Legarda denounced the killing of a female broadcaster Sumera

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 26, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda condemned the killing of Len Flores Sumera, 45 years old, a female broadcaster in Malabon and a radio anchor of DZME who was shot to death last Thursday morning while on her way to work.

Legarda stressed that if the motive behind the crime was work-related, then the Congress has to fast track the passing of the bill qualifying as murder the killing of members of media in the performance of their duties.

“The authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the killing,” she lamented, saying that another journalist had to die in brutal killing. 

Legarda denounced in the strongest sense in this reckless act of violence committed against a media practitioner explaining that whether or not the crime was related to her work as a broadcaster, such cruel act must be condemned and authorities must make sure that perpetrators are caught and penalized.

She furthered that the protection of journalists and members of media must really be strengthened. “If it is proven that the purpose of the killing is related to Sumera’s duty as a radio anchor, there is a need to pass her authored bill in the senate to give teeth in the law regarding media killings in the country.

The Senator who authored senate bill no. 1426 seeks to amend Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code to qualify the killing of members of broadcast and print media in the performance of their duties as a crime of murder, is currently pending at the Senate plenary under Committee Report No. 9 which she also co-sponsored.   

She said that the bill will help to protect the members of the media while in the lawful exercise of their functions and hopefully when it becomes a law, crimes against journalists will be lessened.

Prior to this, Sumera was on her way to Manila based DZME radio station when a gunman shot her in the neck. The victim hosted her public service program “Arangkada Kinse Trenta (full speed Ahead 1530) with DZME reporter Ed Sarto. Sumera is the 3^rd broadcaster killed in line of duty under the President Aquino administration.

Historically, records from the center for media freedom and responsibility showed that 119 of the 179 cases of journalists or media practitioner killed in the country were work related. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora Governor expressed disappointment on Aurora’s top cop

BALER, Aurora, March 25, 2011-Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo expressed dissatisfaction over Senior Supt. Rosvi Manulid performance amid the rash in crimes in this capital town and the police’s alleged failure to contain illegal logging activities seven months after he was the provincial police director in this province and may be on the way out.

Manulid is a bemedalled and well-decorated police officer who held sensitive positions at the Philippine National Police Regional Police Office 3 here in Central Luzon who was included in the list of recommendees for new provincial director of the Aurora police but Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo left him out.

“I did not choose him,” Angara-Castillo told newsmen without specifying who was her choice; however, sources said that her personal choice was Senior Supt. Benjie Hulipas, who hails from the province.

“I am very disappointed when Manulid took over as provincial director, there was a surge in crimes, including a P1-million broad daylight heist. Even during day-time, there were crime incidents,” Angara-Castillo said, adding that before the latter came in, the province had the lowest crime rate among the seven provinces in Central Luzon.

“Before Manulid was assigned here, we were the most peaceful in the entire region 3 and I wanted to maintain that distinction so he had to go,” she said, adding that the surge in crimes would adversely affect Aurora’s aggressive tourism campaign.

Angara-Castillo said that she herself was not spared from the outbreak in crimes where she cited that recently she lost her generator to thieves who broke into her house.

She recalled confronting Manulid about the incident, even warning him that if her generator would not be produced within 24 hours, Manulid would suffer the consequences; then the generator was recovered by police within the 24-hour period.

Angara-Castillo said the fact that the stolen generator was recovered by police indicated that if they wanted to, they can do their job efficiently. She said she has long been complaining to Manulid and his men the lack of police visibility in the province.

Asked to comment on his impending relief, Manulid said that he serves at the pleasure of the governor. He said insofar as he is concerned, he has done his best although this has failed to satisfy the governor.

“I have no regrets,” he said.

Before a new set of recommendees was laid down, Manulid has been subjected by the governor to severe tongue-lashing. Once, she scolded him in front of local officials and newsmen during a meeting of the provincial government-led task force against illegal logging for the inability of lawmen to prevent the passage of trucks in police-manned checkpoints.

But what broke the camel’s back, sources said, was the occurrence of five consecutive robbery-holdup and theft incidents in the province.        

Earlier, Manulid was appointed last September to his post as officer-in-charge by Chief Supt. Allan Purisima, PNP regional director, replacing Senior Supt. Romulo Esteban who stayed barely a year in his post.

Manulid and Esteban are “mistahs” or classmates in the 1984 batch of the PNP Academy. Another prominent batchmate is Senior Supt. Rudy Lacadin, regional director for Central Luzon of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

A native of Porac, Pampanga, Manulid was chief of the PRO3’s regional operations and plans division prior to his assignment in Aurora. Before being assigned in Central Luzon, Manulid served as regional chief of the PNP maritime division of the PRO4-A covering the coastal provinces of Batangas, Marinduque, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Quezon and Romblon.

He also served in various capacities as deputy provincial director for administration and deputy provincial for operations of the Pampanga police and as station commanders of the Floridablanca, Guagua, Mabalacat and Sta. Ana police stations.

At least twice, Manulid was adjudged police officer of the year in Central Luzon in the late 80s. To his credit were 28 medals and 31 letters of commendations. (Jason de Asis)

AFP bayanihan patrol launched a success

CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City, March 25, 2011-At least four hundred villagers were benefited from the free medical and dental check-up/treatment, 80 had their hair cut also free of charge while about 300 received toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, supplemental feeding program and other hygiene items courtesy of  Hacienda Luisita.

Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Rosendo Armas said that residents of Barangay Balanti, Tarlac City lauded the group for delivering basic services in the form of free medical and dental check-up/treatment, haircut services, supplementary feeding program and hygiene kit distribution at Balanti Elementary School last Wednesday.

Armas said that a joint “bayanihan” by the NOLCOM doctors, nurses, dentists and their support personnel, Tarlac Provincial Civil Affairs Unit (PCAU) with reservists from the AFP Reserve Command, 3^rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Tactical Operations Group-3 were held describing Filipino trait of helping one another.

Congresswoman Susan Yap, Governor Vic Yap and Commander of NOLCOM Lieutenant General Gaudencio Pangilinan witnessed the “bayanihan patrol” conducted where they expressed support for the project.

Pangilinan joined by Colonel Gerard Velez, Chief of Unified Command Staff who used to head the Civil-Military Operations division of NOLCOM and his successor Colonel Pedro Sumayo Jr., saying that the first bayanihan patrol recorded 500 beneficiaries through Tarlac PCAU headed by Captain Enrico Talon, a Navy reservist which was held in Barangay Sta. Maria, Tarlac City last March 19.

Barangay Captain Pacifico Bautista lauded the NOLCOM for enabling his constituents to experience the fruits of “bayanihan” first hand while the principal of Balanti Elementary School Mr. Pedro Gabriel expressed his thanks for their efforts in giving free service to the populace.

Back to Armas, he said that the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) otherwise known as “Bayanihan” takes cognizance of the role played by all sectors in “winning the peace”, saying that the bayanihan teams conducting bayanihan patrols in target barangays are there to assist the local government unit and agencies. 

“Our goal is to cultivate synergy from the stakeholders’ network for the benefit of the communities,” Armas ended. (Jason de Asis)

South East Asian’s fourth largest bank opened at Subic

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, March 25, 2011-To further strengthen its presence in the Philippines, the Maybank (Malaysian Bank) which is the fourth largest bank in South East Asia is now operating inside this Freeport Zone as a one stop financial shop offering customers a portfolio of products and services suited to meet a variety of needs especially to those based here and its immediate surroundings.

It is located within the BerthaPhil Clark Center Compound which is right in the heart of an emerging community that features, at full build-out, an information technology business park, commercial shopping centers, entertainment complexes, condominiums and a school campus.

The Maybank Philippines is a member of the Maybank Group, Malaysia’s leading financial services provider backed by over USD100 billion in Group assets and USD18.6 billion market capitalization and has outlets in 14 countries worldwide to includes the key financial centers such as Singapore, HongKong, Jakarta, Shanghai, New York and London.

The Maybank Group has expanded its reach in South East Asia and also strengthened operations in the Philippines.  In fact 2010 alone, five new branches in five different sites were opened, bringing the total branch count to 50.

Meanwhile, the Clark Freeport Zone is considered as premier location for business establishments that gives attractive tax privilege offerings, professional support services and high-technology amenities, adding that it is fast becoming a major International gateway  via the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport given its proximity to major Asian destinations such as China, HongKong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. (Jason de Asis)

Angara filed a bill sought to harmonize Phl incentives

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 24, 2011-In the aftermath of the global economic crisis, Senator Edgardo J. Angara has filed Senate bill number 2755 otherwise known as “The Investments and Incentives Code of the Philippines” that aims to rationalize fiscal incentives awarded to enterprises, stressing the need to put our fiscal house in order.

  

Angara said that the bill will harmonize the country's existing incentive system which is presently provided under different laws with differing provisions, saying that the disparate incentive offerings has regrettably created competition among various economic zones vying for limited investments that flow into the country. The Philippines' foreign direct investment in 2009 totaled $1.948 billion, which is far lower than what our neighbors in the region receive.

“Unequal incentive regimes have fostered unnecessary rivalry among our own ecozones, when they should be working together to build up our total investment portfolio,” Angara said, adding that the incentives we give investors must be clearly defined and comparable across the board, otherwise we risk putting off potential investors instead of attracting them.

“There is a need to ensure that our incentives remain competitive with those of our Asian neighbors,” Angara said, explaining that the bill will help spur development in the countryside and other underdeveloped areas by granting tax incentives to investors who would locate in our poorest provinces.

The said bill will promote export-oriented enterprises, whether these are located inside or outside economic zones and will ensure that progress will be as equitable as possible.

  

Angara added that the bill will reform institutions primarily the Board of Investments that grant incentives by clarifying their mandates and enhancing their capacity to monitor and to implement the incentive system, saying that this is the right time to pass this urgent fiscal reform measure.

“The Congress has been considering this bill for so long and I am hoping that my colleague in the Senate would support this bill for its immediate passage,” Angara said. (Jason de Asis)

Libreng Tawag project to OFW help line led by Villar

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 24, 2011-Senator Manny Villar offers “Libreng Tawag" project of the OFW Helpline for those who are in need around the world where the toll free overseas calls project will last for one month and would be coursed through the Bantay OFW radio program of Toots Ople aired live over DZXL-RMN Manila every Monday to Friday and will run until April 23.

Villar said that the public who are worried about their loved ones abroad especially those in troubled areas around the world, can be reunited on air through the "Libreng Tawag” project centered on the welfare of OFWs all over the globe, adding that the free telephone calls would give families the chance to be briefly reunited with their loved ones who are working in different parts of the world.

“Relatives or families wishing to contact by overseas telephone call their loved ones abroad will just have to visit the RMN-DZXL station at the fourth floor of Guadalupe Commercial Complex in Guadalupe, Edsa, Makati City from 9am to 12 noon,” Villar said.

“The project is for the benefit of relatives especially those who are in countries gripped by unrest like Middle East and North Africa and of natural tragedies like Japan and New Zealand, Villar said, adding that the project is part of the Senator’s crusade to help our countrymen abroad who are experiencing crisis and tragedy so that they can share their situation in their love ones who are in the Philippines.

“Until now since pro-democracy movements erupted in the Arab world, some families of OFWs who are based in the Middle East and in North Africa's Libya have remained clueless on the true whereabouts of their loved ones,” Villar stressed, saying that there are still families who have not contacted their relatives in the aftermath of the killer quakes that rocked New Zealand and Japan, which are being compounded by threats of possible nuclear radiation for Japan-based Filipinos.

He said that with the absence of communication lines that could be used to reach out to their relatives and vice-versa, the pain of not personally hearing the assuring voice of a loved one in a strife-torn nation becomes increasingly unbearable, pointing out that even if there are available communication lines, access is still a problem since applicable rates charged by international and local service providers are relatively high.

“This is where our Libreng Tawag project with the help of the radio program of Toots will seek to connect the two parties and possibly reunite them even for a moment via the airwaves,” Villar added.

“The precious phone minutes that a worried-sick family member would spend soliciting words of assurance from his beloved OFW relative would be enough to lessen the entire family's anxiety,” he furthered.

Villar also lauded RMN Manila and Ople, who also heads the Ople Policy Center, for co-spearheading the "Libreng Tawag" project. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora marine institute to protect Phl aquatic wealth

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 23, 2011-As the world is hit by one catastrophe after another, Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the citizenry that there is a need to always take care of Philippines natural rich resources along the thousands of miles of coastlines framing the abundant ecosystems in the sea.

Angara said that the Philippine waters are globally recognized as centers of marine biodiversity where its location as its geographic characteristics that is, being an archipelago, ensures an abundance of aquatic life.

He explained that to maximize the potential of such a rich marine ecosystem, there is a need to study and to try to understand how it works and a great opportunity to learn about the country’s untapped wealth.

Angara urged the senate to support his  recent bill that seeks to establish the Aurora Marine Research and Development Institute (AMRDI) where Senate bill 2728 amends Republic Act 9441 to more clearly define the scope and mandate of the AMRDI.

The bill stated that the AMRDI is tasked to create a database containing valuable data on the biodiversity, habitat, abundance, and overall status of the province’s marine resources where Aurora province will be instrumental in studying, documenting and ultimately, protecting the country’s aquatic wealth through AMRDI.

The University of the Philippines Marine Science institute will supervise the AMRDI, while the Aurora State College of Technology will be in charge of locally implementing the academic and technical aspects of the bill under its provisions.

Angara said that the corner stone of the country’s progress is our natural resources and there is a need to protect and conserve them. (Jason de Asis)

Phl disaster risk reduction is for everybody’s concern-Legarda

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 23, 2011-During the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Climate Change on the government’s disaster preparedness, Senator Loren Legarda urged the national government, the Local Government Units (LGU), the private sector and the citizenry to ensure that the country is ready to prevent hazards from turning into devastating disasters, saying that disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business and concern thus we all have to work together facing it.

Legarda reiterated the importance of a strong partnership between the government and the private sector in strengthening the country’s disaster preparedness and resilience, stressing that while the government is putting in places various disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures, the private sector should take the initiative of doing its share in such effort.

She explained that the government is mandated to ensure the security and welfare of the state’s citizens; it cannot do such a gargantuan task alone, saying that both the public and private sectors must ensure the public’s safety in case of earthquakes and other disaster.

The senator said that good urban governance is the key to earthquake safety that’s why the governments must relentlessly assess and rectify the vulnerability of public structures in their respective areas. “There is a need that the administrators of office buildings and malls to ensure safety in their premises and have contingency plans well in place and tested for preventing panic and stampede and handling the injured in the event of an earthquake.

“Both sectors must be united in coming up with an effective and widespread information campaign on disaster preparedness and must develop strategies that would help people understand natural hazards, identify the signs of an impending danger, and know what to do when disasters occur,” she said, pointing out that it is not enough that the government as an institution is prepared because no matter how up-to-date or high-tech the disaster prevention mechanisms are, they would not be effective if the public remains uninformed or misinformed of what they have to do during disasters.

“The national agencies like the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) need the help of local government units and the private sector in providing timely and accurate information to the people,” she said, adding that there is a need for the regular conduct of fire and earthquake drills in schools, hospitals, malls, office buildings, condominium units and other establishments to make sure that the public are provided with the necessary information in dealing with disasters. (Jason de Asis)

Rival firms in tug-of-war over giant Ecija dam project

GENERAL TINIO, Nueva Ecija, March 23, 2011-The First Gen Corp., the power generation arm of the Lopez group, is locked up in a bitter tug-of-war with a rival company over the proposed billion-peso Balintingon Reservoir Multi-Purpose Project (BRMPP) in this town, with the latter threatening to hale the former to court for allegedly entering into an agreement with parties without consulting the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Administration.  

Officials of Concord Pacific Investment Holdings Ltd. Inc. (CPIHLI) said that they would file a petition for a Temporary Restraining Order before the Supreme Court to stop First Gen Luzon Power Corp. (FGLPC), a wholly owned subsidiary of FGC, from conducting a feasibility study on the BRMPP.

This is after the FGLPC First Gen chairman and chief executive officer Federico Lopez signed a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government of Nueva Ecija and the municipal government of Gen. Tinio for the development, construction and operation of a new reservoir and hydroelectric power plant in this town.

The MOA-signing, which was graced by Gov. Aurelio Umali and Gen. Tinio Mayor Virgilio Bote, was sealed sometime this month.

In a statement, Lopez said that they have taken interest in the Balintingon project because of its potentially far-reaching contributions to the development not only of Nueva Ecija and Gen. Tinio but also of the entire country.

Once completed, Lopez said that the project is envisioned to provide year-round irrigation to 15,000 hectares of farmlands and provide livelihood to over 9,000 farming families and fisherfolks in Central Luzon apart from generating additional megawatts of power in the Luzon grid.

Umali hailed the partnership as a model that should be replicated on a national scale where private investors that possess the required financial and technical capabilities and track record could be tapped to undertake massive infrastructure projects without having to draw from government resources.

But Jose Utrillo, CPIHLI president and chief operations officer, told newsmen that their firm is the “legal proponent” of the BRMPP and has a “live contract” with the NIA to conduct a feasibility study on the project. He described First Gen’s entry into the picture as “disturbing.”

He questioned the agreement forged by First Gen, saying it was mere propaganda.  “First Gen did not even mention when and where the agreement with the provincial and municipal governments was signed. To me, it’s just a press release,” he said.

He said it was highly questionable that the Lopez firm would act on pursuing a multi-billion peso irrigation project without coordinating with the NIA whose mandate is irrigation, and the DA.

In a letter to NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel, Utrillo said his firm is already on its final stage of its full-blown study on the project which it promised to submit to the agency within this month.

He assured Nangel that despite the distractions caused by First Gen, his firm will be focused on the realization of the project.

Asked if his company would go to the SC to decide the matter, Utrillo replied: “It would definitely go into that,” he said, adding a legal team has been conferring with him on what legal remedies to take to stop First Gen from pursuing the project.

“We will be using all legal remedies to protect our interests,” he said. (Jason de Asis)

$100 billion damages in Japan powerful quake and tsunami: Phl Senate expressed deepest sympathy

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 22, 2011-Japan government reported that about $100 billion total losses on the aftermath of the powerful quake and triggered massive tsunami in the said country, including $20 billion in damage to residences and $40 billion in damage to infrastructure such as roads, rails, port facilities and at least three nuclear plants which prompted massive evacuation of the residents of the affected areas and the declaration of a state of emergency.

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan reported for a total of 21,911 missing, 8,649 death, 4,080 identified bodies and a total of 340,000 evacuees who fled away to the troubled nuclear reactors in Fukushima prefecture yesterday.

Experts said that the powerful earthquake was one of the five largest earthquakes in the world since the modern record-keeping began that triggered massive tsunami waves of up to 10 meters high and washed away 1,800 homes.

Yesterday afternoon, Senator Franklin Drilon personally delivered a resolution to Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura and signed the Book of Condolences expressing profound sympathy to the people of Japan in the wake of the recent earthquake and tsunami that struck the country which was adopted last March 14.

Drilon said that the resolution 37 expressed the Philippines’ profound sympathy and sincerest concern and compassion for the people of Japan and its government and the Filipinos admiration for the Japanese people who, although faced with the most severe crisis, possess incredible resilience and courage to overcome destruction and loss.

           

The resolution stated that the Philippines continues to remember, with appreciation, the Government and the people of Japan for all the emergency and humanitarian assistance it had extended to our people during our own times of crises brought about by natural disasters which was sponsored by Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Floor Leader Tito Sotto III and Senators Drilon, Lito Lapid, Gringo Honasan, Legarda and Juan Miguel Zubiri. 

Japan remains to be a major source of official development funds, trade, investment and tourism to the Philippines and remains a top source of assistance for the country accounting for 36 percent or $3.46 billion of the total loan commitments.

A powerful 9 magnitude earthquake hit the east coast of Miyagi Prefecture’s, and devastated the city of Sendai in Honshu on March 11.

Earlier, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senator Loren Legarda had also signed the Book of Condolences at the Japanese embassy. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora coastal towns’ drive versus dynamite fishing boosted with patrol boat

DIPACULAO, Aurora March 22, 2011-A big boost following the turn-over of a 24 feet patrol boat to local government officials in this town to protect coastal resources and deter dynamite fishing and other illegal and destructive fishing practices along this municipality’s coastlines where the high-quality fiber glass patrol boat was turned over by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic resources to Mayor Reynante Tolentino and Vice Mayor Teresita Obillio in ceremonies at the municipal fish nursery in Barangay Lobbot.

The patrol boat was distributed in line with the PL 480 project entitled “improving enforcement capability in fishery and coastal resources management.” It is the first local currency project for fisheries and coastal resource management at the municipal level.

Sarmiento said that the project complemented the national fisheries program in the conservation, protection and proper management of fishery and coastal resources. He said its primary objectives are to arrest illegal and destructive fishing practices through provision of coastal law enforcement tools and capacitate beneficiary LGUs through training to effectively undertake active coastal law enforcement within their respective municipal waters.

Another beneficiary of the patrol boat was the town of Casiguran under Mayor Reynaldo “Binsu” Bitong.

“The component of the project is the conduct of training on marine engine operation, repair and maintenance and assignment of fish wardens,” Remedios Ongtangco, BFAR Region 3 director said.

The patrol boat, whose hull is made of fiber glass, has a 135-horsepower engine equipped with a hand-held Global Positioning System and four mobile radios with base receiver. It has a minimum speed of 20 knots, has a fuel capacity of 250 liters and can accommodate up to six persons on board.

Tolentino who accepted the donation on behalf of the municipal government said that it would help the locality in further intensifying its coastal protection activities as well as enhance its municipal fish nursery where hatchery-bred milkfish, seabass and other high-value marine species from fry to fingerlings are being reared to sustain the intensive requirement of the mariculture park in Casiguran town.

It was witnessed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, BFAR executive director Malcolm Sarmiento, assistant director Gil Adora, BFAR regional director for Central Luzon Remedios Ongtangco,  National Maritime Fisheries Development Center chief Alma Dizon, South East Asia Fisheries Development Center chief Dr. JubertToledo and municipal fish nursery project-in-charge Rex Margen among others.

Sen. Edgardo Angara, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo negotiated the donation with BFAR officials. (Jason de Asis)

Japan builds P317-M bridge of hope in Aurora

MARIA AURORA, Aurora, March 22, 2011-A P317-million concrete bridge funded through a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency dubbed as a “bridge of hope” was built which links 13 clustered barangays under the Department of Agrarian Reform’s agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in this town and giving a reprieve to hundreds of students who previously cross a river just to get to school during summer.

The 110-linear meter long, 5.4-meter wide Bazal concrete bridge is now being used by some 300 elementary and high school students who, prior to its construction wade through waters and get isolated from the rest of the province during heavy rains and typhoons.

The bridge was formally opened to vehicular traffic and turned over to the provincial government during recent inauguration ceremonies graced by Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, JICA Chief Representative Norio Matsuda, Japanese Embassy First Secretary Takeshi Sata, and secretaries Virgilio Reyes of DAR, Jose De Jesus of the Department of Transportation and Communications and Enrique Ona of the Department of Health.

The bridge project was negotiated by Sen. Edgardo Angara, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo with the Japanese government in coordination with the DAR, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the provincial government and the municipal government represented by Mayor Ariel Bitong.

The funding for the bridge, which construction started in November 2009 and completed in November 2010, was sourced from the grant-in aide of Japan through JICA’s Official Development Assistance and counterpart funding from the Philippine government. During the one-year construction period, 100 local residents from the province were hired as workers.

Ma. Celerina Afable, division chief of the DAR’s project development and management office/foreign-assisted projects, said that the project is the only bridge project funded by JICA in the country involving the DAR as lead implementing agency.

The project was first conceptualized in 2003 during the term of then-DAR Secretary Jose Mari Ponce as one of the department’s identified ARC development projects for poverty alleviation, food security and agribusiness development.

Dr. Cristy Dagdag, DAR desk officer for the JICA bridge project said that the Bazal bridge was identified as one of the immediate needs of the people in the locality who expressed hope it would finally end their vicious cycle of isolation from the rest of Aurora during calamities. It was pursued when a typhoon struck in 2004, isolating Barangay Bazal.

Darlene Galicia, DAR provincial agrarian reform officer for Aurora, said that the project principally benefited 300 elementary pupils and high school students from Barangay Malasin who used to cross the Bazal river in getting to school.

Aside from Bazal and Malasin, Galicia said the bridge also links up a cluster of ARCs in barangays Wenceslao, Baubo, Bayanihan, Cadayacan, Decoliat, Diaayat, Diome, Galintuja, San Juan and Sto. Cristo.

Galicia said that the project was literally a “bridge of hope,” as it raised hopes of generating incremental income for farmers, establish agri-enterprises and upgrade the socio-economic and living conditions of the people.

With the bridge, the risks of students regularly crossing the Bazal river on their way to school as well as the vehicle operating cost of market agricultural products, farm inputs and commercial goods were drastically reduced. (Jason de Asis)

NBI modernization needed says Angara

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 22, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged the government to fast track the development of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) as one of the leading agencies tasked to look into all sorts of crimes and offenses against the Philippine laws.

Angara called for the strengthening of one of the country’s premier law enforcement agencies to enhance the country’s investigative capabilities to solve various cases. 

“As an agency tasked to look into all sorts of crimes and offenses against Philippine laws, we must fast track the development of the NBI so that they are able to stay a step ahead,” Angara said, where he filed Senate Bill No. 2724 otherwise known as the NBI Reorganization and Modernization Act of 2011.

He said that the bill seeks to enhance the NBI’s effectiveness through a twofold plan; to wit, first, modernizing its investigative programs to address the rapidly changing needs of the times and acquiring state-of-the-art investigative and intelligence equipment to keep up with the global developments in technology; and second, by securing the welfare of its employees: adequate compensation packages, benefits and privileges, health and accident insurance, and scholarship grants for their continuing education and training.

Angara said that with all that is happening in the world and in our very own country, we cannot afford to have a law enforcement agency which struggles to keep pace with events due to obsolete equipment or lack of training. It is for our own good that we develop and maintain a highly competent core of investigators.

The NBI is an agency of the government under the department of justice which is responsible for handling and solving sensational cases that are in the interest of the nation and a government entity that is civilian in character and national in scope headed by a director and with an assistant director and six deputy director for special investigation services (SIS); regional operation services (ROS); intelligence services (IS); technical services (TS); administrative services (AS)and comptroller services (CS). (Jason de Asis) 

Phl League of Cities support cityhood in 21 municipalities

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, March 22, 2011-The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) expressed support for the conversion into cities of 21 municipalities including Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija that has complied with the requirements set by the Constitution and the Local Government Code to include Cabuyao and San Pedro in Laguna; Cainta, Taytay, and Binangonan in Rizal; Bacoor, Gen. Trias, Imus, Carmona and Silang in Cavite; Calaca, Sto. Tomas, Bauan and Nasugbu in Batangas; Mauban in Quezon; Marilao, Sta. Maria and Norzagaray in Bulacan; and Limay in Bataan.

The other municipalities like Imus, Bacoor and Cabuyao have pending cityhood applications in Congress, but the 18 others are still waiting for their congressmen to file cityhood bills on their behalf. 

LCP president and San Fernando City, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said these towns have qualified for cityhood based on the standards set by law, saying that under the June 30, 2007 Local Government Code, as amended by Republic Act 9009, a municipality may be converted into a component city only if it meets two of three requirements.

Rodriguez said that conversion to cityhood should passed the locally generated average annual income of P100 million for the last two consecutive years and contiguous territory of at least 100 square kilometers or a population of not less than 150,000 inhabitants; however, he said that his group will be firm in opposing the conversion into cities of 16 other municipalities recently granted cityhood by the Supreme Court.

“The LCP opposed Batac, Ilocos Norte; Tabuk, Kalinga; Tayabas, Quezon; Baybay, Leyte; Catbalogan, Samar; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Guihulngan, Negros Oriental; Bogo, Naga, and Carcar in Cebu; Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; El Salvador, Misamis Oriental; Mati, Davao Oriental; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur; and Lamitan, Basilan because these municipalities circumvented the requirements set by law,” he said.

Rodriguez cited the El Salvador town which has an annual income of only P17 million, a total land area of only 87 square kilometers and a population of only 41,905 which did not meet the requirements. (Jason de Asis)

DENR, PNP and APECO seized 1,000 board feet lumber

CASIGURAN, Aurora, March 21, 2011-In line with Executive Order 23 issued by President Aquino directing a moratorium on tree-cutting in natural and residual forests nationwide, the composite team of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Forest Guard of Aurora Pacific Economic Zone seized at least 1,000 board feet lumber from Sitio Digian, Brgy. Cozo, Casiguran, Aurora owned by Arman dela Cruz including his power saw.

Casiguran Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Alfredo Collado said that dela Cruz belonged to a tribe and was subject for inquest at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) but later decided to give him a chance to change a new life and not to do illegal activities again as a native on the place.

The said lumber was still in the custody of the forest guard of APECO and subject for travel at the office of the DENR for proper action. (Arnel Turzar, DZJO FM, CMN-Baler, Aurora)

Malacañang to sign UNESCO for protection and promotion of cultural diversity needed-Legarda

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 20, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and a staunch advocate of the preservation of cultural heritage urged Malacañang to sign the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions that is much needed in the country where its entry clearly showed the urgency and political commitment for action by the international community.

“In 2005, the Convention was adopted and entered into force as early as 2007 where it was a legally-binding international agreement that recognized the importance of traditional knowledge, knowledge systems of indigenous peoples and its positive contribution to sustainable development and it also encouraged artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide to create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a broad range of cultural goods, services and activities,” she said, adding that the Philippines should follow suit and make cultural preservation with 116 state parties today as one of the country’s priorities.

Legarda said that we have been missing out the opportunity to access the International Fund for Cultural Diversity by not being a state party on the convention, a fund which could have supported activities geared towards the strengthening of institutional infrastructure and cultural industries, mapping of our cultural communities, funding for research and education, and the preservation of our dying art forms, among others where it was created for the promotion of sustainable development and poverty reduction in developing and least developed countries through the emergence of a dynamic cultural sector.

The Senator said that UNESCO recognizes that culture can no longer be a by-product of development, but rather the mainstream for sustainable development.

During the 1st call for applications launched in March 2010, thirty-one projects out of 250 requests for funding by state parties and international NGOs have been approved by the Convention’s Intergovernmental Committee; thus, to protect Philippine contemporary art as well as the customs, handicrafts, and way of life of the more than 110 ethno-linguistic groups all over the country, the Senator believes that Malacañang will merit favorable action on the said convention. (Jason de Asis)