The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the region has released ₱860,000 and ₱1.03 million respectively to fund livelihood projects in Aroroy, Masbate under the Bottoms-up-budgeting (BUB).
According to Nida Bagayusa, the livelihood worker of the Local Social Welfare and Development Office, the ₱860,000 funded various livelihood project benefiting 105 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries or 35 recipients from the three barangays in the town, namely: Matalang talang with torones de mani and banana chips as their project, fish kropek for barangay San Agustin and production of native bags and fan for barangays Malubi.
Bagayusa said that the capital assistance of ₱1.03 million for about 107 women, most of whom are Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, have funded veggie noodles production venture of the beneficiaries. The veggie noodles is made out of squash and malunggay.
She said that the BUB will also fund “Nutri-bun ni Juan”, a school based bakery at Aroroy, West Elementary, worth ₱157,000.
The Bottoms-up Budgeting is an approach in preparing the budget proposal of agencies taking into consideration the development needs of the poor cities/municipalities as identified in their respective local poverty reduction action plans that shall be formulated with strong participation of basic sector and other civil society organization. – eejerusalem
BUB funds Masbate livelihood projects
No fake rice in CamSur - NFA
Pili, Camarines Sur — An NFA Task Force led by NFA RO5 Regional Director Ruben J. Reside has recently made a surprise inspection of the Calabanga Public Market to verify reports about the presence of fake rice in the province.
The reports, however, proved negative as the group observed the abundance of rice supply, with the prevailing price for commercial rice at a normal level ranging from ₱25.00 to ₱42.00 per kilogram; while the NFA Rice still remain at ₱27.00 and 32.00 per kilogram.
The NFA is asking the consumer public to be vigilant and immediately report to NFA Cam Sur Hotline (054) 475-63-43 presence of suspicious rice in the market.
From the many complaints received by the cereal agency, only the sample from Davao City turned out to be positive as attested by the NFA Food Development Center in Taguig. A plasticizer contaminant was found in the sample. Others are purely hoaxes or false alarms caused by public paranoia.
The public is requested that any suspicious rice product found in the market, one (1) kilogram sample of the same should be immediately submitted to the nearest NFA office with information as from whom it was bought (name of store-owner) and location. – NFA Camarines Sur Public Affairs
DOT-Bicol sets U.S. tourism, trade, investment mission
By DANNY O. CALLEJA
LEGAZPI CITY — The regional office for Bicol here of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is sending this month a mission to the United States (US) to promote the region’s potentials as a tourism, trade and investment destination.
This will be the “14th Tourism, Trade and Investment Mission to the USA” wherein the delegates will be coming from three Bicol provinces that comprise the Albay-Masbate-Sorsogon Tourism Alliance (AlMaSorTA), the tourism road map conceptualized to achieve further development in the area, DOT Regional Director Maria Ong-Ravanilla said over the weekend.
The alliance, formed two years ago by the Bicol Regional Tourism Council (BRTC), calls for a more integrated and comprehensive promotion strategy to market the potentials of the regional tourism industry, eyeing around six million tourist arrivals by 2016, according to Ravanilla.
The mission that will stay in Miami, South Florida for one week, from July 8 to 15, will be composed of a two-man team led by Vice-Mayor Vittorio Roces; Gov. Vicente Homer Revil and Vice-Gov. Jo Kristine Revil of Masbate; Albay Vice-Governor Harold Imperial; and Ravanilla herself who, apart from representing her office, will also act as representative of the province of Sorsogon. On their arrival on July 8, the mission will meet with Miami-based cruise liner companies that offer Caribbean cruises in a series of benchmarking conferences on the upcoming establishment of an international cruise terminal here in support to the International Cruise Development Plan of the DOT, Ravanilla said.
The cruise terminal project conceptualized by the city government under Mayor Noel Rosal was recently approved by the DOT and endorsed to the Tourism Industry and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for funding and immediate implementation. It will be located within a vast site along the scenic Legazpi Boulevard, a four-kilometer seaside roadway along Albay Gulf now serving as a key tourism spot in the city.
On July 10-12, the group will be at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center in Tampa, Florida for the 34th Annual Convention of the Bicolano National Association of America (BNAA) where Roces, along Councilor Allan Rañola, chair of the city legislative council’s Committee on Tourism — will present the city’s tourism products and investment opportunities. “We will be there on invitation of the BNAA for us to entice our fellow Bicolanos in the US to visit and stay in the city during their vacations or homecomings for them to see for themselves and experience why Legazpi is now known in the travel industry world as the City of Fun and Adventure and officially, one of the three most livable cities in the Philippines,” Roces said.
The invitation, signed by BNAA president-elect Helen Piloneo, is an offshoot of the successful hosting by the city government of the association’s 33rd Annual Convention at the Oriental Hotel and Resort here on July 19-21 last year, which was attended by over 500 representatives from the organization’s various chapters across the Continental USA. In this grand Florida gathering, Roces said, he and the members of his team will be presenting to the BNAA delegates, expected to be around 10,000 Bicolanos presently living in the US, the tourism development gains that the city has achieved over years of hard work by the city government in partnership with other industry stakeholders. “We will be there to show that indeed, the city government has specialized in eco-tourism and action tourism, providing the combinations of safety, adventure, fun and comfortable facilities that make the industry such an exciting proposition today,” Roces said.
The stimulating new horizons in tourism in the city’s outskirts allow visitors to push themselves to new levels of adventure and endurance while soaking up natural marvels and dramatic cultural attractions from the natural world, he said.
The city has great comparative advantage in this sector, based on several assets—guaranteed peace and order, healthful environment, hospitable communities and a base of powerful cultural attractions plus a wide range of very different, often stunning natural environments that are easily accessible and virtually undiscovered by the tourism industry.
Roces said quality hotels and restaurants throughout the city mean that thrill-seekers who want to pamper themselves in-between the adventure treks and fun engagements have a wide range of facilities to choose from. Nature enthusiasts, according to him, have many options in the city: the magnificent Mayon that offers a silent drama of mountaineering; ATV (all-terrain vehicle) rides around its lava-laden rugged terrain; or burying feet at the fine black volcanic sand bordering its beaches with enticing waters that provide relaxing interludes. Besides, the sparkling lower slopes surrounding of the Mayon, the world’s most perfect coned volcano, beckon hikers who seek new adventures over unconquered terrains, he said, adding that all of these await tourists on a 24/7 engagements.
Convincing the BNAA or its business-minded members to put up investments or do business in the city is another part of their mission, he added. In the same gathering, Ravanilla said, Masbate Vice-Gov. Revil will present the province as the “Home of Cowboys” that plays host to the yearly international rodeo competitions, the province’s top tourist drawer apart from its exciting eco-tourism sites. Ravanilla said she will present Sorsogon province as the “Cradle of Natural Beauty” owing to its stunning innate attractions like the whale sharks of Donsol, Bulusan Lake, Subic Beach of Matnog and hot springs at the foot of Mt. Bulusan. Imperial, assisted by board member Herbert Borja, chair of the provincial legislative board’s committee on tourism, will present the “Colors of Albay” — featuring festivals highlighted by colorful cultural merrymakings and prestigious pageants participated in by beautiful women, good-looking young men and talented gays. The rest of the mission’s stay, Ravanilla added, will be devoted to Business to Business (B2B) activities on investment and tourism among the BNAA, other Florida-based business parties and the Legazpi, Albay, Masbate and Sorsogon representatives.
97 Camsur families get homes
SAN JOSE, CamSur — 97 families in this town recently received their certificate of completion and acceptance of the shelter units from DSWD Reg'l. Director Arnel Garcia. The awarding ceremony was witnessed by San Jose Mayor Antonio Chavez. The certificate gave these families the go signal to occupy their core units..
The agency released the amount of ₱6,790,000 to 97 families or ₱70,000 each. According to Ms. Helen Mendoza, the Municipal Social Welfare & Development Officer , the 97 core shelter recipients belong to seven barangays namely; Catalotoan, Sabang, Tominawog, Oslo, Salugon, Telegrapo, Bagacay and Sugoy, 34 of the recipients have their house constructed in a barangay resettlement site in Catalotoan while the rest of the core shelter units will have an on-site construction. Meaning that this will be erected in the respective lots owned by the beneficiary.
Arnulfo Peñaflorida, a beneficiary shared that he consider this project as a blessing to his family. “The money we earn is just enough for our food and never in our wild dreams that we were able to have this structure that we could call a home, we will now be spared from leaving our abode during strong typhoon” he added.
Core Shelter Assistance Project (CSAP) is provided to indigent families who were rendered homeless due to disaster. The core shelter is structurally strong and environment friendly units which can withstand 180-220 kph wind velocity, intensified four earthquakes, floodings and similar hazard. It is a restoration and rehabilitation strategy that uses work teams to provide laborers in the construction.
The project aims to reduce the number of homeless families every year by providing a structurally strong shelter and at the same time developing and promoting the value of self-reliance among the beneficiaries and the community.
While the DSWD releases fund for the implementation of the project, the LGU is responsible in the provision of additional construction materials and the site. - eejerusalem
Duterte brings Federalism to Catanduanes
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte braved inclement weather brought by Typhoon Egay for the last leg of his “Listening Tour,” to engage the citizens in a discussion about federalism which he is espousing, set in Virac, Catanduanes.
He was met at the airport by Local Government Unit (LGU) officials led by Governor Araceli Wong, some municipal mayors, members of the clergy, non-governmental organizations and the Bicol Federalism Movement group headed by Provincial Convenor Atty. Susan Ordinario.
Duterte has been going around the country for the past few months to push for a Federal System of Government as an alternative to the present Unitary Presidential Form our country has today.
He laid down the advantages which could be enjoyed by citizens outside of Metro Manila while he listened to the people about their outlook on the issue.
In a related development, the Bicol Autonomy Movement (BAM) which is changing its name to ‘Bicol Federalism Movement (BFM)’ has been pushing through the years, for this advocacy which jives with the concept of ‘Federalism’.
“With this development, BAM-BFM, as one group, supports the move for a Federal Form of government for the country. Aside from having a brighter prospect for peace in Mindanao, this Federal System of governance will be greatly advantageous for the Regions; it can be in terms of retaining local resources to benefit first the local residents as against the present Presidential System in which Manila decides for the Regions as to who should be on top priority. It will be a big factor in hastening progress in the provinces”, declared Bicol Autonomy Movement Regional Convenor Dante La. Jimenez.
Salceda eyes organic Albay by 2016
By Nancy Ibo Mediavillo
LEGAZPI CITY — The Provincial Government of Albay has gone full blast in enlarging the coverage of organic farming in the province.
Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said this is in line with the implementation of Republic Act. No. 10068 or the Organic
Agriculture Act of 2010, which asks local government units to have organic farming. Based on the Act, five percent of the total agricultural land of every province, town, or city should have gone organic by 2016.
In Albay, the implementation of the RA10068 was strengthened by Provincial Ordinance No. 001-2013 passed on Sept. 6, 2013 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay headed by Vice Governor Harold Imperial. The ordinance was authored by Board Member Ramon Alsua, a known agriculturist and agricultural landowner.
Eleanor Daep, senior provincial agriculturist and contact person of the Provincial Organic Agriculture, said the province has a total agricultural land area of 145,503.35 hectares (ha). Of these, 20,675 ha are irrigated; 5,478 ha are rainfed; 108 ha are upland; 99,976 ha, coconut land; 8,334 ha, corn; 4,624 ha, abaca; 1,167 ha, pili; and 5,141.35 ha for high-value commercial crops including vegetables, root crops and bananas.
Daep said the five-percent requirement for conversion into organic farm aims to protect the state of health of the entire community and the environment as well as the interest of the farmers. She said every LGU has a Local Technical Committee for the program, which is headed by the chief executive with members from the departments of Science and Technology, Environment and Natural Resources, Education and Health and farmers' organization.
The committee's main function is to study the appropriate programs in an area and endorse necessary actions to enhance the organic farming program. Among these are a series of training sessions on the manufacture of organic fertilizer, pesticide and other farm inputs.
Daep said there are areas in the province that are known for organic farming like the town of Polangui, with its muscovado sugar product and Kawa-Kawa in Ligao City that serves as a learning site for organic farming and is headed by Dexter Mendoza.
DTI pushes “green movement”
IRIGA CITY — Climate change has shifted most of the conventional norms practiced by businessmen to an ecologically-conscious response to the green value chain practice being pushed by the national government.
Aggressively responding to this call is the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Office in close coordination with its Provincial Office here in Camarines Sur.
Under the stewardship of DTI Camarines Sur provincial director Edna Tejada, a series of green value chain seminar had already been conducted in Naga City with the food sector and now, in Iriga City with the tourism sector to enlighten business owners and entrepreneurs on how to integrate environment-friendly practices in their respective businesses.
“We are looking into this endeavor as a way of making our businesses more competitive without sacrificing Mother Nature. We are enjoining the production sector to push for an environment-smart practice in the implementation of their respective endeavors. We have gathered here all tourism stakeholders because we believe that they too know the importance of cleaner energy in the promotion of their business,” Tejada added.
Dubbed “Greening the Value Chain of the Tourism Sector through the promotion of Green Economic Development (PROGED), DTI has partnered with the International German Cooperation (GIZ) and gathered the tourism stakeholders at the Iriga Plaza Convention here for a two-day value-chain workshop starting June 23-24.
DTI Camarines Sur Public Information Officer Jay Ablan said that they have invited owners of restaurants and food chains, spa, resorts and souvenir items store, including other government agencies, students and representatives from the academe to update them that there are a hundred different ways to manage their business using measures that are not detrimental to the environment.
“We want to emphasize that green measures raises more our businesses’ competitiveness by doing simple acts of green measures like getting their raw materials within their community instead of hauling it from far places which increases emissions due to additional transportation. They can also use LED lights instead of the conventional bulbs to save energy.”
Ablan added that the green practice also raises the profitability of these businesses since they also save the energy by employing environment-friendly measures. The project, he said, aims to enhance the effectiveness of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the adoption of climate-smart and environment-friendly strategies.
Iriga City Mayor Ronald Felix “GangGang” Alfelor said that the LGU has already endorsed the accreditation of various tourism establishments in their municipality in support of this endeavor. He also enjoins everyone to start using LED lights as part of their green practice. Engineer Solomon Ngo, Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President also graced the event. - PIA
Sen. Aquino lauds MSMEs in Naga City
Source: Philippine Information Agency
NAGA CITY(June 29) — Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, during his visit here gracing the Negosyo Forum Thursday last week, has challenged entrepreneurs to help move the country forward by realizing the government’s dream of empowering small and medium scale businesses in the country.
Aquino keynoted the froum sponsored by the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI).
The young solon lauded the presence of cooperatives, business owners and private corporations during the event saying that their presence is a testimony of their interest to pursue business and be a productive part of the society.
“Our local managers and small economic players are one of the prime movers of our economy. They are the potent forces behind the flourishing economic prominence that our country is experiencing now. If there is one fulfilling law that was enacted, it will be the Negosyo Act which is now reaping its bountiful fruits.”
Aquino was the man behind the signing of Republic Act (RA) No. 10644 into law. Dubbed “Go Negosyo” Act, this piece of legislature endeavors to strengthen micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) basically to create and generate more jobs and employ more workforce in the country.
As envisioned, there will be more Negosyo Centers nationwide in the upcoming years in addition to those already established in the country, through the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) offices nationwide, private business corporations and local government units.
City Mayor John Bongat pointed out that the establishment of Negosyo Centers in various parts of the country has filled the gap where the existing institutions cannot address.
“Naga, consistent with its declaration as a business-friendly city, understands every need of our local entrepreneurs, that’s why we see to it that their concerns are being addressed by the local government. We are happy that we have partners like the MNCCI that links us to proper channels so we can start and roll businesses here in the city,” Bongat stated.
MNCCI President Gilbert N. Albero also cited that MSMEs are the key growth drivers of the country, adding that their strong presence in the community will largely contribute in nation building.
“Collaboration is the new competition. MNCCI believes that the secret lies in moving forward as one team towards one direction. Let us compliment, rather than compete. The collective impact that we can create can propel our country towards financial independence.”
MSMEs role is to strengthen low income earners and support aspiring entrepreneurs. It also aims to acknowledge the full potential of small businesses and eventually develop both business equity and personal assets over a specific period of time. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)
₱177-B PNR Bicol route rehab plan gets funders, flak
By MANILYN UGALDE
LEGAZPI CITY — Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda said giant firms San Miguel Corp., Ayala Corp. and Metro Pacific Corp. have indicated interest in the rehabilitation of the ₱177-billion south line of the Philippine National Railways under a Public-Private Partnership scheme.
Called the PNR Modernization Program, the ₱177-billion project will cover the rehabilitation of the 653-kilometer railway from Tutuban to Legazpi, then Sorsogon.
Salceda said he has been pushing for the PNR southbound rehabilitation that would give life again to the once Bicol pride but now idle Bicol Express route and that the Department of Transportation and Communication is ready to auction off the PNR railway project to interested bidders.
He said Ayala is eyeing partnership with Metro Pacific, adding he has also personally discussed the matter with SMC president Ramon S. Ang.
As chairman of the Regional Development Council, Salceda lamented that since Typhoon "Reming" struck in November 2006, the PNR south-bound travel to Legazpi City has yet to be realized due to damages in railroad tracks, surfacing from time to time, especially in the Quezon area, every time a typhoon occurs.
Certain Bicolano leaders, however, are contemplating on blocking the DOTC's plan to conduct the bidding process of the multibillion-peso PNR modernization project, describing it as a wasteful spending.
Known civic leader Melvin SJ Del Puerto of Naga City told senators during the recent Senate hearing conducted by the sub-committee D of the Senate committee on public services chaired by Senator JV Ejercito that the much-vaunted PNR modernization plan is only a waste of money, if not changed.
Del Puerto raised serious concern during Ejercito’s committee hearing that the PNR mega project will not bring significant long-term benefits, considering that the huge amount will not be used for modernization or acquisition of more modern high speed trains, which run on a Standard Gauge Railways (SGR), but only for repair and refurbishing of outdated and slow-moving trains, saying the latter are the only ones allowed to run on a SGR.
Invited by the Senate as a resource person, Del Puerto emphasized that the modernization must have the purpose of providing shorter travel time and durable, reliable train units. PNR travel time from Manila to Naga City entails a minimum of 12 hours, and 15 to 17 hours to Legazpi, he told the Senate.
Del Puerto explained that should the modernization shift to the SGR with modern and faster trains, travel time could be reduced by 50 percent, which he said should be the purpose of modernization.
According to Del Puerto, present trains are running under the narrow gauge, only four units are deemed repairable for its long-haul service and will eat up so much funds for its periodic maintenance and repair, virtually considering them unfit and unreliable for the 653-kilometer Manila-Bicol run.
The Bicolano civic leader appealed to the DOTC and the National Economic Development Authority to hold in abeyance the bidding process for the ₱177-billion modernization plan until his recommendations to consider the modern technology are included in the program.
Del Puerto lamented that of the ₱177 billion, the Tutuban – Legazpi – Sorsogon route will get only around 30 percent which is ₱52 billion; while the Tutuban – Calamba route, which will be elevated like the LRT and MRT, gets the biggest slice which is ₱125 billion.