Logging firms shifted to mariculture to create jobs to 800 displaced families in Aurora

CASIGURAN, Aurora, April 12, 2011-The largest logging concessionaire in the province shifted to try other means of survival including mariculture pending reconsideration of Executive Order 23 that declared two months ago a moratorium on tree-cutting in natural and residual forests nationwide as President Aquino ordered for total log ban in the country.

With the suspension of logging activities of five (5) major logging concessionaires, the Industries Development Corp. is now venturing on mariculture at the Casiguran Mariculture Park (CMP) here for some 800 residents displaced by the ban.

“The mariculture production was one of the options that we considered, if only to enable the displaced families to eke out a living,” IDC President Michael Ong said, saying that they have to find a way or they have to tap other means while hoping for the EO to be lifted. “These people have been with us and we owe it to them,” Ong said.

The 321.6-hectare CMP, which borders on the coastal barangays of Cozo, Dibacong and Dibet, was launched in May 2006 by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. It was a pet project of Sen. Edgardo Angara, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.  

The project was intended to increase fish production in the province by 50% even as the yield of the country’s coastal fishing grounds is declining by an average of 2.66%. It has several components covering the entire production chain from broodstock, to nursery to processing plant. This covers hatchery development for seabass, grouper, siganid, saline tilapia, freshwater prawns, blue crab and abalone and establishment of land-based nursery ponds for bangus (milkfish) and high-value finfishes.

The targeted beneficiaries of the CMP are small fisherfolks and a manpower pool for fish cage operation, fish hatchery and nursery operation, fry gatherers, feed suppliers and feedmill operators, cage frame fabricators among others.    

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional executive director Ricardo Calderon ordered the suspension of  operations of IDC and sister firm RCC Timber Company Inc., CKY Trading, San Roque Sawmill, Benzon Realty Corp. and Pacific Timber Co. in line with EO 23 issued by Mr. Aquino and DENR Secretary Ramon Paje last February where the firms’ sawmills were closed and their heavy equipment pulled out from concession areas to ensure compliance with the directive.

IDC, which has been operating for the past 50 years, is considered the largest logging concessionaire in the province. It has an Integrated Forest Management Agreement covering 48,877 hectares in the northern towns of Dilasag and Casiguran which is to expire on December 5, 2026 and has log and lumber dealer permit which is set to expire on October 31, 2012.

Ong said that since the EO took effect, their twin firms’ work force had been reduced to only less than 10% to only 60 from a high of 700. He said their firms used to provide direct employment to over 500 residents in the northern towns of Dinalungan, Casiguran and Dilasag and 300 indirect jobs to rattan gatherers, charcoal and furniture makers.

“The IDC spent P40.7 million in salaries and wages, paid P40.4 million in forest charges, built P11.3 million in community assistance projects such as rehabilitation of national and provincial roads, bridges, culverts and irrigation facilities and P4.3 million in assistance to government projects such as lumber donations, lending of a pool of equipment and technology transfer to farmers,” Ong said, explaining that their twin firms are planning to put up a furniture plant which could have readily employed 500 people but this had to be put on hold indefinitely because of the moratorium.

“Our heart goes to our employees who have been with us for a long time. But we have to comply with EO 23,” Ong furthered, saying that the moratorium also led to heightened illegal logging activities in the province’s forests, confirming earlier fears raised by industry experts.

Ong said illegal loggers are now “feasting” on cutting trees in their old concession area. “Namumunini na sila ngayon (They are now having a field day),” he said.

William Esguerra, IDC manager reported in a letter to northern Aurora DENR community environment and natural resources officer (CENRO) Alfredo Collado said that only three of their concession guards were retained in their IFMA area, which is not enough to protect it from illegal loggers.

“The presence of our concession guards was a deterrent to timber poachers but compliance with EO 23 is a must. Our company can no longer pay them,” he said. “Our company fears that the forests that it has managed and protected in a sustainable manner for the last 50 years will be illegally burned or cut by forest violators ruthlessly,” he warned in his letter. 

The head of one of the logging firms who did not want to be identified said that the suspension of their operations triggered a “domino effect” in the province. He said that aside from displacement of logging employees, the moratorium has affected the local government units of the province from the provincial government down to the municipal governments and even to the barangays which used to receive a share from forest charges collected from these firms.

He said his firm has laid off 300 employees when the ban took effect.

CKY Trading, owned by Johnny Chua also reportedly laid off 200 of its employees, which also indirectly affected 800 dependents. (Jason de Asis)

Government should be prepared to protect people in case of nuclear fallout

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 12, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change urged the government to prepare people and closely to monitor public health impacts of Japan’s nuclear fallout even as government downplayed the possibility of radiation exposure in the Philippines, saying that to be prepared for such an incident is always much better; however, remote may be than be caught off-guard when it actually happens.

The Senator said that we cannot afford to be complacent notwithstanding the assurances issued by experts. There are food safety issues and the situation in Fukushima remains to be a serious concern. These are facts that we cannot dismiss.

She added that there is a need to exercise vigilance in preparing and providing for all possible contingencies from the government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

PNRI reported that harmful levels of radiation from Japan will not reach the Philippines while the Norwegian Institute for Air Research study revealed that there is a possibility that radiation will reach the country if the Japan power plant melts down.

In the event that the radiation leak from Japan reaches the Philippines, the NDRRMC assured that it has in place the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan which the government will execute. 

“Let us start with informing the public on what this Plan entails.  A good plan is not enough. Effective execution and the ability of the public to respond accordingly are key to saving lives in times of disaster,” Legarda said, adding that we have yet to know and understand what the government’s preparedness plan entails.

“There is a need to ensure by the government that the public is educated about radiation and its possible health implications, which, in large doses, can cause cancer and, birth defects and miscarriage for pregnant women,” Legarda stressed.

Legarda said that the government cannot afford to let its guard down. The PNRI should continue to monitor radiation levels and establish trends in order that it would be in a position to inform the public well before the concentrations reach dangerous levels, adding that there is a need to closely monitor the 24 registered importers of 238 Japanese products importing from Japan.

Legarda said that her call is not overreaction, saying that preparation is the key to effective disaster prevention in the parlance of disaster risk reduction and management in case that the radiation dangerous level affect the country. (Jason de Asis)

56% Filipinos demands for disaster preparedness and early warning systems

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 10, 2011-Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change revealed yesterday that most Filipinos believed that there is a need for disaster preparedness and early warning system should scattered in the country as our countrymen recognizes the importance of prompt alerts on impending disasters, saying that the government must heed the people’s demand through the immediate establishment of early warning systems and prioritization of disaster preparedness programs.

“Pulse Asia survey revealed that 56% of the citizenry demanded that there is a need to prioritize early warning mechanisms among its disaster preparedness efforts, following by the storing up of relief goods (19%), designating evacuation centers (16%), and purchasing rescue and relief equipment (10%),” Legarda said, stressing that it is advantageous of establishing effective early warning systems in the community where the government should work on it immediately.

The Senator added that early warning system must be able to integrate risk knowledge, monitoring and warning service, risk communication and warning dissemination, and the response capacity of the community, noting that the same survey also revealed that after disasters, 61% of Filipinos were not satisfied with the government services and assistance they received from the government where they are spending millions for disaster relief operations.

“Investing in disaster preparedness, especially on early warning mechanisms, will not only save lives and properties but also reduce expenses on post-disaster efforts such as relief and rehabilitation,” she pointed out.

Legarda furthered that effective early warning does not have to be costly, citing that sirens or whistles can be used as early warning devices and training programs for volunteers can facilitate awareness and education on disasters and arm the community against the perils of hazards.

“It is good to know that Filipinos are aware of the importance of establishing effective early warning device in their community,” Legarda said, saying that investing early warning save people lives and reduce economic impacts of disasters.

Legarda furthered that the country is disaster prone areas being situated in the ring of fire that render us susceptible to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes where preparedness and mitigation have become matters of extreme urgency.

Disaster Reduction and Management Council records showed that numerous earthquakes occur within the Philippine archipelago every now and then mainly because the country is situated along two major tectonic plates: the Pacific plates and the Eurasian plates, adding that the country has 220 volcanoes, 22 of which are potentially active. The country is also vulnerable to typhoons and tsunamis as well as one of the typhoon belts of the world. (Jason de Asis)

Cyber attacks whops 93 percent worldwide; Phl should protect internet users

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 9, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara revealed that cyber attacks whopping to 93% from 2009 to 2010 while 42% of mobile phones are more vulnerable against malicious software where he urged the government for the modernization of the Philippine government agencies tasked to watch over this vital sector, following reports of increasing cyber attacks worldwide.

Angara said that now our computer systems are susceptible to cybercrime, there is a need to protect Filipino users by giving the authorities the means and power to oversee this industry where he authored Senate Bill No. 50, otherwise known as “Department of Information and Communications Technology Act of 2010” which seeks to reorganize the existing Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), dividing it into two separate bodies that is one dedicated solely to transportation and the other on the  information and communications technology (ICT). 

To develop and oversee the ICT sector in the Philippines, the proposed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be the primary administrative and regulatory body of the government tasked and it will also be in-charged in protecting the country’s ICT industries against the growing number of security risks inherent to the nature of technology.

Upon the creation of the DICT, Angara said that it shall take over the powers, functions, records, funds, equipment, property, and personnel of the Commission of Information and Communications Technology, national computer center, Telecommunication office and all operating units in the DOTC with functions and responsibilities dealing with communications which shall be demolished.

The NTC and Philippine Postal corporation shall become the attached agencies of the DITC with the department also taking authority over the postal delivery services industry, adding that the DITC shall be headed by the secretary and offices of the secretary, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries.

“The numbers of mobile and internet users increase, so do the malicious entities intent on taking advantage of the people’s openness to technology; thus, the government must be proactive in keeping up with the digital revolution sweeping the globe to increase the safety and security of the millions of tech-savvy Filipinos,” Angara said. (Jason de Asis)

Four women shop-lifters nabbed by cops in Ecija bust

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 8, 2011-Police Supt. Samuel Sevilla, city chief of police in this town reported that four women suspected shoplifters were arrested by police the other day after trying to smuggle products out of the Walter-Mart shopping complex who have  successfully sneaked grocery items from big malls in Tarlac City and inside the Clark Special Economic Zone.  

Sevilla identified the four as Nanette Kindipan, 24, of La Trinidad, Benguet; and Marilyn Serami, 39; Racquel Esteban, 39 and Jackilou Torral, 28, all of Baguio City.

Sevilla said that the four were arrested inside the Walter-Mart parking lot where their get-away vehicle identified as a Kia Pregio van with license plate AHA-567 was parked. Police also found several assorted grocery items supposedly part of the loot they took from malls in Central Luzon.

Sevilla said that prior to the suspects’ arrest, the mall’s two security guards alerted his men on the presence of the four women at the parking lot, apparently on their way to escape after looting some of the items at the mall. Earlier, mall personnel monitoring a Close Circuit Television camera spotted the four who were suspiciously roaming around the supermarket inside the mall.

A police team led by SPO4 Francisco Sudla was dispatched to the scene and immediately sealed off the exit points and arrested the four. Also arrested was driver Arnel Saguid, 41, also of Baguio City.     

Sevilla said that the arrest of the four shoplifters was no mean feat considering that they have also successfully carried out their illegal activities in Benguet, at the SM mall in Tarlac City and at the Puregold mall inside Clark.

He said that the suspects normally hide the items they loot inside their underwear to avoid detection.

“Prior to their arrest, they have virtually mastered the art of shoplifting. Imagine inside Clark where security and monitoring is tight, they were able to sneak out grocery items. We were fortunate that they were spotted at a CCTV camera installed inside the mall,” he said.

Sevilla estimated that at least P30,000 worth of groceries was loaded inside the van used by the suspects. (Jason de Asis)

NIA denies DENR official’s report of coliform pollution at Pantabangan

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 8, 2011-Engineer Reynaldo Puno, National Irrigation Administration, UPRIIS operations manager yesterday slammed the findings of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  (DENR) that fecal coliform bacteria has polluted the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems which supplies irrigation water to the Pantabangan Dam.

“The water at the dam is proven of good quality and is even used as potable water by local residents,” Puno said, adding that the reported presence of coliform at the system is far from accurate, saying they have quarterly tested samples of the water quality  of the Upper Pampanga in the towns of Pantabangan and even in Rizal to disprove it.

“The report on coliform contamination as cited by DENR regional forestry division chief Sofio Quintana is grossly unfounded insofar as the UPRIIS is concerned,” he furthered, saying that it is not factual. “That is not true,” he said, explaining that the water quality at the UPRIIS is so good and it is even used by residents in Pantabangan where the dam is located as potable water source.

In a recent water conservation forum, Quintana said that a test conducted last year on water quality of 15 rivers in Central Luzon showed various stages of fecal coliform contamination from human and animal wastes.

Quintana said that the bacteria, which is hazardous to people is found midstream and downstream of rivers from the watersheds of the UPRIIS, Dingalan in Aurora, Angat-Maasim and Angat-Ipo in Bulacan; Porac-Gumain in Pampanga; Pinulot in Bataan; Bulsa Moriones, Camiling and O’Donnel in Tarlac and Bucao, Cabaluan, Caulaman, Nayom and Sto. Tomas in Zambales. 

These river systems provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmlands in the region, led by Pantabangan Dam which – as the country’s biggest dam – irrigates 102,000 hectares in the region.

Quintana said that local government officials should build community toilets and should strengthen the enforcement of solid waste management laws.

But Puno said several water quality tests conducted by First Gen. Corp., the power generation arm of the Lopez group, at the Aya reservoir in Pantabangan showed zero contents of fecal coliform. He showed a copy of the report which states that generally, water quality is good enough and only need some treatment processes such as chlorination and sedimentation for potable water supply.

“So if the water is not safe as Quintana claims, local residents would have gone sick and farm animals would have perished because they drink water from the river. And even fish species would have died and there would have been a massive fish kill. But none of these exist,” he said, as he belied Quintana’s report.

Manuel Collado, NIA regional irrigation manager for Central Luzon, said that so far, none of the farmers and irrigators’ associations have filed a complaint regarding the coliform pollution reportedly affecting the Angat-Maasim and Angat-Ipo rivers in the region.

“So far, no one has reported damage to crops related to the coliform bacteria,” Collado told newsmen as he downplayed the DENR report.

Angat-Maasim falls under the jurisdiction of Collado’s office which also covers the merged provincial irrigation management offices of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Aurora whose office is situated in Barangay Tambubong, san Rafael, Bulacan operates the 39-year-old Angat-Maasim Rivers Irrigation System that runs the Angat after bay Regulator Dam that irrigates 30,000 hectares of farmlands in 16 towns in Bulacan and four towns in Pampanga.

Collado said that the reported coliform pollution is not being felt in their areas of operation. (Jason de Asis)

First Phl industrial corporation liable for violation of clean air and water act

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April, 8, 2011-In the recent investigation on the Makati gas pipeline leak, Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources said that the Senate has found that the First Philippine Industrial Corporation (FPIC) liable for possible violation of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act should give compensation package to affected residents.

In his presentation of the draft Senate Committee Report to the media, Zubiri said that the fuel leak brought about by the mongo-sized holes on the surface of the FPIC pipeline undoubtedly caused undue damage and prejudice to the residents of West Tower Condominium and adjoining areas in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City.

Zubiri said that this is a test case of environmental degradation. Kailangan po umaksyon na po ang korte dito at ang ating iba't ibang executive offices like the DENR and other agencies tasked by government to implement the laws, saying that there is a need to implement these laws, if not, the Senator is worried that more industries might abuse their powers, abuse their reach among our friends in the different agencies concerned and therefore more abuses like these could happen in the future.

The villagers of West Tower cheered on Zubiris statement that’s flocked at the Senate and thanked Zubiri who stood by his promise to be fair and impartial throughout the investigation where the Senate recommended for the inspection of the whole stretch of the 42-year-old pipeline which transports approximately 60% of petroleum requirements of Metro Manila and parts of Bulacan, Laguna and Rizal.

Zubiri’s committee report stated that the fact that the FPIC failed miserably to discover the cause of the leak despite an existing maintenance and inspection system raises a cause for alarm. There is therefore an imperative need to inspect the whole stretch of the FPIC pipeline to ensure that the same does not pose threat to the lives of many Filipinos.

In this connection, Zubiri filed Senate Bill 2788 or the act creating a National Pipeline Board that will oversee the maintenance of oil and gas pipelines in the country to address the seeming lack of law regulating pipelines.

"Ang problema po wala po tayong batas na nag-su-supervise dito sa ating oil pipelines kaya po nagfile tayo ng panukalang batas sa araw na ito na nagbibigay ng clear cut guidelines sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno dahil nagtuturuan din po ang ahensya ng gobyerno nuong nagsagawa tayo ng pagdinig. This measure already puts in place the different standards required for companies that are involved in this type of industries. Napakahalaga po nito may standards na po na inilagay natin at mayroon po tayong penalties na napakabigat kapag hindi sila sumunod dito," the Bukidnon solon explained.

The Senate also recommended that the FPIC should shoulder the expenses for the clean-up operations within the West Tower Condominium and adjoining areas affected by the fuel leak. Necessarily, FPIC should forward the appropriate reimbursements for the amount already expended by the West Tower Management in the conduct of the same; FPIC must present a detailed and specific clean-up plan that must contain a definitive statement as to the steps and strategies to be taken which must be strictly followed and observed; and, appropriate action must be undertaken by concerned government agencies as regards possible violations of the Clean Air Act and/or Clean Water Act. (Jason de Asis)

Zambales Mango Festival 2011 starts today

IBA, Zambales, April 7, 2011-The 11^th Zambales Mango Festival kicks off today as one of the celebrations in the province which starts its four day revelry to be led by Governor Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. and Vice Governor Ramon Lacbain who led the opening ceremony at the Provincial Capitol grounds in this capital town.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food graced the occasion along with Regional Directors Blesila Lantayona of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Ronaldo Tiotuico, Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3 Director Alfredo Tolentino and Police Chief Superintendent Allan Purisima of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 3 and Representatives from PhilHealth Region 3 are expected to arrive.

Today as the kick off of the annual celebration it featured photo contest and art exhibits, ultimate dance craze program and the regular street parade and street dancing competition.

Tomorrow a new program add-ons ZAMBA Boxing competition, Search for Talentadong Empleyado (Talented Employees) 2011, Huli Mo Biik Mo!, Agri-Karera ng Kalabaw (Agri-Carabao race) and dog show will be highlighted along with regular mango forum and PINAKA LGU booth competition.

On the 3^rd day of the celebration, main stays mango carving and mango eating contests and PINAKA competition will be featured along with the battle of the bands and the judging of the photo contest.

On the province culmination activity, newbies Zambales Song Writing Competition and Ginoo at Binibining Zambales (Mr. and Ms. Zambales) 2011 Grand Pageant Night are lead programs on the final day along with the awarding ceremony of the photo contest.

The annual celebration is a joint program of the Zambales Mango Development Council and the Zambales government to boost the mango industry of the province. (Jason de Asis)

Gapan civil registrar resigned, clerk suspended for live birth certificate probe

GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 7, 2011-City civil registrar Mr. Danilo Tan who was one of those being investigated by the grievance committee headed by Danny Padiernos for alleged involvement in the falsifying of the certificate of live birth of an eight-year-old boy and in the missing marriage contract of his parents has resigned from his post.

Mayor Christian Tinio revealed yesterday that Tan has formally tendered his irrevocable resignation ahead of the results of the investigation in the case of Davis Mandy Afable whose certificate of live birth was allegedly forged, adding that the said office was assumed in an acting capacity by budget officer Zenaida Azarcon.

Tan is reportedly a close ally of former three-term mayor Ernesto Natividad whose wife Baby lost to Tinio in last year’s mayoral elections.

“There is no politics in the investigation of Tan,” Tinio said, explaining that his creation of a grievance committee to look into the case meant the probe is not politically motivated. “That’s why the committee is there to investigate and I never meddle in their work,” he said.

Tinio furthered that on the recommendation of the grievance committee, he has preventively suspended Jocelyn Dimacale, the clerk of the office of the civil registrar suspected of falsifying Afable’s certificate of live birth.

Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlunsod (SP), presided over by Vice Mayor Rodel Matias, placed Dimacale under investigation following a complaint lodged by Afable’s mother Desiree Bonifacio of Barangay San Nicolas here. The SP later gave way to the grievance committee.

Afable was born last May 28, 2002 to Manuel Afable, an American citizen, and Bonifacio. Exactly a month later, the elder Afable and Bonifacio got married.

Bonifacio said in the process, Davis Mandy was “legitimated through subsequent marriage,” as borne by the couple’s application for marriage license and the certificate of live birth. The couple’s relationship, however, went sour and they later separated.

Bonifacio said sometime last year, she went to the National Statistics Office to request a copy of their authenticated marriage contract and Davis Mandy’s certificate of live birth. She said to her surprise, the copy of the marriage contract could not be found and the certificate of her son’s live birth was forged through false entries.

Attached in her certificate of affidavit was a copy of the certificate of live birth of Davis Mandy wherein the boy’s middle name and surname Afable were erased.     The same document, however, clearly indicated that Davis Mandy was “legitimated” through the subsequent marriage of his parents on June 28, 2002.

Because of the forged certificate of live birth, Bonifacio said it would appear that Davis Mandy was an illegitimate child when in fact, his being a son of his Filipino mother and American father was already “legitimated” through their marriage.

In her complaint-affidavit, she also attached a copy of certificate of live birth signed by Tan and Dimacale dated July 5, 2002 showing that she and Afable got married. But in another certificate of live birth dated January 21, 2011 also signed by Tan and clerk 2 Arthur Merle, there were no entries opposite the lines “date and place of marriage of parents,” indicating they were never married at all.

Bonifacio said when she confronted Dimacale about the falsified certificate of live birth and the missing marriage contract, the latter admitted she pulled out the authentic documents on the request of the elder Afable.

Bonifacio said because of this anomaly, Davis Mandy was deprived of benefits due him as a legitimate child. She also complained that her ex-husband Manuel Afable was able to get married to another woman even if their marriage still exists and when there was no legal separation.

She said that the disappearance of her marriage contract and the forged certificate of live birth could not have been carried out if Afable did not conspire with officials of the city civil registrar’s office. (Jason de Asis)

NIA says that coliform outbreak has no effect on CL farmlands

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 7, 2011-The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) assured yesterday the reported outbreak of fecal coliform bacteria in at least 15 rivers in Central Luzon, including river systems that provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmlands in the region had no adverse effect on crops.

NIA regional irrigation manager for Central Luzon Manuel Collado said that so far, none of the farmers and irrigators’ associations have filed a complaint regarding the coliform pollution reportedly affecting the 15 rivers.

“So far, one has reported damage to crops related to the coliform bacteria,” Collado told newsmen as he downplayed the report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

DENR regional forestry division chief Sofio Quintana said that a test conducted last year on water quality of the 15 rivers showed various stages of fecal coliform contamination from human and animal wastes.

Quintana told a water conservation forum that the bacteria, which is hazardous to people are found midstream and downstream of rivers from the watersheds of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems in Nueva Ecija, Dingalan in Aurora, Angat-Maasim and Angat-Ipo in Bulacan, Porac-Gumain in Pampanga, Pinulot in Bataan; Bulsa Moriones, Camiling and O’Donnel in Tarlac and Bucao, Cabaluan, Caulaman, Nayom and Sto. Tomas in Zambales.    

The DENR official stressed that there is a need for local government officials to build community toilets and strengthen the enforcement of solid waste management laws in their localities.

Angat-Maasim falls under the jurisdiction of Collado’s office which also covers the merged provincial irrigation management offices of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Aurora whose office is situated in Barangay Tambubong, san Rafael, Bulacan. It operates the 39-year-old Angat-Maasim Rivers Irrigation System that runs the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam that irrigates 30,000 hectares of farmlands in 16 towns in Bulacan and four towns in Pampanga.

Collado admitted that the NIA has no technical expertise to determine the content of coliform bacteria in rivers and in irrigation farms but said that the reported outbreak is not being felt in their areas of operation. (Jason de Asis)

6,000 Central Luzon students to get employed this summer

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, April 6, 2011-Department of Labor and Employment Regional Director Leopoldo “Pol” B. de Jesus and information officer Jerry Borja said that  the 6,000 Central Luzon deserving college and vocational students from the poor families will be benefited this summer by the government’s Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and now have the opportunity to work in private companies and local government units (LGUs).

“Pampanga got the most SPES slots this year at 2,300 followed by Bulacan and Nueva Ecija with 1,000 each; Bataan, Aurora and Zambales with 500 each; and Tarlac with 200,” de Jesus and Borja said, adding that the distribution was based on the SPES provincial performances in the last five years.

They furthered that SPES seeks to help poor but deserving students who pursue their education by enlisting them during summer and/or Christmas vacations where the provincial, Municipal and City Public Employment Service Offices (PESOs) are mandated to select the students based on their required qualifications according to their age, grades, income, and other pertinent documents.

According to law, a student must at least be 18 years old but not more than 25 years old. It is also required to submit the combined net income after tax of his/her parents, including his/her income if any, does not exceed the latest annual poverty threshold level for a family of six as determined and provided by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and he/she must have obtained passing grades in the last school term attended.

The duo explained that the tasks they will perform includes tax mappers, barangay survey personnel, encoders, school assistants, food service crew, gasoline attendants and promotion merchandisers where the students salary will be in accordance to the prescribed minimum wage wherein 40 percent will be shouldered by DOLE while the remaining 60 percent will come from the participating companies and LGUs. (Jason de Asis)

Angara warned the public against “LizaMoon” new web virus

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 6, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology warned the public to protect and to prepare their computer systems following reports of a new virus called “LizaMoon” that hits more than 4 millions of internet users worldwide which was discovered late March of this malware.

Angara said that the virus installs malicious code into websites, redirecting unknowing users to a site called “LizaMoon” and then asks the user to install needless antivirus software, adding that this particular malware can reach the country in no time that’s why we must not wait for these kinds of viruses to hit the Philippines and cause harm before establishing security measures with the speed and pervasiveness of the Internet.

Earlier, Angara filed Senate Bill No. 52 commonly known as “An Act Defining Cybercrime, Providing for Prevention, Investigation and Imposition of Penalties Therefore and for Other Purposes” known simply as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2010 in the 15^th Congress.

“The bill seeks to protect internet users from illegal online activity such as fraud, identity theft, hacking and virus attacks, among many others,” Angara said, saying that the person who will be convicted of the said crime would be punishable by imprisonment or a fine of at least Php50,000.

In today’s modernization, Angara said that the majority of our countrymen have access to the Internet and there is a need to be diligent and to set safeguards to protect them from malicious entities wanting to take advantage. (Jason de Asis)

Legarda urges total plastic bags ban to fight climate change

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 6, 2011- Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change urged a total ban on the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags throughout the country with the objective of curbing pollution and helping the nation manage its ecological resources more wisely, following the recent United States Environmental Protection Agency study that about 500 billion to one trillion plastic bags consumed worldwide yearly while the 2005 World Wildlife Fund Report showed that about 200 different marine species die due to ingestion and choking from plastic bags.

Legarda said that the study revealed the unrelenting and neglectful use of plastic bags around the world, saying that plastic bags end up as litter as it makes its way to landfills, drainages and bodies of water, taking decades to decompose and damaging marine life when dumped in the sea. This issue of pollution is further aggravated by natural hazards, which have become unpredictable due to climate change.

She cited the flooding in Metro Manila areas and made post-cleanup in 2009 as typhoon Ondoy struck the country where plastic bags severely worsened the flooding; thus, Legarda filed Senate Bill 2759 otherwise known as the Total Plastic Bag Ban Act of 2011, which prohibits groceries, supermarkets, public markets, restaurants, fast food chains, department stores, retail stores and other similar establishments from using non-biodegradable plastic bags to prevent the problem from worsening.

Legarda proposed penalty for violators with a fine of P10,000 for the first offense; P50,000 for the second offense; and, P200,000 as well as one year suspension of business permit for the third offense.

The Senator said that all sectors of society should act with dispatch in the problems of pollution, environmental degradation and severe weather shifts escalate, saying that to produce impact in the environment everybody must make conscious efforts to change the daily routine and practices.

“Business establishments have to change their economic mindset, wasteful production processes and packaging methods from the use of seemingly cost-effective plastic bags into investing in long-term reusable and recyclable bags which are more sustainable in the long run, adding that this will help a lot in fighting pollution in the country,” Legarda furthered. (Jason de Asis)

Angara encourages to patronize country’s cultural tourism instead of abroad

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 5, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara encourages the public to explore the Philippines’ cultural tourism sites instead of going abroad as the summer's vacation season reaches its peak this month, saying that the country has a rich cultural heritage, as well as abundant natural resources and rich biodiversity in the ecosystems aside from having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Angara added that our countrymen should have to patronize first the Philippines natural heritage where they can have plenty of options for vacation sites that are out of the ordinary, explaining that recent years have shown increased interest in cultural tours set in historical places to trace the footsteps of our forefathers which was reported also by the Department of Tourism.

“These tours mark important spots in the country's history, and also contribute to the movement to preserve historical and cultural sites that are slowly being destroyed due to negligence,” Angara said, who is the author of the National Cultural Heritage Bill which was signed into law last year.

The NCH bill seeks to protect locations that are essential to Philippine history, including buildings, landmarks, monument and shrines where he believes that supporting local tourism will boost the nation's economy.

Angara explained that local tourism increase would create jobs especially for those living in rural areas and would spur the creation and expansion of business establishments as positive impact to the country’s economy.

“Through patronizing the country’s richness in cultural heritage,  it would help our locals in their livelihood,” he said, adding that the country has a number of world heritage sites which were classified as cultural and natural, declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (Jason de Asis)

COMSTE supports expansion of research in the use of algae as biofuel

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 5, 2011-Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) said that COMSTE is supporting the expansion of research and development (R&D) into the use of algae as a biofuel, explaining that more countries are developing the use of it; thus, the Philippines should continue to support research in this and other Renewable Energy (RE) sources.

“The US Airforce recently tested the F 22 Raptor, the most modern weapons system in the Airforce, flying on a 50/50 blend of biofuel. Continental Airlines has also been testing biofuel on a Boeing 737-800 passenger plane,” Angara noted, saying that the United Arab Emirates reported that algae use is now scalable and can become cheaper to produce than oil.

“COMSTE partners from Alson’s Aquaculture and the Ateneo Innovation Center (AIC) have been collaborating as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to study the use of algae as a biofuel,” Angara said, saying that initial experiments in the country demonstrate that the use of algae as a biofuel has high potential, and it can also be used as a carbon capture mechanism when coupled with coal-fired plants according to COMSTE. 

The AIC and Alsons teams, plus two other photo bio-reactor companies aim to study optimal conditions that will promote the growth of algae and the cleaning of coal fired plants by placing nearby aquaculture ponds.

In 2004, the Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research in Wales reported that the algae biofuel industry had an estimated value of $700 million, and is continuing to grow.

To produce diesel, gasoline and even jet fuel, Angara said that the US based National Renewable Energy Laboratory is currently studying the most viable strains of algae that they can use as a renewable energy source.

To displace the fuel needs of the country, Dr. Catalino Blanche, a national program leader with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said that the US is studying ways to develop algae as a biofuel, saying that  the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) study that algae can produce up to 1,200 - 10,000 gallons per acre.

“Mexico is developing a program that can potentially replace fossil fuels with biofuel blends which aims to produce 1% of the nation’s jet fuel from algae in less than five years,” Angara ended. (Jason de Asis)

Deputy ombudsman Gonzales should be ousted from office-Kiko

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 4, 2011-In relation to the hostage-taking at Quirino Grandstand on August 23, 2010, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, a lawyer and formerly a chairman of the Senate Justice Committee yesterday urged for the enforcement of Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III’s removal from his post who was fired by Malacañang last March 31 in a 15 page decision released by the Office of the President declaring Gonzalez guilty of gross neglect of duty and misconduct in the performance of duty, following the Palace review of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC).

“The inordinate and unjustified delay in resolving the case of hostage-taker, former police Chief Inspector Rolando Mendoza, whose removal from service was one of the reasons for the hostage-taking that claimed the lives of eight hostages, plus Mendoza himself. On top these, the Deputy Ombudsman has been suspected of extorting money from Mendoza at the height of the hostage-taking incident,” Pangilinan said, however, Gonzalez and his superior, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, have remained defiant, saying that the President “has no judicial or quasi-judicial jurisdiction” over Gonzalez.

“The presumption of regularity must prevail on the issue of Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III. In this instance, unless constrained by the courts, the decision must be respected and the dismissal enforced,” Pangilinan pointed out, asserting that if there are no legal impediments to executing the President’s order, then Gonzalez should be removed from office. If he needs to be bodily removed from the office premises, then that should already be acted on by the appropriate police agency.

Pangilinan also made reference to the Ombudsman’s ties to the Arroyo administration, saying that unless they have forgotten that we are now under a new administration, it is time to put an end to the wanton disregard for the rule of law so characteristic of the Arroyo administration.

He furthered that there is a need to exorcise the nation from the ghosts of the past regime wherein the Constitution and the rule of law were upheld only when it served the purpose of the incumbent.

The lawmaker asserted: We should not wait for another hostage taking incident. We should follow the rule of the law. (Jason de Asis)

350,000 deaths yearly and expected to rise due to climate change

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, April 4, 2011-It was estimated that 350,000 people died yearly due to climate change due to various illnesses in the country, Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change urged the Department of Health (DOH) to improve its public health services and ensure early prevention and control of diseases.

“There is a need for the DOH to strengthen their initiatives on disease and health surveillance and enhance its awareness campaigns on climate-sensitive diseases not limited to dengue but including pulmonary infections, malaria, cholera, heatstroke, and skin infections,” Legarda said.

The Senator said that climate vulnerability monitor 2010 study showed that not disasters but diseases cause the most number of deaths by climate change, noting that from January to February of 2011 there had been at least 13,821 patients afflicted with dengue already admitted in hospitals across the country.

“According to the DOH, there were 3,640 dengue cases, a 106-percent increase from the figures recorded last year in Metro Manila alone,” she said, adding that the rise in dengue cases is alarming because the country is one of the most vulnerable to vector-borne diseases.

The Development Assistance Research Associates (DARA) which is an international organization monitors aid to victims of conflict, disasters and climate change reported that the Philippines climate and location naturally assist in the proliferation of dengue where higher temperatures and more humid climates caused by climate change favor the growth in the populations of insects and vectors that spread diseases.

Despite serious projected impacts over a range of health concerns, Legarda furthered that the study revealed that there are large gaps in adaptation policies, including health, making up just 3% of priority adaptation projects, reiterating that an estimated 350,000 people die each year due to major diseases and health disorders related to climate change.

“Unless measures are taken, by 2030, climate change will increase its toll to more than 800,000 deaths yearly,” Legarda explained, stressing that there is a need to prioritize prevention and control of climate-related diseases, and enhance the DOH’s capacity for early warning for any outbreak. (Jason de Asis)