By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay
NAGA CITY --- A year after the ill-fated crash of the Piper Seneca plane that untimely claimed the life of then DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, the local government of Naga City under the headship of Mayor John Bongat, has lined up and prepared activities in line with the celebration of “Jesse M. Robredo” Day come August 18.
This is also pursuant to Ordinance No. 2012-046, unanimously signed and endorsed by members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, which states that August 18 of every year be remembered as JMR Day “in recognition of the exceptional performance and invaluable contributions of the late Honorable Jesse Manalastas Robredo to the City of Naga which he served as City Mayor for 19 years, and to the country as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).”
The activity will start from 5:30 in the morning with a “Tsinelas Walk” from Plaza Quezon and will converge at the Eternal Gardens where Robredo’s remains were entombed. More than 3,000 Nagueños are expected to partake in the said activity. A wreath laying ceremony will immediately follow at the memorial park.
TAU Gamma Phi will also spearhead a tree-planting activity dubbed as “Alay Ki Jess” at 730am where more than 300 varieties` of fruit-bearing seedlings will be planted at the Mount Isarog Protected Area.
Students coming from various schools in the city were also invited to participate in the Disaster Preparedness lecture at the Naga City People’s hall, just inside the City hall compound. After which, there will be a distribution of “tsinelas” or slippers to more or less 200 students from public schools. This will be spearheaded by the Philippine Women’s Basketball team.
Those who want to view Robredo’s memorabilia can visit Plaza Rizal where organizers have arranged a JMR Exhibit.
In the afternoon, the late Secretary’s sister. Dr. Josephine Robredo-Bundoc, also known as Penny will spearhead a Physician for Peace Activity in celebration of Jesse’s life with the Persons with Disabilities (PWADs). There will be wheelchair distribution and measurement of mobility facilities to ensure that PWADs are given comfortable ease when transacting at the City Hall.
Penny is a Physiatrists who goes on monthly amputee missions all over the islands to measure, fabricate and fit amputees with artificial limbs.
Wrapping up the afternoon’s events are the 2nd Discovery Women’s Basketball invitational at the JMR Coliseum and a Jess Mabalos Concert at Plaza Quezon at 6pm. Songs, dances and presentations are expected to relive the memory of the late Secretary.
Robredo figured in a plane crash in the seawaters off Masbate City last August 18 around 100 meters away from the shoreline of Ibiningay village of the said town. Captain Jessup Bahinting and student pilot Kshitz Chand also perished on the said accident. Robredo’s aide, Jun Abrazado who was with the Secretary fortunately survived the accident.
Naga declares Aug. 18 Jesse M. Robredo Day
P-Noy leads commemoration of Robredo's legacy; vows to continue good governance
President Benigno S. Aquino III attended Thursday evening(August 8) the commemoration dinner for the late Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo as he vowed to continue Robredo’s advocacy for honest and effective governance.
“Alam nating ito ang pangarap ni Jesse, at malinaw naman sa takbo ng bansa ngayon at sa mukha ng mga kasama nating kabalikat sa transpormasyon, hindi natin binigo, at hindi natin bibiguin si Jesse,” the President said in his message at Club Filipino in San Juan.
“Kay Jesse: maraming salamat sa serbisyo, sa alaala at siyempre, sa ispirasyong iniwan mo sa amin. Alam naming nagawa mong harapin ang Diyos na walang bagahe o pagsisisi dahil natupad mo ang misyon mo dito sa lupa. At anumang iniwan mo, kami na ang bahala rito. Hindi ka bibiguin ng mga Pilipino.”
Robredo served as an inspiration to the government to carry out its reform programs, the President said.
The President also promised Robredo’s widow, lawyer Leni Robredo, that his administration will be supportive of her initiatives in her district in Camarines Sur. Robredo was elected as representative of the 3rd district of Camarines Sur during the midterm election in May.
The President said his administration looks at increasing the budget intended to build more infrastructures in Bicol and Mindanao.
As with the government’s aggressive spending for infrastructure development in Mindanao, he said the Bicol region should also receive additional budget for its growth.
“Everybody who is in need should be addressed by government as the capabilities increased,” he said.
On August 18, 2012, a twin-engine, four-seater Piper Seneca plane carrying Robredo en route to Naga City from Cebu City crashed off Masbate killing him and the pilot, Capt. Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese pilot trainee Kshitiz Chand. Don Abrazado, Robredo’s aide, survived the crash.
An advocate of good governance, Robredo served as Naga City mayor for less than 20 years. He spearheaded Naga City’s development, making it one of the country’s premier cities.
Robredo, along with former Pampanga governor Ed Panlilio and Isabela governor Grace Padaca, also founded the Kaya Natin! movement aimed at training future leaders and championing good governance in the country.
Legazpi cited investment wonderland
LEGAZPI CITY -- Why invest in this city and not somewhere else?
This was the question readily answered by Antonio Tan, president of Liberty Commercial Center Inc. (LCCI), immediately after signing an agreement with the city government for a P2-billion investment for the establishment of a new mall complex on the 1.5-hectare land at the city’s central business district.
The land, which was site of the first-ever commercial center in the city that was razed by fire nearly 20 years ago, is owned by the city government.
LCCI is owned by Filipino-Chinese Tan family that originated from Tabaco City and pioneered the establishment of malls in the region.
It now runs a chain of malls with LCC-Legazpi located at the heart of the commercial district here as the biggest and the second oldest, next to LCC-Tabaco, and in almost all urban towns of Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon.
“Firstly, LCCI is an Albayano company and, secondly, Legazpi City, our second home, is today’s most attractive investment site that investors like us see as an investment wonderland because of the very friendly environment created by the city government for businesses,” Tan said, as he emerged from the office of Mayor Noel Rosal after signing the contract over the week.
Under the contract, the property is leased to LCCI for an annual base rent of P5.775 million.
The project cost is not mentioned in the document covering the contract (a copy of which obtained by PNA here over the week) but Tan said it is to the tune of P2 billion to cover the development of the site into a world-class shopping and lifestyle center featuring a four-level modern mall building.
Tan said works on the project will commence immediately after all necessary permits and approvals have been issued or granted as LCCI has a 20-month construction period provided under the contract.
He said the company will be racing against time in completing this project as it has to be put in operation before the opening of the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in the nearby Barangay Alobo, Daraga, Albay, that is expected before the end of 2014.
“Indeed, Legazpi is the best place in this part of the globe for new investments, given its strategic location that makes it the regional center of government for Bicol, center of transportation, education and health services and the heart of Albay’s tourism being named as the City of Fun and Adventure by the world’s travel industry,” he said.
The infrastructure projects of President Benigno S. Aquino III is another boost to the locality’s leadership as new investment destination in Southern Luzon.
At present, a P2-billion flood control mega project funded by the national government is ongoing implementation by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to make Legazpi an all-weather city, a development that the local business community is also anticipating, Tan added.
Rosal said that apart from LCC, two other business giants—the SM Prime Holdings and the Robinson Retail Group -- are also putting up new investments in the city.
Naga backs Robredo’s Full Disclosure Bill
NAGA CITY --- In a bid to promote transparency and accountability in the whole country, this city, widely recognized as a bastion of local good governance, has passed a resolution endorsing the passing into law of the Full Disclosure Bill of Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Ma. Leonor G. Robredo.
In its 5th Regular Session last Tuesday, Aug. 6, the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Naga jointly and collectively adopted Resolution No. 2013-187, introduced by Councilor Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., expressing Naga City’s unconditional support for the immediate passage of the Full Disclosure Bill.
Resolution No. 2013-187 also seeks for the aid and involvement of various leagues, such as the Leagues of Municipalities and the Leagues of Cities of the Philippines, to encourage all the other local government units to pass the same “in the name of transparency and accountability“.
According to Vice Mayor Nelson Legacion, the resolution of the Sanggunian aims to strategically advance the advocacy of Naga and its people in eliminating graft and corruption and cutting down red tape in the government, not just in the city but also in national agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).
“House Bill No. 21 of Congresswoman Robredo seeks to institutionalize and, at the same time, widen the scope of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2010-83 issued by then Secretary Jesse Robredo. The circular orders all LGUs and DILG regional offices to report their finances and bids and public offerings and forms part and parcel of the late secretary’s Seal of Good Housekeeping program,” Legacion stated.
“It is also one of his legacies that we would like to be institutionalized through the passing of the Full Disclosure Bill,” he added.
Robredo filed House Bill No. 21 on July 1, her first day in the House of Representatives. Under the said measure, national and local governments and the GOCCs are mandated to disclose the following: annual budget, budget execution documents, accountability reports, procurement plan, invitation to bid, annual financial statements, consolidated bi-annual financial and narrative accomplishment reports, agency issuances and local ordinances, and other documents and information required to be made available to the public by law.
The aforementioned documents should be disclosed with or without request from an individual or any entity through posting in conspicuous places within public buildings, printed media of general circulation, and in official websites of the agencies, offices and instrumentalities.
“This will allow our people to access the data at any time without the burden of technicalities and bureaucracy. Government funds are hard-earned money of the people that should be spent judiciously and for the common good,” Robredo explained.
House Bill No. 21 also provides that, in case of violation of said measure, the head of the departments, bureaus, agencies and/or local government units will be held accountable and will be penalized by a fine of five hundred thousand pesos (Php500,000.00).
“By imposing hefty fines, the bill can compel all government entities to comply with the law. If we could have our way though, we recommend that heavier penalties be imposed, such as making violations of said law a ground for dismissal of the chief of office and/or providing that non-compliance with the law is a criminal offense leading to imprisonment of the head of office,” commented Vice Mayor Legacion.
“Nevertheless, the city government of Naga firmly believes that the proposed legislative measure should really be passed into law if we indeed want to realize the Tuwid na Daan vision of President Noynoy Aquino,” he added.
NCC: Daet PH’s 4th most competitive municipality (1st in Bicol)
By Rosalita B. Manlangit
DAET, Camarines Norte -- Daet is the most competitive municipality in Bicol and fourth in the country according to the “2013 Cities/Municipalities Competitiveness Index”, the first ever released by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
The report, released on Tuesday, July 30, ranked the cities and municipalities based on 30 weighted indicators measuring economic dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure.
In the competitiveness index of the first class municipalities, of the 163 entries, Daet was fouth wherein San Francisco, Agusan del Sur ranked first fol lowed by Guagua, Pampanga and Carmona, Cavite while General Trias was the fifth in the rank.
Daet was ranked 1st under infrastructure indicators of the competitiveness index report in the municipalities followed by Mexico and Virac while for cities were Naga, San Fernando in Pampanga and Cagayan de Oro. The said cities and municipalities were ranked based on road network, basic utilities and registered vehicles.
Mayor Tito Sarion said that this is a good news for Daet to be the most competitive in Bicol and ranked 4th in the country because the basis were programs and projects that created economic impact, business processing and licensing systems, infrastructures, result of the community based management system, local governance financial management, seal of good housekeeping and among others.
He said that this is also in consistent with the previous citation that Daet is the least in terms of poverty incidence among towns and cities in the region in 2012 by the National Census and Statistical Board (NSCB).
“This has a good impact in the local economy and my dream now is to inspire and work hard for more cooperation for programs and projects in Daet through public-private partnership,” Sarion said.
The rankings serve as a guide for investors in choosing where to put up businesses. These will also encourage local government units (LGUs) to pursue best practices to attract more investments according to the report.
On the other hand, Cagayan de Oro bested 122 cities in terms of competitiveness followed by Iloilo, San Fernando, Pampanga, Bacolod and Koronadal. Naga City in Camarines Sur was 9th in the rank.
The National Competitiveness Council was formed last October 2006 as a Public-Private Task Force on Philippine Competitiveness by virtue of Presidential Executive Order No. 571, amended to E.O. No. 44 by the present administration to address the improvement of the country’s competitiveness from the bottom third of competitiveness rankings to the top third by 2016.
The council is chaired by Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory L. Domingo for the public sector and co-chaired by Mr. Guillermo M. Luz for the private sector.
This year’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index would also be used to compare Philippines LGUs with their Asean counterparts, report said.
Naga cited one of PH most competitive cities
Naga City was included in the list of top ten competitive cities of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), garnering the 9th place and beating more developed urban centers in the National Capital Region like Manila and Quezon Cities.
The first Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index covered 122 cities and 163 municipalities across the country. The results were based on data compiled from local government units (LGUs) and measured the LGUs based on three factors: economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.
Naga bested the other LGUs in terms of infrastructure, which takes into account a city’s road network, households with connection to basic utilities, registered vehicles, travel time from the center to major ports, percentage of investments in infrastructure, stability of electricity and water utilities, number of cell sites and automated teller machines (ATMs), the ratio of existing hospital beds to the population, as well as the number of hotel rooms and restaurant seats.
Other LGUs from the NCR scored low on the index because of the lack of data available to the NCC. Naga is regarded as one of the most transparent LGUs in the country, making public all government data, including financial statements, thru its website www.naga.gov.ph
Naga is also widely considered as Bicol Region’s economic center, with international companies like IBM beginning to establish business processing units in the city. The city has also played host to national conventions and events, and boasts of more than 1,600 hotel rooms, dozens of food and beverage establishments, making it a premiere tourism service center.
Earlier this year, Metro Naga was recognized by the Department of Science and Technology as one of the Next Wave Cities of the country. It was also given the distinction of having the lowest dependency on the Internal Revenue Allottment (IRA) of all LGUs in Bicol.
Thirty indicators were used. Ten indicators for each area such as number of registration under the economic efficiency or dynamism, presence of an investment promotion unit under government efficiency, and travel time from center to ports for infrastructure.
Even the number of cellsites, ATMs, hotel rooms and ratio of hospital beds to population were taken into consideration to measure infrastructure readiness.
Here are the results for selected indicators:
*For the fastest processing time of business registrations, Bacolod rank the highest.
*For electricity rates which is a common plaint among businessmen, Penablanca in Cagayan Valley registered the lowest rate for electricity.
*For water services, Tarragona in Davao ranked number one. Water is free.
*For Fastest processing time to register a business, Bogo in Central Visayas registered the fastest at 0.01.
*For securing a construction permit, Naga City registered the fastest at 0.010.
*For the least number of steps to register a business, Mexico in Pampanga ranked number 1 with just two steps.
*For securing a construction permit, Calbayog was fastest with only one step.
The others had two or three.
*Quezon City had the most number of ATMs at 688 and the most number of cell sites at 1,078.
*Meycauayan had the highest ratio of hospital beds over the population at .9902.
Online payment of business, real property fees effective in Naga soon
NAGA CITY — Overseas workers from Naga City may soon be able to pay real property taxes (RPT) online.
This, as the local government unit here said it is exploring the possibility of developing a program that will allow Nagueño overseas workers to pay their taxes online with the city government of Naga. The idea is being crafted with the help of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
City Mayor John G. Bongat said that should the program be realized, it shall serve as a significant breakthrough in the performance of the local government’s fiscal management and operations.
The City Government of Naga is considering either the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) or the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as partner in this undertaking.
The local chief executive also expressed optimism that such innovation will open to the implementation of another one which can be helpful in the city’s effort to improve the collection efficiency in business taxes.
“Maybe, by December this year or the first quarter of next year, the city government will start using the system,” said Bongat.
City Treasurer Helen Rosales said Engr. Romeo Rosas II, CFO Director has already visited the city government along with a computer programmer regarding the matter. - www.naga.gov.ph
“Coral Genesis” project to help restore coral reefs in Albay Gulf
By Marlon A. Loterte
LEGAZPI CITY – The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi has joined efforts with the government to rehabilitate and protect the coral reefs of Albay Gulf through the “coral genesis” project.
“Innovation is the solution, utilizing technology that will help corals grow up to five times faster and resistant to coral bleaching and algae through the coral reefs electrification concept,” Engr. Martin Reynoso, executive vice president of the JCI Legazpi, said.
Reynoso has introduced a concept of another version of the “coral genesis” already employed here and abroad utilizing technology that will help bolster propagation and restoration of coral reefs in Albay Gulf.
Reynoso said that “coral genesis” uses the technology with a portable micro underwater solar power source, wherein any shape, design, logo, or sculpture can be charged for fast coral reef recovery or even creation of themed sculptures.
He elaborated that that “underwater micro solar electric power” that tickles the corals to grow would require less care as power source is anchored to the sea floor, adding that electric-propagated coral reefs are less prone to algae attacks compared to non-electric propagated ones.
“The concept of “coral genesis” allows corals to be grown on site or grown off site the can be delivered to the reefs site for propagation or restoration,” he said.
“The concept of “coral genesis” will be used in creating bead-like coral reef structures resembling a Holy Rosary that will be deployed underwater on Saturday, August 3,” explained Reynoso.
“Some 60 coral beads and a coral cross will be fabricated made up of concrete, wires, lead conductor, glass jar,” he added.
Previous technologies, according to Reynoso, have shown improved coral growth using coral electrification, however costs have been high due to expensive materials and power source issues.
The project also won 2006 MIT IDEAS competition but was not universally adapted partially because of power source complexity, reliability issues and unfortunately, it had been extremely expensive.
The MIT IDEAS Global Challenge connects students with the passion and talent to improve the world with the experience and resources of the MIT community worldwide and support innovation and entrepreneurship as public service through an annual competition.
The electric-propagated coral works when wires reeled in the concrete beads are negatively charged, they will attract calcium particles that will then build up on the surface and form artificial reefs, but more importantly they will also serve as the base for the coral nodules to attach to the reef.
With proper reef protection and management, corals were observed slowly growing back and very gradually reversing years of damage from pollution, overfishing, crown of thorns infestation, and the use of dynamite and poison.
JCI Legazpi chapter partners with the municipal government of Sto. Domingo to pilot the “coral genesis” project, which is set for deployment next Saturday, August 3, in the municipal coastal waters.
Sto. Domingo Mayor Herbie Aguas, remarked, ”this is a welcome development for the town as the novel project will manifest the people’s commitment to environmental protection and care adding the impacts it will give to the tourism industry in this municipality.”
Sto. Domingo has a special charm of its own with happy blend of relaxed atmosphere and scenic view that soothes, mesmerizes and delights with towns’ long stretch of black sand beaches that are irresistible especially during summer.
The coastal town has a number of beach resorts from modest to more luxurious ones that have complete bathing facilities, good food, cottages and convention halls which are drawing tourists and visitors.
The underwater “coral genesis” themed on the Holy Rosary, that happened to be Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary is the patron of the local parish of Sto. Domingo.
“The project, noted Aguas, will be definitely an added tourist attraction for underwater getaway enthusiasts or divers, or even to ordinary travelers., and such may become someday a pilgrimage site for Holy Rosary devotion.
Albay Governor Joey Salceda meanwhile has cited the “coral genesis” project complementing the measures undertaken by the provincial government for rapid marine assessment survey to check the status of corals in Albay, consequently, come up and implement measures to restore and protect coral reefs in the gulf.
The provincial government, according to Salceda, has also since been pursuing coral gardening program that has developed low-tech, cost-effective systems for growing and transplanting corals to restore degraded reefs here.
“Projects, the likes of the “coral genesis”, would be a significant boost to strategies employed for sustainable management of marine ecosystems with restoration of coral reefs and associated habitats where appropriate,” Salceda said.
The coral reefs propagation and restoration also form part of the tourism development program under the Cagraray, Rapu-Rapu, Batan and San Miguel or CRABS++ area of the provincial government.
Salceda noted that one of the province’s most ardent partnerships with JCI Legazpi, JCI Dawani, and JCI Daraga is on Albay Environmental Protection and Ecological Balance, besides two others on education and tourism.
Rev. Fr. Efren Borromeo, a Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Our Lady of the Trinity, who is also known a healer priest and staunch advocate of environmental protection, committed to pitch in for augmentation of budgetary requirement generated from fund raising activities for the completion of the project.
The Philippine Guardians have also donated the Bamboo raft, which can accommodate up to 8 people, that will ferry the components of the structure from shore to the site.
Divers of the Naval Forces of Southern Luzon (Navforsol) of the Philippine Navy based here and from Bicol scuba Divers Foundation Incorporated, along with the locales, barangay residents and volunteers, will help out in the deployment and layout underwater of the themed “coral genesis” project.
Implementers of the “coral genesis” project are also mulling to enlist the project to be the world’s largest underwater coral rosary.
Bicol economy growing faster than Metro Manila
LEGAZPI CITY -- The Bicol economy is growing faster than that of the National Capital Region with a 7.1-percent registered growth in 2012 fueled by services and industry, according to a study conducted by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) regional office, supported by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here.
Bicol’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) grew at a rate of 7.1 percent compared to NCR’s 6.8 percent.
The NSCB and the NEDA attributed the high GRDP growth rate to the influx of tourists and robust trade and commerce here.
Gil R. Arce, NSCB regional director, said in a press briefing Friday that Bicol’s economic growth of 7.1 percent in 2012 was nearly four times faster than that in 2011.
“The main driver for the fast economic growth in the region is the services sector, which accounted for the biggest share of the region’s economy at 56.0 percent -- followed by the agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing (AHFF) at 24.4 percent and industry at 19.6 percent,” Arce said.
The AHFF’s share to the regional economy, however, dropped from 25.4 percent in 2011 to 24.4 percent in 2012.
Arce said services, which cover trade and tourism, was the largest contributor to the growth of the region’s economy in 2012, accounting to 3.4 percentage points of the 7.1-percent growth while industry contributed 2.9 percentage points. The AHFF share was 0.7 percentage point.
Among the six provinces in Bicol, Albay province accounted for the biggest economic growth as businessmen, according to Luis G. Banua, NEDA assistant regional director, are very bullish in putting up more investments due to the rosy climate of growth, big number of tourist arrivals and positive economic performance.
Banua said the positive economic performance of Albay province is attributable to good governance under the leadership Gov. Joey Salceda, who also serves as the Regional Development Council chair, and good peace and order situation.
“Hotel and restaurant businesses are booming because of increasing number of tourists. We’re expecting very positive economic development in Bicol in the coming years, especially when the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) becomes operational, as many tourists could fly directly here,” Banua said.-PNA