DOH launches anti-dengue, leptospirosis, diarrhea campaign in Central Luzon

BACOLOR, Pampanga, September 2, 2012-The Department of Health-Center for Health  Development in Region 3 (DOH-CHD-3) launched its “Oplan: Kontra Dengue, Leptospirosis and Diarrhea (DLD)” on Wednesday to address the expected rise of such diseases due to the flooding in the region.

Present on the two-day regional sanitation summit with the theme, “Oplan: Kontra DLD pag-ibayuhin, Proper hygiene isabuhay at panatilihin,” were Health Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon, San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, health and sanitation workers from all the seven provinces of the region, and representatives of partner agencies.

The health regional director stated that amid and after floods, the DOH is prepared for the expected occurrence of said diseases.

She announced that free doxycycline to prevent and cure leptospirosis is available to those exposed in flood water on health centers and DOH-retained hospital like the Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBL).

Through the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD), the health department stays vigilant to eliminate dengue cases at a level that it is no longer a public health threat.

In case of diarrhea, Gorgolon advised the intake of Oral Rehydration Solution (Oresol) to prevent dehydration.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez urged the public, not only those who attended the summit, to be part of maintaining cleanliness in the environment because DLD is considered as an environment problem due to unhygienic environment.

Through this, Rodriguez believes that DLD cases will be prevented and controlled.

The city mayor is also positive on Gorgolon’s suggestion to conduct sanitation inspection on establishments such as restaurants and canteens as part of the sanitation drive. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

Ecijanos mark 116th anniversary of “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” in 3 venues

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, September 1, 2012-Local officials commemorate today the 116^th anniversary of the “Unang Sigaw ng Nueva Ecija” in three different venues even as the debate continues to rage on where should be the center of this year’s celebration of the historic event which put the province in the annals of history as one of only eight provinces which revolted against the Spaniards.

          

         In this provincial capital, Capitol officials led by Gov. Aurelio Umali and Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos will usher the celebration ast the convention center.

           

           Separate rites have been laid down in the towns of San Isidro and Cabiao which both played a central role in the revolution.  

 In Cabiao, local officials have insisted that the center of celebrations for the annual  event should be in this town, not in the provincial capital Palayan City.

         Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco said organizers should give justice to the heroism of Gen. Mariano Llanera by considering Cabiao as the center of celebrations, instead of Palayan.     “Cabiao should really be the center of the celebrations because General Llanera was from here,” Congco said, adding that the great revolutionary leader hailed from Barangay San Roque.

           

            The event marks the day when Llanera led home-grown revolutionaries in assaulting the Spanish garrison in San Isidro and freed hundreds of Katipuneros on September 2,1896. For its role in the revolution, the province earned its place in the Philippine flag as one of the eight rays of the sun, each ray representing the provinces that revolted against the Spaniards.

            

             Congco said she had nothing against holding festivities in other towns to commemorate the event for Novo Ecijanos to appreciate history but said Cabiao’s role should be given utmost importance.     

   

   The 66-year-old head of the marching band that stormed the Spanish garrison in nearby San Isidro town also said Cabiao should be given recognition as the sole venue for the anniversary rites.

             

             Raul Nogoy, Banda, ’96 leader said the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) should set the record straight on the revolution. He said San Isidro (then known as Factoria) can not be considered as the center of the celebrations neither because this was where the Spaniards held fort.

  

  “Don nagkuta ang mga kaaway so bakit doon (It was there where the enemy sought refuge so why hold it there),” he said.

            

            The holding of the celebrations in Palayan has also come under fire from historians who said Novo Ecijanos seem to have lost their sense of history.

           

          Noted historian Jose Hipolito Jr., the municipal planning and development coordinator, said Llanera and his fellow “coup plotters” met in the house of the Romeros here where they plotted the revolt. He said the Romeros were the ancestors of Umali.

        

       Former municipal engineer Dante dela Cruz said since he was a kid, Cabiao has been commemorating the event yearly, unlike San Isidro which started observing the event only recently. He said Cabiao always plays a significant role in revolutions, citing the Hukbalahaps (Hukbo ng Bayan laban sa Hapon), one of whose leaders, Jesus Lava, was from Barangay Sinipit.

          

         Local historical accounts said that when the Spaniards first laid siege in Manila, remnants of the forces of Rajah Sulayman sought refuge in this town. (Manny Galvez)                     

Legarda: 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake, a Call for Greater Vigilance

MANILA, September 1, 2012-In the aftermath of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that shook Guiuan, Eastern Samar and prompted tsunami alerts for six provinces in the Philippines and at least four other countries, Senator Loren Legarda today renewed her call for greater vigilance through stronger earthquake preparedness efforts.

The Senator said that after the provinces in Visayas and Mindanao experienced the strong earthquake, residents of Luzon, particularly in Metro Manila, should prepare for such strong temblor too, noting the findings in the 2004 Metro Manila Earthquake Impact Reduction Study (MMEIRS).

“The MMEIRS revealed high casualties and massive destruction should a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit Metro Manila. The study also contains priority actions that should have been undertaken 3-6 years after the study was publicized to reduce the impacts of such a strong tremor,” she pointed out.

Based on the MMEIRS, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Metro Manila would cause the destruction of 40% of the residential buildings, damage 35% of all public buildings, kill 34,000 people, injure 114,000 individuals, and the ensuing fires will also result in 18,000 additional fatalities.

Legarda explained that among the priority steps that must be undertaken include the promotion of disaster-resilient urban development; ensuring the structural integrity of buildings and critical infrastructure; formulating emergency supply system of water, food and other necessities; and determining open spaces for safe refuge when tremors occur.

“We must also ensure that there are back-up systems of vital utilities such as electricity and telecommunications equipment, which are necessary for post-disaster efforts,” she said.

She also stated that local authorities and community leaders must enable citizens to respond quickly to earthquakes by giving them knowledge of what to do before, during, and after such disasters, and that every barangay must craft an evacuation plan and conduct regular evacuation drills that would help citizens find out the fastest and safest way to reach open spaces and other safe areas.

“Disaster prevention is a tall order, but it is one well worth the investment. We must prepare ourselves for more frequent natural hazards, keeping in mind that it is only through effective preventive measures that we can save lives,” Legarda concluded.

'GOPAC MANILA CONFERENCE WILL SHOWCASE ANTI-CORRUPTION GAINS IN ASIA'

Hanoi, Vietnam, September 1, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara underscored that the 5th Global Conference of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC) will showcase the gains being made against corruption throughout the ASEAN region, including the Philippines. 

Angara made the remarks during a meeting with Hon. Ngyuen Manh Tien, Vice Chairman of Foreign Affairs of the National Assembly of Vietnam and Head of the Philippine-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship League.

"I congratulate Vietnam for being one of the first countries in Asia to have a legal framework against corruption as early as 2005, and now having a long-term plan against corruption until 2020. This is a remarkable feat within our neighborhood," said Angara, who heads the 5th Global Conference Conference Steering Committee.

"This is the reason SEAPAC [Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption] is hosting the Global Conference in January this 2013. Because we want to show the whole world, especially the developed world, how we, the Philippines, Vietnam and the rest of Asia, are making strides in fighting corruption in our backyard. We hope you could join us actively through your support and participation," he continued.

The upcoming GOPAC Conference will be held in Manila from January 30 to February 2, 2013. With the theme, "Good laws. Good leaders. Good Citizens," the Conference is expected to draw about 350 to 400 parliamentarians from 90 member countries as well as world-renowned leaders, heads of states, members of the civil society, cabinet members, members of the judiciary and the academe. 

The event, considered as one of the largest and most important anti-corruption events in the world, will be held in Manila in recognition and support of the recent efforts of the Philippines and neighboring ASEAN countries against corruption.

"We support efforts in transparency and anti-corruption, and thus fully support the Conference in Manila hosted by the Philippines," responded Assemblyman Tien. "We will bring this up to the National Assembly, and I am confident that it will go through smoothly so we can bring many members of the assembly to the Conference." 

The 13^th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the highest governing body of Vietnam, a unicameral body composed of 498 elected officials serving until 2016.

Angara is the driving force behind the establishment of SEAPAC, which leads regional anti-corruption efforts on a coordinated and institutional basis through parliamentarian-members in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. 

He is currently touring the region to drum up support for the upcoming Manila Conference in 2013. 

CBCP head gives Roxas ‘benefit of the doubt’

MANILA, August 31, 2012— Newly appointed Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas will have “big shoes to fill” but the head of the Catholic bishops’ leadership is giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Archbishop Jose Palma, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, said late DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo left an exemplary record but Roxas’ performance should not be prejudged.

He said they also want to give Supreme Court Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno and Transport Secretary Joseph Abaya similar chance to prove their worth, but will closely monitor their performance.

“We don’t know their plans. For the meantime, we put our trust that they would try to give their best and somehow approximate them the performance of a great man like Robredo,” Palma said.

Palma made the statement on the sidelines of the 2012 Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) Annual Convention at the SMX Center in Pasay City on Friday.

In his homily during a Mass to end the convention, Palma praised Robredo for being a “good public servant.”

Palma then urged the new appointees to lead with integrity and advocate good governance in their new positions of power.

The archbishop added that he is praying that Roxas will continue the work done by Robredo, a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee who was an advocate of good governance and accountability in government.

“We just pray once more that knowing the task ahead he would give his best to continue the work done by Sec. Robredo and prove that like the secretary, his basic interest is for the benefit of the people and not for any alternative motive,” said Palma.

“I am not so familiar with the various work of the DILG but we know what it means to truly reach out to the needs of the community, of course the barangay people which were in a sense a priority of Sec. Robredo, and giving special barangay great role in trying to implement straight path,” he said.

Robredo died in a plane crash off Masbate province last Aug. 18  and his body was recovered three days after.

As for Sereno, Palma also said he expects the Chief Justice to judge with fairness and integrity and true to the spirit of the law.

“We don’t want to judge anybody until proven otherwise,” Palma said. “Let us give those appointed a chance to prove that they are true to their task and that is our prayer for the nation.”

Sereno will be deciding on cases that can affect the Church’s social concerns including mining laws, the reproductive health (RH) bill, and the Hacienda Luisita case. [RL/CBCPNews]

Drilon asks DoJ to intervene on recycling of seized drugs

MANILA, August 31, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon has asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) to call a meeting with drug enforcement agencies and the Court Administrator to finally put a stop to the rampant cases of confiscated illegal drugs being recycled.

Drilon, also former Justice Secretary, lamented the poor implementation of a special provision in the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which is supposed to prevent the recycling of seized drugs.

“When I was Secretary of Justice, every time we present a policeman in court to submit evidence of confiscated drugs, the police officer would always say the drugs were either lost or eaten by rats,” said Drilon.

“We know that what happens is recycling of confiscated illegal drugs. There are recycled drugs especially when volumes and volumes of drugs are confiscated,” he added.

“I suggest that the Justice Department through the National Prosecution Service sit down with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Dangerous Drugs Board and the Court Administrator to come up with a circular or a memorandum which will enforce this special provision,” said Drilon.

Prosecutor General Claro A. Arellano responded positively to Drilon’s proposal.

Under Section 21 of the Republic Act 9165, within 72 hours after filing of criminal case, the courts shall conduct ocular inspection of the confiscated drugs and the PDEA shall proceed with the disposition of the seized drugs within 24 hours, noted Drilon, who proposed the specific provision.

“This provision was designed to precisely prevent the recycling of the confiscated drugs. This is a clear policy that we want enforced and it is so frustrating to know the execution of this law is so lacking,” stressed Drilon.

Earlier, the Senate Finance Committee withheld the budget of the PDEA over the apparent inaccurate data on confiscated illegal substance.

For reference:

Section 21, paragraph 4 states: “After the filing of the criminal case, the Court shall, within seventy-two (72) hours, conduct an ocular inspection of the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, and controlled precursors and essential chemicals, including the instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment, and through the PDEA shall within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter proceed with the destruction or burning of the same, in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a representative from the media and the DOJ, civil society groups and any elected public official…”

Drilon: Comelec purchase of P1.19-B land without Congress approval culpable violation of Constitution

MANILA, August 31, 2012-Senator Franklin M. Drilon warned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that their purchase of a P1.19 billion property without the approval of Congress is a culpable violation of the Constitution and can lead to prosecution for technical malversation of funds.

“There appears to be a gross violation of the Constitution on the part of the Comelec when they decided to use their P3.5 billion savings to purchase a piece of land worth P1,188,865,295.82,” said Drilon.

He added the Comelec admitted having entered a contract with the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to purchase that P1.19 billion property, and of the amount, P250 million has already been advanced to the PRA.

Drilon said the agency cannot invoke its so-called fiscal autonomy as a constitutional body and use its savings to purchase land and building without securing any approval of Congress who gives authorization for the government to spend money.

Drilon said the “Comelec’s position is totally wrong.”

Under the Constitution, the Comelec may, by law, be authorized to augment any item or in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the respective offices from savings in other items of the respective appropriations, noted Drilon.

He stressed the appropriations act clearly states that the Comelec can only use its savings to augment funding for projects that exist in the GAA or which the Congress has previously authorized, but the poll body cannot use its savings to fund and to create new projects such as the purchase of land and building without any authorization from Congress.

“What the Comelec did is that without any appropriation for a main building and field office in the 2012 General Appropriations Act, they re-aligned their savings to buy land and building, but this purchase is not authorized in the budget,” explained Drilon.

“There is no authority of whatsoever under the 2012 General Appropriations Act for Comelec to purchase land for a building. That is the role of Congress, the role of Congress is to appropriate to specific items,” he added.

“In other words, they became Congress by themselves. Labag po sa Saligang Batas na ilagay mo sa item na hindi existing, so iyan po ang nilabag ng Comelec,” ended Drilon.

KIKO CONGRATULATES ROXAS, ABAYA ON NEW APPOINTMENTS

MANILA, August 31, 2012-Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan congratulates partymates Manuel "Mar" Roxas III and Joseph Emilio "Jun" Abaya on their new appointments as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), respectively.

"We welcome the appointments of Secretary Roxas and Secretary Abaya and we congratulate them as they assume their new posts," Pangilinan says. "Continuity of policy is crucial as the administration pushes for necessary and urgent reforms, and we know that these two fine public servants will take to the task, as they have always done so in their previous roles." 

"We pledge to support them in their continued efforts to serve our nation," the lawmaker adds.

Malacañang on Friday announced the appointment of both Roxas and Abaya following the untimely demise of former Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

DOLE 3 plants 500 trees along Mega dike

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga August 30, 2012-Employees of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 3 on Thursday planted around 500 African Tulip and Fringon seeds along the Mega Dike in the City of San Fernando in Pampanga.

 

DOLE Regional director Raymundo Agravante said “the activity is part of the Green our DOLE program which supports President Aquino’s National Greening Program (NGP).”

 

NGP was created under Executive Order No.26 of President Benigno Aquino III to pursue sustainable development for poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

It aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering about 1.5 million hectares for a period of six years (2011-2016) in lands of public domain.

 

These lands include forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations and urban areas.

 

“We are sending out our message, through this tree-planting undertaking, to the employers and workers from various industries here in the region by urging them to foster genuine care for our environment by keeping their surroundings environmentally cleaned to ensure a safe and healthy workplace which will yield productivity and growth” Agravante added. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu)

‘No turning back’ – Aurora vice gov says of Capitol run

BALER, Aurora, August 30, 2012–The man largely considered by political experts as the biggest threat to the decades-old reign of the Angaras at the Capitol declared yesterday he is not withdrawing from the gubernatorial race next year to give way to the Capitol bid of outgoing Sen. Edgardo Angara.

Vice Gov. Gerardo Noveras said his decision to run for governor is final amid backdoor negotiations for him to just seek reelection to accommodate Angara, a little over a month before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacies of aspirants to local and national posts.

“There’s no turning back,” Noveras said, adding if he loses, it will be his “fitting graceful exit” from politics.

Noveras said he appreciates efforts by the Angara camp for him to forego his gubernatorial bid but said he has “crossed the Rubicon,” meaning, he has made a final decision to seek only the governorship.

“I have made my decision, it is final and I hope they would understand me,” he said.

Earlier, emissaries from the Liberal Party of which Noveras is provincial chairman, tried to persuade the vice governor to abandon his Capitol bid. Among them were Presidential Legislative Liason Office chief Manuel Mamba and Sen. Franklin Drilon, a close friend of Senator Angara.

Noveras said he has the highest respect for Senator Angara, and acknowledged he is in for an uphill fight. “If it’s Senator Angara I am up against, then I have a reason to lose,” he said.

However, he said he could no longer back out of the race because he is “committed” to run for governor. “If I back out, people would think I was paid or I received some favors,” said Noveras who still has a term left as vice governor.

Negotiations for Noveras to give way to Senator Angara have reportedly been going on since last February when President Aquino visited the province on the occasion of its 33^rd anniversary. Shortly after, Mr. Aquino announced that Angara’s son, Rep. Juan Edgardo, would be running for senator under the LP.    

President Aquino and the Angaras – this province’s political kingpins - are from different parties. The clan belongs to the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. But they became close due to the impeachment trial that led to the eventual ouster of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Senator Angara and Congressman Angara played key roles in the impeachment, with the former acting as one of the senator-judges and the latter as one of the spokespersons of the House prosecution panel.

Sources said Mamba even offered Noveras a position as Regional Trial Court judge if he wants.

Reports said Senator Angara and Noveras met in the former’s residential compound in Barangay Reserva sometime in late June during the observance of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day. But nothing came out of the talks. 

The elder Angara, a veteran lawmaker and one of the senior statesman in the Senate, earlier denied he is eyeing the Capitol but reportedly reconsidered after his brother, outgoing Baler Mayor Arthur Angara, would “lose” to Noveras.

         

        Noveras announced his intention to run for governor in July last year, two months after reports came out that the Angaras were planning to field him as their standard-bearer in tandem with Rommel Angara, the senator’s nephew Rommel, whom he defeated in the 2007 polls.

When Noveras learned of the plan, he looked excited, saying he would gladly accept it when offered. But negotiations fell through after the Angaras’ political leaders reportedly rejected the “Dream Team” tandem.      

          

         The senator’s Capitol bid has been the subject of much speculation, particularly due to his “increasing visibility” in the province. Since last year, he has been going around the province, meeting ward leaders of the Angaras, particularly local chief executives.  (Manny Galvez)     

Filipino And US Soldiers Construct School Building In Pampanga

Camp Aquino, Tarlac City, August 30, 2012 – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), through the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM), and United States Pacific Air Force  (PACAF) formally kicked-off the month-long Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP) at Cacutud Elementary School, Barangay Cacutud, Mabalacat, Pampanga recently.

A simple ceremony which was attended by participating troops, as part of the series of joint and combined Humanitarian Civil Assistance (HCA) and Civil Military Operations (CMO) under the Pacific Unity 12-6.

A U.S. Pacific Command-funded humanitarian assistance mission and a bilateral and joint engineering civic action program conducted by the AFP and US forces in cooperation with the provincial government of Pampanga and Tarlac. Among those who graced the occasion were Lieutenant Colonel Relly Francisco, Civil-Military Operations Officer of the 1^st Air Division, Philippine Air Force (1^st AD, PAF); Captain Carey Davis US Air Force, Officer-In-Charge, 13^th Air Force of the US, and the Principal of Cacutud Elementary School, and other visitors.

Relative to this, a Medical Civic Action Program (MEDCAP) will also be conducted in an exercise scenario to perform joint and combined response in a mass casualty situation. Military doctors and dentists from the AFP Reserve Command together with the participating agencies and partner stakeholders will also conduct Cooperative Health Engagement (CHE) which includes MEDCAP and Dental Civic Action Program (DENCAP) in Villa Bacolor, Tarlac City.

Subject Matter Expertise Exchange (SMEEs) on Master Base Planning, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) and Table Top Exercise on HA/DR will also be held at Basa Air Base, Floridablanca, Pampanga and Clark Air Base, Mabalacat, Pampanga. Joining the month-long activity are the Philippine National Police, Local Government Units, Local Government Agencies, and Non-Government Organizations.

Barangay and school officials in the area are very thankful that their place was chosen as beneficiary of the school projects of the soldiers. Barangay Councilor Aurelio Gamtan of Barangay Cacutud said that these projects being undertaken by the soldiers will be of great help to their community especially to school children.

ANGARA: COOPERATION NEEDED FOR GLOBAL PEACE, PROSPERITY

Hanoi, Vietnam, August 30, 2012-Senator Edgardo J. Angara keynoted today the 5th Biennial International Conference of the Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia (KoSASA) at the Hotel Intercontinental in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In his address, Angara underscored the importance of global cooperation in promoting prosperity, economic equity, and peace.

He said that continued cooperation at the bilateral, regional, and international levels is necessary for the global community to respond to challenges like disasters and financial crises.

"Global cooperation will be crucial in helping developing nations realize their economic potential—and accordingly alleviate the inequalities arising from globalization. As recent events have shown, a single country's fate is inextricably linked and intertwined with the rest of the world’s. The mistakes of one can have haunting effects, far and wide."

Angara proposed four areas of collaboration: climate change mitigation and adaptation, the use of biotechnology to address food and water scarcity, managing the social and economic impact of a greying population, and intensifying socio-economic cooperation to ensure that everyone benefits from progress.

"We ought to work for a future built by a community of nations unified by a shared purpose and bound by mutual trust. We must remember that what one country can do well alone, nations united in cooperation can do better together. 

"In this era of globalization, we must look beyond our own countries and collectively aspire for inclusive prosperity, lasting peace, and provision of opportunities for the fulfillment of individual potential."

Angara cited the strong partnership of Korea and the Philippines as a model for growth and development partnership.

"Our partnership is one of the best examples of how one country invests in the progress of another based on shared goals," he said to an audience composed of academics and decision-makers from all over Asia.

Angara said Korea supports many of the Philippines' projects on agriculture, ICT, education, health, governance, infrastructure development, energy, environment, and disaster relief. 

The Philippines is also one of Korea's top aid recipients. From 2006 to 2010, Korea's ODA to the country totaled US$287 Million. Last year, the ODA ceiling for the Philippines was raised from US$300 Million to US$500 Million.

The Conference is organized by the Korea Development Institute and the Korea Research Institute at University of New South Wales, and hosted by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Hanoi, and the Korean Studies Association of Southeast Asia (KoSASA).

Angara is also on a tour of Southeast Asia to promote regional cooperation in anti-corruption among parliamentarians through the Southeast Asian Parliamentarians Against Corruption (SEAPAC) in anticipation of the 2013 GOPAC Manila Conference. (Rikka Sotto w/ Shielo Mendoza)

Legarda Urges Sustainable Coconut Farming as She Joins Nat’l Coconut Week Celebration

MANILA, August 30, 2012-Senator Loren Legarda today encouraged coconut industry stakeholders to support the programs of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), particularly the practice of sustainable farming, to ensure continuous development of the industry and maximize the benefits gained from it.

Legarda, who was Guest Speaker at the National Coconut Week Celebration held at the PCA Building in Quezon City, noted that the country gains much from the coconut industry.

According to PCA, the country earns as much as US$2-Billion in exporting various coconut products, including coco water and virgin coconut oil. Export rate for coco water increased 300% in the first quarter of 2012 and has earned the country more than US$4-Million; while, export rate for virgin coconut oil for the first three months of 2012 rose to 138% with earnings worth US$7.5-Million.

“These figures alone give us more reason to further improve coconut farming and continuously develop the coconut industry, and I wish to congratulate the PCA for its laudable programs for the industry, including the national coconut planting and replanting; institution building, which is very important to give our coconut farmers the capability to be entrepreneurs and to have their own growing income through the continuous learning of methods in developing their farms; and the livelihood program dubbed as Kasaganahan sa Niyugan ay Kaunlaran ng Bayan,” Legarda said.

The Senator also said that the Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009 (RA 10000), which she authored and sponsored, can provide support for farmers as the law requires banks to allocate at least 25 percent of their loanable funds to the agriculture sector, and that modes of alternative compliance must only pertain to activities directly related to agriculture and agrarian reform to ensure that funds are channelled to farmers.

“The theme for this year’s celebration, Masaganang Kinabukasan Mula sa Niyugang Inalagaan, clearly sends the message of gaining from the tree of life by ensuring its sustainability,” she stressed.

“As I urge the PCA to never tire of creating projects and programs that would boost the industry, I encourage all the coconut industry stakeholders to help in the development of this sector, but bear in mind that as we reap the fruits of our labor, we should always give back to the very tree that sustained our livelihood by nourishing the very Earth that sustains our life,” Legarda concluded.

CL among regions with highest forest cover in the country

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, August 29, 2012-Central Luzon’s forest remains among the regions with the highest cover in the country, latest statistics released by the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) show.

 

DENR Central Luzon chief Maximo Dichoso bared that Region 3 ranks third in the entire archipelago accounting to 62% of the total forestland remain with intact vegetation and topping other regions with large tract of forestland.

 

“ Out of 942,387 hectares of forestland we have in the region, 589,495 hectares remains to be forested,” Dichoso said.

 

The Regional head attributed the intact forest cover of Central Luzon to the DENR solid plans and programs on forest regeneration and biodiversity conservation including the concrete accomplishments in forest protection and law enforcement.

 

Adding to this, he said, is the strong regulatory efforts of the government on environment with the implementation of Executive Order (EO) No. 23 or moratorium on logging on natural and residual forests and EO 26 or the National Greening Program (NGP).

 

NGP likewise boosted the reforestation efforts in the region with the planting of various forest and fruit trees covering some 5,548 hectares of denuded watershed.

 

“Strong allies and creative partnership with local government units (LGUs) and the law enforcement sectors are also vital to arrest further forest destruction and is crucial in forest restoration,” Dichoso explained.

 

Of the seven provinces in the region, Aurora with 238,776 hectares or 124% forest cover including those forest in alienable and disposable (A and D) lands and Bulacan with 73,987 hectares or 96% forested are the top contributors to the remaining forest.

 

Dichoso added that the latest satellite imagery and remote sensing interpretation showed that the forest cover of the country has increased to 7.2 million hectares from 6.5 million hectares in 1988 and the eight percent of it could be found in Central Luzon.

 

The top region with the highest forest cover is Region 4-B (MIMAROPA) with 68% forested area composed of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Romblon and Palawan followed by Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) with 67% forest vegetation composed of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Viscaya and Quirino. (Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu-PIA 3 with reports from DENR 3)

Army and Lyceum's "Takbo para sa Inang Kalikasan" a resounding success, lures 500 Aurora runners

MARIA AURORA, Aurora, August 29, 2012-Some 500 running enthusiasts from a cross-section of the province have taken part in the "Takbo para sa Inang Kalikasan" fun run initiated by the Lyceum of the East-Aurora (LEA), making the run-for-a-cause held last August 20 a resounding success.

          Jason De Asis, Lyceum's Dean of the Bachelor of Science for Entrepreneurship and the event's program director, said the fun run, which carried the theme: "One Spirit, One Advocacy, One Goal," showcased the green advocacy of various sectors, led by the school's twin campuses which spearheaded the fun run along with the Army's 48^th Infantry (Guardians) Battalion.

          The runners converged at the LEA Campus Saturday afternoon and sprinted to their respective three kilometer (3-K), five-kilometer (5-K) and 7-K routes at the starting signal of 48^th IB civil military office chief, Captain Rozzel Ticar and De Asis.

          Aside from the 48th IB, also participating in the event were provincial and barangay officials, members of the Maria Aurora Police Office, government employees, officials and staff from the National Statistics Office, Department of Health, volunteer health workers and students from the capital town of Baler and the central Aurora towns of  San Luis, Dipaculao and this town.

          The activity was highlighted by the opening of the 1^st “SAYAWIT” competition for the National Service Training Program (NSTP) students of both campuses of which De Asis is NSTP chief.

          De Asis stressed that the fun run seeks to bring into focus three popular advocacies. These, he explained, are in support of Republic Act (RA) 9729, otherwise known as the Philippine Climate Change Act; RA 9512, otherwise known as the National Greening Program and RA, 9710, or the Magna Carta for Women.

          He said these triple advocacies have a huge impact in the lives of the people.

          De Asis cited climate change which, he said, has caused uncertainties. "As we can see, climate change has brought us rains even during the summer months when it is supposed to be rain-free and there is sunshine during the rainy season. It's akin to the temperament of a woman who is sometimes fickle-minded," he quipped.

          De Asis said the Magna Carta for Women’s rights, authored by Sen. Loren Legarda, provides the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the realization of women’s rights as public servants.

          He said public office is no longer the domain of men. "In every sphere of our life, we see women as increasingly prominent and having a stake. We have women engineers, architects, mechanics, electricians and soldiers. Joking aside, I dread the day when someday we see women loggers and miners,” he said.

          De Asis said the management of Lyceum of the East, led by its President, Engr. Jaime S. Gose, is putting premium on the three advocacies which is why it tasked the NSTP to implement them.

          He also pointed out that the twin campuses intend to push foward environmental awareness through Republic Act 9512, otherwise known as "An act to promote environmental awareness through environmental education" wherein the Lyceum of the East formulated a parallel program and activity for the National Greening Program to foster patriotism and nationalism. (Manny Galvez)