network in this city to in-stitute among barangays to have their respective Blood Programs.

The Blood Network, ac-cording to the directive, also endeavors to empower offi-cials and constituents down the smallest unit of the govern-ment to mobilize in promoting voluntary blood donation and preserve the life-saving fluid for those who needs it the most.

The directive also obli-gates every barangay in this city to designate a blood coor-

dinator who will be tasked to host monthly blood donations (MBD) at least twice a year. This is also to meet the annual targets of blood collected and raise more awareness among existing blood donors and en-courage other individuals to keep the same commitment.

Just recently, Naga City received a plaque of appre-ciation from the Department of Health (DOH) in line with its National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP) and named the only city gov-ernment from the Bicol region conferred with the same rec-ognition.

Naga City was cited during the 15th National Sandugo Awards held in Manila last month.

The municipalities of Tinambac, Bombon, Cama-ligan, Milaor, San Fernando, San Jose and Sipocot also received the same award for their strong and relentless ad-vocacy to promote voluntary blood donation among their constituents.

The respective local chief executives were also lauded as outstanding Implementers of the said program: Mayors Ruel Velarde of Tinambac, Maria Luisa Angeles of Bombon, former Mayor Em-manuel Prado of Camaligan; Rogelio Flores of Milaor; Eugenio Lagasca, Jr. of San Fernando; Antonio Chavez of San Jose and Rogenor Astor of Sipocot.

who are at the frontline in dis-seminating information to the public were enjoined to support the nationwide advocacy for Filipinos to be RiCEponsable by avoiding wastage, eating brown rice and rice mixes, and giving due recognition and respect to the farmers who produce the rice we eat.

The activity was jointly organized by the Interna-tional Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippine Rice Re-search Institute (PhilRice) and the Department of Agriculture in coordination with the Phil-ippine Information Agency (PIA) and the National Nu-trition Council. A similar ac-tivity was also conducted in Camarines Sur province ear-lier in cooperation with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas local chapter. The media seminar provided an opportunity to discuss local nutrition status and how rice research and development of new rice varieties can help ad-dress important malnutrition problems.

“The nutritional status of children in most Bicol prov-inces and towns are improv-ing due to the efforts and initiatives of the national and local governments and vari-ous sectors that are working together to address the malnu-trition problem,” said Ms. Ar-lene Reario, regional nutrition program coordinator for Bi-col of the National Nutrition Council in her presentation on the Nutrition Status and Initiatives in Bicol. However, Reario noted that despite the improvements, there are still provinces and municipalities in the Bicol region with high incidence of micronutrient deficiencies. She underscored the need to campaign for eat-ing a variety and right amount of food.

Mr. Henry Corpuz, senior science research specialist at PhilRice based in Nueva Ecija, discussed the nutrition and health aspects of rice. He explained that “brown” rice is more nutritious not because of its color but because it is an

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bikol reporter4 october 20-26, 2013etcetera

inner chessbY J. heNrY DANicAN

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tours and travel – in Focus

dr. marilissa j. ampuanPresident, bicol association of Tourism

and Hospitality educators (baTHe)

Tourists from all over the world have visited and enjoyed various tourist sites and destinations in our country. From January to August 2013 data from the Department of Tourism showed an 11.8 per cent growth with 3.18 million arrivals compared to 2.85 million arrivals in the same period last year. With this development it will not be farfetched that the objective of 5.5 tourists arrivals for 2013 will be achieved. It is to be noted that this figure of 3.18 million is equivalent to 57.83 per cent of the targeted 5.5 million tourists arrivals for this year. South Koreans continued and remained as the highest group of international travelers to come to our shores with the number reaching 822, 128 arrivals representing 21.06 per cent of foreign visitors for the period. Tourists markets from South Korea have continually remained as the top most foreign visitors through the years and this reality will continue to go on and on up to year 2016.

On the other hand, the United States of America despite the economic downturn it experienced for the past 3 years continued to remain as the second biggest source of tourist arrivals in our country. Percentage wise American tourists posted a 2.49 per cent growth equivalent to 457, 819 tourist arrivals. This comprised 14.39 per cent of the total arrivals for the 8 month period. Following tourists from the United States of America are Japanese tourists climbing to 3rd place as source of foreign arrivals posting 9.23 per cent increase for a total of 293,435 Japanese tourists. Foreign arrivals from the People Republic of China ranked fourth from third place last year with 288,826 tourists coming in. Said arrival is 9.08 per cent of the total volume of foreign visitors. Worth mentioning is the fact that in so far as the tourists arrivals is concerned the People Republic of China had the highest increase of arrivals among the first five countries with a 60.57 growth compared to the first eight months of last year. Tourist arrivals from Australia was

at No.5 for a total of 131,977 accounted visitors gaining a share of 4.15 per cent of the total arrivals for the period. Singaporeans ranked 6th place with 114,018 arrivals followed by Taiwanese nationals posting 103,306 tourists. This was followed by Hongkong nationals who came during the 8 month period with 86,121 arrivals.

Other foreign tourists market have recorded significant increase in arrivals. Saudi Arabia was at +35.12 per cent with 27,094 arrivals, Russia +32.53 per cent with 21,7366 arrivals, Indonesia +28.63 per cent with 30,319 arrivals, and France +18.45 per cent with 27,380 arrivals, and India +15.01 per cent with 35,173 arrivals. It is expected that by year 2015 tourist arrivals will reach the 8 million mark. This would represent 7.8 per cent of our country’s gross domestic product. All of these significant gains will come in handy for the Philippines tourist industry coupled with the fact that with the consolidation in two years time of the Association of South East Asian Nations economies, the Philippines for its part would be playing a important role in the training of tourists oriented services. Our government is now prepared and fully supports greater openness by way of relaxing its rules

and guidelines in the issuance of visa regulations. By the end of year 2013 it is projected that our tourism receipts or the equivalent money gains we are suppose to realize will hit P1.5 million barring any unforeseen circumstances. This targeted gain is a significant increase from the P1.1 trillion realized in 2012. This would further increase as projected by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to P1.67 trillion in 2014, P1.95 trillion in 2015 and finally before the Aquino administration bows out from its governance, the projected tourism receipts will reach the P2.3 trillion in 2016.

However of late, our country have been hit by many disasters which had taken its toll most particularly to our tourism gains. The provinces of Cebu & Bohol are cases in point in view of the fact that many tourist sites & destinations are found in said places. The earthquake with 7.2 magnitude that struck Cebu & Bohol will naturally lessen the foreign tourists that usually visit its popular & famous tourist spots. While we are really at a loss with what happened the Department of Tourism with various tourism stakeholders must work hand and hand to mitigate the negative effect brought about by the disaster devastating two of the most frequently visited places in our country today. It would not be in keeping with the upbeat enthusiasm of our people tourism wise if the gains we have realized will be stalled due to force majeure. More than at any time in the history of our country’s tourism program, the Department of Tourism with various stakeholders must do its share in the promotion & marketing strategies. Everyone must be counted so that from the apparent negative effect of said earthquake we can still survive and continue our quests for the opportunities brought about by a robust tourism industry.

baretang bikol

Ni MYRA REVILLA

Si Congresista Maria Le-onor “Leni ” Robredo an nagpahayag na mayo pa nin pagbabago sa mga impor-masyon na naitao sa saiya kan DOTC sa paagi ni Sec. Jun Abaya. Base sa mga da-tus na nakua niya sa DOTC, 14ng mga eropuerto sa Pilipi-nas an pinagtagamahan nin budget para sa pinag aapod na Integrated Rehabilitation Program asin sa 14ng ini an Naga Airport sa banwaan kan Pili, Camarines Sur an kaibanan digdi. An budget kaini an ibinaba na asin han-da ng i-release alagad nag-kaigwa nin orolay dapit sa kaligtasan o “safety concern ” sa ibang mga eropuerto. Kaya si orihinal na bilang na 14ng mga erpuerto ginibo na sanang 8ng eropuerto asin an Naga Airport an kaibanan sa nawara sa listahan.

Sigun ki Robredo an safety concern kan eropuerto iyo na an pinaka ideal na sukol kan runway dapat 2.1 km asin an runway kan Naga Airport nag aabot sana sa 1.2 km. ini man an rason kun tano ta dai man nakaka akomodar nin daraku-lang eroplano an Naga Airport. Imposible an pag akomodar nin darakulang mga eroplano huli ta an runway apisar na kapos na sa sukol yaon pa sa tahaw kan Mt. Isarog asin kan Daang Maharlika asin dakula an imp-likasyon kun an eropuerto kataid sana kan bukid huli ta an mga panganuron kun mina-

An pagsuporta sa ad-ministrasyon si Gobernador Edgardo “Egay” Tallado kan Camarines Norte iyo an panginot na function kan Sangguniang Panlalawigan kan probinsya . Ini an pa-hayag ni Bise Gobernador Jonah Pimentel kan Cam Norte kan makaulay kan Bikol Reporter. Ini man an rason kun tano ta nagtao nin authorization an SP ki Tal-lado tanganing magpatug-dok nin Emission Testing Center an LGU. Saro pa sa rason kaini iyo an kakulan-gan nin mga emission test-ing center.

Mayo man plano an LGU na kumpetensyahon an mga nag ooperar nin mga priva-dong emission testing center. sigun pa ki Pimentel ini sana an nag seserving pantapal sa kakulangan nin Emission Testing Center kaya kadakalan sa mga vehikulo sa provincia an dinadakop kan mga pulis asin namumultahan kan mga otoridad huli ta dai pa nakaka pasairarum sa emission test an saindang mga vehikulo huli ta saro ini sa rekisitos para sa renewal kan rehistrasyon kan saindang mga vehikulo. Kun

dai man maka komple kaini, an vehikulo an kunsideradong colorum kaya nag mumulta an mga operator asin dai ninda nagagamit an mga vehikulo huli sa kawaran nin rehistra-syon.

Ini man an rason kun tano ta nagdesisyun na si Tallado na hagadon sa SP na tawanan siya nin otoridad tanganing an LGU an makapag operar nin emission testing center.

Mientrastanto an lakdang na ini kan sangguniang panla-lawigan kan an nagin contro-versial mantang an mga priva-dong negosyante na igwa nin eksistidong Emission Testing Center an nagreklamo huli ta garo man sana so boot pinag ko kompetensya sinda kan LGU sa saindang negosyo lalo pa ta an bayad na sisingi-lon kan LGU an aabuton sana sa siento singkwenta pesos (Php150.00) mas hababa kun ikukumparar sa halangkaw na singil kan mga privadong negosyo nin emission test na aabuton sa kwatro siyen-tos singkwenta pesos (Php 450.00).

An LGU Cam Norte iyo na an makundusir nin mga emis-

baba sa bukid dipisil mahali asin pwedeng maapektaran an paglanding kan eroplano lalo pa kun an piloto an daing gayo kabisado na katakid nin bukid an airport runway na pwedeng magdulot nin peligro. Ini man an rason kun tano ta pinag ka cancel an flight kan eroplano, apwera pa man ini kan rason na dikit na sana an mga pasahero na nagsasakay sa saradit na mga eroplano.

Pinagmarhay kan mga pa-sahero na sa darakulang ero-plano magsakay asin duman sa Legazpi Airport mag landing. Apwera kan visual landing da-pat igwa kuta nin Instrument Landing System (ILS) an Naga Airport huli ta makaka land-ing an eroplano maski maluya an visibility , alagad huli ta vi-sual landing sana an ginigibo kan mga piloto kun mahibog an panganuron sa Mt Isarog dai nakaka landing an eroplano.

Sigun pa ki Robredo naara-man niya sa mga experto gikan sa DOTC na nagkakapirang mga option an pinag aadalan kan ahensya. Saro na digdi iyo an extension kan runway ala-gad base pa sa pag aadal garo dai pwede ini huli ta igwa nin bangin sa kataid kun sa ibong naman hahagopon man an highway. Nagkapirang mga option an ipinagtao kan DOTC an primero kun an main high-way man an babaguhon mayo nin budget para digdi asin dakula an magigin inconve-nience digdi huli ta pwedeng baguhon an rota pati na an mga

bikol reporter 5october 20-26, 2013

Distribution of tissue cultured planting materials to Lgu Pili. 4th from left hon. Alexis san Luis ii receiving the planting materials, with him is At France bares (2nd from left).

without teAchers, there couLD be No You!

(A tribute too ALL teachers)by ArrA e. FrANcisco

Elementary School Teacher 1san roque elementary school

camaligan District

Teaching is not just “teaching” the basics of literacy and numeracy. It is about touching the lives of so many people especially the children. It is about molding not just their future but also their character.

Imagine life without teachers ... imagine life without educators ... The world wouldn’t be like this. The people couldn’t be as successful as they want to be. There could be no engineers, doctors, nurses, policemen, architects and all other professions if not because of teachers.

Teaching is not an easy task. It needs a lot of patience, hardwork and dedication and sometimes it also involves sacrifice just for the sake of their job. That’s why I salute every teacher for choosing such career and for being one of the persons behind a success’ story of every individual without expecting something in return. Indeed, being a TEACHER means being NOBLE.

The greatest achievement a teacher could ever have is to see their students grow emotionally and intellectually. To see their students reach their goals in life and to see their students become a productive citizen of the country. It’s pricelss. You teacher, yes, YOU, are the one who should be given credits for such a great job!

The Department of Ag-riculture in collaboration with the Biotechnology Pro-gram Implementation Unit recently conducted the first Taro Festival in the region. Taro or gabi is a root veg-etable eaten not only in the region but in other parts of the world. The leaves are popularly cooked as gina-taang laing or as pinangat in Bicol. This year’s theme is “Masaganang Pananim at Ani sa Bioteknolohiya.”

According to Pili Mayor Alexis S. San Luis II, taro has great potential both in local and foreign market. With the distribution of quality planting materials more farmers will be benefitted as they will be producing quality taro leaves and corms suited for the mar-ket. He lauded the efforts of the Department of Agriculture in implementing projects in collaboration with the local government units and assured the agency of their continuous support, partnership, collabo-ration and promotion of the different programs and proj-ects on agriculture.

DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, Program Development , Research and

Snappy cadets and ca-dettes lined up in their re-spective contingents, showed off their skills in executing military maneuvers dur-ing the recently concluded inter-school military compe-tition held at the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP) Sports and mili-tary Training Ground here during the weekend. This is in line with the university’s celebration of its 51s tArmy ROTC Activation Day.

Months of practice paid off as the battalion of young cadet corps from various high schools, colleges and uni-versities in the Bicol Region trooped at the UNEP grounds to claimed victory over other competing contingents.

San Antonio High School from Milaor, Camarines Sur dominated the competition under Category A and was de-clared this year’s Champion, besting other opponents from various secondary schools.

by ANALiZA s. MAcAtANgAY

NAGA CITY -- The Co-operative Develoment Au-thority (CDA) has lauded at least seven cooperatives for this year’s Gawad Parangal Awards held recently here for continually embodying the spirit of cooperativism and for espousing trans-parency and trust to other stakeholders in pursuit of economic progress and de-velopment.

CDA cited the Mother Seton Hospital Employees Credit as this year’s Outstand-

Sta. Monica Academy from Baao, Camarines Sur was also hailed as Champion under Category B.

Other competing contin-gents who made it to the win-ner’s lists under Category A were Tandaay High School from Nabua, Camarines Sur, Zeperino Arroyo Memorial High School and La Purisima High School. The said schools occupied the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Place respectively.

Under Category B, Holy Trinity College from Bato, Camarines Sur placed 1st run-ner up; Buhi St. Joseph Acade-my, 2nd runner up and St. Jude Agro Industrial College made it as 3rd runner up.

Invited to partake of this year’s occasion was none other than the Regional Di-rector of the National Police Commission (NPC) Regional Office No. III Atty. Manuel L. Pontanal, MNSA. He is currently stationed at San Fer-nando, Pampanga. Pontanal

lauded the participating con-tingents for their performance and commended their mentors for shaping the future leaders of our country.

UNEP President Atty. Re-melisa Alfelor-Moraleda stat-ed that the tradition of keeping the Activation Day every year is in acknowledgment of his grandfather’s legacy.

“We have inherited this tra-dition to UNEP’s founder, my grandfather, the late Governor Felix O. Alfelor Sr. Since the early 60’s, the annual holding of the Army ROTC Activation Day already became an impor-tant part of UNEP’s system, a testimony of our unfailing de-sire to convey the message that in our youth lies the future of our country,” Moraleda stated.

UNEP’s yearly conduct of its Activation Day for the last 51 years is spearheaded by the Department of Military Sci-ence and Tactics, 502nd (CAS) CDC, 5RCDG , ARESCOM, in Iriga City.

CARD Bank hones skillsof its managers in Bicol

Regent Hotel, Naga City, October 7-11 --- In strengthening the skills, competencies and abilities of 14 selected CARD Bank, Inc. Managers based in Bi-col, particularly in Cama-rines Norte, Camarines Sur and Albay, a 5-day capaci-ty-building on Public Rela-tions (PR) and Communi-cation was conducted.

The training is outsourced by CARD Bank, Inc. from CARD-MRI Development Institute, Inc. (CMDI), the training institute of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Insti-tutions (CARD MRI) based in Laguna. The said effort is one of CARD Bank’s goals to capacitate more than 343 staff across Bicol to provide them with the right compe-tency and relevant experi-ence to be well equipped in providing quality and social-ly enabling services to their

Public Relations and Communication TrainingcArD bank bicol unit Managers with Dr. orbel cepeda (center), business Memo writing and Public speaking speaker.

more than 117,783 clients in Bicol.

The training also gave way to the managers to iden-tify leadership capital in re-lation to CARD MRI’s mis-sion of improving the quality of life of its socially-and-economically challenged women and families towards

nation building. With the said training, the 14 manag-ers became articulate both in oral and written public com-munications and relate issues and concerns in building re-lationships with the LGUs.

CARD Bank is one of the financing institutions of CARD MRI founded on

1997 which has 14 branches and 80 micro-banking offices (MBOs) here in Bicol Region and has a total of 54 branches and 255 micro-banking of-fices or a total of 309 outlets (branches and MBOs) across the nation serving micro-entrepreneurs to help them have better lives.

ing Cooperative under Micro category, while Camarines Norte State College bagged the same in Small category. Masbate Agricultural Coop-erative received a Special Ci-tation.

Under the Outstanding Co-operative Medium category, CamSur Multi-Purpose Coop-erative was cited as this year’s winner, claiming the post for the two consecutive years. Camarines Sur Teachers Em-ployees MPC (CASTEMUP-CO) was also given special citation.

Baao Parish Multi-Purpose

Cooperative notched the Ou-standing Cooperatives under Large category, while Gubat St. Anthony Cooperative re-ceived a Special Citation.

The Provincial Cooperative Enterprise Office of Albay, led by Rafaelita A. Nicoleta, and the Provincial Government of Albay, headed by Governor Joey S. Salceda, also received CDA’s Special Awards; while Feliza Palencia was conferred the Outstanding Cooperative Leader Award, followed by Mr. Stanley Dy.

CDA also recognized other

Development and Regulations Segfredo R. Serrano said that agriculture is the basic sec-tor or the prime mover of the economy. Biotechnology is considered one of the tools in improving productivity. Pro-motion or advocacy on bio-technology is very important to erase doubts and apprehen-sions of people regarding this technology. “With biotechnol-ogy we could produce disease free and quality planting ma-terials” Serrano said. Aside from this multiplication or propagation is fast and this is also a timely and appropriate technology for the farmers if we want to increase produc-tion and productivity. Ser-rano emphasized that with the increasing population and with the increasing demand for food, we need to look for alternative crops aside from rice. Producing a kilo of palay requires about 5,000 liters of water and producing taro re-quires lesser amount of water and lesser inputs. Taro is also a good source of vitamin A and C and the corm is a good alternative for rice.

Meanwhile, RTD for Op-erations and Extension El-ena de los Santos said that the

Taro project in Bicol started in 2011. Knowing the potential of this commodity, the project concentrated on the produc-tion of tissue cultured plant-ing materials and the varieties propagated include: princesa, balitaka, Binting Dalaga, Bi-col Purple and Bicol Purple Wide which were found suit-able to Bicol conditions. De los Santos is optimistic that with the quality planting ma-terials now being produced by the laboratory more farm-ers would be encouraged to plant taro to cope up with the increasing demand both in the local and international mar-ket.

A seminar was also con-ducted during the festival with the following topics: Massive Propagation of Taro Through Tissue Culture by Behilda Balisoro chief of the tissue culture laboratory; Taro Ger-mplasm in Bicol Region by Lilia Pasiona of CBSUA, and Taro Product and By-product Development by Norita Ba-dong. A cooking contest was also conducted for taro leaves and corm. Winners for Taro leaves cooking contest are: 1st place , Isabel Talan of Oc-

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bikol reporter6 october 20-26, 2013

NAMe oF DeceAseD DAte oF iNterMeNt1. INOCENCIO A. PACHECO SR. September 3, 20132. SALUD A. JOB September 3, 20133. NATIVITAS C. DE LA TORRE September 5, 20134. DEMETRIA L. MANRIQUE September 7, 20135. ANTONIO B. ADORNA September 8, 20136. ERLINDA E. ZARAGOZA September 14, 20137. CECILIA M. BAIDER September 15, 20138. ISIDORO E. IBAY JR. September 19, 20139. LEONARDO O. PRADES JR. September 24, 201310. EMETERIO Z. RAMOS September 25, 201311. JOSE VICTORINO F. PEREZ September 26, 201312. JOSE U. TORALDE September 29, 2013

eXtrAJuDiciAL settLeMeNt oF estAte

Notice is hereby given that the named parties are the sole and only heirs and legitimate children of the late esVergA P. AguiLAr who died intestate on July 27, 2012 at Calabanga, Camarines Sur, with no known debts or obligations due against the estate and leaving certain real properties situated in Calabanga, Camarines Sur; for and in consideration of the foregoing premises and invoking the provision of Section 1, Rule 74 of the Rules of Court, the parties agree to divide, partition and adjudicate among themselves in pro indiviso equal shares the entire estate described, as acknowledged before Notary Public Atty. Manuel C. Cariño Jr., Doc. No. 238, Page No. 91, Book No. XV, Series of 2013.

biKoL rePorterPublished: October 13, 20 and 27, 2013

LegAL Notice

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late FerNANDeZ t. FoNg, who died on February 17, 2001 in Metropolitan Hospital Manila, consisting of 2 parcels of land. Parcel 1-a parcel of land situated at Bagumbayan, Naga City containing an area of 1,154 sqm covered by TCT086-2013001258, declared under TD No.0802000201264. Parcel 2-a parcel of land situated at Bagumbayan, Naga City containing an area of 2,599 sqm covered by TCT086-2013001259, declared under TD No.0802000201263, as acknowledged before Notary Public Atty. Eluisa B. Calucag, Doc. No. 183, Page No. 37, Book No. XXXVI, Series of 2013.biKoL rePorterPublished: October 13, 20 and 27, 2013

eXtrAJuDiciAL settLeMeNt AMoNg heirs

Notice is hereby given that the named parties are the wife and widow, and the legitimate children and sole heirs of toMAs A. ortegA who died intestate on April 6, 2013 without any will, left certain real properties situated in Brgy. Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City covered by TCT No. 31902, TD No. 08-02-0003-00714, Res. Bldg with TD No. 08-02-0003-00713, Res. Bldg. TD No. 08-02-0003-00715, constructed on that parcel of land; a parcel of land situated at Dinaga, Naga City covered by TCT No. 20369, TD No. 08-02-0012-00197; commercial bldg covered by TD No. 08-02-0012-00198 constructed on that parcel of land; and that to the best knowledge and information of the parties, the deceased left unpaid debts at Rural Bank of San Jose (Camarines Sur), Inc. and Bank of the Philippine Island; the parties being all of legal age agree to adjudicate in full the enumerated properties to their surviving mother, EMERLITA L. ORTEGA, provided that the unpaid bank loans shall be assumed by said Emerlita L. Ortega, as acknowledged before Notary Public Atty. Carlo C. Villanueva Jr., Doc. No. 25, Page No. 5, Book No. 67, Series of 2013.biKoL rePorterPublished: Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 2013

Dr. Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs Legazpi resident volcanolo-gist, made the warning after some parts of the Bicol re-gion also felt the tremors of the earthquakes of various intensities at about 8:12 a.m., Tuesday.

Laguerta said Masbate ex-perienced Intensity 4; Sorso-gon, Intensity 3, and Legazpi City, Intensity 2.

He said there are many areas in Bicol that are in the Philippine Fault Zone whose center is in the area of Ticao and Burias, Masbate.

Laguerta said there is also one in San Vicente Linao in Bato town, Camarines Sur, up to Oas, Albay.

There is also one in Man-ito, Albay, up to Bacon, Sor-sogon. “But these are just tributaries—like branches of a tree,” he said.

There is also in the part of Ragay Gulf, at the boundary of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Quezon provinces.

Laguerta said the earth-quake drills being done by the

Office of Civil Defense-Bicol in cooperation with local gov-ernment units in the region, national government agencies, the private sector and other groups are important so that the public will not be caught empty handed. - Nancy I. Me-diavillo

phivolcs tells bicolanos . . .

tions in soliciting tangible do-nations to the affected popu-lace.

Sergio also urged City Mayor John Bongat, being the Chairman of Metro Naga De-velopment Council (MNDC) to encourage other local gov-ernment units (LGUs) to also help in getting donations and pledges to the residents of the two provinces hardly hit by the strong earthquake and propose to SP the amount that can be extended to the calam-ity victims.

“I believe that we, Nague-nos, and Bicolanos for that matter, should not just listen, read and see the news as they unfold. We have to help now. Beyond praying for those af-fected by the earthquake, we need to extend material as-sistance as soon as possible. Let us help them in the post-calamity recovery efforts,” Sergio further stated.

The provinces of Bohol and Cebu were rocked by a strong tremor Tuesday morn-ing and caused more than a

serGio leaDs Donation . . .hundred dead and more per-sons missing. Damages to infrastructure, most especially to the heritage sites which have stood the test of time for centuries that were now in ru-ins reached billions of pesos, not to mention the irreparable damage it has inflicted on the local tourism industry.

Sergio added that while Filipinos are veterans of ty-phoons but earthquakes are entirely different catastrophe that comes without warning.

“Earthquake is like a situa-tion where the son or daughter dies ahead of parents, there is no word for that in Bikol, but the word for reverse situation is “ilo” or “nailo”, or “nailong lubos”. Earthquake is like a thief in the night.”

The City of Naga can use part of its Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund to disaster risk reduction work of LGUs declared under state of calamity. This is man-dated under Section 21 of Re-public Act 10121. - Ana-Liza S. Macatangay

unpolished rice that keeps the bran where most of the rice nutrients are embedded. But polished or well-milled white rice lose the vital nutrients and minerals during milling.

For his part, Dr. Antonio Alfonso, a rice plant breeder from PhilRice and currently the national coordinator of the biotechnology program of the Department of Agriculture discussed the healthier rice va-rieties being developed in the Philippines to address com-mon micronutrient deficien-cies and improve the nutrition of the consumers. Alfonso said: “When eaten on its own, rice from existing varieties do not provide enough micro-nutrients for optimal health. Many people in developing countries rely heavily on rice for most or all of their calories need because they cannot af-ford or they have no access to a full range of nutritious food.”

Alfonso, also the team leader of the Golden Rice proj-ect in the Philippines, added that Golden Rice—a geneti-cally modified type of rice that contains beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A—has the potential to help address the public health problem of vitamin A deficiency, comple-menting the other existing

interventions to address mal-nutrition.

Meanwhile, Hazel Anto-nio, also from PhilRice and campaign director for NYR clarified that the celebrations will not end this year but will be sustained through the next years. She enjoined the support and participation of everyone in the forthcoming events including Brown Rice Day on November 15 and Rice Mix Day on November 22.

The seminar was also graced by Engr. Reynaldo C. Castro, branch manager of PhilRice-Bicol station based in Ligao City who welcomed the participants and briefed them about the mission and services of his agency; Ms. Aida Naz, officer-in-charge of the PIA, who served as moderator and emcee; Emily B. Bordado, information chief of the DA regional office who represented Ms. Ellen B. de los Santos, the DA Regional Technical Director for Opera-tions and Extension; and other representatives from IRRI and PhilRice.

The participants were given enough time to ask questions and interact with the resource persons during the open forum and the socials that followed. - Emily B. Bordado

one-Day seminar for local . . .

for urban barangay category.Alejandro also bared that

Sto Domingo, Albay made it as the champion in 4th to 6th class municipality category.

Simon of Cyrene Childern’s Rehabilitation and Develop-ment Foundation bagged the award in the best Civil Society Organization Category while DQ Liwag National High School of Camarines Norte also made it in the Best School public-urban category.

The Bicol Regional Teach-ing and Training Hospital (BRTTH) notched third place in Best Hospital regional and training category.

In 2011 the province of Albay under the stewardship of governor Joey Salceda has been cited as the Gawad Kalasag Hall of Famer after winning for three consecutive years in the provincial cat-egory.

Among the successful DRRM programs initiated by the province are the institu-tionalization of Albay Public Safety and Emergency Man-agement Office (APSEMO),

bicol baGs 6 national . . .the first of its kind in the coun-try, and pre-emptive evacua-tions to ensure zero casualty in times of calamities.

National winners will re-ceive cash awards that can be spent for activities related to DRR. The 1st place will have P100,000.00, 2nd place P75,000.00 and 3rd place P50,000 for each category of the award.

Initiated in 1998, Gawad Kalasag Award is given by the National Disaster Risk Reduc-tion and Management Council (NDRRMC) to recognize the outstanding performance of Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Managemement Councils (LDRRMCs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and ma-jor stakeholders in promoting and implementing significant DRRM-Climate Change Ad-aptation programs and innova-tions.

Kalasag stands for Ka-lamidad at Sakuna Labanan, Sariling Galing ang Kalig-tasan (Fight for Calamity and Accidents, Self Excellence for Safety).

ampo, Camarines Sur , Gina-taang Taro Leaves; 2nd place Helen Penetrante of Nabua, Camarines Sur Ginataang Taro leaves with Pinya; 3rd place Salvacion Gonowon of Pili, Camarines Sur Ginataang Taro leaves with Pili. For corm based, 1st place Adelaida Bac-sain of Nabua Camarines Sur, Taro Balls; 2nd Place Emma Bigay of Bula, Camarines Sur, Baked Corm Mash Roll; 3rd place Isabel Galan of Ocampo , Kinaluko. Winners received a plaque and cash award of Ps 5,000, Ps 3,000 and Ps 2,000 respectively. Non-winners re-ceived a consolation prize of Ps 1,000 each. The Board of Judges for the cooking con-test are: Melanie Abalayan Asst. Professor IV of Central Bicol State University of Ag-riculture (CBSUA); Cathy

Da holDs ‘taro’ festival . . .N. Daria Food Technology Instructor of Bicol State Col-lege of Applied Science and Technology; Gerald Garland Panghulan Chef Instructor of Universidad de Sta Isabel and Head Chef de Cuisine Na-galand Hotel.

Likewise, over 2,000 tissue culture derived planting mate-rials were distributed to LGUs and farmers in the region.

Also present during the festival are: Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso, the head of DA Bio-technology Implementation Unit; RAFC Vice Chairper-son Alfredo Rillo; Ms Rosita Imperial HVCDP Coordina-tor of Bicol representing Ms Jen Remoquillo of HVCDP National Program; RTD for Research and Regulations Dr. Edgar Madrid. –MABELLE roA-ILAN

cooperative leaders who have served their organization for more than thirty (30) years with zealousness and commit-ment.

Board of Jurors for the selection of outstanding co-operatives were CDA Bicol regional director Atty. Ma. Lourdes P. Pacao, Dr. Gene Cataneo of the Central Bicol State University for Agricul-ture (CBSUA), Edna Tejada of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Aloha Gigi B. Banaria of the Depart-ment of Agriculture – Region-al Field Unit 5, Jhoan Salcedo of LBP-Naga, Lerma S. Dino

cDa cites top bicol coops . . .of DAR 5 and Jose Ed. Lirag of UCPB CIIF.

This is the second year that CDA spearheaded the Gawad Parangal in recognition to cooperative stakeholders for their exemplary performance, best practices and good gov-ernance.

This year’s theme is cen-tered “Empowering coopera-tives for Community Devel-opment.”

CDA Camarines Sur assis-tant director Gracia P. Layosa also acknowledged the contri-butions of their partners in the realization of this endeavor.

“The contributions of the

different stakeholders in coop-erative development such as the Local Government Units (LGUs), non-government or-ganizations and individuals are also vital for the coopera-tives to achieve viability and growth," she said.

"Their assistance and sup-port are enabling for the co-operatives to nurture competi-tively. Thus, due recognition

and acknowledgment is being bestowed to all stakeholders,” Layosa stated.

Through the said activity, CDA aims to strengthens even more the participation of the community and the coopera-tive sector in promoting de-velopment in the countryside and serve as catalysts of social transformation in their respec-tive localities.

bikol reporter 7october 20-26, 2013

In celebration of the

World Food Day for the Asia-Pacific region, a Bi-colana farmer together with three others were hon-ored for their outstanding achievements in agriculture and food production by the Food and Agriculture Or-ganization. The celebration was held last October 16, 2013 at Bangkok Thailand.

Myrna Conmigo-Asor of Goa Camarines Sur was awarded the FAO’s World Model Farmer Award for her achievement in organic farm-ing and for the trainings she conducted among farmers and agriculture students. She is an advocate of organic farming and promotes organic agricul-ture technologies among rural women and farmers in her municipality. At 56 Myrna is also active in various farmer organizations. She also acts as speaker on organic farm-ing not only in the province but outside of the region. She also grows traditional rice varieties in her farm and maintains a gene bank of her seeds. Aside from rice she also grows vegetables, root crops organically and grows other crops like coconut, aba-ca, pineapple, pili and gabi as added source of income.

World Food Day cel-ebration is an opportunity to showcase success stories of farmers around the world. It also recognizes the contri-butions made to end hunger

FAo's world Model Farmer awardee Myrna c. Asor of goa, camarines sur who is shown in photo third from left together with other awardees.

and present the different op-tions, alternatives and actions made by the different entities involved. This year’s World Food Day theme is “Sustain-able Food Systems for Food Security and Nutrition”. The theme reflects the FAO concept that healthy people depend on healthy food sys-tems. Food systems include the environment, people, in-stitutions and processes by which agricultural products are produced, processed and delivered to consumers. Ev-ery aspect of the food system affects the final availability and accessibility of diverse, nutritious food and the abil-ity of consumers to choose healthy diets.

The theme also under-scores two important points: first that malnutrition in all

its forms – undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity – im-poses very high social and economic costs on countries at all income levels. And second, the better manage-ment of the entire food sys-tem starting from production, including post-harvest, pro-cessing, distribution, storage and retailing, can contribute significantly to food security and nutrition.

Her Royal Highness Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thai-land presided over the event and presented the FAO’s An-nual Asia-Pacific award to Myrna and three other farm-ers from Bhutan, Thailand and Tonga. Also present dur-ing the celebration are: UN Undersecretary-General No-eleen Heyzer, who is also the

concurrent Executive Secre-tary of the Economic and So-cial Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Thailand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Coopera-tives, Yukol Limlamthong’ other senior Thai government officials; Bangkok-based members of the diplomatic corps; representatives of UN agencies and civil society or-ganizations.

Goa Mayor Antero Lim and Institutional Develop-ment Section Chief and GAD focal person of DA Aloha Gigi Bañaria joined Myrna in Thailand for the awarding.

World Food Day 2013 marks the 68th anniversary of the founding of FAO in Quebec City, Canada on 16 October 1945. -MABELLE roA-ILAN

having had the Best Provin-cial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the country consistently for 2009, 2010, and 2011.

The Gawad Kalasag award, established by NDRRMC’s forerunner the National Di-saster Coordinating Council in 1998, aims to recognize, in partnership with the Depart-ment of Interior and Local Government (DILG), excep-tional contributions of the various DRRM practitioners in rebuilding and strength-ening the resilience of com-munities to disasters based on established ”standards of excellence in DRRM and hu-manitarian assistance.”

Albay Governor Joey Sal-ceda said Albay’s five major awards show the province’s consistency and excellence in the field of DRRM, for which the United Nations

International Strategy for Di-saster Reduction has declared Albay as its Global Model and Salceda himself as Se-nior Global Champion and spokesman for DRRM and climate change adaptation (CCA).

Salceda, who represents Asia and the developing countries in the $ 100-billion Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board of Directors, was re-cently elected co-chairman of the Fund together with his German counterpart, repre-senting the developed coun-tries group.

Albay’s excellent perfor-mance in DRRM and CCA was a product of Salceda’s innovative ideas in these fields, particularly the ‘Zero casualty goal,’ which the na-tional government and many local government units have adopted. -PNA

albay reaps 5 GawaD awarDs . . .

bay Health and Emergency Mission-PHO, Department of Social Welfare and Devel-opment, Bureau of Fire Pro-tection, APSEMO, PEO and three media members.

The fourth batch is com-posed of 21 personnel from the Tactical Operations Group 5 of the Philippine Air Force, Philippine National Police, OCD and PHO and has just arrived SaturdaY and now undergoing briefing prior to deployment.

Daep also enumerated the services to be undertaken by the group with the first being WATSAN or water sanitation that involves providing puri-fied water to the residents of Maribojoc town, which was hardest hit by the earthquake, destroying its source of water and water pipes.

The water purifying equip-ment of Albay can produce 30,000 liters of potable water per hour.

The WATSAN team is now on its way to Maribojoc.

The second service is the psychosocial care to be done by the DSWD for the traumat-ic victims of the calamity.

bohol welcomes team . . .The third is the medical

treatment to be done by the PHO-AHEM medical and paramedic group for those with injuries in Maribojoc town.

A hospital support is the fourth, which will be done not only in Maribojoc but also in other parts of the province that need medical services.

The fifth service involves technical support for the Bi-col PDRRMC and Maribojoc MDRRMC.

The sixth service is the structural assessment of dam-aged buildings, which is to be undertaken by Albay PEO personnel in cooperation with their counterparts in Bohol.

Daep added that the team will give lectures and brief-ings to local government of-ficials and residents who are still afraid of tsunami.

He said that the P1 million assistance of Albay for Cebu and Bohol came from the ca-lamity fund of the province, adding that the aid was based on the declarations of these provinces that they are under a state of calamity.

The mission team will stay in Bohol until Oct. 27, he said.-PNA

City Councilor David Casper Nathan A. Sergio, who represented Bongat during the awarding, said that the council especially in his capacity as the executive director of the city’s Blood Program, appre-ciated this effort and vowed to fully support programs and activities that will lead to the successful implementation of the said blood program.

“I just would like to add that one of the reasons for the reorganization of the Blood Network is also to decentral-ize the function and encour-age more and more barangays to replicate the city’s act of implementing blood donation program in their respective ju-risdictions,” Sergio said in an interview.

Sergio was known for spon-soring key local ordinances that led to the institutionaliza-

tion of the voluntary blood do-nation and a fervent advocate for voluntary donation.

He also noted that out of the 11 provinces in the coun-try cited as active partners and implementers of the National Voluntary Blood Services Program, Bicol region ranked third with the most number of awardees with 117 honor-ees. Occupying the first slot is Davao Region with 265, followed by Western Visayas with 131 awardees this year.

The program is pursu-ant to Presidential Procla-mation No. 1021 dated July 1997 which aims to “create and build public awareness of the need for quality and safe blood” and in support of the “Pinoy Voluntary Blood Donor” being pushed by the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

naGa mulls blooD . . .

sion test huli ta mismong an korte an nagpaluwas nin or-der na dai pwedeng mag ako nin application for emission testing center an DTI asin an LTO para sa operasyon kan mga privadong negosyo. Sabi pa ni Pimentel ini man an ra-son kun tano ta an LGU an planong mag bugtak kan mga emission centers “not to do business but to serve the gap , it will not be for business

lGu cam. norte mayonG . . .purposes but for public ser-vice purposes and we will be serving primarily the gap yong mga hindi naseserbisyuhan”.

Sinabi pa ni Pimentel na dakulang tabang ini sa mga may sadiri nin mga motor ve-hicle huli ta mas makakaba-rato sinda sa bayad. An mga dati ng may emission testing center an dai man maapek-taran kan siring na sistema huli ta an mga seserbihan kan LGU Cam Norte iyo man id-tong mga may sadiri nin motor vehicle na dai man naseserbi-han kan mga privadong nego-

maapectaran na mga daga asin iba pa. An saro pang option iyo an re orientation kan runway kan eropuerto alagad an magi-gin epecto man kaini igwa nin mga paraoma na maapectaran kaya kinokontra iyan kan civil society groups mantang an re orientation kan runway kan eropuerto an malinaw na mayo nin social acceptability .ini man an rason kun tano ta habo man kan DOTC na makipag iwal sa civil society group.

An saro pa sa mga suhestyon iyo na maghanap na sana nin ibang lugar para sa bagong ero-puerto. Nagkakapirang lugar an pinag identify kan DOTC alagad sinabi ni Robredo na igwa siya nin mga reservation o pagduwa duwa. An mga lu-gar na nin iyo an banwaan kan Libmanan, alagad an Libman-an dai pwede huli ta kun ano an problema sa Mt. Isarog iyo man an magigign problema du-man. An saro pang lugar iyo an Pasacao alagad dai aram ni Ro-

paG aaDal sa re-orientation . . .bredo kun feasible an Pasacao, an ikatulo iyo an banwaan kan San Jose sa Partido area, ala-gad may reservations pa digdi si Robredo huli an San Jose an harayo asin palaog nang mar-hay an site, inland na marhay asin tutuyuhon talaga an lugar pwede pang magin disbentahe ini sa San Jose huli ta pwedeng mag pasiring na sana sa provin-cia kan Albay an pasahero huli ta haros pareho man sana an travel time.

Sigun pa ki Robredo na-kadagdag sa listahan an San Fernando asin Ocampo. So igwa nin tolong option a). To transfer the airport to another place b.) to reorient the run-way c.) To extend the runway to 2.1 km. , sa presente may feasibility study na ginigibo asin pwedeng matapos na ini ngonian na katapusan kan Oc-tubre 2013 huli ta yaon na sa inaapod na wrapping up stage asin sa katapusan kan October mai pe presentar na ini kan

DOTC sa satuya. Mientrastan-to kinumpimar ni Robredo na igwa nin mga taga DOTC an nag inspection sa eropuerto asin nagpahayag an mga ini na pwede ng magkaag nin Instru-ment Landing System (ILS) for safety concern kan mga pasahero. Dai man matugot an mga experto sa CAAP na arog na sana kaiyan an laba kan runway na kulang sa sukol huli man ta sobra ka delikado ini, alagad habo man kan mga experto na mangyari an kagus-tuhan kan piloto na huli ta may ILS ipipirit ninda na i landing an eroplano.

Sigun pa ki Robredo kun sya an hahapoton maski na ngonian tulos mapakarhay na an eropuerto mas importante man giraray para sa saiya an kaligtasan kan mga pasahero “I would rather go for safety” dagdag pa kan congresista. Maski may proposal na mag-kaag kan ILS alagad kinontra man giraray ninda ini. Dai man tugot an CAAP na magkaag nin ILS na dai pinaglabaan an run-way alagad igwa pa nin mga option para digdi. Sinambit pa ni Robredo na igwa nin model airport na dai na sinambit an pangaran kun sain digdi sa Pilipinas na itong bangin an kinaagan nin extension alagad dapat pag adalan pa ini.

Para man ki Robredo mayo ng ibang pinakamarhay na lu-gar para sa eropuerto kundi an presenting location kaini sa San Jose , Pili Cam. Sur.

Sinabi pa man ni Robredo sa DOTC na igwa nin proposal an CAAP an na magkaag nin rampa sa runway tanganing madagdagan an laba kaini. Aram naman kan DOTC na

syante. Dai man makua nin permit an mga ini sa DTI huli ta accreditation sana an kuku-onon kan LGU.

Mientrastanto, kan nag-talikod na aldaw sa sarong resort sa Calabanga Cama-rines Sur, sinda Tallado asin Pimental an nag presenter na kan saindang Executive and Legislative Agenda for 2013 sa atubangan kan mga department head , mga lo-cal officials kan Cam Norte, mga bisita asin iba pa. Digdi man ipinaglatag kan duwa an saindang mga plano para sa kauswagan kan mga nama-manwaan kan CamNorte.

igwa nin arog kaining proposal kaya naglalaom siya na iiba na ini sa feasibility.

An timeline kan feasibility study an ipinahiling naman ni Robredo sa Metro Naga Cham-ber of Commerce and Indus-try (MNCCI). An dakulaon na proyecto kan eropuerto an tina-gamahan nin milyones pesos na kantidad asin anuman na oras pwedeng ipaluwas an budget para digdi asin nagkaigwa na-man nin bidding.

Nahiling naman ni Robredo an component kan proyecto asin an mga incidental com-ponent an pwede ng punan an patrabaho. An dai lang talaga pwedeng punan itong pagkaag kan mga ekipahe na dai pa na extend an runway . An exten-sion kan runway an igwa na nin budget alagad an pag divert kan highway an mayo nin budget. Hinagad pa man ni Robredo na kun tapos na an feasibil-ity study dapat na ipahiling sa sainda an gabos na option asin an evaluation pati na an as-sessment kaini. An gabos na iyan halat ninda sa katapusan kan Octubre 2013.

BIKOL REPORTER

REGIONAL EXPONENT FOR PROGRESS

outstanDinG local newspaperfor five consecutive years by the st. peter

baptist catholic mass media awards

8 october 20-26, 2013

PNP sends more cops in Masbate,others for barangay elections

“FIONA SANDRA R. PIANO, daughter of Mr. &. Mrs. Joey Piano will celebrate her 18th birthday on October 27, 2013 at Avenue Plaza Hotel, Naga City. A celebration of Life and thanksgiving.”

LEGAZPI CITY -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) Bicol re-gional offi ce on Friday sent at least 300 addi-tional policemen to Mas-bate and 674 more to the other provinces of the re-gion to prevent possible troubles that would mar the upcoming barangay elections on October 28, a top regional offi cial said Monday.

Chief Supt. Victor

vested fi ve major titles in the recent 2013 Gawad Ka-lasag Awards of the Nation-al Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Albay was 2012 Gawad Kalasag (Kalamidad at Saku-na Labanan ng Sariling Gal-ing para sa Kaligtasan) Hall of Famer, for its consistent exceptional performance in disaster risk reduction man-agement (DRRM) for three consecutive years, the fi rst province to do so since the award was established in 1998.

The fi ve Albay awardees are Legazpi City for Best Component City category; Santo Domingo town, for Best Municipal DRRMC (4th to 6th Class Category); Oro Site in Legazpi City, for Best Urban Barangay; the Nazarene Children’s Reha-bilitation and Development Foundation, for Best Civil Society Organization; and the Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital, 3rd place for Best Hospital.

Last year, Albay was el-evated to the Gawad KA-LASAG Hall of Fame for

Deona, newly installed PNP Bicol director, said in an in-terview that they had focused police operations in areas jointly tagged as election “hot spots” by the Commis-sion on Elections (Comelec) and the PNP.

Deona said he deployed 300 policemen from the PNP regional offi ce to Masbate due to the presence of a number of villages there that are be-ing branded as election “hot spots” as a result of intense

political rivalries in the past.Aside from the 300 addi-

tional forces sent to Masbate, the others given more police offi cers were Sorsogon, 150; Catanduanes, 139; Naga City, 100; and Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, 95 each.

Deona said the deployment of additional police forces was in line with the marching order of PNP Chief Alan Puri-sima during the turnover of command on October 16 for

him to ensure that the upcom-ing barangay election will be peaceful and clean.

He was the commander of Task Force Masbate dur-ing the 2010 national and lo-cal elections wherein he suc-ceeded in defusing tension in Masbate through his “Oplan Bakal.”

Deona said he will again enforce the same election se-curity strategy wherein his Task Force was able to confi s-cate and cause the surrender of hundreds of low- and high-powered fi rearms and explo-sive devices.

The operation also re-sulted in the arrest of several

members of political armed groups employed by local politicians to gain advan-tage over their rivals.

The police offi cial claimed that among the effective police security measures he has been em-ploying are the setting up of mobile checkpoints, de-ployment of additional po-lice force in every town and strict implementation of “Oplan Bakal.” -PNA

by JohNNY c. NuNeZ

LEGAZPI CITY -- For its innovative and effectively responsive

initiatives and impressive performance in disaster risk reduction management concerns, Albay and its res-ident institutions have har-

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