Aurora Coco plantation burned by NPA rebels in 2009 now in full bloom

DINALUNGAN, Aurora, March 2, 2011-In May 2009, a 20-man band of suspected communist New People’s Army rebels stormed the 133 hectare Aurora Province Coconut Development Center (APCDC) in Barangay Dibaraybay  here destroyed facilities and equipments then chopped and burned several young coconut seedlings.

To the surprise of officials of the APCDC, who launched the project 16 months earlier, the incident turned out to be a “blessing in disguise.” The seedlings only grew further and developed into mature seedlings.

Today, the center which is projected to become the breeding ground of quality seed nuts for Luzon is now home to the best coconut varieties. Among them are embryo-cultured Macapuno, Tacunan Dwarf, Catigan Dwarf, Synvar, Baybay Tall, San Ramon Tall and Open Pollinated Variety-Baler. A total of 15,553 coco seedlings have been planted at a 98.7 hectare area of the APCDC in Dibaraybay, some three kilometers from the town proper.

Dennis Calub, regional director for Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4-B of the Philippine Coconut Authority, and project director of the APCDC said that the center - a brainchild of Sen. Edgardo Angara, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara and Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo - is projected to grow up to 1.7 million coconuts and develop 1.34 million plantable seedlings by 2018.

“By 2018, with this much production, we can plant coconuts in an average of 13,400 hectares per year,” he said, adding that it is enough to supply the demand of the Northern Luzon region.

The APCDC was first set up in this fourth-class town with the ceremonial planting on January 5, 2008. It was formally established on October 2, 2008 following the signing of the memorandum of agreement among the implementing agencies namely the PCA, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the provincial government of Aurora and the municipal government of Dinalungan.

Philiandro Garcia, center operations manager, said that the project was envisioned to be the center for coconut research, development and extension similar to the seed farm in Carmen, North Cotabato where two million coconuts were planted to  some 26,000 hectares of plantation.

Calub stressed that the center’s 6-point mission include promotion and development of a sustainable and globally competitive coconut industry through researches, delivery of extension services and enterprise development for farmers, and commercial production of quality planting materials of high-yielding coconut varieties.

It will showcase the various integrated coconut-based farming and processing technologies for increased productivity and profitability; provision of appropriate training and technical support for farmers to improve their skills and access to capital and markets.

The center is also intended to revive the coconut industry and to contribute to the overall efforts to attain food security.             

A total of 12 high-quality coconut varieties will be developed in the center where a two-hectare nursery for good quality seedlings and mother palms is being maintained. The project will be implemented over a period of 25 years.

Calub said that for the first five years of its operations, the center is projected to spend P215.88 million, of which P78 million has so far been released. The project’s funding was sourced from the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act through the countrywide development funds of Senator Angara.

Last January 22, some P10.5 million worth of facilities were inaugurated at the center, including the P5-million, two-story administration building, perimeter fence, the 1.7-kilometer access road and a 30,000-liter capacity elevated water tank. The administration building houses a library, training center cum dormitory and a laboratory for production of embryo-cultured Makapuno.

Calub said that at the project site, they have also implemented inter-cropping by planting various crops such as malungggay, banana, sweet potato, okra, corn, pineapple, palay, gabi and coffee beans at a 13-hectare area of the coconut plantation.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who was briefed by Calub on the progress of the project, said high-value crops can also be grown in the project site. He pledged to provide funding for the setting up of a 20 to 30-hectare high-value crop plantation.

Dinalungan Mayor Tito Tubigan said that the project has also provided alternative source of livelihood to 86 residents of Dibaraybay, each of whom receives a daily pay of Php213.

Calub said that the May 2009 incident when the rebels burned the plantation could have been the turning point for the project. “It was one of the project’s biggest setbacks. But somehow, it also turned out as a blessing because the chopped tree trunks grew bigger and better,” he said.

Curiously, the incident also signaled the beginning of the end of the underground movement in the province. Residents protested the incident, resulting in a series of concerted actions which culminated in the declaration of the entire province as insurgency-free nine months later. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora solon files bill for the inclusion of entrepreneurship as separate subject in secondary

BALER, Aurora, March 2, 2011-Aurora Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has filed house bill No. 269 that requires the inclusion of entrepreneurship as a separate subject in the high school curriculum where it should be taught in the senior year of both public and private secondary school nationwide.

Angara explained that the Philippine education system produces graduates who fall into the labor market every year and as the number of graduates increase, the number of unemployed countrymen who search for job continue to rise, saying that about 5.5 million Filipinos are unemployed and 3.9 million are underemployed according to statistics.

Angara furthered that the problem of unemployment and underemployment may be remedied if schools can produce graduates who are job creators rather than job seekers. Students need to be taught to face the world with dreams of entrepreneurial success; thus, the solon filed the said bill to deal with the following entrepreneurial matters on management, fund sourcing, program accreditation and requirements, and contemporary entrepreneurial practices.

“The subject will also cover the values and skills-formation aspects of the making of an entrepreneur,” Angara said, adding that the proposed measure mandates the Education secretary to designate a Head Subject Specialist from the Bureau of Secondary Education who shall be the lead person in coordinating all activities necessary for the development and implementation of the subject, making sure that it is attuned to the current policy of industrialization and global competitiveness.

The Aurora solon is hoping that the passage of the bill will lead young Filipinos to have vigor, competitive energy and creativity for small and medium enterprises in advance economies that may push the country’s own economic growth and development. (Jason de Asis)

Phl should move on to pluck out OFWs in Libya-Escudero

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 1, 2011-Senator Chiz Escudero,  chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights urged the government to move on that no single Filipino should be left behind in Libya to pluck out all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) trapped in the political and social turmoil in the North African country.

Escudero said that it is the government’s duty to look after the welfare of every single Filipino who are in troubled in Libya which has been reached and assigned for pick-up and evacuation, adding that the evacuation program adopted by the government should be a one-size-fits-all design to ensure their safety. "This should be the policy we ought to be adopting where the situation in Libya is a powder keg waiting to explode full blown,” he said.

“The political tension there will be exacerbated by the social and ethnic problems among almost 81 tribes vying for domination. Blended together, this unrest will blow in the face of everyone in the Libyan territory," Escudero said.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) recorded that there are 26,000 Filipinos working and living in Libya, saying that only 13,000 may be likely evacuated by the government. The 13,000 were reached through the efforts of the Philippine embassy there and others find ways to contact the personnel of the foreign mission on their own.

He said that a big number of Filipinos remained trapped in areas near the Libyan capital of Tripoli. In Al Kufrah alone, 100 OFWs were abandoned by their Korean employers and have been pleading for help in light of the sporadic shots and explosions being heard from surrounding areas.

The government has chartered planes from the Philippine Airlines and Qatar Airways where each flight to Manila costs P13 million and can accommodate 200 to 300 people per flight. The government is allocating P100 million contingency fund for the Libya situation where he called on key agencies concerned to cut all bureaucratic red tapes in the release of the OFW standby fund which is meant for situations such as this in Libya.

Escudero said that all mechanisms, legal, financial, physical to afford protection for OFWs should be interfaced with all efforts from all fronts. They are our modern heroes who keep our economy afloat. The government should protect them from threats and dangers anywhere and no stone should be left unturned in terms of getting them out of harm's way, if our OFWs get the perception of being neglected, they might become ambassadors of ill-will rather than goodwill in foreign lands.

Meanwhile, DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya reported that there were 2,000 OFWs from Libya who returned now in the country. He said that they are targeting to bring the remaining thousand Filipinos in Libya until Saturday by using ship that can accommodate 1,725 people, airplanes and other vehicles.

Today, the DFA is expecting 50 OFWs to come in the country and 32 OFWs tomorrow. (Jason de Asis)

1991 local gov’t. code must be amended for PENRO’s appointment

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, March 1, 2011-Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr., who chair the Senate committee on local government yesterday said that there is a need to amend provisions of the 1991 Local Government Code by mandatory appointment of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The Senator said that the DENR officers in the province are the representatives of the national agency and bring down to the provincial level the programs and policies of the DENR where the PENRO will take those programs and policies and apply them in their assigned provinces.

Sen. Bongbong explained that each PENRO is specific to its respective province since the needs and concerns of every province are slightly or totally different from one another. In contrast, the national policies and programs expressed through the DENR are constant throughout the whole country.

He added that the DENR’s function is to formulate and implement national programs and policies while PENRO would translate it into local projects and strategies that would fit into the varying needs and situations of each community, saying that they need one another, and he thinks that is the way it should be handled.

Referred to the committee on local government, by making the appointment of PENRO mandatory instead of optional Senate Bill introduced by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, seeks to amend Section 463, Chapter 2, Title Four, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160.

The PENRO should be responsible for ensuring that forest lands in every province are protected from wanton and illegal cutting of logs, Senate Bill 2274 directed the government to protect and preserve precious forest reserves to avoid destructive flooding in the future. (Jason de Asis)

Php10 million fish cage livelihood to benefit Casiguran fisherfolks-Alcala

CASIGURAN, Aurora, February 28, 2011-Casiguran fishermen and indigenous Dumagats here will benefit from a P10-million fish cage livelihood project in Casiguran mariculture park which was initiated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said that a total of 32 fish cages will be installed by the DA-BFAR at the Casiguran mariculture park through the initiative of Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara and Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo.

He said that the fish cage features a new design as devised by BFAR called as Alcala fish cage model where bangus and sea cucumber will be raised at the same time, adding that the Bangus will be raised on the top cage, while the sea cucumber will be at the bottom where they will serve as ‘bio filters’ or eaters of surplus feed and wastes of bangus.

Alcala said that every three months, each fish cage is expected to produce at least four tons or 4,000 kilos saying that at the current farmgate price of bangus in Casiguran of P90 per kilo, the fish cage beneficiaries will earn a gross income of P360,000 per harvest.

During the project launch at Casiguran pier, Alcala explained that BFAR wants the small fishermen and the Dumagats to directly benefit from this fish cage livelihood project, saying that we want to change and transform their lives for the better.

“Every two (2) weeks, we will train them to stock and to harvest bangus on a rotation basis so that they will earn a steady income year-round and assist them up to the marketing stage,” Alcala said, adding that they will also put up a mini ice plant with a three-ton capacity to provide the ice requirements of the harvested bangus during transport to markets in Aurora province and nearby provinces such as Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya.

The DA will also provide a refrigerated truck courtesy of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).

  

Earlier, Alcala led the ceremonial stocking of bangus fingerlings and turnover of the initial batch of fish cages to the beneficiaries composed of small fishermen and Dumagats. (Jason de Asis)

Pimentel eyes raps vs Ochoa, Soliman over gov’t CCT program

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, February 28, 2011-Former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who authored the Local Government Code, said he will file a petition to the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the government from implementing the controversial conditional cash transfer (CCT) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the implementing agency.

During the barangay good governance seminar, Pimentel said that he will file a petition for certiorari with the SC this week to compel the government to stop the DSWD from pushing through with the CCT. He said the petition will name as respondents Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa and DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman.

Pimentel said he is not against the CCT per se but he opposed the DSWD being the lead agency to implement. He said the government should let the local government units to handle the program.

“I am not opposing the CCT although I have reservations about it because I fear it’s a dole-out but the LGUs should be the one to handle it, not the DSWD,” he said. “Afterall, it is the LGUs which have the capability to determine which of the families belong to the poor,” he said.

Pimentel said that the LGC has effectively devolved the functions of the DSWD and national government agencies to LGUs and to let the DSWD handle the program is like reverting to the old set-up.

“Besides who is in the best position to determine the level of poverty in the place, is it the LGU and the barangays,” he asked.

He said by letting the DSWD to run the show, it will defeat the spirit and purpose of genuine autonomy, adding that the DSWD’s plan to tap 4,000 people to implement the program is highly questionable. “Imagine you will hire 4,000 peolple just for that? I don’t think it’s practical,” he said. (Jason de Asis)

Zubiri distributed Php8 million PDAF in Tarlac towns

TARLAC CITY, February 28, 2011-A total of Php8 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Senator Juan Miguel  Zubiri was distributed to several towns in Tarlac for the constructions, repairs and rehabilitation of various school buildings and multi-purpose facilities.

The beneficiaries of the One Town, One Project in Tarlac are the municipalities of San Miguel, Anao, Gerona, Paniqui, Ramos, Victoria, San Jose and La Paz where a brief ceremonial turnover of SARO (Special Allotment Release Order) was conducted by Local chief executives led by Governor Victor Yap and Zubiri at the provincial Capitol.

Zubiri said that it is an important day in the history and he is honored to commemorate EDSA day in Tarlac where the icon of democracy like former President Corazon Aquino, and President Noynoy Aquino started where he encouraged the youth to be "little Cory" of their generation upon visiting the graduation ceremony of Grade 1 and Day Care teachers from Paniqui and Gerona.

After remembering EDSA in Tarlac, Zubiri proceeded to Angeles City, Pampanga as part of a nationwide search for students who excel in academic and civic activities where he launched leadership excellence awards project for high school and elementary students in partnership with the JCI (Junior Chamber Incorporated) dubbed as the “Young Leaders Excellence Awards." (Jason de Asis)

Phl job programs for Middle east OFW’s to get employed needed

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 24, 2011-Senator Manny Villar, who chairs the Senate trade panel urged the government to be ready with job programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to get employed at once and should start stitching up economic safety nets for the thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Middle East who will be forcibly repatriated as the regional conflagration escalates.

Villar said that once the Midde East-OFWs returned, it has economic impact for they will be bloated in the jobless statistics where the Technological Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) could step in to take lead in providing skill training programs to provide job opportunities for them.

He said that as more Middle East-OFWs come home, the consumer spending which was currently riding on the spending appetite of OFW families will likewise slowdown, adding that they would also drive them to be conservative on their spending and ultimately hurt businesses would be the psychological effect to them and their families not directly affected by the Middle East turmoil.

“Aside from shattered dreams, one big casualty of the Middle East unrest is the expected dwindling of US dollar remittances from OFWs in the region that is being rocked by pro-democracy rallies that is threatening to engulf the entire Arab bloc,” Villar said, adding that the Middle East alone is home to more than two million dollar-remitting OFWs, whose monthly remittance could drastically dwindle if the unrest continues.

Villar said OFWs in Bahrain, Yemen, Iran and Libya are now facing bleak employment future because of the protest rallies in its capital cities by the pro-democracy movements that are spreading wildfires and caught in the middle are our OFWs.

Record shows that there are more than 31,000 OFWs in Bahrain, 1,500 employed OFWs in Yemen, 26,000 OFWs in Libya, and about 1,000 Filipino workers in Iran.

“I would dread the day when the civil uprising spills over to neighboring Saudi Arabia, which is the biggest employer of OFWs reaching 1.5 million and collectively remitting some $1.3 billion annually,” Villar said, saying that the latest order of the government to freeze deployment to Bahrain, Yemen and Libra would further hurt the potential growth in OFW remittances from the region.

“The government should not expect another banner year of OFW remittances this 2011 because of the Middle East situation compared to last year’s $18.76 billion record remittances turned in by OFWs around the globe may now be a difficult to beat or replicate,” he said, unless that the unrest simmers down soon, the government may have to look for another economic booster other than the dollars sent by OFWs.

“The foreign banks estimate that the projected OFW’s remittance of $20.5 billion this year is a pipe dream,” he furthered.

Earlier, Villar called on government to assess the economic impact of the Middle East turmoil to local oil prices and ensure the welfare of OFWs in the said place. (Jason de Asis)

Overhauling of COA audit practices and procedures needed-Trillanes

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 23, 2011-Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV said that to cover up massive corruption in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), there is a need for the overhauling of the audit rules and regulations to improve the practices and procedures in the Commission on Audit (COA), following revelations of an alleged conspiracy between state auditors and former high-ranking military officials.

Trillanes has filed Senate Resolution No. 390 to review by the finance committee in regards to the existing laws governing the practices and responsibilities of state auditors and come up with legislation to help COA to fulfill its constitutional mandate in connection with the ongoing investigation into the plea bargain agreement between prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman and former military comptroller Carlos Garcia, saying that the auditor and former COA commissioner are allegedly benefited from the wide-scale anomaly involving AFP funds conversion.

“The statement of former AFP budget officer Lt. Col. George Rabusa who manifested that former COA Commissioner Raul Flores and Divina Cabrera, then resident auditor with the Intelligence Service of the AFP (ISAFP), allegedly received two (2%) percent of converted funds from erring officials in exchange for their cooperation,” Trillanes cited.

He said that it was also revealed in the senate blue ribbon committee investigation that Cabrera had allegedly sought the help of Rabusa to destroy documents showing how funds for personnel services (PS) or salary of the ISAFP personnel were spent for other purposes in fear that these might be discovered.

“I am concern over Cabrera’s own admission that she had knowledge of the practice of converting military funds but saw nothing irregular in the ISAFP book of accounts based on the documents that were submitted to her,” Trillanes said, explaining that Cabrera’s testimony was a clear violation of agency’s rules and regulations that she was resident auditor of the ISAFP for 13 years (1991-2005).

Trillanes furthered that COA’s resolution No. 87-6 set forth the limit of stay of auditor in a particular agency to a limit of three years only, saying that this is highly irregular and anomalous.

In 2009, 26 state auditors were either dismissed or suspended for administrative cases stemming from irregularities in the performance of duties, 37 auditors have pending cases with the COA chairman’s office while last year, 21 auditors were dismissed or suspended and 46 more have pending cases. Thus, the Senator reiterated that there is a need for a thorough study in auditing rules and regulations to strengthen the practices and procedures within COA and address the obvious gaps by crafting a new law.

The Senator said that the COA is mandated to manage, utilize and safeguard government resources from illegal or improper disposition to ensure efficiency, economy and effectiveness in the government operations. (Jason de Asis)

Laguna Solons impressed by Aurora’s nature

BALER, Aurora, February 23, 2011-Laguna 1^st district representative Dan Fernandez and 2^nd district congressman Timmy Chipeco expressed here their big surprised in Aurora’s nature rainforest  compared to their province in Laguna.

In their official visit, they shared that the province is really a prime spot for mountain climbing and nature trekking activities due to its large forest reserve areas where its vast lowlands and foothills and the presence of green Sierra Madre Ranges aside from the bountiful beauty of the beaches, coves, rivers and a destiny for surfing, adding that the variety of terrain coupled with the abundance of clear streams, waterfalls and vegetation can make for a trekking experience as unique and challenging and even bird watching as one can plan.

“Your province is truly a haven compared to our place in Laguna; hence, there is a need to preserve its richness,” the two solons said, adding that Aurora has the largest rain forests in Luzon.

They said that the province has been blessed by God for having a beautiful nature and the best leader like Senator Edgardo J. Angara, Congressman Juan Edgardo Angara and Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo who received prestigious awards in the country.

“The villagers of the province are very lucky for having them,” the duo said, saying that they are the real leaders who have build credibility and integrity in the line of service for the people. (Jason de Asis)

Chiz urges Phl for prisoner exchange with other country

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 22, 2011-Senator Chiz Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights yesterday has urged the government for the prisoner-exchange agreement that should be pursued through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) by way of a bilateral treaty, explaining that there is a need that the country should initiate a prisoner exchange treaty with countries hosting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“In the light of the case of Ramon Credo, Sally Villanueva and Elizabeth Batain, Filipinos condemned to die for drug trafficking in China,” the Senator said, saying that their executions were temporarily suspended after China's Supreme Court extended a special arrangement regarding their cases.

“The government could work out negotiations with other countries similar to the RP-Spain Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, which aims to ensure the effective reformation and rehabilitation of Filipinos serving sentences in Spain since they will be afforded the opportunity to serve their sentences in the Philippines,” he said, adding that our OFWs serving long sentences and are awaiting death sentences in countries where no family can visit them.

“This is already a scourge to both the convicted and their families. The anguish of not being able to talk to or see their families forever is already a sentence that amounts to death," Escudero said, adding that the agreement should not be on a quid-pro-quo-basis, which means that all prisoners should be transferred to their country of origin regardless of the number of foreign nationals in Philippine prisons.

“There is a need to pursue this treaty,” Escudero said, since our countrymen are in foreign jails rather than the other way around.

Escudero said that the government should move on it but not to condone what their deeds are but because it is the government's duty to look after the welfare of its citizens no matter if they are guilty or not, reiterating that the government should make available remedies and steps be exhausted to assist our countrymen.

More than 3,000 Filipinos abroad who are either in detention or facing criminal prosecution according to the DFA records and 70 percent are embroiled in immigration-related offenses and will be deported after serving brief sentences while the rest are in custody for crimes such as theft and drug trafficking.

78 Filipinos are convicted for drug charges and awaiting death sentences in China.

There are 630 Filipinos currently serving jail sentences worldwide for transporting drugs who are mostly dummies for drug lords where sixty two percent of them are female according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. (Jason de Asis)

3 million OFWs in Middle East need immediate attention

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 22, 2011-Senator Manny Villar, chairman of the Senate trade committee said that there is a need for immediate attention for a thorough study on the implications of the spread of hostilities across more Middle East countries on world oil prices and the national economy where around 3,000,000 Filipinos are situated in the Middle East and North Africa, adding that an estimated 6,000 Filipinos are in Egypt, around 40,000 workers in Bahrain and more than 10,000 workers in Libya.

Villar urged the government to make sure that the embassies in these two countries are fully-supported with contingency funds and manpower to assist our workers to safety when the situation calls for it while outbreaks of violence continue the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) advocate in the Senate said that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should lose no time in coming up with the appropriate travel advisories to warn Filipinos against traveling to Bahrain and Libya.

In the rising political tension in the two countries, Villar said that there may be workers leaving the country who are unaware about what's going on in Bahrain and Libya, advising that it may be wiser and safer for them to wait until the situation normalizes.

He called that at the very least, these workers should be instructed to immediately get in touch with the Philippine Embassy upon arrival for better coordination as tensions continue to engulf the Middle East.

He added that there is a need to be vigilant and to be prepared to deal with its impact on tens of thousands of Filipino workers in the region as well as on the incomes of their families here at home.

“The world oil prices continue to be affected by outbreaks of violence in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Tunisia and Bahrain,” he said, adding that the soaring oil prices could lead to further erosion of incomes and savings here at home. Thus, the government needs to be completely thorough in studying the effects of a prolonged crisis in the Middle East on world oil prices and overseas remittances.

Earlier, Villar also urged the trade, energy and labor departments to come up with a comprehensive study and concrete proposals on how an escalation of hostilities between protesters and government forces could impact on the national economy and the welfare of overseas Filipino workers. (Jason de Asis)

Central Luzon police 2010 accomplishment eyes bigger for 2011

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga, February 21, 2011-PNP Central Luzon Director Alan Purisima presented the significant accomplishments of the PNP last year’s campaigns on crime prevention and control during a regional peace and order summit at Clark Freeport and eyeing for 2011 much higher accomplishments.

Purisima reported that central Luzon police was able to reduce supply of illegal drugs due to the arrest of 695 persons (377 pushers and 318 users) by the PNP during its operations that resulted to the confiscation of 22.740 kilos of marijuana and two kilos of shabu with a total value of Php3.95 million.

On its anti-carnapping campaign, the police conducted 219 anti-carnapping operations that resulted to the arrest of 119 persons, recovery of 161 carnapped vehicles and subsequent filing of 60 carnapping cases in court.

The police also busted 12 criminal gangs operating in Central Luzon that led to the arrest of 21 criminals and the recovery of seven assorted firearms. Three cases against syndicated crime groups have been filed by the PNP in court.

Intelligence operations of the PNP-PRO3 against organized crime groups and criminal gangs also yielded to the neutralization of notorious and most wanted personalities in the region and captured one of those in the regional wanted list, 164 criminals in the provincial wanted list and 232 other wanted persons.

On its campaign against loose firearms, the PNP recorded a total of 356 operations that resulted to the confiscation and recovery of 439 assorted firearms of different calibers and these operations also became instrumental to the arrest of 448 persons and the filing of 198 cases in court.

Purisima said that the PNP-PRO3 is set to deploy an additional two hundred (200) police force in their provinces which aims to beef up police operations in the region and to strengthen police visibility to serve and to protect its citizenry. (Jason de Asis)

Bulacan aimed to be the 15th over-all champion in CLRAA

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, February 21, 2011-Bulacan department of Education (DepEd) physical education supervisor Dr. Iluminada Estinos said that Bulacan aims to be the 16^th over-all champion in the ongoing 2011 Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association (CLRAA) meet that it is hosting, saying that their student-athletes are well prepared and are ready to compete in front of their provincemates where they hit the general championship trophy from 1991 to 1994, 1996 to 2000, in 2004 and from 2006 to 2010.

Deped central Luzon reported that there are approximately 8,000 elementary and secondary student-athletes from the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales and the cities of Angeles, Cabanatuan, Olongapo, San Jose Del Monte, San Fernando, Gapan, Tarlac, Muñoz, Malolos, Balanga and San Jose are currently participating in the said six day sports meet.

The CLRAA 2011 opened yesterday in a parade that started from the mini-forest inside the capitol compound and ended at the Bulacan Sports Complex where a short opening program followed.

The game proper is set to start today at the eight assigned playing venues namely the Malolos Central School, Calumpit Central School, Capitol Gymnasium, General Isidoro Torres Memorial Elementary School, Bulacan Sports Complex, Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School covered gym, Sta. Isabel Elementary School and Bulacan State University Activity Center where the CLARAA 2011 will culminate on February 25 for the awarding ceremony.

The region’s bet in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Dapitan City will be chosen from the medalists and champions. (Jason de Asis)

Angara filed ICT 2011 choice bill

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, February 21, 2011-In today’s modernization, Senator Edgardo J. Angara  has filed Senate Bill 2670 to regulate and to promote a transparent and non-discriminatory manner in the acquisition of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions and seeks to establish a neutral policy in the government’s selection and procurement of ICT solutions based on product quality and the current and future needs of the state. 

Angara explained that the rapidly evolving ICT landscape in the freedom of customizing the technological systems is essential so that each component is chosen based on its own merits, thus the Senator filed the said bill commonly known as the Information and Communications Technology Choice act of 2011 in the Senate early this month “An Act Requiring Technological Choice in the Government’s Procurement of Information and Communication Technology Standards and Solutions.”

He said that the bill discourages vendor lock-ins rooted in political reasons, which discourage genuine research and development, and reduce competitiveness among the system providers, saying that the responsible for the implementation of the policy will be the joint effort of the Government Procurement Policy Board, the Commission on Information and Communications Technology and the Commission on Audit.

 
The said bill has been referred to the Committee on Science and Technology after its First Reading. (Jason de Asis)

Laguna solon Chipeco calls if Reyes be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, why not the late President Marcos

BALER, Aurora, February 20, 2011-Laguna 2^nd district Rep. Timmy Chipeco calls that if a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Phailippines (AFP) can be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, then “why not a former President who was a former soldier and a war hero,” as he joined calls to have former President Ferdinand Marcos to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Chipeco, who was among the guests yesterday in the 32^nd foundation anniversary of the province along with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director general Joel Villanueva together with Laguna 1^st district Rep. Dan Fernandez, said that he sees no point in having a former defense secretary being buried at the Libingan when a former president could not be. He was apparently referring to the late former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes who was buried at the Libingan after committing suicide over corruption allegations.

Chipeco said that Marcos should have been buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani a long time ago, adding that if that has been done a long time ago, then there’s nothing to talk about.        

Fernandez said it’s high time to bury the ghosts of the past by allowing Marcos to be buried at the Libingan. “After all, he has also done great achievements for the country. It’s not all bad. There is something in him that we can consider good also,” he said.

The two lawmakers were commenting on the appeal of Marcos’ son Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to President Aquino to grant his father and namesake a state burial to take away yet another issue that divides the nation.

He explained that his father deserves a state burial by virtue of his services as a soldier during the Second World War, being a former commander-in-chief and twice elected president. (Jason de Asis)

Bulacan pledged DOH’s campaign versus leprosy

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, February 20, 2011-In a recent observance of Leprosy Prevention of Leprosy Prevention and Control week last February 14 to 18, the Bulacan provincial government pledged support to the Department of Health’s (DOH) campaign which aimed for Leprosy-Free Philippines.

Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado has ordered a wider information dissemination campaign to inform the Bulakenyos of the disease’s symptoms, prevention and treatment where the Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) recorded that there are 13 Persons afflicted with Leprosy (PWL) at present and are undergoing medications.

Alvarado said that other Bulakenyos suffering from leprosy should be identified in order that the Bulacan government can immediately help them for treatment at the soonest time possible, adding that there are free medications from DOH for this illness, the affected individuals can also ask for medicines from the nearest health centers.

The Leprosy which is known as Hansen's disease is a chronic, mildly communicable disease caused by infection from “mycobacterium leprae”, a rod-shaped, acid-fast bacillus which primarily affects the skin, the mucous membranes, especially those in the nose and the peripheral nervous system, adding that the mode of transmission of the disease is airborne, where a person can inhale droplets or spray from coughing and sneezing of untreated cases.

The signs and symptoms of a persons with Leprosy (PWL) has a long standing skin lesions that do not disappear with ordinary treatment, loss of feeling or numbness on the skin, loss of sweating and hair growth over the skin lesions, and thickened and painful nerves in the neck, forearm, near elbow joint, and the back of knees.

DOH said that once diagnosed early, the patients are put under treatment with Multiple Drug Therapy (MDT) have big chance of healing and leprosy bacilli-causing disease maybe controlled through treatment of all leprosy cases to prevent spread of infection, practice of personal hygiene and healthful living, clean environment, enough rest and exercise and avoid contact with PWL, among others, saying that leprosy should not be taken lightly because it creates a high physical and social toll, resulting to deformity and disability of the patient if left untreated. (Jason de Asis)

Aurora tourism industry grows rapidly says Angara-Castillo

BALER, Aurora, February 20, 2011-Aurora Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo lauded all the leaders of the entire province for their continuous efforts in supporting the provincial government where she said that Aurora now are continuing to become bigger as its economic uprise grows rapidly, adding that Aurora has received various awards in the country.

Angara-Castillo, who received the outstanding governor of the Philippines and the most child friendly public servant of the 1^st NCCT DepEd Lingkod TV Awards under the executive category, said that the people of Aurora are her inspiration in doing great achievements together with Senator Edgardo J. Angara who also received the same award under the legislative category, while Congressman Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara garnered One of the Ten (10) outstanding Young Men “TOYM” of the Philippines, citing also the best Aurora provincial tourism officer of the year gained by Mr. Michael Palispis.

In an exclusive interview with Angara-Castillo, the province is now ready for global competitiveness as it became the top 10 priority province to promote overseas by the Department of Tourism because of its haven beaches and one of the country’s surfing destiny where tourists visited the place. “Ang promotion sa Aurora ay hindi lang local kundi global competitiveness,” she said, however she pointed out that she don’t want Aurora to be like Boracay.

“What I like is to preserve the province for having the biggest forest in the country promoting nature, environment and expound networking of Aurora tourism and agriculture as the fundamentals of development,” Angara-Castillo said, adding that Aurora has an economically well develop agriculture technology in the entire province.

She said that Aurora tourism industry boomed 300 percent last year, saying that there are numerous businessmen who would like to put up hotels in Aurora but she said that she would like to limit the building structure for five (5) floors only and not like Boraciay with towering hotels and establishments in different heights which give the impression of disorderliness and irregularities. (Jason de Asis)